Opportunity and Responsibility

Corporations have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to make an impact on the communities where their employees live and work, but many business leaders, fearing that the process will be expensive and antithetical to a company’s bottom line, are deterred from creating community partnerships.

You may think that corporations are already leading the way in nonprofit funding. Think again. The vast majority of nonprofit funding comes from wealthy individual donors or foundations. According to Charity Navigator, in 2014, donations from individuals accounted for roughly 75 percent of all donations. Add gifts from bequests and family foundations, which are essentially gifts from individuals, and the category accounts for nearly 90 percent of all giving.

According to the Small Business Administration, there were 27.9 million small businesses and 18,500 firms with 500 employees or more in the United States in 2010. Imagine if each of these businesses had a charitable giving or philanthropic program. The impact they could make by working with nonprofits and community groups to solve social, environmental, and financial issues could be tremendous. Indeed, for decades human resources professionals and business leaders have been alert to the importance and impact of Corporate Social Responsibility. Numerous articles, white papers, and books discuss why it’s in a company’s best interest to adopt charitable giving as part of a business strategy. Yet when it comes to the how of creating such a program, the available information either skims the surface or targets only large corporations with big budgets. As a result, many smaller to mid-sized companies are dissuaded from starting giving programs and getting involved in their community because they incorrectly assume that they don’t have enough money and/or resources to make a meaningful impact.

No effort is too small, but getting started can feel daunting.  That’s why I wrote A Million Dollars in Change.  I want to help you get started.  Sign up for updates on my book's release date and keep an eye on this blog for more information and tips for engaging your employees in community service.  You can also reach out to me directly with questions about starting a program.  Click on "Contact" for information on how to reach me directly.

Your Little Corner of Zen

It’s important to create a calming environment at work.  We spend 40 (or more) hours at work each week, so our environment should be one that allows us to be productive while maintaining balance and peace of mind.   I like to decorate my office in a way that invites people in and makes them want to stay a while.   In fact, many tend to linger after meetings citing the “calming effect” of the decor.   Personalization makes our workspace less sterile and inspires creative thinking, which leads to more engagement.

Here is a photo of one of the corners of my office.   Of course cheerful decor can't make up for a toxic work environment, and if this is what you are experiencing then you must make your health a priority by removing yourself from that situation.  Toxicity and stress takes its toll on your mental and physical well-being over time.  So take yourself out of it, even if it means leaving.  You come first.

PS - the votives are flameless ;-)

The Law of Attraction

Do you see the heart in the orange?  I tend to see heart shapes often, in many forms in nature and other settings.  Random appearances of heart shapes are very common for me. 

Energy is powerful.  The energy we create with our thoughts, words, and actions doesn't just affect us.  It affects everyone and everything around us.  The Law of Attraction says that “like attracts like”.   What this means is that we attract the same energy to into our lives that we emit.   If we focus on negativity we will attract negativity and negative experiences.   Positivity attracts positive energy and experiences.  

The most powerful and healing energy is love.   If we focus on love, in all its forms, we attract loving and healing energy into our lives.   Meditation strengthens our ability to focus and channel energy to help calm, heal, and restore our mind, body and spirit.  Whether you mediate or not, take a few minutes each day to think about something that makes you happy.  Focus on a positive thought or a happy memory.  Do this each day.   Then watch your life change!

Happy Sunday

Reflections

Writing in a journal is one of my favorite ways to unwind after a long day.   It's great for capturing reflections on life - the happy moments, lessons learned, observations, and everything in between. I keep mine near my bed so that I can also write down any inspirational thoughts and “a-ha!” moments that may come to me in the wee hours of the night.  I like to draw in my journals as well.  I have found journaling to be a very centering and calming exercise. 

Do you journal?  If so, what are some of the things you like to capture in yours?  Here's a photo of one of mine.   A journal doesn't have to be fancy like this one to serve its purpose.  In fact, my others have been plain leather-bound books and even Composition notebooks.  I confess that Composition notebooks are my favorite, and I’ve filled quite a few of those over the years!

Believe

"What good is an idea if it remains an idea?  Try. Experiment. Iterate. Fail. Try again. Change the world." - Simon Sinek

Do you have an idea that can change the world?  How will you implement it?  Never doubt that you can make a difference.  No voice is too small.  There is no limit to what you can achieve - if you believe.

I believe in you.

'Tis The Season To Be... Sad?

It’s a time of joy, merriment, and festive gatherings.   A time to catch up with relatives and friends we may not have the chance to see often during the year.   A warm glow fills our hearts and nourishes our souls.  It truly is the most wonderful time of the year….

Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?  The reality is that for many people the holidays are anything but merry.  Now I’m not trying to bring you down.  This is a positive place and our goal is to find joy in every day.  But the truth is that a great number of individuals suffer from depression during the holidays, and for a wide variety of reasons.  So I want to take a moment to acknowledge this fact and also provide some information that might help someone you know, or help you, get through this tough time of year.

