Last week, I talked about wellbeing - being joyful and peaceful. I learned about it in a recent conversation with a long-time friend. What brings joy and peace into your life?
Integrative wellness is an important concept. Physical and mental health are inseperable and driven in part by the same epigenetics and molecular biology. Beyond that, it is important to focus on the half of the glass that is full.
An enriching conversation you and Dinesh had! I would love to hear what changes you've decided to make.
Teaching well-being is my life's work (I tend to use the other spelling) because I feel it's the foundation for whole-hearted living. However, it can be very challenging to maintain it in all areas at the same time! Working to identify what needs attention and mindfully creating that in our daily lives is how we will feel better, even if it seems like it takes time.
Hi Donna, The changes have to do with well-being - focusing on ways to be more joyful and peaceful in life. It's like I've taken care of the wellness issues but there was something missing - contentment. Maybe, that means accepting more, looking for the half fullness of the glass, and practicing mindfulness.
Contentment is fascinating to me. I think some folks (not me) are born with a more active contentment gene!! The rest of us have to work hard at it. There are so many reasons for this but I find it's a lifetime of work. One huge part of it for me is if I've had enough rest which is interesting because years ago no one would have put together contentment and rest but now we know they are directly linked.
And do you think that what creates contentment for one person may be different for another? If that's the case, I have to figure out what contentment means to me and what I can do to maintain it.
Yes I definitely think this! Yesterday I went on a beautiful mountain hike for many hours. We ended up slogging through snow so I found it super difficult. My husband would be very contented by the entire thing but I was NOT🤣
Joking aside, I think what happens ofen is that we actually are contented but fail to notice it. It wafts right by us. I'll be sitting there with my tea and a book, which to me is the greatest kind of contentment, but if I don't actively notice it, it's gone. This is how we rewire our brain, by actively paying attention to the good (the research says for 17 seconds I believe, which is a very long time) and it helps the neurons to rewire.
I enjoyed this article, Janice. I've started to deteriorate a little. ha ha! So I'm thinking I need to work on my wellness a bit. I'm really happy in life -- mainly focusing on service. But I am somewhat discontent, however -- always wanting more -- more adventure. I'm not sure if that's good or bad??? Thanks for making me think. xoxo
Hi Jan, I know what you mean about wanting more - that's me. Sometimes, I suspect I would be better off being satisfied with what I have or did. What do you think?
In addition, when I measured my own life against the 5 elements of wellbeing from the gallup site, I also felt they gave me a good guide.
Watching my son face his diagnosis and seeing how his mental state has blossomed rather than crashed, I can put it down to two things which have changed his state of wellbeing and which I think are markers for both my husband and myself.
1. Daily meditation and mindfulness (twice daily at high anxiety times)
2. Physical exercise. He walks our local mountain and our farm foothills daily, has lost unneeded weight and his manner is happy and upbeat.
He is much stronger at decision-making and is enjoying his little family and life more than ever. Given the seriousness of his lung diagnosis, I can only put his newfound state down to the good mental vibes he is engendering with this daily programme. A lesson...
Janice, forgive me if what I am about to say seems rude or hurtful. I do not mean to be either of these things. The words people use can tell us a lot about where a person is coming from. For what it may be worth, I hear a lot from Dinesh that defeats the likelihood of wellbeing, whichever way it is spelled. I understand that he is a longtime friend. I am only speaking up, that you might consider the words and phrases that I have listed below which are taken from your opening remarks of this post. (I realize that they are taken out of context, but each phrase suggests a resistance, which he can help you overcome.)
the pressure of change
performance
wants to be more
in control
strives to live in bliss (strive in the same sentence with bliss?)
have a purpose
put themselves first
improved business outcomes
To me these are all boondoggles. Simply put, recovering from the loss of a loved one takes time. If you have been the caregiver of that loved one, it may take longer. But it is something that can happen. It takes a while to recover from the stress of being the sole decision maker and the chaotic life that a spousal caregiver is thrown into. You are doing many things that are very worthwhile.
For me, to flow like a river, is to be at peace. May your peace find you, too.
Hi Sandy, Your points are well-taken. Thank you so much for sharing them and for your support. I agree that it takes time to recover from the loss of a loved on and caregiving. I see myself as a work in progress in that regard.
Last week, I talked about wellbeing - being joyful and peaceful. I learned about it in a recent conversation with a long-time friend. What brings joy and peace into your life?
I love the concept of taking responsibility for yourself as a means of empowerment.
