by Erin Owen | Jun 4, 2014 | Ezine
There are 37.2 Trillion Cells in Your Body The “raw clock speed” of your brain is 20 million billion calculations per second or 20,000,000 GHz (though it is estimated you can only do conscious calculations at the speed of 2 GHz per second), according to Cognitive Neuropsychologist Chris Westbury. Your second brain (your gut) has a mind of its own, meaning it can act autonomously and even influence behavior by sending signals up the vagus nerve to the brain.
Your vitality, your energy level, the clarity of your thoughts, your connection with creativity—ALL depend upon how well your body, including your brain and digestive system, are operating—and influence how you show up in each role you play in life.
So what are you doing to prioritize the care and feeding of your body?
What Platinum PracticesTM on your list of personal best practices support you in nourishing yourself on every level: body, mind, and spirit?
If you’re in a state of overwhelm and you most often decide that the next thing on your work “to do” list is more important than taking care of yourself, then you need to be aware of the cold, hard facts:
- STRESS is the number one killer (if you don’t understand the role of stress on the body, take a few minutes to take the National Geographic’s Stress Quiz)
- Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of the population), according to the ADAA
- Among adults age 20 and over, nearly 26 million Americans, or more than 11% of all people in this age group have diabetes
- About 1 in every 4 deaths in the U.S. is caused by heart disease, according to the CDC
- The risks for heart disease? Eating a poor quality diet, not getting any or not enough physical activity, using excessive amount of alcohol, having diabetes, and being overweight or obese
AND, the vast majority of these health issues are PREVENTABLE with simple changes in diet, physical activity, stress reduction, and—often most important—changing your mindset.
How can you improve your diet?
Eat real food, not packaged food, 80% of the time. That’s simple enough.
How can you increase your physical activity?
Move your body more than you are now. The American Heart Association recommends “at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 150 minutes”.
How can you reduce your stress level?
- Shift your mindset (see below).
- Practice conscious breathing.
- Spend time in nature.
- Take regular breaks throughout the day (ideally one every 90-120 minutes).
What does it mean to change your mindset?
- Acknowledge your choices helped shape the reality of your current work and life
- Accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change what you can, and cultivate the wisdom to know the difference (as the oft-quoted Serenity Prayer so wisely states)
- Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. What are you over-complicating? What can you let go of? What can you delegate to someone else who would enjoy or benefit from taking it on?
But, still… you do not do what you know you need to do. Why not?
The most common answer I hear is “I don’t have enough time.”
Reality check? You do have enough time, you just don’t know the best way to perceive time and enlist its help in supporting your most important goals.
To learn more, schedule just 15 minutes with me to talk further about your unique situation and challenges.
It’s time you took a stand for your health and well-being, your amazing capacity to do great work in the world, and took care of yourself for all those who depend upon you.
We’re all connected and I want us all to thrive to enjoy life more and get the best possible results at work and at home. Call me!
by Erin Owen | Sep 24, 2012 | Events, Ezine, General
It’s dark. So dark I can’t see in front of me more than a few inches. But I am intensely focused on the sound of my strained breathing and the strange scraping sound of my feet dragging through the scree (loose stones that resemble gravel).
Occasionally I hear a cough from someone in the line of climbers behind me, and each time I stumble, our guide says “pole, pole” (meaning “slow, slow” in Swahili).
It’s the final ascent up Kilimanjaro. They woke us at midnight, fed us popcorn and hot black tea, then led us away from our rocky, mountainside campsite through a pass in the cavernous rocks to the open trail. The sky was thankfully clear, with the full moon shining brightly overhead.
But, in these final hours, it seems the moon has disappeared. In fact, all sense of reality and direction has left me completely. I feel lost, with my awareness switching between two dominant states.
One state of mind is focused completely on surviving – breathing rapidly, trying desperately to take in a quick succession of breaths to get enough oxygen at this high altitude of nearly 19,000 feet above sea level.
I feel as though I have absolutely no reserve in the depth of my bones; no energy to tap whatsoever to take another step, to get to the top. How can I go on? What did I sign up for?
