Relationship Between Numeracy and Music Curriculum

Relationship Between Numeracy and Music Curriculum 1.1 Introduction Numeracy and music have been linked together as far back to medieval times. This link goes back as far the Quadrivium possibly even further. The quadrivium were a set of subjects or topics (which were grounded on the trivium of grammar, dialect and rhetoric) that were covered daily. The quadrivium involved four subject areas including Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music. Music was studied in connection with arithmetic and in turn became a mathematical discipline (Wang, 2014). The current focus of numeracy can be viewed through the workings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and their Programme for International student Assessment (PISA) which is carried out every 3 years (OECD, n.d.). Irelands results in 2009 had dropped below the OECD average which led the Irish Government with the task of creating a new strategy to help enhance numeracy skills. The Literacy and numeracy for learning and life (2011) was created to help improve literacy and num eracy standards among children and young people in the education system (Department of Education and Skills, 2011). Currently, Ireland ranks 13th of 35 OECD countries, 9th in the EU and 18th out of all countries that took part in the assessment. This thesis brings forward valuable insights into the area of numeracy with a particular focus on the promotion of numeracy in the music curriculum. The researcher wanted to examine numeracy strategies/ideas that could be promoted and developed in the classroom. The key questions that were considered before this research was undertaken were; 1) What is numeracy and how is it related to Music? 2) Is numeracy important in the music classroom? and 3 how can numeracy strategies be developed in the music classroom? 1.2 Chapter layout The first part has introduced the reader to the research area and why this research topic was undertaken. Chapter 2 will look at the literature used in this research around numeracy and music in Ireland. It will look literature from and Irish context as well as other countries. Chapter 3 will focus on the methodologies employed by the researcher. It will outline the approach the researcher took in order to gather data and what the restrictions were in completing it. Chapter 4 will look at the findings of the research and will evaluate what was made of those findings. It will focus on discussing what happened and if anything changed. Exploring quantitative analysis in calculating results of the research topic. Chapter 5 will be a discussion around what was happened. It will explore research as to what happened and why it happened. It will look at whether or not the test were reliable and have they are valid. Chapter 6 will conclude any arguments that the researcher has brought up. It will conclude the research by highlighting the possibility of any future research around the area. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction The purpose of this research topic is to explore numeracy in music education and consider the implementation of a numeracy strategy that can improve numeracy abilities in the post-primary curriculum. The goal is to look at whether or not numeracy is being developed through these strategies or naturally in the students learning. The aim of this section is to explore the most current literature around numeracy strategies and the implementation of said strategies into the post-primary curriculum. Looking at research from an Irish context is key but this section will also look at other countries and the numeracy strategies that they have implemented. This section begins by looking at the various definitions of numeracy that are used around in different education systems. It will then focus on the literature around music and numeracy and how the two are linked. 2.2 Numeracy What is numeracy? There are many definitions as to what numeracy is and what it relates to. O Donoghue (2002, p.48) notes aspects of numeracy as Basic computational arithmetic, essential mathematics, social mathematics, survival skills for everyday life, quantitative literacy, mathematical literacy and an aspect of mathematical power. The Programme for International student Assessment (PISA) (2009,p 14) define numeracy as An individuals capacity to identify and understand the role that mathematics plays in the world, to make well-founded judgements and to use and engage with mathematics in ways that meet the needs of that individuals life as a constructive, concerned and reflective citizen. The Department of Education and Skills introduced The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy for Learning and Life (2011) and define numeracy as the ability to use mathematics to solve problems and meet the demands of day-to-day living    These definitions are accurate in nature and for the purpose of this paper, the researcher will focus on the holistic approach of using mathematics to solve problems and meet the demands of day to day living. This is the definition the researcher deems accurate for the aim of this research question. There are key skills that are outlined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) (2015) that aim to promote student wellbeing. The approach mentioned previously encompasses all of the key skills associated with the junior cycle. It has a close link with the skills of being numerate, staying well, managing information and thinking and communicating. By stating this, the researcher is not excluding the possibility that numeracy does not cross between all of the key skills. On a deeper level, numeracy incorporates three different types of knowledge. Beginning with Mathematical Knowledge (Foundation of numeracy) leading to Contextual Knowledge (The ability to apply the foundation skills) and finally to Strategic Knowledge (the flexibility to use the previous knowledge to solve strategic problems. 