Expanding Our Wellbeing
When it comes to wellbeing, I believe in tending to all 8 Dimensions: Occupational, Intellectual, Financial, Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Social and Environmental. Yet, in this publication, many of my posts are focused on occupational and intellectual with the others occasionally addressed in a secondary post or a link to a podcast. Today, I want to focus on some of the others.
First, I had the opportunity to do a pre-read of a book called The Great Remembering: Powerful Ancient Practices—And the New Science Bringing Them Back as part of the Next Big Idea Club. You can read my full review of the book here. The book was full of rituals from the past that can be used to enhance our lives today. The Next Big Idea Club podcast did an episode on the book here.
Next, ironically also through a Next Big Idea club podcast there was an episode titled Your Brain on Spirituality. This episode provided summaries of two additional books that resonated. The first was How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion by psychologist David DeSteno. The second is The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life by psychologist Lisa Miller. Both books look to provide scientific benefits of spirituality.
My Experience
I want to end with a story of an experience that I had two weeks ago. I was in Florida settling my parents in for the winter and saw a post that Marco Island Yoga offered morning yoga on the beach. I was drawn in. And, when I saw they were having “Full Moon Yoga” during my stay, I knew this was my event.
So, at 6:00am, I drove to the beach in the moonlight with my yoga mat and beach towel in tow. I wondered how I would find the group and as soon as I stepped off the path to the beach I knew – battery powered candles were glowing in a large circle. I found my place and joined the group.
An hour later, we had seen the moon set and the sun begin to rise. There was such a feeling of connection – with each other, with our bodies, with the beach, and with something greater. It reminded me of the concept of “collective effervescence” from The Great Remembering.
I felt grounded… and lighter… and so thankful to have had the experience. I will be going back. I will also be focusing more on what I learned from the book and the podcast summary.
Posts This Week
Book Review: The Great Remembering. This post provides my thoughts about the book by June Cohen. I was really pulled into this one and recommend it for those focused on overall wellbeing.
Dimensions of Wellbeing – Layers? When considering the 8 dimensions of wellbeing, there are some questions I have about how they work together. This post explores some of those questions.
Choices. I’ve found myself in a bit of a writing rut. We all get in ruts with our routines, but this one had me stumped on how to shift. Maybe my challenges will help you work through a rut.
Go With the Flow. Last week I was in Florida with a list of projects to complete. Things didn’t go as planned and it was a reminder to my “planner brain” that sometimes we need to go with the flow.
Power of the Moon. Aligned with my Florida trip, I had the opportunity to attend a full moon yoga class on the beach. This post highlights the experience.
Podcasts and Articles That Caught My Attention
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Overload. (Next Big Idea Daily. 33 minutes) The Great Remembering: Powerful Ancient Practices—And the New Science Bringing Them Back, by June Cohen. Then, Strangers and Intimates: The Rise and Fall of Private Life by cultural historian Tiffany Jenkins.
Why You Should Take a “Say No” Retreat. 21 minutes. Life Kit. This episode features Caroline Sylge, author of the book, How to Retreat: A Guide to Stepping Away from the Everyday to Find Space for Your Self. She talks about how learning to say “no” can take some intentional practice.
Finishing Boosts Confidence. 5 minutes. Before Breakfast. This short podcast provides one simple insight – finishing a project gives us the confidence we can tackle others.
Your Predisposition is Not Your Future. 10 minutes. Optimal Living Daily. This episode talks about how excusing our negative tendencies as “just the way we are” keeps us stuck. There are six steps reviewed for anyone committed to intentional living and personal growth.
What Do You Think?
Have you focused on your emotional and spiritual wellbeing or do you tuck them aside?
Where in your life do you feel like you go with the flow and where are you more rigid with plans?
What ideas did the posts & podcasts spark that you could implement in the week ahead?
Marketing Newsletter
Over the last two years working with Wayfarer Solutions, Inc. on gamification, I’ve thought a lot about engagement and motivation. How you take that energy and emotion that customers have and turn it into action that drives business results. This week’s Fingerprints Marketing newsletter covers my thoughts and the ties back to foundational behavioral science with the Fogg Behavioral Model. Gamification is becoming a strong tool in the marketing and loyalty toolbox. I hope my summary is helpful in understanding some of the science behind the art.