Monday, June 19, 2023
THE CLEAREST WAY INTO THE UNIVERSE IS THROUGH A FOREST WILDERNESS.
~ John Muir
Dannielle Harwood, MD, Chief Wellness Officer
Did you know? The Good Vibes enewsletter has continued weekly almost with very few interruptions since we launched it in July 2020. It has been part of our wellness efforts through the pandemic and natural disasters. Dr. Harwood and I have been dedicated to Good Vibes as a way to inspire, to keep everyone connected, to share gratitude for all that you do to help patients, and to provide a quick and positive note that requires very little time or commitment on your end. We're open to new ideas or suggestions as we take some time for our own wellness (as Dr. Harwood often says, it's important to set boundaries!).
Have a wonderful July 4th Holiday! And thank you for all that you do. Kristy
Monday, June 12, 2023
Dear Ones!
Fresh in from a weekend at Point Reyes viewing the incredible super bloom on the coast I am reminded once again of the healing powers of nature. The value of nature on mental health cannot be overstated. As humans, we have an innate connection with the natural world, and numerous studies have shown the positive impact that nature has on our mental well-being. Let me share a few key reasons why time in nature can be so powerful.
- Stress reduction and relaxation: Spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Being in natural environments, such as parks, forests, or even a garden, can help calm the mind, lower blood pressure, and decrease the production of stress hormones. Nature provides a respite from the fast-paced, technology-driven world we live in, allowing us to disconnect, unwind, and recharge. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature have a soothing effect on our senses, fostering a sense of tranquility and inner peace.
- Improved mood and mental well-being: Nature has a profound impact on our mood and mental well-being. It has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhance feelings of happiness and positivity, and increase overall life satisfaction. Being in natural surroundings exposes us to sunlight, which boosts our vitamin D levels and promotes the release of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin. Additionally, the greenery, open spaces, and natural beauty of nature provide a sense of awe and wonder, which can uplift our spirits and improve our emotional state.
- Enhanced cognitive function and attention restoration: Nature has a restorative effect on our cognitive function and attention. Spending time in natural settings has been linked to improved focus, concentration, and productivity. It allows our brains to take a break from constant stimuli and mental fatigue, providing an opportunity for restoration and replenishment. Nature engages our senses in a gentle and effortless way, promoting a state of calm alertness that supports cognitive processes such as problem-solving, creativity, and memory.
Nature serves as a powerful antidote to the stress and demands of modern life, promoting relaxation and enhancing mood. Take some time this week to Incorporate regular exposure to nature into your life.
Peace & Blessings!
Dannielle Harwood, MD
Monday, June 5, 2023
Dear Ones!
Sometimes I feel full of thoughts, ideas and inspirations and other times it is a desert! This is usually highly correlated with self care or to be more truthful, the lack there of! In these times I am learning to set aside my ego and pride and to share more directly with you from those who inspire me.
Here once again from a favorite writer of mine, Yung Pueblo, are his thoughts on the "Attributes of Joyful Living". I hope this strikes a cord with you as it does with me.
Attributes of Joyful Living
- You are intentional about who you give your time to. You do your best to design an inner circle that is nourishing and enjoyable. What stands out is the mutual willingness to take care of each other and the motivation to help each other figure out life’s challenges.
- You understand how your own perception impacts your reactions and mood. Blaming all your emotions on events and people outside of you creates a situation where you are constantly giving your power away. Taking responsibility for your mindset not only helps you grow, it widens your opportunity for happiness.
- You practice bringing yourself back to the present moment, especially when your mind is focusing too much on the past and future and is using small details to build tension driven narratives. Being able to recenter yourself so that you don’t jump to conclusions can help stop you from acting rashly.
- You stop glorifying busy living. You have your goals, but you realize that you can work toward them without breaking yourself in the process. There is nothing valiant about burnout. Instead, you use your energy intentionally and put in good work toward the things you love but you do so in a balanced way.
- You make time to feel gratitude. Reflecting on all the beautiful and simple things in your life that are often taken for granted will help ground you. Being able to remember all the good things and people in your life stops the mind from solely focusing on what it wants next. It is easy to flow between gratitude and joy
- You stay in touch with your emotions without becoming attached to them. It’s important to acknowledge how you feel, especially when you feel heavy, but simultaneously understand that this feeling won’t last forever. Not letting temporary feelings govern your actions helps you have a less tense mind.
- You make time to heal and grow. Whether you have experienced trauma or not, everyone has gone through hard things and those moments leave marks on the mind that impact your thoughts and actions. Finding and using healing practices that work well for you can decondition the mind so that it becomes less defensive and more open to the natural flow and beauty of life
- You remind yourself to slow down. Between the things you need to take care of in daily life and the way technology is constantly trying to get more of your attention, so much can be missed. Bring yourself back to a healthy pace so you can be present with people, nature, and the activities you love.
- Follow your intuition relentlessly. Your intuition helps you grow, leads you to your best life, and it helps you make your deepest aspirations come true. Paying attention to what direction it’s telling you to go in can help unfold the next chapter of your life.
- You live with gentleness and kindness. You try to do good things for others, but in a balanced way where you don’t exhaust yourself. Having a giving nature and treating people well directly supports your inner peace.
- You always stay open to learning and growth. You understand that you are not perfect and you have the humility needed to continue evolving. Knowledge is ever expanding which means there is always more to understand.
Peace & Blessings!
Dannielle Harwood, MD
Monday, May 22, 2023Dear Ones,
I thought I would hit on the concept of happiness again this week. This time the focus is work-related happiness. Is the key to happiness finding the perfect job or making lots of money? Maybe it’s having a great boss, or colleagues? How about finding your "passion"?
It so happens that a very good strategy for finding happiness in work is to strive for excellence and love, Arthur Brooks writes. Excellence at work is sometimes called "earned success", a mixture of effort and accomplishment that in turn enhances your job satisfaction and commitment to a career.
Love at work, Brooks writes, takes the form of serving others, which again underpins the deep fulfillment that work can bring. Whom we serve varies; it might be our customers, our colleagues, or the public. To love others through our work involves bringing our very best effort every day; to be completely, uncompromisingly dedicated to excellence in what we do. So, Brooks contends, asking what you should do for work is the wrong first question. "Ask yourself instead how you can go about doing with love and excellence whatever work comes your way. And if you cannot achieve excellence in that job or do it with love, then-if you can-leave it quickly."
"Research shows that pursuing success-whether you count that in money, power, or prestige-usually leads to less happiness, especially when the pursuit crowds out human relationships. If you have love in your heart and the will to be excellent you will find satisfaction. And you will make our world a better place!"
For more writing from Arthur Brooks and job related happiness check out these articles.
The Only Career Advice You’ll Ever Need
The Only Career Advice You’ll Ever Need
The contentment of being true to yourself comes through doing good work, and doing it with love.
The Secret to Happiness at Work
The Secret to Happiness at Work
Peace & Blessings!
Dannielle Harwood, MD