Baby it’s cold outside!

I know it’s December and I live in Minnesota, but I always have a hard time adapting to below zero temperatures. Brr! It just doesn’t seem right to me. I am a summertime gal and love warm temperatures and sunshine, so it probably never will.

Thankfully–I have an upcoming trip to look forward to. Nothing sounds better to me than a warm breeze, sunshine and the calming ocean. I hope you have an opportunity to take a warm vacation get away this winter too.

Speaking of the ocean—I recently read something interesting about the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches some 1800 miles from New Guinea to Australia in the Pacific ocean in one of Brian Johnson’s Philosophers Notes on the book, The Art of Peace. “Earl Nightingale, on a visit there with his son, noticed how the coral polyps on the inside of the reef, where the sea was tranquil and quiet in the lagoon, appeared pale and lifeless, while the coral on the outside of the reef, that is subject to the surge of the tide and power of the waves, were bright and vibrant with splendid colors and flowing growth and asked why this was. ‘It’s very simple,’ came the reply, ‘the coral on the lagoon-side dies rapidly with no challenge for growth and survival…while the coral facing the surge and power of the open sea thrives and multiplies because it is challenged every day.’”¹ It is funny how that works, but is true for most organisms in the universe and humans, as well. While we all need challenges in our lives to grow, sometimes they can cause stress overload.

So how can we thrive, yet deal with the stresses of our lives? According to Dennis Waitley, in his book, The Psychology of Winning, “One of the best ways to develop adaptability to the stresses of life is to view them as normal.”² While some of us would rather avoid stress, it is a part of life and we need to learn to deal with it. We can also try and maintain balance in our lives by practicing daily rituals, such as exercising, that help renew your mind, body and spirit. Twyla Tharp, in her book, The Creative Habit, says “When you stimulate your body, your brain comes alive in ways you can’t simulate in a sedentary position. The brain is an organ, tied integrally to all the other systems in the body, and it’s affected by blood flow, neural transmission, etc.”³ By exercising and moving our bodies, we not only help de-stress our brains, but stimulate our creativity and promote well-being.

Some rituals can help prepare us for the day, while others can give you a break from work, or daily activities, and others may help you relax into the evening and prepare you for a good night’s sleep. Some examples of rituals include: meditation, walking, working out or exercising, reading, yoga, massage, going to the movies, prayer, date nights, and more.

Many of these can easily be incorporated into a daily routine, while others can be added weekly, or monthly. Matthew Kelly, best selling author and speaker, reminds us we must feed our physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual self to become the best version of yourself. ⁴

How are you doing?

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Reference:

¹ Brian Johnson’s Philosophers Notes—The Art of Peace. http://www.entheos.com/philosophersnotes/notes/all/The Art of Peace, pg. 2

² Brian Johnson’s Philosophers Notes—The Art of Peace. http://www.entheos.com/philosophersnotes/notes/all/The Art of Peace, pg. 1

³ Brian Johnson’s Philosophers Notes—The Creative Habit. http://www.entheos.com/philosophersnotes/notes/all/The Art of Peace, pg. 4

⁴ Mathew Kelly: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself. Beacon Publishing, 1999. CD.