Then, my awareness rapidly switches to the other dominant state of mind: excitement, exhilaration; reminding me that “oh yes, I am almost there. Almost to the top of Kilimanjaro! I’ll see the sunrise soon and look out over the Tanzanian and Kenyan landscapes to the vast wild world of African below. I can do it!”
Each step up and “forward” feels defeating. As I lift a hiking boot a foot step ahead, my boot sinks into the loose scree and slides back downhill almost as far as I stepped ahead. Only a few inches of progress a minute, it feels.
“Oh my god, will this ever end?” I don’t have the energy to look forward or even up at my desired destination: the top of Kili. My head hangs heavily, exhausted; my eyes glazed and unfocused, with only my peripheral vision taking in vague, grayed images around me.
There are times in my business when I feel like this. Everything feels like a slog. The literal and painful experience that epitomizes the saying “two steps forward, one step back.” When I’m in this low place, I find it hard to keep my head up. Hard to focus on the big picture, my desired destination that is my vision for my business and my life.
I know you experience these moments too. And sometimes those moments stretch to days, weeks, months – and sometimes years.
But, there’s hope.
When we reached the top of Kilimanjaro and turned around to take in the view, it was both everything I’d every imagined – and a bit disappointing.
See, we were promised that if we left at midnight to hike up, we would arrive at the top to see the sunrise. But, our progress was slower than expected and so the sun was already up once we arrived. And the cloud cover blocked the view of much of the African landscape, offering just bits and pieces of what lay below, along with the not-too-distant peak of Mount Meru.
And yet – a dream come true! I had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest peak in all of the African continent; 19,314 feet or so above sea level. An amazing achievement and incredible experience to share with my new husband Matt on our 3-week honeymoon trip to Tanzania in East Africa.
I share this personal story with you from my life ten years ago because I want to help you to – not only climb your version of Mt. Kilimanjaro – but do so in a way that feels enjoyable, effortless, and allows you to get to the top sooner so you can see the sunrise from the top.
I’ve been there. I’ve experienced many challenges in my life and business ventures, and also (thankfully!) had many more successes.
And now I want to support you in identifying your Mt. Kilimanjaro – your big, bold vision for your life and your business – by cultivating the mindset and practices that will get you to the top sooner, with greater ease.
As I mentioned in last week’s ezine, I recently published my first book. You could say this is another mountain scaled in my two-decade long career. And I’m celebrating in every way I can!
To share my joy with you, for a very short period of time – and to support you in climbing your Mt. Kilimanjaro, I’m offering a 50% discount on my 1-day Performance Breakthrough Retreats.
This is a HUGE gift to you, and I’m so excited to extend this offer to you.
To find out more about my 1-day retreats and if it’s right for you, click here.
If you’re ready to get started, or simply have a few questions, please schedule a Performance Breakthrough Coaching Session here to assess if a 1-day retreat is right for you now and fill out a performance background evaluation form here. When scheduling, use the discount code “RetreatSpecial” to receive 50% savings!
If you’re still not sure if a 1-day retreat is right for you, no problem. Just book the breakthrough session with me here and I’ll answer any additional questions you may have.
And if you’ve already met with me for a coaching session and now know the time is right to move forward to the 1-day retreat, email me here and we’ll set-up a time to talk and confirm the date and time for the retreat that works best for you.
Erin
by Erin Owen | Jul 30, 2012 | Ezine
You need vacation time. You know that already.
But when is the best time for you to take vacation?
You might think one of these is the right answer:
(A) When things are slow or you have no demanding
projects demanding your full attention
(B) Once you’ve saved some extra money
(C) When your child’s/children’s school is on
break (if you have kids)
(D) When your spouse/partner wants to take a break
(if you have a significant other)
(E) All of the above
(F) Other [this is a trick question]
But, actually (F) Other is the correct answer.
This is a trick question! [This is my post, so
I get to make the rules.]
To be more specific, the correct answer
really is:
(G) Before you need a break
Why?
You are your business.
If you’re stressed out, tired, and struggling to
keep things together, consider what effects this
is having on your business, your clients, your
growth potential.
I was reminded of this last week, when I hit the
wall.
