Category: Motivation

Giving and Receiving Requires Balance

Published on by Nikken

Many of us were taught from an early age to be of service—parents teach children to help with tasks around the home, to walk the dog, babysit the younger ones, and so on. There might be an allowance earned, and in those cases, the child learns to receive a token for services rendered.

Each individual reacts differently to the many forms of giving and receiving. Young children have to be taught to give as receiving comes naturally to them when they are at the stage of being dependent for just about everything. As they grow older, the tables turn and they typically are reinforced with the importance of giving in the forms of helping, serving or gifting.

Giving is upheld as positive behavior, part of altruism and generosity; however, authentic giving does not expect anything in return. It comes from a place of abundance and joy, of having more than enough to share. Receiving takes a back seat and this may result in the learned behavior of too much giving. When there is a feeling of debt, the imbalance of not receiving enough occurs. That is why it is equally important to learn to receive with grace, gratitude and true acceptance—that is, to receive without guilt and the feeling of having to repay the giver.

One way to rectify an imbalance between giving and receiving is the concept of paying it forward. You can’t always reciprocate equally with someone who is able to give you more than you have, but there is bound to be a time when you can be the giver to someone who has less. You are simply contributing to the cycle of kindness and the spirit of sharing.

There is another aspect of gracious receiving that is often overlooked. Not being able to receive robs the giver of the pleasure you yourself receive when you are the one doing the giving! And, it makes the giver feel misunderstood and unappreciated. Gracious receiving is a way of allowing others to show how much they care and to experience your own self-worth.

Just as “it takes two to tango,” it takes two to give and receive. Creating a balance between the two requires conscious intention, but it’s well worth effort. If you don’t feel joyful when giving, it’s a sign you’re depleted and imbalanced. You can consciously give yourself self-care to replenish your own tank and do some receiving, which can take the form of asking and accepting help!

Think of giving and receiving in this way: it can be as simple as words of encouragement, such as “I know you can do it.” “I believe in you.” “Let me give you a hand with that.” The recipient graciously accepts with “thank you!” We can make balanced giving and receiving a part of our total wellness lifestyle!

‘Tis the season of gifting, and if you want to present the ones you care about with gifts inspired by nature, Nikken invites you to take a look at the 2023 Gift Guide. The special offers extend through the end of the year.

Get Ready for the Festive Season

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What is important to you during the holiday season? Is it getting together with family? Is it about exchanging gifts? Are you more of a nurturer or a recipient? Before the holidays get under way, decide what is most meaningful to you to make the season special and less chaotic, especially if travel is involved. A lot depends on solid planning, so be sure to get a head start. Make lists. Create a budget and stick to it as much as possible. Shop early. Delegate when possible. If entertaining, stock up on essentials like toilet paper and napkins. Try to be prepared and if things don’t turn out exactly as you planned, just roll with it and enjoy yourself anyway!

The month of December appears to be the festive season for many cultures. Here are just a few of the special days that are celebrated:

• December 7 through December 15: Hanukkah is central to the Jewish Festival of Lights.

The menorah is lit to celebrate the Maccabees’ triumph over the Assyrian armies and the miracle of a single day’s oil lasting for eight nights. Gifts are exchanged and games are played.

• December 8: Bodhi Day commemorates the day Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is a day Buddhists celebrate through meditation.

• December 12: The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated by millions of pilgrims who visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A festival marks the the sightings of the Virgin Mary.

• December 21 through January 1: Yule is the celebration of the winter solstice, the shortest or darkest day of the year. Yule marks the re-emergence of the sun and the days beginning to grow longer again. The Yule celebration originated in Scandinavia as a Norse festival.

• December 23: A relatively “new” holiday is Festivus. For those who are anti-commercialism and the materialism that comes with it, Festivus is a quieter anti-celebration of the season with like-minded friends and family members.

• December 25: Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, but people of all types of faiths now celebrate Christmas as a time to exchange gifts and experience the fairy tale of Santa Claus.

• December 26 through January 1: Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday honoring African-American heritage. It focuses on unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which translates to “first fruits.” 

Whatever you celebrate during the festive season, remember that everyone appreciates a gift from the heart. Nikken invites you to take a look at the 2023 Gift Guide with special offers that extend through the end of the year.

Source: https://time.com/6242283/december-global-holidays-christmas-hanukkah-yule/

How Do You Show Gratitude?

Published on by Nikken

Cultural differences account for the many ways in how people show gratitude. Professor Jonathan Tudge of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is considered an expert on the subject. He and his colleagues have published a series of studies showing how children develop a sense of gratitude in seven culturally diverse countries.

