I realized that health and fitness are far more than just the things we “do”. There are certain principles, mandates, even rules that exceptionally healthy people live by that allow them to experience the vitality that we aspire towards having.
We all have rules that we live by. Some can sabotage us and cause us great hardships, while others can empower us to become the greatest version of ourselves.
I took some time in deep analysis to give you a glimpse into some of my personal rules for health and happiness. Hopefully it will bring you lots of value, and help you to uncover your own rules for a long, healthy life. Here are the 13 Rules that I live by:
1. I begin each day by taking an “inner bath” through drinking 1 liter of fresh, clean water.
2. I exercise my body with intelligence and efficiency each day. Be it lifting weights, yoga, stretching, etc. Each day I put passion and intention into my training and allow my body to gracefully regenerate. This allows me to continuously be a greater version of myself.
3. I focus on maximizing my health and well-being first, so that I am better able to give guidance and assistance to everyone else. I can’t show up being less-than-my-best and expect to make the greatest impact in other people’s lives.
4. I embrace being a lifetime student and learn something new about health and fitness every single day.
5. I take time to share love and attention with my family each day. There’s nothing that will impact my health and happiness more (long-term) than the relationships in my life.
6. When I train, it’s business (the pleasure is on the inside). I do not engage in socializing; I am there to focus and achieve my goals. I am not rude, I graciously let others know that I am “on the clock” and have to get it in!
7. I go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday (10:00 pm to 5:30 am). I allow my body and mind to get the rest and rejuvenation that it needs to function at it’s highest level. I know that the most valuable hours of sleep for humans are the evening hours before midnight (nature built us that way!) I never deviate from this schedule unless it’s due to an extremely important work or social requirements.
8. I meditate everyday, give thanks, and put forth the expectation of achieving greatness. I understand that the greatest faculty that we have as humans is to utilize our minds to plan, focus, and achieve our goals. Meditation creates a space for me to be clear, present, and focused.
9. I purposefully get as much sunlight and exposure to nature that I can. Nothing is more healing and regenerative than the energy that allows us to have life on this planet.
10. I intentionally avoid conditions that are unhealthy for myself and my family. Environments of smoking, toxic chemicals, and radiation are purposely avoided at all costs.
11. I make sure to prepare (or prepare to fast) when I know that there will not be healthy food around. I either bring food along that I enjoy or I make the total and complete decision not to eat at that time.
12. I eat whole, real, micronutrient-rich foods. I do not settle and lower my standards to eat foods less than that. I see food for what it is, and if it’s not truly natural and doesn’t meet my standards, then it’s not even food to me. In my mind, it’s literally fake food or poison, and I will not willingly poison myself.
13. I will not forcefully push my ideas of health and nutrition on anyone else. I will be compassionate and helpful to others when they seek me out and ask my advice. I understand that everyone has the freedom to choose and I respect that as I value my own freedom.
So there you have it. These are 13 of the rules of health that I live by. Now what are some of yours? Share them with me below in the comments section below.
Hi Shawn, I found your podcast by accident and now I can’t get enough! I am only on episode 39 but have already learned so very much. Thank you for your commitment to the public to pull us towards health and wellness.
Hey Shawn. Very wonderful–hope to do it, too.
I salute you!
Wow! Too wonderful sharing. Very informative. I salute you, sir!
Shawn, just found you about a month ago. I’ve listened to at least 2-3 of your podcast ea. week. The one on cancer with Ty Bollinger was VERY informative! And right after I listened to it, Dr. Gonzalez was wrote up in the Life Extension Magazine that I received a day later, along with some of the other issues you discussed with Ty. I have been on an “ultra” wellness kick for about 6yrs, and like you, continue to try to learn something new everyday. I am a personal trainer, a competitive physique athlete (at 50 yrs. old,….had a young lady the other day thought i was about 28…lol) But, I mention that, because, like you…I’m not out to find the fountain of youth and not look my age, but I want vitality in my life, my body, my brain. I want to be ever present and aware of every moment and enjoy this life on earth. And when we decide to take care of the temple, the rest just follows. I love passing all this information on to folks I train and my girls I teach in aerobic classes. I’ve passed your website on to several and will continue to do so. You have gained a forever fan. Thanks for sharing all your research and knowledge with the rest of the world…Blessings to you in this journey. PS: I love the 13 rules, live by them as well.
Hi Shawn. Amazing – loved the 13 rules and especially the idea of a gratitude journal. Thanks for that idea…….. will implement immediately. :o)
Hi Shawn,
i hope this message finds you well!. Okay,… i started getting emotional on # 8 too… God should have written the 13 commandments on health! but we all had to wait for “SHAWN” TO DO SO,.. I THINK its a part of life that you make a passionate decision to do so, and for me i live by most of yours shawn.
My health and happiness are truly what i live for. thank you for sharing a little of your personal lifestye with us, as i said before YOU ARE AN ANGEL. One thing i do everyday is i try to make people smile, because i live in one of the great cities of downtown chicago you see people everywhere you go. When you make that person smile, they become another person! there face lights up,… it makes me feel happy…. ~_* Thanks for all you AWESOMENESS.
Aloha from Maui Shawn and All,
I have enjoyed your emails and blog ever since I found your youtube on the Longevity Elexir. I make it at least once a week and find that I have a lot of energy and stamina for someone in their sixtyth time around the sun!
Each morning, I too have filtered water and then I have a cup of 1/2 squeezed lemon, a bit of cayanne stirred in 1/2 C of cool filtered water, then add boiling water to the top! While I am sipping on that, I have a gratitude journal and each day I write at least five things down for which I am most grateful. I have even written: I am so grateful for the lessons I am learning about health and nutrition from Shawn!
Mahalo Nui Loa ( Thank you very much) Shawn for all you have given to so many of us!
I gotta print this one out. Must have list right there. Loving the gratitude idea, I am trying to get more into that. My biggest mistake is when I need extra time I cut into my sleeping hours to get more done, which is probably the single worst idea because it throughs my whole next day off. Only thing I might add would be to make time for pleasure and especially laughter in life. JERF-Just Eat Real Food and JLYL-Just Live Your Life are my 2 big laws.
A rule of health for me: Work to see beauty and love in all things. This helps to keep me mentally and emotionally positive.
Thank you for the post.
WONDERFUL rule. Thanks, Jennifer!
I just love your blogs. You still inspire me so much. I actually started crying at #8 because it is just soooo important to give thanks and appreciation. I sometimes forget to do that and become so immersed in negative thinking or feelings of frustration, etc. to the point where I feel like I don’t have the ‘energy to meditate’. It’s not like I consciously think about it, but reading your post just makes me realize that I’ve been forgetting to give the thanks I should be and I haven’t been giving my mind a chance to clear itself out.
Thank you for taking the time to share this blog with us. It is extremely motivating and insightful. You are one of a kind, Mr. Stevenson. Thanks for sharing your love.
Jamie! You’re definitely someone who has a lot to be thankful about, but we ALL can lose perspective from time-to-time. I’m so proud of you, and I love hearing your voice (even in writing :-).
Maybe you can try something that has worked for a lot of people in the past… It’s called a Gratitude Journal. Just write 3 things that you were grateful for every night before you go to bed. Keep the journal right by your bedside, do this every night for at least 30 days and I promise you magic will happen.