Beautiful pointers and reminders ❤️
Integrative wellness is an important concept. Physical and mental health are inseperable and driven in part by the same epigenetics and molecular biology. Beyond that, it is important to focus on the half of the glass that is full.
An enriching conversation you and Dinesh had! I would love to hear what changes you've decided to make.
Teaching well-being is my life's work (I tend to use the other spelling) because I feel it's the foundation for whole-hearted living. However, it can be very challenging to maintain it in all areas at the same time! Working to identify what needs attention and mindfully creating that in our daily lives is how we will feel better, even if it seems like it takes time.
Hi Donna, The changes have to do with well-being - focusing on ways to be more joyful and peaceful in life. It's like I've taken care of the wellness issues but there was something missing - contentment. Maybe, that means accepting more, looking for the half fullness of the glass, and practicing mindfulness.
Contentment is fascinating to me. I think some folks (not me) are born with a more active contentment gene!! The rest of us have to work hard at it. There are so many reasons for this but I find it's a lifetime of work. One huge part of it for me is if I've had enough rest which is interesting because years ago no one would have put together contentment and rest but now we know they are directly linked.
And do you think that what creates contentment for one person may be different for another? If that's the case, I have to figure out what contentment means to me and what I can do to maintain it.
Yes I definitely think this! Yesterday I went on a beautiful mountain hike for many hours. We ended up slogging through snow so I found it super difficult. My husband would be very contented by the entire thing but I was NOT🤣
Joking aside, I think what happens ofen is that we actually are contented but fail to notice it. It wafts right by us. I'll be sitting there with my tea and a book, which to me is the greatest kind of contentment, but if I don't actively notice it, it's gone. This is how we rewire our brain, by actively paying attention to the good (the research says for 17 seconds I believe, which is a very long time) and it helps the neurons to rewire.
I enjoyed this article, Janice. I've started to deteriorate a little. ha ha! So I'm thinking I need to work on my wellness a bit. I'm really happy in life -- mainly focusing on service. But I am somewhat discontent, however -- always wanting more -- more adventure. I'm not sure if that's good or bad??? Thanks for making me think. xoxo
Hi Jan, I know what you mean about wanting more - that's me. Sometimes, I suspect I would be better off being satisfied with what I have or did. What do you think?
I think Dinesh's concepts are a good framework.
In addition, when I measured my own life against the 5 elements of wellbeing from the gallup site, I also felt they gave me a good guide.
Watching my son face his diagnosis and seeing how his mental state has blossomed rather than crashed, I can put it down to two things which have changed his state of wellbeing and which I think are markers for both my husband and myself.
1. Daily meditation and mindfulness (twice daily at high anxiety times)
2. Physical exercise. He walks our local mountain and our farm foothills daily, has lost unneeded weight and his manner is happy and upbeat.
He is much stronger at decision-making and is enjoying his little family and life more than ever. Given the seriousness of his lung diagnosis, I can only put his newfound state down to the good mental vibes he is engendering with this daily programme. A lesson...
Prue, That is amazing to hear about your son's state of wellbeing and a very good lesson. Thank you for sharing it.
Excellent, Janice. So many good reminders. Thank you for your altruism, for all you do for us.
Thank you Sharron.
Janice, forgive me if what I am about to say seems rude or hurtful. I do not mean to be either of these things. The words people use can tell us a lot about where a person is coming from. For what it may be worth, I hear a lot from Dinesh that defeats the likelihood of wellbeing, whichever way it is spelled. I understand that he is a longtime friend. I am only speaking up, that you might consider the words and phrases that I have listed below which are taken from your opening remarks of this post. (I realize that they are taken out of context, but each phrase suggests a resistance, which he can help you overcome.)
the pressure of change
performance
wants to be more
in control
strives to live in bliss (strive in the same sentence with bliss?)
have a purpose
put themselves first
improved business outcomes
To me these are all boondoggles. Simply put, recovering from the loss of a loved one takes time. If you have been the caregiver of that loved one, it may take longer. But it is something that can happen. It takes a while to recover from the stress of being the sole decision maker and the chaotic life that a spousal caregiver is thrown into. You are doing many things that are very worthwhile.
For me, to flow like a river, is to be at peace. May your peace find you, too.
Hi Sandy, Your points are well-taken. Thank you so much for sharing them and for your support. I agree that it takes time to recover from the loss of a loved on and caregiving. I see myself as a work in progress in that regard.