3/5/2020 0 Comments The Science of YogaWhy do we practice yoga? What are the benefits? How is breathing connected to the well-being and our global functioning? Watch to answer some of these questions.
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29/4/2020 1 Comment Look for the WOWResearch within positive psychology tells us that having the mindset to look for the "awe" in life is one of the 24 character strengths and virtues that can lead us to improving our well-being and flourishing. (Peterson & Seligman, 2004, VIACharacter.org, 2020). Awe is defined through the virtue of transcendence as appreciating natural beauty and excellence, or the feeling of being in the presence of something vast and greater than the self, that exceeds current knowledge structures. (Keltner & Haidt, 2003).
Awe can often seem like it is a response that needs to be attached to something grand, like, well, the Grand Canyon. For that reason, my students who were behind the birthing of Happiness 101 decided that we should call it: Look for the WOW. The WOW encompasses the little things inside of every day that make you let out a big breath and just say: Wow!!! WOW things are in no way grand on the scale compared to the Northern Lights or trees inside of the the Redwood Forest. WOW things can be the golden color of the sun setting on the grass; it can be the beautiful shade of pink on a newly opened peony; or it can be the sound of crashing waves on the shoreline. WOW moments can include looking across the room to see your family smiling, a beautifully plated dish, or the stamen in a lovely flower. All WOW things require that you open your eyes and heart to notice the little things. Looking for the WOW is a great way to shift a cranky, negative mindset into one of gratitude and wonder. I am categorizing it under the Breathe category with mindfulness, although it fits just as well as Thrive, because looking for the WOW requires that we are anchored in the present, mindful of the here and now, and grounded in our bodies. Monkey minds, or the worry mindset, gets in the way when you're going on a WOW hunt. Ready to give it a try? Here are some ways that you can go about it. Photography: Take your camera with you on a WOW walk- a time when you set off to just notice the beauty and wonder of the world around you. Grab pictures as you go along. Experiments with new angles- that gorgeous tulip would probably be stunning shot from beneath, and that fresh cut grass could make a great close-up where you can really see the textures and variances of color within a blade of grass. Consider filling up your Instagram feed with snapshots of your WOW moments. Writing: Take note of the WOW each day, Give yourself 15 minutes to sit in a park or even in your own living room and think about some WOW moments from your day. Jot them down, and then describe them in great detail. What were the sounds, feelings, smells and sights associated with your WOW moment? Create some WOW moments for others: Whatever the situation, you can find the wow. You can also help to create it. Share with a child the joy of puddle splashing, or create a WOW dinner for those whom you love. Seek out the sounds of a symphony or your favorite band, read beautiful poetry, touch all the silk and luscious textures that you can find. Be someone who looks for the good and names it when you see it. There is WOW all around us all the time, we just have to have the mindset, or the "eye set" to be open to seeing it. What are your WOW moments from today? Share with us in the comments. Here are some of mine from my recent walks. 27/4/2020 0 Comments Five Count BreathingYour breath is your greatest tool for calming your nervous system and anchoring you to the present moment. If you feel your mind wandering or worry settling in, take a moment for 5 count breathing to help you regulate your nervous system. |
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