Promote Health and Wealth - Flow with Personally Defined Purpose

Being in Flow is knowing one's purpose, one's intention, is more than just saying a a few words. Sure vision and mission statements may easily roll of the tongue. But, this is where I believe one can get into trouble because we often times have adopted someone else's words, ideas and vision and don't know what we want or need at all.

Because we are social beings, we do have m any personal and professional connection. Some people more than others. When we have clearly defined our resolution for what we are,how we live our lives becomes so much healthier and successful, not just in dollars, but in so many ways.

For example, I asked a person a few months ago that had been looking for a job for over a year, "What is important to you?" Their first response - "I want a job."

I knew instantly that was a really superficial answer and so I asked another question, "What do you really, really want to do?"

This stopped the person short and totally transformed how they were thinking about what they wanted and needed. Their response was that they did not remember ever being asked that question. We sat in silence for a few minutes and then they responded with calm conviction, "I want to help people."

We certainly had a lot more work to do, but we immediately decided to focus on helping others, rather than just "getting a job." This opened the door for them to view their talents and interests, as well as their challenges and areas to develop, in a totally different manner. In a few weeks, that person found a job where they help people. The additional benefits, more money than they expected and a great team to work with. They moved into flow once their personal purpose became clear.

This is just one example. I see it over and over again for others, as well as myself.

How about you, any tips for clarifying one's purpose to get in the flow?

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Purpose

Now I'd like to start by sharing some definitions of the word purpose...

The Free Dictionary by Farlex

1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal:
2. A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention.
3. Determination; resolution:

or

Free Merriam Webster Dictionary:

1 a : something set up as an object or end to be attained: intention
b : resolution, determination
2 a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution synonyms see intention — on purpose: by intent: intentionally

As I read and write these words, a quote by Michelangelo comes to mind.

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

A question to ask myself today therefore becomes, "Is my purpose, my intention, my aim high enough for me for me to be happiness, health, wealth and live a life in flow?" This inner exploration is certainly not as easy as it looks, that's for sure. But I'm committed to keep my aim high!

Thoughts, comments?

Promote Health & Wealth - Day 12 - Learning to Live in Flow

It's amazing how much there is to learn about this concept of Flow. At first, for me when there is something new to learn, it feels almost random and overwhelming. Learning about being in Flow is no different - every where I look there is more information - the internet, books on my shelves, libraries, universities. How can one learn more effectively to live in flow? I've learned that I'm a balanced thinker - fortunately or unfortunately for those around me, I'm a really big systems and practical thinker, as well as highly empathic. Therefore, creating a process helps me break down really big ideas into something manageable for me and those around me (otherwise, I would make everyone else crazy).

In my mind, the process starts with an assessment. Wonderful way to start any discovery process. In this process, I realized I needed to determine the purpose or the "why" as I embark on my adventure to live in flow.

To help me focus on clarity and purpose, a favorite comes to mind. Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychologist and Holocaust survivor wrote in the preface to his book, A Man's Search for Meaning, "Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue...as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a course greater than oneself."

What powerful words. Focusing on "dedication to a course greater than oneself." For me that is tremendously appealing. It helps me get off the little me and my thoughts of what do I get out of this, to, helping me to see, think and feel with the greater me and to be more - more compassionate, more understanding, more motivated, more of a contribution.

Can you feel the energy shifting - I am even as I write these words. Any thoughts, ideas or comments?

All the best in health, wealth and living in Flow

Laura

Promote Health & Wealth - Day 11- Flow

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi's entitles his first chapter and Introduction to Flow - Happiness Revisited. His opening line - "Twenty-three hundred years ago Aristotle concluded that, more than anything else, men and women seek happiness." Csikszentmihalyi goes on to write, "While happiness itself is sought for its own sake, every goal - health , beauty, money and power is valued only because we expect that it will make us happy."

As I reflect about Happiness Revisited, a simple quote comes to mind - "Be, Do and Have." I realize that consciously one often thinks one needs to DO something to make one happy. However, as I continue to explore and study about human potential, I am increasingly aware that we don't know HOW to be happy. We are unsure how to allow ourselves to BE.

It's funny, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, also mentions that people need to "discover" what makes them happy and then their quality of life will improve.

