![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/files\/2019\/06\/JS-DarkLoveHeader-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI love to play with tight language, which is why Haiku has always been my favorite poetic form<\/strong> (17 syllables and rigid rules, yet infinite possibilities). I also love the brutal simplicity of six-word essays, a format over which I obsessed in high school (see https:\/\/www.sixwordmemoirs.com<\/a> for more)<\/p>\n Since January I have attended 28 classes in my global Health Coach training program, and through those classes met doctors and practitioners from all over the world who addressed dozens of disease and treatment topics. It\u2019s impossible to hold it all — my head has exploded several times from taking in so much information.<\/p>\n Which is why I was doing self-therapy with six-word essays a few weeks ago and realized I could summarize reams of notes, hours of classroom discussion, and infinite internet resources into just six words<\/strong> that powerfully remind us how to prevent, treat, or mitigate just about any human malady: eat less, move more, sleep well.<\/em><\/p>\n I recently watched a TV show where bored family members in a hospital waiting room played a game: Name a food that is NOT made better by the addition of either cheese or chocolate.<\/strong> It\u2019s a long, hard game, because either or both of those ingredients can arguably improve the flavor or texture of just about anything (maybe not the health of, but we\u2019re talkin\u2019 chocolate here!)<\/p>\n I digress.<\/p>\n My point is that I defy you to name a physical or emotional human condition that is NOT made better by improving nutrition, moving the body, getting quality sleep, or any combination of two or all three of those.<\/strong> The answer is a null set.<\/p>\n It\u2019s both incredibly simple and incredibly difficult.<\/strong> (Which is why coaching helps, but I\u2019m not lecturing here, just reminding you that you already have access to these tools, even if you don\u2019t use them.)<\/p>\n Seduced by the reductionism of the six-word medium<\/strong>, I offer other musings on the human condition:.<\/p>\n Stand Tall, Breathe Deeply, Smile Often.<\/strong> Those who\u2019ve seen me speak on stage know this summary of my one-hour talk on Happiness. Do these three things and you will activate your body in new ways that can literally change your world.<\/p>\n You Become The Stories You Tell.<\/strong> Yes, expectations become reality. If your stories are of a terrible world filled with suffering and bad things, guess what you\u2019ll see around you every day? You can CHOOSE to create positive assessments about possibility and gratitude for what you have. P.S. be careful of listening too much to others\u2019 toxic stories, too, because contagious…<\/p>\n Cure Anxiety: Ask, \u201cWhat is true?\u201d<\/strong> Anxiety is when you are not sure what\u2019s coming, so you fill in the holes with catastrophic scenarios. Data is a powerful treatment for anxiety. What\u2019s real, what\u2019s true, what are the facts? And be careful that you do not mistake your stories for Truth.<\/p>\n Talk Less, Listen More, Be Clear.<\/strong> If someone asks how to become a better leader, this captures it all. Yes, we all know you\u2019re smart, but that\u2019s not your job anymore. Your job is to develop your team, and if you\u2019ve done a decent job of hiring, the people in your downstream are way smarter than you. As General Stanley McChrystal tells it in his TED talk<\/a>, a leader\u2019s job is to say, \u201cOur job is to take that hill. Go figure out how.\u201d Once you\u2019ve created clarity of vision\/mission, then sit back and listen.<\/p>\n Say Thanks, Correct With Courage, Care.<\/strong> The question I get asked all the time is, \u201cHow do we create a culture of Accountability?\u201d The answer is that you need to have two types of conversations regularly \u2013 make requests for what needs to be done, then close the accountability loop by either accepting the work or offering feedback where things did not turn out as well. And if you don\u2019t care, don\u2019t bother; people will see right thru you and disengage.<\/p>\nEat Less, Move More, Sleep Well<\/span><\/h2>\n
On Happiness:<\/span><\/h3>\n
On Leadership:<\/span><\/h3>\n
On Life:<\/span><\/h3>\n