Wellness Journalism: 50 Ways, Part V

50 Elaborations on 50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well
(continued)

41. Be hopeful. Why not? Hope is one thing that can’t be stolen; it’s yours to cultivate and to share. The only way to lose hope is to give it away—and people who have lost their hope may want you to let yours go, too. Hold your hope, at all costs. Despair is a tragic investment of energy.

42. Follow your intuition. It’s your own internal GPS system, steering you toward that which serves your highest good. The more you listen, the more it speaks.

43. Go on a retreat. Sometimes, the best way to get into it all is to get out of it for awhile. A retreat offers a respite: much needed relaxation time, to recharge your batteries and refresh your mind. Go in a group to generate connection and ideas, or go alone to get back in touch with your sense of self and center. There are many incredible parcels of land dedicated to this single purpose, but you can make a retreat out of any place.

44. Seek inspiration. It’s in the wind, the trees, the ocean. It’s in people, young and old. It’s in animals. It’s in you! Open the frame of mind that perceives the world in its true splendor, and inspiration lies everywhere you look.

45. Live simply. This is a profound concept in a world of mountainous material mayhem. At every turn, we are urged to do more, spend more, and accumulate more. It is enough to have enough. It frees you to focus on what really matters and what is truly meaningful: your own peace of mind, body, and spirit.

46. Welcome new faces. Especially when they are smiling sincerely, looking deeply, and/or listening carefully. These faces may make integral contribution to your life, if only for a moment. They teach, they show, and they tell.

47. Re-evaluate success. Yes: success feels great, and looks good too. It is something to celebrate. Then, after you’ve high-fived and chest bumped and woo-hooed, re-evaluate. Many factors contribute to success—you can’t pluck it off a tree like a plum—and it’s crucial to consider the attitudes, relationships, and challenges that paved the way. Success is not a permanent state of being, and neither is failure.

48. Reserve judgment. While you judge, you are not accepting or listening or understanding. Judgment is a form of resistance—it ignores the fluidity of people and situations. Each of us has our unique quirks and dysfunctions. Judgment is a proclamation of the ego, rather than a function of the heart. It does nothing other than to create separation.

49. Show courage. It takes courage to make change, face difficulties, or go after your dreams. It takes courage to stand up to a person who’s pushing against you (or others). It takes courage to speak your truth and express your creativity. It takes courage in fact, to be yourself. All of this must happen in order for you to move forward in your life, so dig deep, find the courage. It’s in there.

50. Serve others through volunteer50.ucsd.edu. In recognition of UCSD’s 50th anniversary, Chancellor Fox encourages each of us to sign up and log 50 hours of volunteer service. Ask around at local churches or peruse various volunteer organizations online; there is always something that can be done.

That's it, folks! 50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well! Apply any of these ideas to your life, and watch it bloom.

Look out for January's bookmark, 50 Ways to Live Physically Well. You can find 'em at The Zone, in Price Center Plaza next to Jamba Juice.

Happy New Year!

Wellness Journalism: 50 Ways, Part IV

50 Elaborations on 50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well
(continued)

31. Wake up early. Thanks to our natural biorhythms, rising with the sun gives us energy and vitality. Even though I’m not a “morning person,” I fully recognize the value of waking up early. It gives a more relaxing and spacious feel to the day, gives me time for a nice breakfast, morning meditation, writing time, or stretching. It gives me time to start the day off on the right foot, rather than stumbling around in a hurry to get out the door. See what the morning can do for you.

32. Reawaken wonder. I wonder if eggnog will taste good in my cereal. I wonder what the person who shot John Lennon went through as a child. I wonder how many licks it takes to get to the center of the earth. Wonder translates to open receptive expansion; it is a growthful and powerful state of being. Not coincidentally, to be “full of wonder” or “wonderful” is a very good thing indeed.

33. Listen deeply. This is less obvious than it seems. Much of the time, listening is a compulsory response to the fact that somebody is talking—and while that mouth is moving, our own mind is busy planning what to say when it’s our turn (if we even wait that long). Or, we are busy judging what the other person is saying as s/he says it. It turns out one cannot listen to one’s own thoughts and the words of another at the same time. If we really listen to others, we begin to hear what they are saying, what they're not saying, and the feelings behind the words. It enriches communication, and sometimes, changes it completely (for the better!).

34. Savor. Nothing lasts forever, so appreciate what you have while you have it. From a delicious bite of berry cobbler a la mode, to a quiet moment at home, to a wonderful conversation or instance of connection…Let it roll on the tongue, simmer on the brain, soak on your skin. Basking in the glow of what you enjoy reinforces it in your mind and body and makes you a happier person.

35. Make eye contact. The eyes are the window to the soul, they say, and there’s synergy in the exchange when contact is made. It’s profound; to look another in the eye and really let yourself see and be seen. In the instant my eyes meet yours, there is nothing else—I see you and you see me and that is all there is to it. It’s a totally authentic instance of human experience. Here eye am.

36. Dance. Some people have developed the strange notion that they can’t dance, simply because some other people have developed the ability to dance in really specific, so-called classical ways. If you dance from your heart, for pure enjoyment and appreciation of movement, music, expression, then you DO YOUR DANCE, and that is one of your highest and best occupations.

37. Cherish your body. It works tirelessly to support and sustain, digest and disseminate your many activities. It’s really a marvel: it communicates with you, and if you listen, you save yourself a lot of trouble. Acknowledge what your body does for you, and show it your appreciation and love. My own body has withstood years of heavy abuse. It has healed from deep injury and trauma. It has created new life.

38. Take on responsibility. I have recently become responsible for the life of our new baby corn snake, Cow. Feeding her thawed baby mice and maintaining the proper temperatures in her cage, watching her shed her skin, feeling her curl around my finger…it’s quite fulfilling. Responsibility comes in many forms: taking the lead on a group project, volunteering to cook a meal, or being more diligent in personal habits. It all leads up to the ultimate responsibility, which is the fate of the world and/or life itself.

39. Think positively. Research shows that positive thinking corresponds to better health, longer life, and more satisfaction. Taking responsibility for your thoughts allows you to choose what to think. In regard to the image of the glass half full or half empty, I used to say it was too early to tell because I’m still pouring. Or I would say that from a “bird’s eye view,” it would look like a full circle no matter what, with perceived fullness or emptiness being irrelevant. Now I say, what’s in the glass? There are always two sides to a story, and two ends to a battery. Given the choice, go for the happy ending and be positive.

40. Appreciate the world. For better or worse, you are here. Make the most of it. It is a special place. It’s not always pretty, or kind, or even comfortable. But it’s our only home, and there are some amazing cooks in the kitchen.

Stay tuned for the last 10 elaborations...

Wellness Journalism: 50 Ways, Part III

50 Elaborations on 50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well
(continued)

21. Breathe deeply. I cannot emphasize this enough. Beyond refreshing your mood, deeper breathing will give you more energy, help the body eliminate waste, increase metabolism, improve circulation and muscle/joint health, regulate blood sugar levels, and contribute to a better night’s sleep! Deep, abdominal breathing communicates to your mind that you are safe and relaxed. Inspired?

22. Find your purpose. With unique talents and skills, you are capable of service, contribution, and making a positive impact on the world around (and within) you. It feels wonderful to know you are being useful, in ways large and small.

