YOUR WELLNESS MATTERS

Begin Within

A new day, a new month, a new chance to begin again. And the best place to begin is within. Within ourselves.

Let your breath be your guide to self awareness and approach every discovery with curiosity and compassion.

Here’s how to begin:

• practice meditation and mindfulness
• make time to reflect & discern
•  journal your observations and findings (thoughts and feelings)

Self-awareness is your ability to perceive and understand the things that make you who you are as an individual, including your personality, actions, values, beliefs, emotions, and thoughts.

Trust your internal voice, the gold waiting to be excavated within yourself.

You are now on your way to a healthier, activated year!

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YOUR MINDSET MATTERS

Transformation

The butterfly has long been seen as a symbol for transformation and change, and can seem mystical and magical. But if you carefully examine the process of that change, from caterpillar to butterfly, you will find it resembles much of how we as humans experience major life changes. There are four distinct stages to this transformation process: dissolving, metamorphosis, reforming, and emerging. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Stage One is the “dissolving”, or falling apart, because change is often unexpected and we are unprepared. A few strategies for getting through this stage are:

• Live one day at a time. (or sometimes just minutes at a time) Focus on the here and now.
• Actually “cocoon” yourself. Wrap yourself in your favorite blanket, have a soothing cup of tea. Do what feels comforting.
• Find someone to talk to – a friend or therapist. Someone who will be reassuring.
• Let yourself grieve. Yes, through all major changes, we experience a sense of loss. Let yourself experience those emotions. Acknowledging them will help move you through this stage.

Stage Two is the metamorphosis, in that liquid substance are these imago cells that contain all the instructions for the creation of the butterfly. This is where we can begin to see what the life ahead of us might look like. To encourage imaginative thinking, you might want to:

• Start a discovery journal or vision board. Cut out pictures you find interesting and appealing and let them begin to illustrate the life you are trying to create.
• Start a written journal of your dreams, schemes, and aspirations – planning to bring your vision to fruition.

Stage Three is reforming. This is where you stop dreaming and start implementing. Your vision starts to take shape and become more substantive. Sometimes, this stage needs repeating as you continue to re-form and refine your life. Here’s two tips to get you through this stage:

• Expect there to be some failures and be willing to start over.
• Persist and persevere.

Stage Four is emerging. As you leave the stage of reforming you are like the butterfly just emerging from the cocoon. Don’t rush this stage, as like the butterfly, you must let your newly formed soggy wings have a chance to dry and strengthen before you are ready to fly. 

• Be patient. 
• Enjoy your new existence.
• Spend time every day focusing on gratitude.
• Find small ways to add pleasure to your life,

And now, the next time change occurs you will have the skills to make it through.

When have you had a transformative experience?

(*revised from Under a Full Moon and a Guiding Star, by Lani Almanza)

Additional resources:

https://alakaiassociates.com/resources/ 

https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-be-the-best-version-of-yourself

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YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Bringing Heart Health into Focus

In honor of Heart Health Awareness Month, we’re putting some extra focus into what makes a happier, healthier heart. Because when it comes to heart health, mere exercise isn’t enough. A lot more goes into it, from what we eat and the amount of sleep we get, to (believe it or not) our oral health. It’s all connected.

https://lanialmanza.lifevantage.com/us-en/blog/bringing-heart-health-into-focus 

Click here to find the essentials to support your heart health: https://lanialmanza.lifevantage.com/us-en/shop/categories/essential-nutrients 

First-time orders will receive an additional thank you gift once the order is confirmed.

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THE ALAKA’I BOOKSHELF

My first book, published in 2023, is Under a Full Moon and a Guiding Star. Throughout the year I will be sharing excerpts to continue to guide you on your wellness journey. This month I am introducing a new section on Journaling – the how, why, and when and benefits. 

“One of the earliest habits that I can recall developing was keeping a journal, and over the years, while the content or format may have changed, it is an anchor to my day. One of the first journals I started was with the Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude. Like most people I wasn’t sure how to start and so I was grateful that this journal gave you a whole list of prompts to keep me going. Here are a few I chose from that list that were relative to where my life was at the time: Grateful for the moment of relief when the migraine pain has subsided; not having to cook one night; a nap; summoning up the courage to surmount a challenge: resigning from a toxic job; letters from my oldest son at military boot camp; notes for affirmation to follow my goals and dreams from colleagues and family. Start with just three things to be grateful for, either to start or end your day, and over time see how it impacts your mind, body, and spirit.

One of my favorite tools is what I call a Discovery Journal. It is a combination of several different resources I have used over the years such as photo journals, writing journals, goal posters, and vision boards. I create them with a composition notebook – bland or lined – and first fill the cover with pictures and affirmations. They become great visualization tools and can be created for a number of different purposes.”

You can book a Discovery Journal Workshop by contacting me at lani_almanza@alakaiassociates.com 

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Subscribers ONLY

A Valentine Just for Two 

Two lucky winners will receive the Subscriber Giveaway to help you on your wellness journey! In addition, any current subscriber who refers a new subscriber will receive an additional gift!

You can also contact me to schedule a free one-on-one Discovery Call to make a plan for your wellness.

#LiveAlohaLiveWell