6 Steps to Achieve Any Goal
Monday, September 30, 2019
The Power of Words - Life and Death
"Death and
life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its
fruit." Proverbs 18:21
The power of words
should never be underestimated.
People's words have
established lives, destroyed lives, brought healing and joy, brought sickness
and misery. What we say can have massive effect upon ourselves and others.
Whoever said:
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt
me"... didn't know much about life. The greatest good, and the greatest
harm, lie in the power of the tongue.
This truth can be
witnessed everywhere, in every aspect of life. Have you ever thought about how
a single word from a friend or acquaintance can affect - for good or for bad -
your entire day? Even your week?
The Proverbs says
much on the power of words, highlighting the dangers and the blessings. Not
only do our words directly influence our relationship to other people, but even
our relationship to God.
It is interesting
to read the stories of highly successful people and see how other's words to
them, often in their youth, influenced the direction of their lives. Some
overcame tragic circumstances to lead exemplary lives. By the same token, many
people's lives have been shattered, their dreams tanked, by the verbal
influence of those close to them.
Of course, we don't
usually read those stories because no one really likes to write (or read) about
human failures. But they surely exist.
I remember things
spoken to me when I was a kid. Even now decades gone by, the words of those
whom I loved and cared about had seriously positive AND negative impacts on my
life. For sure, I have likewise said many things to others which have had
similar effects upon them.
The Bible often uses metaphors in teaching truths. Here the author
speaks of fruit. Just as a tree or plant is known by the fruit hanging from its
branches - either good fruit or bad fruit - so a person who speaks words is
known by those words.
Think of people you
know who speak rashly, without thought or consideration for what they are
saying. These people ramble on and on, hurling their opinion on anything and
everything, whether or not they have the right to do so. If you know someone
like this, you also know that person hurts a lot of people with his words.
Conversely, you
probably know people who seriously consider what they say BEFORE they speak.
People like this tend to have a much more positive, and encouraging effect upon
others. Their words instruct, bless, and heal others.
The fruit of speech
is serious. It's either poisonous, or nourishing.
And how does the
Bible describe good speech? Another powerful metaphor:
"Pleasant
words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24
As sweet and
nourishing as honey, kind words build up the spirit and the body!
We have been
entrusted with a great gift in speech, and great responsibility in our words.
Let us be sure to use them for good, to encourage, uplift, and instruct, for
the power of words is power indeed.
RS Kniep is a
strong believer in the power of wisdom to affect positive results in people's
lives. He believes all genuine wisdom, in its various forms, comes from God, as
found in His Word, the Holy Bible.
As a seeker of
wisdom from God, RS Kniep has studied both the Bible and competing views for
nearly 25 years. His work focuses on the Biblical books of Job, Psalms,
Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
He wishes to
communicate the "true wisdom" to genuine seekers through his writing
and speaking. You can find his articles and writings and more about him at: www.hiswisdom.com
Sunday, September 29, 2019
10 Ways to Raise Your Vibration
What does it mean to
raise your vibration? It means, simply, to improve the way you feel. To shift
from a negative state to something that feels more positive. To change your
thoughts from weakening worry to empowering gratitude. To express love and
kindness instead of anger or judgement. When we feel good, we radiate goodness.
And right now we need a whole lot of goodness in this world!
Here are some
suggestions. Find what works for you. Practice daily.
And remember, any time you feel even a little happier, better, lighter, or more peaceful, you are raising your vibration.
Smile. Smile in the mirror. Smile at people. Smile at animals. Smile at people in the store. Smile as you read something inspiring. Smile because you're you. Smile right now. Smiling tells your brain to release feel-good neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.
Journal. Journaling
will help you release whatever is nagging at your mind. Release it and let it
go. No need to re-read.
Commit Acts of
Kindness. Practice kindness. Open doors for people. Let people go ahead of you
in traffic. Do something nice for an elderly neighbour. Call or text a friend
to tell them how much you appreciate them. Acts of kindness don't have to be
enormous. When done spontaneously they bring joy to both you and to your
recipient.
Clear and Cleanse. Use tools
such as dry brushing, shower, salt bath, sauna, and sound bath to help you
detoxify. By releasing toxic stagnancy, you will naturally raise your
vibration.