23. Practice Yoga. The term “yoga” applies to anything that integrates the body and mind with awareness. There are many specific types of yoga taught here in the west: Hatha, Bikram, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Kundalini are some of the more popular ones. While each has a particular focus, all emphasize the breath. From one-handed inversions and baffling stretchy postures to mantras and mudras (hand postures) that stimulate the meridians of the body, yoga has shown itself to be quite invigorating.

24. Cultivate mindfulness. When you are being mindful, you observe your thoughts/feelings with acceptance, and without attachment. It’s a way to tune in with your inner dynamics and strengthen awareness of patterns that may no longer serve you—empowering you to release them. I intentionally “mind my manners” while I am doing routine activities like washing the dishes, brushing my teeth, driving, or walking. I also find it helpful to focus on mindfulness when experiencing stress. When I am mindful of my thoughts (“I can’t do this, it’s too hard”), I don’t have to identify with them. I can simply hear them, and then let them pass. It’s a miraculous mechanism.

25. Meditate. Ah…sitting in stillness, increasing powers of concentration. It allows for better focus throughout the day, reduces stress, and gives you more control over how you respond to the various stimuli presented to you by the world at large. You can focus on the breath or a particular image or a particular feeling, you can practice visualizations or systematic relaxation of the body. You can set aside time every morning or you can take mini-mediation moments throughout the day.

26. Forgive. When you hold something negative against somebody else, you’re effectively holding yourself hostage. You are beholden to a grudge. Your happiness should never depend on what others do, or why they do it. When you forgive, you set yourself free. Say, “I forgive you,” to somebody who has angered you, and see what happens. Hint: it sets of an energetic chain reaction you can see and feel.

27. Set a daily intention. It gives shape and purpose to your day as a unique entity unto itself. My intention for today is to trust my instincts. My intention yesterday was to relax, and I did a fantastic job of lying on the couch reading popular fiction. Set an intention that is specific to your goals and watch it work!

28. Connect with loved ones. They are your greatest wealth. A phone call, a card, an e-mail, a visit, a meal, a hug—these seemingly small gestures carry great weight. Lay it on ‘em.

29. Develop your compassion. Honor and value every human being, all the plants and animals, and the earth itself. It makes life so much richer when you have a sense of connection. As Thomas Merton says, “Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things.” So what if you cannot personally fly to a third world country and feed the poor? You can practice compassion wherever you are, simply by holding it in your heart.

30. Heal bad habits. Take steps—however small—toward healing the habits that drain you of vital energy and resources. What makes many of our habits so hard to break is that we are surrounded by the very triggers that drive us to them. We struggle with incessant inertia; years of conditioning. Changing these patterns is not easy, but it’s more than worth it. Pay attention to what you’re doing/saying/thinking and determine whether it is sustainable. The bottom line is that you’re all you’ve got. Don’t hurt yourself.

Look out for the next installment!

Wellness Journalism: 50 Ways, Part II

50 Elaborations on 50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well
(continued)

11. Appreciate others. There are people doing amazing things at all times; you’ll notice it if you look. Acknowledge and thank coworkers, friends, family members, teachers, and other people hard at work in their various occupations. While you’re at it, appreciate yourself as well!

12. Develop your talents. You will be fonder of what you’re doing, and better at it too. As much as you may appreciate the talents of others (see #11 above), it is important to discover and cultivate your own special skills. Do this diligently, and you’ll find a way to incorporate your talents into your trade—adding immeasurable value to your work.

13. Have personal rituals. They have a way of calming the mind and integrating processes that might otherwise be a bit rough. Not being a morning person, I used to have a bowl of cereal immediately upon rising (to ease into the day with something pleasant). I have since swapped the cereal for smoothies. Adding various fruits and juices and yogurts into a blender is fun and relaxing. And smoothies are delicious and refreshing. I actually dump a handful of raw baby spinach in there too, since it is light on flavor and heavy on nutrition. Here are a few other examples: Sitting for a few minutes each morning to set intentions for the day. Enjoying a cup of tea in the afternoon. Taking a morning/evening walk. Blessing or thanking something before you use it. Organizing your socks. Anything you do can be ritualized.

14. Love, love, love. This hardly needs elaboration. But I will say this: there is love, and then there is attachment. The difference may be subtle, but it is profound. If you’ve ever heard somebody say “love hurts,” it’s attachment they’re referring to. Love liberates, accepts, has compassion. Love lifts us up where we belong. Let me move on to the next point before I break into song.

15. Honor your food. You are putting it inside you, for goodness sake…digesting it and letting it seep into every pore of your body. Give it consideration: from and through whose hands it has passed, how and where it came into the world. You are what you eat, and how you eat it. When you honor your food, you tend to eat well.

16. Celebrate milestones. This includes, but is certainly not limited to: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, achievement of goals, promotions, and changes in location. You can treat yourself to something nice or throw a party with family, friends, cake and confetti. Whatever you do, you deserve it.

17. Self-reflect. This way, you’ll be able to see what you’re doing, and where you’re going. A great way to do this is by writing in a journal (paper or digital), tracking your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Or you can simply sit and ponder. And if you really want to dig in, talk to yourself in the mirror (seriously—it’s effective!)

18. Pray. Pray from your heart, to and for anything meaningful to you. Prayer can be regular, or it can be spontaneous. It can be structured, or it can be improvised. However you pray, it is a powerful way to realize your innermost desires and express your deepest truth.

19. Live one day at a time. It’s all you can actually do. While you may plan for the future, life happens in the present. The future hasn’t happened and therefore it is unstable; living in/for the future is counter-productive. Likewise, it is hard to move forward effectively if you are living in/for the past. And when you have a lot on your plate, as UCSD students tend to do, trying to manage multiple days at once is mentally overwhelming.

20. Walk in nature. It will restore you. Fresh air, sunshine, grass, and trees revitalize your mind, body, and spirit. Hear the twittering of birds. Watch the way light dances. Feel the breeze on your skin. The outdoors are great indeed.

Still more to come…

Wellness Journalism: 50 Ways to Live Well

Welcome to December 1, 2010...and the beginning of Spiritual Wellness month!

Here in the wonderful world of LiveWell, we are celebrating UC San Diego’s 50th birthday with a series of 8 bookmarks (one for each dimension of Wellness) that list 50 (count ‘em!) ways to live well. If you already have the “50 Ways to LiveWell” bookmarks for Emotional and Financial Wellness, great. If not, it isn’t too late—you can pick them up at The Zone.

This month, The Office of Student Wellness collaborated with The Center for Ethics and Spirituality to bring you the “50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well” bookmark. The ideas listed on this bookmark are so magnificent that entire books are devoted to each of them—however, in the interest of busy student schedules The LiveWell Blogger brings you…

50 Elaborations on 50 Ways to Live Spiritually Well

1. Explore meaning. Things are not always as they seem, and for that matter, they are not always as they don’t seem. Look deeper into the nature of people, places, and things. Meaning is not something to be clutched, coveted, or coerced. Rather, it is something to cultivate, cherish, and communicate. What means something to one person might mean something entirely different to somebody else, and the two together mean more than the sum of their parts.

2. Sing praise. From “Wow, this sandwich is amazing!” to "Amazing Grace," there are infinite wonders in this world, all worthy of admiration. Human beings have been inspired to sing for as long as they have been inspired to breathe. Break into song. When you feel a little flat, it will change the tune of things. And if you aren’t feeling inspired by one of the great melodies composed by another musician, create an ode of your own. This morning I sang a little number about finding the perfect parking spot.


3. Follow your bliss. This is great advice from a clever individual by the name of Joseph Campbell. He said, “If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.” Hear, hear.

