14 Signs Your Dog Loves You: How Do Dogs Show You Love? Canines thrive on human companionship and love, so chances are, your pup would hold your hand if he could. Here, nine signs your pup loves you and is super connected.
5 science-backed habits that will actually make you happier
Brunch with a View Gala to Support Mental Health, Oct 19th at Viewpoint Brewing in Del Mar
The Zen Den Experience at Cause SD Oct 23, 2024: From Purpose to Action
“Adventure is not outside man; it is within. ”― George Eliot
The Case for Explorers’ Day: This year, I won’t be celebrating Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day. More than 530 years after Christopher Columbus led an expedition across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World, many Americans still see the navigator as a symbol of their country’s origins. Others see him as a progenitor of colonialism, enslavement, and genocide. So, the day that honors him, the second Monday of October, is unusually polarizing among federal holidays.
While Astronauts Probe Outer Space, Psycho-Nauts Probe Inner Space
What we can do to help ourselves and others navigate the journey towards joy and happiness…
The Pleasure Principle:
Moons ago, Dr. Paul Pearsall, elegantly blending neuropsychology and the kahuna traditions, inviting us to go beyond the conventional questions to determine our health and wellbeing we hear in our average of “7 minute annual doctor visits” – from gleaning familial history, to our diet and what we ate, to exercise and how much and how often, to our stress level and how stressed we felt, to asking if we were happy!
Many with genetic predispositions, lousy diets, limited exercise, and high levels of stress, seemed to offset these “preconditions” because they loved what they were doing and self-reported as happy.
The Pleasure Principal matters!
BTW, this is not an excuse to eat poorly or be coach potatoes, but speaks to the power of pleasure in our lives…
You deserve Joy!
A New Model for Assessing Mental Health:
Recent frameworks, rather that simply focus on symptomology and severity of symptoms, adds an additional dimension to the consideration set on the “WHY” axis; namely flourishing or languishing.
Some of us have tons of symptoms but are seemingly flourishing. Others are asymptomatic but seem to be languishing.
DSM-5 “labeling” is less about helping us, and more about managing cost (not managing care) in a system that cares more about money management than real people issues, so explore both symptoms and the languishing/flourishing continuum for your own wellbeing!
An Updated Reframing of Stress and Addressing It:
Our old model for dealing with stress, asked limiting questions such as “how do I cope”? The new model posits higher order questions and reframing like when demands exceed resources, we are stressed, so it is up to us to resource ourselves, rather than hunker down, bite the bullet and pretend nothing is happening…
If you just need some modest tweaks to your current state, the next link will help you resituate.
If things are a bit more severe than that, for you or loved ones, please consider professional support like Fundamental Health with “Brunch with a View” happening locally on October 19th (read on)
5 science-backed habits that will actually make you happier: They’re all easy, don’t worry.
The Brunch with a View Gala to Support Mental Health, Oct 19th at Viewpoint Brewing in Del Mar:
Wyatt Hinshaw, Founder & CEO of Fundamental Health, is joined by the mother (Cate) of Fundamental Health’s first client, to chat about the mission of the organization and how Fundamental Health connected Cate’s son with a health provider that changed the son’s life. Hinshaw and Cate discuss Fundamental Health’s impact since its December 2022 inception, along with the October 19, 2024 “Brunch with a View Gala” that will be held at the Viewpoint Brewing Company, with me co-hosting this podcast interview.
Use the Code: Causeconf30off and get 30% off the ticket price and connect with kindred spirits to do purposeful work both for yourself and at the systems level.
You can Tune up and Tune in at the Mission Fed Zen Den with massage stations, yoga, singing bowls, breath breaks and 13 practitioners offering you personalized self-care all day!
My first experience with volunteerism, at about 11 years old was feeding formula to undernourished kids in a slum in Bombay, now Mumbai, which less than a mile from where we lived, housed nearly a million people in a couple of square miles!
My peers thought I was nuts, but it shaped my world view and sparked a profound appreciation for how different life can be based on luck of the genetic draw, circumstances, and how each of us can do our part to make life a little better for those around us.
Decades later, I would never have imagined, that in one of the most prosperous nations on earth, kids in San Diego were going home hungry over the weekend.
I thought this was a developing world problem not a firstworld problem, but alas, this is a reality for way too many San Diegan kids and their families.
Indulge me in watching this 5-minute video and if you feel inspired, donate even $1 to help address food insufficiency in our community.
Thanks for your open heart, generous soul, and consideration!