The children were aged seven to 14 and answered in three categories of gratitude: verbal  which is spoken, concrete which offers a token gift, and connective which is relational. Children in China and South Korean tended to favor connective gratitude. Those in the U.S. leaned toward concrete gratitude, and Guatemalan kids were partial to verbal gratitude.1 According to Professor Tudge, connective gratitude which cultivates the development of a relationship, goes beyond words or gifts of thanks. He calls it the most authentic form of gratitude.

Cultural values, parenting practices and education may each play a role. Autonomous (individualist) cultures such as that of North America, teach children to be more independent and self-directed. Heteronomous (collectivist) cultures such as that of Asia teach duty and obedience to elders as well as honoring others. This could account for why Americans tend toward verbal and concrete gratitude while Asians focus on connectivity and developing relationships rather than valuing individuality and separateness. Giving and receiving help is an expected part of daily life for members of collectivist cultures rather than an uplifting surprise for those from individualist cultures.2

Who you choose to show gratitude to also may depend on cultural influences. For example, Southeast Indians were more likely to show appreciation to people outside of their families—the type of people they might feel obligated to repay. This sense of indebtedness is found much less in autonomous cultures. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Inuit do not require an expression of gratitude after receiving meat from a hunt.

According to Professor Tudge, gratitude is ultimately a skill that strengthens relationships and arises when we pay more attention to the gifts our connections bring us. He says that means thinking about gratitude less like a good feeling to boost happiness and more like paying it forward with kindness, making it a way of life and being a good human being.3

During this season of Thanksgiving, consider who you want to connect with more deeply. And if you want to show concrete gratitude, Nikken invites you to take a look at the 2023 Gift Guide with special offers that extend through the end of the year.

1,2, 3 https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_cultural_differences_shape_your_gratitude

Can you Help Prevent the Winter Cold and Flu?

Published on by Nikken

Your lifestyle and immune system can make the difference between staying healthy or getting sick. Here are some tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season:

• Keep your hands clean by washing them often. Touching Infected surfaces is the most common way to pick up a virus, so use soap and water and wash for 20 seconds, minimum.

• Don’t touch your face. Apparently, children touch their faces an average of 16 times an hour!1 Rubbing eyes, scratching your nose, chewing on fingernails all help viruses get into the body.

• Keep surfaces clean in the house. Use disinfecting wipes to help reduce germs.

• Get enough sleep to help keep the immune system healthy and strong. Lack of sleep makes the body more susceptible to germs. Create an environment that helps you sleep “like a baby.”

• Eat nutritious foods to help strengthen the immune system. Boost intake of infection-fighting antioxidants—lots of colorful fruits and vegetables.

• Blanch your veggies. Viruses linger on produce, so boiling them for a couple of minutes kills them.

• Increase omega-3 intake to help spur production of infection-fighting cells. Eat fish. For those who avoid seafood, find vegetarian sources, such as flax seeds, for a daily dose of omegas 3, 6 and 9!

• Drink green tea. A catechin in green tea called EGCG is believed to damage flu virus particles and stop them from entering your system. German scientists believe this catechin may also interfere with pneumonia-causing bacteria.2

• Eat yogurt. A study published in “Clinical Nutrition” showed that people who consumed a strain of specific probiotics daily reduced their risk of catching a cold or flu by 27%.3

• Use ginger. Researchers in Taiwan discovered fresh ginger can inhibit respiratory viruses from attaching to cells and may reduce their ability to replicate.4 Make spicy tea or add ginger to a stir fry.

• Keep your nose warm—the cilia in your nasal and sinus cavities help sweep away pathogens, but move slowly when cold.

• Hum! According to an Indian study, humming can increase antimicrobial nitric oxide in the nose! Take a deep breath, close one nostril and exhale out the other nostril as you hum.5

• Do yoga. Japanese scientists contend that combining relaxation and physical activity triggers an increase in saliva levels of an antimicrobial peptide that breaks down invading microbes. A 90-minute yoga session doubled the peptide called beta-defensin 2.6

• Exercise. Physical activity helps you become less prone to colds and flu, as movement helps stimulate the white blood cells that fight infection.

• Decrease stress. Try targeted massage and acupressure to help roll away tension!

1 https://www.laurelpedsmd.com/blog/10-tips-to-help-prevent-winter-colds-and-flu#:~:text=Get%20and%20stay%20physical,blood%20cells%20that%20fight%20infection.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6 https://www.today.com/health/26-ways-avoid-getting-sick-winter-1d80290214

Do You Like Winter Weather?

