Over the last three days it has been very hot here (New York City). Temperatures soared to 96+ degrees with a heat index over 100 degrees. I was long overdue for putting all the cold weather clothing away. In the process of completing this task, I realized there were many pieces of clothing I had not worn  and others I had worn repeatedly. You know what I mean. Like the comfortable shoes we continue to wear long after ‘they’ve seen their days’.

I realized that wearing the same clothing was not so much about comfort as it was about choice. It was easier to the wear the same outfits because I didn’t have to make a choice. I can choose wellness but have great difficulty in choosing when I have, what I call, too many choices.  My friends know that I become stressed, may develop a headache, become overwhelmed and will not shop in a store where I have to look through racks and racks of clothing.

Listen to Barry Schwartz as he addresses the topic of too many choices with great clarity here…Paradox of Choice.

 Women in general and women business owners are constantly making choices….’work eight, sixteen  or four-hour days or multi-task with the idea of accomplishing more. Yet, can’t recall half of what someone said because she was doing three things at once. Do you recognize the dis-stress being created by too many choices? Are you choosing wellness as a lifestyle? How are choices affecting your personal life, your health and your business? The benefits of choosing a wellness lifestyle include improvement in personal health and increased financial health and prosperity!

During my flight from California to New York on Sunday, the pilot announced  he had to wait for feedback from the dispatcher before he would be able to tell us where we going to  land. The plane had already been delayed at the airport! We were now more than an hour behind scheduled take-off because the plane wasn’t operating and mechanics attempted and finally made the necessary repairs. (more…)

1. Wellness is a holistic concept. The whole person is taken into consideration-the environment, body, mind and spirit.
2. Self esteem is a critical factor in the change process. Individuals have to care enough about themselves to take the necessary steps and make the changes needed to achieve optimal wellness
3. Positive peer norms encourage wellness lifestyle changes. In order to grow our businesses we surround ourselves with forward moving, proactive people who bring out our best.
4. Conscious living means becoming aware of all the choices we have and acting on them.
5. A sense of connectedness grounds us in our lives. Connectedness has made social networking Internet sites very successful.
6. We are primarily responsible for our health. Our health is our greatest asset, so why not put more energy into self-care instead of the maintenance of our cars.
7. Increased self-sufficiency gives the confidence and power that overshadows fear.
8. Time spent alone helps us to get to know ourselves better. We can meditate, quiet ourselves and the self-talk in our head to gain insight and contemplate the meaning of our lives.
9. You don’t have to be perfect to be well.
10. Play!

The Ten Tenets of Wellness were developed by Michael Arloski, PhD, PCC
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