# Great Habits I Picked Up Along the Way
![Attachment-1 (76).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbfDBDs35agPLHcrwe7uzUzzkf1PJv1w6caeM1ED4NBB2/Attachment-1%20(76).jpeg) There's nothing more rewarding in life than being the best me, I can be for myself, my family & friends, and for my community. The speed bumps in life that slow us all down are programmed deep in our subconscious from the endless marketing and branding of useless products. While all these brands and corporations have no significant meaning in my life whatsoever, *I* on the other hand, try to mean the world to my family. That's why I started picking up some great habits. I used to think being healthy was just about obesity & exercise when in fact, they are just a small part of it. I spent countless nights studying the work of the late great Stephen Convey, and am so grateful for the knowledge I got from those nights. What I learned is an understanding of unconditional leadership and the factors that affect my well-being as a whole. ![Attachment-1 (51).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcEKPkZGUHeFtJpV1bbFiHcaccdrdrrdCorwa6G6BxBpP/Attachment-1%20(51).jpeg) Being healthy is about all components I operate with. It's about all the components I can use to change & create the positive or negative world around me. It's about my physical state, my mental state, my spiritual state and last but not least, the state that my heart is in. Let me share some of the most valuable tips I picked up along the way that's helped me optimize my own happiness. ## As Soon as my Eyes Open This is a magnificent moment for me. Every day I get to present myself to the world, starts at the moment I open my eyes each morning. I learned how important stretching instantly as you wake is from my old track coach Mr. Kogut. I now throw in some big-pose stretches and a few custom stretches while I'm still in bed. I can instantly feel my blood begin to flow. ![Attachment-1 (52).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVWukbqLoCedML6y6gvn2vsyTn1HtBfSRMQMDLQZcz3e4/Attachment-1%20(52).jpeg) The same stretches have been known to also help ease a sore back and minor back problems. Those big-pose stretches I was talking about can boost your confidence levels where you can be a part of your best daily. Amy Cuddy, Harvard psychologist & author of "Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges" suggests that those big pose stretches are bi-directional. They help me feel big and strong mentally and we are what we think. ## The Most Important Fuel for Me I know that some people believe that breakfast is the most important part of the day and others believe in not "breaking" their body's nightly "fast" with "breakfast" until noon. Despite these morning traditions, I believe that water is the most important thing on earth for our bodies. Our bodies are bundles of electromagnetic activities and up to 60% water and that's one core reason why I believe it's the most important fuel to us as we wake. It's quite interesting to me that water cannot be made and the same amount of water that exists on Earth today existed millions of years ago. It's caught in the perpetual water cycle of Mother Earth that fuels all living organisms she nurtures and I'm grateful for that nurturing. ![Attachment-1 (53).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUPhVfFxN27BF4wbUopwPEF1nPwohtHgZNpXjhzhdV3dC/Attachment-1%20(53).jpeg) The Japanese water treatment is another great habit I picked up from traveling Japan. I now drink pure water on an empty stomach as soon as I wake each morning, 45 minutes before I eat my first meal. It's found to be a 100% cure for a number of diseases, proven scientifically by the Japanese Medical Society. Cures for diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, some forms of cancer, all eye diseases, asthma, kidney disease, just to name a few. I found the technique & guidelines online and the knowledge I gained from it is vital to me being the best me I can be. Masaru Emoto through his legendary research found that water reacts to words and feelings. His best sellers like "The Hidden Messages in Water" proves that water changes auras and neutral properties, according to the positive or negative feelings, emotions, words, music, and natural surroundings. I can only imagine what that 60% water in my body is doing when I feel angry or sad. That's why I feel it's important I drink water as soon as I wake, and urgent that I feel great about myself. I don't want the water I'm fueling myself with to affect me negatively by my own negativity, so I always remember those big-pose stretches in the morning. ## The Diet that Fits Me I started making changes to my diet according to my blood type (which is blood type A) as soon as I read “Eat Right for Your Type” by Dr. Peter D’Adamo. He taught me that our diets are optimized through understanding my genetic makeup and chosen lifestyle. Certain blood types digest and break down foods differently. ![Attachment-1 (47).