Posts tagged Walk In The Woods
Five Steps to Enjoying the Journey
Sep 9th
When I was a child, I had a recurring dream in which I was leaping from the top of one pillar to another and each pillar started to fall the moment I landed on it, so I had to keep leaping.
As an adult, this is the way I’ve lived my life – leaping from one accomplishment to another – degrees, accreditation, various different careers. My mother used to say it made her tired just listening to me, because I was always pursuing new challenges.
But it struck me one day when I was saying to her, “I can’t wait ’til I finish this program and get my certification” and she said “Don’t wish your life away!” She was so right! I was failing to enjoy the journey.
I also realized how different my husband’s attitude is! To him, life is a “walk in the woods”. He truly enjoys the moment. When we went to England to do our PhD’s, I was always working hard and focused on the goal, while he simply enjoyed the process itself. To him, the goal was incidental but not that important. He was simply enjoying the research he was involved in.
This difference in attitude was even more evident when we returned from England and searched for employment. For six months, I was frantic and impatient, while my husband enjoyed our little ‘vacation’. He said “Relax and enjoy this time. Before you know it, we’ll be back in the grind, with very little time off.”
We have both accomplished many things in our lives, but I lived in a state of “gotta get THERE” and he lived in the state “Isn’t THIS amazing”.
So many people live all their lives, waiting for the future. You hear them say “when I graduate…”, “when I have a family…”, “when the kids are grown up…”, “when I retire…”. Life happens but we’re not there.
Here are five steps that may help you to live and enjoy life fully in the present:
Take responsibility for where you are now. Some people say “Well I have to provide for my children”, but you decided to have children and you did that for a reason! So your next choice is to decide HOW to provide for them. No matter what limiting beliefs you have, you DO have choices about where to go next. Set your next goal, creatively finding a way to achieve a joyful life, while fulfilling your responsibilities. This requires: introspection (to find what makes your heart sing), research (to investigate the possibilities) and courageous leaps of imagination (to overcome limiting beliefs about what is possible). Focus on the moment and savor the journey. As my mother said, “Don’t wish your life away”. Appreciate what you have now and find the joy in every moment. If your children are little, take a moment to appreciate them, because when they grow up and leave home, you will miss these times. So don’t miss it now! Welcome challenges and failures as skill-building opportunities. Challenges help us to get creative. Sometimes you will seek out a mentor. These experiences will also help you to become a mentor to others. All the best teachers tell us about their challenges and failures because these were the times when they learned the most. Remain flexible. If at some point, you feel that this is not the direction you want to go, allow yourself to reconsider and modify your goal to something that truly inspires and energizes you. I have changed careers many times in my life and everyone thought I was crazy, but what others think does not matter – as long as you follow your heart, you can never go wrong.”Enjoying the journey” does not mean “not planning”. It means planning with both your heart and your mind and then immersing yourself in the journey with all your heart, learning and changing direction as you go, accepting all the ups and downs and always moving in the direction of your joy.
Ten Habits For More Brain Power
Aug 8th
A recent issue of a magazine includes a list of 10 activities to boost your brain health. The list includes many activities I would call important for overall wellness. In this competitive environment there is a tendency to forget health and focus intensely on a job search or a job. It is important to take a step back and make sure that we are taking care of ourselves too. You may want to try a few of these 10 activities:
Go for a walk with a friend. The article suggests walking with a friend so that you talk as you walk. Social connection, physical exercise and mental stimulation are brain strengtheners. I’d add that the exercise is good for weight control and also stress control. Add variety to your life. Do not follow a set routine day after day. Wake up your brain with something new. Try a new route to the office. Go to a new networking group. Memorize a new poem. Be a Life Long Learner. Study something in depth. This is good for your brain and your career. Learn a new language and begin to speak and write it. (I just started an improvisation class which is good for my brain and fun!) Solve Puzzles/Play games – Try cross word puzzles, Sudoku, bridge and/or chess. They suggest trying to beat the clock because that inspires quicker thinking. In my improv class games we have to think of a word on the beat of a rhythm started by the instructor. It is not easy but you do get better at it with practice. Reminds me of a Miss Mary Mac, a game I played as a child. Clear the mind - Use meditation, yoga or a walk in the woods to help clear your mind. Most of us have very active minds today. Some of the chatter is noisy and negative. It is important to regularly take time to clear your mind. While you are at it take some deep breaths to cleanse your mind and body. Get 8 hours sleep a night – Your brain needs a rest too. This is the time for it to consolidate the day’s memories. Give your brain time to do this by getting a full eight hours of sleep. Lots of research shows people in the US don’t get enough sleep! Be creative – Use your imagination every day. Take the time to paint, add to your journal, create a new website, write a poem or do anything that uses the right (creative) side of your brain. Spend time with friends – Staying by yourself all the time can put your brain into slowdown mode. (Solos be aware.) Friends, family and colleagues help keep you engaged in life and that keeps your brain active and working. Being sociable is good for your brain and your spirit. People with a strong community of friends and acquaintances live longer and happier lives in general. (Networking is good for your brain!) Eat a proper diet - Include fruits and vegetables in your diet along with whole grains and fish. My parents used to tell me fish was brain food. I guess they were right!! Have regular check ups with the doctor – Blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, cholesterol all are important to proper brain function. Make sure yours are in the normal range and if not work with your doctor to get them in check.
