Make it an amazing week, friend!

October 31st, 2023

The Benefits of Forgiveness (say what?!?🤔💭)

Forgiveness is a powerful and healing act that can free us from the pain and resentment caused by others who have hurt us. Forgiveness is not about forgetting or excusing the harm, but about choosing to let go of the negative emotions and move on with our lives. Forgiveness can benefit us in many ways, such as improving our mental and physical health, enhancing our relationships, and increasing our self-esteem. Let’s explore some of the scientifically proven benefits of forgiveness and five tips to help you achieve it.

“Pain in life is inevitable. Suffering, on the other hand, is optional,” writes compassion and mindfulness expert Dr. Shauna Shapiro

From an article in Positive Psychology, “One of the earliest studies focusing specifically on the link between forgiveness and health benefits found that even thinking about forgiving an offender improved people’s cardiovascular and nervous system (Van Oyen Witvliet, Ludwig, & Laan, 2001).

Furthermore by mentally switching between thoughts of goodwill and holding a grudge, blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension increased, while feelings of control (linked to mental toughness) reduced.”

Forgiving someone who has harmed us is not easy, but it is possible with the right tools and effort. Here are five tips to help you move toward forgiveness:

• Recognize the value of forgiveness and how it can improve your life. Seek to understand what forgiveness is and why it matters. Forgiveness is a gift that you give to yourself, not to the offender. Forgiveness can help you heal your inner pain and free yourself from the past.

• Identify what needs healing and who you want to forgive. Acknowledge your emotions about the harm done to you, recognize how they affect your behavior, and work to release them. You may need to express your feelings, write them down, or talk to someone you trust. You may also need to join a support group or see a counselor if the hurt is too deep or complex to work through on your own.

• Develop a forgiving mind through empathy. Tis may seem strange but try to see the situation from the perspective of the offender. This does not mean condoning or justifying their actions, but trying to understand their motives, feelings, and circumstances. You may also try to find some common ground or human connection with them. Empathy can help you reduce your anger and resentment, and increase your compassion and kindness.

• Find meaning in your suffering. Look for ways to grow from your experience and use it for good. You may ask yourself what you have learned from the situation, how it has made you stronger or wiser, or how it has inspired you to help others who are going through similar challenges. Finding meaning in your suffering can help you transform your pain into something positive and valuable.

• When forgiveness is hard, call upon other strengths. Use your personal resources and support system to overcome the obstacles to forgiveness. You may need to draw on your faith, spirituality, or moral values to motivate you to forgive. You may also need to rely on your friends, family, or community to support you emotionally and practically.

Forgiveness is a gift that we give to ourselves and others. It is a choice that we make every day. It is a journey that we take toward peace and happiness.

Tell me something good 🎵🎶🎵🎶

With all that is going on in the world today, this is a weekly opportunity for us to share something good that has happened to us recently. Seriously. If you respond to this email, you get me. I’d love to hear from you!

From an article in the NY Times

‘Indefatigable’ Chicago Woman Whose Skydive at 104 Drew Admiration Dies

Dorothy Hoffner gained international attention for her feat earlier this month, as millions viewed video of her descent and marveled at her sense of adventure.

That interest was prompted by her unusual endeavor: parachuting off a plane at such an advanced age on Oct. 1, not to prove some existential point about seizing every thrill, but simply because she wanted to. After all, the first time she had gone skydiving, at age 100, it had been fun, Ms. Hoffner said in an interview last week.

Still, it was her recent 10,000-foot descent that turned Ms. Hoffner, for many admirers, into an example of how to live life to the fullest or, at the very least, the embodiment of the belief that doing something exciting at an older age is normal.

As she told it, there was no hubris in Ms. Hoffner before she boarded the small plane that she would later drop from while strapped to an instructor. Instead, Ms. Hoffner said, she was thinking: “What are we having for dinner?” That thought changed little even after she had touched down and was informed that she had probably broken the Guinness World Record for the oldest person in the world to skydive.

Mr. Conant, 62, said that Ms. Hoffner was initially “not excited” about all the attention she received from the news media last week. But by the weekend, he said, the attention had grown on her because “she looked at it as an opportunity to meet new people.”

During her interviews, she asked reporters about their lives and appeared uninterested in talking about her upbringing in Chicago in the early 20th century, after World War I had ended and as an influenza pandemic was raging.

…Among her friends, Ms. Hoffner was known for her favorite saying, a twist on a Bible verse: “I go by ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’” she said. “So I love all my neighbors. Of course, I don’t like them all.”

Don’t wait for life to pass you by. Instead of being busy making a living, start living and create a meaningful life!!

Challenge for the week: Pick 1 or do both:

1. Go out and do something that scares you. Maybe that isn’t skydiving but get out of your comfort zone and lean into self exploration and growth.

2. Ask your friends or co-workers what is something out of their comfort zone and encourage them to take steps toward their own growth.
   

Making someone else smile is contagious enough to cause a smile on your face as well. When you smile, your brain releases dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are associated with lowering your anxiety and increasing feelings of happiness. That is a win-win!

A quote that I've been sitting with this week:

Evoke Greatness Podcast

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Ep. 79 Reinventing Success with Corporate Rehab's CEO, Jennie Blumenthal

Is the hustle culture eating away at your soul?

This week, I sat down with Jennie Blumenthal, the visionary CEO of Corporate Rehab and author of Corporate Rehab: Ditch the Hustle Culture and Thrive Again. Her stirring journey, from leading Fortune 500 companies to the brink of burnout, to a personal evolution and recovery, is sure to inspire. We chatted about her transformative five-step "Corporate Rehab" process, a roadmap that doesn’t just restore but also reinvents individuals for a fulfilling life and career.

Jennie and I also delved into the nuanced dynamics of gender roles, and how embracing both feminine and masculine leadership traits can create a powerful impact. We challenged the traditional definition of leadership and discussed the importance of crafting your own. The conversation took a deeper turn as we navigated the widespread impact of the pandemic on mental health. Jennie's insights into establishing trust and respect in leadership, to create a noteworthy shift in company culture, are especially timely in today's world.

These conversations are more than just talk - they are about sparking change one discussion at a time. So tune in, listen, learn, and be inspired to redefine your own leadership journey.

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