Decision-Making Practice

Is it possible to make decisions better, faster, and more easily?

The Road Less Taken or ?

According to Anthony Robbins, author of Giant Steps, Small Changes to Make a Big Difference, making good decisions takes practice.  He writes, “The more decisions you make, the better you’ll become at making them. Muscles get stronger with use, and so it is with your decision-making muscles.”

He recommends starting with two:  one easy decision with near term results, and one that will play out further in the future.

Make those two decisions today, and take one small step toward making each of them happen. You’ll be on your way to building confidence and a sense of accomplishment!

Try these steps:

1. Schedule:  Set aside time to focus on the goal and the decision to be made.
2. Research: What are all the possible options? Is there more than one reason for the choice I'm considering? Is it consistent with my values? Are there risks? Time constraints? Someone else to be involved? More information needed? Can I visualize the result? How would it feel? When is my best time of day to make decisions?
3. Plan: Set a deadline for the decision and create a step-by-step plan for how it will happen. Consider a back up plan if appropriate.
4. Decide: Make the decision and take the first step.
5. Enjoy: Reward yourself for being decisive and taking action!

More…

An Observation - It also seems that people with deeply-entrenched habits and daily "rituals" have less difficulty with decisions than those of us who tend to vary our routines.

I enjoyed reading the personal approach of Eva Lu, as she explores the decision-making process.  The blogs on her site are full of good ideas for maintaining health and happiness. http://www.mindofwinner.com/decision-making-process/

6 Tips for Making Better Decisions, from leadership expert Mike Myatt.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/03/28/6-tips-for-making-better-decisions/#32e4c02534dc

An extremely detailed approach to making decisions – evey step of the way:
How to Make Decisions from WikiHow
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Decisions

Fun Foods at the Wellness Retreat

At a recent Coastal Sanctuary Wellness event, we provided breakfast and lunch based on Paleo/Primal guidelines. Additional snacks available throughout the day included a variety of fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, and dips.  Sharyl Clapp planned and prepared the meals, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all. The complete menu is available in .pdf format:
Coastal Sanctuary Wellness Menu & Recipes - March 18, 2017

The beet-ginger soup with garlic and coconut oil has become a new favorite for me.  Here's a similar recipe from Marin Mama Cooks:

• 1 tablespoon unrefined coconut oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced (approx. 1 overflowing cup)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger
• 2 large red beets, or 3 medium beets, peeled and diced in to 1/4 inch cubes (about 4 cups)
• 4 cups vegetable stock – you may have to use a bit more 
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk, well stirred
• optional – juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
• recommended toppings: matchstick sliced roasted beets, toasted pistachios, chopped fresh parsley and coconut milk

Making Happiness a Habit

Have you ever thought about ways to practice being happy?  I sometimes make lists of things that make me happy, so I can remember to be looking for them.

Examples on my "happy list" are rainbows, bird songs, colorful sunsets, flowers, taking pictures of colors and textures in nature...

Today I had a great opportunity to practice!  I recently discovered some "hidden" White Ratany bushes in the desert.  In past years, it's become harder to find, with only a few blossoms to view, so seeing this rare beauty with camera in hand was a great way to start the day!

More thoughts on happiness practice and science from Mindful.org:

Five Science-Based Practices for Daily Happiness

Sleep Matters!!

No matter how beautiful the moon is, don’t let it keep you up.  It’s important  to slow down, relax, and get plenty of good sleep every night to achieve optimum health. Why does it matter?  Here are a few good reasons that recent research has found.

Getting enough quality sleep regularly can:

• Help to stabilize your metabolism, reducing the risk of diabetes and obesity
• Lower your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease
• Lessen buildup of the amyloid plaque characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease
• Improve cognitive abilities, as shown on tests
• Improve awareness of social cues
• Improve decision-making skills
• Increase productivity
• Avoid genetic damage resulting from sleep deprivation

You’re not the only one staying up too late…  According to this November 2016 Popular Science article, more than a third of American adults aren't getting enough sleep:
 “LACK OF SLEEP COULD COST AMERICANS $411 BILLION A YEAR

If you don’t snooze, the economy will lose”

Popular Science has a suggestion:

WANTTO FIX YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE? GO CAMPING THIS WEEKEND. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT EVEN A WINTER WEEK UNDER THE STARS CAN HELP RESET SLEEP

If you can’t get away for a camping trip, here are a few other helpful recommendations:

Sleep Resources from Arianna Huffington 

and the  Sleep Revolution Manifesto

Check out this video from Mama Natural (6:23 min.) with 10 Tips to Improve Your Sleep, 

Eat better with herbs and spices

When I first started preparing more whole, natural foods, I was afraid that everything was going to be boring without adding pre-seasoned gravy or using prepackaged dressings, pestos, or other jars of this and that.

However, there are many excellent resources proving to me that it IS possible to make simple foods that are completely natural and taste special too! 

Experimenting with herbs and spices can be a fun way to find more healthy foods that you like.

The BBC’s “goodfood” pages also have a lot to say about The Healing Power of Herbs and how to use them.

Top 10 Herbs and Spices – an ABC News video with Diane Henderiks, Chef and Culinary Nutritionist, provides information and tips along with some quick examples. (~ 7 min.)

Learn more about the traditional uses and properties of herbs:

Herbs & Natural Foods for Health

Healing with Soups

Eating lots of soups may keep you well during cold and flu season!  And some can help to heal you if something does settle in.

I first learned about the healing power of soups when I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona in 1978. After days of traveling, limited nutrition, and very little sleep, I found myself with a severe case of flu.

A neighbor directed me to an unusual doctor. He was an M.D. from the Phillipines, who believed strongly in food as medicine. He introduced himself, and asked abruptly, “Do you have insurance?”  When I shook my head, he said sternly, “Then you can’t afford to be sick in Arizona!”  After examining me, and deducing that I did indeed have the flu, he wrote me an unusual prescription.

He said, “You can get these items at any grocery store. Go and get them right now!”

Here is the shopping list and recipe he gave me, as nearly as I can remember:

• A package of chicken backs
• A bulb of garlic
• An onion
• A piece of fresh ginger
• Some black pepper
• Some brown rice

Chop up the onion, garlic, and ginger.  Put them in a large pot with the chicken backs, and add the brown rice and pepper.  Fill the pot to the top with water and bring it to a boil.  Once it’s boiling, lower the heat to simmer until the chicken falls from the bones. Keep it on the stove simmering and keep eating until it’s all gone.  You should be feeling better soon.

I did exactly as he said, and was amazed that I  had mostly recovered  by the time the soup was gone.  I’ve used this recipe with similar results, numerous times since.

Check out these additional healing soup recipes and resources:

• The Healing Properties of Homemade Broths, Stocks, and Soups
• Immunity-boosting chicken soup
• 3 Healing Soups