2.3 PISA Assessment PISA or The Programme for International Student Assessment is an assessment conducted every 3 years with students from 65 different countries at the age of 15. The assessments focus on students proficiency in the areas of Reading, Science and Mathematical Literacy. It takes a different focus every year with the process repeating itself every 3 years. In 2003 and 2012, Mathematical literacy was the primary focus of assessment. In the figure below, it is clear to see how well Ireland has done over the years. Cosgrove et al. (2013) however found that although it is positive that Irelands performance has not decreased between 2003 and 2012, it must be noted that there has been a decline by other OECD countries which could have resulted to Irelands placement in 2009. In recent years, the Irish Government has many strategies and frameworks to help deal with the under-performance of students. The National Strategy to improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 (2011) emphasises that all students should leave school numerate and focuses on the fact that literacy and numeracy are among the most important life skills that our schools teach. No child should leave school without having mastered these skills to the best of their abilities. The main research areas of this document focus on Enabling parents and communities to support childrens literacy and numeracy development, Improving teachers and ECCE practitioners professional practice, Building the capacity of school leadership, Improving the curriculum and learning experience, Helping students with additional learning needs to achieve their potential and Improving assessment and evaluation to support better learning in literacy and numeracy (Department of Education and Sk ills, 2011, p. 3). The strategy outlines clear objectives regarding what needs to be accomplished and outlines a timeline for plans to be made in order for these objectives to succeed. However the can be some issues with this strategy. It recommends that teachers partake in CPD for 20 hours over a 5 year period and resources have been aimed at DEIS schools which can be seen with the Junior Cert School Programme (JCSP). 2.4 International Advances Looking at this from an international view, the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO, 2012) understand that even when a student finishes their education, they still lack the required knowledge and skills that are associated with mathematics. Conway and Sloane (2005, p.15) determine two main concerns in international trends in mathematics education, poor levels of understanding and achievement gaps and the need for 21st century skills. These are respectively called the push and pull factors. Zawojewski and McCarthy (2007) have commented on the ramifications of introducing a strategy that would see students actively engage with rich everyday applications of their mathematics. Other Relevant literature This research paper will aim to focus on the importance of numeracy in the classroom and how a music teacher can improve the numeracy ability of the students in class. As this research focuses on different strategies, the researcher focused on numeracy strategies that have been created and implemented in different countries. This in itself provided the researcher with a broad sense of where they wanted to go and how they were to go about it. One of the first documents that was researched was the Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life (2011) which was document that was published by the Department of Education and Skills in direct response to the PISA results. This document highlights a lot of really fair points regarding the development of literacy and numeracy in the education of students, but it is far more biased towards the literacy than the numeracy. Surprisingly enough, every time the word numeracy was searched just before it was the term literacy. Yes they are a combining factor but they represent two very different themes in the world of developing the educational needs and skills of each student. Getting the students to realise the connections between music and numeracy will help them to engage with what they are learning. In conjunction with the literacy and numeracy strategy, this research paper will draw from different methodologies and perspectives of music teachers and education specialists. Diverse Methodologies in the Study of Music Teaching and Learning (2008)covers a broad range of research subjects that researcher drew ideas from. A large number of the chapters present in this book are based on practiced based research in the classroom. As the research is focused on students in first year one article in which the researcher drew valuable insights from was First-Year Teachers and Methods Classes: Is there a connection? By Margaret Schmidt. This study examined the ways that three first year string teachers applied a song-teaching method emphasized in their junior-year. (Schmidt, 2008, p. 67) Schmidt focuses on the students developments but focuses on the teachers and how they need to be continually developing as teachers. Growing from these ideas Brown explored Actualising Potential in the Classroom: Moving from Practicing to be Numerate Towards Engaging in the Literature Practice of Mathematics and stated all students should have access to mathematical knowledge (Brown, 2011). He writes about transforming numeracy into literacy through engaging in mathematical practice. One way that this could be addressed is through practical performance. Students could be introduced to a numerical concept and that a musical performance activity could be introduced to structure the concept and could also help to refocus or clear up any misconceptions that the learners may have. Brown writes about mathematical literacy in a social context and getting the students to associate mathematical language with everyday concepts. This refers back to the literacy and numeracy strategy where the aim is to improve students numeracy abilities through linking it to outside experiences. Mathematics and Music by David Wright explores all the variations of number sequences, logarithms, music intervals, scales, octave identification, timbre and even tuning all of which can be replicated in the classroom. This book will form a basis in this research on