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQma5FNwnf9RbmBqjhbPXTaiXq5AZEyeq94mTNMQdSWzS5q/Attachment-1%20(47).jpeg) People with blood type A like me, for example, should stick to a vegetarian diet most or at all times. We have a rough time metabolizing and digesting animal fat & animal proteins. ![Attachment-1 (44).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUqwufxBnBnYmQHmx31whxnK9cxgaQgaTQJob5dwozzRv/Attachment-1%20(44).jpeg) People with blood type O, on the other hand, should eat a variety of fish like sashimi for sources of protein as well as low carb, high protein meals with legumes & a variety of nuts. With a little research, you'll be aware of the foods that can optimize your life according to your blood type. This awareness has helped me be the best me, I can be. I am what you eat. ## Got My Mind Right Meditation is good for optimizing the powers of your mind so that you have more control over your wellness. I learned to meditate a bit late, in my late 20's so I took it upon myself to teach my children & grand-children how to meditate as soon as they could do a Muay Thai roundhouse kick. ![Attachment-1 (48).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTgteMr9j5K5bSh7217pQGuKkU1pkPzGZhwU9xmSDXFPg/Attachment-1%20(48).jpeg) I've spent countless hours reading books about the law of attraction and that's when I realized all the authors meditate. Every great life coach & mentor from Jack Canfield to Tony Robbins meditates. Every successful billionaire meditates. Every great spiritual leader who has given up their love for material possessions to heal their people meditates. Every highly successful world influencer in every country meditates. Once I realized it wasn't a coincidence, I was more than happy to begin. ![Attachment-1 (46).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXbvMvaC3QhPVsVnjKQXqU6gPw6znL1ukQSTZAYJJ38TN/Attachment-1%20(46).jpeg) ![Attachment-1 (49).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYDwMtq9r7FwRHMYcXJStkmagkLF9vKH6bC8jYXa1SY2M/Attachment-1%20(49).jpeg) I began with "mindful meditation" because it had many health benefits I was seeking. For starters, it's a stress reliever that helps me still my thoughts by controlling them. The breathing techniques help my respiratory circulation as I release negative energy trying to cling on to my chi during meditation. Over the years, deep meditation has awakened my pineal gland and my memory has improved. ## I Stepped Up My Herb Game I learned the greatest gifts that we have from nature are herbs and mushrooms from traveling through Japan. In any health issue, if nature created the problem, nature has the cure for it. The knowledge humanity has on herbal medicine is endless. I just learned that China & India have been practicing herbal medicine for over 2000 years! Indonesia has some of the most medicinally useful plants in the world. Their islands and rainforest continue to produce curing medicines for most diseases. ![Attachment-1 (54).jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSwggeefRLNynA54Sh1kknHmhZu3JzdfQxmP6Q8gKp2WU/Attachment-1%20(54).jpeg) I started by having "tea time" in my life twice daily and then trying out tinctures such as moringa & added honey. I've had the pleasure of reading "The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook" by James Green. It's a great place to begin for those interested. I don't remember a lot of the mixtures but I sure do remember what most herbs are great for individually. Herbal supplements such as Ganoderma lucidum (also known as reishi) capsules (preferably the spores) are a great addition to your diet, 30 minutes before each meal. I've been taking reishi for decades now and have my entire family taking it. I buy it as gifts for family and friends on birthdays and weddings. Reishi's nicknames over the centuries include "The Mushroom of Immortality" & "The Miracle Mushroom." Who wouldn't want that in their herb game? ## Be Great to Me These healthy habits continue to help me maximize myself as I learn more ways to change whatever I considered as bad habits. Whatever your lifestyle is currently like, disciplining yourself to be the best you, is the best investment you'll ever make in life. No one going to invest in me, if I'm not willing to invest in myself. I've got to be willing to push myself to exhaustion to improve every day. This applies to business, family matters, friendships and even my marriage. There's nothing more rewarding in life for me than being the best me I can be, for myself, my family & friends, and my community. Hope some of these great habits help you all as much as they have helped me. ## Authored by: @stewsak ## Click on the coin to join our Discord Chat ##

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