Being Engaged and Detached

In order to achieve high levels of success in your professional endeavors, one must muster up enough passion, courage, and energy to follow through the difficulties that naturally occur during such a quest. Yet, without a healthy level of detachment, our passionate drive can over take us and cause us to suffer.

How To Develop Detachment

First: Establish emotional boundaries between you and the person, place, or thing with whom you have become overly enmeshed or dependent on.

Second: Take back power over your feelings from persons, places, or things which in the past you have given power to affect your emotional well-being.

Third: “Hand over” to your Higher Power the persons, places, and things which you would like to see changed but which you cannot change on your own.

Fourth: Make a commitment to your personal recovery and self-health by admitting to yourself and your Higher Power that there is only one person you can change and that is yourself and that for your serenity you need to let go of the “need” to fix, change, rescue, or heal other persons, places, and things.

Fifth: Recognize that it is “sick” and “unhealthy” to believe that you have the power or control enough to fix, correct, change, heal, or rescue another person, place, or thing if they do not want to get better nor see a need to change.

Sixth: Recognize that you need to be healthy yourself and be “squeaky clean” and a “role model” of health in order for another to recognize that there is something “wrong” with them that needs changing.

Seventh: Continue to own your feelings as your responsibility and not blame others for the way you feel.

Eighth: Accept personal responsibility for your own unhealthy actions, feelings, and thinking and cease looking for the persons, places, or things you can blame for your unhealthiness.

Ninth: Accept that addicted fixing, rescuing, enabling are “sick” behaviors and strive to extinguish these behaviors in your relationship to persons, places, and things.

Tenth: Accept that many people, places, and things in your past and current life are “irrational,” “unhealthy,” and “toxic” influences in your life, label them honestly for what they truly are, and stop minimizing their negative impact in your life.

Eleventh: Reduce the impact of guilt and other irrational beliefs which impede your ability to develop detachment in your life.

Twelfth: Practice “letting go” of the need to correct, fix, or make better the persons, places and things in life over which you have no control or power to change.

Source

Quantum Mechanics, Causality & Everyday Life

If you study Quantum Mechanics, it discusses the notion of probability in relation to determining the position of waves or particles. Waves and particles are what all phenomena are made of at the macroscopic scale. You and I, when broken down to our fundamental level are made up of waves and particles as is everything else. This is obviously a simplistic way of describing a very complex notion, but it will do for our purposes here. Anyway, physicists have been trying to predict the future motion of a particle by knowing its present position and momentum and all the forces acting upon it. This is important to all of us, because this knowledge could be applied to our quest to achieve our specific goals in our everyday lives. Quantum Mechanics has taught us that exact results cannot be determined and only probable outcomes are possible. This is known as the uncertainty principle.

Cause and effect is widely understood in the western world in a linear sense; for every cause a corresponding effect results. This is only partially true, since we cannot predict that specific causes or choices will produce exact outcomes or effects (Quantum Mechanics). Now, that does not mean a specific cause won’t result in our intended specific effect. It could, we just can’t count on such luck every time. In dealing with causality, the challenge is to learn how to be openly specific with detached engagement. This is no easy task for the linear mind that seeks to control every outcome in its quest for control. This quest for control is an attempt by the mind to find happiness, and yet, ironically, such a quest will always result in suffering, the antithesis of happiness. This Law (causality) of the Universe is constantly and forever vibrating phenomena into our physical reality and pulsating life into every aspect of everything. If we engage with this Law in our everyday lives in the correct way, with detached engagement while being openly specific we can achieve all our goals and find ultimate happiness.

Open Specificity

Now the fun begins. In order to engage in the Universal Law of Causality correctly, one must first understand that they are responsible for everything in their life, “good” and “bad.” No matter how dire your situation, no one can get you out of it but yourself. That doesn’t mean you won’t get help along the way for you will, but in the end it is your responsibility to create any change you wish to have in your life. The purpose of being specific and open is so that you don’t take the notion of openness to mean avoidance. Each of us is filled with desires that must be fulfilled. Make no mistake, it is hardly spiritual to not want things like money, lovers, husbands, good jobs, etc. Our purpose on the planet is to fulfill our desires without hurting or burdening others while we do it. Spirituality is the manifestation of our desires in this lifetime so that we can experience the divinity that resides within our lives. How else could we understand our divinity or power if not through challenging ourselves to break through our doubts and fears in the pursuit of manifesting our dreams and desires.

We must be specific about what we want to create so that we don’t fall into the snares of escapism by pretending that we don’t really want something when in reality we doubt our ability to actually get what we choose. Being specific offers us the opportunity to test the waters of this wonderful Law and our divine ability to engage with it on many levels. The openness has to do with allowing it to look differently than what we planned. When I say different I don’t mean other than what we chose. For example, a person may desire to be a grade school teacher but is having trouble finding a job. During their job search process they are offered a job at a tutoring center with more pay and better work hours. This center offers classroom tutoring and individual tutoring. Do they take the job or keep searching for a position as a grade school teacher? There is no right or wrong answer, but if you believe that we are all being given, in the moment, the best possible opportunity for our lives, which I believe is true, then taking the tutoring position would work. It is still a position in education with better pay and hours. As was discussed in the last newsletter, we have an internal Daimon that is running the show and we have to trust that what shows up is its call to expression. If this person were to stay attached to the grade school teaching position, he/she might end up forcing something that was not meant to be at that particular time or was not intended by their Daimon. Now, if this person was offered a job as a sales assistant at Morgan Stanley, I would say turn it down because it is not in the specific “realm” of teaching. This way of going about things offers specificity without rigidity and control, which ultimately is more fun, free from stress and fulfilling!

Source

Functional Foods

Functional foods are foods with health-promoting benefits and/or disease-preventing properties that go beyond its fundamental nutritional value. Functional foods can be found in any supermarket and understanding what these types of foods do for us can be very beneficial.

Understanding Functional Foods

These foods are categorized as having pre-biotic and pro-biotic bacteria and are found in some types of yogurt and fermented milk products. Pro-biotic bacteria is a ‘live microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal balance.’ This means that pro-biotics improve the balance of bacteria in the gut, which reduces the risk of disease. Conversely, pre-biotic foods aren’t digested by the body but stimulates the growth of certain bacteria in the colon, causing improved health. Pre-biotics include ingredients such as inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides (complex carbohydrates which are added to certain yogurts). Other functional foods are enriched with plant chemicals, which can be found in margarines such as Benecol and Flora Proactive. Plant chemicals are similar in structure to cholesterol and are called sterols. They differ from cholesterol in that they are not absorbed by the gut and can inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the diet. Studies have shown that plant sterols can significantly reduce LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) while raising HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol) in the blood. Other functional foods are fortified with folic acid, which are found in staple foods such as bread or breakfast cereals. A good intake of folic acid or folate (B vitamin) is needed to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects, such as spina bifida that can develop in unborn babies. Finally, there are functional foods that are fortified with n-3 or omega-3 fatty acids that are found in foods like eggs. People who have high intakes of oily fish, which are a strong source of omega-3 fatty acid have a lower incidence of heart disease than those who don’t. By incorporating beneficial fish oils into products such as eggs, people who dislike oily fish can still benefit from these oils.