how to promote numeracy in the classroom and how numeracy can be developed. According to Wright Mathematics attempts to understand conceptual and logical truthMusic evokes mood and emotion by the audio medium of tones and rhythmsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Therefore it is not surprising that the symbiosis of the two disciplines is an age old story. (Wright, 2009, p. v) Numeracy is not mentioned in the curriculum which is a sign that the curriculum itself needs to be updated. David Elliott writes that there are numerous concepts of what curriculum is and what it means and even states that is has monopolized the thinking if scholars and teachers. (Elliott Silverman, 2015, p. 394) He mentions Ralph Tyler who proposes that curriculum makers should follow a four step process. (ANDREW WHAT ARE THE FOUR STEPS) This process could help with the integration of numeracy into the curriculum just like literacy is already included. This is why Re-setting Music Educations Default Settings would come into effect. Written by Thomas Regelski in 2013 explores how it needs to be rethought and complemented and enhanced for the learner in that it does not hinder their learning in any way. 2.4 Overview This literature review has shown that there has been research and documentation around the area of numeracy. Numeracy is an area that has many links to cross-curricular subjects and developing numeracy skills among all young people is fundamental to the life chances of each individual and essential to the quality and equity of Irish society (Department of Education and Skills, 2011). This research paper focuses on clarifying what numeracy is and its importance. It will also aim to promote numeracy in a music class that will develop and promote learning in a positive and constructive way. There are assessments available to test numeracy but none specific to music and numeracy since this research has been conducted. So this research paper will be focusing on looking at how to develop numeracy that is related to music and that it is linked to both the curriculum and the learning of each student. It can also be used as an aid for teachers to see how they themselves can incorporate numera cy into their classroom and tailor it for each students ability. One aspect that will have to be looked into in further detail is that of questioning and how are the students numeracy skills being tested. Chapter 3: Methodology 3.1 Introduction In the previous chapter, the researcher focused on literature and research addressing the areas of numeracy and music. The aim of this chapter is to explain how this study was designed and the specific reasons towards choosing the quantitative method. This thesis is based on action research. This chapter will highlight the ethical considerations of the research and. This chapter will firstly begin by outlining the research paradigm explain how data was collected. 3.2 Research aims and objectives The aim of this strategy is to see if numeracy can be developed in a music classroom with the aid of a guide. This strategy is a development from the results that Ireland has received in the PISA scores over the previous years. As mentioned in the introduction, there were three questions that helped to create this research and from those questions the research was looking at gathering quantitative data, using a pre and post-test with two different classes. This will allow the researcher to appraise the increase, if any, in the students numerical abilities. 3.3 Action Research Action research cited in Hine (2013) is a process of systematic inquiry that seeks to improve social issues affecting the lives of everyday people however on a more direct note to where it is situated in the classroom, Stringer (2014) describes it as a distinctive approach to inquiry that is directly relevant to classroom instruction and learning and provides the means for teachers to enhance their teaching and improve students learning Both of these representations of action research have helped to prove the researcher with enough information to understand the concept. When following an action research plan there are a few ways that it could be undertaken. For the focus of this research the researcher will outline the method of Kurt Lewin and its importance. Cohen et al. (2011) name Lewin as the originator of the action research process in breaking it down into four different sections; Planning, Acting, Observing and Reflecting. (INSERT DIAGRAM) From this model there have been numerous changes made. Kemmis and McTaggart (2005) action research cycle is similar in that it has a plan, act, observe and reflect, but this reflection is allowing the researcher to change the plan and begin the cycle again. 3.4 Quantitative Research The research methodology employed uses quantitative analysis. Creswell (2002) describes quantitative analysis as strategies of inquiryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦that invoked the postpositivist perspectives. These strategies are in the forms of experiments of surveys. postpositivist perspectives are considered to be that of a scientific method and it refers challenging the traditional notion of the absolute truth of knowledge and that the claims we make cannot be positive when studying the performance and abilities of humans (Creswell, 2002). Punch (2009) mentions quantitative research employing three different ideas; Conceptualizes reality in terms of variables Measures these variables Studies relationship between these variables Using these themes the researcher will follow how to correlate effectively the results gathered. 3.5 Instruments 3.5.1 Pre-post test The researcher employed different instruments to help bring about the findings of the study. To validate the students numeracy skills the researcher had to firstly find out where the students were regards to their learning. The researcher created a specific pre-test to assess their numeracy knowledge. The researcher focused on the concepts of the first year music curriculum and transferred any correlations with numeracy to an assessment form. (appendix) The researcher wanted to keep the focus on numeracy and assess what they students were able to do regarding rhythm. 