FROM THE POWER OF FULL ENGAGEMENT BY JIM LOEHR in Software

Paint QR-Code in Software FROM THE POWER OF FULL ENGAGEMENT BY JIM LOEHR

There are numerous cycles in nature that affect us The ones that AND TONY SCHWARTZ are most commonly referred to are the annual solar cycle of our four seasons, which we will examine last; the monthly lunar cycle; and the 24-hour daily cycle of morning, afternoon, evening, and night As you navigate your way to True North, it will be imperative that you pay close attention to the cycles of life and how they affect you, both positively and negatively Nature s Monthly Cycles Nature s cycles have profound physiological effects on how we feel and how we work, our level of productivity, and our overall energy level and level of creativity For example, in Judaism, the lunar, not the solar, calendar is used to reflect the cycle of birth to death over a period of 1 year And not only are the ebb and flow of the ocean s tides affected by lunar cycles the moon s revolution around the earth but the blood and fluids of our human bodies are also affected by them A physician who attended one of my programs told me that she illustrates the powerful effects of monthly lunar cycles to her patients who are facing surgery If surgery is not immediately called for, she said, I will make every attempt to schedule those surgeries that have a greater risk of blood loss during specific parts of the lunar cycle When this is done, blood loss is known to be significantly less among certain patients and during certain surgical procedures In this case, the doctor dovetails nature s monthly cycles of ebb and flow with her surgical schedule and, in her opinion, helps to assure a more rapid recovery of her post-op patients Without even knowing it, you, too, may have discovered an inclination toward working with nature s cycles You may have a preferred way of working that enhances your level of productivity and creativity A good friend of mine, who is also an author, tells me that the greatest bulk of his writing each month takes place between the times of the new moon and the full moon During the rest of the month, he says, he is much more likely to do the routine administrative tasks that his business requires Are you aware of any specific times of the month when you are more productive or creative Why do you think this is the case Can you establish a pattern Try

D T N keeping a journal of your most productive and creative times of the month A month-to-month record will reveal when you are more likely to perform at your peak, or when you exhibit greater creativity and innovative thinking This information can be quite helpful in planning your work schedule and can significantly increase your productivity when it counts most Nature s Daily Cycles We take this process a step further when we determine the most productive and energetic parts of our day The Indian Yogis, for example, believe that the spiritual energy of the universe is at its peak when the sun rises and sets During this daily 24-hour cycle, the Yogis choose to meditate at times that will maximize the full effects of their meditation, believing that this is when the Earth and cosmic energies are in their most delicate balance

As we struggle to keep up with the pace of life, we are surrounded by an everincreasing number of emotional, mental, and physical ailments: heart conditions in our early thirties, high blood pressure, epidemic proportions of depression, obesity, addiction to drugs and alcohol and the list goes on It appears that stress, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy diets are the culprits And so, in this quick-fix world we live in, we often seek quick-fix solutions crash diets, going on the wagon, attending smoking cessation clinics, and taking a variety of medications which treat the symptoms, but rarely the cause The poor results of some of these quickfix solutions have got us asking, How much does it all really help in the ultimate analysis and Are these temporary solutions really allowing me to work in harmony with life s natural cycles Many of us conclude that maybe it s time we consider a more holistic approach, an approach that has us working in alignment with the cycles of nature hence the popularity of the practice of Yoga