“Staple foods” was mentioned above and a basic definition is added here. They are a basic but nutritious food that forms the basis of a traditional diet, particularly that of the poor. Although nutritious, staple foods generally do not by themselves provide a full range of nutrients, so other foods need to be added to the diet to prevent malnutrition. Staple foods vary from place to place, but are usually of vegetable origin, from cereals, pulses, corn, rice, millets and plants growing starchy roots. Bread, noodles (or pasta), rice congee, polenta and porridge are prepared from them. Types of bread that are considered staples in some parts of the world are tortillas, chapatis, naan, and mantou. Staple crops harvested as root vegetables for their starchy underground storage organ include cassava, potato, sweet potato, yam, and taro.
Functional Foods List

1. Almonds: Lowers LDL and total cholesterol. Reduces risk of heart disease

2. Avocado: Reduces risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and osteoporosis

3. Beans: Reduces risk of heart disease and diabetes

4. Blueberries: Reduces risk of cancer

5. Broccoli: Lowers LDL cholesterol, Reduces risk of cancer, Maintains healthy immune system

6. Cheese: May decreases risk of certain cancers

7. Chocolate: May decrease risk for cardiovascular disease

8. Citrus Fruits: Reduces risk of certain cancers

9. Cranberries: Improves urinary tract health and prevents infection, Reduces risk of heart disease

10. Flax Seed: Reduces risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and osteoporosis

11. Garlic: Reduces risk of cancer, Lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure

12. Hot Cocoa: Reduces risk of cancer and heart disease

13. Milk: Reduces risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure and colon cancer

14. Oatmeal: Reduces total and LDL cholesterol levels

15. Olive Oil: Reduces heart disease risk by improving cholesterol levels

16. Salmon: Improves mental and visual function: Reduces risk of heart disease

17. Soy: Reduces risk of heart disease, Reduces risk of certain cancers, Can lowers LDL cholesterol, Eases menopausal symptoms

18. Spinach: Maintains healthy vision

19. Strawberries: May lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers, and improve memory.

20. Tea, black and green: Reduces risk for stomach, esophageal, and skin cancers, and heart disease

21. Tomatoes: Reduces risk of prostate cancer and heart attack

22. Tuna: Reduces risk of heart disease

23. Walnuts: Enhances mental functioning, Lowers total and LDL cholesterol and reduces risk of heart disease

24. Whole Grains: Reduces risk of certain cancers and heart disease

25. Wine, Red and Grapes/grape juice: Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer

26. Yogurt, cultured dairy products: Improves intestinal health, Reduces risk of cancer, Reduces cholesterol

Sources:
A Beginner’s Guide to Functional Foods (Wynnie Chan)
www.wikipidia.com
www.mealsmatter.org

The Benefits of Fiber!

We all know the benefits of fiber! Fiber not only promotes health, it also help reduce the risk for some chronic diseases. Both soluble and insoluble fiber are undigested. They are therefore not absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead of being used for energy, fiber is excreted from our bodies. Soluble fiber forms a gel when mixed with liquid, while insoluble fiber does not. Insoluble fiber passes through our intestines largely intact.

Fiber

Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the digestive system and absorb water. There are two principal types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber is simply bulk that changes little as it passes through the body. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, forms a soft gel in solution with water. Most foods provide a mixture of both, but are listed as mostly one or the other. Soluble fiber has been shown to be able to bind bile salts which may reduce blood cholesterol levels. It also may slow the absorption of glucose from the intestine, thereby requiring less insulin secretion.

Fiber may decrease spasms in the gastrointestinal tract by keeping the lumen distended. The main value of dietary fiber is that it provides bulk to the bolus moving through the digestive tract. There are two great advantages to this: by bulking up the bolus, eventually increasing the weight of the stool, it’s easier for the digestive system to move it through, and the bulkier stool also tends to retain normal amounts of moisture to make it easier to eliminate with less straining and abrasion. The moisture content of human stool does not change when more fiber is consumed, except marginally from psyllium husk (Eastwood et. al & Prynne et. al). Because the bowel regulation is mostly due to bulking and not to increased water in the stool, it is very unlikely to cause diarrhea unless taken in massive amounts (this is as long as one does not consider synthetic sugars in this category).

Increased fiber consumption appears to lower the risk of developing type II diabetes, heart disease, and diverticulitis. [1] It may also help prevent high cholesterol and help fight obesity. High-fiber foods help move waste through the digestive tract faster and easier, so possibly harmful substances do not have as much contact with the gastrointestinal tract and reduce straining. Many cause blood sugar or cholesterol absorption to decrease in amplitude of the plotted absorption or decrease the amount absorbed by slowing or decreasing the absorption. Although for years dietary fiber has been said to reduce the risk of colon cancer, one study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Medicine of over 88,000 women did not show a statistically significant relationship between higher fiber consumption and lower rates of colorectal cancer or adenomas. Negative effects of dietary fiber include a reduced absorption of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and calories from the gut. Some insoluble fibers can bind to certain minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. This is unlikely to be harmful in the average adult, but guidelines for the US have been established, and fiber users are advised to avoid taking an insoluble fiber supplement at the same time as, or soon before or after, taking vitamin or mineral supplements.

Sources of Fiber:

Current recommendations suggest that adults consume 20-35 grams of dietary fiber per day, but the average American’s daily intake of dietary fiber is only 14-15 grams. [3] The ADA recommends trying to get most of your dietary fiber from foods you eat, as an important part of consuming variety, nutrition, synergy between nutrients, and possibly phytonutrients. Soluble fiber is found in many foods, including:

* legumes, (peas, soybeans, and other beans)
* oats
* some fruits (particularly apples, bananas), and berries
* certain vegetables, such as broccoli and carrots
* root vegetables, such as potatoes and yams (the skins are insoluble fiber)
* psyllium seed (only about 2/3 soluble fiber).
*Legumes also typically contain shorter-chain carbohydrates that are indigestible by the human digestive tract but which are digested by bacteria in the small intestine, which is a cause of flatulence.
Sources of insoluble fiber include
* whole grain foods
* bran
* nuts and seeds
* vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, zucchini, celery
* the skins of some fruits, including tomatoes

High Fiber Recipe:

Lentil Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
2/3 cup lentils
1-1/2 cups water
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
2 ounces chopped pimento
4 cups mixed salad greens
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:
Rinse lentils in cold water and drain. Bring water to a boil in a heavy nonstick pan over medium high heat. Reduce heat and add lentils. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes, or until lentils are just tender. Drain and refrigerate until cooled. Combine next 3 ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Combine cooled lentils, chicken and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Pour in dressing and mix gently. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. To serve, arrange salad greens on individual plates and top with chicken salad. Sprinkle with parsley.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 280
Fat: 12.6g
40% calories from fat
Cholesterol: 33mg
Protein: 19g
Carbohydrates: 24.2g
Fiber: 11.1g
Sugar: 3.3g
Sodium: 105mg
Dietary Exchanges: Vegetable: 0.8, Bread: 1.2, Lean meat: 1.3, Fat: 1.6, Sugar: 0.1, Very lean meat protein: 0.3
Fiber Tip:
Eat fresh fruits (including the skin and pulp).

