HEALTHY SPACES MAKEOVER
"What we surround ourselves with we tend to become."
A quick story: Last summer I was giving a presentation to a group of businessmen at a seminar in Los Angeles. The topic was how to live a healthy, long, successful life. I asked them a series of short questions in an effort to learn a little more about them. First, "How many of you have been to a bar?" Everybody in the room raised their hand. "How many of you have had a beer in a bar?" Almost all hands went up. Then I asked, "How many of you have been to a church?" The majority confirmed that they had. "How many of you have had a beer in a church?" No hands were raised and from the stage I could feel their collective chuckle.
This simple and lighthearted demonstration always illustrates an important insight. And that is, the very same person will do two completely different things depending on the environment they're in. That's what I want to talk to you about today: your environment. How it can support healthy behavior or do the opposite.
Now that you've made the conscious decision to make a positive change in your life and you've done some work to identify where you are and where you're going, the next step is to take a good, honest look at the environment you are in each day. From there, we'll determine which aspects of it are working for you and which might be working against you. Then I'll guide you through some action steps which will expand your awareness and help you make some positive changes starting right away.
When I say environment I'm referring to the people we interact with, the places we go and the space we live in, as well as the things around us at home and work especially.
PEOPLE
The people in our environment have a powerful effect on our energy, thoughts, emotions and health. In fact, what I've noticed over the years is that healthy, happy people tend to have healthy, happy friends. And it's no coincidence either. The people we choose to share our time with are always influenced by the direction of our lives and we can't help but be influenced by the direction of theirs. We are each other's examples. And get this: Not only are we connected to our friends and family members when we're face to face, but according to breakthrough scientific findings in the field of quantum physics and nonlocality, we even share thoughts and emotions with them when we're far apart.
It's true. Researchers have performed extensive studies which show that the minds of people who communicate regularly become 'entangled' (that's the scientific term) and in sync no matter how close or far apart they are from one another. This phenomenon is the source of serendipity and synchronicity -- where the phone rings and you know exactly who's calling before you even say "Hello." Where you can feel that a family member or friend, from across the country, is in trouble or not doing well, even before you're notified by phone or email. Have you ever experienced something like that? If so, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Sacred wisdom traditions from the East and West have spoken of this connection for millennia, suggesting that at some level (Spirit, Brahman, consciousness, higher Mind, to name just a few terms which refer to that level) we are all 'one' and the perception of separateness is more of an illusion than reality.
So these new findings strongly suggest that the energy of our thoughts and intentions affects those we're close to, and vice versa. This is one of the main reasons why I suggest doing all you can to be healthy in every way, when you have a family member or friend who's facing a significant illness. Your well-being can help the healing process of a loved one. Maybe you've even experienced something like this firsthand where just being around a certain person has made you feel brighter and happier. Perhaps you've even experienced this by connecting with one of your Transformation Community friends, even though you're not regularly in close proximity. I believe this happens all the time here at T.com and it helps explain the tremendous health improvements we've been seeing in members who visit the site regularly.
Now let's talk about when the ones we're around and those we're connected to are not in a healthy, happy place. Those people, especially when they have no intention of changing, can weigh us down and even zap our energy. Again, maybe you've experienced this yourself when you have a phone conversation or sit with somebody over lunch and afterwards you feel drained and wiped out. People who are caught in a tailspin of negativity, poor health, sometimes even addiction, have a way of taking those close to them down with them. It's a kind of unfortunate truth that in order for you to make the life transformation you've decided to make, you need to limit contact with them, when possible, and instead spend more time communicating with people who, like you, are inspired to make healthy changes in their lives and make a difference in the lives of others.
Of course, I realize that in some cases with family members or co-workers we might not have much of an option as to how often we're around them. In these cases, it's important that we learn to accept that each person is at their own place on the path and it does little to no good to resist that or try to change them. If and when they reach the point where they're ready and willing they will very often ask you for help, especially if you're the living example of how transformation can improve your life.
