In this episode of Cloud 9 Online’s MediMindful Moment Podcast, co-hosts Judith Dreyer, Jeff Nelder, and Henry Edinger interview Chris Salem, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, and CEO at EFA Movement. Chris talks about the fine line between kindness and compassion. He also shares how mindfulness plays a significant role in building a core foundation.
Episode Highlights:
Judith introduces Chris Salem. (00:44)
Chris shares that he’s working with executives to help build and scale their businesses and their brands by teaching them how to become trusted advisors in their business. (1:16)
Chris shares that finding the harmony between work and life can be difficult. (7:36)
Chris mentions that mindfulness plays a significant role in building the core of that foundation. (8:10)
Chris shares that a lot of times, people will experience frustration and stress because they tend to focus more on the elements that play into their weaknesses or on the things that they can’t control versus the things they can. (8:59)
Chris mentions the two habits that he always recommends for everyone which are meditation and journaling, daily. (10:46)
Chris mentions that he’s a big believer that mindfulness is the core nucleus of everything. (15:50)
Chris shares that mindfulness leads to clarity and clarity leads to the ability to make, calculated risks, learn from mistakes, make better decisions, and take action. (18:03)
Chris mentions that in reality, multitasking is counterproductive and, oftentimes, it doesn’t lead to sustainable results. (22:42)
Chris shares his advice with everyone is to control what you can and let go of what you can’t. (28:25)
Key Quotes:
“I’m a firm believer that any sustainable results that you seek in your life, in business, overall, start with the foundation, and it’s a process that when you go through the trials and tribulations of life and business, you approach it in a way that you could see the blessings and opportunities disguised and what you become as part of that process.” – Chris Salem
“To break these cycles, we as people have got to take responsibility for our own lives, our actions, our roles, and duties. We can’t assume and speculate somebody is going to help us do that. We’ve got to take that responsibility. That’s where change takes place.” – Chris Salem
“If we commit to it, controlling what we can do our part, and empowering people to do the same for themselves, we can come together interdependently over time, to be more productive, more efficient, more functional in terms of what we do, and why what we do to create a better environment around us.” – Chris Salem
In this episode of Cloud 9 Online’s MediMindful Moment Podcast, co-hosts Judith Dreyer, Jeff Nelder, and Henry Edinger interview Sixcia Devine, Founder and Creative Director of Caritas Smile. Sixcia talks about the program they launched called Caritas Smile and shares her three mindfulness tips.
Episode Highlights:
Judith introduces Sixcia Devine. (00:37)
Sixcia shares that what they do at Caritas Smile is they bring volunteers from all over the United States, travel to developing countries, and connect the volunteers on the ground with real service-learning opportunities. (1:25)
Sixcia mentions that Caritas Smile doesn’t only transform the lives of the volunteers, but it certainly transforms the lives of the communities they serve. (1:55)
Sixcia leads the mindful moment exercise. (4:53)
Sixcia thinks that the simple process of putting yourself in a position where you’re able to alleviate somebody’s pain and create vibrational love takes us out of the elements that we’re used to. (10:25)
Sixcia shares that the majority of their volunteers are from the United States. (10:49)
Sixcia mentions that the opportunities where you can put yourself in a position where you can help others, take you out of your own inner struggles. (12:31)
Sixcia shares that their program is typically a week-long, and they always include some kind of mindfulness meditation and yoga. (16:12)
Sixcia mentions their centering affirmation, “Today I let go of the endless need to understand everything and choose to love and embrace myself and humanity.”. (17:25)
Sixcia’s first mindfulness tip is to use music as a healing technique and as a mindful technique. (23:21)
Sixcia’s second mindfulness tip is to listen with compassion and courage to everything that’s happening in the world. (24:25)
Sixcia’s third mindfulness tip is breathing, feeling, and following your breath. (25:34)
Key Quotes:
“There’s a lot of work for us to do, but our program is 100% volunteer-based and it is truly an opportunity for people to become connected with nature, with humanity, and the purpose of our existence.” – Sixcia Devine
“At times, there are certain words that elicit an emotional response. So to your point, there are very powerful words, like embracing love and humanity, and we can hear it once and the feeling might come to us. But if we hear it three times, then the ability to connect that word, that content with feeling is stronger.” – Sixcia Devine
“When you start to see the real struggles or other struggles of other people that might be fighting poverty, that might be fighting hunger injustice, and if you extend that helping hand like, I think it changes the way you perceive life and your whole purpose in life. And I think that also helps to clarify your life’s mission.” – Sixcia Devine
In this episode of Cloud 9 Online’s MediMindful Moment Podcast, co-hosts Judith Dreyer, Jeff Nelder, and Henry Edinger interview Richard Tyler, R.Ph, Pharmacist at Westown Pharmacy. Rich talks about his career in the pharmaceutical industry and his experiences working in an independent community pharmacy.
