Word-Of-the-Week #851: Blessings
November 26, 2020 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #851: Blessings
Blessings – things promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a boon.
When was the last time you counted your blessings? Are you appreciative and grateful for all that you have even in these craziest of times?
This week I am sharing excerpts from Take a Moment to ‘Count Your Blessings.’
“There are certain times of the year when we stop and think about all the things that make us happy or bring us joy. Some people even make a list of these things and we have a saying for this: to count your blessings.
When we count our blessings, we note all the wonderful things in our lives. This helps us to appreciate how good life is.
And today is a time when many Americans count their blessings.
Counting your blessings is important. It shows that you are grateful. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thanks. When people count their blessings, they can say it like this: “I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my health.”
It is better to be grateful for our blessings than to take them for granted. When we take something for granted, we do not appreciate it. Sometimes we are not appreciative of our good fortune and blessings until they are gone.”
And being thankful has its health benefits. Researchers at the University of California-Davis, Cornell and the University of Michigan found that people “who have a plethora of events for which they feel grateful bounce back more quickly from trauma, can undo the negative effects of stress and have lower blood pressure.”
A USA Today article said to, “Notice small things. Experts almost universally agree that some of the most significant blessings are also the most seemingly insignificant acts. Take note of a nice day, a spectacular sunset, a moonlit night.”
I personally am so grateful for all that I have in my life. I am thankful to have been able to travel and experience so many different cultures. And I am very thankful to live in the “best place on the planet” with an abundance of everything. (And great paved roads) I have wonderful friends and family and the LOVE OF MY LIFE, Chris. I just don’t think it can get any better than that!
This week focus on all your blessings. What are you grateful for in your personal and professional life? When was the last time you told your customers, guests, clients, members, friends and family how much you appreciate having them in your life? This week make it a point to “notice the small things” too. And have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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Word-Of-the-Week #850: Venturesome
November 19, 2020 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #850: Venturesome
Venturesome – having a disposition to undertake ventures; adventurous.
How often do you get out of your comfort zone? When was the last time you felt adventurous? Are you able to recognize opportunities and take them?
I found this post “Invoking the spirit of adventure” by Psychologies and am including excerpts.
“Do you find yourself hesitating to take chances? Does fear prevent you from achieving your dreams? Writer Juliet Davey discovered how travelling has deepened her self-knowledge and awareness and here, she shares tips for living an adventurous life – and you don’t even have to leave the country. It’s all about pushing those boundaries…
What lies at the heart of the spirit of adventure? Is it curiosity, risk-taking, courage? Psychology has made the association between adventure-seeking behaviors and the release of dopamine providing us with feelings of enjoyment and positivity. Risk-taking leads us to new experiences, which help renew our vitality.
“Adventure is not outside man; it is within” ― George Eliot
The responsibilities of modern living do not always permit us to travel, but we can still cultivate our adventurous spirit. The opportunity for adventure is available to us daily. Here are four handy tips to access the essence of this spirit:
Middle Fork of the Salmon River
- Do not let your fears rule you – the adventurous spirit is never certain of the outcome but is open to new experiences regardless. We all feel fear but the adventure-seeker takes action despite that fear.
- Embrace the unfamiliar – travel takes you to unknown places and requires you to live in the present. But you can expand your horizons every day no matter where you are. By embracing places and people that are different from our norm, we can heighten our awareness and learn something new. Doing something out of the ordinary can also increase confidence.
- Follow your heart – adventure comes to those who seek it. I love the Anais Nin quote: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” So if you have always wanted to take a cooking class, skydive or learn a new language, now is the time. Stand inside your truth. Follow your heart.
- Seize opportunities – recognize opportunities and take them. This is your chance.
Even during a pandemic, we can still be venturesome. Are you letting your fears rule you? How open are you to new experiences? When was the last time you did something out of the ordinary?
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Word-Of-the-Week #849: Hope
November 12, 2020 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #849: Hope
Hope – the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out well.
Have you been able to feel some hope this year? Do you believe that even in this terrible pandemic good things have come out of it?
This week I am sharing excerpts from “Emotional Well-Being and Coping During COVID-19”
“These are unprecedented times. We need to work extra hard to manage our emotions well. Expect to have a lot of mixed feelings. Naturally we feel anxiety, and maybe waves of panic, particularly when seeing new headlines. An article by stress scientist and Vice Chair of Adult Psychology Elissa Epel, PhD, outlines the psychology behind the COVID-19 panic response and how we can try to make the best of this situation. Her tips can be found below.
