GB: Spinning Plates

3/8/2018

What does it mean to live a “healthy lifestyle?”

The phrase itself, though not necessarily a novel concept, is all the rage in today’s mainstream society. From weekend warrior obstacle courses to weight-loss challenges, getting fit is what’s trending now.

But there’s something fundamentally missing here.

A healthy lifestyle is a lifelong approach to living that promotes a balance between mind, body and soul that aims to improve one’s health and overall well-being. If you’re hitting the gym twice a day, six times a week, but never engaging your mind with reading, writing or learning, you’re neglecting this balance. If you’ve overlooked taking the time to stimulate your spirit by meditating, praying or giving to others while never missing a Zumba class, then how can you honestly expect to achieve a truly healthy lifestyle?

Try to envision the porcelain-plate spinning circus performer. The performer has to continuously rotate each individual plate with enough speed to keep them steady long enough to hold every plate in perfect position. If too much attention is given to one plate, the other plates start to slow. If not adjusted in time, they will begin to wobble and eventually come crashing down.

You are the performer. And the plates you are spinning are the layers of a healthy lifestyle: mind, body and soul. Too much emphasis on one layer can result in the others losing their importance and simply falling away. Maintaining this harmony takes great focus, effort, and the understanding that a healthy lifestyle is much more than a great workout; it’s a choice and a process. It’s a balance.

My question to you is, how are you spinning your plates?

Written By: Coach DJ Williams

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Photos By: Martha Pimentel Photography
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9 Comments

Anna

3/13/2018 10:25:30 pm

I totally agree that to make a true lifestyle change everything has to change in balance. I’ve always considered changing how I approach food and positivity, but I never considered the mental aspect. Could you recommend a good source for approaching meditation for a beginner?

MG link

3/14/2018 12:31:58 am

One common thread Coach and I have in common is the belief of balancing mind, body and spirit. I think a great place to start is simply conducting short readings such as blogs or books. Journaling through them is a great way to grow from mediation and reflection. Even reading this blog is already a great start! Feel free to browse the other blogs on this site to help get you jump started. Coach, any other recommendations?

Coach DJ

3/14/2018 01:13:54 pm

Thank you MG for stepping in and giving Anna some key insight to other avenues for strengthening her mind.

3/14/2018 01:12:46 pm

So grateful for you taking the time to read and reflect Anna...

Meditation comes in many forms and can be overwhelming for a beginner to know exactly where and how to start. A simple, yet instrumental place to begin a meditation, is by focusing on a single point. This could entail following the breath, repeating a single word or mantra, staring at a candle flame, listening to a repetitive gong, or counting beads on a mala. Since focusing the mind is challenging, a beginner might meditate for only a few minutes and then work up to longer durations.

This form of meditation is referred to as Concentration Meditation and hinges on your ability to refocus and realign your awareness on the chosen object of attention each time you detect your mind wandering.

I hope this was helpful...

#SHIFThappens

Milo

3/15/2018 05:35:58 am

As I age, I have made a choice to put down the plates. My focus is a modestly sized plate, one that I can fill with the amounts necessary not desired. Many suffer from wanting too much but never acting on those desires, this creates stress or an Imbalance on focus. Needs. What are they? How many are there? Simply looking at health and the “grind”, is only a plate, but what makes up that grind? Talking to others is healthy, music is healthy, a simple coloring page is healthy. So what you hit on is so true, false momentum is just that, it’s not a true measure of your focus. Plates will fall. Choose fewer plates, focus a better energy to spin it. Place on it only what is necessary for balance. People say about that glass, half full or half empty? I am thankful to simply have a glass....I’ll find something to put in it!

3/15/2018 02:15:41 pm

I enjoyed reading your response Milo, as I agree with DJ that it brings a new perspective. DJ brings to the table the idea of balancing the plates, Milo I see you bring the idea of knowing what plates need to be balanced. I think through wisdom, by way of reflection, these truths emerge.

What I am excited for is when people know and understand they need to start spinning some plates, to then learn the balance, to then learn what plates to put down. I hope we all can walk away from this post encouraging one another to spin some plates, break some plates, but never settle on keeping the plates spinning that need to be in steady rotation.

3/15/2018 07:19:30 am

Milo your insight is keen and I can't thank you enough for this response. What an extraordinary perception of the plate spinning circus performer. Your observation has uncovered a deeper level of understanding that is truly amazing.

3/15/2018 02:16:44 pm

Milo with the Spinning Plates 201 Class!

Nicole

3/29/2018 07:43:37 am

This really good. The balance and feeing ones soul is important. Something I work on as being second nature.

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GB: Spinning Plates

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