Chautauqua Summer

With summer upon us, I am spending this week at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State. Chautauqua has become an annual event for my family and me, as a time of renewal, regeneration, and relaxation. This year, we not only get to spend time with our extended family members, but we will also share the week with my friend and colleague, Erika Jackson. This will be her second week at Chautauqua this summer, so she's making everyone jealous! Here is a reflection piece that she wrote following one of her previous visits to grounds. Enjoy!

Recently I took a week's vacation in the place I consider my sacred space, the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. At this point, I have been going to Chautauqua each summer for more than half of my life. It is in this place where each year I rediscover peace of mind, stillness of spirit, and a joy that comes from having stillness honored.

What's The Secret?
So, what is it about Chautauqua that gets me in such a state of bliss? The people? No, I go with my family, who all live within 15 minutes of my home here in Ohio. Is it the music? No, I am surrounded with musicians all year long. Is it the intellectual challenge through lecture and discussion each day? No, the people in my life engage in the same level of intense reflection and debate on a regular basis.

It's Where Your Heart Is
No, it's not the place that makes me so joyful, it is me. It is the shift in my perspective each time I walk through the main gate and onto the grounds. I can literally feel my body allowing itself to relax. My mind releases the "To Do" lists, the unresolved issues, and the stressors of home in order to become fully present to its surroundings.

A New Mindframe
What a glorious revelation this has been for me! I do not have to settle for a one-week vacation at Chautauqua. I can have a "Chautauqua Summer" simply by intentionally applying the same shifts each day:

• Scheduling time to play and for creative joys
• Being present enough to enjoy things like the variety of colors on a single flower petal
• Setting non-negotiable boundaries for work time
• Honoring my body with gloriously healthy, fresh food
• Remembering that what is meant to be will come with ease
  

Make yours a Chautauqua Summer too!

Coaching Inquiries: What do you allow yourself to do while on vacation that you could bring back with you? In what ways will you renew your spirit today?

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Study Success

Quick: what's the best way to become more successful? Is it better to study and fix your weaknesses or is it better to study and build on your strengths? If you're like most people -- in fact, 87% of the people -- then you picked the first option. Something there is about weaknesses that gets our attention. Indeed, for many people mulling over and repairing their flaws is a favorite pastime and preoccupation. We feel so noble when we acknowledge our failings and take responsibility for turning them around!

Unfortunately, positive psychology research reveals that deficit-based corrections are not as effective as strengths-based enhancements. That's the guiding principle behind the practice of appreciative inquiry, whether in coaching or in organizational development. The more we know about our strengths, the better our changes will be.

Example: in a 1982 University of Wisconsin study, unskilled league bowlers improved their scores more from positive self-monitoring (watching video recordings of their successful shots) than from negative self-monitoring (watching video recordings of their unsuccessful shots). In coaching and in organizational development, then, our approach assists people to do more of what they do well rather than to do less of what they do poorly. It's all about positive self-monitoring.

One book that effectively applies this concept is Go Put Your Strengths To Work by Marcus Buckingham. It can be used with our without a coach to leverage your strengths for success. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to work the program today.

Coaching Inquiries: What are your greatest accomplishments in life and work? What do you do well? What things fill you with energy, life, and laughter? How could you do more of those things? How could you leverage those things for success in other areas? Who could work with you to find out?

We invite you Email Us or to use our Contact Form to arrange for a complimentary coaching conversation with your own LifeTrek coach.

8 Drugs To Avoid

Recently, a health story was published on MSN.com titled the "8 Drugs Doctors Would Never Take." You can read the whole story online, but here's a quick summary: avoid Advair (for asthma), Avandia (for diabetes), Celebrex (for pain), Ketek (for respiratory-tract infections), Prilosec & Nexium (for heartburn), Visine Original (for dry or itchy eyes), and Pseudoephedrine (for congestion).

In all cases, the reason for avoiding these medications has to do with the side-effects. In many cases, those side-effects have to do with cardiovascular problems. What I like about the article on MSN.com is that the author reviews alternatives ranging from other medications with lower risks of side-effects to alternative therapies such as acupuncture for pain relief.

If you are on one or more of these medications, the message of the article is simple: talk with your doctor about alternatives. Long-term use is especially problematic. In this day and age, doctors need our help to end up with therapies that we believe in and enjoy. Thanks to the dissemination of research on the web, it's easier than ever to make that happen.

Coaching Inquiries: What medications do you take on a regular basis? What side effects, if any, have you noticed? What research have you done as to alternative medications and therapies? How could you take better charge of your own health and wellness?

We invite you Email Us or to use our Contact Form to arrange for a complimentary coaching conversation with your own LifeTrek coach.

Emotional Freedom Technique

Although I have been aware of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for many years, I was surprised -- after searching my own archive on http://www.celebratewellness.com/ -- to discover that I have not written before about this simple technique for achieving relief from stress and emotional challenges. Developed by Gary Craig, the process involves six simple steps:

1. Define specifically the issue that you want to relieve.
2. Rate the severity of the issue, right now, on a scale of 0 to 10.
3. Rub the "sore spots" on your pecs in the upper chest while repeating the following affirmation 4 times: "Even though I have this issue (state it out loud), I deeply and completely accept myself."
4. Tap about 7 times on each of the following points with your finger tips while saying: "I release this issue (state it out loud), and let it go now."
• Inside of eyebrows
• Sides of eyes
• Under eyes
• Under nose
• Chin
• Collarbone
• Under arms
• Karate Chop point on your non-dominant hand.
5. Re-rate the severity of the issue on a scale of 0 to 10.
6. Repeat process -- saying "Even though I still have some of this issue..." -- until severity comes down to 0.

The combination of repeating affirmations while tapping on acupressure points has proven to be an effective release technique for many people. It can be used, for example, to reduce food cravings, to stop smoking, to induce sleep, to improve self-esteem, and to overcome performance problems. There's no limit to its applications since any issue is amenable to tapping and affirmations.

To learn more including advanced techniques and additional tapping points, to watch videos, to download a free 87-page manual, to check out EFT endorsements, to order materials, and to sign up for their email newsletter, visit Gary Craig's website at http://www.emofree.com/. The process is simple to learn, can do no harm, and has done many a world of good. Enjoy the relief!

Coaching Inquiries: What stress or emotional challenges would you like to relieve? What actions have been effective for you in the past? How willing are you to try the Emotional Freedom Technique? Why not try it right now?

We invite you Email Us or to use our Contact Form to arrange for a complimentary coaching conversation with your own LifeTrek coach.