Sources:
Wikipidia.com
Indiasite.com
fitnessandfreebies.com

Basic Food & Health Tips!

I said in last month’s newsletter, that we don’t need to get complicated when we strive to excel with our health. I discussed what I thought was valuable regarding a workout routine and suggested a very simple food program as a suggestion towards creating new habits with food that will have long-term affects to your physical health. We’ll be discussing medicinal qualities of food and food in general for the next several newsletter.

The more knowledge we can learn about food and how it affects our body the more we can be engaged with our physical self. Again, rather than hiring someone to do it for us, it is better to engage in the process for ourselves and have someone assist us in that process. It is very difficult to maintain consistency when we have the perspective that I’ll hire someone to get me to my goal. We are the only ones who can get us anywhere! And with this perspective, we are able to tap into our passions and generate motivation and fulfillment for ourselves.

Food Tips

Alcohol

In chemistry, alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom, which in turn is bound to other hydrogen and/or carbon atoms. The general formula for a simple acyclic alcohol is CnH2n+1OH. In general usage, alcohol refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). This sense underlies the term alcoholism (addiction to alcohol). As a drug, ethanol is known to have a depressing effect that decreases the responses of the central nervous system (see effects of alcohol on the body). Other forms of alcohol are usually described with a clarifying adjective, as in isopropyl alcohol or by the suffix -ol, as in isopropanol.

This substance, in and of itself, is tasteless and colorless. “Congeners” that are included in alcohol to give it color, flavor, and character. These “congeners” stem from the aging of the liquor to its fermentation. The bacteria in our bodies actually produce tiny amounts of alcohol all the time. When alcohol enters the stomach, it reacts with an enzyme in the stomach and liver that transforms the alcohol to acetaldehyde. It is the acetaldehydes that we should be concerned about because they are the producers of our nasty hangovers. Alcohol just get’s us drunk. The body burns off about half an ounce of pure alcohol (about the amount in a dose of alcohol) in an hour. Let’s demonstrate this point with your average 12 ounce can of beer. A 12 ounce can of beer is about 5% alcohol and so only has about a half ounce of alcohol in it. A 5 ounce glass of wine is 12% alcohol and a one & a half ounce shot of 80 proof whiskey is about 40% alcohol. Do the math and you’ll find out how long it takes you to burn off the alcohol that you consume. Once the alcohol reaches our bloodstream, it travels to various parts of the body. Once it enters the brain, it replaces the water molecules of the brain and so slows down the its efficiency. Also, overdoses of alcohol shuts down our central nervous system, which in extreme cases causes the brain to stop sending us signals that remind us to breathe. All alcoholic drinks have a lot of calories with very little protein.

Caffeine

Caffeine, sometimes called theine when found in tea, is a xanthine alkaloid found in the leaves and beans of the coffee tree, in tea, yerba mate, guarana berries, and in small quantities in cocoa, the kola nut and the Yaupon holly. In plants, caffeine acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills many insects feeding upon them. Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, having the effect of warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Caffeine-containing beverages, such as coffee and tea, enjoy great popularity, making caffeine the world’s most popular psychoactive substance.

The world’s most popular drink is coffee and the “boost” it contains can be found in 60 types of plants. Coffee, tea and cocoa are just the most popular of the bunch. Many health problems are associated with Caffeine ranging from addiction, heart disease, and low birth rates in babies. These risks are more likely to happen to people who drink 5 or more cups per day. It also stimulates the central nervous system by affecting chemical carriers in the brain that are known as neurotransmitters. Thus, it can make you feel more attentive and can increase your capacity to concentrate. This results in the feeling of alertness that is associated with Caffeine, as well as causing your metabolism to speed up to allow for the burning of calories. That does not mean that Caffeine helps you lose weight! It doesn’t because the increase in your metabolism is very small. The maximum amount of coffee that a person should drink per day is four cups, because any more than that can cause an increase in your cholesterol and blood pressure. Other studies link caffeine to breast cancer and miscarriages.

Sugar

In general use, “sugar” is taken to mean sucrose, also called “table sugar” or saccharose, a disaccharide which is a white crystalline solid. It is the most commonly used sugar for altering the flavor and properties (such as mouthfeel, preservation, and texture) of beverages and food. Table sugar is commercially extracted from either sugar cane or sugar beet. The word sugar originates from the Sanskrit word sharkara, which means “sugar” or “pebble.” The “simple” sugars, or monosaccharides, such as glucose, are a store of energy which is used by biological cells. A sugar is denoted by any word on the ingredient list that ends with “ose”. Given that sugar contributes energy (calories), if you consume more than you need you will gain weight. Weight gain increases your risk of getting heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or even some types of cancer. However, if you are underweight, sugar can add extra calories so that you can gain weight. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin (in case of diabetes), then the sugar you eat increases the sugar in your blood to unhealthy levels. The body breaks down sugar into the simple sugar that is found in your blood (glucose). Unfortunately, there are no vitamins or minerals in sugar and so it is called an “empty” nutrient. That is why it is the first food to be eliminated from a weight loss diet. By the way, it does not matter if the sugar is white or brown. The amount of molasses in brown sugar is so low it doesn’t contribute enough of any vitamin or mineral to count.

Sugar Substitutes

• Zsweet: a natural diet sweetener made from erythritol, a granular sugar alcohol approved for use in the United States as a food additive and sweetener.
While erythritol is 70 percent as sweet as table sugar, it is substantially less caloric and has a mild cooling effect in the mouth. Zsweet can be used for baking.
• Sucralose: a noncaloric sweetener also known by the brand name Splenda.
It is about 600 times sweeter than sugar and is the only artificial sweetener on the market made from sugar. It is altered artificially with chlorine atoms. Heating doesn’t reduce its sweetening power, so it can be used in baking.
• Aspartame: sold under the brand names Equal and NutraSweet and approved for use in hundreds of foods and beverages.
Aspartame is made from two amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid. It is not good for baking and is about 220 times sweeter than sugar.
• Stevia: a natural, zero-calorie sugar substitute found in health food stores.
It is made from a South American shrub and is about 300 times sweeter than sugar. Unlike Zsweet, approved by the FDA as a food, Stevia is sold as a dietary supplement in the U.S. It does not measure like sugar and is not ideal for baking.
24-Hour Wine & Cheese Omelet

Method :
* Butter 2 shallow 3-quart (9×13-inch) baking dishes. Spread bread over bottom and drizzle with butter. Sprinkle with Swiss and jack cheeses and salami.
* Beat together eggs, milk, wine, green onions, mustard, pepper and red pepper until foamy. Pour over cheese. Cover dishes with foil, crimping edges. Refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake casseroles covered until set, about 1 hour. Uncover: spread with sour cream and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, until crusty and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Ingredients :
1 loaf day old French or Italian bread, broken into small
6 tbl unsalted butter, melted
3/4 lb Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 lb Monterey jack cheese, shredded
9 slc Genoa salami, coarsely chopped
16 x eggs
3 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 whl green onions, minced
1 tbl Dijon or German mustard
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1 1/2 cup sour cream
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (2/3 to 1)

Sources:
Fooddownunder.com
Zsweet.com
Mayoclinic.com
Wikipidia.com
Indiasite.com

Nurture Your Body!

