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| Dear Michael, | 
Having just put our taxes behind us, it is the perfect time to reflect on what we've earned and spent this year, not just in the traditional sense of our money, but with an appreciation for the energetic, emotional and spiritual currencies that are more critical to our well-being. As Jeff Gitterman, a financial advisor, author and personal friend of mine pointed out in this past weekend's airing of The Skillful Living Room, our most valuable asset is our attention. In a life so rich in opportunities, it is by understanding how we invest our attention that yields the greatest return.
Of course, attention and energy manifest themselves in one of our most valuable resources...time and the experience of living life itself. As we enter into the new fiscal year, we have the chance to evaluate whether our input justifies our output. Most people can determine whether an inanimate object-a car, a watch, a designer suit-is worth the number on the price tag, but how skilled are we at determining our own worth? And, more importantly, how often do we exercise this skill?
Fortunately, at this juncture, we have a bird's eye view of our attachments to the material world. What many don't seem to realize, is that the elusive and coveted work/life balance that we all strive continuously to achieve, is contingent upon our ability to identify the things that really matter. Simply put, the key to being happy and healthy, is to figure this out.
Here's to a more profitable year,
Michael |
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Consider This...Skillful Reflection | |
 In today's climate of technological minutia and the related marketing blasts, there is no shortage of competition for our attention. Messages spew forth from more places than ever before, to the point that, if we are not monitoring ourselves effectively, our decision making capacities will be co-opted by the seductive images placed in our minds.
Clearly, navigating the terrain of investing our attention is a challenging yet empowering task. It is this kind of investment, and this kind of investment ONLY, in which the investor is so essential in the process. In the game of stocks and bonds, you are essentially making a bet and then relying wholly on someone else to make it work. On the contrary, investing your attention requires mindfulness and dedication throughout every step of the process, and allows you the opportunity to check in on the progress of your investment each day. Where you are, whether you are in or out of alignment, the size of your dividends...these things all become highly accessible and within your grasp at every moment.
As an exercise in developing the skills necessary to make the best use of your attention, I'd like for you to identify the areas of your life where you'd like the greatest return. Then, make a commitment to investing your attention in these places. But, here's the catch: you must make sure your selections are meaningful--encompassing your relationships, your health, your emotional well-being, even the footprint you are leaving on the planet. In order to be sure, spend the time to write down how the investment pays off with respect to each of these areas and then make a pledge to yourself to follow through. Although it will take work as well as enormous courage and the ability to manage feedback and criticism, you will find that it also yields the greatest reward, and is in turn the smartest (and most skillful) investment you can make.
Without question, the best bet is that on yourself as it is the only instance where you can exert complete control over what happens to your investment. By so doing, you are not only making important changes in your life, but by eliminating the risk involved of leaving someone else in the driver's seat, you have the greatest chance to succeed. Of course this also depends on having faith in yourself, but this is the golden opportunity to prove it once and for all. The ROI through an investment of attention instead of dollars provides the formula for the ultimate experience, one that is uplifting on every level.
Please share your thoughts... |
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Advice from the Skillful Doctor | |
Question:I've been told by my doctor that my cholesterol is high, and he suggests I go on medication to correct the problem. I know I should listen to my doctor, but I really don't like the idea of taking drugs. I don't have a family history of heart disease and I think I live fairly well, so I wasn't under the impression that my cholesterol was such a concern. When I tried to discuss this with my physician he was rather short about it, and he didn't seem interested in talking to me about alternative approaches either. I feel a little stressed. Do you think I should get a second opinion?
