Health & Fitness: Caring for Our Bodies

Happiness lies, first of all, in health. ~George William Curtis


Just imagine for a moment what life would be like if each individual on earth were allowed to own just one automobile per lifetime. Do you think you would be more motivated to take better care of your vehicle-getting routine tune-ups and oil changes, rotating tires, keeping it clean, and so forth? Some of us might have a very different attitude about it altogether. We might take our responsibility to care for it more seriously. And we would most likely appreciate and cherish it much more.

Fortunately, most of us are not limited to owning just one vehicle per lifetime so we don't have to be overly concerned with proper maintenance and care. But, how about our bodies? We can't trade them in for another model. And some parts can't be replaced. When something goes wrong we do what we can to fix it. We own it for life. And it's up to us to take proper care of what we have. The truth is, however, many people neglect proper nutrition and diet. They don't exercise consistently. And they don't make relaxation a priority. So their bodies get run down. They become more susceptible to illness. They get tired and end up having to work harder to keep themselves going.

Most would agree that they could do a better job in taking care of themselves. Oftentimes they know what needs to be done. There is a lot we can do to be our best-to look our best and to feel our best. When we take steps to take care of ourselves physically it also affects our mental and emotional well-being. Our body and mind works together. Our energy is increased as we make positive changes in improving our health. And our attitude and self-esteem is improved as we like the changes we see and feel.

So what is it that keeps people from taking better care of their bodies? For one, it is hard work. Making it a disciplined lifestyle takes motivation and commitment. But it can be done if you will take it one day at a time. Following are some tips to help you develop a healthier lifestyle:

* Begin with short-term goals. Be realistic in your expectations. Small changes over time result in big changes in the long run. Be patient and learn to appreciate and celebrate small victories.

* Picture yourself the way you would want to be. If it is a possibility then it's a matter of doing what needs to be done. Start by believing you can do it. Having faith that it can happen is essential. It keeps you going when you want to give up.

* Find an accountability partner. Having someone to whom you can report how you are doing keeps you motivated. This person can help keep you on track and remind you of the progress you're making when you don't see it. A partner who shares your goals and will join you in achieving them can be especially helpful.

* Establish a routine and be consistent. A new habit can take about six weeks to become a part of your lifestyle. If you have a setback, don't give up. Get back on track as soon as possible. Begin again by setting goals, visualizing your success, believing for it and taking action.

Lifestyle changes don't happen overnight. Whether or not you begin today, three months from now will still come. You can be that much closer to your goals. You can be the best you can be if you make it a priority. How important is your body to you? Are you satisfied with how you are caring for it? How could your life be better if you were to make some changes? You have one body for life. What you do with it now will have lasting results.


Copyright © 2007 Krystal Kuehn BeHappyforLife.com, NewDayCounseling.org
Maximum Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Free Ebook Download:
http://behappy4life.com/1training-nutrition-secrets.pdf

Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a family marriage counseling and child therapy center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & inspiration, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes, cute sayings & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy!

We Can Live Above Problems

I am thankful that we can live above problems.

I notice that dwelling on problems makes them seem bigger than they really are. Molehills look like insurmountable mountains. Delays suddenly appear as dead ends. Annoyances are interpreted as personal attacks. We can make ourselves miserable by focusing on what is wrong, uncomfortable or frustrating. Having learned how quickly this causes me to lose my joy and peace of mind, I make it a point to refocus as quickly as I can on possibilities and positive outcomes. I can cope with the molehills. I can see myself on the other side of the mountain. Delays may test my patience, but I can pass this test. They might motivate me to make alternate plans. I can recall times when delays have turned out to be blessings in disguise. Annoyances do not have to spoil my mood or bring out the worst in me. Some people get so upset if a driver cuts them off that they start cursing and their blood pressure soars. It takes some time afterwards to calm down and shake off the agitation. There will always be people and situations that will bother us or push our buttons. We cannot control it, but we can control how we react and whether or not we will focus on the problem or sensible solutions. I want to remain hopeful when I face problems. I will seek out answers and solutions, but if I do not have any, I will not give up. I will see myself as an overcomer and continue to believe and pray for direction and answers until I have what I need. I am thankful that as I focus on the possibilities and trust that things will work out, problems and cares of this world cannot keep me down.


Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved. Written by Krystal Kuehn. NewDayCounseling.org and BeHappy4Life.com

Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a couples counseling and children counseling center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & inspiration, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy!

5 Things New Moms & Dads-to-be Can Expect with a New Baby

Expecting a baby is a very exciting time in the life of couples wanting a child. As this precious new family member is carried in its mother’s womb, the couple immediately begins to connect and care and wonder…. 

What will he or she look like? Will she have mom’s eyes? Will he have dad’s sense of humor? They even think ahead into the future. What talents and interests will he have? What will she do with her gift of life? How will he contribute to this world?

When the couple’s baby is born at last, they are in awe for they have partaken of life’s greatest miracle. No words can describe the joy and gratitude that new parents experience when the child of their hopes and dreams arrives and becomes a part of their lives forever. A love like they never knew is born into their hearts. It will give their lives new meaning and purpose. It will teach them about sacrifice and selflessness. It will fill them with gratitude and laughter. It will be the beginning of their parenting journey!

As the parenting journey begins, new moms and dad to be can expect some important changes in their lives. Preparing in advance for changes to come can help new parents make successful adjustments to their new lifestyle and build a strong foundation for a happy family and healthy attachments.

Following are 5 things new parents can expect:

1. New moms and new dads can expect that life is never going to be the same.

They now have a 24/7 responsibility to care for their newborn. This means:

* feeding and changing diapers around the clock
* bathing and cleaning up after baby
* having their sleep interrupted
* calming, soothing a crying baby
* keeping baby safe and supervised at all times
* buying baby necessities--diapers, food, clothes, toys, blankets, carrier
* taking baby to pediatrician for checkups and vaccinations

2. New moms and new dads can expect to work as a team or encounter some disputes. Discussing and agreeing upon how responsibilities will be divided in caring for the newborn is very important in providing the best care for the baby. It also keeps each partner from feeling overwhelmed, burdened, or angry with the other partner for not doing their part.

3. New moms and new dads can expect to make changes to their usual routine in regards to work, hobbies, and leisure time. They will need to make arrangements for the care of their baby when they go to work or meet their other commitments. With time for other interests being limited, some may need to be suspended or changed. However, they should never neglect having quality time together as a couple. The health of their relationship has an important influence on them as a family.

4. New moms and new dads can expect to learn about parenting and raising a family in the process of doing so. Parents will encounter new challenges with each phase of their child’s development. They will continually learn about their child’s specific needs and personality. At times it may be confusing and they will not know what to do. It is always wise to seek sound advice and wisdom, gain some parenting tips, and learn about childhood stages. Parenting classes are also very beneficial in providing guidance, tools, and help and support to parents so that they enjoy their job and do it well.

5. New moms and new dads can expect to enjoy their baby. Parenting is hard work with many responsibilities. Besides caring for their baby’s physical needs, new parents ought to nurture their relationship with their baby and attend to his or her emotional and attachment needs as well. These include: playing, teaching, hugging, kissing, loving, and enjoying their baby.

Couples can prepare for good parenting by knowing what to expect, making plans for their baby’s care and upbringing, and having realistic expectations. Parenting is not an easy job, yet it is the most important job in the world. Expect it to be challenging, and more than that; expect it to be the most rewarding and enjoyable experience of your life!

As the parents-to-be eagerly expect their new baby, they plan for his or her arrival. They make room in their homes to welcome their special blessing. The parents-to-be prepare bedding, furniture, clothing and other necessities. They try to make it comfortable, inviting, and safe. They also plan to be the best parents they can be. They do not want to make the same mistakes their parents made. Surely, they hope to model the good practices they were brought up with and not repeat the bad. No parent is perfect and they realize this. Yet, the parent-to-be will still try to be that perfect parent, if at all possible.