The first thing I want to say is that it's important that you acknowledge what you are feeling.  Also, understand that what you are feeling is real.  It is not imagined, it is not "silly" or "ridiculous".  It is real and it is not at all trivial.  If you should find yourself giving in to the stress of trying to pull off the perfect holiday for your family, or you are feeling down because you are single, or are lonely because your loved ones are far away or have passed on, know that you are not alone.  Know, too, that there are ways to cope with these feelings.  Mayo Clinic offers some great advice which includes setting realistic goals for yourself when it comes to hosting the holidays at your home, or attending social gatherings.  I'll provide the link to that and other information at the end of this post.   

But I want to focus on the sadness that people face when they are alone at the holidays.  It’s something I think about all the time when I gather with my family and I am sure I am not the only one who does.   There are many people who are alone because they are unable to travel long-distance to see family or they may be elderly and have no surviving relatives or friends.  If you know someone that falls into this category, make an effort to reach out to them during the holidays to check-in and ask how they are doing.  Perhaps stop by and pay them a visit.  Or invite them to your house for a visit.  Send a Christmas card, an e-mail, or my personal favorite – call them on the phone.    Connecting with people does wonders to lift a person’s mood and if they have limited contact with people to begin with, your card or call will be especially welcome.

If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from loneliness and depression at the holidays, take heart.  According to Robert Leahy, Ph.D. Director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York City, "you may feel alone, but you are not.  Forty-five percent of the adult population (104 million people) is single.  Twenty-seven percent of households are a person living alone."  A study conducted in the UK in 2014 found that 25,000 elderly people were alone at Christmas.  While the statistics might make us feel a little better knowing that others share our sadness, they do little in the way of providing actual benefit to our well-being.  It’s also very hard to turn off the negative thoughts when you have all day to focus on them because you aren’t attending all the parties and gatherings.  But there is something to be said for keeping busy.  Because keeping busy takes our focus off of those repetitive negative thoughts, even for a little while.

Filling up time with activities that are joyful in nature may seem nearly impossible for a person who finds no joy in the holidays, I get it.  But it is possible.  The bonus is that it is also good for your health.  One of the best ways to keep busy in a way that is productive and meaningful is to volunteer.  In fact, volunteering has been shown to have positive health benefits on those who give and devote their time to helping others.  Studies have shown that volunteering and giving in general improves our mental and physical well-being.  A recent study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Services in Washington, DC found that “volunteer activities can strengthen the social ties that protect individuals from isolation during difficult times, while the experience of helping others leads to a sense of greater self-worth and trust.”   There are many benefits which are detailed in the study, which I have provided a link for below in addition to another conducted in 2006 by the National Institutes of Health.  This fascinating research studied MRIs of subjects and found that giving released endorphins which in turn had a positive effect on the feelings of those who gave.  Volunteering has been shown to decrease stress levels and help with depression, as evidenced in the findings of the two studies mentioned here.

Ready to give it a try?  There are a number of opportunities to make a difference in your community.  Here are a few suggestions:                

• Your local soup kitchen could use help serving meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

• There are many families who are in need of help and could use some holiday cheer.  Reaching out to your local Social Services office or Salvation Army is a great way to obtain the name of a family in need.  Many run “Adopt a Family” programs for the holidays.

• Your local place of worship may need volunteers for various holiday drives and services

• Nursing homes are always in need of volunteers.  Look into events that are taking place during the holidays or on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  For many seniors, this may be the only time they receive visitors. 

• Meals on Wheels and other food rescue organizations like America’s Second Harvest can provide you with information on volunteering, or which organizations may need help delivering meals to home bound individuals.

• Many military families could use holiday cheer.  Children of deployed men and women serving overseas are missing their mothers and fathers.  Organizations like Operation Gratitude can provide you with information on how you can bring some holiday joy to military families this season.

•  Veterans in hospitals or residences could benefit from a visit or some help.  Reach out to your local VA or other non-profit veteran’s organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

The most important thing to remember is that there is always help if you need it, and an opportunity to help others in need.   Click on the links below for more information on coping with the holiday blues and how volunteering can bring you and those you help joy.  Of course, if you feel that your depression is overwhelming please seek help.  There are professionals available 24/7 to assist you.  This link will provide you with important numbers to call: 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/lifetime-connections/201611/3-holiday-depression-myths

Additional links:

http://www.dana.org/Briefing_Papers/Holiday_Blues__Getting_the_Facts__Forgetting_the_Myth/

http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/25-ways-find-joy-balance-during-holidays#1

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544

Here are the links to the two studies I referenced:

https://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0506_hbr.pdf

http://content.timesleaderonline.com/?p=568523/Giving-back-brings-joy-to-local-volunteers.html/

Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season!

There are endless possibilities for making a lasting impact in our community when we work together.   

GIVING THANKS AND GIVING BACK

Thanksgiving is a great time to volunteer with family.  If you're looking for ways to help in your local community, please visit the link below:

https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/index.jsp?l=united+states&k=thanksgiving

You can also reach out to your local soup kitchen or social services office to find out how you can assist them this holiday season.  

Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving.