Click here to view the embedded video.

This post is formidable for a number of reasons – the message of “choice” – in “choosing” our attitude is a reinforcement of key elements in my work and has been for years.  We do control our attitude even if it is just a conscious decision to emphasize our view of one thing in our visual field as opposed to another.  What do we look at?  How do we pick that particular object?  Why is it we are attracted to it?  Sometimes its the things we hate that draw our attention.  Sometimes its the things we love.  Is it improbable that while experiencing “the line at the grocery store” and the “characters in it” – we might just decide to review a video of love and peace and human kindness in our own mind?

And so we’re back to CHOICE.

Unless we can not choose.  I often speak to the differences between cognitive distortions in our thinking – and – the seriousness of delusional thinking.  Our world view (being an only child of an orthodox Jew in NYC vs the 8th born of 9 on a farm in Indiana) tends to impact the kinds of distortions in our thinking we will experience.  Growing up in the country we never locked our door.  It was a non-factor.  No one had ever stolen from us, and I remember one time we found a “thank you note” on our kitchen table from our neighbor Betty Lou who had borrowed some sugar.  My bride was the 3rd born to a NYC cop raised in Brooklyn.  She wanted 3 deadbolts on our new front door – as we had purchased a home in the country outside of Boulder.  It made no sense to me.  Welcome to distorted thinking.

So, how do you solve differences like this?  In our case, we did research.  Enter the Boulder County Sheriff’s officer who came to our house at our request to show us crime statistics in the neighborhood.  And – he gave us a recommendation on a simple dead-bolt door lock which we actually use to this day.  No more cognitive distortion impacting our sense of security and a simple solution to what could have been an ongoing “discussion.”

But what about delusional thinking.  Well – this is what happens when logic, counseling, and caring does not have enough of an impact to alter the all-consuming thoughts-visions-internal dialogue- and – constant barage of negative thinking that overwhelms us.  Enter the neurological-biological-endocrinological world of depression.  This is where medications are important and a psychiatrist worth their salt is a tremendous assett.

You see David Foster Wallace was a brilliant mind and a Pulitzer nominated author who battled depression for his entire life, and ultimately succumbed to it when he committed suicide in 2008.  His loss at 46 years of age left a huge void even though I had not heard of him until this morning.  May he rest in peace.  And may those afflicted with chronic Depression receive the help they need to keep their mindset – their default setting – focused on their choices of embracing life, beauty, art, compassion, love and the sharing of human kindness.  To truly embrace these will keep us alive.  Really alive.

There is a village in Cateura, Paraguay that is so backward and disadvantaged …. that it provides a strikingly beautiful role model for us in”developed” nations.  I won’t provide any more of a discussion on this matter, but please know that it personifies the “choices” each and every one of us have the opportunity to make as the interpreter of our own experience.  I would go so far as to suggest that this model goes beyond our responsibility to interpret “our life circumstances” – but rather be the ARCHITECT of our LIFE.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What is music if not the spiritual embodiment of what we find meaningful and purposeful in the universe?

Although the research in and of itself is compelling, Cuddy’s personal experience makes it convincing with a story that illustrates why “Faking it until you BECOME it” carries a whole new meaning for each and every one of us.  Cuddy’s TED TV Talk recorded earlier this month is well worth the time spent integrating the information and application for hundreds of situations we are likely to experience throughout our professional and personal lives.

Check it out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

These findings are important for anyone pursuing personal goals and wants to experience a more powerful and competency-based existence.  There is no substitute for actual preparation, but for many even when they prepare they feel their performance was less than what it could have been.  This information suggests that there is clear evidence that assuming a “powerful posture for two minutes” BEFORE any challenge we’ve been preparing for puts our minds and bodies into an optimal state for performance.  The ‘behavioral’ shift engaged in a power position helps us focus and effectively reduce the stress hormones normally triggered in such a situation.  It makes sense for us to “plan” a visit to the bathroom mirror right before that tough job interview, a presentation in an important class, a competition you’ve been training for.  Give that 2 minute POWER POSTURE a try, and you will feel better and perform your best.

Amy Cuddy is an Associate Professor at the Harvard Business School.

