Archive for August, 2011

Guest Blog: Turn Down the “Me”

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Carol Cummings, BSN, RN, CHWC, CWP Director of Optimum Life Development Brookdale Senior Living

The following guest post is complements of Carol Cummings, BSN, RN, CHWC, CWP Director of Optimum Life Development at Brookdale Senior Living. We appreciate her insight and contribution to improving the lives of caregivers.  Here is a little wisdom about becoming more aware of ourselves and our relationships.

Some interesting research has come about because of our ability to image the brain. One such study involves looking at the effect of spirituality on the brain. According to researcher Brick Johnstone of Missouri University,

an area in the right parietal lobe known as the “me definer” is less operative in spiritual people. This area of the brain is responsible for awareness of “me” in social context and also for self-criticism. Having this area turned down through implementing spiritual practices can result in less self focus. According to the researchers, this more selfless state may be responsible for a great deal of the benefit experienced by those who engage in spiritual practices and translate to a more peaceful state.

So, what do they mean by spiritual practices? Should you go to church or temple more often? The practices looked at in the study had more to do with daily sessions of meditation, prayer and other quieting ways of focusing the mind. Any activity that causes one to “lose” oneself can have benefit. Below are some suggestions for things to try.

•    Appreciation of art or nature-this can quiet the “me” definer and reduce stress. Find something that causes you to feel a high degree of joy. I have a garden with a water feature that is an amazing sanctuary-I spend every possible minute there in the summer.
•    Repetitive activity such as knitting, walking, gardening-anything that you enjoy, can have benefits similar to meditation.
•    Tai Chi and Yoga are often cited as examples of spiritual practices because of their ability to focus the mind and rework our thoughts.
•    Music can bring great joy and comfort. Find a kind of music that you enjoy and listen often. A musical friend recently told me that music is its own language-allow it to speak to your soul.
•    The greatest silencing of the “me center” will occur with deep states of mediation and prayer. There are many great resources for these practices. When you get good at mediation, you can bring about a state of relaxation very quickly.

Spiritual outlooks have long been associated with better states of wellness and health. Other common spiritual attitudes shown to have benefit include gratitude, forgiveness and giving.  We could all benefit from turning down the “me” a little.

Be Well on Purpose

You can read more of Carol’s articles at: http://www.brookdaleliving.com/blog.aspx

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Guest Blog: Be Well On Purpose

Monday, August 1st, 2011

At Brookdale, through our Optimum Life program we have a wellness theme every year that relates to one of the six dimensions of wellness. For those of you who don’t know, the six dimensions are: Physical, Emotional, Purposeful, Social, Spiritual and Intellectual. This year our theme relates to the purposeful dimension and is titled Be Well on Purpose.

Carol Cummings, BSN, RN, CHWC, CWP Director of Optimum Life Development Brookdale Senior Living

I believe that all of us want to make a difference and feel that our lives have purpose and meaning. Research in the field of positive psychology tells us that the pursuit of happiness will bring more lasting fulfillment if we look for that which brings meaning and purpose rather than fleeting pleasure. The former may not bring immediate happiness but will in the long run lead to a greater sense of what Aristotle called “eudaimonia” which is achieved by fulfilling our potential.

I attended the memorial service of a virtual stranger last week. I knew some members of her family, but had never met her. Through the service I learned some things about her. This woman had been in a wheelchair for most of the past 7 years. But she still managed to touch many lives through her compassionate listening and offering of wise counsel. She had made friends throughout the world by editing the books of aspiring authors-using her skills as a retired English teacher. Her family knew her as a wonderful mother, wife and grandmother. She was an artist, reader, teacher.

During this service I found myself wondering what people would be saying about me if it were my memorial. I remembered that was an exercise at a seminar I attended years ago. When trying to define your purpose-think about how you want to be remembered.

What do you want people to be saying about you?

Through researching and promoting purposeful wellness this year I have had a few insights that I would like to share with you:

• You have inherent purpose-you will most likely never know all of the ways you have touched others with the things you say and do.

• A few people will impact the world in a way that many will know about. Most of us will not-and that is ok. Your life matters and you will impact the people you are meant to if you live with purpose.

• Purpose is more about who you are than what you “do”. Make a decision to be a certain kind of person and the tasks associated with that will take care of themselves. As Mother Teresa said, “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

• Giving to others is one of the fastest ways to find happiness.

• It is never too late to start looking for, defining or redefining and living out your purpose.

• People who have a sense of purpose live longer and have better health.

The Positive Psychology department at the University of Pennsylvania has a web site that contains multiple questionnaires that you can take to help you on this journey. The website is: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

Be Well On Purpose

You can read more of Carol’s articles at: http://www.brookdaleliving.com/blog.aspx

 

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