Now I am literally tingling with excitement. I can feel my happiness meter rising, just because I am focusing on being happy - wonderful concept. Now I'm going to work through Flow's ten factors - tomorrow - Clear Goals.

What do you think?

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promote Health & Wealth - Day 10 - Getting into Flow

In this adventure promotion of health and wealth, this next question becomes really exciting for me - How do I get into the Zone?

As I pursue this quest, one of the experts in the field of Positive Pyschology, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, come to mind. He actually uses the term flow rather than Zone. Moving once again out of my comfort zone and changing gears slightly, I'd like to change my question to How do I move into Flow? Dr. Csikszentmihalyi defined Flow as the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

In Csíkszentmihályi research, he identified the following ten factors to be present when someone is in Flow

1. Clear goals
2. Concentrating
3. A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness
4. Distorted sense of time
5. Direct and immediate feedback
6. Balance between ability level and challenge
7. A sense of personal control
8. The activity is intrinsically rewarding
9. A lack of awareness of bodily needs
10. An absorption in the activity and focus

As I reflect, I sense that if I move towards personal and professional mastery of Flow and the ten underlying factors, I have the potential to experience more joy, ease, peace of mind, success and ultimate health and wealth. Now if moving out of my comfort zone can actually give me all of the above and positive energy. These refreshed feelings can enhance - no pun on the word - more comfort with myself.Some simple ways to move into the flow, and yet, I know I have a lot to learn to fully appreciate Csikszentmihalyi's factors to actually live in FLOW.

Is this journey starting to feel like an adventure to you, too? Please join in and help me uncover and discover more about these factors and theory. New theories, concepts and ideas are welcomed.

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health & Wealth - Day 9 - Moving Out of the Comfort Zone

The seventh question that I think is worth answering is "What puts me to sleep?"

The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines sleeping as "A state of inactivity resembling or suggesting sleep; unconsciousness, dormancy, hibernation, or death."

If being in the ultimate level of our comfort zone is so important then I would certainly like like to some level of consciousness, energy, awareness and aliveness to ensure that I am performing at a peak level. And so, I would like to change this question slightly to "What puts me in my zone?"

Think of the superb athlete or professional. They don't operate in the Zone every time. Instead, they continually perfect a process that will help them arrive in the Zone when they are seeking that level of performance.

I'd like to continue to research and investigate this concept of a process that will put myself and others in in the Zone. My first steps in this process moving forward is to understand more about getting into "the Zone"

Until tomorrow, have a great day. I'm off starting my research for Moving into the Zone!

Still interested? Comments and thoughts will be appreciated.


All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health & Wealth - Day 8 - Moving Out of The Comfort Zone

The question , "What bores me?" is interesting. I decided to really fully appreciate the word boredom and found the following definition in the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary...

The state of being weary and restless through lack of interest.

When I notice myself experiencing boredom, I often have become income involved in a task, a project, a role, even a goal that may not look like, feel like or sound particularly exciting and so I partially (and perhaps fully) disengage. This activity is essential for others, but not, in my mind for me. So I disengage, at least, to some degree. Oh, I show up and even may "act" interested, but I allow my mind to wander, my fingers to text, or I'm sure that you are getting the picture. I realize that this state of weariness or restlessness is actually occurring because I don't have a clear and specific focus, purpose or intention for my involvement.

Let me give you an example, I recently was working with a group and the instant I walked into the room, I knew that they could have cared less. They were respectful and pleasant, but they wanted to get the heck out of the room as quickly as possible. Now, I could have decided to overlook this level of boredom, who would care, I had a job to do - share information and send the team on their merry way to complete the project. However, I realized that I would be contributing to their comfort zone and quite honestly, staying in that zone for me would have been exhausting. And so I decided to call attention to the energy level of the team - we would be spending almost 8 hours together.

We turned around our boredom in less than an hour - we discuss the purpose of the project, our individual interests, roles and challenges. WOW! Within the hour, we were off and running - new ideas and new goals.

I'd like to suggest, that one way that I move ourselves to another level of engagement is to focus on a clear purpose and then gain buy in by investing time in clarifying each individual interest and rewards. Does it take time? Yes! But investing 1 hour for me was much better than wasting 8.