(Yes, even I have my limits. My often too-high
expectations of what I can accomplish within a
certain time frame push me to those limits. I am
often reminded of who I used to be in my
consulting days – as my dear friend Julia once
said “you can take the girl out of corporate, but
you can’t take the corporate out of the girl.”)
These past few weeks, I’ve been pushing pushing
pushing to get all the supplemental resources for
my new book finished and put up online. And even
though I was getting many signs that I needed to
let go of my own internally-imposed deadline… the
video editors were behind schedule, my assistant
was on her own vacation and could not help me
until she returned, and my Word program
mysteriously seemed to have a break-down each time
I tried to launch it… it wasn’t until my own coach
said: “you know, it probably doesn’t make sense to
talk about what’s next for your business until you
take a day off – you sound exhausted.”
And there it was. Everything laid out before me to
support me in taking this day off. I’d already
asked my sons’ former babysitter to do some work
for me the next day – and she was more than happy
to step back into the nanny role for a day. I had
no other fixed commitments other than drop-off and
pick-up for my older son. An unread fiction book
called my name from the bookshelf in my living
room. And one of my go-to massage therapists
texted me back to say “yes, I have an opening at
11:30.”
Building on last week’s post about
what makes expert entrepreneurs so successful,
it’s important to ASK for this time off – ideally
before you need it – in the following ways:
(1) First and foremost, give yourself permission
to take a break regularly – a personal day, a
vacation day, a mental health day, whatever you
call it – ideally once a month or more if you can
swing it.
[In fact, I’m building one of these into
my new Fall schedule twice monthly and I can’t
wait to enjoy the fun and freedom on those
Fridays.]
(2) Take these breaks before you need it – or if
you’re already past that point, then right away.
Remember: one of the benefits of having your own
business is that you make your own hours!
(3) Be open with those around you – let them
know you’re exhausted, mentally depleted, have no
creative juice left, etc, and that you’d love
their support. Be a role model to your clients,
customers, colleagues, and children.
What kind of person is going to say no to you
taking better care of yourself?
(4) When you do take time off, turn off your smart
phone and leave your laptop/tablet at the office.
Unplug fully to melt stress, have fun, and
recharge. Do something fun. Go somewhere you’ve
always wanted to go. Read a book you’ve been
thinking of for months.
Then, return to work with more energy, vitality,
and fresh ideas to reinvigorate your business and
those who work with you.
(5) Take note of all the benefits that come from
you taking a physical and mental break. Ask others
what they notice is different about you upon your
return. Write down all these observations.
And, refer back to that list next time you’re wondering
if you can “afford” to take a break from your busy
life.
(6) Read the third chapter “Own Your Calendar So
It Doesn’t Own You” in my soon-to-be-released book
to learn more about how to build vacation time
into your schedule and invite others to support
you in doing so.
Recharge, Refuel, and Re-energize: Your Guide to
Taking Back Control of Your
Time and Energy will be released within days –
I can’t wait to share it with you!
If you’re still saying it’s “not the right time,”
“can’t justify the expense,” “next year,” or “my
[……. fill in the blank …..] are counting on me,”
then consider this…
Do you invest as much in YOU, your well-being, and
your development as you do in your office equipment?
your telecom expenses? your accountant? your vehicles?
You can’t run your business without them, and you
certain can’t run your business without you.
For you – and by extension your business – to be
successful, you need to perform at your optimal
level. And if you’re expecting better results from
operating in the same old way, then it might just
be time for a change in your thinking and your
“same ol’ way of doing business.”
I invite you to join me for the ultimate vacation
– one that can be written off as professional
development for your business – to Bali. This
year’s performance breakthrough retreat is October
26 through November 5, and only one month remains
until registration closes.
Why Bali?
• Completely unplug and relax to a deeper level
than you’ve experienced in years – maybe decades
• Wipe clean your slate and let go of the bad
habits and thought patterns that are holding you
back
• Further clarify and recommit to your vision –
for your life and your business
• Discover the Eastern practices that will get you
back on track and keep you there, and
• Come back fully recharged and ready to take
your performance and your business to the next
level.
More details here.
Erin
by Erin Owen | Jun 25, 2012 | Ezine, General
I like to find meaning in most of my life experiences. However, right before I left for Bali this past May, I was quite confused by a series of events.
