Archives for February 2022

There’s a common saying that “seeing is believing,” and I believe this is true about how we take care of our bodies! For example, our teeth are very important to our health but they are also VISIBLE when we smile. So, we make sure we brush and floss them and make our appointments with our dentist to get them cleaned 2-4 times a year. We would feel anxious and self-conscious if our teeth were decaying, falling out, or yellowing with plaque. For the most part, we take care of our teeth with no explanation or convincing needed!

But what about the spine? If we could SEE the degeneration and bone spurs, I’d bet we would take better care of it! Imagine if we could SEE nerve compression? Of course, once we develop pain and discomfort, perhaps numbness and tingling and other forms of dysfunction we seek help. But by the time the first symptom shows up a significant amount of damage has already been done. Don’t you think your spine should at least get the same amount of attention and care as your teeth? After all, it’s the structural foundation of your body and the bony protection for your spinal cord!

As a Chiropractor that I knew would always like to say, “If your spine was on your face, you would take better care of it!”

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jane

We are all moving in one of two directions when it comes to our health. One way is towards health and the other is towards sickness. When we take care of our bodies by making sure our spine is aligned and the nervous system is working well, it allows our body to work towards health. Eating well. Exercising. Resting. All point us toward health. Each decision that we make that contributes to our well-being is like a deposit into a savings account. It builds up over time.

Now imagine the opposite. We are stationary. We don’t eat good, nutritious foods. We don’t get enough sleep. Our spine is misaligned and our nervous system is failing. This is the way towards sickness. We are withdrawing money, we are using credit, and now we are in debt. These decisions have a cost and burden.

Each day we make both good and bad decisions for our health. The net at the end of the day will either leave us with a surplus or more in debt.

The trouble is when an emergency happens. An accident. A virus. Or some other form of catastrophe.

Having your car breakdown is a major bummer. If you have cash reserves it stings, but you can move on. But if you are already in major debt, a car breakdown can be a financial disaster.

This is also true with our bodies and our health. We want to save up so we can be abundantly healthy, but also because if something bad happens we can be prepared. This analogy is especially poignant because most bankruptcies in our country are from health care costs and bills.

The key is to make sure you are not in health debt and heading towards sickness. Make a few deposits today.

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jane

Affirmations are positive phrases or statements that can be used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. Practicing positive affirmations can be extremely simple, and all you need to do is pick a phrase and repeat it to yourself.

You may choose to use positive affirmations to motivate yourself, encourage positive changes in your life, or boost your self-esteem. If you frequently find yourself getting caught up in negative self-talk, positive affirmations can be used to combat these often subconscious patterns and replace them with more adaptive narratives.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

I am a good person who deserves health, happiness, and peace.
I am learning to love myself more each day.
I am deserving of love.
I accept myself unconditionally.
I am worthy of a great life.
I am living to my fullest potential.
I am confident.
I am beautiful.
I have everything I need within myself.
If any of these feel “sticky” to you, then it may actually be the most important affirmation for you to recite to yourself.

If you’re thinking to yourself that this all sounds too “woo-woo,” there is actually a growing body of scientific evidence that supports the practice of daily positive affirmations. Some of the proven benefits include the strengthening of neural pathways that improve our self-esteem and image, a better ability to manage stress, and more resilience to life’s difficulties when they inevitably arise.

Give it a try daily over the course of the next few weeks & let us know what you think!

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jane

Stop for a moment to consider the fact that part of the healing process may actually be a shedding process, not an acquiring process. Ruminate on some of the following things you might want to unload to make room for a better life experience:

Obsolete beliefs (drop grudges, examine prejudices, and toss out self-imposed limitations)
Unhelpful habits (start taking your own advice!)
Naysayers (have boundaries with skeptics, doubters, and Debbie Downers)
Worry (focus on what you want, not what you don’t want)
Procrastination (waiting is rarely beneficial)
Seeking approval (especially from those who don’t have your best interests at heart)
Most of these add complexity and needless friction during the healing process. Consider an “elimination diet” and see what unfolds. Embracing the future usually requires releasing the past.

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jane