 Answer: I think you've already gotten a second opinion - your doctor's. Your first opinion, however, is what's missing from this equation...and that is your own. You say you have been told your high cholesterol is a problem. To me, that label is an issue. Without considering all the factors involved, by itself, I believe it is an overstatement of the fact. This is not to say that it is not a problem, but there is so much more to consider when making such a claim. So first, I would make sure you have this discussion with a physician who is willing to review how cholesterol contributes to the development of heart disease and simultaneously is knowledgeable about (and willing to discuss in detail) the other factors and their management as well, such as how stress plays a role and affects your health. Without that, it will be hard to assess the significance of this blood test, let alone the other options to manage it. It is only after such a discussion and review of the entire state of your condition that you will be in the right position to make a decision, and thus, establish your opinion without being left, as you are now, in a state of ambivalence and doubt. Ultimately, to make the important choices about health requires a clear understanding of what health actually is. To be specific, in my opinion, health is not about the numbers alone and thus to be guided by statistics limits the options and often will not direct you toward the health you desire, which for most of us is more about the quality of our lives than anything else. As I'm sure you realize, it is impossible to reach your goals, even good ones such as achieving this quality of life that I allude to, without knowing where you've been, and even more importantly, where you are now. So have you thought about what got you here? Among all the variables, where does cholesterol fit? Without that answer alone, it is hard to determine how important it is. Beyond that, do you know all the possible reasons for why it is high and how those impact the other elements of your health and well-being? In other words, are there other, potentially more important areas of concern, about the quality of your life, now and for the future? I have no doubt that your doctor is an intelligent man looking to find the best option for you, but these are not questions that he can answer. Only you can. I assume you don't want to go on medication for many of the same reasons most people don't. Developing a reliance on anything is never part of anyone's plan but somehow seems to be the path many find themselves on. Clearly, drugs come with unwelcome side effects. Limited solutions, however, also come with side effects, so why are you resistant to one and not the other? In truth, high cholesterol, like a multitude of other "conditions" recognized by the Western medical establishment, is not actually a condition at all, but the tip of an iceberg, a superficial symptom of an imbalance in the bigger picture of your life. Whether or not you start taking medication to control it, addressing the bigger issue is of even greater significance. If you start taking medication now to bring your cholesterol down, but make no other changes in your life, what good is it? The underlying issue will not only persist, but even if the "treatment" brings the number down, the forces looming beneath the surface will still be waiting to bring you down in another way. So yes, listen to your doctor, but first, listen to yourself. Take responsibility for your wellness and regain control of your health. Rather than subjecting yourself to another round of opinions, your circumstance calls for a thoughtful investment of your own attention. This requires asking some more questions and potentially it may lead you to some other individuals to assist you. Ultimately, however, you need to take control and have faith in yourself, so you can make the best decision possible. Submit your own question here. |
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Announcements | |
Please look out for the next three episodes of The Skillful Living Room.
You can listen live, by tuning into the "listen live" link at Business Talk Radio. The show airs every Saturday at 12 Noon EDT.
- On April 23rd, meditative scholar Dr. Lawrence Edwards, Ph.D. will join me to talk about the connection between physical and spiritual health.
- On April 30th, Warren Falcon will be my guest to discuss the importance of our dreams and how to cultivate the capacity to make use of the messages from our unconscious.
- On May 7th, author and documentary filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz will be joining me to discuss dealing skillfully with aging and mortality, and finding effervescence in life after 90.
The last three episodes of The Skillful Living Room are available here. You can, of course, listen live, by tuning into the "listen live" link at Business Talk Radio.
Today, Monday, April 18th, I will be interviewed live at 11:30am by Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC, on her BlogTalkRadio program, Feisty Side of Fifty < Feisty Side of Fifty on Blogtalk Radio >. Listeners can call in and chat with us live at (347) 884-8117. The next SunRaven Book Club will take place on Thursday, May 5th at 7:00pm. The book to be discussed is The Alchemy of Abundance, by Rick Jarow, which is about liberation from fears of scarcity through harnessing the innate courage that brings forth authentic human expression to the world. Rick will be making a personal appearance at the event and on hand for one on one and group discussions. Please join us. If you have any questions, send an email to: bookclub@sunraven.org. The next Group Juice Fast I will be hosting will begin on Monday, June 13th at SunRaven. The 8 day program will conclude on, the first day of summer, Tuesday June 21st. If you have been thinking about undertaking a true "cleanse" or detox, a green juice fast along with a comprehensive protocol developed by one of the leading experts in the field can be an extremely valuable experience. The SunRaven Juice Fast is unique in that it offers the support from a group of participants who share this interest and live in the same community, as well as my personal guidance and participation. If you have any questions, send an email to: juicefast@sunraven.org. Coinciding with the next Group Juice Fast, Warren Falcon and I will be leading an introductory workshop on the Power of Dreams and initiate the SunRaven Mid-Summer's Night Dream Group. The first meeting will take place on Friday June 17th. For more information send an email to michael@sunraven.org. Coming up, I will be recording a 2-part lecture series with the Learning Annex about detox and juicing. Stay tuned for more information as dates of availability become available. Links - For more information on SunRaven, Dr. Finkelstein's holistic health center in Bedford, NY, please visit Sunraven.org
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- Skillful Living Room
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FINALLY! A New Thought for the New Moon | |
FINALLY! A MeaningFull Action for the Full Moon
I close today's letter with this suggested activity for the full moon:
Think about the best teacher you've ever had...
Then, look in the mirror, and remind yourself that the person staring back at you is even better.
Now, with the wisdom of your inner teacher in mind, how might you better invest your attention? Write it down and take control of your destiny.
Mitakuye Oyasin,
Michael Finkelstein
SunRaven
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