Mindset and thoughts have a significant impact on our lives and our health. We see many patients who are experiencing a lot of discomfort or have been unwell for a very long time and we understand that it can be hard to maintain trust and optimism. This is where the importance of having a strong mindset comes in.

Here are our some of our favorite ways to work on mindset:

• Reframe negative thoughts
  • Start by identifying thoughts
  • Challenge your negative thoughts: What is the truth in this thought? Are these thoughts helpful? How are these thoughts affecting me
  • Choose a more positive thought to help you view your situation differently
• Practice Gratitude: Research has proven gratitude to improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety and increase satisfaction in one's life. Some ways to practice gratitude include:
  • Start a gratitude journal
  • Make an effort to be more generous by donating to charities or volunteering
  • Acknowledge all of the hard work you have done and that you are currently doing
• Be mindful
  • Mindfulness means bringing full awareness to what is happening in the present moment and holding curiosity and openness to what is unfolding
  • Use all of your senses to connect with the present moment
    • Vision: light, what is surrounding you
    • Smell: any scents
    • Touch: Your feet on the floor, your seat in the chair
    • Sound: any sounds around you
  • Bring your awareness to your breath rather than dwelling on stressful thoughts. Use four square breathing
• Prioritize Self-Care
  • Make your health a priority on a regular basis. You cannot thrive with an empty cup!
  • It’s the small things you do for yourself every day that makes the greatest impact
  • Move your body daily
  • Take breaks to sit and eat to nourish your body
  • Prioritize sleeping 7-9 hours each night
  • Make a list of a few small things you could include each day that bring you joy and make you feel cared for. Could be as simple as sitting down with a cup of tea for 5 minutes
• Responsibility. Taking ownership and holding yourself accountable is an essential part of making change as we work together and will be a necessity far beyond this program.