The mysteries of our physical body are many. It is the body that omits energies like feelings, aches, pains, joy, and the like. Where do they come from, why do they happen, and are some of these experiences better for us than others? Our minds spend much of its time trying to only have “good” or “happy” physical experiences, but alas such attempts cause more harm than good. Acceptance and understanding are the first steps to feeling joy and a sense of peace. The best way to understand our bodies is to accept that it needs to be consistently maintained in order for it to run smoothly.

6-Step Plan to Nurturing The Body

We may think that in order to get in shape we need have a great diet, pay an expert to help us lose weight, or change our lifestyle completely, but that is not the case. Our minds want to complicate things and tries to trick us into thinking that more is better. Another obstacle comes from a type of thinking that takes the “all or nothing” approach. In this scenario, in an effort to get the most out of what we do, we set up a complex and perfect workout or dietary plan that we couldn’t possibly meet for a number of reasons. First, our bodies have to learn the new behaviors and get used to the feelings associated with eating different foods and the pain resulting from a new exercise program. Second, it can be difficult to schedule the extra activities in an already busy routine. Finally, our internal negativity or natural resistance is going to vie for control and be screaming for you to give up. Thus, we must allow for a trial and error period, which is unavoidable and will occur until these activities become habitual tendencies. Rather than say, “I’m going to reach my fitness goals in three months,” I would say, “I’m going to give myself three months to engrain these new activities into my being.” This approach will result in long-term growth and allows an individual to continue these activities or versions of them throughout their life. The other approach is a quick fix technique that often results in quitting when the “program” is finished. Here are a few simple steps that I would begin practicing to help you acheive a healthy lifestyle:

1. Eat smaller portions (the size of your fist) that are broken up into 4 to 6 meals per day.

2. Make sure that those meals include a protein, carbohydrate, green and other vegetables, and a grain

3. Drink water throughout the day, consume less alcohol and cut back on sugar and caffeine.

4. Eat this way without alteration 3 to 5 days per week. You can even break each meal into the specific food groups listed:

……………………………………………….. Meal #1 Protein

……………………………………………….. Meal #2 carbohydrate (rice, pasta, potatoes, etc.)

……………………………………………….. Meal #3 Veggies

……………………………………………….. Meal #4 Grains/Fibre

……………………………………………….. Meal #5 Vegetable Juice (from a juice machine)

5. Cut out dairy and all complex Carbohydrates like pasta, rice and bread.

6. Practice Yoga 3 – 6 days per week.

A shift in our thinking regarding the way we view our bodies will help us nurture ourselves; give up the idea that you have to enjoy things in order for them to be fulfilling. Is it more important for food to taste good or be good for your body? Of course, the latter is the correct answer. Taste is a conditioned response and we can learn to like the taste of food that we wouldn’t normally be inclined to eat. A balance of “taste good” and “good for you” is the ideal. Which is why I suggested the above workout plan. Be really good to your body about half the time and the other half can be spent in devilish pleasures! The above 6-Step Plan is easy to do and allows the body to learn new behaviors at a gradual pace. Practice doing this plan 3 days per week and on the other days don’t exercise at all and eat whatever you want. You will find, over time, that your body does not need nearly as much food as you think it does.

Most of the extra food that we eat is to comfort ourselves or is used (often unconsciously) as a block to unwanted feelings of sadness, anxiety, or fear. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these feelings and they do not mean that we have ‘problems.’ They simply offer us a chance to nurture ourselves during difficult times. This nurturing can only happen if we allow those feelings to be expressed by either crying, or yelling (not at anyone) or breathing them out to relieve our frustrations. Finding tools that allow us to “yell-out” our frustrations are essential to well-being. Trying to be calm when we don’t feel that way simply blocks our true expression. I have come home at times and felt a lot of energy or was extremely “amped.” I usually come home and do my Yoga routine right away. When I’m “amped” up or full of energy, I do my Yoga routine to techno or house music with the volume turned way up. Again, I don’t want to block what I am naturally feeling, but I also don’t want it to prevent me from doing my scheduled workout. Usually, near the end of my Yoga routine I have calmed down and have turned off the music becuase it no longer resonated with me.

Benefits of Yoga

I recommend Yoga as the primary exercise routine for my clients. In my opinion, it does more for the body as a single practice than most other exercise forms. Pilates would be my second choice and recommendation. Yoga offers, in a single workout, all of the elements needed to keep the body optimally healthy: strength, flexibility, breathing, stamina and it calms the mind. If one is thinking in terms of making the body work and feel better instead of wanting to be entertained, then Yoga is the way to go. Of course, over time, Yoga will be an enjoyable experience. For individuals who have not tried it before and especially for those who are not athletically inclined, the first six months to a year will be very difficult. In terms of one’s life though, this is a very infantile amount of time. I can almost guarantee that you will feel better and be profoundly happier when Yoga is a part of your life!

At the physical level, yoga and its cleansing practices have proven to be extremely effective for various disorders. Yoga is extremely effective in:

Increasing Flexibility – yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised.

Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons – likewise, the well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body. Surprisingly it has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously work upon. Why? It is here that the remarkable research behind yoga positions proves its mettle. Seemingly unrelated “non strenuous” yoga positions act upon certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily

Massaging of ALL Organs of the Body – Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate – that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder. One of the far-reaching benefits of yoga is the uncanny sense of awareness that it develops in the practitioner of an impending health disorder or infection. This in turn enables the person to take pre-emptive corrective action

Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.

Excellent toning of the muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.

This newsletter was assisted by the website:
www.healthandyoga.com

Finding Balance and Flow

Technological advances like the internet, computers, better transportation options, cell phones, etc. have made working life easier. Computer programs do much of our work for us, cell phones allow us to contact anyone at anytime, airplanes allow us to go anywhere in the world in a matter of hours and the internet allows us access to information at the click of a button. Yet, many individuals complain about not having enough time in the day to complete their work tasks and that they don’t have enough time to spend with their families.

If our technological advances have afforded us more time, then why are many of us still complaining about not having enough time to do the things that we are required to do? The simplistic answer is that individuals are not managing their time appropriately and so need assistance in time management. This simply is not true. I am awed at how the American family is able to work between 50 to 80 hours per week, raise children, volunteer their time (which many do) to various causes that they believe in, and still find time for social activities. They obviously know how to manage their time, but they could use assistance in balancing their activities and finding flow while engaging in these activities.

Creating Balance

Before an individual can discover how to create balance, he or she must first decide what they value most. Many people probably think that they know what is important to them, but I would venture to say that they only have a vague idea regarding those things. Whether they are clear or not, it is worth suspending the supposed clarity or lack there of in order to delve into new possibilities. Such an activity can be exciting, fun and very freeing if done in a way that works. Below are some simple steps towards determining what one values most in life.

1. Brainstorm: Get a piece of paper and write down everything that you think you want to do and find valuable. Don’t censure yourself! Let yourself be free and open your mind to all the possibilities. No matter how silly or even insane the things might seem to your rational mind. You are doing this exercise correctly when the things that you write down don’t make sense to you or you don’t think that you could ever do them. The key is that you have an interest in them!

