The fourth of five Principles outlined in The Athena Principles, Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is Growth Mindset. How the wellness journey is viewed determines one’s level of progress and enjoyment. When you adopt a growth mindset, you begin to focus on what is right in your life. The more you practice this mindset, the more you’ll being to experience challenges as opportunities that will, in turn, position you to move forward with more confidence and ease.
Read MoreThe third of five Principles outlined in The Athena Principles, Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is Consistency, defined as the art of staying committed and engaged, especially during challenging times. When working toward improving well-being, consistent action is the critical factor in determining success because it leads to reliable outcomes and results. The reverse is true as well – inconsistent action usually equates to less-than-optimal results.
Read MoreThe first of five Principles outlined in The Athena Principles, Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is self-compassion defined as the care for one’s own well-being in the form of self-acceptance and nurturing support.
The benefits of self-compassion are broad. Research has shown it can improve self-worth, motivation, depression, body image and overall happiness. People who have self-compassion practices develop the ability to administer kindness to themselves as soon as they recognize they are hurting.
Read MoreThe Athena Principles combines wellness philosophy with a methodology that includes:
· Tools to assess your current state of wellness, provide clarity, track progress, and set new objectives;
· Principles, which provide a solid foundation and serve as a guide for current actions and future decisions; and
· Practices that, when performed regularly, aim to create good habits and increased well-being.
The methodology recognizes that wellness is a fluid process that thrives with a flexible approach. It regards wellness as a practice, honors and cultivates inner knowing, and provides accountability. It can provide you with a foundation for making change, a vantage point to help you see where you’re working against yourself, and a scalable process that can grow with you.
Read MoreI’ve been holding a question posed by life coach Martha Beck, who likened the pandemic’s ascendance to a tidal wave, wiping out the old ways of being. But, she offered, you could also think of it as a wave you could ride, like a surfer. What would it take to let go, have the courage to point your surfboard over the lip of the wave and let gravity glide you to the shore?
Read MoreIn the northeastern United States, we have experienced six full weeks of “Stay at Home” orders with at least two (and probably four) more weeks on the horizon. In my April 1st blog post, I wrote about the things I was doing to keep my well-being intact during this time. I’ve kept vigilant with my practices, utilizing the green, yellow, red coding I described so I could easily track my progress. Here’s how I’ve been doing:
Read MoreIt can be unnerving to watch the Coronavirus spread into a global pandemic. We can feel uneasy and powerless. The increased stress can impact the strength of our immune defenses. The immune system is defined as “the cells and tissues in the body that make it able to protect itself against infection,” according to the Cambridge dictionary.
Read MoreSpring seems to have arrived early in the northeastern United States. The daffodils are about to bloom in my yard, the birds are more active and I feel an uptick in my own energy level. The groundhog did not see his shadow and the long-term weather forecast shows no sign of snow for the next ten days. I know we’re not out of the winter woods yet, but I’m already preparing for longer days.
Read MoreSmall steps taken towards enhanced wellness can have big impact. Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a half-day silent retreat where we used mindfulness techniques as an anchor to the present moment. This was done through a series of exercises that included walking, listening, observing and eating, the latter being the perfect precursor to celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family a few days later.
Read MoreThe disappointment of a broken promise can make us feel unvalued, upset and hurt. Whether intentional or unintentional, unkept promises erode trust over time. What about the promises we make to ourselves and don’t keep? Those broken promises can be subtler and take shape in the form of what habitually remains unaddressed on our to-do lists. The result is the feeling of not honoring ourselves.
Read MoreI was five years old when the Stonewall uprising occurred in NYC in June of 1969. I am 55 as I participate in the Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 celebrations. In the span of 50 years, the world has profoundly changed a little at a time, drop by drop, each bead of water small in volume but collectively impactful.
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