4. Give thanks. This simple gesture has profound power; gratitude is one of the strongest positive vibrations a person can emit. The best part is, there is always, always something to be thankful for. You can choose to be thankful for anything, at anytime. At this very moment, I am thankful for the chair I am sitting on, because otherwise I would have a terrible back-ache or knee-ache or pain in my neck trying to see the computer. I am thankful for the apple I ate twenty minutes ago. I am thankful for air, water, and sunshine. I am thankful for my friends and family for accepting and supporting me throughout my many shenanigans. I am thankful for the opportunity to share my passion for Wellness with the UCSD community. I am thankful for my strength to overcome fears, and I am thankful for my fears for showing me my strength.

5. Create art. Many people think they aren’t “artistic,” simply because they can’t draw like DaVinci or paint like Picasso. But have you ever really looked at a Picasso? The man simply painted what he saw in his head, and declared it genius. You can do the same. It will be art, it will be genius, and nobody can say a word about it.

6. Join a community. You don’t have to belong to a specific religion to enjoy spiritual community; any congregation of people sharing similar intentions and/or interests has the potential to stir your spirit. A wholesome community provides inner enrichment and growth, fosters synergistic and supportive relationships, encourages joy and celebration, and works to make a positive contribution to the world.

7. Lend a hand. One of the best ways to enhance your well-being is to enhance the well-being of somebody else. Carry a bag, open a door, pick up a dropped pen, provide directions, do the dishes. Little things, when put into perspective, are actually quite big—so don’t hesitate to help out.

8. Make peace. Work to create harmony both within yourself (Me, Myself and I—can’t we all just get along?) and in the world around you (again, can’t we all just get along?). The next time you encounter some type of “attack,” think about how you can bring peace to the situation, whether by thought or action.

9. Practice generosity. As you give, so you shall receive. When you are generous with your time/energy/resources, with no strings/expectations/hidden agendas attached, you send an image of abundance into the world that will be reflected back to you!

10. Find beauty. They say that every cloud has a silver lining, and in like fashion, so every ugly duckling has a beautiful swan. Or something like that. The point is, beauty is always there for those who see it. Behold.

Stay tuned for the next batch….

College Loans 101

With college costs still climbing—private-college tuition has soared almost a third since 2004—more students are becoming first-time borrowers. Indeed, 53 percent of incoming freshmen reported using loans last fall, the first significant increase since 2004, according to UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute. But a sluggish economy and confusing new rules are making it tougher to manage student debt.

Some tips:

Learn the new rules
Recent reforms mean the government will now originate all federal student loans, cutting out the banks that used to act as middlemen. Students who already receive these loans from private lenders will have a chance to consolidate before July 2011, something normally prohibited while in school. Gary Carpenter, director of the National College Advocacy Group, says this could be a boon, since it means dealing with fewer lenders later, but experts warn it may mean losing the postgraduation grace period before repayment starts.

Repay wisely
Research firm Student Lending Analytics estimates that 37 percent of graduates facing loan repayment are struggling, delinquent or in forbearance. Fortunately, a monthly payment cap of 15 percent of income above a certain level recently went into effect for federal loans. And for students matriculating in 2014, that will drop to 10 percent. Private loans—as well as PLUS loans, or Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students—aren’t eligible for such caps, so experts suggest avoiding them when possible.

Find free money
The best way to avoid repayment hassles, of course, is to borrow less. And with grants and scholarships funding a quarter of the average family’s college costs last year, up from 15 percent in 2008, competition has gotten fierce. Fastweb.com, which matches students with scholarships, is a good place to start the hunt. Experts also suggest double-dipping for local scholarships in students’ hometowns and near their colleges. Finally, families should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa, quickly, since some funds are doled out on a first-come-first-served basis.

Jami Makan, SmartMoney Magazine

Wellness Journalism: Broke, Not Broken.

“A person is rich or poor according to what s/he is, not according to what s/he has.”
-Henry Beecher

Whoever coined the term “starving student” likely noticed that rising tuition costs coupled with intensive study hours and low-paying, hard-to-find jobs often result in top ramen diets—but it’s a phrase that strips us of power. Even in a bad economy, you can build a wealthy frame of mind.

Your frame of mind is worth much more than your bank account. From here, you paint the picture you see on a daily basis. You create your life.

Sure, during Financial Wellness month we emphasize saving money, setting goals, and planning ahead. But even with no money, you can still be financially healthy!

Know how to utilize resources. Plug in. You’ll find free food at various meetings, and you will get really nice pens, buttons, lanyards, frisbees, and t-shirts and all the tabling events. As a student in the university, you have access to state of the art recreation facilities, health services, and counseling services. In addition to the wealth of learning that takes place, there is a wide variety of free entertainment, student involvement, and service opportunities that will keep you nourished and engaged every night of the week. This is a world of abundance. Open up!

The next time you feel like you are living with less, take a look at what you’ve got. Chances are a quick glance around your bedroom will reveal a wealth that millions around the world can only dream of. To make the point even stronger, take out a piece of paper (reach for the nearest office recycling bin—free paper galore!) and one of those nice free pens, and make a list of everything you have, from material possessions to friends and aspirations. This simple exercise will add immediate value to your mind frame.

The wealthy frame of mind will also, in effect, pay for itself. It will generate ideas and inspiration for side projects, hobbies, skills and services that could combine and become cold, hard cash in your hand.

Most importantly, without money, you dig a little deeper in your pockets to find satisfaction. These foraging skills will keep you happy long into your golden years! Money comes and goes… Learn how to think rich now, and you’ll never be poor.

Wellness Journalism: Worth Your Time

Let’s say your bills are paid, and you have a little extra money. What are you going to do with it? Ideally you are going to put it into a savings account, because you know how to have a good time for free.

But let’s be realistic. Sometimes you’re going to reach for your wallet. Whatever you may have in your hand, however, here is something to keep in mind: a new study demonstrates that buying experiences—not possessions—leads to greater happiness.

“Purchased experiences provide memory capital,” says Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University. “We don’t get bored of happy memories like we do with a material object.”

So instead of dropping your dollar on new clothes and toys, invest in real-world interaction and genuine life experience. See a concert or sporting event, visit a theme park, have brunch with some friends, go camping, take a dance or scuba diving class, make a road trip.

Hands-on experience does more than increase the balance in your memory bank. It fills your deeper personal requirements by connecting you to other living creatures, pushing your limits, and expanding your horizons.

In short, doing something interesting will revitalize your mind more than having something will. So if you’re going to buy, pick what pays.

Want a free iPad?

Win an Apple iPad!

In honor of November’s Financial Wellness theme, LiveWell has organized an online scavenger hunt for financial literacy!!

Here is your first clue: all answers can be found on the CashCourse website. Give us all 8 answers and we will give you an entry to our weekly drawing for a $50 UCSD Bookstore gift certificate, and our Grand Prize drawing for an Apple iPad! With important information about financial planning and goal-setting, investment, budgeting, and smart spending, you've got nothing to lose!

Contest ends November 30th, 2010. Happy hunting!

Wellness Journalism: Financial Aid!

An accredited education ain't cheap. It may seem impossible to get a degree without putting a permanent dent in your wallet...

Thankfully, The Financial Aid Office exists for one reason: to get you money!

Budgets and Cost of Attendance
UCSD's estimated budgets include all educational costs: registration fees, non-resident tuition, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and a health care insurance fee (or health care allowance). Your estimated budget helps you and the Financial Aid Office determine approximately how much money you need to attend UCSD, and how much financial aid you need to meet that goal. Your actual costs may differ.