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There are lots of people who prefer cold to hot, and that includes their preferences for weather! Do you tend to think of vacations being time spent at the beach, in the balmy tropical weather, sunshine and swimming, or do you prefer holidays spent in the snow—skiing, snowboarding, sledding, making snowmen and having snowball fights?

Psychologists have looked into seasonal preferences to better understand the mood and behavioral changes that temperature and light variations have on people. Personal preferences seem to reveal specific personality traits. For example, your cognitive performance, your preference for certain colors and different types of music, and the kind of foods you tend to eat all vary over the course of the year.One study conducted in Belgium found that people had the hardest time keeping their focus in the summer and the easiest time doing so in the winter.1

The seasons also appear to influence how kind you are to others. For example, charitable contributions in countries with Christian traditions increase dramatically around Christmas. People in these societies are also more likely to tip their waiters generously during the holiday season. Aggressive behavior, from horn honking to violent crime tends to peak in the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere.2

Who likes winter? If you count the chilly months of winter as your favorite season, it might mean that you tend to be a bit of an introverted homebody.3 Does a warm sweater and curling up on the couch with hot cocoa on a cold night sound like your ideal afternoon? Here are some other types of people who enjoy winter:

•          Thermophobes. In Latin, therm means heat and phobe means fear.

•          Winter sport fans. As mentioned above, skiers, snowboarders, sledders, etc.

•          Those sensitive to the sun. If you sunburn easily and are always applying sunblock or searching for an appropriate sun hat, overcast or snowy winter days provide some relief.

•          Those sensitive to bug bites. One winter blessing is the decrease of mosquitoes and other “biting” insects.

Whether or not you’re a fan of winter, Nikken has the perfect products to make your cold weather days the coziest ever. From the Kenko Dream Comforter of your choice to the KenkoTherm support products, Nikken takes its lead from nature and weaves in ceramic reflective fibers to help keep you toasty. And, when you purchase a Kenko Naturest® Fit mattress topper now through year end, you receive a complimentary Kenko PowerSleep Mask!

1, 2 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unserious-psychology/202306/how-the-seasons-affect-our-psychology

3 verywellmind.com/what-your-favorite-season-say-about-personality

Why Do We Like to Be Scared?

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As we approach Halloween, do you ever wonder why some of us like to be scared? From toddlers to grown people, being a bit (or even a lot) scared is an enjoyable sensation for some of us, as long as there’s no real danger. Science has an explanation!

When you participate in frightening activities, the brain is manipulated into a series of chemical reactions that produce “feel good” sensations. Several simultaneous processes occur in the body when being scared:

• The fight or flight impulse is triggered, causing the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol, both stress hormones.

• The adrenaline in turn causes dopamine and endorphins to rush in—which produce the good feelings.

• The heart rate and blood pressure go up and goosebumps may even pop up.

• The senses are intensified and any physical process that doesn’t help with surviving the fear, such as digestion, is temporarily suspended.

Fear that you choose to experience—scary movies, haunted houses, Halloween costumes with bulging eyes, blood and guts, rollercoaster rides and so on—provide the adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine without the stress that comes with real danger. When you know it’s “fun” and not actually dangerous, you can experience a positive fear while still feeling safe.

Take the example of the rollercoaster ride. It’s perfectly acceptable to shriek and scream at the top of your lungs. During a regular day, there are many types of stressors, but it’s not socially acceptable to scream and react the way you might want. In this way, choosing to put yourself in a fear-inducing situation can be cathartic. You not only get the adrenaline rush with endorphins, you also get to behave in a way that “lets it all out.”  In fact, you’re expected to react in an extreme way. You can behave like a child when reacting to scary movies, too! The result is that your mood improves—so no wonder people like horror movies and ghost stories!

Successfully enduring something scary or spooky can be satisfying—if you make it through a haunted house or the rollercoaster ride, you’ve proven you’re “tough”. The emotions you feel when engaging with something scary are magnified when you’re with other people. That’s why scary movies make for a great group night—you can indulge in camaraderie to support each other.

Being scared shows you different aspects of yourself you typically may not notice. How do you respond to challenges? How do you handle anxiety? How careful or how brash are you? In some respects, how you respond to fear provides a mirror image of part of your inner self.

Happy Halloween! Remember, if all the ghoulish fun becomes too much, Nikken has an array of calming and balancing tools just for you, so you can relax with magnetic and tourmaline technologies—and of course, the Kenko Sleep System helps you rest after all that spookiness.