Audio Coaching
Listen to Bill Phillips describe in detail, key parts of this Assignment which will help you make progress this week.
Right click here and select Save As to Download MP3
Transformation Video
Chris Winters
Before & After Photos
Chris from Nevada became 123 lbs. lighter in 2009.
Comments
I have gotten hung up on this assignment previously and then again on this Challenge. You moved it up to assignment 2 so it is now mid-March, I am in Dallas, and I decided that I am going to do this assignment when I get home. My pantries and fridge are pretty much a disaster so that part of the assignment may have to go into next weekend, but I am going to do it. Dallas has been majorly empowering. I feel as though we can all do this and make the changes we need to make to be the change and to help those positive changes spread. Thank you so much, Bill. Love and hugs, Ashley
Completed assignment #2 and am currently enjoying a clutter-free environment. I love looking at the before and after pics - especially of my refrigerator - and seeing how I have cared for myself by getting all that "good stuff" for my transformation. Many of us have done before pics of our body - but of our refrigerator and cabinets??? Who knew it could be so empowering?? Thank goodness you did, Bill. Thank you for helping me realize that de-cluttering my life will make way for more of the "good stuff" in many other areas of my life. And thank you for making this all possible for so many of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Thank you, Bill. Great reminder about the influence of people, places and things in our life. Looking forward to an environmental makeover! Willing to make some improvements: 1) Eat BLF meals at home and not dine out! 2) Ensure healthy food is readily available at home. 3) Clean out refrigerator regularly. 4) Clean house more often. 5) Declutter - one room per week is doable. 6) Will avoid violent TV shows and movies; especially late at night. Now I know why I can't sleep and then stay up very late watching comedies to compensate (the physiological changes you explained make so much sense). 7) Reestablish a healthy sleep schedule! 8) Continue limiting time spent talking to a certain negative friend. 9) Limit hours of mind numbing TV and computer games. 10) Notice the words of the songs I listen to and make changing accordingly. Looking forward to being more balanced and healthy each week! - Nancy
I've been working on control of my eviroment pretty well, I quit smoking 6 weeks ago, and I avoid some of my chain smoking friends. My son needs way more calories than I, so the cupboard is somewhat deversified. I do believe our standards, are a direct reflection of the expectations, of our peers. Thats why I,m hangin with Bill for a while!
I'm just starting week 3 now, but I did this exercise last week. It's amazing the difference it has made just not having all that junk available in the fridge. As a family we actually took it a step further and painted our kitchen a new color as well. It used to be dark red, now it's a cool mint green color. So is our living room. It feels like a spa now! It's really motivating us to be healthy. Thanks for this exercise, Bill!
Completed week 2 and I feel great. I make BFL dinners for my kids too. They love the Taco Pasta, flank steak and Mom's Enchildas. My refridge and cupboards are clean and healthy, I just need to get into a couple closets and the attic, waiting for the spring time up here in NW Pa. I mood and attitude had changed a lot. I am happier and feel great. Let's keep going
finished week 2 have been away from home somethings have been easier some not really needed to get this part going ..thanks for all you do....con
Ugh! This will be tough. We have 3 kids, 14, 12 and 11 who enjoy ice cream, chips, etc. My wife does a good job of preparing healthy meals for dinner but there is always a salty snack available when one wants one. I will move my good stuff to a spot in the pantry by itself and put my kitchen food on a shelf by itself. The kids do eat my yogurt and fruit so that is encouraging. The room in our house that I will de-clutter first is our office. Nothing a good hurricane cant remedy. Thanks for the good words Bill! It really is a total transformation we are going for here. Blessings, Dave
Most of my time is spent at my real estate office, which is outside my home. In my office, I have a big refrigerator which has nothing but healthy foods in it. My wife will prepare 2 or 3 meals for me to take to work each morning. Other meals, if needed can be prepared from the healthy food that is stored in the refrigerator at work. I will eat a meal right before I head home, so that way, I am satisfied and not starving when I walk in the door at home. The problem I have at home, is my youngest daughter and her family are living with us. The refrigerator and cabinets are shared. So, you can imagine what kind of junk food is in our house with the grandkids around. For this reason, I very seldom go into the kitchen and go thru the cabinets or refrigerator looking for something to eat. My wife has been a strong supporter of my transformation and she'll help plan my meals ahead of time and make sure they are in quick reach for when I get hungry. I'll usually eat 4-5 meals at work each day, then my wife will have a meal for me around 7 p.m. and then I have a protein shake and orange before going to bed. So far, this plan has been working and I'm leaving the junk food alone.
