Enough Do-Do Already! Enjoy the Journey
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How would you like to relax a little about accomplishing goals, deadlines, projects and to-do lists? Most people think the joyful part of a goal is its accomplishment – instead of the process of creation, connection and energy exchange. You aren’t going to get a gold star in heaven – or a nicer tombstone – just for accomplishing goals and getting stuff done!
You wouldn’t want to miss all the fun in life, would you? You might spend months, years or decades working on something. Does it make sense that you might stress, struggle, worry, or be tired much of that time – but the good feeling upon completion only lasts anywhere from 5 minutes to maybe a few days?
We don’t make up goals/tasks/projects just to get them done. When you got to this lovely planet, you said to yourself (even if you can’t remember saying it): “I’m going to make up things to do so that I have an excuse to experience joy by meeting people, creating things, and expanding what’s possible. I’m going to make meaningful connections, laugh a lot, allow in miracles, and be totally awed by every journey I go on. I can’t wait for the journey!!” Accomplishing goals was not the point – the joy of the journey was. Did you forget?
Think about the goals you made up today, and remember that they are just excuses for laughter, expansion, connection and joy. The very purpose of life is joy, so relax about getting things done, and put your energy into how you feel while you do them. Being busy is called “do-do”… so please stop should-ing on yourself!
Jennifer Hough
Rule #6 in Dr. Ritchason’s Golden Rules of Health
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“Live closer to God” is Dr. Ritchason’s 6th rule of his Golden Rules of Health. I know that everyone’s spiritual journey is different, but I believe that we are more than our biochemistry, more than the sum of our parts. Medical doctors know that a strong belief system can make a difference in how quickly patients recover. This is not a religious column, so I will simply say that many religions know that living in harmony with ourselves and others is a good thing. This belief will directly affect our mental and our physical health for the better.
Wendy
How Do You Measure Success?
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Do you measure success against how much you did or what you got done in a day, or perhaps how much money you made? The yard stick I use is how happy I was on a given day.
Are you headed toward a busy, unfulfilled life, where maybe one day if you work hard enough, you might be able to say, “I was successful”? If that’s your approach, then you aren’t measuring success with the right scale. To take the direct route to a successful and happy life, start measuring your success by how much you enjoyed your life instead of how much you did.
Try this: think of 5 things this week that brought you joy, happiness, peace or just plain ol’ good vibes. If you can’t find many, then create something to measure!
Jennifer Hough
Victories in Disguise
Filed Under Entrepreneurs with a Conscience | Leave a Comment
There was a point in my past where I hit a career high. I was doing what I loved in an environment I had sought for what seemed like forever. Having reached it at such a young age, I was grateful and thought it was all up from there.
I could not have been more wrong.
Only a month into my career high, I hit my career low. Not fitting into my new position, I was set free. Being the eternal optimist (no hard feelings!), I knew there was a reason why I was now looking for another path, so that’s what I set out to do. It made me realize I had to find not only a design career, but a design career that fit who I am.
You see, even though we may love and crave the careers we choose, it might take some time to find the right environment to really excel in. With so many options and so many different kinds of companies out there, which one works for you?
Finding the right work environment is not something that happens overnight when there are so many choices; patience and resilience are necessities. While testing the waters, occasionally failure might rear its ugly head. Personally I don’t call it failure, because failure means you let the experience decide you shouldn’t try again. In reality, it’s all part of our professional and personal growth and is necessary in order to find the right “fit”.
I always remember that without great failure there cannot be great success, so I use this as my motto to not be afraid to take risks and put myself out on a limb again. The universe has a funny way of blessing us with opportunity. It may not come in the pretty package we expect. If we’re open to “whatever will be, will be”, we can turn our experiences into great victories instead of great defeats.
~Amanda~
Positive Design for Positive Change
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Why do you do what you do? Myself, I am drawn to graphic design because I am an advocate for positive change; I believe that can be an underlying drive for pretty much any job. I try to align myself with projects that will contribute to better things and it makes me feel good to know I’ve made a difference in my own creative way.
In a single ad campaign (or any other form of design), designers can create awareness about a social issue, promote healthy living, inform or educate, fundamentally creating change – and a positive one, at that. What power! It can be harnessed and used to do so much good if we make conscious choices and become aware of the impact we create on the world around us.
Design can also take on forms that are very superficial and manipulative, to only increase the size of someone’s bank account, so we must be careful in how we utilize this great power. Yes, of course, everyone wants to have fat bank accounts – but not at the cost of something meaningless or hurtful.
We designers are at the forefront of change. We are the beginnings of fresh ideas, new ways of thinking, and have the ability to really make waves. Whether we realize it or not, people make decisions based on our designs.
No matter what you do for a living, your decisions also have an impact on the world around you, even if it’s just a “small” impact. So I would say think of the kind of impact your next design or project or decision will make. And make it a good one.
~Amanda~
Positive Thinking: What Do You Want Tomorrow to Look Like?
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Sometimes it’s hard to stay positive in this world of uncertainty and setbacks. Unfortunately these things are part of life, so training your brain to think positive when times get rough is essential for a happy, fulfilling life. But the real secret is… it’s all up to you.
I know what it’s like to swim in a pool of pity, even for months at a time. I’ve been there and eventually I realized that it wasn’t working to bring me the good things I needed. I wasn’t seeing any opportunities ahead, no prospects, nothing good… and that’s exactly what I got. I consciously made an effort to get myself out of the funk because I couldn’t really lose anything but my negativity. It was slow going at first, but positive thinking eventually became part of my everyday thought process and good things eventually followed: a new job, better pay, more opportunities.