Chant. Chanting a
yogic, or Sanskrit mantra, repetitively, will help boost brain function, and
reduce stress and anxiety. These mantras are designed tune your system to a
higher vibration. Choose a mantra that appeals to you, and chant it for 108
times daily for maximum benefit.
Move. Movement moves
stagnant energy. Exercise. Dance. Do yoga. Take a walk in Nature, where you'll
get bonus points from all the high-vibe negative ions. Any time we release
stagnant energy, we feel better. The better you feel, the higher your
vibration.
Meditate. Meditation
helps you tune into Divinity within you. It can also assist you in receiving
guidance from invisible (or visible) sources. Meditation helps you tune into
the higher vibrations of love, peace, and gratitude.
Use EFT Tapping. EFT Tapping will
help release unwanted 'negative' emotions that pull down your vibration.
Sometimes we're not even aware that we have underlying low feelings such as
shame, anger, or self-doubt. EFT can help us pinpoint and release these
feelings, so we can raise our vibration.
Practice the Heart
Breath. The Heart Breath is a beautiful way to bring yourself into heart
energy, the energy of unconditional love. Unconditional Love radiates at a very
high vibration.
To practice this
breath, close your eyes, breath slowly and deeply, and imagine you're breathing
from your heart. Breath this way for 30 seconds or as long as you like.
Express Gratitude. Gratitude is
a powerful way to help us shift from a place of lack and scarcity. By
appreciating even the smallest things in our lives, we fill ourselves with
sweet gratitude, and a feeling that all is well.
Best Wishes for
Your Highest Vibes Ever!
Marian
Hi! Thanks for
taking the time to read this article. I'm Marian Buck-Murray and I specialize
in helping sensitive, empathic people boost confidence, courage and success. I
am a certified EFT Practitioner and Matrix Reimprinting Practitioner. To find
out more about my services, and my THRIVE programs for sensitive people, visit
my website at https://marianbuckmurray.com/.
Peace.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
The Next Chapter Of Your Life Begins With The One You're Living Now
Something Of Benefit
Also Comes With Its Problems
Are you always
looking to the next chapter of your life because you're fed up with the one
you're living now? You wouldn't be the only one since many people wait for
things to improve because they are dissatisfied with the way things are. But
how much of it is perception? Do things actually improve when life gets better?
For example, those who win the lottery are worse off five to seven years later,
according to statistics. Most of them squander their winnings and are in more
debt than before they won the lottery. But how can this be? How can winning a
large sum of money lead a person to be worse off than before? Financial experts
believe they lack the financial skills to manage large sums of money and they
spend frivolously because they are certain the money will not run out.
We may experience
something similar if we believe getting what we want will make us happier. For
instance, the two main problems people often face in coaching relate to
finances and relationships. People are convinced when they have more money or a
loving partner, their problems will vanish. Is this something you believe? I
know I have. I wasn't aware that getting what I want also means getting
what I don't want. What do I mean? There are two sides to a coin, meaning
that something of benefit also comes with its problems. The key is to find
balance and harmony in what we want and not over-complicate matters.
Therefore,
attracting more money means having to give up something in order to earn it or
learning to manage money more effectively. Similarly, having a fulfilling
relationship has its downsides (which is favourable if you consider what you
gain). That is, we must invest our time and energy to cultivate the
relationship, otherwise our partner might not stay around for long. That is to
say, when we are looking for a relationship, we are heavily invested in the
process but we don't realise how much time and energy is required to sustain
it. This is a desirable quality because anything worth building requires two
people to invest their time and energy to create a strong foundation. Some
people are not aware of what it requires to maintain and build a relationship
and so they stop contributing to it at some point. They divest their energy and
the relationship falls apart. I once heard a relationship counsellor suggest
that people stay parked in relationships which is why it eventually ends.
Be Invested In The
Life You Have Now
If we wish for the
next chapter of our life to arrive, we must be aware of the problems that go
with it. If we are not ready for what life will bring, we will lose what we
gain. That is why the title of this article reads: The Next Chapter Of Your
Life Begins With The One You're Living Now. What am I referring to?
The life you're living now is the one you created, whether consciously or
unconsciously. You attracted the conditions and even though it may be full of
challenges and setbacks, there may be a reason for it. So wishing away the pain
and disappointment means wishing away the personal growth that accompanies it.