2. Categorize: Take each item that you wrote down and categorize them by “area type.” Examples include but are not limited to: health, wealth, food, family, etc. Try not to use general words like “love” or “relationships.” Instead of “relationships” say “parents,” “lover,” “children,” “boyfriend,” etc. This step helps the mind find clarity and creates a deeper sense of what the goals mean to you. It also causes your internal connection to them to find an avenue for expression. Don’t be surprised if you experience various feeling during this process.

3. Prioritize: Put each goal from your categorized list into an order of importance sequence. This does not mean compromise which ones you should do or shouldn’t do. The idea is that you are going to experience all of them at one point throughout your life. A long-term perspective is helpful because it decreases undo pressure and the need to force them all to happen quickly. When you see that you have 20, 30, 40 years to achieve your life goals, the experience becomes quite fulfilling.

4. Schedule: Once you have completed steps 1 — 3 the fun really starts; you get to begin doing the things you want. All that is required is that you begin scheduling time to do them in your weekly calendar. If you don’t keep a weekly calendar, then I would suggest that you do so. By creating a weekly schedule, you free your mind up from thinking about what it needs to do. Instead of having these things clutter up your mind, you need to just look at what you’ve schedule for the day and do it.

These steps are key to finding balance within your life. If most of your schedule consists of work stuff, begin shedding in some areas and adding other areas of interest. These changes don’t have to be drastic. Deciding to leave work 30 minutes early twice a week so that you can get to the gym or so that you can begin reading that book you’ve been wanting to read is a great way to start. If you think your boss won’t want you to leave, try having an open dialogue with him or her regarding your schedule. I have worked with many clients who claim that their work schedule is unbending. Well, after I gave them some coaching tips they were able to work something out with their bosses.
Finding Flow

What is this thing called “flow?” Any description will be flawed because language can never substitute or accurately describe a physiological or spiritual experience. A person trying to explain the love they have for their romantic partner or the feeling they experienced while parachuting out of an airplane will never live up to the actual experience. All an explanation can do is either help someone relate their own experience or lack-there-of to what is said, which will never be an absolute description. That being said, I will do my best to describe that which cannot be accurately described. For those who have experienced the thrill of athletics, dancing, acting, painting and the like will have some idea of what this “flow” experience is like. The time you made that outstanding athletic play without even thinking about it is what I’m talking about; it was as if the move came out of you.

Let’s use a concrete example. You are watching a basketball game and the offensive player is at the top of the key and knows that his or her goal is to put the basketball into the basket. The player dribbles and lunges to the left and instinctually goes right and finds a new defender in front of him/her. Again, without thinking about it, the player spins 360 degrees around the player without picking up his/her dribble, and drives directly towards the basket for a lay up. While in the air when attempting the lay up, a new defender comes from the opposite direction to block the path to the basket. The offensive player then, in mid-air, pump-fakes and dips the ball under the outstretch arms of the defender to his/her teammate who lays the ball in the hoop for two points. As this example shows, the offensive player could not have thought about doing all of those things before driving to the basket. It would have taken too long and it would have been impossible because he/she could not have foreseen all of the potential obstacles along the way.

This same kind of thing can be experienced in everyday life with a few simple tools. The idea is to create the right habits so that you instinctually know where to go and which actions are the most valuable for the things you want to create in your life.

1. Mind Training: Much of life’s difficulties stem from our inability to turn off the rational part of our thinking; the part of the mind that wonders how, when and if something will happen. The reality is that we never have an absolute answer to any of these questions. The only thing that we can know for certain is “what” we want to create or choose to happen to us. Whether it actually happens, when it will happen and how it will happen is ALWAYS a guess. One way of training the mind is to spend time each day training it to be with one thought repetitively. Sit in a comfortable place and repeat something you’d like to happen repeatedly in the affirmative. For example: “I am enjoying my days.” This is different than “I hope to enjoy my days.” The latter example will still train your mind to focus, but it will result in a “hoping” versus “having.” Remember, the body will experience what we tell it to.

2. “Now” Training: Create healthy habits to establish a strong sense of self and comfortableness with the mundane elements of your daily routine. Don’t put things off for later; do everything you can or need to do as quickly as possible. For example, don’t wait to pay your bills. Once your bills come in the mail, open them, file the receipt away, write the check, put the check in the envelope and put the stamp on the envelope. Practicing the habit of doing things right away will enable you to feel in flow because you won’t feel the pressure of things left undone. If you can’t do everything right away, at the very least write them down in a notebook or piece of paper at your desk and pick a certain time of day to take care of them. For example your mind might say, “I need to call my Mom,” “I need to schedule an appointment with my doctor,” or “I need to reschedule my massage appointment.” Writing them down will prevent these thoughts from resurfacing respectively. The quicker you do things the less you will have to think about them, which prevents this “flow” experience. Remember, too much thinking takes us out of flow.

3. Observance Training: Practice observing your mind’s thoughts without acting on them. Observe them as content, just as you would read the contents of a book. Our minds are continuously yapping about something until we give it reason to be quiet. One way we do this is to observe the thoughts without acting on them. If this is done enough, our minds will realize and learn that the chatter will no longer be accepted. Remember, the mind thinks things in the hopes of action being done to “solve” those things. The goal is that we control our minds versus our minds controlling us. This transformation cannot occur until we first learn how to read the content of our thinking without acting upon that content. Much of what the mind is demanding that we do is not really necessary. It is just our fear manifesting itself in fearful thoughts. A strong observance ability allows the mind to automatically learn what is really valuable and what isn’t; distinguishing between that which is trivial and significant. You don’t have to sit in silent meditation to practice your observance abilities. It is actually more effective during the numerous activities of everyday life. Another observance technique is to focus your attention on the things in front of you. We are often thinking about things instead of being present to the things in front of us. For example, when walking down the street bring your attention to the things in your current environment. See the tree, the color of the cars parked along the street, the birds in the trees or the clothes that people are wearing. Don’t judge these things, just see them. Also, hear the sounds and smell the smells that surround you…

…All of this will help you find peace and flow!

Effectively Managing Stress!

The best way to manage stress is to understand its foundation; where it comes from. Whether individuals want to admit it or not, stress begins with perception. The way we perceive a situation is the origin of stress. Of course that doesn’t mean that changing ones perception will eliminate stress. Eliminating stress would mean that we would stop being human. Learning to understand the origin of stress allows one to effectively manage the difficult situations that they encounter in their professional and personal lives.

Stress can be defined as, “a state of being or feeling experienced by a person who perceives that the requirements necessary to obtain something surpass the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” There are two fundamental approaches that we can use to manage stress: “action-oriented” and “emotionally-oriented.” These two approaches offer alternative ways of perceiving and engaging in the challenging aspects of our endeavors.

2 Approaches For Managing Stress

1. Action-Oriented: This approach offers us ways to confront the challenges that cause us stress by helping us change the environment or situations that are presenting themselves to us. Notice that I say, “presenting themselves to us.” Our environment is a result of our internal experiences; how we think and feel about it. More accurately, our environment is a direct mirror of how we feel and think about things; the people, places and things in our life are a direct manifestation of our internal workings. For example, someone who doubts the possibility of generating a successful business will not be able to manifest one. Their actions will result in continually having unsuccessful business endeavors. This is how the science of the Universe works; the quantum physics of it. This way of thinking runs counter to the common view that our environment causes us stress; situations and events happen and we react to them with feelings. Have you ever caught yourself saying, “You make me angry or crazy.” It would be more accurate to say, “My interpretation of what you said makes me angry.” Our interpretation of our experiences creates our experiences. I know that sounds a bit philosophical, but watch the movie, “What The Bleep Do We Know,” and you’ll understand what I’m saying.

