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21 Days to Improving Your Happiness and Productivity

2013-04-06 By Monica 11 Comments

Happiness Quote - Anne Frank

The field of positive psychology has been growing in popularity as people begin to recognize the correlation between happiness, productivity, and success. Developed by Martin Seligman in his book Authentic Happiness in 1998, positive psychologists seek “to find and nurture genius and talent” and “to make normal life more fulfilling”.

Seligman’s research concluded that happier people get better performance evaluations and higher pay. Other studies have shown that happy people are more positive, creative, tolerant, constructive, generous and non-defensive. They also have lower medical costs and less absenteeism.

While this seems obvious to many of us, finding that happiness can be a challenge in our society. In his popular Ted talk, The happy secret to better work, Shawn Acor says our culture has taught us that, “If I work harder, then I will be successful. If I’m successful, then I will be happier.”  Putting happiness on the other side of success creates a moving target and your brain never gets there.

According to Acor, “If you can raise levels of positivity in the present, the brain experiences what is called the happiness advantage. When the brain is positive, it performs significantly better than when it’s negative, neutral, or stressed. When you’re positive, dopamine floods into your system which not only makes you happier, but it also turns on learning centers in your brain, allowing you to adapt to the world in a different way.”

Acor goes on to say, “It’s not reality that shapes us, it’s the lens through which you view the world. If you can change the lens, not only can you change your happiness, you can change your world.”

21 Days to Improving Your Happiness and Productivity:

Acor also provides a formula for increasing your happiness and productivity in 21 days, the length of time it takes to create a new habit. Most of them only take a few minutes but the combination has been proven to be very effective. Over time, the brain retains the new pattern, allowing you to work more optimistically and successfully.

Take LifeOhm’s Happiness Challenge and commit to doing the following things for the next 21 days:

  • Write three new things you are grateful for – This helps train your brain to scan the world for the positive things first, rather than focusing on the negative things. Gratitude has long been linked to increased happiness and it’s surprising how quickly your life can improve with this simple practice.
  • Journal about one positive thing that has happened in the past 24 hours, this process allows your brain to relive the positive experience. There are many options for journaling, online with sites such as Penzu or a hand-written journal. Writing by hand, rather than digitally, has been shown to increase learning, which might be helpful when you’re trying to change thought patterns.
  • Exercise for at least 15 minutes –  exercise increases your levels of dopamine, energy, and helps improve your overall sense of well being.
  • Meditation – There are many documented benefits to meditation including reducing the negative effects of stress, mild depression and anxiety. According to Acor, meditation also allows us to get over our cultural ADHD, that has us focusing on more than one thing at once. It allows the mind to quiet and opens us up to new possibilities.
  • Random acts of kindness – In Acor’s study, he had participants write one positive email that praised someone in their social network, but there are many ways to perform random acts of kindness. Get creative and have fun, you will not only make someone else’s day, but it will improve your own.

What helps you improve your happiness and productivity? Are you participating in this challenge? Share your thoughts below.

Filed Under: Do More in Less Time Tagged With: Acor, challenge, energy, exercise, gratitude, happiness, journaling, meditation, productivity, stress, success, Ted talk

Leave Negative Energy Behind in the New Year with a Burning Bowl Ceremony

2011-12-30 By Monica Leave a Comment

Fire From a Burning Bowl Ceremony

“Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings. ” ~Ralph Blum

For many of us, last year was a bittersweet year filled with both triumphs and challenges. As we look forward to the new year, one powerful tool you can use to help bring a fresh start to the new year is the Burning Bowl Ceremony.

The Burning Bowl Ceremony is a long-used tradition in many new thought churches. It is a powerful way to transform those things in your life that are no longer serving you and that you don’t want to bring into the new year. The ceremony is often used at the new year but can be used anytime you want to create a fresh start. Some people perform the ceremony on a regular basis because it is so powerful.

The Burning Bowl Ceremony helps bring closure while also presenting optimism for the future.  2012 is still a blank page, now is the time to ask yourself what you want to create and who do you need to be to make that happen.

For this ceremony, you will need several small pieces of paper and a source of fire. You can use a fireplace, outdoor fire pit, or simply a fire safe bowl or dish in an open area.

Before you begin, take a quiet moment, breath deeply and connect with your heart. On the pieces of paper, write down anything that no longer serves you that you want to release. These can be specific issues you had during the past year or other larger issues. Be completely honest with yourself about what you want or need to release, no one will see your list.

Some examples include:

  • Health issues
  • Fear, jealousy, anger
  • Bad habits
  • Unhealthy relationships
  • Negative thoughts or emotions

Once you have your items listed on the pieces of paper, turn them over. On the back side, write down what you want to replace those items with, for example:

  • Good health
  • Love
  • Good habits
  • Healthy, loving relationships
  • Positive thinking

When you’re ready, focus your intentions on releasing the negative and welcoming the positive into your life. Carefully place your papers into the fire. The fire in the Burning Bowl is a symbol of transformation and helps shift the energy. If you’d like, you can end the ceremony buy burying the cool ashes when it’s complete.

What New Year’s Eve traditions do you have? Have you tried the Burning Bowl Ceremony? Share your thoughts below.

 


Filed Under: Live Your Purpose Tagged With: Burning Bowl Ceremony, ceremony, energy, goals, habits, intentions, New Year, positive, ritual, success

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine…

2011-07-02 By Monica 6 Comments

fresh vegetables“Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.” ~Hippocrates (400 B.C.)

More than 2,400 years ago, Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician and founder of Western medicine, understood the importance of food and our diet to our overall health and as a predictor of illness. While some people may be genetically predisposed to certain types of illnesses, it has been proven that you can affect your long-term health and even mitigate some of those risks by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, the average American lifestyle today is anything but healthy, it is high in fat, processed foods, sodium, and sugars and low in exercise and healthy whole foods and vegetables. Some conscious choices regarding a healthy lifestyle can result in improved overall health, more energy, and help you prevent the onset of many health conditions.

Eating for Disease Prevention

Experts have recommended eating a healthy, balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables for decades.Research shows that those who eat an abundance of fruit and vegetables as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Eating a healthy diet will also help you manage your weight. [Read more…] about Let Your Food Be Your Medicine…

Filed Under: Love Your Life, Wellness Tagged With: diet, eating, energy, food, health, Hippocrates, medicine

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I’m Monica, owner and founder of LifeOhm, LLC. LifeOhm was created to help individuals, just like you, optimize their health and wellness, while also creating more joy and happiness in their life. Read more.

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