Some might say: "Tony, why would I want to attract health problems and a
lack of money?" I don't know your particular situation but it is my
experience people attract their life's conditions on an unconscious level
because they haven't transformed their limiting beliefs with what they
want. Does this make sense, insofar as your inner conflicts will make
themselves visible in your reality until you reconcile them?
For example, if you
unconsciously hold limiting beliefs of your unworthiness to attract a loving
relationship, no matter how many dating sites you sign up to, you are bound to
experience disappointment. I'm not suggesting everyone on dating sites will experience
pain and heartache. There are many thousands of people who find a devoted
partner every day because they are ready for it and have done the work to
transform their limiting beliefs. Pain and disappointment can highlight areas
of our life we must devote our attention to. It requires self-examination on
why we are attracting those circumstances. For instance, a person with poor
financial skills might attract unwanted financial conditions until they honour
their self-worth. Perhaps they were brought up with a tough parent who
criticised them. They may have adopted this belief which now shows up through
their finances.
So what I'm trying
to say is: until we recognise what is stopping us from attaining what we want,
we will continue to attract undesirable conditions. We can change strategies
and enlist the help of coaches, guides and mentors and some of it may work.
However, if we are not committed to our personal growth, we will go back to our
old ways eventually. It requires being invested in the life we have now. Your
problems and challenges are the keys to your redemption. As the aphorism
states: "The obstacle is the way." It is showing the exit off the
freeway so you may experience better living conditions. But the price you must
pay is doing the work to remove any unconscious impediments that stand in your
way. With this in mind, I'd like you to give some thought to areas of your life
where you feel held back. Write in your journal or diary how you may be
unconsciously sabotaging yourself. What is the trade-off? What do you get by
living these unconscious beliefs? Perhaps you prefer to remain safe in your
comfort zone? Every belief serves a purpose, even ones that limit our
potential. Ultimately, if we are constantly expecting the next chapter of our life
to arrive without living the one we have now, we will attract situations that
are not for our highest good.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Book Summary: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
When Kathleen
O'Grady, Founder and CEO of Raleigh Coaching, suggested that I read this book,
I could tell that she was excited for me to do so... and for good reason.
Coelho's book was written 25 years ago and is just as relevant today.
The Alchemist is a story
about a Spanish boy, Santiago, who loves his life as a shepherd and the time
that it gives him to read books and to dream. From a young age, Santiago has
wanted to travel, and shepherding takes him across the country and from village
to village, selling his wool. However, he yearns for more; wanting to travel
farther, to experience new things, and to "know the world."
In his pursuit,
Santiago encounters many people who have a profound impact on him. For example,
one day, he visits a Gypsy whom he hopes can interpret a reoccurring dream in
which a child says to Santiago that he will find a hidden treasure if he
travels to the Egyptian pyramids. The Gypsy has difficulty understanding his
dream's meaning but says that Santiago must travel to the Egyptian
pyramids because there he will "find a treasure that will make (him) a
rich man."
Skeptical of the
Gypsy, Santiago carries on with his shepherding. In another encounter, an old
man explains that a book Santiago is reading describes "people's inability
to choose their own Personal Legends," which, he explains, are
the things that people always wanted to accomplish. Essentially, that one's
Personal Legend is their mission on earth and their only real
obligation. Santiago is curious about his own Personal Legend and how near
to or far from it he is.
The old man also
tells Santiago of the world's greatest lie: that at a certain point
in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and that our
lives become controlled by fate. That a mysterious force exists which, over
time, convinces each of us that it will be impossible to realize our own
Personal Legend. The old man tells Santiago that he shouldn't believe this lie
and suggests, instead, that when a person truly wants something, the
universe conspires in their favor and helps them achieve it. Santiago
thinks about his many life experiences and wonders how the universe has helped
him progress toward his (as yet unidentified) Personal Legend.
Another of
Santiago's encounters is with a crystal merchant who doesn't like change,
doesn't dream, and has owned and managed the same low-performing crystal shop
in the same location for 30 years. The merchant explains to Santiago that he
doesn't dream because he is afraid that if his dream is realized, he would have
no reason to go on living. And that he is also afraid that actually
realizing his dream would be a disappointment compared to what it
imagines it would be, so he prefers merely to dream about it instead of
pursuing it.
Santiago stays in
that Moroccan village and works for the crystal merchant who, over time, comes
to appreciate Santiago's zest for life and his pursuit of his dreams. He also
comes to believe that every blessing ignored becomes a curse and eventually
sees how immense his possibilities are; and that dreams are meant to be
pursued, stating "there's just no way to hold back the river."
