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Small Choices Make a Big Difference People, in general, don't give credence to the mantra that small choices make a big difference. If they did, Americans would be the healthiest, leanest, most relaxed, and joyful nation on the planet. Wealthy--yes. Healthy, slim, and joy filled--we're not. American culture focuses on achieving big, newsworthy accomplishments that warrant getting everyone's attention. The small successes achieved, one choice at a time, go unnoticed. For instance, skipping snacking in the afternoons goes unnoticed until a couple of pounds drop off. Taking ten minutes in the morning to plan your day seems too simple until your stress level drops and you feel you are meeting your daily goals more effectively. You can find power in the ability to choose wisely and succeed on a smaller scale from day-to-day. I find it interesting to learn about the small choices others make that enhance their lives. Before giving a keynote speech or a workshop, I ask select audience participants: "What small choices do you make day-to-day that you notice allow you to live happier and more content?" And, "What small choices have you made that inspire and motivate you in your work environment?" Ann, a workshop participant, gave me this response. She said, "I have made my office space into a place I really like. I listen to good music; I have a warm old lamp; flowers; plants; pictures of friends; and my kitty, Vivien; pretty rocks I collected on vacations; and colorful art pieces that make me feel good. I spend a little money and get good pens and pencils that feel good in my hand, a good stapler, and hole puncher." She enthusiastically went on to say, "They make a huge difference in my sanity, as I use them a lot. I eat a good breakfast every day, and try to plan a day each week to go out and eat with coworkers--and not talk about work. I try to take a walk around the building (outside) at least once a day. I smile a lot, which is selfishly motivated because I like to get smiles back, but it works!" Notice all of the small adjustments that made the difference. You make one small choice, consciously or not, each morning when you get up. You decide whether you are going to live with intention and awareness of your choices--or not. You can choose wisely and consistently one choice at a time. Every morning you put your feet on the floor, I challenge you to say, "Today, I'll be on purpose. I'll be intentional." That translates into a thousand little choices made all day that enable you to go to bed at night saying, "Today was a day well lived. Everything is not done, but what I did get done, what I did think, say, and do was with purpose and was congruent for me." Doing the best you can each day ought to leave you content. You cannot do better than your best. Strive to let go of the "that" which is incomplete and do your best again tomorrow. When crisis happens, you shift gears and cope, function, adapt. You do what it takes. It's the small choices, however, that define your life. It's the small choices that either refuel or drain you. For instance, skipping breakfast because you're in a hurry to get out the door, then grabbing a pastry from the cafeteria or staff desk, working through lunch, and having a vanilla latte at 3:00 p.m. all involve a number of small choices that add up to one very poorly fueled person at the end of a day. Imagine what weeks, months, and years lived like that do to your health. There is power in the small choices you make each day. Small choices add up to a changed life. Excerpt from Progress Not Perfection: Your Journey Matters by Kate Larsen (Expert Publishing Inc.: 2007) So, what small choices will you make today that will improve your mood, energy, sleep, or peace of mind? Send me your "small choices" and the impact they have on your life. I would enjoy hearing from you. You have wisdom to share with me too! A few weeks ago, Newsweek (March 26, 2007) arrived in our mailbox. The cover article was Exercise and The Brain with Harvard Medical School. The articles were interesting and worth the read. The article, Exercise is a State of Mind opened with a quote from the British philosopher John Locke, "A sound mind in a sound body is a short, but full description of a happy state in this world." The article continued, "Three hundred years later, research shows that we should begin thinking of body and mind health as conceptually identical. The two are linked at the deepest levels." My first thought was "D’uh!" However, upon reflection I realize this concept is undoubtedly not given much thought by most people. You would probably find this issue with multiple articles on the subject of exercise and brain health, vitality and other benefits interesting. I will highlight some of the thoughts which were particularly encouraging or interesting:
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