Applying for Financial Aid
Financial aid timelines, basics for applying, fees and costs and other important information to help you apply for financial aid.

Undergraduate Scholarships
Scholarships are gift aid, money you don't have to repay. Scholarships are awarded for academic merit only, or merit and additional criteria such as major of interest, leadership, or financial need. Find out how scholarships can help cover your undergraduate education costs.

Undergraduate Grants
Grants are gift aid, money you don't have to repay. Grant awards are based on financial need. You may be eligible for three types of grants: Federal, State, and University (UC).

Undergraduate Loans
Loans are funds that you must repay with interest under varying terms and conditions. Borrowing is a serious responsibility and can affect your future credit rating.

Utilizing these resources will help you put your financial worries to rest... so you can focus on studying for your next test.

Visit The Financial Aid Office for more information. It pays!

Fit For Food!

UC San Diego Recreation and FitLife present….

The 7th annual

FIT FOR FOOD DAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20th

Please join us for our 7th annual food raising event to benefit local families in need.

Bring us 8 canned good items, or equivalent dry goods and enjoy your choice of fitness or yoga workouts. Help out your neighbors during the holidays and get a great pre-Thanksgiving workout to boot!

1. Super Cycle
#201380 Sat, Nov 20 from 9-10 am

2. Kick Box
#201381 Sat, Nov 20 from 10:15-11:15 am

3. Pilates Core
#201382 Sat, Nov 20 from 11:30-12:30 pm

4. Zumba
#201383 Sat, Nov 20 from 12:45-1:45 pm

5. Hatha Yoga
#201384 Sat, Nov 20from 2-3 pm

Register online to reserve your space! This event is open to everybody, so bring your friends and family. Let’s get moving, cooking, shaking and baking!

For more information, contact:

Alexia Cervantes
UC San Diego Recreation
Director of FitLife
http://recreation.ucsd.edu

Wellness Journalism: Feel It Out

De-sensitization begins at an early age. We are taught to repress our feelings: Don’t worry. Don’t cry. Don’t be afraid. We are told to remain “in control.” Look sharp. Chin up. Stand firm.

But is this actually possible—or even reasonable? Here we are, trying to navigate through a world filled with pain, struggle, tension large and small…how are we supposed to be immune to it all?

Recognizing emotions for what they are (rather than writing them off as weakness or inconvenience), allows you to respond effectively to your environment. Acknowledging, rather than denying, feelings allows you to be more functional from the inside out. Get a feel for yourself!

Repressed emotion finds its way into the crevices of mind and body, and festers. It then manifests in other areas of life. It becomes stress. It creates drama. It inspires fear. And then, to avoid these unpleasantries, we numb out with food-drugs-alcohol-television-internet-collecting useless stuff; constantly needing to be distracted from how we really feel.

The trouble with always tuning out, above and beyond the obvious pollution in your internal atmosphere, is that you are missing the time of you life.

How you feel is integral to your being. It is central to the quality of your experience day to day, for better or worse. Some clever person observed that “the truth will set you free.” It’s true. Be honest with yourself about your feelings. When you accurately identify them, you can make an informed decision about how to respond.

Some simple examples:

Feeling tired >> Needing to rest.
Feeling stressed out >> Needing to take a moment to relax and re-focus.
Feeling angry >> Needing to express it constructively.
Feeling worried >> Needing reassurance.
Feeling sad >> Needing to cry or grieve.

Our feelings and emotions are keys, maps, and/or signposts that exist to help us navigate the course of our lives! Don't leave them by the wayside.

“Better out than in, I always say.” -Shrek

Wellness Journalism: Healing for the Homesick

Homesick?

It's common to miss your family, friends and familiar surroundings when you are in a new environment.

And if that new environment is UCSD, it’s par for the course. Adjusting to a hectic schedule, managing the wide variety of social and academic pressures, and even finding healthy food can require a lot of effort. It is perfectly natural that you would crave the comforts of home, but getting out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow.

Give yourself time. Adapting to a new environment is a gradual process, and you determine your own rate of travel. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Explore, engage, discover, and delight in the journey. You’ll find things you love and things you don’t…and along the way, develop self-esteem, build skills, and sharpen your unique talents and abilities. It’s one of those “win-win” situations.

Explore your interests. There is so much to do at UCSD that even if you spend the rest of your life here, you couldn’t exhaust your options. There are over 500 student organizations on campus alone—social, cultural, educational, spiritual, political, recreational, philanthropic, and more! How about the Dan Simmons Comedy Club of Higher Learning? Archery? Random Acts of Kindness Foundation? Student Sustainability Collective? Greek life? Infinite adventures await you. Visit the Center for Student Involvement for more information.

Talk to others. Sometimes a pep talk from a friend or a quick phone call to Mom can make all the difference. Your family is a source of support and encouragement: a place to draw strength from as you lay new foundations here at UCSD. Although certain members of the family may drive you a bit nuts, or your roommate keeps farting in the car, remember that the people who answer the phone when you call and show up to celebrate your birthday are an amazing emotional resource. Psychologist Edward Diener, a.k.a. Dr Happiness, says, “It is important to work on social skills, close interpersonal ties and social support in order to be happy.”

While it may seem like everybody knows what they are doing except you, this simply isn’t true. UCSD is an enormous university with thousands of new students every quarter. In fact, every single person on this campus was new at some point! It is a place of perpetual adjustment and re-adjustment. So speak up. Ask questions (from a simple “How are you?” to the more advanced “Where did you get that iced coffee?”). Build connections with those around you. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet people with similar academic interests, shared hobbies and passions, or a good hangout buddy.

Make yourself comfortable, wherever you are: dorm rooms, apartment homes, lounges, or libraries. Be at home in your own skin. (Nobody can stop you except yourself!) For additional re-enforcements, consider favorite shirts, shoes, socks, underwear, a special necklace, book, journal, key-chain, favorite foods, and/or music. Find a spot that's easy to access and make it yours. Go there to study, read, play games, or just wiggle your toes.

Utilize resources such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Their friendly counselors are always available to lend an ear or offer encouragement, tips, and advice.

Wellness Journalism: What's So Funny?

In this world of mental, mechanical, and material mayhem, you’ve gotta maintain a sense of humor. Be it light, dark, moist, or dry, a solid sense of humor will prevent you from cracking. Laughter breaks tension faster than lightning…in fact, laughter is en-lightening. It’s the fruit of the soul-- and always ripe for the picking!

If you happen to stroll past The Zone on a Friday between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., you will see a group of people inside, giggling hysterically. You will wonder what is so funny. The answer is, nothing. They’re laughing for the sake of laughter itself and the physical and mental benefit that’s in it.

Laughter Yoga was started with a handful of participants in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria at a park in India. It has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6,000 laughter groups in about 60 countries! The concept is simple and contagious. Deep breathing and silly games combine to increase the supply of oxygen in the blood, boost the immune system, recharge the metabolism, and leave you feeling fresh and energized. Laughing, especially for “no reason,” undermines the thinking mind that tends towards frumpiness in high stress environments (UCSD, anyone?). It awakens the natural mechanism of joyful play that exists in each of us. And laughter has no language or cultural barriers; it truly brings people together.

In fact, the impact of laughter is so profound that participants report an increased ability to cope with stress, relief from chronic pain, and a reduction in depression.

The first encounter with Laughter Yoga may feel a bit strange, like any new skill. But then something clicks and you’re rolling in genuine, heart-expanding chuckles. It might just become your favorite Friday afternoon activity. Come and see!

Wellness Journalism: Solvent?

"The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

It’s the first week back to classes and it feels like I’m already behind. The pressure drives me toward blueberry muffins and other tasty treats, the joy of which seem to counteract the dread of my to-do list. But ultimately there is just no way to take 18 units, work 20+ hours a week, and still hope to function as a human being. So I make a bold move and drop my Spanish Literature class. I’ll take it in summer school. (At some point, you gotta know your limits--even while you’re pushing them).

Does this sound familiar? Maybe not the blueberry muffins part…but the feeling of having too much to do and not enough time or energy in the day to get it all done. I know the look, and many of us dashing across campus have it. Friends, I want to say this: starting a new routine is a creative process. You have the power to design your day—or destroy it. And you can go back to the drawing board as many times as you want. If you keep your eye to the big picture, it will come into focus.

This big picture analysis is very useful in maintaining a sense of perspective. Often, we’re more flexible than we give ourselves credit for. In fact, the trouble with many “plans” is that they are based on idealistic, preconceived notions that don’t actually fit the big screen. If you want to paint a pretty picture, consider one thing above all else: your ability to focus in the present moment. You know you have too much on your plate if you can’t even swallow what’s in your mouth.

Any problem that presents itself comes with a hidden prize—the solution. Finding the solution often takes patience and perseverance, experimentation and exploration. As it turns out, the process of solving often holds more value than the solution itself! You may gain new friends, learn important lessons, and increase your awareness of your own intrinsic value. Sit on that and rotate awhile.

“Problems” are life-code for opportunity. It may sound corny, but it’s true.

While it might feel like the world wants more than you can give, in reality the world just wants to see you giving it your best.

So, to sum up:

The problem is that I have a lot to do.

The solution is that focusing on one thing at a time with a clear mind and positive attitude combined with realistic prioritizing will allow me to accomplish what actually needs to be done today.

What you see becomes real, whether it is the problem or the solution. Take your pick.

Get in The Zone!

GRAND OPENING!!!
Friday, September 24th.
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Free food, games, prizes, and a few special surprises!

What is The Zone?

Glad you asked.

The Zone is a space for snack-sized Wellness programs designed to introduce resources and build skills for students to flourish.

Brought to you by The Office of Student Wellness in collaboration with Recreation, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention Resource Center, The Zone is a one-stop wellness shop that helps you thrive in every dimension. We offer “snack-sized” wellness programs that fit into any schedule! And with no additional costs or contracts, it’s easy to drop in and discover something new.

Examples of programs include Laughter Yoga, stress relief, personal safety, money management, Tai Chi, healthy cooking, meditation, therapy dogs, biofeedback, health checkups, nap-ins, body composition analysis, a weekly open mic, and much more!

Our fresh daily menu brings you an improved sense of balance, increases fulfillment, nourishes mind and body, releases tension, and creates fun social opportunities. And that’s not all…The Zone is a green space; LEED-certified for construction with sustainable, non-toxic materials, energy efficiency, and innovation in design.

The Zone is located in Price Center Plaza between Jamba Juice and The Box Office. We're open Monday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 7 pm, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Visit our website for more information and a detailed calendar of events!

zone.ucsd.edu

Wellness Journalism: Can I Kick It?

Italy gives an old tradition the boot, and so can you.

Giorgia Boscolo is 24 years old a mother of two. She is also the first female gondolier to tackle the canals of Venice—breaking with 900 years of conviction that gondola steering is a man’s job.

Whether a conviction is 900 or 9 years old, what we believe tends to steer us through the course of our lives. Sometimes, our belief systems need to be updated.

Sometimes, if you think you can’t do something, that’s the best reason to do it. Maybe you’d like to participate in a marathon but you think it’s only for “runners.” Maybe you’d like to eat less meat, but you are worried that you will “starve.” Maybe you’d like to be a dancer (or a doctor, or a detective), but you are worried that you will “fail.” What do you dream of? What do you picture yourself doing? What is it that you really want?

The bottom line is that no matter how lofty your goals may be, no matter how impossible they may seem, simply heading in their general direction will provide you with a fulfilling life. Since your greatest goals can only be reached one step at a time, your heart is pre-wired to appreciate the journey.

This is excellent news to those of us who may not know exactly how we are going to make our dreams come true, what with so many paths crisscrossing at our feet and so many flashing lights and signs (This way! Wrong way! Turn here!). But we have to believe we can.

Giorgia Boscolo is living proof that old molds are giving way to new possibilities, and even the most hardened establishments can bend in new directions. With the swipe of an oar, Giorgia reminds us that life is a flow(er)… and we each decide where to go(grow).

Wellness Journalism: Cuttle me this!

The Wonders of Nature

Cuttlefish!

I was at my Mom’s yesterday, eating her groceries, when my eye happened to fall upon the white bone tied inside the wire of her parakeet cage. The Cuttlebone, as it is called, is not for the birds to snuggle up against. It is for beak sharpening, and an extra helping of calcium.

Cuttlefish are actually much more closely related to garden slugs and snails than they are to fish. They are cephalopods, like octopuses and squid and nautilus. (So you wouldn’t want to cuddle with them anyway.)

The cuttlefish is incredibly technologically advanced. While they have not yet been spotted with the new iPhone, they do have 8 arms, 3 hearts, 2 feeding tentacles, and the ability to change color and texture of skin within seconds. Then there’s that fancy gas-filled bone which gives them buoyancy. That is, of course, until it’s hung in a birdcage.

If you’ve ever been experimenting with color tone on your camera, perhaps you recall the dark-brownish option called “sepia.” Sepia is actually the scientific name for a cuttlefish and the ink that is derived from it; when the cuttlefish isn’t in the mood the play hide and seek, it will just squirt you in the mouth with this nasty stuff. But when the hungry cuttlefish spots a crab or fish, it approaches steadily using its camouflage and sneaks up on its prey. When it gets close enough, the 8 arms open wide and out shoot the deceptively long feeding tentacles. On the end of each is a pad covered in suckers that grasp hold of the breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and quickly pull it close to the cuttlefish's mouth that looks like a parrot's beak (ironically enough).

In addition to colors, cuttlefish come in many sizes. The smallest are about an inch long, and the largest are roughly the size of Danny DeVito.

Recent studies indicate that cuttlefish are among the most intelligent invertebrates; after all, they have one of the largest brain-to-body size ratios. And many people would like to keep cuttlefish as pets. This is quite easy in the UK and Europe as some species of cuttlefish are found there. In the USA however, there are no naturally found candidates. This never stops Americans, however, and the most commonly imported species is from Bali… but it arrives in poor condition, tiny and travel-weary, and quickly kicks the bucket.

Just another example of the marvelous designs Mother Nature has hatched (and which no human being can rival.)

Wellness Journalism: Slick and sick

On April 20, 2011, an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the Gulf Coast claimed the lives of eleven people and cost thousands more their livelihood. Sadly, the worst impact of this accident on the environment has yet to be fully felt: we cut an artery and spilled the earth’s blood, disrupting and damaging the workings of the natural world. The sheer quantity of oil released into the atmosphere and burned off as gasses (in the so-called cleaning process) has a deep and lasting impact on the balance of our ecosystem.




"We're sorry for the massive disruption it's caused their lives. There's no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back." —BP CEO Tony Hayward

Oil dependency finally blows up in our face. But is it going to be like every other Oopsie, where we slap on the band-aid and move forward without learning the lesson? Do we, like Tony Howard, just want our lives back?