After 11 months of
working with the crystal merchant, Santiago decides to travel to the Pyramids
to see if the Gypsy was correct that he would find his treasure there. He has
some doubts but understood that making a decision was only the beginning of
things. And that, when you make a decision, you are "diving into a
strong current that will carry (you) to places (you have) never dreamed of."
As Santiago travels with a caravan across the desert toward the Pyramids, he
senses that the closer one gets to his Personal Legend, the more that
Personal Legend becomes his true reason for being.
He comes to view
that the obstacles a person faces during their journey toward their
Personal Legend are similar to the problems encountered by the caravan as it
pressed on across the desert: large rocky areas, sand that was too fine for
the camels' hooves, dried up lakes, terrible sand storms, etc. But no matter
how many detours and adjustments it made, the caravan continually moved toward
the same destination, just as Santiago endeavored to stay focused on his
Personal Legend.
During his quest,
Santiago took many chances, faced dangers, and overcame numerous obstacles, but
was diligent about returning to his course. He found that the threat of
death makes people a lot more aware of their lives and he came to
believe what Allah has said: people need not fear the unknown if they are
capable of achieving what they need and want. And he understood that once
you truly commit yourself to achieving your Personal Legend, such that you
can't go back, then you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.
Eventually,
Santiago found his Personal Legend during his journey to the Pyramids, but it
wasn't what he had envisioned, such as material wealth or fame. Learning rather
that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure -
and to focus on being and becoming, not merely doing.
He also learned that anyone who interferes with the Personal Legend of another
thing never will discover his own.
He saw that people
are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel they don't
deserve them or that they'll be unable to achieve them. And that there
is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
But that the fear of suffering is often worse than the
suffering itself.
A final thought
from this book: The quest for one's Personal Legend (mission on earth) may seem
to be a very future-oriented endeavor. However, Santiago learned to appreciate
living in the present, and the perils of living in the past or the future.
"If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if
you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about
the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God
loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity."
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Shifting Your Life Into High Gear With Subliminal Audios
Attempting to stay
the same will not be a positive move going forward as we do things differently
and strive to become better people.
This is about
turning on the music and listening to the point that our lives are drastically
better over the course of several months, and it just has to be accepted that
real dynamic change is happening.
If we stay idle and
just embrace too much of the same stuff over time, then everything might feel
weird and distorted. That means that we lost track of ourselves over time and
something went wrong and those small things were not corrected, which has to be
amended while we try to deal with other stuff.
That is how deeply
held long term emotional issues mess with people physically and mentally,
because they can tell that they have stuff that they need to deal with but it's
never that simple or easy to understand what to fix.
Somehow it just has
to change, and we can use subliminals to help shift and bend our lives and
realities so that everything is not nearly as negatively charged and tense.
We already know of
the situations that our cluttered and trashed mental insecurities bring us, and
those discomforting moments and situations just do not have to be a thing
anymore. Sometimes you just have to take a big and genuine step back from your
life and recognize what's really going on in a very straight forward way.
Some people might argue
that this is all too painful to deal with, which is why no one really wants to
deal with their mental and emotional issues no matter how simple others say the
process might be.
They do not see or
understand that using subliminals is passive, and that you just allow the
changes to happen to you on a daily basis over time.
Others appear to
just be completely fearful of the direct change that happens when your mind and
life start to shift into something you cannot easily recognize, and that tends
to be when you have been off track for far too long and everything feels odd
and weird.
This is just the
beginning of the tremendous change that can come from using very powerful
subliminals for a prolonged period of time. It is also about embracing very
seriously personal and long term life changes that bring you into a much higher
level of life operation in general.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Tea For Two
Many people, no
matter what age or gender, tell me that they hate networking. Yes, it does seem
like work at times but the bigger issue for most people seems to be striking up
a conversation with a stranger. Some also feel that it is a waste of time
because it really doesn't lead to meaningful connections and future business.
As women leaders,
it is important to continue to build our Rolodex of contacts. However, I
question if we are developing the right circle of people. I admit that I have
gone back to my office with several business cards from people I have met and
sometimes wonder if these individuals will have lasting relationships with me,
or if they are just one hit wonders (if even that). I dutifully send them
LinkedIn invites and add them to my CRM because I have the attitude "you
just don't know".