Episode Highlights:
Judith introduces Richard Tyler. (0:38)
What does Rich see in his workplace? (1:03)
Rich mentions that he prefers to work in an independent community pharmacy. (1:22)
Rich shares that COVID-19 has changed them in many ways as an independent pharmacy. Because they extended their services in the big box stores with their delivery, and their community outreach services have dramatically increased. (1:38)
Rich shares that they’re a solid team that has been together for a long time and everybody knows each other personally, and professionally. (2:12)
Judith shares that Rich has the wisdom and the experience, for the history of some medications that most of us don’t have. (3:28)
Rich thinks that pharmacists nowadays are more academic than it was back in 1977. (4:00)
Judith mentions that Rich has a great reputation in the community. (4:22)
Rich mentions that his first job was in a small retail independent pharmacy. (4:39)
Jeff proceeds with the mindful moment exercise. (6:45)
How is Rich helping himself to stay mindful when the interactions are changing? (9:33)
What is Rich doing to help their staff mindful of the fact that the world’s changing around them and they’re at steady state for the customers? (9:44)
Rich shares that he’s a firm believer of leading by example. (10:05)
Henry shares that if somebody’s having anxiety, making them stabilize is one of the most significant aspects, and taking a few deep breaths. (12:17)
What are some of Rich’s daily practices, before going into the pharmacy, with the right mindset? (12:42)
What role does Rich notice that mind-body connection plays in people’s lives these days, whether it’s on the team, or in terms of the people coming in? (16:31)
Rich mentions that everybody’s a little frightened, and when the fear comes to them, they lose their way. (16:53)
Rich shares that it’s necessary to recognize who you’re dealing with. Because some people are more open to suggestions than others. (19:03)
Judith shares that staying true to our way of working, and how we want to be for people is what matters in the long run. (20:33)
Judith mentions what she loves about their podcasts and the MediMindful team is that they try to walk their talk, with what they’re doing. (20:47)
Based on everything that’s happening, does Rich have any tips for everybody? (21:39)
Henry shares that if everyone could do a little more introspection, the whole world would be so much better. (22:24)
Rich mentions that pharmacies are an accessible part of the healthcare system. (25:35)
Jeff mentions that the more time we spend present, the more time we spend awake, the more we appreciate how powerful and fulfilling it is to have that level of compassion without having the ego in it. (27:24)
Key Quotes:
“Sometimes you have to grow with the times and stay current. I think we do a pretty good job of telling people, informing people, and keeping people in the loop of what has to happen and what’s going to occur for them.” – Richard Tyler
“We’re all humans. If I have a bad day and I bring it to the pharmacy, and I spike up in emotional outbursts, then everybody goes downhill quick and spirals down. So you have to recognize that they’re looking to you to be the rock, so to speak, and the basis to be mindful, and to be present with the situation that’s occurring and move forward with that.” – Richard Tyler
“Not everybody can be athletic, yoga wise. But if you can just bring your breath, your focus to the center, then you’re in a good place right there.” – Richard Tyler
“You guys are all involved in the mindfulness, and that’s what this is about. Just breathing, staying present, knowing we can’t change the world but, we can do our best to try and make it a little bit better, every day.” – Richard Tyler
I am excited to share with you a summary of the many organizations reflected in many of these podcast interviews. Dedicated folks, a part of organizations that seek ways to help with climate change, be a messenger for solutions each in their own way. They inspire and give me hope that when each of us contributes however big or small the step, we make a difference. Join me now for a summary of their mission and their talents. I enjoyed making this summary because each one reminds me that passion, doing what we love, taking a chance, looking outside the box is invigorating and rewarding.
” If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” Nikola Tesla
I taught holistic health studies at a state university for several years. I found it puzzling to realize how little most folks knew about complementary and alternative modalities (CAM). We had fun exploring the different types of healing modalities that were not routinely taught in medical schools though today that is changing.
I intended to inspire them to look beyond the western medical model, based on pharmaceuticals and surgery. And when we concluded I reminded them that color and sound vibration were the medicines of the future.
