New Years Resolution: C.T.F.O.

For those of you who have read my book, you are familiar with the C.T.F.O. acronym. For those of you who have not… go out and buy Chill Out and Get Healthy asap! 🙂

C.T.F.O. translates to: Chill The F**K Out! I mean no offense by it (so I hope none is taken). What I do mean by it–is that each and every one of us (myself included) needs to give themselves some chill out down time daily. Some call this meditation, I call it time to chill out and check in.

What's required?

Nothing.

Why should I do it?

Because your life, your health, your sex life, your skin, and most anything else you can think of will benefit. Not to mention your relationships will improve.

Sounds great, right?

So, just do it. Take 5-10 minutes every single day

Here's how (the following excerpt is from my book, Chill Out and Get Healthy)

● Find yourself a secluded and quiet place. At home this may
be the living room couch or your bedroom. At work this
could be your office, the bathroom or outside (those cigarette
smokers get outside—why can’t you?).

● Turn off things like the ringer on your cell phone so that they cannot interrupt you.

● Set the alarm on your phone (or computer or alarm clock)for five to ten minutes (or for however long you want to CTFO).

● Sitting comfortably, with your shoulders dropped and your jaw and fists relaxed, rest your hands on your lap, palms up toward the sky.

● Close your eyes or fix them on something, such as a picture on the wall.

● Breathe. This breathing is the deep, deeeeeep-breathing kind. I want you to breathe so deeply that your belly rises. The breathing cycle should be a deep breath in (three to four seconds), belly rise, hold for a count of two seconds, then a long
slow exhale (again, three to four seconds). For the first couple of times try resting one of your hands on your abdomen so that you feel it rise and fall with each breath. Nice and slowly.

Now, I’m not saying that while you are sitting there breathing and CTFO-ing, thoughts of work or life or stress won’t enter your mind; they will, there’s no doubt about that. Just do your best to let them come into your mind and then pass through, and just keep breathing. I am also not saying this will be easy at first. It will take time. Remember, to CTFO requires perseverance! You can do it! Figure
on having five restless CTFO sessions before you have a peaceful one. But keep at it. It’s so rewarding AND it breaks that damn stress cycle. Breaking the stress cycle a few times each day makes you healthier, with more essence and less toxic liver tension. Put another way, getting you to CTFO will fight aging and disease!
And, if you’re feeling really zealous, I recommend you incorporate the following sixteen-minute rockin’, stress-busting CTFO regimen into your day:

● Take three minutes each morning to journal your feelings, thoughts and physical symptoms. This is a great way to get in touch with the stranger known as yourself!

● Allow for five to ten minutes of CTFO time twice a day—once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening.

● Before bed take three minutes (or more, if you feel like it)and write down the things that are on your mind. Look at this ritual as one that takes your thoughts out of your head and puts them on a piece of paper. This allows you to decide
to let those things go so that you can get a good night’s sleep and have the energy to tackle your tasks tomorrow.