BEYOND THE COMORT ZONE
Rewards await
those willing to
reach
beyond, beneath, below,
deep down, higher and higher,
over and under, out and within, and
over and over again and again.
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
Wellness Coach
LEARNING TO REACH
BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE:
A WELLNESS PROGRAM
Answers to life’s puzzles and problems are as certain as the gold buried deep within the earth. Yet, just as golden nuggets seldom fall into our laps, finding solutions to life’s perplexing questions and problems requires work - digging, searching, reaching. With the “pain” of effort, however, comes “gain”. Like the miner who, with practice, learns more and more how to spot and mine for treasures, people too can learn to better tap the treasures within themselves and in the outside world which hold the answers to their search for greater personal peace and power.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Achieve greater peace and power by awakening and taking real charge of your life.
WHO IS IN CHARGE?
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
WHO IS IN CHARGE?
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
There is a woman within me who has a very specific agenda for me. This agenda has to do primarily with work and pending business tasks. She knows what I need to do and exactly when I need to do it better than I do myself, and she is no nonsense. She expects me to stay on task at all times - day and night and weekends too. When I slip up, I have to pay the piper, especially in the morning. She usually side swipes me upon awakening and can put a neck hold on me which compares to that of Hulk Hogan.
She was waiting for me as soon as I opened my eyes this morning. I am not quite sure who she is. I have associated her with my German side, but in the fog of sleep this morning, she kind of, sort of resembled my mother. “You-u-u-u played-d-d-d too-o-o-o much-h-h-h yesterday”, she growled in my ear. “You didn’t take care of business-s-s-s.” Yes, yesterday had been one of those fun days. Actually, I did work well in the morning, but I must admit I did allow a significant amount of time for “just sitting” and “just sitting and laughing”. Anyway, back to this morning. . . With knots in my stomach and rubbery legs, I stumbled to the bathroom.
I turned on the light, looked at the tense face in the mirror, and then the light inside my head went on! “Hey, I’m in charge here”, I said to myself. Yes!! I remembered that many a year ago, I took back control of my mornings and the hectic and heartburn which that woman created. I reminded myself of my need for slower, more comfortable rhythms, and that before all else, and in spite of all else, I first take time to smile, give thanks, and say a prayer!!! With this simple gesture, I put myself back in the driver’s seat and rejoined the courageous souls awakening to their own rhythms and taking charge of their health and happiness.
Just as there have been increasing appeals for people to take greater charge in their day-to-day actions with the environment, there has also come the call for greater personal responsibility in life and health management. This new movement has been referred to as the Wellness Revolution (Pilzer, 2002), and can be seen taking shape in programs like those proposed by Dr. Oz on the Oprah show. It involves the belief that people are not only capable of, but should exercise more responsibility in issues concerning their health and well-being. In other words, it is the belief that a person’s health and happiness is powerfully impacted by his/her willingness to take charge. The heart of “Wellness”, according to Wellness consultant, Greg Anderson (1995), is what he calls “personal accountability”. In his book, “The 22 Laws of Wellness”, he writes: “. . . it is we – yes, you and I - who are responsible, first and foremost, for our own wellness.” (p. 15)
Personal accountability involves increased responsibility as well as increased personal power. Children are in dependent and often helpless positions and can, thereby, rightfully place blame on others. As adults, however, we carry the responsibility for our pain and our pleasure. The burden of our choices - be they active and conscious or passive and muddled - rests on our shoulders. Yet, to take charge of one’s health and happiness also means to take a major step toward greater personal power. A sense of self control and mastery increases when a person sees him/herself not as a victim of people and circumstances, but as an adult making choices and taking actions which influence the quality of his/her life. The person begins to recognize that their plight in life it is not only about what happens to them, but about the choices they make and how they respond to what happens.
She was waiting for me as soon as I opened my eyes this morning. I am not quite sure who she is. I have associated her with my German side, but in the fog of sleep this morning, she kind of, sort of resembled my mother. “You-u-u-u played-d-d-d too-o-o-o much-h-h-h yesterday”, she growled in my ear. “You didn’t take care of business-s-s-s.” Yes, yesterday had been one of those fun days. Actually, I did work well in the morning, but I must admit I did allow a significant amount of time for “just sitting” and “just sitting and laughing”. Anyway, back to this morning. . . With knots in my stomach and rubbery legs, I stumbled to the bathroom.
I turned on the light, looked at the tense face in the mirror, and then the light inside my head went on! “Hey, I’m in charge here”, I said to myself. Yes!! I remembered that many a year ago, I took back control of my mornings and the hectic and heartburn which that woman created. I reminded myself of my need for slower, more comfortable rhythms, and that before all else, and in spite of all else, I first take time to smile, give thanks, and say a prayer!!! With this simple gesture, I put myself back in the driver’s seat and rejoined the courageous souls awakening to their own rhythms and taking charge of their health and happiness.