In a very short span of time, I was involved in breaking four different glass objects. Prior to that, it had been years since I broke anything.
Was I clumsy? Was I distracted and not paying attention? Was it partially the fault of my youngest son, who happened to be in my arms when three of the four objects fell to the ground and shattered?
I really didn’t understand why I was suddenly breaking so many things. However, once I was in Bali, I was able to gain some clarity about what was going on.
In Bali, I was outside of my normal circumstances, and I was able to get the perspective that only comes when there is little stress and lots of space to just be.
In that environment, I realized that the path I’ve been on had brought me to this current place of understanding. In particular, I’ve had specific opportunities in the past six months to learn more about the ancient Vedic and Taoist practices, and my new knowledge about human potential has shattered my previous ideas about what is possible.
I have been, in essence, breaking through my own glass ceiling. The glass ceiling that was defined by the thoughts and ideas I had about what’s possible.
What is your glass ceiling?
What are the self-limiting thoughts that keep you from realizing your potential?
Under what circumstances do you curb yourself with such thoughts as, “Oh, I can’t do that,” or, “No, that’s not possible for me”?
These self-imposed limitations are not absolute truth. They are simply a byproduct of cultural norms and what others have told you is possible. You might not even know they exist! Yet, your limiting thoughts create a glass ceiling that prevents you from living the life you really want.
For how much longer will you continue to live under your glass ceiling? Isn’t it time to break through and let go of the self-doubts that prevent you from attaining a more amazing life?
As long as you are caught up in the busy routine of day-to-day life, you will continue to live under the confines of your glass ceiling. Nothing will change and you will stay where you are. However, when you take yourself out of your normal environment, you give yourself an opportunity to see your life in a whole new light.
That’s what being in Bali does for me. Everything about Bali – the culture, geography, people – is so different from my everyday life. When I’m confronted with this entirely different way of living, my ideas about “the way things are” are turned upside down, and I become aware of possibilities that I didn’t know existed. In Bali, I’m free of my daily routines, and I can let go of the heavy responsibilities that come with having a career, home and family and really see my life.
This freedom, this change in perspective, creates heightened awareness of your senses, thoughts and actions. You’re able to gain a new viewpoint of how you’ve been living your life, and of the glass ceiling that blocks you from getting what you really want.
You CAN change your life. But to do that, you need to get out of your busy-ness and give yourself time and space to really see things in a different light.
If it’s hard for you to imagine how to do that, I invite you to join me this Fall in Bali and shatter the glass ceiling that has been holding you back. To help you make this a reality, I’m offering an “early decision savings” that is valid until the end of June. Click here to learn more about the trip and get details about how you can go to Bali this Fall!
by Erin Owen | May 22, 2012 | General
For months, I have practically stalked different
professional handymen (including one handywoman), trying to get someone to
please — P – L – E – A– S – E –
let me pay them cash to come fix a long
list of things on my “house wish list.”
[“Is this “handyman” trade so lucrative, that
these skilled laborers need not return phone
calls, nor follow through on promises to show up
at my door?” “Was 2-3 days worth of work not
enough for them to bother with my promise of cold,
hard cash?” These and many other questions swam
through my mind over and over again – for months
and months!]
Finally, in January, one handyman and his son
spent a few days getting a bunch of stuff crossed
off my list (including patching a small leak in
our roof). They even started (but, sadly,
did not finish) several other small projects.
And, then – like a rainbow after a spring
rainstorm – they dissolved into nothingness. They
never returned to finish my list of projects. They
did not call. Nor did they return my phone calls.
And ultimately, the only phone number I had for
them was disconnected. (I am not making this up!)
Among the list of critical items not attended to
was fixing my doorbell.
I never did get this father and son duo to come
back – even though they left a crate of tools in
my garage and two giant cans of roofing material
on my back patio. And, then – when I thought I had
hit the jackpot – a handyman who not only lived
two blocks from me but also sent his child to the
same school my older son attends – even that did
not pan out.