Then there is more
follow-up with some of these contacts. I am not a coffee drinker so if I can't
get my usual Diet Coke (I am fully aware I should not drink the stuff), I opt
for tea. During these teas, especially with other women, I do learn all kinds
of things - where to buy a certain piece of clothing, restaurant
recommendations, and other helpful advice related to our respective children.
Rarely do conversations focus on such topics as how to close a deal, what
projects are challenging to them, etc. If tea is with a man and I bring up a
business problem or issue, it will be discussed briefly but then idle chatter
starts up again.
To make these teas
more meaningful, I am starting to think that I should send a detailed agenda
ahead of time. It would start off by saying Hellos, and then would allow no
more than five minutes of "fluff talk". Topic A would include x with
the accompanying document. Topic B would cover y. Of course allotted times for
each item would be indicated with five minutes left for a farewell wrap up.
I realize that I
may sound facetious but life is short so why not be more proactive and leave
the "girly" topics for GNOs with your besties? I am sure the other
person would actually be thankful that you took this initiative and kept tea
for two to under an hour and not make it a full day event.
By E.
Elizabeth Carter
Sunday, September 8, 2019
When You Let Go Of The Rules, Things Get Simpler
Life Changes At The
Drop Of A Hat
What rules do you
live by? I'm not talking about those that govern what you eat or how you dress
but something more meaningful. What rules dictate your life? For example, many
people establish rules for how their life should be or not be. When things
don't turn out as planned, they feel like things are falling apart. Have you
experienced something like this before? Equally, there are people that have rules
about the person they should date or marry. We hear about this all the time
where the person must have certain physical traits, earn a particular income or
come from a specific demographic or ethnicity. However, rules don't work all
the time and some of them should be ignored, as George Bernard Shaw remarks in
the title quote.
We can't expect to
live a purposeful life bound by rules. Some rules are set by loved ones from an
early age and we take them on into adulthood. Other rules are established by us,
in the face of adversity or hardship. Sometimes, we establish rules to protect
us from getting hurt, regarding dating and relationships. We set boundaries on
what we will accept or not accept in a person. But is this the way to live? Can
we place boundaries and restrictions on ourselves and the way our life should
develop? Whilst it's normal to abide by values and beliefs, we must be careful
to upgrade the rules we set for ourselves. As you know, life can change at the
drop of a hat. This means who we were a decade ago is not the same person we
are today. If we abide by the rules from that period, we are not living
intentionally but following a script like a computer program.
It Is The Intention
You Set
Does this make
sense, insofar as it requires re-examining the rules we set in place as we
mature throughout our life? When I was young, I had rules about the way my life
should play out. How people should treat me, what type of work I would be doing
and my relationship status. And guess what? None of it worked out for me. Why?
Because life interceded and showed me otherwise. Life proved repeatedly that my
rules were insignificant in my life's narrative. Moreover, as my consciousness
expanded my circumstances reflected this change. I liken it to white water rafting
in a torrential river and determining how the journey will unfold before you
set out. Suddenly, you are besieged with uncompromising conditions and you
realise your rules did not take this into account.
This is what
happens to many people when they establish rules. Life shows up and proves
their rules don't hold up. Now, from the tone of this article you might get the
impression I am against having rules. This is not the case, what I am
advocating is being mindful whether our rules are working for us and changing
them as we evolve. Rules, like beliefs, must change with our circumstances,
otherwise they are no more useful than the money we play with in a Monopoly
game. Unless you are five years old and believe that Monopoly money holds
currency, rules have the same effect. They hold us back from living in
alignment with our highest values and intentions. They restrict us from being
engaged with life. Rules are as effective as the person who creates them.
Behind every rule is a positive intention to move forward with joy and
enthusiasm or succumb to fear and criticism. If we create rules from a place of
fear, they will show up every time. So, if we have been hurt in earlier
relationships and establish rules to protect us, we hold ourselves back from
engaging in love and intimacy. We build barricades to protect us instead of
healing and transforming our pain and disappointments. Are you with me so far?
Are you beginning to see that while rules can be helpful, it is the intention
you set that dictates whether your rules are serving you?