DOne with assignment #2 and posted. Thanks Bill :<)
I am preparing meals from items hiden in my food cabinets that I had bought such as beans. Looking trhrough my food cabinets I realized that most of the foods had to be cook, so I have decided of doing the process because it will be healthy for me. Intead of grabbing the phone for a pizza or chinese will first search in my food cabinets . In week 2 by doing the assigment I discover that I am not motived in preparing my meals, so planing meals ahead or what to eat is a tool I can use for my own transformation.
This was pretty much done during week one. It is now becoming a lifestyle change and one I'm enjoying.
ok hard but i did it. I clean my kitchen ready for the assigment 3 woww i love to do this! God Bless you guys!!!!!.
Thanks for the encouragement to "get my house in order" - metaphorically and literally! I have been working on the literal part for the last year and half that my husband and I have been married. (Hard having a 6'3" man suddenly join "my" home...and closets)! In completing this assignment, I realized that we have been on our way to healthy eating routines, but looking very forward to learning, changing and growing...to the next level of awareness about how to care for myself and my family. Thrilled to be fueling up with the good stuff...and gaining a sense of peace that comes with the proactive planning. I AM IN CHARGE OF MY LIFE AGAIN! Thank you so much! Heather
This aspect of the transformation is going to take me a long time to complete. I'll have to do one room at a time. I did the most important room first the kitchen. Look forward to everything coming together. Thanks! Cheryl4u
Got up this a.m. and walked 1 mile.
I am very excited that I naturally went to cleaning my space up! I had no idea it was the week two assignment. My cabinets and frig are already cleaned up. I even spent yesterday cleaning my closet - which I have been putting off for months! This week I will tackle the office area and the car and really clean my work station a bit more. Planning sure does give me more time to get these things done.
This is going to be a tough one, but I'm up for it. I'm going to have to seperate my food from my roommate's. Thankfully it's fairly separate already.
This is something I have been needing to do for a long time: it has held me back for years. I recently moved and that has helped but now we are starting to accumulate things and I don't like how it makes me feel out of control. Now that I realize it will help me with the challenge I am motivated to make those changes: I have a door by my door of things to donate! Thanks Bill
Thanks for this, Bill- i love to de clutter but find it the order devolves quickly in a small place (300 square ft) i'm working on it! i have about 10 more "points of interest" to tackle in this small place.
My kitchen is in good shape. I live with a Virgo and we started this process a month ago before discovering this site and signing up for the Challenge. My albetross is my home office. I will take pictures of this mess. I avoid it like the plague. I know where everything is, but it's a cluttered mess. Clearing Clutter for Clarity! What a fabulous assignment!
Liked the article, it changed my life
Bill, this is a hard one to do, but one that I have needed to do for myself a long time. I am around people in my family that shall I say look at the glass 1/2 empty instead of 1/2 full so it is a challenge to be postivie and motivated around them at times. I will work on having them take this challenge and try an be as positive and focused as I can be. I love this Tfamily!!!!!!!!
alright it has been 12 days since I have started the process of healthy lifestyle, the foods in the fridge and in the pantry have never felt better BILL!!!
My pantry and refrigerator is not too bad, but it is hard to get rid of things you paid for.