What are some ways that you move past thoughts and feelings of weariness and restlessness? I'd love to hear from you.


All the best in Health and Wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 7 - Moving out of The Comfort Zone

Today's the day we are going to move our exploring to another level. By asking myself and others the next question, "What interests me?, I often find myself and others giving me a quick, top of mind awareness answer, such as: I like hiking and biking, I like fishing and hunting, I like reading and writing, I like nature, I like the environment. I love helping people.

Once again let's consider how important our subconscious mind is in helping us to discover how to move out of our comfort zone. To help us focus in this exploration - I'd like to revisit the the seven elements of life that I mentioned on Day 3 - physical, mental, family, financial, social, career, and ethics.

My comfort zone might say let's focus on one element at a time, but life isn't that simple is it. In fact, because I sometimes sometimes get so intent on one element - I over look how my interest(s) have many connections that I have failed to overlook because I want to go to the first, easiest answer.

Remember, I mentioned that I am treating this blog as an opportunity for exploration. Well, in exploration, there is danger, discomfort, and even fear. But, according to a book written by Susan Jeffers called Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. I am willing to spend time expanding how one interest really is affecting my success in my family, my finances, my career, my physical health, my mental growth, my social interactions, and my ethics.

Sound like fun, I'm committed to keeping this question in mind today and I will let you know how much I discover about the power of knowing one's interests!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what interests you.

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 6 - Moving Out of the Comfort Zone

Yesterday, I mentioned that having a visual prop can help move you out of your comfort zone. Which leads me to the next question - "What songs play in my head, even when there is no music playing?" Now I'm sure that you have thought I have totally lost it, but admit it, don't you sometimes find yourself humming, whistling or even singing out loud in the shower a song that makes you smile.

Well, I have noticed that a certain song will pop up in my mind and actually play all day long. This auditory prop inspires me to keep going when I'd rather just take a break. For example, the last week, the classic Rogers and Hammerstein song, OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, has been playing in my head constantly.

The refrain goes like this...

Oh, What a beautiful mornin’,
Oh, What a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feelin’
Ev’erything’s goin’ my way.

Now I don't think I've heard that song in years but it sure does make me take notice of how wonderful the world and life is. This song is even playing on the rainy day.

Another song that was big in the 1980's was I'm So Excited sung by Donna Summer. Now, that song pops up for me when a new idea, project or change is happening in my life.

Here's the refrain, just in case your wondering...

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it

I'm grateful that I am noticing the songs that make me more positive, more energized and more willing to move me.

What about you, are there any song's playing that move you out of your comfort zone?

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 5 - Motivation - Moving Out of the Comfort Zone

Every ask yourself this question, "What in my life motivates me to jump out of bed and get started everyday?" Well, I didn't consciously ask myself that until I opened my own business nine years ago.

Normally, one of my all time favorite comfort zones, especially at 5:30 in the morning, is my bed. However, I will tell you this, once I decide that my day is going to be on purpose and with passion, I rarely hit the snooze alarm. In fact, I'm one of those painfully annoying people that I am up like an on switch.

My purpose and tag line is to create attitudes and strategies tapping limitless energy (C.A.S.T.L.E.) CASTLE is the acronym that I wrote more than 5 years before I started my own company. I shared with a colleague that the image of the CASTLE was motivating to me and came up with the tag line on the spot.) She thought I had totally lost my mind, but today I still often use that tag line to describe my business. And, I have a marvelous collection of castles - visual props are great sources of motivators to move one out of their comfort zone. Do you have any special props to help you leap into action?

Other ways that I move out of my comfort zone, a.k.a.my bed, to actually jump us are to say verbal affirmations such as, "I will liberate potential, I will help people and organizations find extraordinary health and wealth. I close my emails with all the best in health and wealth.

We, as human beings were wired to overcome challenges and explore new terrains. I believe along the way, somehow we have forgotten that. Let's revisit Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs motivation theory. The next to the lowest level of motivation is the "need for safety and security." Now if one wants to move towards the highest level - self actualization - one really needs to move out of their comfort zone.

Any thoughts on this theory?

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 4 - "How do I deal with challenges?"

