12 minute read
Wellness
Become the Master Storyteller of Your Life
BY KIM RAAIJMAKERS
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Once upon a time there was a ……
Your mind is already filling in a whole scenario of characters, the quest and likely speeding right onto the ending. Your life is the same as a fairy tale, you get to choose how it goes and how it ends. The only difference between a fairy tale and your life, is your willingness to believe in what is possible. Why is the story you believe in important? Because we all tell stories! All day, every day! As humans we process and remember information best when we tell it in a story. What about the stories that you are telling yourself in your own mind? These stories you have created over time so that you could process and remember information. These stories you created and told yourself countless times over the years, have formed your values, beliefs, mindset, actions and ultimately the outcomes of your life. What if these stories, while useful when you created them, now no longer serve you? So often I have found myself saying ‘I can’t do......’ and when I look back it is a story I created around why the first time I tried it didn’t work – a fairy tale. So in order for me to feel better about failing, I just comforted myself with I can’t. This kept me safe for every time in the future that a similar situation would come up.
Except now I want to change and try something new. That’s scary and my brain goes into it’s protection mode and begins to tell me the same fairy tale. We all have one that begins to play as soon as we want to try something new. What if instead of listening to this one, we are able to change and adapt? A masterful storyteller can adapt, change and re-write the stories they tell their audiences to suit the needs of that audience. So can you. A change is only scary if you perceive it that way and focus on the worst that could happen. To make effective change, create an empowering story, one where you are the hero conquering all the villians and obstacles in your path. You can scale mountains, fly across oceans and leap between tall buildings in a single bound. Create the story that encompasses the very best of what you want to realize. Make this story has real as possible. What does it look like, in complete 3D, technicolor? What does is smell like? What does it feel like? Create an experience that includes all your senses. Believe that this fairy tale can and will become reality. If you can hold it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands. Now you have primed your brained to actively go out and achieve the reality that you have created in your brain. Will you achieve exactly what you wanted in your new story? You could, and even if you didn’t you would still have achieved so much more than you had otherwise. AND you will feel so much more empowered and motivated in this empowering fairy tale. So will you begin crafting a new story that serves you, empowers you for the most important audience in your life? Yourself? You have it all inside of you to become the Master Storyteller of your life, if you’re willing to make that choice and do the work to change!
WORKPLACE WELLNESS Culture & Care
BY STEFANIE BARANOWSKI
We all know hustle. From a recent graduate entering the workplace, the mom who is trying to balance work and home life to the stresses of remote working. Corporate wellness goes beyond stocking the break room with yogurt and granola. Whether you are introducing a wellness program, or looking for ways to improve your current initiatives, you are on your way to creating a healthier workplace environment – where healthier fit the narrative of the workspace. The first step is defining what wellness means to you in your workplace and in your community of co-workers.
WHY IS CORPORATE WELLNESS IMPORTANT?
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the workday and to let your mental and physical health
decline as you struggle to meet deadlines and the demands of your job. Sometimes when we are stressed it can become so easy to get wrapped up into that circle of gossip or to lash out in frustration or stress as a co-worker.
Imagine a workspace that felt purposeful, positive, energizing, and rewarding both at the start of your day, throughout your day and at the end of the day. You know you are in a good work environment when your work environment leaves you feeling energized, positive and purposeful as you walk out the doors at the end of the day. A place where you feel mentally, emotionally, and
employees are happier, and happier employees are more productive, which leads to corporate financial health and growth.
WHAT IS CORPORATE WELLNESS?
The workplace is a space we invest a great amount of our time during our waking hours and our co-workers become our own separate community outside of our personal life. Corporate wellness is just that; wellness in the workplace. Wellness can be introduced and incorporated into the workplace in a multitude of ways and can be tailored to
spiritually healthy, a place where you feel accepted and part of a community.
There is a great deal of research studies that have expressed an increase in job satisfaction and mental well-being when a wellness program is introduced and carried out within the workspace. That a wellness program not just be carried out but that it comes part of the workplace culture. What is buzz word wellness all about? Wellness is the act of regularly practicing or partaking in activities that contribute to positive healthy outcomes in one’s life. These outcomes can be emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. Research has shown that companies that regularly engage in Wellness opportunities have seen benefits for their employees, as well as their organizations. Some of the benefits include, but are not limited to:
• Improved productivity and performance
• Reduced Elevated Health Risks
• Reduced Health Care Costs
• Reduced Absenteeism among
Employees
• Improve Employee Recruitment and
Retention
• Improve and Sustain Morale
WHAT ARE SOME TYPES OF WELLNESS STRATEGIES I CAN START INCORPORATING TO BRING WELLNESS INTO MY WORKPLACE?
1. Showing appreciation amongst your staff/co-workers to develop an energetically positive space 4. Incorporating team building strategies and workshops to create a more cohesive work environment.
5. Give your co-workers/staff a challenge and encourage towards autonomy over a specific staff to boost confidence and purpose in the workplace.
