In my practice, I see people giving attention to all they do not want in their lives. This creates stress in their body, all the way down to the cellular level which moves them away from the life they want and how they want to feel.

The stress response is your body’s way of moving you away from danger. Cortisol is released and your blood pressure will go up, your heart rate will elevate, your blood sugar will increase along with your blood cholesterol, all designed perfectly to give you the means to move you away from danger quickly. Your thoughts about everything you do not want in your life also create the same stress response. Under any kind of stress, even the stress from your thoughts causes you to live in survival mode. Chronic stress is one of the leading causes of chronic health problems and diseases and plays a significant role in chronic pain and inflammation. You cannot heal when you are living in survival. People want to make changes in their lives but are stuck or do not know why they go back to their old habits and ways that are making them sicker. This article is about the process of change which starts in your brain. It begins with what you are thinking.

Changing behaviors and actions that do not serve you in improving your health begins with awareness. Once you have awareness of your thoughts, you can change your actions and over time your state of health and wellbeing. Commit to the following for 30 days:

1. Before you go to bed, think about the people, places, times, and things that made you FEEL anxious or stressed to create awareness of what is negatively affecting your life and health. Alternately, think about the people, places, times, and things that made you FEEL good, happy, and relaxed.
2. Use the 5-5-5-5 breath (inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds, hold 5 seconds) to relax and turn off your survival mode. Do this for 1-3 minutes (set a timer). As you are breathing in think about someone or something that you LOVE or that brings you joy. Are you smiling? How are you feeling as you are doing this? Remember this feeling, the feeling of LOVE.
3. In the morning repeat the 5-5-5-5 breath for 3 minutes and imagine how you want to feel today, focusing on the “feeling” of LOVE. Pick three behaviors or actions you would like to change today.
4. Anytime you feel stressed or anxious throughout your day take a breathing time out. This will turn off your stress response and survival mode.
5. Remind yourself of the 3 behaviors or actions you chose to change and how great you will “feel” as you accomplish this. Why do you want to change?
6. At the end of your day reflect on the 3 things you chose to change and how you did. When you did change, how did it make you FEEL? What could you have done differently?
7. Repeat (1) and (2) before you go to sleep.
8. Repeat for at least 30 days.

Your body does not know the difference between a thought or actual event. So always focus on what you want. How you want to feel, the people, places and things that bring joy to your life. Focus on what you LOVE instead of what you fear. LOVE is the ultimate healer and the ignitor of change as it causes your body to release the chemicals and hormones associated with healing, vitality, and health. Anytime you catch yourself thinking about or doing what you do not want, just say to yourself STOP IT. And replace it with something that you do want. It will transform your life and your state of health and well-being in ways you cannot even imagine. Remember, it is never too late to make a SHIFT in Health.


Dr. Wendy Henrichs of Timber Land Chiropractic provides comprehensive chiropractic and wellness lifestyle care. Dr. Wendy Henrichs is a Board-Certified Chiropractic Pediatrician and Nutrition Counselor. Timber Land Chiropractic is at 1 E. Courtney Street in Rhinelander. For more information, call 715-362-4852 or visit www.timberlandchiropractic.com Instagram @drwendyhenrichs, LinkedIn, and Facebook