All posts by Michael Stanwyck

Well-Being Is a Universe

How to Live Each Day in the Context of Well-Being

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When you think about “getting healthy,” what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you probably picture some kind of gym, a workout, and a vegetable-laden meal. Maybe a printout from doctor with “acceptable” numbers.

We see this vision because we’re conditioned to think that health and wellness occur in certain locations in our lives — the gym, the salad bar, the doctor’s office.…

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People Who Matter: Lifestyle Practice

People Who Matter: Lifestyle Practice

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This Week, Think About the People Who Matter

Simple Instructions:

  1. Each day, write down one person in your life who is important to you.
  2. Then write down why this is person important — what does this person mean to you, what is added to your life, and how does this person bring you joy or value?
  3. If you are so inspired, send your thoughts to this person, but it’s not required.
…
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Get Rid of It: Lifestyle Practice

Get Rid of It: Lifestyle Practice

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Get Rid of 1 Thing Each Day This Week

Simple Instructions:

  1. Each day, identify one thing that is no longer useful, relevant, purposeful, or bringing you the enjoyment it once did – and get rid of it.
  2. The item might be buried in a closet or it might be sitting in plain sight.
  3. Consider not only the things you’ve forgotten about, but also the things that may have once meant something that no longer represent what they once did, even if they have material value.
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Do Something You Love: Lifestyle Practice

Do Something You Love: Lifestyle Practice

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Do Something You Love Each Day This Week

Simple Instructions:

  1. Take at least 10 minutes each day to do something you love.
  2. It does not need to have any practical purpose. You can do it simply because you love it.
  3. You can choose something different each day.

Watch this video for an explanation of this Lifestyle Practice from Whole Life Challenge co-founders Andy Petranek and Michael Stanwyck.…

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Brain Toss: Lifestyle Practice

Brain Toss: Lifestyle Practice

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Practice a “Brain Toss” Each Day This Week

Simple Instructions:

  1. At any point during the day, when you find yourself with at least one or two things rolling around in your head that you can’t or don’t want to act on immediately, stop and make note of them — “toss” them out of your brain.
  2. Once you start your “brain toss,” give yourself about five minutes to dig for anything else that might come to mind.
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Intentional Acts of Kindness: Lifestyle Practice

Intentional Acts of Kindness: Lifestyle Practice

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Perform Acts of Kindness Each Day This Week

Simple Instructions:

  1. Each day, perform a simple act of kindness toward anyone in your world — friend, family member, acquaintance, or stranger.
  2. The acts have no size requirement. Small acts are as important as grand gestures.
  3. The acts need not cost any money.
  4. You must perform the act intentionally to receive the point.
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Why We Judge and How to Turn It Into Something Good

Why We Judge and How to Turn It Into Something Good

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Let’s be honest: it’s so, so easy to slap a judgment on someone.

  • “He’s annoying.”
  • “She’s always late.”
  • “She’s messy.”
  • “He’s so selfish.”
  • “S/he’s [insert adjective here].”

    • You’ve said (or thought) something similar before, and chances are you’ll say or think something similar again (who knows, maybe even later today). You’ve judged and been judged.

    And so has everyone else you know.…

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    The Big 4: Lifestyle Practice

    The Big 4: Lifestyle Practice

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    Take a Break From the Big 4 Each Day This Week

    Simple Instructions:

    1. Limit your time on the Big 4 social media platforms — Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook (not including Messenger) — to one visit each day.
    2. You may visit all of them, but you may only make a single visit per platform.
    3. Once you leave in any way — close the app, navigate away, even switch browser tabs (that’s right, you can’t keep it open in a tab and revisit that tab repeatedly and count that as a single visit) — your time on that platform is done for the day.
    …
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    Support Your Teammates: Lifestyle Practice

    Support Your Teammates: Lifestyle Practice

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    Support Your Teammates Each Day This Week

    Simple Instructions:

    1. Each day, comment on the reflections of at least three team members.
    2. You may offer support, congratulations, tips, advice, or anything you think will contribute to their experience.
    3. If you aren’t playing on a team, you can use the World Reflection feed or even find a team to join — there are lots of open, virtual teams!
    …
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    Journaling for 10 Minutes: Lifestyle Practice

    Journaling for 10 Minutes: Lifestyle Practice

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    Practice 10 Minutes of Journaling Each Day This Week

    Simple Instructions:

    1. Sit down for 10 minutes each day and write in a handwritten journal.
    2. Use any kind of journaling you like. Choose something that suits your needs and personal style. Some examples are a diary-type reflective journal, stream-of-consciousness, “free form” writing, or Artist’s Way morning pages.
    3. You can also use any of the journal cues provided below.
    …
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    Choose Your Own: Lifestyle Practice

    Choose Your Own: Lifestyle Practice

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    Choose Your Own Lifestyle Practice for This Week

    Simple Instructions:

    1. Look back over the last seven weeks of Lifestyle Practices, choose one, and repeat it this week. It could be one you liked the best, got the most benefit from, or found the most challenging and want another try.
    2. You may also choose a Lifestyle Practice from a previous Whole Life Challenge if you have an old favorite.
    …
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    Keep a Daily Journal: Lifestyle Practice

    Keep a Daily Journal: Lifestyle Practice

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    This Week You’ll Keep a Daily Journal

    Simple Instructions:

    1. Sit down for 10 minutes each day and write in a handwritten journal.
    2. Use any kind of journaling you like. Choose something that suits your needs and personal style. Some examples are a diary-type reflective journal, stream-of-consciousness, “free form” writing, or Artist’s Way morning pages.
    3. You can also use any of the journal cues provided below.
    …
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