1 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-we-like-to-get- scared/#:~:text=Nonthreatening%20scary%20situations%20%E2%80%94%20like%20visiting,and%20do pamine%20in%20your%20brain.

Do You Know Who You Are?

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Who you are or your sense of identity, refers to your perception of the collection of characteristics that define you.1 Your abilities, beliefs, morals, likes and dislikes and everything that motivates or demotivates you, all contribute to your sense of who you are.

People who are clear about these many aspects of themselves generally have a strong sense of who they are, while those struggling to identify these characteristics may have a less defined sense of self.

Your identity affects your relationships, your work and your overall emotional health. When there isn’t a clear sense of self, you may find it difficult to make decisions, interact in group settings and in a nutshell, know what you want.

Sometimes groups help answer the question, “Who am I?” Membership in groups provides a sense of belonging, a social role which helps in identity. The “me” in who you are transforms into the “we” of belonging to a group. Not everyone enjoys group activities, but as the saying goes, “No man is an island.” At some point in time, you have to interact, develop relationships and bonds.

According to psychologists, groups usually outperform individuals; however, the other side of the coin is that groups tend to be underachievers. For example, a single person working on a paper will get less done in an hour than four students tackling the paper as a joint project. On the other hand, people exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone.2 Psychologists also found that people trying to generate creative new ideas in group brainstorming sessions usually put in less effort and are less productive than those creating new ideas individually.3

Whether you are a loner or more of the gregarious type, impacts your sense of who you are. Even people who choose to live separate and apart from others, may join groups to meet their psychological and social needs.4

As your sense of self evolves, ask what brings you happiness, what is your purpose in life and how do you live accordingly? Do your choices and decisions reflect your own true interests or someone else’s?

No matter how gregarious you are, alone time helps you get to know yourself better. So, be a team player, but also be independent. And if you’re interested in finding out more about who you are together with like-minded individuals, check out Humans Being More training online with Jeff Isom!

1 https://www.healthline.com/health/sense-of-self

2, 3, 4 https://nobaproject.com/modules/the-psychology-of-groups

Let’s Have Some Fall Fun!

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Fall is a wonderful season to tap into the child within you! You can delight in the cool weather with the changing colors of the leaves, and watch the beauty of nature transform all around you. Let’s make sure to participate in autumn’s seasonal pleasures!

•          Depending on where you live, fall is a great time to visit an apple orchard. Many will allow you to pick your own, and it comes out to be less costly than apples at a grocery store. This is an activity the whole family can enjoy together, and there’s a special joy to crunching down on a freshly picked apple.

•          October and November are pumpkin months. Pumpkins are not only nutritious and delicious, they make for some messy fun. When you dig the seeds out, save them for roasting!

Pumpkin-carving can be loads of fun, even amid the mess and slime! If you live where there are pumpkin carving contests, you’re probably already a pro! Now’s the time to indoctrinate the little ones. Don’t forget to make pumpkin pie and pumpkin stew.

•          Even if you live in the heart of a city and now anywhere near the countryside, autumn is a great time to try your hand at making a bird house. You can buy pre-made ones in many sizes and shapes and paint them, or if you’re handy at carpentry, start one from scratch. You’ll be amazed and happy when you hang it up and the birds come around—even outside an apartment building!

•          Visit an autumn harvest festival. If you live near any kind of agricultural center, there’s bound to be an autumn festival for you to attend. There will be lots of activities, possibly costumes, petting zoos, baking contests and more.

•          Make a fall wreath. Collect fallen leaves of a variety of hues, find acorns, pine cones, twigs, add seeds. Add dried flower petals and anything else your creative mind suggests. A wreath made from the gifts of nature is the most beautiful wreath of all.

•          Make it a point to take a nature walk as often as possible during the autumn months, if not for the visual delight, then for the sheer exhilaration of a brisk walk on a windy day.

•          Fall weather is soup weather. Make use of the abundance of squash (pumpkins are great in soup!) and add all your other favorite veggies. Spice it up and the whole family will love it.

•          Most people love cookies, but again, the cool autumn weather is great for being in a warm kitchen and creating the smell of freshly baked cookies! Even toddlers like to help out.

•          Do you have a farmer’s market in your area? Even if you don’t go to one regularly, go during the autumn months. You won’t be disappointed at the many varieties of fruit and vegetables. This is also the time of year where artisans come out with their crafts and rent stalls along with the farmers.

