Month: December 2023

Thinking Out Loud: It’s Time to Practice the Art of Possibilities

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Appreciative inquiry is inquiry into the art of the possible.  p. 4

Note: Let’s stop thinking about how impossible something may be. When we begin to change our viewpoint and believe that everything is possible, suddenly, the impossible becomes possible. Illusionary fears stop us from considering possibilities. Our illusionary fears want us to play it safe. There is no safe place. There are no guarantees. When we combine our thinking of what is possible with others who are thinking the same way we create a generative atmosphere where new ideas and new thoughts arise. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Don’t listen to the fear mongers. Listen to a heart that tells you, yes, it is possible; go for it.

Today’s Inspiring Photo: Get Moving and Stay Healthy

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It’s Time to Exercise Your Brain – Take the Anagram Challenge

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Today’s mind sharpening anagram is a two or three word phrase. Can you unscramble the anagram to discover the two or three word phrase? It’s time to exercise your brain! 

Today’s Anagram:   

QUIZ START

Dare to be a Risk taker – Today’s Quote Challenge Offers a Challenge

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Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.

Dale Carnegie

The Dark Night of the Soul ~ A Poem by St. John of the Cross

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The Dark Night of the Soul

St. John of the Cross

On a dark night,
Kindled in love with yearnings–oh, happy chance!–
I went forth without being observed,
My house being now at rest.

In darkness and secure,
By the secret ladder, disguised–oh, happy chance!–
In darkness and in concealment,
My house being now at rest.

In the happy night,
In secret, when none saw me,
Nor I beheld aught,
Without light or guide, save that which burned in my
heart.

This light guided me
More surely than the light of noonday
To the place where he (well I knew who!) was awaiting me–
A place where none appeared.

Oh, night that guided me,
Oh, night more lovely than the dawn,
Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover,
Lover transformed in the Beloved!

Upon my flowery breast,
Kept wholly for himself alone,
There he stayed sleeping, and I caressed him,
And the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.

The breeze blew from the turret
As I parted his locks;
With his gentle hand he wounded my neck
And caused all my senses to be suspended.

I remained, lost in oblivion;
My face I reclined on the Beloved.
All ceased and I abandoned myself,
Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies.

Lifting Weights and Not Losing Weight? Here’s Why

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When I go to the gym I see lots of heavy people lifting weights and they seem to stay the same weight. I asked ChatGPT if lifting weights burns significant calories, why do some people who lift weights stay the same weight. Here’s how ChatGPT responded:

Lifting weights can indeed burn a significant number of calories, but there are several reasons why some people who primarily focus on weightlifting may not lose weight:

  1. Muscle Gain: Weightlifting primarily builds muscle. Since muscle is denser and weighs more than fat, gaining muscle while losing fat might not show a significant drop in weight on the scale. In some cases, individuals may even gain weight if they are building muscle mass faster than they are losing fat.
  2. Caloric Intake: Weight loss is largely governed by caloric balance — the difference between calories consumed and calories burned. If someone consumes more calories than they burn, even if they are burning a lot through weightlifting, they will not lose weight. Often, intense strength training can increase appetite, leading to increased caloric intake.
  3. Metabolic Adaptations: The body can adapt to exercise routines over time, becoming more efficient and thus burning fewer calories for the same amount of work. This is particularly true for activities like weightlifting, where the body can become more efficient at performing the exercises.
  4. Type of Weightlifting: Not all weightlifting routines are equal in terms of calorie burn. High-intensity weightlifting with short rest periods or circuit training can burn more calories than traditional bodybuilding workouts with longer rest periods.
  5. Overall Lifestyle: Weight loss is influenced by a variety of factors, including diet, overall physical activity levels, sleep quality, and stress levels. If other aspects of a person’s lifestyle are not conducive to weight loss, they might not see the scale move much, even with regular weightlifting.
  6. Individual Differences: Everyone’s body responds differently to exercise. Factors like genetics, age, and hormone levels can all impact how one’s body reacts to weightlifting and influences weight loss.

In summary, while weightlifting is a great form of exercise with numerous health benefits, it needs to be combined with a balanced diet and potentially other forms of exercise (like cardio) for effective weight loss. Also, focusing solely on the number on the scale might not be the best indicator of health improvements gained through weightlifting, as changes in body composition and muscle tone are also important factors to consider.

Today’s Joke: Joe & His Girlfriend Try a New Restaurant

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Joe: “My girlfriend and I went to a new restaurant called, Karma.”

Pete: “How was it?”

Joe: “There was no menu, you get what you deserve.”

Thinking Out Loud: Looking for the Best – Brings Out the Best

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Appreciative inquiry is the cooperative search for the best in people, their organizations, and the world around them. . . . Appreciative inquiry is based on the simple assumption that every organization has something that works well, and these strengths can be the starting point for creating positive change.  p. 3

Note: When we look for the best in ourselves and other people the dynamic changes. I was working with a group in a rural community. There were two members of the group who had not spoken to each other in years. I asked the group to share an experience where something meaningful and positive happened in their lives. The group began to share. When it came to a woman, part of the non-speaking couple, she took a deep breath and said (I paraphrase), “When the tornado came through and destroyed my house he (she named and pointed to the person with whom she had the problem) came to my house with a van filled with his science class students and they helped me pick through the rubble of my home. They found a metal box that held photos of my parents and other mementos. It was all that was left. The man got up from his seat and walked around the table to her. She was crying. She stood up, they embraced, and their problems disappeared. That’s what happens when we search for the best in ourselves, others, and our organizations.

Today’s Inspiring Photo: I Will Not Quit!

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It’s Time to Exercise Your Brain – Take the Anagram Challenge

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Today’s mind sharpening anagram is a two or three word phrase. Can you unscramble the anagram to discover the two or three word phrase? It’s time to exercise your brain! 

Today’s Anagram:   

QUIZ START

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