With this in mind,
I'd like you to do a brief exercise. Write on a sheet of paper or in your
Journal, at least five rules you live by. They can be related to any area of
life whether it be: career, dating, finances, health or otherwise. Create two
columns and in the left-hand column, title the header: "Rules I Live
By." Write your rules below. In the right-hand column, title the header:
"Is This Working For Me Or Against Me?" Examine your five rules and
decide whether or not they are working in your favour. How will you know? Look
at the quality of your life. For example, are you in a happy, loving
relationship? If not, go back to the rule you created for relationships and
examine whether it is serving you. Go through the other rules and take an
honest inventory of whether they are helping you or holding you back from
living purposefully. Be careful in your evaluation not to apply a confirmation
bias to make yourself feel better. Ultimately, when you let go of the rules,
things not only get simpler but life will show you whether you're living from a
place of fear or a place of love.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
What Is the Extent of a Global Wellness Economy? A Critique of a Global Wellness Institute Report
INTRODUCTION: GWI
and GWS
The latest Global
Wellness Institute (GWI) report, part of a White Paper Series, is
entitled Understanding Wellness: Four Global Forces Driving the Growth
of the Wellness Economy.
The report traces
factors going far back in history that were seeds for the eventual emergence of
wellness, starting with ayurveda, traditional Chinese and ancient Greek
medicines from around 3000-500 B.C. to the present day. Of special interest is
a section entitled 20th Century: Wellness Spreads and Get Serious. This
sub-heading sketches a 30-year period from the 1970s to the end of the century.
Full disclosure:
Any assessment on my part of initiatives by GWI will be influenced, even if
unconsciously, by the fact that I'm an enthusiast for the role GWI has played
and continues to contribute to the advance of the art and science of the
wellness concept. Furthermore, I've shared a platform with the Chairman/CEO of
the organization at a National Wellness Conference in Stevens Point and was a
featured presenter (along with Dr. John Travis) at the 2014 summit in
Marrakesh, Morocco.
So, bring along a
few grains of salt should the encomium that follows seem overly high at times.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
REPORT
The focus of Understanding
Wellness is not wellness as a personal philosophy, mindset and
lifestyle but rather the business of services, programs and facilities that are
represented here under the broadest possible label of wellness. Understanding
Wellness describes what GWI considers a four-plus trillion dollar
global wellness economy. Dollar values are assigned to diverse sectors of this
purported economy.
The Report
describes the world's population as growing sicker, lonelier and older.
Chapters address an environmental crisis, a health crisis and a medical systems
crisis - all failing to keep up. Add to these dysfunctions an economic burden
for vast numbers of people along with worrisome consumer demographics and value
systems.
However, all is not
lost - other chapters offer the bright side of things. A case is made that
lifestyles are rapidly evolving for the better and investments in wellness by
industries noted above portend even more wellness-related spending in the
future. The authors, Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston, believe that
wellness has become ubiquitous in media and advertising, public discourse and
private conversations, as well as in purchasing decisions and lifestyle choices
all around the world.
Yeung and Johnson
make the following statement:
The concept of
wellness is often not well understood, and the usage of the term can be
inconsistent and confusing.
This is an important point, and somewhat ironic, as the 14 pages of the Report are based upon a representation of wellness different from the initial meanings of wellness as a philosophy, mindset and lifestyle.
In any case, it
could be argued that the authors have an understanding of wellness unique to
the spa industry, not the movement that evolved over the 30-year stretch when,
as this GWI report states, the concept spread and got serious (i.e., the 1970s
to the end of the 20th century).
MISUNDERSTANDING WELLNESS
The Global Wellness
Economy Report accurately expresses the basic nature of plain vanilla wellness:
Wellness is an
(active) individual pursuit - we have self-responsibility for our own choices,
behaviors and lifestyles - but it is also significantly influenced by the
physical, social, and cultural environments in which we live.
However, in my
opinion, the Report strays from the quite specific dimensions of REAL wellness
in at least two ways:
By claiming four
global or macron categories, six dimensions, five sectors of merchandising
(spa, real estate, tourism, thermal/mineral springs and worksite wellness)!
What could be missing? Perhaps a partridge in a pear tree? The authors of the
REPORT are guilty of associating products, services and facilities with the
concept of wellness that are not really wellness in nature, not even as defined
in this GWI document.