[“Is nothing sacred? Neighborly relations? Shared
school community ties? Small town reputation?” I
quizzically pondered. But, I used every ounce of
my “have compassion and do not judge” yogic
training to not jump to conclusions or make up
baseless stories.]
While in Bali, I did the “write and burn”
exercise on the full moon – the same exercise I
wrote to you about in my post the week before I
left. Among the many items I wrote down on my
list of things I was ready to let go of was this:
“not finishing things.” I burned that piece of
paper and welcomed in a new energy that would
motivate me with joy to finish things.
My husband and I share an incredibly creative
side that makes each of us more interested in new
ideas and starting new projects than in finishing
the final details.
In fact, if I was in charge of laying a new
ceramic tile floor, I would be a whiz at designing
the layout, at picking out the tile, at even
laying it down and putting in the grout. But, I
would not seal the grout. This is what I mean
about not finishing things. It’s usually the last
teeny weeny (but critical) detail that I
have no interest in, nor energy for.
Thankfully, in my line of work, those final
details can usually be handled by someone else.
(Thank you, my support team!)
Now that I’m back from Bali, I’ve noticed a
desire to finish things. Really! I wasn’t aware of
it at first, but now I’ve put two and two
together.
First, I programmed the new garage door opener
that I had bought over a month ago, and said
goodbye to the sad-looking duct-taped one that had
been giving me fits and starts with its
non-responsiveness over the past six months.
Then, I cleaned out the interior of our car. By
myself. You don’t want to know what I found
underneath the kids’ seats or under the back car
seat – but let’s just say it would have made
interesting material for an 8th grade science
project.
And Sunday, I went to the store and bought a
new doorbell. And not only did I buy it, but I
followed through and installed it.
A simple job, all-in-all. But it did involve many
small steps:
- Turning off the correct breaker so I wouldn’t shock myself
- Finding and using the right type of screwdrivers
- Drilling a new hole, since the new doorbell cover was a different size than the old one
- Correctly affixing the electrical wires to the interior screws
- Finishing up the project by testing it and confirming it did indeed work
and (drumroll please) even….
- Cleaning up my work area and the floor between the garage and the front door after I was done.
Whew! I literally shouted with joy when it was all
done. Ask my husband! He heard me from upstairs.
What is going on with me? And what, you might be
wondering, does a doorbell have to do with you
performing at your best?
When you leave the small stuff unattended…
It weighs on you…
It distracts you with scattered thoughts and
takes your attention away from other more
important things…
Even in my situation where I had done what I
thought was the right thing: I had acknowledged
from the beginning that I might not be the best
person for the job, and that there might be other
activities that were more important for me to give
my energy to.
Heck — I had even actively sought out support
from a seemingly qualified person – six
times over, as I tracked down lead after lead for
a reliable, affordable handyman – with limited
success. This seemed at the time like a good thing to
“outsource” so I could focus on what I do best.
But, when you keep trying the same approach over
and over again expecting different results:
- It drains you physically.
- Maybe even exhausts you mentally.
- Frustrates you emotionally.
- Dilutes your effectiveness in all things.
- Sometimes leads to self-criticism.
- Perhaps even diminishes your self-confidence.
And when you multiply this type of situation
times the number of unfinished projects on your
official (or unofficial) “to do” list, the result
is that your energy gets scattered in far too many
directions at once and your performance takes a
nose dive.
Well, isn’t it time to reign it all back in?
Ask yourself: What is your doorbell?
[Metaphorically, I mean – although you too might
have a doorbell to fix!]
How can you change your approach to get it done?
Maybe even take the horse by the reigns yourself,
like I did with my doorbell.
I teach my clients that wherever you direct your
attention, energy follows.
So, I invite you to direct your attention in a
different direction that might result in you
actually finishing that project.
And watch – with curiosity and joy – at what
begins to shift and how “getting it done” frees up
your mental energy, your emotions, your time, and
more – to ultimately improve your performance in
the areas of your life and work that matter most
to you.
Right?
The Bottom Line
It’s not about the doorbell – even though it’s
important to have a working one if you want to
know someone is at the door.
It’s about you doing the work you’re here to do.
It’s about you making your mark on the world.
It’s about you performing at your optimum level.
Erin
