In our fast-paced world, rest is critical to our overall health, well-being, and success. Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“When things aren’t adding up in your life, start subtracting.”
“When you get tired learn to rest, not quit.”
“Sometimes, to keep going, we have to allow ourselves to stop.”
Image from Unsplash by Clem Onojeghuo
Music is a time machine for me.
I can distinctly remember Sunday mornings — in my youth — as the time every radio in the house played Frank Sinatra while my mom did the week’s laundry.
The laborious process of sorting, washing, drying and ironing was made more enjoyable as the family took numerous trips from the basement to the first and second floors of our row house where everything was put neatly in their place.
As my mom aged her memory began faltering, which added to other challenges she faced while getting older. One strategy we would use to brighten her days was to play her music which had the miraculous power to transport her back to her younger years of greater vibrancy and vitality.
EXERCISE:
What are some of the ways that trigger you to take short walks down memory lane?
How do these periodic visits to the past help you more fully appreciate how far you have come over the years?
Image from Unsplash by Nikoloz Gachechiladze
Recently, I took a Sunday afternoon the see “A Complete Unknown” — the movie about Bob Dylan’s early career from 1961-1965. Although the film blended fact with a good amount of creative interpretation, I found it entertained a bit more than if it had been a pure documentary.
The film made a point of highlighting intimate moments of Dylan’s life between his performances, taking a look below his public persona to help the viewer see his evolution as both a person and artist with something to say.
In 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature for having created new poetic expressions within his craft. The Swedish academy felt strongly that his work transcended the boundaries between music and poetry.
EXERCISE:
In what ways are you a work in progress? How are you continuing to write the ever-evolving story of your life?
Image from Unsplash by Justin Follis
This quote was brought to my attention by Rohan Rajiv, who has been writing the wonderful daily blog “A Learning a Day” for over 16 years.
Since most of us are in conversations throughout our days, I found this question to be an excellent framework to enhance my many relationships — including in my work as a coach.
If we determine that an individual is seeking to be helped, they are most likely seeking advice and solutions to specific problems with concrete actions.
The people in our lives looking for hugs emphasize the desire for social connections, validation, and sense of love and belonging.
Although we all like to be heard, these folks in particular have a strong need to be understood and want to be supported emotionally without being offered direct advice and solutions.
EXERCISE:
In what ways can you keep Duhigg’s question in mind as you interact with the people in your professional and personal communities? How clear are you about your own wants and needs to be helped, hugged, and heard?
image from Unsplash by Aziz Acharki
The concept of “Taking the Middle Way” has various interpretations across different philosophical, religious, and cultural contexts.
Here are a few I have found useful in my life journey:
From Buddhism, the middle way emphasizes balance and a path of moderation in spiritual practices and daily life.
In Aristotelian ethics, the middle way suggests that virtue lies between excess and deficiency.
In Politics, the middle way emphasizes an outlook that aims to find common ground between left and right-wing ideologies, seeking compromise and moderate positions on various issues.
In Self-Help and personal growth contexts, the middle way seeks to strike a balance between different aspects of life, such as work and leisure, or ambition and contentment.
EXERCISE:
Where in your world would taking the middle way help you avoid the extremes of life?
Consider your digital consumption, consumerism, health and wellness issues, and your financial management as possible areas to explore.
What do you do to renew and rejuvenate yourself? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you are finished.”
“Exhaustion is not a status symbol.”
Image from amtrak.com
Did you know that there is only one auto train in the United States?
For those on the east coast it’s a 17+ hour trek from Lofton, Virginia to Sandford, Florida — where you fill your vehicle with as much stuff as it can hold and then leave the driving to the conductor!
On these overnight adventures, you can even get a sleeper car and have the clickity-clack of the tracks lull you to sleep.
Unlike high-speed trains, in which getting from point A to point B is the goal, the auto train chugs along at more leisurely pace allowing considerable time to converse with your travel mates, do a bit of reading, and of course, reflect on your own life journey.
EXERCISE:
In what ways do you give yourself time to slow down to connect with your deepest self?
Consider all the people (especially yourself), places, and things, you miss while rushing past them all.
Image from Unsplash by Brooke Cagle
Today’s quote encapsulates Ridley’s views on collective intelligence and the collaborative nature of innovation. It emphasizes that innovation is not primarily the result of individual genius, but rather a product of human interaction and the exchange of ideas.
How often do you find yourself working alone, wracking your brain to solve a particular problem?
How frequently do you feel that if you seek or accept assistance from others your achievements are less worthy of recognition?
EXERCISE:
Where and how can you tap into many more brains within your personal and professional communities to accomplish far more than going it alone? Remember that even the Lone Ranger had Tonto!
Image from Unsplash by Khadeeja Yasser
Where are you trying to make your mark on the world?
Just like one of those rubber stamps that have begun to run out of ink, our ongoing efforts to accomplish things of note are often too light to leave the lasting imprint we want.
Where are you tip-toeing around in your life, reluctant to take a firm stand on what you value and believe? How have these modest efforts made only minimal impressions that are easily washed away with time?
EXERCISE:
Whether it’s through great force or repeated actions over time, what will it take for you to make the dents in the universe you deeply desire?
Image from Unsplash by Alan Luna
Lemonade is one of my favorite beverages. I particularly like the fact that I can control the levels of tartness and sweetness to my liking.
Lemons are a versatile fruit that can easily incorporate into our diets through water, cooking, or direct consumption, offering a wide variety of health-promoting properties.
Lemons provide numerous metabolic advantages:
The vitamin C in lemons supports:
Additional health benefits include:
EXERCISE:
In what ways can you take and embrace the lemons of life (including the fruit) to lead a healthier and sweeter life?