5 Ways to bring BOUNCE into your life

I found myself in the kitchen one day, pondering the dreaded question of every householder, "What should I make for dinner?" I mulled over options as I half-listened to my six year old's narrative of his lunch break. In his wise opinion, his friend did not bring a healthy lunch and was informed by my son that he needed a more bounced meal. Bounced meal? I looked up from my mulling and realized he wanted his friend to have a balanced meal. I then discovered that my six-year-old, a mini version of myself, was spreading the message of balance to his peers.

Balance is a delicate practice. Where and how do we start? The five categories below are a sensible place to begin. These simple yet effective guidelines have helped thousands of people live bouncier lives.​

1. Look up. 

When we're not looking down at a book, iPad, cell phone, or another gadget, we are looking at a computer or tv. Spend more time in the day gazing up at the sky, or at beautiful scenery, take a walk in nature and look around, up and sideways. When we look up and around for a period of time, our mood will also go up. So will our creativity. If we look down for an extended period of time, our mood goes down. So, look up more. 

2. Touch more.

Studies show that when we experience caring touch, our self esteem goes up. Our sense of belonging heightens. Treat yourself to a massage. Or better yet, give a caring massage to a well-deserving loved one. You may be pleasantly surprised at how nourishing and uplifting it feels for you as well as the receiver. 

3. Listen different. 

Listen to happy music only. When we listen to sad music, our mood goes down. It's inevitable. Sound is vibration, and our bodies respond to it. By listening to happy music, we are changing the frequency of our bodies and minds to a more positive one. The song "Happy" by Pharell is a good song to start with.

4. Taste variety. 

Eat a variety of tastes. Salty, sweet, bitter, pungent and sour are the five groups of taste that activate different parts of our digestion, and different parts of our brains. You can bring more balance into your life by eating a more diverse range of tastes. 

5. Scentualize.

Light some essential oils that are enjoyable to you. A balance of lavender and lemon have a relaxing and uplifting effect on our nervous systems. The scent of essential oils can create a healing environment for everyone who enters. 

6. Bonus - Clear.

Taking the time to clear the most important part of you - your brain - is about the best thing you can do for yourself. Clearing the chatter of the mind early in the day is highly recommended by many wisdom traditions. You can do this in so many ways! Breath exercises, yoga, meditation. laughter, dancing, painting or even a quick run in the morning. Its surprising at how effortless the day becomes when the mind is clear. 

It's all about bounce.

As you may have noticed, I've targeted our five (plus one) senses. We can introduce these little tweaks into our daily or weekly routines, and feel the benefits almost immediately. By giving your senses the nourishment they need, you can have a more relaxed and uplifted experience of the day. Try it out, and let me know if it's added more bounce to your life. 

"In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: 
When did you stop dancing?
When did you stop singing?
When did you stop being enchanted by stories?
When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?"
                                                                                                          ------Gabrielle Roth
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