“In the Andean highlands of Bolivia and Peru, the broom-like, purple-flowered goosefoot plant is spreading over the barren hillsides–further and further every spring. When it’s dried, threshed, and processed through special machines, the plant yields a golden stream of seeds called quinoa, a protein-rich foodstuff that’s been a staple of poor communities here for millennia. Now, quinoa exports have brought cash raining down on the dry land, which farmers have converted into new clothes, richer diets, and shiny vehicles.

But at the moment, the Andeans aren’t supplying enough of the ancient grain.”

Check out more from the Washington Post article here.

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner finds time every day to do nothing. And as one of the most powerful executives in the tech world, it’s certainly not because he isn’t busy: Weiner says that leaving gaps in his schedule is the “single most important productivity tool” he uses.

“As the company grows larger… you will require more time than ever before to just think,” Weiner wrote. “Think about what the company will look like in three to five years; think about the best way to improve an already popular product or address an unmet customer need…”

As Fast Company noted, too much “busyness” can get in the way of doing business well — and the failure to allow time for pausing and thinking could lead to a company’s lack of innovation.

Weiner isn’t the only one to advocate reducing busyness and slowing down as a way to optimize creativity and productivity. Author and entrepreneur Tim Ferriss wrote in The 4-Hour Workweek, “There’s a big difference between being productive and being busy. Instead of measuring the amount of work you do, measure results in terms of the amount of time, and eliminate the less important things that take forever.”

In addition to allowing companies be more successful we think “doing nothing” is key to limiting distractions and being content. Doing nothing will allow us to practice listening to ourselves and listening to our breath. It will allow us to acknowledge our Higher Power.

While reading Sharath’s notes from last week I was impressed by how much he talked about limiting distractions and acknowledging distractions around you. Paramahansa Yogananda also encouraged a generation to “do nothing and find God.” Maybe finding the “middle way” between being incredibly busy and not busy is pure for us as humans. Maybe not too…

Just 20 minutes of yoga could help your brain function better, according to a small new study.

Researchers found that people did better — both speed-wise and accuracy-wise — on brain functioning tests after just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga, compared with aerobic exercise.

“It appears that following yoga practice, the participants were better able to focus their mental resources, process information quickly, more accurately and also learn, hold and update pieces of information more effectively than after performing an aerobic exercise bout,” study researcher Neha Gothe, a professor of kinesiology, health and sport studies at the university, said in a statement. Gothe conducted the study while a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“The breathing and meditative exercises aim at calming the mind and body and keeping distracting thoughts away while you focus on your body, posture or breath. Maybe these processes translate beyond yoga practice when you try to perform mental tasks or day-to-day activities,” he added.

The study, published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, included 30 young female college students who underwent 20 minutes of yoga followed by meditation and deep breathing, as well as 20 minutes of aerobic exercise (jogging on a treadmill).

I think for those of us who practice it is obvious that yoga helps our brains, our bodies, and overall wellbeing. Personally, I think meditation sharpens my mind better than any other tool out there. Just one sun salutation a day could potentially make you smarter and sharper in the long run.

Do you guys have any other creative practices outside meditation/yoga/exercise/diet that you swear by? Please let us know in the comments or on twitter. 1 Love!

Via The Huffington Post

Lucid Practice Notes on The 5 People You Meet In Heaven

While traveling China, I found The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom on a hostel bookshelf. *Side note: Isn’t it funny the books that you find in hostels while traveling?

Paz and I had enjoyed Albom’s beautiful short book, Tuesdays with Morrie so I decided to read this book as well. When reading, I like to take notes so I can go back years later and essentially reread each book. I had found that it was difficult to remember all concepts and themes of books unless I diligently took notes and made a habit of going back every few months to reread. Do you utilize this practice while reading books?

Lucid Practice Notes on The 5 People You Meet In Heaven:

• Heaven is where you get to make sense of your yesterdays. Make your yesterday’s count.
• Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.
• All lives intersect in heaven.
• Heaven is where you spend and live your life. You cross paths with people you affected.
• Always forgive.
• Life has to end. Love doesn’t.

Certainly interesting and beautiful concepts. What did you learn from reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven? Let’s discuss the book in the comments section below.

We can spend so much time focused on what we can’t control that we get so caught up only in that, and as a result, we feel totally powerless over our life. And while it’s important to be aware of what’s wrong and what we cannot control, our power is not found there. Our power is found in focusing on what we can control. By focusing ONLY on the problem, we tend to create more “problem.” But, by being aware of the “problem” and then focusing on what can control, we begin to take our power back. If we don’t know what the solution is to our circumstance – let’s ask The Uni-verse.

Dear Uni-verse,
Please show me the solution to my problem. I know that you are guiding me to greater and greater experiences. I let go of the judgment of my situation and embrace the teachings that I am receiving. I trust You, even if I am scared. I let go of needing to know how things turn out and instead am grateful and excited for the RIDE. I know that things don’t always go my way and I CELEBRATE this because – when things go Your way, life flows in magnificent and glorious ways. I know that You have a greater vision for my life than I could ever imagine, and so I surrender to that vision daily. Show me my next steps and please help to give me the courage to feel the fear of taking that step and doing it anyway! I choose to embrace Your Love by giving EVERYTHING that happens in my life an empowering meaning. I know that together, We are unstoppable!

Love,
Me

When we make declarations and requests like this – magic starts to happen. We step out of our limited point of view and make ourselves open and available for even greater things to be. Today’s problem is tomorrow’s gift. Today’s snag in your plans or today’s major misfortune will be seen for what it is later – Grace. So instead of waiting for later to see this as Grace, step into the belief and mindset that what is happening – even though it wasn’t planned and it might seem scary – is awesome Grace from The Uni-verse.

Let go of the need to know how things END and enjoy the ride. Cuz when life ends – it’s over!
Let’s celebrate the journey today! Do you feel me?
As always, the action happens in the comments below, leave a comment and join the conversation! The TDL Community thrives in the comments and it’s a GREAT place to get support!

Love,
Mastin

Via Mastin Kipp and The Daily Love