5 Things New Mom & Dad to Be Can Expect with a New Baby
Written by Krystal Kuehn.
Copyright © 2010 Baby-Poems.com. All Rights Reserved


Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a marriage family counseling and child therapy center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & inspiration, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy!


* Click Here to Watch the Baby Girl Video

* Click Here to Watch the Baby Boy Video

Children & Divorce: Overcoming Challenges & Succeeding in Life

Divorce is a major stressful event for children and adults. To children, divorce is confusing. They have so many concerns and questions about how their lives will change. They cannot control what is happening to their family, and they often think that they are responsible for their parents divorce. Strong emotions are experienced such as hurt and anger.

For adults and children, divorce is an adjustment that takes time. It is more difficult for some than others, depending on a number of factors. Conflict between parents creates more stress and difficulty for children of divorce. Support from family and friends has a significant impact on coping. Children with little support tend to feel more insecure and worried than children with a good support system.

Signs of difficulty adjusting and accepting divorce are most evident in children’s behavior. There will be changes in their normal patterns, such as irritability and angry outbursts. Some children will become more withdrawn and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Academic problems can also develop as a result of changes in behavior. Children experiencing depression may have difficulty focusing on their schoolwork. Aggressive behavior in children can cause problems with teachers and peers. Overall effort and motivation can wane. For this reason, it is extremely important for children of divorce to get the support and help they need to make healthy adjustments and improve coping.

Research shows that children of divorce are at higher risk for:

• academic problems
• aggressive behavior
• drug experimentation and use
• sexual activity
• relationship problems
• low self-esteem
• depression


Parents and teachers often underestimate the difficulties children of divorce face. There are many behavioral signs as listed below. Most children of divorce will experience some of these symptoms.

• regressive behavior in young children: whining, clinging, returning to security blanket, toilet training problems, thumb sucking
• sleeping problems
• fears, insecurities, worries
• withdrawal, isolation, unusually quiet
• disobedient, disrespectful to parents and authority
• aggressive, violent, or destructive behaviors
• anger, resentment, embarrassment about divorce
• physical symptoms: aches and pains, stomach problems, headaches
• academic problems: focus, truancy, declining grades, tardiness, missing assignments


Although children of divorce are at a higher risk for many problems, they can make healthy adjustments and develop a strong support system. They can begin to understand divorce and not fear its consequences. They can gain peace of mind as they learn that although life will be different, life can be good. Divorce is not the end of the world but the beginning of a new life. Children can learn how to manage their feelings and accept the challenges and new responsibilities they will have. Focus and motivation can be restored, and they can face life with greater strength and hope.

Children need support and help as they deal with the many challenges of divorce. The stress, confusion, and behavioral problems can be significantly reduced with proper and healthy intervention. Many future problems can also be prevented. Children can make a positive transition with children therapy. For children, divorce counseling can provide a strong and safe support system to help them adjust and cope. Children therapy can help them work through their many emotions, release their fears and anger, keep focused and perform their best in school, and maintain good relationships with their parents, siblings, peers, and teachers.

Divorce does not have to lead children down a dark, difficult, destructive path. Children are resilient. They can understand and adjust well. They can learn healthy ways to cope and overcome challenges. They can have peace in the midst of the storm, and love can be their anchor. Children of divorce can develop greater compassion, deeper insight, understanding and wisdom from their experience. They can become stronger and more determined as they withstand the tempest winds and tumultuous seas that threaten to overcome them. Children of divorce can and will succeed with help and support.


Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved. written by Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC
Co-founder of New Day Counseling Services and BeHappy4Life.com




Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a licensed professional counselor, author, teacher, and musician. She specializes in helping people live their best life now, reach their full potential, overcome barriers, heal from their past, and develop a lifestyle of health, happiness, and love. Krystal is the cofounder of New Day Counseling Services, providers of family, adolescent, children therapy and divorce counseling and BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning self-help and personal growth site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights, and inspiration.