Our anxiety is helping us cope, bond together from a physical distance, and slow the spread of the virus. So our anxiety – while uncomfortable – is a good thing right now, especially if we manage it well. At the same time, we must effortfully prevent panic contagion and create periods when we can be screen-free and calm, engaging our attention in normal daily activities. Seize opportunities to share lightness and humor. Laughter right now is a relief for all of us!
It may be helpful for you to make a list of what you can and cannot control right now. In this guide, we suggest radical acceptance of the situations we cannot control and focus on what we can do.
- Stay physically safe from the virus
In this case, the biggest safety behaviors (physical distancing and hand washing) which decrease transmission of the COVID-19 virus, are also an integral part of anxiety management. Stay home when you can. When outside the home, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
- Limit media to reduce anxiety
By now you have heard this recommendation many times and there is research behind it: Watching or scrolling through the media makes us even more anxious. An excess of news and visual images about a traumatic event can create symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and poor health years later, according to research by UC Irvine’s Roxy Silver, PhD, and others.
Try to limit COVID-19 media exposure to no more than twice a day (e.g., checking for updates in the morning and before dinner) and try to avoid reading about COVID-19 before bedtime. Take a vow to not forward (and thus propagate) alarming headlines to friends and family.
The media often creates an exaggerated impression of global panic. The reality emerging from research data in Seattle, an epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., is that most people are dealing with this very well and rising up to help others.
- Get and provide warm, comforting, social support by video, phone, or text
This is critical! Taking time to share your feelings and to listen and support others will go a long way. Talking with others who have our best interests at heart makes us feel safe. Use phone, video, text, or email. Fortunately, these new highways of social contact are unlimited resources. More than just providing social support about the current crisis, it is a good idea to use these connections to talk about the things you normally would – host your book club online, for example – which can create feelings of connectedness. Loving and caring for our pets can be phenomenal stress reduction for us too!
- Find ways of expressing kindness, patience, and compassion
Be extra kind to yourself. This is a hard time for everyone. Humans across the world are sharing this experience with you. We are all in this together and we may all emerge with a renewed appreciation for our interconnectedness. Helping others in need is both critical to get through this well, and also creates more purpose to our days and well-being.
- Create new routines and keep practicing health behaviors
Routine and ritual are restorative to us. Our brain wants predictable activity so we can relax our vigilant nervous system. Go to bed early and go outside each day to be active. (More information about sleep and activity is available below.) Remember that our activities, thoughts, and mood are closely linked. If you want to change your mood, change your activities and/or your thoughts.
- Eat well
Good nutrition helps our mood. Stress makes us seek comfort foods, and in turn high carbs and sugars impact our mood. Many population-based studies show that a Mediterranean diet has been linked to better mental health and stress resilience, whereas a junk food western diet is linked to depression and anxiety. Try to fill your home with fresh produce, frozen vegetables, and whole foods when possible.”
This week’s focus is on feeling hope. Are you giving and receiving warm, comforting social support? Are you being extra kind to yourself and practicing healthy habits? Anyone find it interesting that I picked this word this week? I don’t know about you but I’m already feeling so much more hope!
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Word-Of-the-Week #848: Rules
November 5, 2020 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #848: Rules
Rules – prescribed guides for conduct or action.
How good are you at following the rules? Are there any you wish you could break?
Once again, Steve Strauss, author of STEVE’S 3-MINUTE COACHING, sent a very thought provoking piece.
Great Question: Rules?
(Great questions lead to great answers; weak questions, weak ones.)
“What rules am I following that I wish I could break?
”Coaching Point: The answers to this Great Question are evoked through three inquiries.
To begin, what are the rules you’re following and who established them? Did you learn them yourself or merely inherit them? If they’ve been in place for a while some are still valid and useful, some may no longer be. For you. For others, fine, but not for you. So the first step is to become aware of and clear about the rules which run you.
To begin, what are the rules you’re following and who established them? Did you learn them yourself or merely inherit them? If they’ve been in place for a while some are still valid and useful, some may no longer be. For you. For others, fine, but not for you. So the first step is to become aware of and clear about the rules which run you.
The second inquiry is to get clarity about why you wish you could break the rules. Outdated? Never yours to begin with? Good and useful at one point in your life, but now barriers to something better? If there is a part of you which wants to break out, trust the tug.
Finally, why have you not already broken free? Do you need permission? Does the change seem scary? Will there be consequences (real or imagined)?
Rules are great. Knowing and following rules can simplify life and make your journey easier by not having to stop and contemplate the consequences of each little action. The rules are the rails your engine is chugging along.
It’s the unexamined rules which may be holding you back.
What rules are you following that you wish you could break?
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This week’s focus is on rules. Are you following rules that you established or merely inherited? Do you have any outdated rules you would like to break? Do you need permission?
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