A To-Do List That Reduces Stress

Original post date February 11, 2013 - Today I read a post that contains a perfect prescription for reducing stress (which then reduces pain, fear, anxiety, etc.)

"My To-Do List for Today:
- Count my blessings
- Practice kindness
- Let go of what I can't control
- Listen to my heart
- Be productive yet calm
- Just breathe"

Which of these speak to you?

Each of these items can make a significant difference in the level of harmful stress that you feel. I try to find something, even something small, every day for which to be grateful. I try to be kind to others, but often have to remember to be kind to myself. Letting go of what I cannot control is a continuing life lesson. However, each tiny step I take to include these in my life each day chips away at the level of stress I feel and reduces the damage that continued stress does to my body.

I've put this on my computer as my wallpaper to have a regular reminder of this to-do list. How will you strive to remember one or more of these each day?

Relaxation and Weight Loss

Original Post Date February 6, 2013 - As I was standing in the checkout lane at my local grocer, I looked over the wide array of magazines that were displayed. I looked at all the types that were there, from cooking to house decor to gossip and newsy types. I had a very good chuckle, there in the lane, as I realized that almost all had a feature article, if not the main cover article, on weight loss. Lose 10 pounds this way! Get tight abs and thighs that way! Get ready for vacations! New fruit helps melt away the weight! You get the idea. 


This obsession with weight and our bodies is amazing to me. I am both part of it and observing it. I, too, think about my body, its shape, weight and fitness level. Over the years I've tried a number of different things with varying levels of success. When I finally shed the main excess weight and kept it more or less where I desired, folks were asking me all sorts of questions about which specific diet I used or which exercise plan. My answer at the time was that I used both an easier and more difficult method. I got into my underlying issues of my body and weight and changed how I looked at food. Do I still need to work on these issues and revisit them? Yes, I do. However, I have found by looking at eating differently, I was more easily able to actually make lasting changes in food and exercise. 

So, how does this tie in to relaxation? One of the main things I considered was the way I ate in response to outside stimulus, also known as stressors. Stressors can be positive or negative, but they still stress the individual in one way or another. By applying what I've learned about activating the relaxation response, I've been able to change how I react to stressors that might encourage me to eat in a particular way.  Now there are some studies that show that those who reduce their stress can actually lose more weight. In a 2011 issue of the International Journal of Obesity, a Kaiser Permanente study showed a direct predictive relationship between stress levels and weight loss. 

In my practice with Inner Peaceworks, I look at excess weight and poor eating habits as symptoms of underlying unresolved stressors. Perhaps if we each took some time to understand more of why we eat the way we do, why we move our bodies the way we do, and why we feel the way we do about our bodies, we might find ourselves moving toward a greater degree of physical healthiness. Find a way to explore your feelings and thoughts about this. Perhaps you find journaling a useful tool. Perhaps you might do better with a friend or therapist. Explore this as you move toward health. You might find it easier than you expect. 

An Introduction...

January 20, 2013 (original post date) - Welcome to my blog, InfoMusings. Why that title? I am always learning and thinking and...musing on what I learn and think about. My favorite things to muse about are topics dealing with wholeness, health, and our connections with each other. This encompasses a tremendous range of information and I love to sift through it all and think. 

I am Paula Popper, the owner of Inner Peaceworks. I am a coach, hypnotherapist and holistic health practitioner. I specialize in the mind/body management of chronic pain, fear and stress, and coach people through many situations on their paths to wholeness and wellness. 

I began my relationship with chronic pain when I was 10 or so. I began developing pain in my feet and legs, which was primarily written off as "growing pains." Except it did not stop, even when I stopped growing. Over time I developed additional pain in my back, was diagnosed with scoliosis, started developing headaches and dizziness (attributed to an inner ear imbalance) and, eventually, after a car accident, was told about this new illness that was sometimes called Epstein-Barr virus, chronic fatigue or fibrositis. These later came together under an umbrella called fibromyalgia. 

My health went downhill during my 20s until I had very little energy and used a handicap parking permit. I started researching nutrition and herbs. Over time, I researched, tried out, and studied a wide range of things including health and medical issues, aromatherapy, herbal therapies of all sorts, nutritional therapies, massage therapies, acupuncture and acupressure, flower essences, energy work (including Reiki and others), craniosacral therapy, Orthobionomy, Feldenkrais, chiropractic (did you know there were a few different styles?) and many other therapies. At first, these investigations were for my own health. Eventually, the vast field fascinated me and I continued to study, ultimately becoming a clinical hypnotherapist. 

I find value in both medical and non-medical approaches to wellness and pain management. I never advocate stopping any medication, unless supervised by a doctor or your own health care provider. However, I have found by carefully selecting and using a range of mind/body techniques many people can reduce their need for medical interventions. 

I look forward to sharing with you my musings on health, wellness, and wholeness.