Have you made changes to your diet, but it's becoming harder to stick to them?  Do you feel as if certain aspects of your lifestyle are out of step with your current needs?  Are some aspects of your life running smoothly, while there are other areas which you know aren't at their best?

As our bodies age and our lives change, we sometimes need to change our approach to managing our health.  And one of the most empowering steps you can take, in order to achieve and maintain optimal health in the long term, is shifting to a holistic wellness mindset.

It's a common scenario:  the weight is finally coming off, your energy is up, and you're sleeping much better than you have in years.  You feel great as you see things moving in the right direction.  And then you start to get comfortable; you relax and slack off a bit on your health routine. 

Your weekly dessert treat becomes a thrice-weekly treat.  You find yourself exercising less and snacking more.  Instead of winding down an hour before bedtime like you know you should, you're busy on your computer right before bed. 

At first, you don't observe any noticeable changes, so you continue to relax things even more.  And then, seemingly overnight (although in actuality, it's taken some time) you start to notice changes...

A host of factors, from busy schedules to geographical distance, can make it difficult for people to connect with one another in a meaningful way.  Amidst continual promises to connect some time in future, people are often left feeling disconnected, isolated, and lonely in the present.
 
Under these conditions, the offer of time and a listening ear has tremendous value.  If you have the capacity to listen attentively to others, you have a special gift to contribute.  But are there some occasions when you should reconsider your willingness to listen?  Absolutely.

If you find yourself in any of the following situations, you may wish to pause and reconsider whether listening is the best thing you can do

Your feelings are part of an ingenious and powerful communication system designed to get your attention. 

You never want to be trapped, controlled, or incapacitated by your feelings. 

You do, however, want to recognize what's happening with your feelings, so you can assess what's going on in your life and choose how you wish to respond.  This allows you to leverage your feelings and be empowered by them.
 
As you strive to become more attuned to your feelings, here are 7 feelings you should never ignore.