Yes, to have negative thoughts is natural and perfectly human – but one must not let those negative thoughts become who they are. I’ve known too many people who have used not-so-bad situations in life as crutches to not bother recognizing any good in their lives. And it doesn’t surprise me that they struggle through life and end up merely surviving. Being near them was toxic for me, and didn’t give me the energy to be positive. Like breaking any other bad habit, negativity needs to be treated in the same way. We need to be conscious, aware and willing.
Unhappy experiences are all opportunities. As the starting point in your next chapter, they’re the perfect time to be planning and thinking positive so you will attract all the good things you are deserving of. The possibilities are endless, really… so when you’re at your lowest of lows or maybe “just” having a bad day, the timing couldn’t be more appropriate. In the end, it’s all up to you: what do you want this moment to be and what do want tomorrow to look like?
~Amanda~
Smart Supplement Usage
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The major purpose of dietary supplements is to replace vitamins and minerals destroyed during food preparation and to provide the body with essential nutrients that the body doesn’t or can’t produce. Many people are under the misconception that more is better, and therefore take mega-doses of supplements or use them as meal replacements. Under certain conditions, supplementing with vitamins and minerals is important for preventing deficiencies. However, the problem lies in using supplementation instead of eating right in the first place.
Our bodies need the right kind of fuel to work properly; however, the body can only make the right kind of fuel if the proper raw materials are provided.
We can do this by:
· eating a variety of foods from a variety of sources;
· eliminating processed foods;
· eating raw, fresh produce and vegetables;
· eating lean meats that are free of hormones and chemicals;
· reducing portion sizes;
· cutting out foods high in simple sugars.
Eating right and using supplements wisely can assist in keeping the body healthy and strong.
It is important to discuss supplementation with your health care provider to ensure that your plan is safe and a true benefit to your health. Take care of yourself. You deserve longevity, but be smart, and do it right!
Dr. Linda Mundorff
Controlling Mold: It’s Easier Than You Think
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Growing up in the 70’s, I didn’t think much of mold as a health concern. It was an everyday occurrence to see mold in and around the bathroom and kitchen because of the humidity and intense heat. Mold (also known as fungus) thrives in moist environments. Even if you live in arid climates such as Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada or Colorado you home can still develop mold. If you have excessive moisture in your home, you increase your risk of developing a mold problem.
Mold has been linked to a variety of respiratory ailments. It usually manifests in allergy and/or cold-like symptoms. Recent studies have found that untreated mold exposure can lead to severe respiratory problems such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. The good news is that you can prevent and control mold.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following:
• Keep the humidity level in your home and office below 40%.
• During humid months, use an air conditioner or dehumidifier.
• Homes and offices should be well ventilated. Open your windows for at least a couple
of hours a day. If this is not an option then purchase exhaust fans for kitchen and
bathroom areas.
• The next time you paint your home, add a mold inhibitor to the product.
• Don’t carpet your bathroom, as carpet retains the moisture and mold will grow
underneath it.
• If you have a flood, remove the carpeting IMMEDIATELY and either allow it to dry out
or replace it.
• Use cleaning products that inhibit or kill mold. There are many natural varieties
available.
The best defense is an aggressive one. Mold is difficult to cure once it infiltrates an area. Also, check your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure you have adequate coverage should you have a water accident in your home or office. Most carriers will pay for the water damage but many will not cover mold damage resulting from the water damage. Mold damage can result in greater financial loss than the clean-up involved in a water accident.
Be safe and be health-savvy. With knowledge comes power and with power you can move mountains!
Dr. Linda Mundorff
Rule #5 in Dr. Ritchason’s Golden Rules of Health
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“Make peace with nature,” is the 5th rule of Dr. Ritchason’s Golden Rules of Health. People have all kinds of epiphanies. It was a major epiphany for me when I realized that I truly trusted that herbs could improve my health. For as long as people have been on this Earth, the plants have grown right beside us. It’s as though our destinies are intertwined.
Plants have always been available to provide shelter, clothing, food and our medicines. Now that most of us live in cities, we still are drawn to plants in our homes and at work. We give plants and cut flowers as presents for all kinds of occasions. Historically, Western civilization has routinely fought nature and the plants to build cities, establish and protect agriculture with pesticides and herbicides, and develop industry. Even so, the plants are still here, waiting patiently for us to rediscover the health benefits that they can provide. We think of many of these plants as “weeds” – like dandelions. Even when we are pulling them out of our lawns, they keep popping up, saying, “I’m here!! Use me!!” Dandelion is a natural diuretic that doesn’t deplete potassium levels and can also help to detoxify the body by supporting both the kidneys and the liver. The bottom line is to simply accept and make peace with nature, knowing that nature is waiting patiently to help us.
Wendy
Rule #3 in Dr. Ritchason’s Golden Rules of Health
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… is that nothing in the human body heals in less than 3 months – then add one month for every year that you have been sick. Herbs and supplements, combined with nutritious food and good water, plenty of rest and precious time provide the tools the body can use for taking care of its heath. But remember: it took time to get sick; it’s going to take some time to get better.
In this busy, hectic world, we’re not used to letting our bodies heal naturally. “Pop a pill and keep going to work” is the mantra for many of us. Some of us, of course, have to keep working to support our families. This rule is a gentle reminder to have patience with the healing process, whether you’re recovering from a cold or something more serious. On a lighter note, if you have a bad cold, stay home, pamper yourself, drink fluids and above all, rest. Both your workmates and your body will thank you.
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