As you get cozy with autumn, remember that until year end, whenever you purchase a Kenko Naturest® Fit mattress topper you’ll receive a complimentary Kenko PowerSleep Mask. And, whenever you purchase a PiMag Waterfall®, you’ll get a box of 30 packets of delicious Kenzen Jade GreenZymes® Citrus as our treat!

Do You Follow Through?

Published on by Nikken

There are many types of people and each has notable strengths and weaknesses. Some naturally lead, others are strong in executing plans, and the rare ones do both. Regardless of your personality or strengths, follow-through is what propels you to closing the deal, completing a project, sealing a relationship, achieving a goal or honoring a commitment.

Knowing what you want to achieve is important, but setting a concrete deadline is equally crucial. Set a deadline that will drive you to follow through to ultimate success. The deadline should be one that you can work with, be accountable for and help you stay on track. Setting realistic, timely goals is the key to achieving them.

Often in our lives, not following through may have consequences. Follow-through may not always be pleasant, but without it, there is no reward. Here are a few tips to make follow-through easier:

•          Break tasks down into do-able parts. No task is too trivial to be part of the whole.

•          Do one thing at a time. This requires focus. Multi-tasking splits your focus and often ends with nothing being actually completed, and many things half-done.

•          Commit to completing a specific activity within a specified amount of time.

•          Think ahead and prioritize. What is most necessary to be done immediately vs. what can wait? Or, what can be completely crossed off your list?

•          Understand what motivates you. You are much more likely to follow through if you are motivated. Are you motivated by material rewards, emotional fulfillment, camaraderie, prestige, etc.? Once you determine what motivates you, you will be able to reward yourself accordingly.

•          Be real. Is there too much on your plate? Are you taking on too many things with too short a deadline? People-pleasers have the hardest time saying ‘No’ but it’s imperative to be realistic in order to follow through on what is most important.

•          Manage your time. There are 24 hours in the day and they are yours to schedule, so be clear on what activities require the most energy. Remember to factor in some down time so you can breathe, relax and keep burnout at bay.  This may require “padding” your blocks of times so you have a little extra leeway with each task.

Whether you’re easily distracted or totally engaged, follow-through is easier when you block time to work without having to answer calls, check social media or reply to emails. Distractions are everywhere, but remember that you are in control: you can mute the phone and shut off notifications on all devices. Let’s approach the final months of the year with determination and follow-through!

Source:

https://fellow.app/blog/productivity/ways-to-overcome-a-lack-of-follow-through/

Nature Cycles into the Autumn Equinox

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This year, the Autumn Equinox falls on September 23. The Autumn Equinox is the day of the year when day and night are almost equal in most locations on planet Earth. The term equinox comes from the Latin words “aequss” (equal) and “nox” (night).

Ancient cultures perceived the changing of the seasons as key points in the cycle of life in nature. Cultures around the world continue to celebrate the Autumn Equinox with different festivities. Consciously linking an awareness of the cycles of nature seems to help humankind understand our own inner cycles, as we try to evolve into the best versions of ourselves.

The Autumn Equinox is a meaningful time of the year, where people celebrate the harvest—symbolically, this can be reaping the rewards of the past year’s work, and physically, it really is a time that farmers bring in the bounty of their crops.

In nature, there are cycles of growth, harvest, death and rebirth. The same can be said of human cycles. The Autumn Equinox is a time to focus on what you have produced (reaped) and how you have benefited or prospered. It is a time to be conscious of what you have rather than what you lack.

Because the Autumn Equinox traditionally signals the end of the harvest season, it also sets the scene for you to activate a new cycle of growth. This is not only an ideal time to recognize and give thanks for the past seasons but also to evaluate, strategize and plan for the rest of the year. As we give thanks for what we have received, it’s an appropriate time to look back and see if we maintained balance in our lives and what changes may be needed.

As the seasons cycle, so do our energy levels. What worked in the warmer months may not be best for the approaching colder winter months. Physical energy may be channeled into intellectual energy. In other words, the warmer months may have been filled with physical activities, while the cooler months may lean more toward thoughtful learning.

What is your vision for the new seasonal cycle? Is it the same as it was earlier in the year or do you need to make space for a newer, possibly bigger vision? No matter your what your focus may be, enjoy the Autumn Equinox, the bounty the season brings and the inspiration for nature’s cycle heading toward the Winter Solstice!

Sources:

https://exploredeeply.com/live-your-purpose/the-spiritual-significance-of-autumn-equinox-in-our-modern-lives

https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/spiritual-meaning-autumn-equinox