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36
do we have more energy to be more active and get more
done, but were engaged, were present. We feel the flow of
life force pumping through us, (Grauds, The Energy Prescription).
So how can
we
have
this
amazing
energy
and strength
in our own
lives? Vitality can be achievedthrough many gatways. These
gateways can help you build
up an enriching and fulfilling life. We know that these
gateways are the true sources to vitality. As you embrace, enhance, understand,
and apply them to your life,
you can begin the journey
to a new and healthier you.

changes our perception and purpose of food.

As Hippocrates said, Let thy food be thy medicine and
thy medicine be thy food. As we do this our healthy
eating habits will become
a gateway in achieving
vitality.

Exercise is an, expression of a

healthy love of the embodied
self...

F E AT U R E

EAT FOR
ENERGY, FOOD
FOR THOUGHT

VITALITY, THE ROAD TO A

HAPPIER & HEALTHIER YOU

Healthy living is about taking responsibility

for the decisions in life and making smart choices
that will help you today and in the future.

When we think of vitality, the

word energy comes to mind,
but how does energy apply
specifically to you and me?
First of all, we need some
source of energy to be able to do the things we want
throughout the day. The simplest way we do this is to eat.
Lauren G. Block and her colleagues stated that, when we
eat we are looking for emotional and psychologicalnourishment--comfort, pleasure, love, and community, (Block
et al. From Nutrients to Nurturance). Because of this, we
need to carefully consider what weeat throughout the day.
We need to change our perspective that food is just
primarily for survival but begin seeing food as well
being, (Block et al. From Nutrients to Nurturance).
This idea of food as well-being is the catalyst that

ENERGIZE
THE
EMBODIED
SELF
Now that we understand
how to create positive energy it doesnt matter where it
comes from, right? Actually,
how we utilize this energy in
our lives is just as important as where we get it. Dr.
Greenwood and Dr. Delgado believe that exercise is
an, expression of a healthy
love of the embodied self,
(Greenwood and Delgado,
A Journey Toward
Wholeness). How we use
this energy becomes an
expression of who we are. Vitality is about living, and
living involves moving. Therefore, in order to live life to its
fullest, it is important to get up and move. This consistent
movement could include things such as running, biking,
walking, skating, hiking, camping, doing yoga, Pilates,
etc. It is in this understanding that vitality can become a
reality.

WAYS TO ACHIEVE
A reason why people with vitality are motivated and
passionate is because they make goals and work to
achieve them. You too can obtain vitality by

U S E GOA L S TO S T R E N GT H E N V ITA L IT Y

any of us know vitality when we see it.

People with vitality are inspiring, passionate, and
motivated. It seems that their desire for life
creates something special that allows them to
stand out and shine. Do you ever wonder how the
elderly woman can still run miles everyday? How the
employee continuously has a passion for what he does without
burning out? It is through vitality. So what is vitality? How can
some of us have more than others? How can we maintain it?

THE GATEWAYS TO VITALITY

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines vitality as,
the power to live; the principle of life, vigor and
energy. As we maintain this power to live, every aspect
of our lives can be strengthened. Having a life with
purpose is the key ingredient to living a life with vitality.
Vitality is a measure of the life force within you.
When were connected to our sources of vitality, not only

According to Joelle Jay you can make your SMART goals

even better by following these steps:

1
Write down goals. It
instills commitment and puts
your thoughts in a durable form
you can revisit again and again.

2
Look at the big picture.
How do all your goals mesh
into one complete vision?

3
Integrate or group
similar goals.

37
identifying goals you want to achieve and become
motivated to attain them. SMART goals stand for
specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound. Without goals, we have no sense of direction,
motivation, and vitality. Specific goals are understandable
and avoid ambiguity. Measurable goals can be measured
and/or tracked. This means knowing when you want your

42). A community gathered together to help a young

father who was suffering from kidney failure. As a result
of that service, the father and his family were invigorated
and the community members were revitalized. Keeping
hands creating is one way to revitalize the body. Deter F.
Uchtdorf stated in a YouTube message, We each have an
inherent need to create something that did not exist before, (Uchtdorf, Create Message). Using
our body and hands
to create can give us
immediate vitality.

