The Art of Adapting is essential to the health of our body, mind and spirit. The pace of modern living is a little faster, busier and noisier by the day. Social media creates an ever changing stage; the internet has put the ability to upgrade knowledge (on any subject whatsoever) at our finger-tips; and our workplaces change more rapidly than they have at any other time in history. When we fall short on The Art of Adapting, we feel edgy and tired, then burnt out, leading in turn to a depleted immune system making us prone to all manner of ailments as well as accelerated aging.
There are so many ways to embrace the Art of Adapting and deal with modern-day stressors. It’s really a matter of whatever floats your boat: nature, meditation, walking, yoga, any form of activity or exercise, music, art, rituals, play, laughter, cultivating joy and gratitude, and sharing love are all healing, balancing and rejuvenating.
However, if you are already feeling the effects of stress, chances are you feel time-poor as well, and fitting one more thing in can seem just too challenging.
In which case, one of the easier places to start your Art of Adapting, is with ‘adaptogen herbs’.
An adaptogen is a substance that helps you adapt to change. An adaptogen herb is a herb that must meet the following three criteria:
- it is non-toxic
- it is able to increase the body’s resistance to stressors, and
- it is capable of helping the body return to homeostasis (balance)
Point of interest: both the term adaptogen herbs, and the above criteria, are attributed to Soviet physician and scientist Nikolai Lazarev.)
