Holding the Golden Ball at Your Belly

I already knew Marcie socially when she approached me to say she was interested in joining the Growth Group. I was taking a break from running the group and had not planned to start another one so soon, but Marcie's tenacity ended up persuading me. When it came time for the group to tackle the topic of wishing and brainstorming, it was clear that Marcie was going to be the group guinea pig. First we tackled what Marcie was doing with her life so far. The following effects of exercise on your body include: Improves mood, making you feel more energetic and happy during the day Regulates stress that makes the body feel better but also decreases the risk of inflammation Improves sleep, which increases brain attention Minimizes depression and anxiety Enriches cognitive ability, making it possible to think and respond more effectively The process begins by making the decision to exercise on a regular basis for many men and women. You don't have to work out a lot or every day, just a few minutes per day, you should make sure that you get some sort of physical activity. Be consistent. A good place to begin is with an appointment with a doctor. Success tends to automatically amplify itself. It is like a snowball that gathers momentum and increases in size as it rolls effortlessly downhill. Every time you create a good feeling in others, they feel grateful and develop a positive attitude toward you, which completely changes the nature of your life. We say that some people seem to lead a charmed life. We forget that this is because they have taken the trouble to be charming to others. This charmingness is an inner attitude.

It is not opportunistic, or manipulative, or done for gain. They are not trying to charm us into giving them something. Instead, it is a true reflection of those people's nature. To understand this quality, never do others a favor. Marcie was working hard but none of her energy was being channeled into what she really wished for. Her main job was selling homes in her brother's real estate agency, but she also owned a little hobby store in her small town and did phone sales on the side. We asked Marcie to quickly name all the things she did not like about her current job. She came up with: low income, last-minute mortgage crises, dressing up nicely every day, complicated office politics, and an intense atmosphere of competitiveness that constantly sapped Marcie's energy. Hostile clients who blamed her for everything did not help either. Next we told Marcie to wish out loud for what she wanted in the ideal job situation. Not what the job would be, but what the perfect job would allow her to do. It is important not to identify the name of the job you want at this stage of the process. Naming it at this stage is limiting at best and misleading at worst. Even if you have a name for your dream at this point, don't use that label yet. Ensure that you are well enough to exercise and become conscious of any weaknesses. Your doctor will be delighted to allow you to exercise, but others do have warnings about the kinds of exercises you are doing. Before you get started, your health and any underlying diseases need to be treated on an individual basis. From there, consider the kinds of exercises that suit you best. For the non-exerciser, walking is an ideal way to get started. Whenever possible, you'll want to build up to around a 20 to 30 minute walk each day.

To bear in mind, there are a few things: Whenever possible, walk outside the small hills and turns help to increase the exercise intensity. Try walking with a mate for the encouragement (and companionship! By adding small weights or by going longer distances, try to increase the tolerance over time. Why is that? Because doing a favor is really a manipulation. It is a bargain in which you expect something in return. If after having done something for someone, you feel they are obligated, then you have missed the whole point altogether. Givingness implies no expectation of return. This latter statement is of crucial importance. We will easily observe that what most people are really trying to do is purchase approval from others or manipulate them into a debt. I've done this for you; This manipulative, tradeoff, bargaining position ends up in resentments so that we often hear, After all I've done for him. Who wants free dental work if you know it comes with the expectation that you will take care of the dentist's dog while he's on vacation? At this stage of wishing and brainstorming, you first want to describe your ideal situation in as much detail as possible, without actually calling it anything. So I wrote Marcie's wishes on the blackboard for the group to see: Lots of money. Casual attire A big, new Ford Explorer Wants to feel she's helping someone

Wants to feel done at the end of the day. No weekends, no nights All the modern conveniences she needs (fax, computer, etc) An aide or helper at her beck and call Choose a slow-moving treadmill at home if you are unable to get outside. Make sure you know your limits again, Swimming is one of the most reliable available fitness choices for seniors with joint pain or reduced mobility. Without the intensity of joint injury to your knees, swimming pushes the body. And if you are significantly overweight, when you are in the water, you will be able to do better than on dry land. There are activities you can do where it is cool outdoors. They are also low-intensity; Tennis, squash, and racquetball are all similar in that they provide a little bit of friendly competition that is suitable for certain individuals, not to mention the social aspects. At your nearest recreational facility, check out the indoor leagues. Senior wellness classes can be a good way of having both exercise and socialization. When you really do something for someone else, you do it with no expectation of return in any form, even by acknowledgment or recognition. You do it out of caring for other human beings, because you are contributing to the quality of life itself. This is an inner secret that we arrive at only through a deep inner understanding that when we support life, life supports us in return. Granted, this sounds philosophical, but it is a truism that we will arrive at through inner observation and experience. EVERYDAY SUCCESS PRACTICES The simple practice that leads to this awareness and can be tried by anyone interested in becoming truly successful on a daily basis is this: in traffic, always let others cut in front of you.

Does that sound sort of crazy? Within that practice is the hidden, secret power of becoming a successful person. As you practice this technique, you will eventually discover the pleasure of becoming a truly courteous person. What does courteous mean? Flexibility to come and go, freedom to be outside Freedom to bring dog to work and talk to friends on the phone while at work Next we covered her list, and had Marcie list the occupations she had been considering for her career change. Then we compared her wish list with the occupations she had been considering to see if any of them seemed to fit. Some of her ideas included teaching physical fitness, pursuing a physical therapist degree, becoming a nutritionist, and getting a job as a health educator. She had also thought about being a driving instructor, fixing up houses, or becoming a building contractor. Now here is where the pure self-honesty has to come in. Which one of these potential occupations fit Marcie's wish list best? I told Marcie to be boldly honest about which one of the occupations jumped off the board at her, whether she liked it or not. She hesitated, then slowly said, Building contractor. Consider certain services that are tailored for the intensity level you will enjoy right now. And, to keep you involved and on track, be sure to do them with a friend. Discover ways to exercise at home for seniors who might be unable to get out as much. Walk, inside or out, around the house. Spend some time on an exercise bike (if you are unable to use a conventional bike, you can buy hand pedal versions). Your goal is simply to get involved and to remain active.