We each have an inhernt need to create

something that did not exist before...
goal accomplished. Attainable goals are realistic and
achievable. For example, I want to be able to save 20%
of each paycheck for a year, is a realistic goal. Relevant
goals ask, Does this matter? Make sure that it matches
needs or wants. Time-bound goals stress creating a time
frame for the goals you set. After goals have been made,
you need motivation to reach that goal. In his book,
Motivation, Tom Gorman observes we have to deal with
common enemies that have the potential to weaken our
motivation
(Gorman,
Motivation). Motivation
wont magically appear,
so facing these enemies
help you develop a wiser
sense of analyzing goals,
deciding what is wanted,
and acting accordingly
to achieve that goal. You
should feel motivated to
start making and completing goals that are important to you. The hope
is that through this gateway of motivation, your
life can be strengthened
in vitality. You can do
it. Believe in yourself,
and achieve your goals.

LIVE, LAUGH,
LOVE
The body is a magnificent machine. It becomes no wonder that maintaining the
body and all its functions through healthy food, exercise,
and motivation are essential gateways to vitality. However,
there are other gateways to look at. Vitality is what keeps
us young. It keeps us getting up every morning ready to
face a new day. It is something that can maintain our connection to the present. Vitality keeps the mind creating,
relationships vibrant, hands busy, hearts joyful and allows
you to live to your full potential. Being anxiously engaged
in something and creating and establishing good relationships can give purpose, meaning, and vitality to your life.
Scripture states, Men should be anxiously engaged in a
good cause, (Doctrine & Covenants, Section 58 Verse

Laughter can revitalize the body when nothing else can.

A good laugh can be compared to a mild workout, as it
exercises the muscles, gets the blood flowing, decreases
blood pressure and stress hormones, improves sleep patterns, and boosts the immune system, (Dr. Cynthia Thaik,
Why Laughing is Not Good for Your Health). A hug rejuvenates the soul and gives the receiver self-worth and
meaning. According to the University of Miamis Touch
Research Institute, Touch
lessened pain, improved pulmonary function, increased
growth in infants, lowered
blood glucose and improved
immune functions, (1999).

MAKE IT A WAY
OF LIFE
Vitality is the platform for
enjoying life. Unfortunately in
our society, many people are
losing this energy and happiness. Many people cant
remember the last time they
were able to wake up in the
morning excited for a new
day or felt passionate about
life. One of the greatest
things about vitality is that it
can change your life within a
matter of seconds. Through
these amazing gateways,
you can improve both your body and mind. Vitality will
give you the enjoyable and fulfilling life that you have always wanted.

Vitality

a g u i d e t o h e a l t hy l i v i n g
editor-in-chief

JACKY NORTHGRAVE

SPONSORING EDITORS
FITNESS & FOOD
MIND & SOUL
HEALTH & BODY

RYAN NICHOLS
SAM PEARSON
PEGGY CLEMENTS

REFERENCES
Block, Lauren G. et al. From Nutrients to
Nurturance: A Conceptual
Introduction to Food Well-Being.
Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.
Vol. 30 (1) Spring 2011, 513. Print.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints. The Doctrine and Covenants of
the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints. Salt Lake City, UT:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints. Section 58 Verse 42. 1989. Print.
Field, T. Touch Research Institute.
Touch Research Institute. University of
Miami, Miller School of Medicine, 1999.
Web. 15 2014.
Gorman, Tom. Motivation: Spark
Initiative, Inspire Action, Achieve Your
Goal. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2007. Print.
Grauds, Connie, and Childers, Douglas.
The Energy Prescription: Give Yourself
Abundant Vitality with the Wisdom of
Americas Leading Natural Pharmacist.
New York, NY: Bantam, 2005. Print.
Greenwood, Teresa C., Delgado, Teresa.
A Journey Toward Wholeness, a Journey
to God: Physical Fitness as Embodied
Spirituality. Springer Science Business
Media. 2011. Print.
Jay, Joelle, P.H.D. Make Your SMART Goals
WISE Goals. Agency Sales 41.11 (2011): 3637. ProQuest. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
Thaik, Dr. Cynthia. Why Laughing Is Good
for Your Health. The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Jan. 2014. Web.
05 Nov. 2014.
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. Create Mormon Message- HD. https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=TJC1sRJ8F0Q. YouTube. YouTube,
n.d. 31 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.

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