Melting of the Polar Ice Cap – Indisputable Evidence

I’ve been amazed at the sheer avoidance, if not ignorance, being perpetrated by our news organizations – and – our “Politicians” running for office.  They’re being asked about “jobs”, alignment of resources to rebuild our infrastructure, and all manner of perceived concerns to our nation’s welfare.  With trillions of dollars spent to fight conflicts all over the world, our biggest enemy resides right here, within us and amongst us.  When politicians running for office invoke spiritual beliefs to combat scientific fact – we have a serious problem.  Everything being debated today amounts to trivialities – when the single most challenging issue facing PLANET EARTH isn’t even being DISCUSSED.  Not only do our representatives from either party NOT HAVE A PLAN to address this crisis – NO ONE ELSE IS  EVEN ASKING ABOUT IT.

Almost always, I tend to present videos that are light-hearted, interesting, feature some hope or positive psychological development in how people are addressing challenges in our world.  But, this one isn’t funny and it will require the kind of thinking and teamwork (ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE) than that afforded the “Mission to Mars” featured in my last video presentation.

When I look at the dearth of discussion on this matter, and note the deterioration of climate conditions that favor a healthy planet, I become concerned and would like to stimulate a popular movement focused on protecting our environment and an investment in a sustainable future.  That we have politicians, and seemingly intelligent people who favor the bashing of science, and the adoption of “Creationists’ Thinking” – I become nervous.  As John F. Kennedy once qouted, ““No matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as the truth.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

  But I think Walter Cronkite said it best, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here, Liberty Winsor Clive and Liberty Smith were out for a late afternoon canoe ride and fortunately remembered to bring their video camera. What they saw was a wonderful murmuration display, caught in the short video.  Watch the variation of color and intensity of the patterns that the birds make in proximity to one other. And take a look at the girl in the bow of the canoe watching the aerial display. Enjoy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When you consider the amazing physics and creative artistry of execution, and you add to that knowledge of how much time and preparation went into the Flashmob Wedding in Moscow posted up in my last video, one can only wonder what might be possible if the entire human race could create and execute “ANYTHING” with this level of coordination.  Surely, there must be some swarming intelligence in humans of a positive nature.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Achor is the author of The Happiness Advantage and recently was featured in the cover story of the Harvard Business Review and later paraphrased in the HBR blog article “The Value of Happiness.”  This approach and key methods for turning our focus into a productively happy one does require discipline and attention which Achor believes can be done in as few as 2 minutes per day for one full month.  His research suggests that each individual, coach or athlete can practice the same method and receive huge benefits merely by shifting our attention to these exercises:

• Write down three new things you are grateful for each day;
• Write for 2 minutes a day describing one positive experience you had over the past 24 hours;
• Exercise for 10 minutes a day;
• Meditate for 2 minutes, focusing on your breath going in and out;
• Write one, quick email first thing in the morning thanking or praising a member on your team.

As simple as these suggestions are (and for athletes the exercise piece is already taken into account – but not all coaches do this) the active engagement of these activities everyday for a full month the transition will be significant.  Want to give it a try?

Heart Disease as a Water Quality Issue

Yes.  Heart disease clearly involves problems with our cardiovascular system and heart disease does involve atherosclerosis, plaque building up within our arteries, unstable clotting factors and years of poor choices (what we eat, how much we exercise, emotional outbursts, etc).  Freedman’s message implores us to make conscious choices with our emotions – first to know ourselves, know what we may be projecting, and to make a considered decision in each “now” moment to revise and modify our emotional messages.  We have six seconds to catch ourselves, reassess and decide differently.  More on this later, but for now – check this out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

To learn more about Freedman and the Six Seconds organization visit: www.6seconds.org.  The organization features programs for teachers, professionals, business organizations, leadership training with a broad array of assessment tools designed to help one understand their emotions better, recognize the importance of authenticity and how those emotions are projected amongst those we engage with, and finally, “how” to make a conscious choice as to what kind of emotional messages we aim to offer up – every six seconds.  Although the organization is a 501(c)3 it’s programs are not inexpensive.  In addition, they offer a large number of well-thought-out certification programs.  Check it out: 6Seconds.org.

Health & Sport Performance Associates

Alamo Placita Building

825 E. Speer Blvd – Suite 205

Denver, Colorado 80218

Located in the perfect Central Location – Right next door to the gorgeous gardens of Denver’s Alamo Placita Park and across the river from Hungarian Freedom Park in Denver’s loveliest neighborhood.

The office includes free parking, quick access from north or south.  The building is located between Clarkson and Emerson, Speer and 3rd Avenue and rests on the North Side of Cherry Creek easily accessible to the Cherry Creek Bike Path.

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