Rather than taking our lives back, let’s take our lives forward. Don’t return to busines as usual if we can do better business. We are living in a changing time.

But life on earth aside, some are more worried about the financial security of our country, for which BP is a nice plushy cushion. The fear is that U.S. energy security will suffer if BP goes under or is significantly reduced in size. Even Obama recognized as much when he said that “BP is a strong and viable company, and it is in all of our interests that it remain so.”

Yes, the company’s demise would be disruptive to the American oil industry, given that BP is the largest oil and gas producer in the U.S., with about 1 million barrels per day of production. But it no longer seems to be in our best interest to put profit ahead of preservation. In the best long-term interest of not only the U.S. but every other country, it is time to put our welfare ahead of our wallets. Put the horse before the cart. No more digging into the earth’s plumbing system to harvest costly fuel when there is wind and solar power available to all. Prospects of U.S. energy security are better sought in sustainable and renewable energy sources.

It can be overwhelming to consider the complete overhaul of our habits, when we are so dependent on fossil fuels. There is a great deal of inertia behind our gas-guzzling lifestyles. The key is to make one change at a time. It comes down to the next decision. Carpool. Walk. Re-use. Recycle. Don’t buy it. Eat this instead. Every time something large scale happens, it serves as a reminder to adjust our small scales.

In this climate of crisis and critical mass, we are more sensitive to disasters, and their impact. It galvanizes our communities, and brings us forward towards a common goal. These are the wake up calls. Ooopsies. Mother Nature will do what it takes to push us out of the nest, so to speak, drawing our attention to the effect of our greedy open mouths…So that we can learn to fly for ourselves.

Wellness Journalism: Sugar...not so sweet!

Cookies and frozen yogurt and soda and cake and chocolate and cereal are delicious. But is the taste worth the trouble?

Over the last 20 years we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. from 26 lbs. to 13 lbs. of sugar, per person, per year! Highly refined sugars are being processed into so many foods. And not just the obvious desserts—sugar hides in many places. Some brands of ketchup have more sugar per ounce than ice cream. Many salad dressings have three times the sugar content of cola drinks. Some non-dairy creamers have more sugar than a chocolate bar. The labeling is often misleading; manufacturers avoid listing sugar as the first ingredient by dividing it into different terminologies like dextrose, corn syrup solids, malt powder, etc. If you add these ingredients together, sugar would become the first ingredient on the product list.



Just a spoonful of sugar…slows your immune system down. Glucose and vitamin C have similar chemical structures, so when sugar levels go up, they compete for one another upon entering the cells. If there is more glucose around, there is going to be less vitamin C allowed into the cell. But suppressing the immune system is just the beginning. Sugar upsets the body's mineral balance, contributes to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness, produces a significant rise in triglycerides, reduces helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs), promotes an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs), causes hypoglycemia, diabetes, hypertension, and a weakened defense against bacterial infection, causes kidney damage, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases fasting levels of blood glucose, promotes tooth decay, produces an acidic stomach, speeds the aging process, contributes to weight gain and obesity, increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, contributes to osteoporosis, decreases glucose tolerance, causes food allergies, causes free radical formation in the bloodstream, overstresses the pancreas, increases the amount of fat in the liver, increases the body's fluid retention, causes hormonal imbalance, and gives you headaches.

Unfortunately, artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Sweet & Low, Equal are notorious for wreaking even more havoc. The chemical structure of Splenda (sucralose), for example, has more in common with pesticides than it does with food.

Some like it sweet! For those who, like myself, harbor a bonafide sweet tooth, the most promising option on the plate is stevia. Stevia can be used for anything you might use sugar in, including baking…and it is naturally low in carbohydrates. Known in South America as the “sweet herb,” stevia has been used in other cultures for centuries without ill effect. It’s 200–300 times sweeter than sugar, so just a small portion of stevia will sweeten even a strong cup of tea. We’ve known about stevia in the US since 1918, but pressure from the sugar import trade blocked its use as a commodity. Now you can buy it at most health food stores and on the web.

Ultimately, there is never debate over the sweetest things to eat: fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains!

Wellness Journaslim: Boogie on the Brain

There is a West African saying: “If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance.” Personally, I would debate this. I suspect that a person who can’t talk might still be able to sing, and a person who can’t walk might still be able to dance, because singing and dancing engage different pathways in the brain. The point is, however, that every person has a unique song and dance.



Walking might get you from point A to point B, but dancing takes you into another dimension. I’m not talking about the dancing you do (or don’t do) when you are trying to impress somebody across the room. I am talking about the dancing you do when you are being yourself, attention focused solely on music and movement and your own precious mind-body connection. Hopping, skipping, sliding, wiggling, leaping, swinging, shaking, kicking. The creative nature of dance is profound; it is a body language, a basic form of authentic communication. It puts you in touch with yourself.

As such, dance is an especially effective medium for therapy. Based in the belief that body, mind and spirit are interconnected, dance therapy is defined as "the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process that furthers the emotional, cognitive, social and physical integration of the individual" by the American Dance Therapy Association. Dancing goes back to primitive times, and magical powers have been attributed to it. The shaman dances to exorcise evil spirits from a sick person. During the Middle Ages people even danced to avoid the plague. The Tarantella of Italy is believed to have originated after a poisonous spider’s bite caused tarantism, and the cure for it was a jumping dance.

I recently “invented” a dance called Happy Fingers. It works well if you are in the car, at work or school, or anyplace that isn’t condusive to jigging feet. The idea is that you allow your hands and fingers to move to the music, as little representatives of your entire body. Your hands and fingers have incredible powers of expression!

So you think you can’t dance? It’s a travesty that a person would voluntarily carry a belief that blocks booty bumping. Neither judge nor jury has real power over your groove; it’s completely up to you. Make your move.

Showing the Love: 8 Days a Week!

8 Ways to Love Yourself:

1. Treat your taste buds: Whether it’s fresh veggies from the farmer’s market or a pint of frozen yogurt, a happy mouth is an instant face-lift.

2. Move your body: Take a walk or run, go for a swim or hike, do a little dance or perhaps some yoga. Stretch and circulate your limbs!

3. Read for pleasure: It can be a source of entertainment, a way to catch up on current events, or an educational tool.

4. Take a day off: Shut off your cell phone and your laptop. Spend some time with yourself “au naturel.”

5. Laugh out loud: This isn’t just an internet acronym spelled out—it’s an action that will do your body good.

6. Spend time with your family: Whether it’s a pet or partner, spouse or sibling, quality time is a must-have in nurturing relationships.

7. Listen to positive music: Music is a universal language and an excellent way to celebrate. Identify some personal theme songs and play them in the morning while you get dressed.

8. Develop a creative outlet: Have a vehicle to express daily stress and frustrations constructively; it will drive you forward even on the bumpiest roads. Cook, paint, sing, write, knit, build, draw, explore!

Wellness Journalism: Explore the Horizon

Let’s say you happen to see a special on The Discovery Channel that captures your interest, so you take it a step further. It’s easy to do these days; there is so much information available right at your fingertips—you can Google anything in the world. You can explore databases and libraries and ask questions on social networking sites and chats. One thing leads to another, and before you know it you are blazing a trail of research and knowledge. It’s a scavenger hunt, an adventure, exciting and inspiring! The wild part is when you encounter connections and parallels that you never would have expected, and you begin to see concepts in a new light, by your own illumination.