An action-oriented approach has nothing to do with achieving anything or getting out there to find one’s fortune. Rather than looking outside yourself to get things you want to create, look inside instead. The action that I would suggest is to clearly write down what you want to have happen in your life and wait and see what presents itself to you. If “what comes” to you matches what you wrote down then act on it. Otherwise, let it pass and wait for something to show up that mirrors your interests. Of course, taking a little action to “ignite” the Universe’s electrical circuits will help. Other than a little initial action that you put out, the rest is action coming to you that you act upon. This type of perspective has another element to it that states that every action taken corresponds to that action being manifested or mirrored in our environment over time. If something is bothering you, ask yourself what action can be taken to create a better scenario. For example, you may find that you don’t have enough time to spend with your children because you work too much. Simply, schedule time in for the kids and deal with the potential ramifications. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do your job effectively, you should. But not at the expense of your family life. Setting boundaries in this way can be difficult due to a fear of losing a job. Yet, if you value your family, then you should challenge yourself to find a happy medium. Your fear of losing a job may be true, and you’ll have to deal with that reality while taking action that works for everyone. Sit in the weight of, “If I do this, then I may lose my job. Yet, I feel that I am being fair and so will risk that harsh reality.” If you are fair and clearly communicate your needs, it should be fine.

To quote William Glasser,“At this stage of our evolution, we have almost total control over the doing component, some over the thinking component, almost none over the feeling component, and even less over the physiological component of our total behavior. Because we always have control over the doing component of our behavior, if we markedly change that component, we cannot avoid changing the thinking, feeling, and physiological components as well. The more we get involved in an active doing behavior that is markedly different from what we were doing when choosing a misery, like depressing or headaching, the more we will also change what we think, feel, and experience from our bodies. And if what we do gives us better control, it will be accompanied by better feelings, more pleasant thoughts, and greater physical comfort.” (Control Theory, pg. 51 – 52).

2. Emotionally-Oriented: Feelings are a huge challenge for most people because they generally play victim to their feelings, believing that outside forces cause their feelings. We now know that this isn’t true and that our perspective of persons, events and things causes us to feel certain things. My point in addressing feelings in this way is to help individuals understand how glorious ALL feelings can be. Both “good” and “bad” feelings offer us profound insight into what it means to be a human being. Learning how to embrace feelings as they occur while choosing behaviors that create the most value within the given circumstance allows us to create a highly fulfilling life. A person can feel really bad, be thinking thought of anguish and turmoil while cooking a romantic dinner for their significant other. I know this sounds crazy, but this is the reality of the human condition as mentioned by William Glasser in the above quote. If we view a situation negatively, then we will have negative feelings. Now, I am not saying that we shouldn’t have negative feelings. Life is very challenging and often result in “negative” feelings. A person fighting to overcome cancer probably isn’t going to be “giddy” with happiness. I am merely trying to avoid a victim consciousness when it comes to our feelings. We choose negative feelings and those negative feelings may be the best thing for us. Ideas of depression or emotional instability result in physiological responses that we choose to engage in to help us cope with some of life’s harsh realities. The point is that our feelings don’t have to control us; negative feelings don’t have to result in negative actions.

I would like to offer my theory, Perceptual Analysis Screen Sequence (P.A.S.S.), as a framework around which individuals could assist themselves in becoming more autonomous regarding the ownership of their thoughts or consciousness, and so, by default, ownership of their words, and feelings. P.A.S.S. is about analyzing one’s perceptions in order to screen out the habitual thought patterns or sequence of thoughts and then to reorder or create a new sequence that better serves each individual. An important point is that you can’t really just change thinking patterns or resist them. What one resists will persist. Just by observing the habitual thoughts, without judgment, one will naturally begin to choose new behaviors. P.A.S.S. is very much like what occurs when flour is sifted with a screen. A big jumble of flour is placed on the screen and gently sifted to keep out anything that is not flour. What was a big mess of flower becomes a neat, clear, more spread out, and so organized pile. P.A.S.S. allows an individual to take their jumbled defensive thoughts, understand them, and choose which ones they want. Observance is analogous to the screen that sifts the flour, it becomes that screen, but for thoughts. It allows individuals to observe their thoughts, without judgment of their cause, and choose what is most effective and responsible, rather than responding with habitual defensiveness.

There exists many modalities or techniques by which this can be accomplished. Examples include: consulting change agents, psychologists, journal writing, poetry, Buddhist chanting and meditation, acting, writing, or basically anything that enables one to see their thinking patterns beyond their intellect or rational minds. For example, when one journals consistently, if they pay attention, they will begin to see a pattern form, possibly fear or optimism regarding love, work, family, or whatever. A technique is only as good the intention behind it. P.A.S.S. frames ones intention to be more specifically aware of defense mechanisms, defensive routines or other erroneous thought patterns that may not serve the individual. The goal is to become more aware of the individual’s role in using some of these techniques or change modalities. The change agents goal is to facilitate self-awareness, and unless we take ownership of this process, these activities can degenerate into additional intellectual analysis, devoid of emotion, self-evaluation or real change. And that is what I mean by getting past the intellect or rational mind; the mind is merely the tool by which we can develop our being. Often, we stop there and truly believe an intellectual understanding of information is enough. If information were truly enough, no one would smoke, take drugs or overeat. P.A.S.S. can be a bridge between intellectual understanding and the experiential understanding we can achieve when we integrate our mind with our bodies, spirit and emotions.

Developing & Achieving Goals!

In order to have success in a given area, it is helpful to set tangible and so achievable goals. It is less valuable and less practical to think of goals in terms of the ultimate outcome one hopes to achieve. Certainly, knowing what we want to achieve is important, but it is far more important think of goals in terms of the actions necessary to get to our final destination. Simply put, think of goals in terms of cause first and effect second.

This simple distinction enables one to actually create rapid progress and is essential to actualizing our dreams and visions. I believe there is a fundamental flaw, generally speaking, in the way we think in modern society regarding how to manifest the things we want. That flaw has to do with the way we perceive the word outcome. We don’t give the word it’s full weight by emphasizing the come aspect; thinking just in terms of what will come to us or what we will get. Yet, the out element should be emphasized or at least given equal weight as a two part equation. What we put out is the pre-curser to what will come to us.