But for the grace of God and winning the genetic lottery go I and perhaps you too…
The surprising truth about loneliness in America American men were said to be in a “friendship recession,” with a survey finding the number of men without any close friends increased fivefold since 1990.
Young people today are stressed, depressed and reshaping the happiness curve Young adults — ages 18 to 25 — report being unhappier now than people in their 40s and 50s. Here are some potential explanations and solutions.
Buy Experiences instead of Possessions to Build Social Connection Shared experiences, more than material things, bring people together Mind & Brain The human being is a “social animal,” as Aristotle suggested. We have a fundamental need to belong. Yet we are living in a time when the U.S. Surgeon General has warned about an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. A lack of social connection can have negative consequences for both our mental and physical health. How, then, might we encourage the feelings of connectedness that are so integral to our well-being?
Neuroscience Says Doing This For Just 1 Hour a Week Can Make Your Brain 5 Years Younger Research shows keeping your brain sharp as you age is easier than you probably imagine.
6 Expert-Endorsed Techniques to Help You Get to Sleep Fast (and Stay Asleep!) Here are some real tactics you can use next time you’re having trouble falling asleep
Neuroscience Says This Is the Easiest Way to Boost Your Mood and Cut Your Risk of Depression This low-effort, completely free intervention to improve your mental health is backed by new Harvard research.
Scientists Picked Apart the Human Brain’s Trash Disposal—and Found Something Incredible This secret mechanism could lead to major neurological advancements.
Crying during the Olympics? You’re not alone. What mental health experts say about fans getting emotional. Turns out, being a fan is actually good for you.
“The champion wins first, then walks into the arena.
Everybody else walks into the arena and then tries to figure out what to do.”
— Jim Fannin
Stuck in a rut? How to appreciate your life again, according to science: After a while, even the most exciting relationships, jobs and environments lose their spark. But cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot says it’s possible to fall back in love with life’s small joys.
The power of proprioception: how to improve your ‘sixth sense’ – and become healthier and happier It is our physical sense of where we are in space and is essential to our quality of life as we age. Here are simple, everyday ways to test and train it.
This Is the #1 Best Sleep Position for Preventing Cognitive Decline, According to Neurologists It’s no secret that sleep is important for cognitive health—but the way you sleep matters too.
The Best Breathing Techniques For Anxiety, According to Experts When you’re in the throes of anxiety, it can feel like you’re trapped inside your own mind. You might experience symptoms like racing thoughts, nausea, restlessness, or have trouble grounding yourself in the present moment. If you feel like your anxiety is sending you into a spiral, one of the most …
Summer Appeal: Can YOU Help Support Soul Food Friday?
If you would like to help defray my out-of-pocket costs for Mailchimp email services, and WordPress hosting, which is a little over $1,000 per year, I would really appreciate the “pay what you can afford” support for this one-person purpose project. I will continue to curate content and publish what matters most on a weekly basis as I have done for the last 13+ years. Thanks in advance for your consideration as no amount is too small, plus it lets me know this investment of time and energy does make a difference.
He wore a toga and spoke Latin. This ancient philosopher can help you survive the anxiety of the 2024 election: If you’re agonizing over what might happen in this November’s presidential election, consider the wisdom of ancient Stoic philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, who offer three pieces of advice that still are relevant today.
Billions of people just felt the deadly intensity of climate-fueled heat waves: Scorching heat across five continents set 1,400 records this week and showed how human-caused global warming has made catastrophic temperatures commonplace.
Researchers make important discovery that could reduce ER visits by over 60%: ‘The improvements that can be made are really meaningful’: “We need to tie those investments to public health outcomes.” We all know how relieving a good shade tree can be on a 100-degree day. But what if trees could dramatically reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths in our world’s hottest cities? Researchers recently published findings in the International Journal of Biometeorology about how increased tree cover and reflective surfaces could reduce emergency room visits in Los Angeles. The study is critical because rising temperatures impact human health.
Researchers develop method of desalination that could save millions of lives: ‘A paradigm shift is essential to sustain human life’: On a large scale, desalination is a promising method to provide abundant fresh water. Australian researchers have announced a breakthrough in desalination science that has the potential to provide millions of people with clean water. The experts from the Australian National University are perfecting an alternative to creating fresh water from seawater that’s more cost-efficient and uses less energy than reverse osmosis and other common methods.
Polar Bear Tries To Get Attention From Fishing Ship. When Crew Notices, They Lower A Rescue Vessel: The small village of Kaktovik, Alaska, receives a grand arrival of polar bears every summer. Trained Inuit guides take tour groups on a whimsical boat ride to photograph these bears up close and personal. With a life on the line, both visitors and locals alike scrambled to save a polar bear.
There Are 5 ‘Stress Languages.’ Here’s How To Figure Out Yours. You’ve heard of love languages, but what about these? Experts break down each type and what they say about how you handle stress.
In the spirit of the platinum rule v. the golden rule, where the Golden Rule says, “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you”, the Platinum Rule suggests: “Do unto others, as others would have done unto themselves.
Homeless Man Rushes Into A Burning Animal Shelter And Saves Every Animal, Here’s The Story After a kitchen fire started at the W-Underdogs Shelter in Atlanta, Georgia, Keith didn’t hesitate. He ran into the building with hopes of saving as many animals as he could. What he wound up doing makes him nothing short of a hero.
Meet California’s “Toy Man,” a humanitarian who’s brought joy to thousands of kids His donations over the years have been funded entirely by his personal savings, including money he invested from his earnings in the stock market.
Tai Chi Beat Moderate Exercise at Lowering Blood Pressure in Study: A year after the study began, those who performed tai chi saw greater reduction in their blood pressure than those who followed an aerobic exercise program.
I completed a 7-day posture challenge and honestly. I’m shocked at what it’s taught me about my body: Plus, some tips on how to permanently improve your posture.
Inspiration from the 20th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium at USD:
Last week I had the privilege and opportunity to help shape and participate in the 20th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium at USD.
The In the Spirit of Leadership session in the afternoon, included a 10-minute nonstop writing exercise, along with a mindfulness practice, and some affirmations.
While I love writing and word play, this was new territory for me, and the writing exercise unleashed another creative dimension of my inner self, that came out unedited, in one flow experience, with pen to paper for the duration, until we were told to stop and come back inside.
Thanks to Causmosis, Dr. G and Dr. Y for an amazing conference and unleashing a different aspect of my authentic self!
Here goes:
Causmosis Made Me Do It
Top of mind, this is an experiment in open cognitive/emotional expression,
Where I go, I do not know- just flow baby flow.
Towards the abyss, I cannot miss,
The arrow hits the target the eye cannot see,
The guru within comes out in me,
I am emerging, growing, nearly free,
Free to be fully me!
I stand in the hallowed halls of grace,
I cradle my young self by the face,
Mistakes are forgiven trace by trace,
The irony, the tyranny are dissolved in the synchrony…
Reaching out on bended knee,
Bruises do not tattoos be,
I am not blind, I surely see,
Into thee I see.
Into thee I see.
Is this my very first spoken word?
Birthed of creativity in the theater of the absurd,
Expressed from sorrow to be heard,
Why did I wait to flip the bird- to doubt, to fear, to lack of faith?
Affirmations simply cannot wait!
It’s time to walk, how straight the gait,
I’m living freely for heaven’s sake!
In symphony with those around,
I hear birds sing in the background,
I feel my feet right on the ground,
My spirit soars its heaven bound.
Causmosis sits to my left,
She wields her pen with deft and depth,
Inspiring artists want to know,
What performance plays in the “inside” show?
And so, I write and write and write,
My grip is failing- pressure tight,
Is this from gripping this little pen,
Or fear of failing littler men?
Who can say?
What do I know?
It’s time to end,
This delightful show.
WORD!
Great Things Are Happening EVERY Day, but you don’t Hear About Them:
These stories don’t bleed, and so they don’t lead but here is some positive news to offset all the bad stuff that saturates our media, day in and day out.
+ 2023 Mind Bending Revelations in the Brain Sciences
4 simple daily health resolutions that require minimal time: Here are four simple health resolutions that require limited daily effort while delivering far-reaching health benefits — and some immediate gratification.
9 Mental-Health Resolutions for 2024, According to Therapists: Whether you feel reborn—or even just a little bit reset—at the start of a new year, consider making your mental health a priority in 2024. Why? “Because that’s the gateway to everything else,” says Guy Winch, a clinical psychologist, author of Emotional First Aid, and co-host of the Dear Therapists podcast. “It’s the linchpin that allows you to succeed or to fail.”
2023’s Mind-Bending Revelations in the Brain Sciences: This year was full of roiling debate and speculation about the prospect of machines with superhuman capabilities that might, sooner than expected, leave the human brain in the dust. A growing public awareness of ChatGPT and other so-called large language models (LLMs) dramatically expanded public awareness of artificial intelligence. In tandem, it raised the question of whether the human brain can keep up with the relentless pace of AI advances.
Happy Soul Food Friday! 