In the section
about four global forces driving the growth of the wellness economy, the Report
authors state that:
... wellness
becoming a selling point for all kinds of products and services - from food and
vitamins to real estate and vacation packages, and from gym memberships and
healthcare plans to meditation apps and DNA testing kits.
Only by including such matters, all clearly beyond the GWI's own definition of wellness (active individual pursuit... self-responsibility for our own choices, behaviors and lifestyles), can a $4.2 trillion global wellness economy be fantasized.
The most jarring
statement, however, appears on the first page of the Report:
Wellness is a word
that was not often spoken or seen in print just ten years ago.
What? I had to read that several times to be sure it wasn't a misprint.
In fact, the
wellness movement was well along and thus the term was spoken and seen in print
at least 35 years before 2008. Recall that this period was described in the
Report itself as a time when wellness spread and got serious.
Wellness has been a
standard feature of worksite programming since the early 80s, and hospitals,
universities and non-profit organizations have invested in such programs and
facilities at least as long. Evidently, it was not seen in print or spoken in
the company of the authors before they went to work at GWI in 2008.
Let's very briefly
review a few instances of wellness being spoken, seen in print and otherwise
emerging before 2008.
WELLNESS SPOKEN OR
SEEN IN PRINT BEFORE 2008
It has been a long
time since Halbert Dunn introduced the phrase high level wellness around the
middle of the last century, and nearly 50 years since John (Jack) Travis hung a
sign (Wellness Resource Center) on the door of a three story building nestled
between trees in beautiful downtown Mill Valley. I published an article in
Prevention Magazine about Travis and his wellness center entitled, Meet
John W. Travis, Doctor of Wellbeing.
Here are examples
that demonstrate, contrary to the assertion that the wellness word was not
often spoken or seen in print before 2008, that is is wildly mistaken. Start
with seven different histories of the wellness movement. These were all written
well before 2008. They document the extent to which wellness was nearly a
household word, albeit one with meanings inconsistent and confusing.
* Seven
illustrative histories (there are more) document the extent of the term - 1)
James Miller, 2) the Library of Medicine, 3) James Strohecker, 4) Jana Stara -
A Hungarian Perspective, 5) Univ of Victoria, 6) NIH Worksite Wellness and
&) My own book The History and Future of Wellness (Kendall-Hunt, 1986).
* Dan Rather
interviewed Dr. Travis at the WRC in 1979 for an episode of 60 Minutes. Not so
enlightening about the nature of wellness, but a big national boost of
recognition for the word.
There were dozens
of books published, hundreds of conferences held, thousands of courses taught,
lectures given and articles written, both scholarly and popular, all at least
25 years prior to 2008. Every year since 1980, approximately a thousand
attendees, including delegations from abroad, spent five days in July at
wellness conferences on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point. This event was widely known as wellness summer camp for adults (with
children¹s programs going on concurrently).
The GWI report
about wellness history, wellness definitions, wellness trends and a wellness global
economy contains 29 citations or references, but not even one to a wellness
book, wellness article or wellness journal. The references are to U. N. and
World Health Organization, Census Bureau and medical journals dealing with
global health data.
* A third of all
regional/metropolitan planning agencies promoted the concept in their areawide
plans by the mid-70's.
* Almost all large
and most moderate size corporations offered employees worksite wellness
learning opportunities on the job.
* The American
Hospital Association board of directors passed a resolution at their annual
conference in Chicago in 1979 urging all member hospitals throughout the U.S.
to promote wellness. Most did so.
In conclusion, the
modern wellness movement was underway and widely recognized, at least the term,
well before the 21st century.
Happily, the
authors of the GWI Report atone for these minor peccadillos in their summary
remarks, as follow:
For an expanding
set of consumers, wellness has become an important value system used to filter
daily life and decision-making, with a growing focus on issues such as food
quality and the way food is prepared and consumed; mitigating stress and
boosting mental wellness; incorporating movement into daily activities; environmental
consciousness; the yearning for connection; the desire for self-actualization;
and a search for happiness. The upward momentum of the global wellness economy
will be strong, as the underlying trends that propel it remain as compelling as
ever.
REAL WELLNESS
To put the GWI
Global Wellness Economy Report in perspective, consider again the core idea of
wellness, at least the REAL version of the word, as being descriptive of a
philosophy, a mindset, a set of ideas and principles consistent with embracing life
in a positive manner. This is not complicated.