Yesterday, after raising the question "How do I spend most of my time?", I made a conscious effort to pay attention to whether I was investing or wasting my time. It's amazing how much my awareness increased about my time use just because I was intentionally focused on time uses.

This leads me directly to the second questions - "How do I deal with challenges?"

The comfort zone supports our habits - the good, the bad and the ugly. We need to increase our consciousness about why, what and how we are doing what we do in order to move out of our comfort zone. This takes effort, much more effort than one realizes. There are numerous studies regarding the subconscious versus conscious mind. As much as we would like to think we are in control (conscious), studies show that the percentage of time our mind operates at the conscious level varies from 15% (mostly relaxed and aware) to 5% (stressed and unaware). Which leaves our minds in whopping 85% to 95% subconscious state!

Recently, a colleague shared with me that we don't have a time management challenge, we have a goal management challenge, and I do believe that is partially true. However, I am becoming intrigued with the theory that we might really have a purpose, passion and then intention management challenge. This quote from one of my favorite self development speakers and writers, Dr. Wayne Dyer supports that theory, "You must match your intention's attributes with your own in order to capitalize on those powers in your life." So how does one "match" intention with power?

I could virtually go on for pages with the challenges that we believe we encounter. But, I do believe, no I know, that for me personally, as soon as I clear up my purpose, passion and intention challenge - my goals and my time magically align. Many responses to my challenges are blow out of proportion, almost to degree that I can justify analysis which leads to paralysis. Or my personal favorite, lack of awareness leading to total oblivion.

What would happen if we took the time to align our conscious thoughts and actions to our purpose, passion and intentions? What would help us to attain Abraham Maslow's highest level on his Hierarchy of Needs motivation theory - full Self Actualization?

This leads me to the third question -

"What in my life motivates me to jump out of bed and get started everyday?"

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 3 -Exploring the Comfort Zone Continued

I left you with some questions yesterday. Now I would certainly be remiss if I suggested that you answer the questions and I failed to do so. You've heard the old saying "Walk the talk." Well, my belief is that I must be walking with you in this process this year, and so, I will use me as an example for progress and challenges that might crop us in this exploration process of the comfort zone.

I have given you a week's worth of questions and so as not to overwhelm you, or me for that matter, I will take one question at a time.

Question #1 - "How do I spend most of my time?"

Being honest with myself, I realize that I really don't mind being in my comfort zone. In fact, I can really get to enjoy it. But, as I explore how I send most of my time, I realize that my comfort zone certainly can be holding me back. I like to be systematic on occasion and so will use 7 major elements of life (physical, mental, family, financial, social, career, and ethics)to help us focus our exploration.

Physical - Some days my greatest exercise is lifting a fork and sitting in front of a computer. I do love food and believe me it shows. I also love writing and believe my joints are starting to notice. If this is how I am spending most of my physical time - the comfort zone soon will not be so comfortable.

Mental - I love learning and reading. I could spend hours with books, my Kindle and in the car with audio books. It's really comfortable getting in more and more information but how am I exercising my brain and applying what I am learning and reading? Yep! I need to move out of my comfort zone.

Family - Do we come home from work and switch on the TV for news, sports or movies? This may seem like a great way to bond and certainly puts us (me at least) right into a comfort zone. But let's be honest, does that really stimulate healthy relationships?

Financial - Now I really like money. How about you? I realize that my comfort zone helps me really spend money. Shopping is a great pastime. But really, how much "stuff" does one really need.

Social - How effective are our community and networking efforts? I often choose to socialize with people that I know and have a lot in common with. I'm not say that socializing with friends and colleagues with similar interests is not important, but could we consider that it might be slightly limiting?

Career - Whether we own a business (which I happen to do ), are employed by others or..., is a matter of choice. This element of my life is the most dynamic and changing - for most of my life I have morphed into a different role every 2 years. In this element, my comfort zone, until 9 years ago when I open my own company, was change. I love beginnings and endings. I could work 24/7, but is that particularly healthy?

Ethics - This element is perhaps the most important. It leads to a Tony Robbins's question - "What won't I stand for?" It also leads to a great book by Stephen Covey called Principle Centered Leadership. Checking in on my values and principles certainly affects my comfort zone. I know what I won't stand for and even more importantly - I know what I will and do stand for - now that's a great use of my time.

