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Why: Yoga is a simple practice that allows self connection.
Most entrepreneurs feel their brain is always going full speed ahead, and I am no exception. However, unlike most people I was diagnosed as a young child with SPD, Sensory Processing Disorder also known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction. This affects less than 5% of the population and is most commonly observed in children who are gifted, those with ADHD and those with Autism. Bottomline, for me to "turn off" the thinking part of my brain is very challenging. BUT it can be done and that is where Yoga before bed comes in. As wonderfully created human beings with multi-faceted dimensions, a yoga practice enables everyone at their own pace to explore different dimensions. Although there are many dimensions, the 3 dimensions I want to focus on are: 1. Physical 2. Mental 3. Spiritual Our bodies are physical marvels and a yoga practice gives your physical body a chance to rebalance. When I stretch my body, it signals any tightness or soreness. This is an indicator that tells me something was out of balance that day. Maybe I was sitting too long, or maybe I was leaning more to one side. Regardless it allows me to observe the imbalance and make a mental note, which leads us to the second dimension. It is at this point, that I am also letting my mind wind down. I achieve this by focusing on my breath, and taking notes!...What?...Yes, you read that correctly: taking notes. This was a game changer for me to form as part of this habit. I keep a notepad within reach and any thought, idea, solution or question that comes up, I jot it down. I often end my note taking session with a prayer for someone in need, or a reminder to send a complimentary message to a friend, or journal a gratitude. This is where the mental cleansing occurs. I stretch until there is mental silence which leads us to the spiritual dimension... When the body is relaxed and the mind is calm, your spirit is at peace. Sometimes answers and solutions will "appear" in this theta state. This is your spirit's dimension expressing itself, and that is my signal for bedtime. Whether or not you have tried yoga before, I encourage you to make an effort to include yoga, or a form of it into your daily routine. There are many wonderful benefits to yoga and if you were to only experience one benefit I promise it will be worth it. Why: The word can't is rarely used accurately. I would estimate that most of the time people improperly use the word "can't" in their communication. For example, has your best friend ever asked you to catch a movie that night and you replied "I can't go."? The truth is you CAN go to the movie, but you are choosing not too. But by using the word "can't" you are removing all the power of your choice. Without the power of choice, your decision making ability appears weak on a subconscious level to your friend. This "catching a movie" scenario may only have minimal stakes, but in business when dealing with clients, contracts, services, products or experiences, the stakes are often higher because your professional reputation and brand is on the line. Let's use another example with higher stakes; we'll use the question, "Will you be able to reduce your price?" Because business is fluid and circumstances are always changing, this is a question that I don't think is asked enough, but when it is, I frequently hear or overhear the answer, "I can't". The answer "I can't" is a powerless excuse. Both the seller and the buyer know it's possible to reduce the price, but now the seller sounds powerless. Let's look at some alternative empowering responses the seller could use in the following examples. Buyer: "Will you be able to reduce your price?" Seller: "No, I won't be able to." This response tells the listener, you can, but you are choosing not to. The buyer may not appreciate the answer, but the buyer will recognize and respect that you have the decision making ability. It may or may not be warranted to share the sellers reasons why they "won't be able to", however, this is a case by case basis. Let's look at another example: Buyer: "Will you be able to reduce your price?" Seller: "It's possible and this is how." This response shows that the seller is open minded, creative and solution oriented. I would encourage you to pay more attention to the language you use and replace "I can't" with powerful phrases based on truth. It may be difficult in the beginning, but overtime you will become more aware of the words you use and the power, or lack of power, behind them. Elevator Pitch: If you want to improve how people perceive their experience with you, your organization and your business, then contact me for a custom user experience (UX) audit followed with one-on-one consulting. As an entrepreneur who specializes in the details, my one-on-one consulting is designed to provide clients with a straightforward guide of customized action items to achieve success. With a satisfaction guarantee, why wait? (Additionally, 501(c)3 organizations may be eligible for services pro bono, please inquire.) Today is the best time to begin improving how the world interprets you, your organization and your business. Please email [email protected] for all inquiries.
1 Comment
We live in a world where you are “against us if you are not for us”, and opposing views are met with such disdain that many people don’t take the time to look at the facts. It is convenient for today’s exhausted generation to base their position on an attention grabbing headline, instead of taking time to review the situation, which in some cases, may cause personal discomfort.
Today’s media using technology, specifically Social Media, has created an environment where messages, true or false, speed through the world so quickly, that by the time the truth comes out, people have already built a wall around an "opinion" which has been fueled with such emotion, that it has become a belief. True or false. It is now widely accepted as truth. It has become a psychological foundation or illusionary structure that has weaved itself into the fabric of our lives. We have become a society of people that make decisions based on information that is provided to us via subliminal emotional hooks, all done with headline grabbing titles. We are a hypersensitive society, due to diversity in many forms, which has created a healthy concept of allowing everyone their preferred lifestyle, be it religion, sexuality, etc. Everyone has a need to be and feel accepted. However, while I value and accept the individual who is addicted to gambling, I do not have to support their behavior. Likewise, I highly value and accept the LGBTQ individual and their community, but I do not support their lifestyle or trending agendas. Sadly, one of my long term friendships has ended because of two disagreements. Although my friend and I are both “straight,” we each have separate friends that do engage in the LGBTQ lifestyle. Nevertheless, we cannot agree that there is a clear distinction between one’s personhood/value and one’s behavior/lifestyle. In addition, I believe social media and mainstream media headlines have heavily influenced my friend’s—and, perhaps others—decisions without careful research of the facts. The second disagreement that has helped to end our friendship is the apparent hypocrisy of my friend deciding to boycott one business “A” while continuing to indirectly support a philanthropic organization The Salvation Army, both of which have received much media coverage for not approving/supporting the LGBTQ lifestyle. Recently, my friend interpreted my decision to eat at business “A” as a personal “slap in the face,” and an act of disrespect because business “A” supports philanthropic organization The Salvation Army with millions of dollars. However, there are many other businesses and organizations, in addition to business “A”, that also contribute millions of dollars to The Salvation Army. Yet, my friend chooses to continue paying for the services of those other businesses that are not highly profiled in the media resulting in my friend indirectly supporting The Salvation Army which is no different than me choosing to eat at business “A”. It is unfortunate that an uninformed decision could so easily end a friendship. If you choose to boycott one company for their donation to an alleged anti LGBTQ philanthropic organization such as The Salvation Army, shouldn't you boycott all businesses/organizations that donate to The Salvation Army? -Caleb Koke is an entrepreneur, investor and author and can be emailed at [email protected] . |
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