REAL wellness
should encourage and guide people to think and function rationally, to live
exuberantly, to maintain physical fitness, to dine wisely consistent with
factual nutritional knowledge and to live as freely as possible. The latter
means becoming liberated from cultural or circumstantial elements such as
superstitions, irrational dogmas and other mental and social limitations that
add constraints on personal liberties.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10162323
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Everyone Is Carrying A Heavy Burden We Know Nothing About
Foster
Understanding And Kindness
I want you to do a
simple exercise: close your eyes and think about an issue affecting you that
few people know about. Consider the situation carefully and feel the emotions
associated with it. Perhaps you feel sadness, anger or anxiety? Let's take it a
step further: think of someone close to you experiencing something similar. It
might be a parent, a sibling, a relative or close friend. Try to get a sense of
their pain and suffering. As you do this, move into your heart and feel
compassion for them. Now, open your eyes and sit with the feelings you
experienced. How do you feel? Did you experience a sense of oneness with the
other person? A shared humility for life? The aim of this exercise is to
understand that your suffering is the same as many other people endure.
We all face battles
few people know little or nothing about. We all carrying a heavy burden in some
form or another. Some carry it in the form of psychological pain while others
carry emotional and physical pain. Some wounds are visible, while other are
less noticeable. However, this does not subtract from the burden they endure
daily. Therefore, we ought to be more compassionate with one another instead of
giving people a piece of our mind. Life is not always smooth sailing and there
are times when we are not our best. Someone may ignite our pain and we admonish
them to remind them of our hurt. But let me say: that person too also carries a
hurt of a different kind. Therefore, retaliating when you are in pain does
little to heal each other and the world by and large.
Does this makes
sense? I hope it is clear people seldom aim to hurt us maliciously. There is
often a deep wound they are responding to, so we ought to be compassionate with
them before responding in anger or haste. I'm not suggesting you become a door
mat for others to walk over. But fighting fire with fire does little to foster
understanding and kindness. It seems people are kinder to their pet animals
than they are with themselves. I've coached hundreds of people over the years
with inner conflicts who hold high expectations of themselves. When they fall
short, they chastise themselves because they did not live up to the image of
who they ought to be. When asked whether they treat their pet animals in the
same way, they are loathed to contemplate it. Yet they treat themselves as
second-rate citizens. Can you see the folly in this way of thinking?
We Are All Fragile
In Those Tender Places
If we are unkind to
ourselves because of a volatile inner critic, it is likely to show up in our
interaction with others. But going to war with ourselves does little to heal
our emotional wounds and we become that person that finds faults in others. Do
you know these types of people I'm referring to? It seems nothing is good
enough for them and they believe the world is a dangerous and unpredictable
place. They like to tune in to news events and remind you how harsh the world
is. But this only a perception based on their subjective reality. Because for
every bad news event there are people who are living passionate lives. There
are people waking up grateful to be alive and surrounded by loved ones. There
are people in third world countries happy to earn a basic living and serve
their family and community.
The opposite of
everything we believe is wrong with the world exists out there. We just haven't
attuned our awareness to it. If you were to travel the world for twelve months
in search of positive experiences, it would change your life. What we give our
attention to becomes our perception and model of reality. The reason we
experience conflict with others, is because they have a different model of
reality to ours. Therefore, we try to convince them our model is superior to
theirs and conflict ensues. What if we were to agree there are multiple
realities coexisting, based on our level of awareness? That is to say: the more
you grow and develop, the greater your perception becomes. It is why people
with an enhanced self-esteem rarely find fault in others because they know we
are all fragile in those tender places. Highlighting another person's
weaknesses does little to strengthen our own character.
Are you beginning
to get a sense that your perception creates the canvas of your life and
interaction with others? Can you see that being in conflict with yourself means
finding something to disagree with in another person? Can you also see that
healing and transforming your wounds foremost is the basis for purposeful living?
Knowing that everyone carries a heavy burden, reminds us to tend to our own
needs first before we castigate them. With that in mind, I'd like you to give
some thought to how you can be more compassionate in your interactions with
those who offend you? You needn't agree with everyone and those who are
disagreeable can teach us something about ourselves. It doesn't mean we need to
go to war with them. We can still be civil and disagree on our outlook because
we recognise our shared humanity. It is when we learn to heal and transform our
pain that we view every interaction as a sacred space of healing and
self-transformation.
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