Compare this to sitting around and stewing in the knowledge you already have, not bothering to look into anything new. Boo.

If something strikes you, find out why. Your interests are clues to your passions and purpose. Explore them! You have nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain, from new friends and experiences to hobbies and careers. When you expand your intellectual horizons, your world literally becomes a bigger place: fuller, rounder, and more colorful!

Just for kicks, here are a few of the fascinations I have found in the world:

Quantum physics, experimental mathematics, early child development, symbology, mythology, cognitive psychology, the history of disease, telepathy and telekinesis, astronomy, sustainability and green development, ancient civilizations, geology, world religion, social paradigms such as the romantic period, the renaissance, and “the dark ages,” folklore, alternative and holistic healing, archeology, and neuroscience, and natural disasters...

What’s on your list?

Wellness Journalism: What do you think?

I once read (in a non-fiction story) that sheep can’t be allowed near water unsupervised--
they will walk right in, become waterlogged, and drown.

Figuratively speaking, this is the same fate that awaits a human being who does not think independently. Entire industries exist to tell you what to wear, what to eat, and what to do with your time…and before you know it, you’ve reached the end of the life-line. My friends, if you are not behind the wheel, somebody else will drive your car. You will be a puppet, a slave, a sheep. Do not waste the vast brain power that you possess!

Consider what is happening in the Texas school system, where those in control are re-writing text books toward a more conservative perspective, literally editing history to reflect the agenda of a political party. What is the consequence when generations of youngsters are taught what to think, rather than how to think? Many of the primary decision makers in our world act out of fear; if we hope to create a more enlightened society, we must be free-thinkers.

“The growth and development of our society no longer operates on the basis of obedience and conformity to dogma. It is based on individual thinking, scientific know-how, quick exchange of facts around feedback networks, high-tech ingenuity, and practical, front-line creativity. The society of the future no longer grudgingly tolerates a few open-minded innovators. The cybernetic society is totally dependent on a large pool of such people, communicating at light speed with each other across state lines and national boundaries.” -T. Leary

Thinking for yourself comes with a certain amount of responsibility—if you make a wrong turn, you can’t blame the other guy. Yet this same responsibility is also a wonderful opportunity for personal empowerment. Embrace your mentality.

When it comes to your own well-being, every Tom, Dick, Harry and Mary claim to know the absolute truth. Take this vitamin, do this exercise program, join this group. While there is much wisdom to be gleaned from the methodology of others, ultimately the formula you seek will be of your own making. Therefore, you must do your own thinking. Assess the mass of information presented to you on a daily basis with your own internal processor. What works for somebody else may or may not work for you, but what’s best for you, only you can discover.

Rockin' Resources!

UCSD is an institution of learning, however, in a ten-week quarter the classroom environment is not designed to meet your every academic need. An integral part of intellectual wellness involves utilizing the variety of resources on campus. Here are a few highlights:

Tutoring

The Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services, known as OASIS, is truly a haven. There is no reason to struggle through an essay in a foreign language or chapter of organic chemistry by yourself; a tutor will sit down with you and provide one-on-one support…for free. It is truly a beautiful thing. Besides assistance in science, math, language, and writing, Oasis provides transition programs for first-year and transfer students.

Libraries

The UCSD Libraries consist of: the Arts Library, the Mandeville Special Collections Library, the Science & Engineering Library, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Library (all housed in the Geisel Library building); the Biomedical Library; CLICS: The Center for Library and Instructional Computing Services; the Medical Center Library; the International Relations and Pacific Studies Library; and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library. What this means to you? A vast array of books, articles, journals, research, and references at your fingertips.

Advising

Take advantage of free advising throughout your academic career! Connect online with your college’s academic Virtual Advisor, or sit down in person with your college advisor to help optimize your quarterly course schedule, select or change your major, and make sure you complete all college GE requirements and advance toward graduation. In addition, your department advisor will help you with major or minor requirements, selecting courses, petitions, degree checks, and can refer you to faculty members for research and career advice. It’s incredible to have a team of people working to help you make the most of your time!

The most successful people in the world aren’t necessarily rich, good-looking, or even intelligent—they are resourceful. For anything you want to accomplish, someone or something can lend a hand, provide a stepping stone, or contribute information. Develop a healthy habit of utilizing resources to ensure a lifetime of abundance!

Wellness Journalism: Keep in Touch!

Keeping current with my immediate surroundings is a full-time job (what my daughter ate for lunch, when my term paper is due, how many clean pairs of socks I have). I rarely turn on the television or read the news. As a result, I did not know that an earthquake had devastated Haiti until three days later, when my teacher mentioned it in class. And Heinz Fischer is the Austrian president…not special ketchup.

Now it’s been well over a month since BP’s drilling rig exploded off the Louisiana coast, and the few rogue snapshots of greasy ducks I have seen don’t do the big picture any justice. I realize that it is time to get in the loop, which is to say, become actively aware of the circle of life (a.k.a. global affairs). So this morning, I google the gulf. What I discover is indeed devastating; in fact, at first I’m sorry to have looked. The environmental and economic implications of this disaster are blood-curdling, and efforts to curtail the leak have only made it worse. But in spite of my temptation to crawl back under a rock, the fact of the matter is that regardless of how self-absorbed we are in local living, global affairs have a direct impact on our daily existence.

It behooves an individual to know what is going on in the world, for several reasons:

#1. You live on the earth. What happens on earth, happens to you.

#2. When you don’t have a clue, you run the risk of looking stupid. (Trust me on this one.)

#3. You will make better informed decisions, from what you eat to how you spend your talent and treasure. Awareness is Empowerment!


We are alive in tumultuous times. Between earthquakes and oil spills, market crashes and political upheaval, it is absolutely critical to stay abreast of current events. While the heavily biased and controlled mainstream American media is better than nothing, I recommend news resources such as The Economist, Alternet, or The Independent.

Wellness Journalism: Making the Cut

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” -Henry Ford




It takes an entire lifetime to learn everything there is to know about one subject, and only if that subject is simple (cheese graters, rubber bands, horse-shoes). If you were to tackle a larger subject such as organic chemistry or cognitive development, even multiple lifetimes would barely scratch the surface. Then, consider how many interesting fields exist far beyond traditional academic subjects. It is truly mind-blowing. No matter who you are or where you come from, the capacity to learn something new is infinite.

Since all things exist in a continual state of evolution, your success literally depends on a life-long ability to grow and adapt. New laws are introduced that lead to the introduction of new policies. New ideas and approaches emerge. New problems arise and new solutions are sought. It may seem harsh, but in this ever-evolving social climate, your ability to “keep in touch” with the world will essentially define your effectiveness as a human being. It is critical you maintain a healthy appetite for knowledge! In fact, without an expanding mental waist-line, you run the risk of doing things the exact same way every day of your life—and completely wasting it.

Your mind is a muscle. Keep it strong with regular, vigorous exercise. Feed your intellectual curiosity, and explore the world at large. When something sparks your imagination, ruffles your feathers, or compels you to don your jauntiest thinking cap, dig in. Attend meetings, workshops, and conferences. Read books. Talk to people. You will never run out of surprises, delights, wonders, and joys. Then, as you grow older, you will still be able to remember your children’s names and birthdates along with your address and social security number.

Wellness Journalism: Take Your Time

Sometimes, when faced with loads of schoolwork, I find myself inexplicably drawn toward endeavors such as eating cereal, reading popular fiction, or staring off into space. This becomes especially prominent during the week before final exams when I’m sagging under the weight of my proverbial plate. There is so much to do, that somehow, the actual doing of it gets squeezed out... and even the smartest cookie in the bag will crumble on an exam if unprepared.