2. Introducing physical fitness to get the endorphins going and keep the body and the mind in good shape
3. Having a quiet space in the office area/meditation area where people can have a space of peace to help manage stress Diamond Lotus stefanie@diamondlotus.ca diamondlotus.ca
Sleeping Beauty A n ural way get a er sleep
BY THE MINT EXPERIENCE
How many of us have gone from working from an offi ce to working from an offi ce on our living room, bedroom, or even your bed? The line of separation between home and work has been all but erased and there seems to be litt le escape.
Once our salvation and escape, our cozy nook for bedtime reading, cuddling and down time has now been invaded by the #workfrombed and has become our new home offi ce.
Sleep specialists have been telling us for years, the bedroom should be for the three S’s – sleep, sex or for when you are sick. The more you start to use your bedroom for other uses, your brain starts to condition itself and your bedroom is no longer a space to wind down from your day. You’re literally training your brain to be alert.
There are a number of ways scents and essential oils can be used to help us get on the path to a more relaxing sleep patt ern. Add a few drops to your bath, light an aromatic candle or mist your pillows with your favorite scent.
How to make your own pillow mist
Add half a cup of water, half a teaspoon witch hazel and 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle. Shake. Gently spray the mist over your pillows before going to bed.
5Soothing scents for a fabulous sleep
Lavender Jasmine
Jasmine scents are thought to lead to a more productive sleep, helps you wake up more refreshed and tends to make you feel more alert in the afternoon hours the next day. It eases sleep with its pleasing scent, and seems to reduce movement sleeping and waking up with less anxiety.
Well known for soothing qualities and most commonly used for relaxation and sleep. Diff use lavender an hour or so before turning in to your bedroom for the night. Apply a light rub directly to your feet, temples or wrists - a litt le goes a long way.
Ylang Ylang
It is believed that Ylang Ylang helps release negative emotions, helping you fall asleep faster while reducing stress and anxiety. On top of that, it has a gorgeous scent, a light fl oral aroma that doubles as a natural air freshener.
Cedarwood
If you struggle with insomnia, you may want to try this earthy and smoky scent. Cedarwood boasts natural sedative properties, as it’s believed to be emotionally grounding. Cedarwood mixes well with lavender for a unique relaxing blend. Bergamot
Extracted from the rinds of the citrus fruit, and is used to fl avour Earl Grey Tea. Bergamot tends to elevate moods and alleviate stress. Unlike other citrus scents, bergamot is calming and possesses sedative qualities.
Put your smile in good hands with Dr. Mintenko at Winburn Orthodontics
Without professional oversight, a smile transformation can go wrong
BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78
Dental technology has certainly evolved. These days, achieving that perfect smile doesn’t have to involve metal wires, rubber bands and monthly dental visits. Instead, anyone who desires to correct their bite or straighten their teeth can opt for what are called “clear aligners”.
Clear aligners have been around for a couple decades and have been made popular by brands like Invisalign. People often prefer them to braces, as they are thin, clear and can be removed at the discretion of the wearer. They also require less check-ups, giving patients more time away from the dental chair
But, their popularity has made clear aligners a bit of a commodity. This has resulted in a growing problem.
“Some online retailers have people taking molds of their own teeth without any type of consultation or examination by a professional,” Dr. Rob Mintenko of Winburn Orthodontics explains. “They give you your 12 month supply of aligners and then basically say good luck. There’s no tracking or mid-course adjustments. People have actually damaged their teeth and ruined their bites because clear aligners are meant to be an ongoing, supervised treatment that is based on an individual treatment plan.”
Having teeth not move properly doesn’t just impact the appearance of your smile. It can also result in problems such as jaw pain and chronic headaches. Dr. Mintenko stresses that a proper diagnosis by a professional and a customized treatment plan is critical for every unique patient. “A computer can’t always tell you exactly how your teeth will shift,” Dr. Mintenko says. “Biologically, teeth don’t
methods. - Dr. Mintenko
express 100% of the movement that is digitally planned. When you work with an orthodontist, I can track your progress and make adjustments to give you the best overall result.”
If clear aligners aren’t working for you, orthodontists like Dr. Mintenko can recommend a new course of action. In many cases, Dr. Mintenko has switched his patients over to braces to ensure the desired result is achieved.
Located in Brandon, Manitoba, Winburn Orthodontics offers complimentary consultations, flexible payment plans and direct billing to help more people get the smile they’ve always wanted.
“When you visit our office, we give you a full examination and discuss what you want out of treatment,” Dr. Mintenko explains. “I make sure every patient knows their options and understands the pros and cons of different treatment methods.” Transforming your smile is a significant investment of time, money and commitment. An orthodontist is a dentist who has furthered their education by spending three additional years of full-time studies to specialize in correcting teeth and bad bites. Their practice is strictly orthodontics – they are the experts when it comes to shifting teeth in a safe and effective way. It makes perfect sense that moving your teeth and changing your bite should be overseen by an orthodontist like Dr. Mintenko.
When it comes to your smile, make sure you’re in good hands.