Setting Effective Goals

Having an effective relationship with our goals begins with expressing them positively, “I’ll be determined and committed,” versus “I need to stop being lazy and uncommitted.” Specificity is also very important. Be sure to state very specific goals, while including dates, times, and quantities. This helps determine how you are progressing by offering you a way to measure your results. Measurable results are absolutely necessary to assess your degree of progress. And again, this doesn’t mean if you reached your final destination, but rather helps you see your steps of success. Prioritize the goals that you have so that you don’t get overwhelmed by the amount of goals you have. You can’t work on all of them at the same time, and if they are not prioritized it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Always right them down! By writing them down, you free your mind up from thinking about them as much. The extra energy you save by doing this can be put into focusing on your goals that you have prioritized first. Believe it or not, you expend much energy thinking about the things you want to do. Which is such a waste of energy. Tools that decrease this tendency are essential to success and help you have an enjoyable process of creation. When it comes to setting effective goals, the most interesting part has to do with determining whether or not our goals are realistic. What determines whether a goal is “realistic” or not? Personally, I think we should always set goals that are “unrealistic” or beyond what we think is possible. All of the greatest inventions throughout history did not seem realistic at the outset. Yet, in the end they were achieved. Alexander bell and his telephone transmitter was nothing more than a human being with a cool idea and the determination to follow it through. If we can look at our everyday goals with this same light and passion, we will always succeed.

When I work with clients, I spend quite a lot of time assisting them in creating what I call an Overall Vision for their entire life. It is a vision that has as its fundamental nature specificity and chronology. One might think that such a vision would be easy to create, but in fact it can take quite a long time if it is done correctly. My foremost challenge is to encourage them to really say what they desire and to assist them in tapping into those interests with as much passion as Mr. Alexander Bell did with his telephone. Once the vision has been created, it is time to set it in motion by creating the habit of scheduling the necessary actions needed for success in a daily planner. For some, this is an easy thing to do, but for others it is not so easy. Especially when it includes all the areas of a person’s life. For example, a person may be highly successful at work, but may not be healthy physically or may not have a good relationship with their family. When we challenge ourselves to succeed in areas that we struggle with, we must also tackle the emotional blocks that are associated with this difficulty. This can be very challenging, and yet with the right attitude in can also be quite rewarding and fun. Establishing a harmonious balance between all the areas of our “total self,” as I like to call it, makes life a joyous adventure. Mindtools.com gives a nice breakdown of all important areas in a person’s life that could be considered when deciding which areas to begin implementing regularly: artistic, attitude, career, education, family, financial, physical, pleasure & public service. There are of course others, but these are a good place to start.

4 Ways of Creating ‘Cause’

The next step is developing a complete understanding of the types of “outs” or causes that are available to us and understanding that each type is equally important as a practical guide to achieving the things we desire. Each of the four types of causes listed below are viewed as “behaviors.”

1. Thoughts and Thinking Habits: How do we view our thoughts? Are they random and unnecessary? Can we control them? How do they effect our physical health? Is there a relationship to what we can manifest in our daily lives and how we think? All of these question need to be answered and contemplated on very seriously. Yes, thoughts are random until we learn how to control them. Once we learn how to control them, we can source or create the thinking habits we desire versus being victims to old unhealthy ones. It has been scientifically proven that desires begin with our thinking habits. In order to intensify our desires so that we have the necessary passion to fight for the goals that we create for ourselves we have to connect deeply to those desires. Challenging ourselves to think positively allows this connection to happen. We have impulses that are transmitted via electro-chemical processes across the synapses (tiny spaces less than one millionth of an inch between each other) that separate the brain cells or neurons. Patterns and tracks are formed within our physical brain that comprise our thinking habits. Research shows that thinking different thoughts can change these patterns and so the physical makeup of our brain. When we challenge ourselves to think positively over an extended period of time about our desires, those desires become very very strong, which results in action. This is how a person can maintain strong levels of motivation and determination. Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to think of motivation in terms of the positive effects that we get. Yet, it is far more powerful to create intense motivation and desire regardless of the circumstances in our lives.

2. Feelings: Have you ever heard of the saying, “What you resist persists.” It is more true than you could possibly imagine. Feelings are our bridge to motivation, fulfillment in what we do, and ultimately our success. Notice that I use the word fulfillment instead of a word like enjoyment. Seeking a fulfilling experience is more valuable than seeking to enjoy yourself. Needing to be entertained can become a huge block to continued motivation because hard work is rarely enjoyable. Yet, it can be hugely fulfilling. It may seem like I am mincing words, but this type of distinction is necessary to allow for a clear perspective regarding what we are trying to achieve. Personally, I believe that the cause of resistance is largely due to our need to be entertained versus fulfilled. Challenging yourself to overcome cancer for instance wouldn’t be enjoyable, yet determining to do your best to overcome it and never be defeated allows for powerful versus defeated choices. In essence, I am saying that we can control our feelings by challenging our perspective. That doesn’t mean that I am saying that we should stuff or ignore or feelings. I am just suggesting that we don’t let our feelings dictate the choices we make. It is possible to feel depressed and sad and make an optimistic choice with a high degree of determination to succeed. Again, notice that I don’t suggest that a person can make a happy choice when feeling sad or depressed. That is impossible. If a person tried to make a “happy” choice when feeling sad or depressee they would, I believe, be resisting their authentic feelings. Acknowledging a feeling of sadness or depression, by allowing ourselves to feel what we feel, and choosing an optimistic choice based on the desire to succeed is the first step to a non-resistant demenor and outlook.

3. Physical Activity: How do you know if you are taking the best or right amount of action in order to acheive success. It is generally believed that the more action a person takes the more success he or she will have; more work equates to more success. I’m not sure that is necessaryily the case. Yes, of course we have to work hard. But what constitutes ” hard work?” The idea of hard work often has a negative connotation to it. You can’t work hard and have fun or hard work can’t be easy. Why not? This sort of thinking can get in the way of a fulfilling experience. There’s that word again; fulfilling. Yes, hard work can be easy. For one person, doing a hundred pushups is easy and effortless, while for another doing ten is very difficult and painful.I have worked 10 straight hours with clients and the experience was effortless and easy. That is because I have found what I am best at and made it a business. Ask me to do 10 straight hours of cooking and I will have a very difficult time. The point is this, more action does not equal more success. Right action equals more success. Meaning, taking action that is conducive to a particular situation equals the best results. For example, a person could have been at the office for 12 hours woking and notices that their attention span is severely waning. Is it better for that person to keep working or take a break. They should take a break, even if they face the possibility of not meeting a deadline. I’m not saying that people should be lazy, and continuously missing deadlines is never acceptable. If this is happening a lot, it may not have anything to do with hard work. Instead, it may be a time management or prioritizing issue. We have distorted the truth regarding hard work. We should be thinking in terms of effectiveness. AND…the only person who can determine this is ourselves from moment to moment.

4. Intuition: Intuition has been defined as, “something known or beleived instinctively without actual evidence for it.” If that is the case, then how does an individual learn to identify with their intuitive function? Well, that is difficult to say. Personally in my experience with listening to my mind & body through various meditative techniques, one’s intuition is the quietist voice that speaks from deep deep down inside. That’s about all I can say. First and foremost, as the definition states, it rarely makes any sense and is often very illogical. Yet, it is never wrong; ever! If you say that your intuition was telling you to do something that you knew would benefit you and things didn’t work out the way your intuition said, then you were not listening to your true intuition. I’ll leave this section as is, barring this final quote, “Albert Einstein wrote about mental experiments involving visual images and muscular feelings. And the mathematician Stanislaw M. Ulam said that he used mental images and tactile sensations to perform calculations, replacing numerical values with the weights and sizes of imagined objects. Those descriptions of scientific thinking may surprise you. Many people are unaware of the secret hiding in the cognitive closet that, as Einstein repeatedly stated, ‘No scientist thinks in equations’” (Root-Bernstein, Robert S. “Learning to Think With Emotion,” The Guardian 00095982 (14 Jan. 2000): A64pp. Online. Internet.