How about you - any thoughts about how you are spending most of your time? I would love to hear from you.

Tomorrow, we shall work with question 2 "How do I deal with challenges?"

All the best in health and wealth

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 2 - Exploring the Comfort Zone

How do we move out of our comfort zone? We explore. Whenever I ask a group of people "how many of you like to explore?," invariably, most, if not all hands go up. So, I'd like to get you a little excited too. Raise your hand if you like to explore. If not, you might as well stop reading.

What tools do we need to go on this exploration? Our minds, our hearts, our imagination and a pen and paper (You can even use colored pens, journals, composition books or your handy dandy computer). Very little monetary cost, but certainly this can cost a lot of mental and some physical energy.

In order to explore the comfort zone, we will need to orient ourselves to our present environment. To orient, we will need to ask ourselves several questions.


"How do I spend most of my time?"
"How do I deal with challenges?"
"What in my life motivates me to jump out of bed and get started everyday?"
"What songs play in my head, even when there is no music playing?"
"What interests me?
"What bores me?"
"What puts me to sleep?"


James Allen has a marvelous quote, that actually helps me move past my comfort zone. "Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him." Every time I think of this quote, I know that I can and will explore my comfort zone so that I discover a health-filled, wealth-filled day. Invariably, my day gets more exciting. New experiences show up. I meet new people and make new friends. I found amazing ways to use my talents and learn something new.

That certainly doesn't leave a lot of time to sit in my comfort zone. What about you? Interested yet?

Promoting Health and Wealth - Let's Get Out of Our Comfort Zones

Getting into a comfort zone, it seems to me, has almost become a way of life for many organizations and individuals. Organizations want more customers, more profits, more stability and then become uncomfortable when there is too much business or more demand attention or new or different services. Next, let's take that to the individual level.The individual wants more time off, more money, more feelings of comfort and much, much less stress. Then they wonder why the relationship isn't working, why they aren't able to launch a new idea or project, why they don't get more sales, why they can't gain a promotion or why they aren't less stressed and healthier.

While, I do believe there needs to be a certain level of comfort and mastery with relationships, projects, business, or even health, I am firmly convinced that we are wired for more stress than for which we give ourselves credit. Yes, with more tension, stress and effort there is increasing discomfort and actual pain, but discomfort and pain are symptoms to be aware of, not to be totally avoided. What can we do to help us move out of our comfort zone, allow us to live with discomfort and dis-ease and not go into full blown disease?

For the next 30 days, I'm going to research and investigate how people do and don't get in or out of their comfort zones. What are some tips and techniques that they have that are useful to pass on.

But let me start by sharing some basic understanding, descriptions, definitions and thoughts regarding the infamous comfort zone.

Thomas Edison once wrote, “We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present.”

Wikipedia describes the comfort zone in this way: "One's comfort zone refers to the set of environments and behaviours with which one is comfortable, without creating a sense of risk."

J. Roth wrote in an article entitled "Break out of your Own Comfort Zone to Achieve Success in January 2010," "Humans are wired to seek comfort, and as a result much of daily life is focused around familiar patterns and habits. When something threatens to break those habits, we feel uncomfortable and nervous. These negative feelings are easily avoided by continuing to live life the same way, rejecting change. If given the chance to enter uncharted territory, a situation where life’s future is unpredictable, people often prefer not to change, clinging to a comfortable situation."

Learning more about the comfort zone is already intriguing me. Now I want to learn more about what it will take to move out and beyond what is limiting me.

What about you - any thoughts about the infamous Comfort Zone?

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth

Today is a landmark day! Judy Rienzi and I are committed to enhancing personal and professional health and wealth. We have decided to investigate, interview, research, facilitate and promote strategies, practices, approaches, goals and actions that connect people with an entirely difference life experience. In this process, we have decided to study philosophies and ideologies that increase self reliance, self awareness and lead to utimate self confidence.

We are inviting you to join our exciting blog adventure and share your ideas, thoughts and expertise as well. Over the next month, we will be setting the stage for ACTS that CONNECT you with extraordinary health and well.

All the best,

Laura