Time management is essentially mind management.



Your brain is like an operating system—if it’s running too many applications at once, it will be slow and groggy. Organization and proper task management are critical to your performance!



 Have a plan(ner), and use it. Whether you write your to-do’s on paper, plot them your computer scheduler, or just whip out your phone calendar, your work will be done more easily if you plan it out. That way, you don’t have to remember everything in your head. It’s like keeping your desktop clear.



 Likewise, rather than considering the cumulative weight of everything that needs doing, devote single-minded attention to the task at hand. This allows you to go about your business in a more relaxed and focused fashion. In addition, it saves time in the long-run; your efforts will yield greater satisfaction, and be of higher quality. Compare this approach to the whirlwind, multi-tasking style demonstrated by many “succesful” Americans. The quality of your life is determined by the attention you pay to it, and anything worth doing is worth doing well.



 Flex the power of priority. This makes single-minded devotion much easier to express. I tend to go in order of due date: do what’s due. Other people find it effective to start with the simplest tasks in order to clear mental space for the tackling of bigger cheese. Prioritization is key to planning, and prevents you from becoming overwhelmed or “crashing.”



 Every day, take yourself off the clock for awhile—a “time out.” If you’re always slave to a schedule you might come to resent it, greatly hindering efficiency and effectiveness. Use this self-appointed time off to do something fun, unusual, creative, or stimulating. This promotes balance and releases energy that would otherwise be bouncing around inside of you, making something like studying more difficult. You can also use this time for a nap

With responsible mind management, you will have time for your life.

For more management tips, click here.

Wellness Journalism: You, the Creation...

“Tell me,” says poet Mary Oliver, “what will you do with your one wild and precious life?”

Creativity is your stamp, your personal thumbprint, your special contribution. Whether you apply it musically, orally, mathematically, environmentally, linguistically, athletically, spiritually, or visually, you make the difference that nobody else can make.

What you do is secondary to how you do it. If you come from a place of originality and imagination, your work will show it. If you come from a place of bored monotone, you work will suffer...and so will you. Although you may live with a regular routine, you don’t have to do things the same way each day. You are endowed with creative capability and innovative inspiration. You can solve problems, make improvements, and share your unique flare. If you don’t, stagnant energy pools in the brain and festers.

No matter how stale the scenario, it is entirely within your means to circulate some fresh ideas. In fact, that which seems rigid is usually more flexible than you think (rigidity exists in your mind, and is then projected outward). When you go about a challenge, dreariness stems not from the task itself but from the mentality you bring to the table. Refresh yourself. Develop a new approach. You can also get your creative juices flowing by drawing your schedule instead of writing it, stirring your coffee backwards, or listening to music.

Take the case of Miles Davis. When he first came to New York in 1944, his goal was to work with Charlie Parker. When the opportunity came, however, he realized that he was out of his element; he was unable to match the blistering speed of his saxophone hero Parker or the rhythmic virtuosity of Dizzy Gillespie. But instead of being daunted by his talented peers, young Miles—resilient and resourceful—was determined to blaze his own trail. He looked within himself to find his own sound, and came up with a distinctive style. By cultivating his own gifts to their fullest, he developed a whole new form of jazz.

There is something that only you can do, a particular tune that only your unique voice can carry.
When you apply yourself creatively, you will: enjoy your time, be more productive, deliver higher-quality work, allow your passions to expand, and have a fulfilling life. Get to it.

Wellness Journalism: Will Work For Bliss

“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are -- if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.” –Joseph Campbell

Occupation: what you do with your time.

Recently, I had an encounter with a sales representative named Tom. When he finished telling me about the services his company had to offer, we got to chatting about jobs in general. He said to me, “It’s tough out there. You gotta make a living, pay bills, and work hard. When I was in college, I got my degree and got out. And I have been in sales ever since.”

It’s clear that Tom has a job in which he is using his strengths: self-motivated and outgoing, he is good at talking to people. In his line of work, however, success is measured by the number of units he sells. And I doubt that Tom is truly passionate about adhesive flooring.

Sadly, our society has pushed the philosophy that you find a job in order to make money. If you happen to like your job, that’s an added bonus. If you don’t like your job, well, suck it up—neither do the rest of us. This is so depressing. Making a living should not come at the expense of having a life.

Work for your bliss, not for your wallet. Otherwise, at the end of the day, you will be missing something that money can’t buy: time to do something that really matters to you. When you find a career that balances interests, values, skills and personal strengths, the result is worth much more than the sum of its parts (or paychecks). Bliss, the deep satisfaction and fulfillment that comes when you put yourself to your highest and best use, arises naturally. The key? Get your strengths working for you, then put yourself to work for a cause that means the world.

Keep in mind that your most valuable strengths aren’t taught in classrooms, and they are not dictated to you by your parents. They are inherent in your personality and cultivated through real life experience and interaction. Examples of these “signature strengths” are curiousity, optimism, persistence, humor, kindess, and bravery. Every environment presents you with opportunities for self-cultivation. No matter where you are or what you are doing, identify your strong points and begin to exercise them more consciously in your life. From grunt work to glory, developing your strengths will keep you moving toward meaningful occupation—even when you feel stuck. And most importantly, spend time with exploring your hobbies, interests, and passions. They hold clues to your life's work.

The Career Services Center offers two free self-assessment tools that can help you gain a better understanding of your inherent capabilities. FOCUS is a self-paced, online career and education planning tool which enables you to assess your aptitudes and intrigues, and explore career fields and areas of study that are most compatible with your assessment results. TypeFocus assesses your personality type and offers insight into career choices that best fit your personality. You can make an appointment with a career advisor to review your results.

Do what is you, love what you do!

Setting Sail? Consider an Intern-ship!

An Intern-ship can carry you to new and wonderful places!

As a student you are getting plenty of education; however, you may wonder how you are going to have any experience under your belt by the time you graduate and begin looking for work. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, a staggering 95% of employers say that experience is a factor in hiring decisions! What’s the best (and sometimes only) way to gain experience with no prior experience? Internships.

"Not only does participation in an internship make the student a more attractive candidate," says NACE Executive Director Marilyn Macke, "but it can also be an avenue to a job." Surveys show that hiring from the intern program is growing. Matthew Zinman of the Internship Institute reports that IBM hires up to 2,000 interns annually and converts more than half of them to full-time hires. Recruiting guru Dr. John Sullivan writes on the Electronic Recruiting Exchange that "the most effective sources I have worked with have consistently found that quality internship programs produce the highest quality candidates, the most productive hires, and the hires with the highest retention rates."

Some internships pay you wages, and others do not—but they are all worth it. With an internship on your resume, not only are you more attractive to hiring managers down the line, you are more valuable. Even in 2005, NACE reported that employers who hired entry-level candidates with internship/co-op experience paid them 6.5% more than those without experience. In addition, you could earn college credit toward your degree!

An internship is a great way to get an inside glimpse of a company, an industry, and a particular occupation, while building your network. In addition, it can help you discover if the career you are considering is the right fit for your foot, before you walk off the graduation stage. You may discover gaps between your classroom learning and what you need to know in the real world, and be better prepared (and more confident) when you arrive. Finally, you'll sharpen your personal tool-set by interacting with people on a professional level, something no classroom can offer!

Visit the Academic Internship Program for more information.