Just as there have been increasing appeals for people to take greater charge in their day-to-day actions with the environment, there has also come the call for greater personal responsibility in life and health management. This new movement has been referred to as the Wellness Revolution (Pilzer, 2002), and can be seen taking shape in programs like those proposed by Dr. Oz on the Oprah show. It involves the belief that people are not only capable of, but should exercise more responsibility in issues concerning their health and well-being. In other words, it is the belief that a person’s health and happiness is powerfully impacted by his/her willingness to take charge. The heart of “Wellness”, according to Wellness consultant, Greg Anderson (1995), is what he calls “personal accountability”. In his book, “The 22 Laws of Wellness”, he writes: “. . . it is we – yes, you and I - who are responsible, first and foremost, for our own wellness.” (p. 15)
Personal accountability involves increased responsibility as well as increased personal power. Children are in dependent and often helpless positions and can, thereby, rightfully place blame on others. As adults, however, we carry the responsibility for our pain and our pleasure. The burden of our choices - be they active and conscious or passive and muddled - rests on our shoulders. Yet, to take charge of one’s health and happiness also means to take a major step toward greater personal power. A sense of self control and mastery increases when a person sees him/herself not as a victim of people and circumstances, but as an adult making choices and taking actions which influence the quality of his/her life. The person begins to recognize that their plight in life it is not only about what happens to them, but about the choices they make and how they respond to what happens.
A Reach Challenge
_______
Reach beyond your comfort zone. Reach beyond what comes easy and automatic to take charge of your life. What would a gentle, nonjudgmental look at your” personal responsibility” for your health and happiness show? What can you learn from the choices and actions you are, or are not, making? What challenges face you?
Who is in charge of your morning - your day, your life? Are you awake and making conscious, responsible decisions, or are you napping on the job?
Is your job the big boss who dictates the direction of your life? Is he/she leading you in a direction that you’re happy with? Or, maybe it’s your emotions which have the upper hand in your life, and which determine whether you take on the challenges of the day or hide under the covers?
Are you aware that you are constantly making choices whether you are aware of it or not? Do you realize that the tendency to just passively go along with the program – somebody’s program – means that you may actually be headed down a road that you don’t really want to be on?
Now, through rain or tears, sunshine or celebration, I join the millions around the world who choose to begin their days with the power of prayer rather than the whims of the monkey mind. Before all else, I smile, give thanks and say a prayer. . .
_______
Reach beyond your comfort zone. Reach beyond what comes easy and automatic to take charge of your life. What would a gentle, nonjudgmental look at your” personal responsibility” for your health and happiness show? What can you learn from the choices and actions you are, or are not, making? What challenges face you?
Who is in charge of your morning - your day, your life? Are you awake and making conscious, responsible decisions, or are you napping on the job?
Is your job the big boss who dictates the direction of your life? Is he/she leading you in a direction that you’re happy with? Or, maybe it’s your emotions which have the upper hand in your life, and which determine whether you take on the challenges of the day or hide under the covers?
Are you aware that you are constantly making choices whether you are aware of it or not? Do you realize that the tendency to just passively go along with the program – somebody’s program – means that you may actually be headed down a road that you don’t really want to be on?
Reach for Words of Wisdom
_______
SMILE, GIVE THANKS AND SAY A PRAYER
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
For so many years, I awoke each day with the rhythms of restlessness tapping on my head. My head was always full of the clutter which I had taken to bed with me, and that which I had accumulated during the night. I began most of my days quite top heavy. Then one crisp, clear morning as if out of the blue, a new seed took root in my mind and eased the beginnings of my days._______
SMILE, GIVE THANKS AND SAY A PRAYER
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
Now, through rain or tears, sunshine or celebration, I join the millions around the world who choose to begin their days with the power of prayer rather than the whims of the monkey mind. Before all else, I smile, give thanks and say a prayer. . .
___________________
Friend, wake up! Why do you go on sleeping!
The night is over – do you want to lose the day
the same way!
Other women (and men) who managed to get up early have
already found an elephant or a jewel. . .
So much was lost already while you slept. . .
and that was so unnecessary!
Kabir, 13th century
In “The Woman Awake” (1998) by
Regina Sara Ryan
Reach to Believe:
_______
Something wonderful is about to happen!!!!!!
Wishing you peace and power, and the courage to reach!!!
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2008 Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D. All rights in all media reserved.
Friend, wake up! Why do you go on sleeping!
The night is over – do you want to lose the day
the same way!
Other women (and men) who managed to get up early have
already found an elephant or a jewel. . .
So much was lost already while you slept. . .
and that was so unnecessary!
Kabir, 13th century
In “The Woman Awake” (1998) by
Regina Sara Ryan
Reach to Believe:
_______
Something wonderful is about to happen!!!!!!
Belleruth Naprastek
Audiotape: Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus
Time Warner Audiobooks
Audiotape: Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus
Time Warner Audiobooks
Wishing you peace and power, and the courage to reach!!!
Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2008 Lula Morton Drewes, Ph.D. All rights in all media reserved.
2 comments:
your words are inspiring...keep up the amazing work:)
This is wonderful Aunt Lula, you are a wonderful role model for our family and I am sure for anyone who knows you. These blogs are applicable to many aspects of my life and your words of wisdom are encourging and uplifting. Love you..
Ebonie
Post a Comment