My podcast guest this week, Ed Cleveland, an advanced Gong practitioner, Holographic Sound Teacher with advanced training in 5 Elements Healing from a Bonpo perspective, is a remarkable sound healing practitioner. I scheduled a visit with Ed to experience first hand the range of instruments, singing bowls, gongs and more that he mentioned.
He reminded me of my holistic classes. Students could choose to research sound as a healing modality and they often did. I hoped their research opened doors within them that sound vibration, for example, was not new and held gifts for healing.
Pythagoras prescribed music as medicine and believed that musical intervals are clear experiences of sacred geometry. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that showed music/sound was effective for both patients and caregivers helping to soothe, relieve stress. Music and sound have an impact on addiction recovery, chronic pain and releasing stress and anxiety.
Sound healing includes many instruments – crystal bowls, singing bowls, gongs, drums, flutes and more. My experience with sound healing proved to be soothing, relaxing and the variety of sounds that can be created from a large gong is nothing short of amazing.
Look for a sound practitioner with a Bonpo background. Ed used sounds that correlated to the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. I felt the wings of a bird, heard the tides coming in and out, aware of the drumbeat of the earth. All in all, it was awesome.
Sound vibration healing is making its way into our awareness and our choices. The ancient ones knew this. Shamans from long times past to the present used drumbeats in specific patterns to enter more trance states. Each culture whether using drums and flutes, didgeridoos, harps or metal bowls, chanting grasped the value of sound healing. I hope you will consider visiting a sound healing practitioner in your area. I would love to hear how sound affects you and in what ways? Thanks. Your comments are always appreciated. Enjoy. Judith
Muscle testing or Applied Kinesiology (AK) has been around for at least 50+ years. A practitioner uses muscle strength testing to determine what ails you.
I first heard about this practice through a naturopathic physician. Naturopathic physicians or ND’s are licensed here in Ct and several other states. They are recognized as valid medical physicians and are licensed to practice medicine. Where they differ is in their scope of study. They take the same anatomy, chemistry, physiology classes that MD’s do. However, homeopathy, natural medicines and more are part of their curriculum including counselling (which from personal experience typically makes them good listeners).
When my younger son was 3 and 1/2 years old I brought him to a chiropractor who then had me work with a nutritionist. We did blood testing as she suspected food allergies. He tested + for over 20 foods. Somehow that didn’t seem right to me and I sought Naturopathic Doctor who used muscle testing and foods to determine which ones could be causing problems. Seven foods tested positive, two of which we rarely ate. I decided to remove the remaining foods: milk, soy, sugar, citrus.
Hopeful, I went home and tossed white sugar out the door and learned to cook with pure apple juice sweetener, rice syrup, barley syrup and organic flours. It was a process but after a year, including bringing in his snacks to school and parties, he was much improved.
Within 72 hours of stopping milk, soy, sugar and citrus he was like a new person. He was a typical allergy child: restless sleeper, cranky, reddish circles under his eyes, frequent colds. Three days later, he slept soundly and had a better mood. Eventually, his stamina and foundational health improved. If I had not experienced muscle testing firsthand I might still be sceptical. It worked for him and for me too.
Dr Weil offers a look at AK, muscle strength testing: “Kinesiology, also known as biomechanics, is the study of body movement. Applied kinesiology (AK) which is also know as muscle strength testing, is a method of diagnosis and treatment based on the belief that various muscles are linked to particular organs and glands, and that specific muscle weakness can signal distant internal problems such as nerve damage, reduced blood supply, chemical imbalances or other organ or gland problems. Practitioners contend that by correcting this muscle weakness, you can help heal a problem in the associated internal organ”
Folks like my podcast guest, Lana Nelson and her husband, Dr Nelson, have personally experienced success with patients and clients with health issues using AK. Many Naturopathic physicians use AK in their practices. Since AK began in the chiropractic field, many chiropractors are trained in AK and use it to determine which areas on the spine to adjust to achieve positive health effects.
Have you used AK? If so I would love to hear about your health responses. Thanks. Judith
Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, Writer, Speaker, and Workshop Presenter, Master Gardener.
helping to soothe, relieve stress. Music and sound have an impact on addiction recovery, chronic pain and releasing stress and anxiety.
movement. Applied kinesiology (AK) which is also know as muscle strength testing, is a method of diagnosis and treatment based on the belief that various muscles are linked to particular organs and glands, and that specific muscle weakness can signal distant internal problems such as nerve damage, reduced blood supply, chemical imbalances or other organ or gland problems. Practitioners contend that by correcting this muscle weakness, you can help heal a problem in the associated internal organ”
