Straight From The Heart
Losing weight is an incredibly gratifying achievement, but it’s not the only transformation that you’ll go through on this program. The Super Heart element of SFD is all about achieving emotional and spiritual balance and satisfaction. One of the most enriching ways to work on this balance is by doing small things every day that bring you, and those around you, happiness, we call this the psychology of giving. Truly successful people understand that giving to yourself and giving to others are symbiotic; everybody benefits! Selflessness, generosity and kindness are all themes of compassion and when we witness them in others we are usually filled with admiration to do the same. Being kind and working on your Super Heart may be some of the most important processes you’ll go through in this program, because they affect not only you but everyone that your Super Heart touches.
When you do a good deed, you’re rewarded with fuzzy feels:
- You enjoy the effects of the act, whether seen or imagined, and take pleasure in knowing someone else suffers less or has more joy because of your actions.
- You feel glad that you had the power to make positive change.
- Your senses of empathy and sympathy are satisfied.
- You feel happy and proud of yourself because you are creating good in the world.
SuperHeart Mantra: “Compassion isn’t only often altruistic, it’s actually a form of love.”
10 Things you can do to Pump up the Love:
- Say Thanks. Send a card, letter, email, a bunch of flowers or say it in person with a hug. A ‘thank you’ goes a long way to making someone know they are appreciated.
- Be Kind. Be the reason someone smiles today. Make random acts of kindness and thoughtful gestures part of your everyday life.
- Give Time. While we know you’re busy, if you have a couple of minutes up your sleeve, use it. Give someone who you know gets lonely a call and brighten up their day; maybe even the highlight of it!
- Be Grateful. The things we take for granted are the same things other people wish for. Meditate or reflect on the aspects of your life that you’re fortunate to have. Your home, family, job, friends or little things like your favourite pair of fuzzy slippers, your lazy Sunday mornings or the smell of spring air on your daily walk.
- Give Gifts. A pair of socks for your hubby because you noticed he has holes in most of his will make him smile. Or cooking double the quantity of your fave dish and dropping one over to you friend who’s had a shocker of a week. Knowing that someone is thinking of them makes people feel noticed, special and loved.
- Put your hand up when others ask for help. Donate your time to lending a hand to the underprivileged and elderly, or even just to help run the bake sale at the kids’ school.
- Be Happy. Exude the energy you want to attract: being happy is a gift to others and its contagious so pass it on!
- Give Compliments. Be the type of person that makes everybody feel like a somebody. If you think something nice about a stranger, vocalise it! Tell the lady at the bus stop that her top is your favourite colour or your let the barista know how much his smile brightens up your mornings.
- Surprise spontaneously. Have a special dinner with candles lit when your hubby comes home, when he had a hard day at work, or surprise your mum and take her out for lunch if she’s feeling down. Putting in a little effort and surprising someone who needs a little pick-me-up will bring happiness to you both!
- Be Thoughtful. Returning your shopping trolley, putting that pack of Tim Tams back in its aisle rather than leaving it next to the kiwis you replaced it with (good job!), or holding the door for the delivery guy with his hands full of parcels. Try to anticipate other people’s needs and assist them where you can. It might not be a big deal to you but it could make someone else’s day just a little bit easier!
Words of Wisdom: “When you love what you have, you have everything you need.”