Information from this newsletter was assisted by the following website:
http://www.mindtools.com

Create A Healthy Competitiveness!

A competitive nature is as necessary to human wellness as is food, sleep & exercise. It is the driving force that challenges us to generate the power necessary to meet our intrinsic needs. It cannot be denied that without some level of internal competitive drive, our very survival would be at risk.

The idea of harmony co-existing with competitiveness seems to be the ultimate contradiction. Yet, a healthy level of competitiveness is the very thing that drives an individual to achieve greatness. At the same time, an unhealthy level of competitiveness spawns destruction and conflict, which allows for only minimal short-term gains. Learning how to support and encourage each other while competing for the same or similar goals allows for greater rewards in the long run.

Prestige & Competitiveness:

Prestige can be defined as, “the kind of honor, awe, or high opinion that is inspired by a high-ranking, influential, or successful person or product.” Most people achieve some level of satisfaction or disappointment from changes in their success rate (prestige). Higher levels of success will result in higher levels of prestige, while lower levels of success result in a decline in prestige. How an individual responds to a decline in prestige may vary considerably; from withdrawal and a lack of motivation to increased motivation and more actions taken to rebound from the perceived decline. Conversely, individuals may respond to increased prestige in various ways, from a humble attitude or an arrogant sense-of-self. Interestingly, both increases or decreases in prestige have the potential to generate higher levels of aggression. It is here that I make the connection to how prestige can affect the competitive nature of individuals.

A competitive nature and the idea of prestige in and of themselves are glorious human traits that become “unhealthy” when individuals add the aggressive trait to it. Unhealthy competitiveness results from an excessive concern with one’s status within the groups (e.g., family, work, athletics, etc.) that a person is in relationship with. Prestige then manifests itself as an over-sense of importance and the need to separate oneself from others in an effort to feel superior. When this happens, group cohesiveness and support declines due to an over-emphasis on personal gain that can deter individual’s from seeing the big picture. A decline in “big-picture” thinking results in desperate behavior and a “win-at-all-costs” perspective; causing one to forget that excessive immediate gains won’t necessarily continue over time. Sometime down the road, the inevitable result is a “crash” in success and so prestige, which causes the cycle of desperateness to repeat itself. And so you have a series of expensive gains and excessive losses with very little stable growth. And it is stable growth that should be insisted upon; the bi-product of healthy competitiveness.

The causal elements that influence the human need to have status are many and difficult to pinpoint. Yet, there are four very basic causal points that are worth mentioning to help us succeed in our quest for healthy competitiveness. The first could be defined as the basic characteristics of the person or the innate tendency/drive that all humans have to better themselves and their circumstances. Each person has different levels of this drive that effect how they go about creating more for themselves and others. The second could be defined as the values of others who grant prestige. By “others” I mean the social beliefs of society and its participants; e.g. parents, governmental policy, religious beliefs, social norms, etc. The third could be defined as the considerations that are reflected upon prior to the efforts that are made to affect prestige. The fourth could be defined as the actual choices that are chosen following the reflective process. These four points must be challenged and deeply understood to ensure that competitiveness is put in check and balanced so as to create the most beneficial long-term effects. The bottom line is that an obsession with prestige is costly and leads to rigidity and an unaccommodating nature. To off-set the negative outcomes of this obsession, a ‘checks and balances’ system much be implemented. First and foremost, such a system would include teaching individuals how to understand the negative tendencies of their thinking and how to make more valuable choices based on this reflective process. Once this is done, a collective consensus on how to prevent unhealthy competitiveness should be decided upon and outlined in detail. This is the easiest part; the difficulty is assisting individuals to obtain a deep inner resolve to implement consistently the approved upon choices. Also, when each player has a say in determining the rules, they feel more connected to them and will find it be easier to follow them.

Violence & Competition:

When violence becomes a part of competitiveness between individuals and groups, it usually results from a lack of rationality among the players or the inability of the players to observe the determined rules. There are many ways to prevent competition from becoming violent.

1. Increased Number of Contests: If losing one contest means losing them all, violence is more likely to occur. When there are numerous contests available for the “ego” to involve itself with, then the emotional (prestige) investments are reduced because there isn’t just one chance to win. The contestant knows that there are a number of opportunities to win and do not develop a “scarcity” or “desperate” inner state. Only an ego-mind with its arrogant and narcissistic tendencies would need to have just one winner. And so our understanding of competitiveness needs to shift from “outcome-based” to a “process/development” model. If I might use a cliche, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you played the game.”

2. Ranking of Contests: It is important that no one contest be considered the most important and all the others marginal. This will likely lead to some victories for most people involved, which also makes the loss of other contests easier to swallow. The idea of there being only one winner and one loser is eliminated, allowing for the “losers” to more often enjoy the success of others. In addition, points should be give for how well the contest is played. Are the individuals involved fair, respectful, supportive, etc. Thus, in this type of contest, a person or team who has the lower amount of “points” could still win the game. And so the one-dimensional element of a win/lose contest almost seems laughable.

3. Range of Victory: Needing to win every single race also doesn’t bode well for non-violent competition. Even if there are numerous contests to win, individuals need to challenge themselves to resist the “total victory” urge. A need to be victorious every time and the desire to obtain a total status advantage signifies a disrespect of others’ capabilities or an unwillingness to acknowledge the potential existence of other “winners” or “power houses.” This also prevents individuals from gaining mutual-respect for those that they are up against. And it is with mutual respect that a person’s humanistic nature can flourish. Where is it written that you can’t deeply be connected to and care about those that you are up against. Yet, this would seem to be a very foreign concept in today’s society. Finally, a heart-felt respect for your competitors fosters a humble attitude and eliminates the need to feel important.

4. Rethinking Time: Every leader must encourage her/his players to always remember that they will get another chance to redeem themselves if they were not on the receiving end of a victorious competition. This also enables the “losers” to take it with some pride and hopefulness. This correlates to the need for many potential victories; time offers new chances and potentials for success. Losing in one area can always be turned into a victory at another time. This also reduces the psychological investment of a particular contest. Without this type of perspective, the opponents success could seem to threaten the very existence of the other side. To be competitive, there needs to be a high level of specialization, consistent successes, and the exploitation of all available resources. And what happens when all the available resources have been exhausted and the outcome is still less than desired. You wait for the next time you’ll get to compete.

As you can see, competition has many levels and affects individuals in many different ways. It is ultimately about increasing the fortune of people in terms of income, standard of living and quality of life. All of these things are threatened when a healthy level of competitiveness is not present. Understanding that there must always be an abundant of opportunities to succeed for everyone is the first step to creating harmony within the confines of competition. Finally, a balance of the four value systems (hard work, wealth, social participation, & self achievement) will prevent aggression from reeling it’s ugly head while we engage in our contests and pursuits!

Information from this newsletter were assisted by two articles:
“International Prestige, Competition and Peaceful Coexistence,” Amitai Etzioni
“Competitiveness of Nations: The Fundementals,” Stephane Garelli