Newsletter-January2007

At this time of year, many people make resolutions to eat healthier foods and exercise their bodies...but what about your mind? When is the last time you resolved to stretch your thinking and exercise the most sophisticated tool that you have at your disposal - your brain?

Janet Stewart-Lussier

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It's so easy to slide into your routines - maintain the status quo - be predictable. But what about challenging your paradigms? Pushing your thinking beyond its current levels?

Routine can be useful - we know what to expect, and that can bring with it a certain comfort. But routine can also cause us to miss opportunities that are staring right at us. We're so busy "just going along" that sometimes we forget to stop and ask "what if" questions...or look at things from a different perspective - through a different set of filters.

What can you do to stretch your thinking and exercise your mind as you embark on a new year? Here are some suggestions:

	Read a book - not just any book. Go to the library or your favourite book store and find something that you might not usually select.
	Research other cultures. Find out about their traditions, economies and customs. Tap into the diversity of your friends and colleagues. Ask open-ended questions to find out more about the richness of their backgrounds.
	Take up a new hobby - something that requires you to learn new skills or knowledge. Consider taking a course that you've always been interested in, but never found the time to register for.