How do you think?

Ever paid attention to the way you think? Thinking is a skill that many of us do not take the time to develop well. There are many styles of thinking and all are important. I want to bring your attention to some ways of thinking in this blog and hope that you will be able to identify which of these styles of thinking best represents you.

Big picture
thinking allows us to think about our goals and devise actions that will lead us to this goal. It may not include the small steps nor analyze the process of reaching the goal but it will focus on the key aspects to reaching the goals. Critical thinking allows us to think weigh the evidence presented and identify what’s missing and what new information we need to gather or consider toward a deeper learning or knowing. Focused thinking is more detailed or process oriented and will identify a specific target for our thoughts and meditation. It can be summed up as keeping our mind anchored on the specific details. Analytical thinking allows us to analyze the information present to better understand what it means.

All thinking styles require us to start with an intention. This is much the same as working with a Coach. In coaching, the coach becomes a thinking partner who aligns with you to think outside the box. Your coach becomes a sounding board who helps you better understand your thoughts and bring clarity to your mind. Thinking is often accelerated when shared, this is why working with a coach allows you to reach your goals three to six times faster than on your own.

I love to think! I am passionate about the thought process and I’m always eager to explore my thoughts and channel them into action. Being a Coach myself I usually work with other Coaches to help me develop my own thoughts and design actions that will allow them to materialize.

What about you, what thoughts do you need to clarify? Is it time to align with a thinking partner? Don’t let your powerful thoughts go to waste find a roadmap to channel them for your excellence.

To your wellness,

Joyce

Self-Care

March is national health month, so I want to focus your attention on your self-care practice. Most people believe that self-care consists of a shower, brushing your teeth and good toileting. I want to push the envelope for those folks today. Self-care consists of any and all practice that improves your life wellness. This includes something you do to relieve stress either to read a good book, exercise, nutrition, meditation and other mindfulness practices.

To practice self-care is to realize the importance of caring for the whole you. It requires you to invest in your own wellness but to do this you must be convinced that you are worth it. Often people refrain from practicing self-care because of some false notion that they need to care for everyone else first then and only if they are able should they care for self. These individuals end up running out of time or are too exhausted to care for themselves. This is not supposed to be, you need to remember that those you care for depend on you and need you to remain strong and able to care for them as long as they are in need. What good would you be to them when you break down, get sick or have no energy to hold your head up?

Self-care is your insurance to wellness and longevity. To not practice self-care is to flirt with your own break down or demise. Our very stressful lives are having an impact on our physical health. We need to practice total self-care to recoup and withstand work and life demands and the stresses they add to our lives. Stress is a detractor of human wellness, so everything you can do to alleviate stress is a welcome relief to your cells and overall biology. Take some steps to relieve the stress on your health today, The Biology of Beliefs by Bruce Patton is a great book to read.

Joyce,

To Your Wellness

P.S. Send me some additional self-care practices you follow, so we can share with readers.

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Joyce Odidison is a Conflict Analyst, Strategist and Workplace Wellness Coach and creator of the Wellness Improvement System (WIS) programs including the Wellness Assessment and the Workplace Wellness Assistance program. She is also Director of the only ICF approved training program for Coaches and Wellness Facilitators in Manitoba. Contact Joyce to arrange a wellness assessment for yourself or your workplace today.