In the era of extreme everything, remember the body is not a simple machine. Well, it is and it isn't. We’re seeing a new kind of injury through what I'd call extreme fitness. Those are the activities that make you feel guilty if you don't push out one more rep, extend that stretch into and through a lot of pain, complete one more cycle of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), or get in one more mile. While there are best practices for all sorts of training, I believe we need to bring awareness to where we are today, right now, because each day can be different. Yes, we want to push … [Read more...]
Keep the Focus on What you Want!
Last week, I wrote to you about not taking “No” for an answer. “No” was simply not an option! It was such a powerful reminder to "stay calm and carry on". It was remarkable how fast an alternate solution came to mind when I became present in the moment, was clear with “my ask”, and then waited to receive an answer. I remained calm when I realized the person in front of me was not going to be in any way helpful. No point wasting my energy on something that she is unable to change, so it was best to keep moving forward. While waiting at the attendant’s desk, I did what I teach: I practiced … [Read more...]
Presence
You know when you are and aren’t present. One of the challenges in living fully in the moment is that so often we’re busy running through our day. Or perhaps that’s just me? We may be tired and with the thought of slowing down for just a moment to be present, we fall asleep. I do not think it’s just me. We’re just dog tired. So what do we need to improve our presence? First, bring awareness to what you’re thinking about in this moment. Notice if your thoughts are in the past or future. The key to presence is “being” in this moment. The one happening right now. Catch yourself by doing a … [Read more...]
Listen to the Bigness of the Fellow Within
"Listen to the Bigness of the Fellow Within" is the title of a pivotal book by a fellow chiropractor, BJ Palmer from 1949. I read it early in my career and it led me to ask more questions than it answered. To summarize, it’s about the remarkable intelligence that we do not fully understand, nor when we ponder, can we really grasp. As stated, "Behind the Universe is a Universal Intelligence which has directed its functions in millions of ways for millions of years. It follows a definite pattern which never varies, each to its kind and form." (1) As Wiki notes from another excerpt of volume 22, … [Read more...]
5 Solutions for Chronic Stress
Last week we looked at short term “eu” stress and long term “dis” stress and how it impacts our body. This week, I’m going to share with you my top 5 stress-busting solutions. 1) Respect your body. This comes from listening within. What that means is to listen to the feedback through your senses. Close your eyes and do a “check-in”. What are you feeling? Exhausted, needing a stretch, or perhaps some time grounding yourself in nature? Ultimately, you know. The key is quieting the active mind chatter in order to tune in to you. Respecting your body also includes mastery of being the “observer … [Read more...]
Anything We Touch, Touches Us
Have you seen the movie Runner, Runner with Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake? In it they say, "Anything we touch, touches us". What struck me is how significant that line really is. While I believe we are much more than the sum of all of the life experiences we've encountered, the point is made that there are gradients of events and experiences, interpretations and beliefs, that when we engage with them they change us in return. In changing us, it’s hard to go back to where we were before. I also thought about our how we’re continually interacting with the nature of our environments and … [Read more...]
Presence in the Work Place: The “Check-in”
Last week, we talked about leading with your heart, but how does this work in the corporate world? In professions? Yes, you have corporate missions, strategies, goals and targets to meet yet behind them all are people: people who have lives and who may be going through difficult situations. Whether we like it or not, we bring our lives with us to our job and it colours how we see our day and it also effects how we interact with others. We may not even be aware we are doing this. One of the exercises I've used in my workshops over the past year or so is to get you to do a check in. So, let's … [Read more...]
Aren’t You Worth It?
What is the "it" you may be asking? Well, "it" is whatever you think "it" should be. The "it" may be happiness, love, fulfillment, peace and vitality. If "it" is possible for others why is "it" not possible for you, too? Socrates said that "An unexamined life isn't worth living." Well I am unsure that that is fully true, as I've found there are times when I haven't examined my own life for a while...but eventually I do get back to examining it. So when should we examine our lives? Well, ideally on a regular basis, and this is the significance of making time to experience "ourselves". Just … [Read more...]