Visual reminders can be extremely helpful. Seymour Simons had a song in 1931 “Tie a little string around your finger (so you’ll remember me)” . The Marvelettes picked up the theme in 1993 with a song by the same title, but Solomon had spoken of this concept long ago in the Proverbs, instructing the Hebrews to bind his commands on their fingers. We can give ourselves visual reminders in a number of ways, tying a string on our finger, placing “post it” notes in prominent places, or wearing an elastic around our wrist. Wearing a piece of jewelry that has a special connection to a loved one can evoke memories of that family member.
You can employ this strategy to help you remember to do exercises that you might tend to neglect. A post it note on your bathroom mirror telling you to do your posture exercises whenever you see it will remind you to do some spinal cord breathing after you finish brushing your teeth. Leaving a note on your pillow that you have to move as you get into bed can remind you to do some SRI (Somato Respiratory Integration) before you go to sleep. If you notice an elastic band on your wrist, it can prompt you to check your posture and sit up straight if you’ve been slouching at the computer.
We employ reminders in our schedules as well. This month Canada celebrates Thanksgiving, reminding us to take time to focus on gratitude. Gratitude is important for our health and wellbeing. Click on this link to read a previous blog on the Power of Gratitude from 2017.
If you would like to work on your “gratitude attitude”, you could try this exercise, using an elastic as a reminder. When we were teaching the Middle School class in our church, I came across a book by Will Bowen called “A Complaint Free World”. It became an international best seller in 2007 and addressed the issue of complaining- the very opposite of gratitude. Our middle school class took up the challenge he makes in his book. It is a simple challenge. Put a rubber bracelet on one wrist (you can buy one at www.AComplaintFreeWorld.org, but an elastic band works just as well). Whenever you complain, either verbally or in writing, move the elastic to the other wrist. The challenge is to go 21 consecutive days without having to move the bracelet. If you do “complain”, the bracelet moves to the other wrist and the clock starts over.
It was helpful for the kids, but it was just as helpful for me to see how negative I can really be! When I change my focus from the negative to the positive, it changes my mood and my outlook. The things that we talk about (and write about) are the things that we focus on. As I actively change my focus to concentrate on positive events around me and discuss them instead of the negative, it changes my physiology and body chemistry. It changes the hormone composition in my body as I stop producing “stress” hormones by ruminating on the “terrible state of the world” and produce endorphins by focusing on happier events.
Think about what you can use as reminders for healthy habits this month, and have a happy and gratitude filled Thanksgiving. It is good for you!