The Conscious Lifestyle

A lot more goes into life than luck. Change happens, and it happens best when we make it happen. Yet, so many of us are too often afraid to create change because we are afraid to fail. So, if you’ve lost confidence in your inner ability to create change—this post is for you!

Do you take your power or inspiration from external sources or from within yourself? Do you read and look at ads and commercials and think to yourself, “This is what I need; this is what I have to do; this is how I should look; this is who I want to be?” These questions are important because you know yourself better than anyone else, and you are the one who should be in charge of what you want to change. It takes some thought, and it takes some time, and it takes resolve, but the results stay with you because you are the one who is in charge. And, you are the only one who can make it happen. It’s not a matter of “luck.”

We know repeated behaviors eventually turn into habits. And we know improving willpower long-term requires commitment (drawing on our inner ability). We also know as individuals we never stay the same. But, to create change, we have to expand our zones of comfort. We have to develop those behaviors that turn into habits, and then we have to change them—it’s the habit of changing habits that builds inner confidence. It’s  that little, or loud voice that says, “Yes you can do this. Now go do it.” It’s not a matter of “luck.”

Mindful choices made each day will result in steady changes leading to sustainable health and wellness. The effect is cumulative—and what we do—or don’t do, determines our success and our overall well-being. Imagine thinking of laying a foundation of wellness as you would think of breathing—in other words, not as a one-time choice but an automatic response and action. So, take a deep breath. Your values—and actions—speak to what is most important to you in life. Where is your focus? We suggest that rather than focusing on all the reasons for why not, or why you will fail, focus instead on all the reasons you will succeed. Keep in mind those things you do well and use those accomplishments to foster a sense of achievement. It’s not a matter of “luck.”

 
The takeaway—What do you think would happen if you put yourself in charge when it comes down to looking at your ability to create change? Hmm  . . . You might just become your own lifeline to your health and wellness decisions and choices. What better coach, than yourself? You’ll see that it really has nothing to do with “luck.”

Doing Life

O.K., let’s. Life is surprising. It’s interesting. It’s often hard, often fun, frightening, sometimes simple, sometimes easy, sometimes both, and almost always unpredictable. It seems much of what happens in life is out of our control—but not all of it, and this is the part we need to look at “doing.”

In a way we all have life sentences. The question is how we cope, deal with, and then individually choose to move forward. Because—we all do it in different ways, and we all have to do it.

We know our actions have consequences, and as a result we each have a responsibility as individuals, and organizations to “do no harm.” Yet too many of us are doing harm—to ourselves, and in turn to our organizations. We are doing harm through the neglect of our bodies, our nutrition, our choices, and ultimately our health. As a result, many of us find ourselves doing life with one or more chronic diseases. Now, we’re “doing harm” on a number of levels.

This is not the way it’s supposed to be, nor is it the way it has to be. What if we look at doing life a little differently?  What if we look at our choices differently? What if we look at, and focus on what we really can achieve? What if we look at those positive choices we can each make in terms of how they will shape our health and well-being? The benefits are huge and far-reaching.

How do the words: believe in yourself, never give up, keep reaching,  I can do this, I am worth this, sound to you?  They should sound good. And they are true.

You’re already doing life. We all are. Isn’t it up to each of us to make it the best life it can be—for ourselves, our families, our employers, our country, our world?  Isn’t up to each of us to make it a life that “does no harm?”

That’s a lot to ask, but we can each—and together—make doing life, really worth doing.  Are you in?

Everything is Connected

From quantum mechanics theorem, quantum entanglement, wave function collapse, electromagnetic interaction of electrons, to ancient Buddhist scripts to social science research, by way of television, internet, newspapers, books—and yes, even in one-on-one conversation—we are all connected. In an absolutely mind-bending way everything and everyone is connected to everything and everyone else. It’s true.

John Muir said it more eloquently when he wrote:  "When we try to pick out anything by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe.”

So, exactly what does this have to do with wellness and well-being? It ties-in to our tag line: Spreading Viral Wellness ™.

  

More than likely, you’ve heard of Six Degrees of Separation—the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of a friend of a friend statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. (Personally, I haven’t tested this, but someday when I run out of things to do I plan to.)

Here’s where wellness and our collective well-being can come into play. How do these friends of friends feel about their own wellness and well-being? Yes, this is a loaded question. You may not know (and don’t actually have to know) the answer. It doesn’t matter. The point is six degrees, or steps, are only six steps—so what happens if each one us takes a healthy step we decide is important enough to move us in the direction we want to go with our own well-being.  

Think of six simple steps (reduced portion size, a walk around the block, less soda, a few more mindful choices). Now,  imagine what can happen if we share those steps, and the person we share them with shares them with someone else. At this point, wellness does indeed become viral—even contagious. 

Can’t you just imagine where this could lead? Why wouldn’t we all want to go there?