3.6 Validity and reliability During this research, the researcher gathered quantitative data to get the best way of measuring students results regarding numeracy. The researcher believes that the findings have depth and provide detail as to confirming the research outcomes. Validity is an indication of how sound your research is, with looking at both design and method (BYU Department of Linguistics, 1997) of the research area. When looking at quantitative data one must be careful. Winter (2000) says that it is difficult to get 100% and that a certain degree of error is to be anticipated. Reliability is about the precision and accuracy of the research over a period of time. Having the pre and post-tests very close to each other can alter the reliability. Due to the 6 week period between pre and post-tests, the researcher believes the results to be reliable. It took 3 weeks getting consent forms back from the students which cut down the time between pre and post-test tests.. 3.7 Ethical considerations Hammersley and Traianou (2012, pp.2-3) outline the subsequent themes as the main ethical issues that need to be addressed; Minimising Harm Respecting Autonomy Protecting Privacy Offering Reciprocity Treating People Equitably. As this research is aimed towards the learning and development of students numeracy, the research had to get ethical approval as it would be focusing on those who would be unable to give consent. The researcher received ethical approval from FAHSS Research Ethics Committee from the University of Limerick in June 2016. The researcher proceeded to provide information sheet to the principal (appendix) and co-operating teacher. (appendix) Then the researcher provided the same information to each of the participants and their parents/ guardians. (appendix) Provided on the information sheet were details about how the research would have been conducted. It outlined that they could withdraw from the study at any time and that anonymity would be used. 3.8 School profile and study sample The school where this research was conducted is a large town in Munster. It is a co-educational school and both classes are made up of mixture of males and females. Both first year classes are students between the ages of 12 and 13. In this school, all students do music in first year regardless of prior experience or musical knowledge. Then when its time for them to move onto 2nd year, the students are given the option to do music if they would like. Before implementing the prior test, the research introduced some rhythms to both groups to get the students interacting and to get an understanding of what they were going to learn. Before the intervention, the researcher made sure that both classes were relatively on the same level before giving out the pre-tests. QUESTIONS ASSESSING STUDENTS NUMERACY What is a crotchet added to another crotchet? What is the interval between middle C and Eb? How many notes are there in a 1 octave scale? How many crotchet/ quaver/ minim/ semibreve beats are there in this phrase? How many beats are there in a semibreve? What is a crotchets added to a crotchet added to a quaver? What is the difference between 3 quavers and 2 crotchets? How many crotchet beats are the in 5/4? How many quaver beats are there in 13/8? How many minim beats are there in 3/2? (A musical phrase can be found on the next page) Source: Mozarts Piano Sonata in F, K. 332, first movement. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrase_(music)#/media/File:Mozart_-_Piano_Sonata_in_F,_K._332,_first_movement_phrase_group.png) Source: http://funandlearnmusic.com/portfolio-item/music-worksheets-music-and-math-14/ Source: http://funandlearnmusic.com/portfolio-item/music-worksheets-music-and-math-14/ Source: http://funandlearnmusic.com/portfolio-item/music-worksheets-easter-note-value-4/

Faulkner’s Short Stories Essay

‘A Rose for Emily’ and ‘Barn Burning’ is both short stories created by William Faulkner. In both short stories, Faulkner used the Old Southern setting as his character’s orientation of culture and societal norms. Emily from the story of ‘A rose for Emily’ and Abner from the story of ‘Barn Burning’ both guilty of terrible crimes, terror and violence yet Faulkner, with his creativity and unconventional talent in creating literature, manage to generate sympathy for both characters. The continuous used of the Old South as the main setting of his both short stories suggests that the characters’ predicaments have to do with the place’s history. Though Emily and Abner are both portrayed as cruel and violent, Faulkner employed sympathy through subtly demonstrating that they are just victims of society, history and culture. Emily and Abner’s revelation of their dark side human nature was been provoked by their past experiences in the hands of cruel society. Emily’s character was created with authentic insights about a woman who can not accept change. Emily was a spinster who was seen as a lonely and impoverished woman who was so attached to the past, a woman that shuts herself off from the rest of the world simply because she cannot accept change. The story begins with Emily’s death at the age of 74 and flashes back to the near distant past of Emily’s life. She was a character who was so attached in the tradition of the past that she continually personifies until her death. Faulkner used the pronoun ‘we’ which tells that the narrator is some of the townspeople sympathizing Emily. It is a well structured and detailed events of Emily’s life the will give a deeper understanding why there is pride and isolation in her character. Emily’s structured character brought her to an unlucky fate. The story tells how Emily copes and accepted the nature of time, change and chance. Emily’s father who represents the ruling class of the South contributed most in the construction of her pride and arrogance. Emily was raised in an upper class home which made them prominent in the community. She perceived herself as rich and powerful which motivated her poise and bearing. Their position in the community had unconsciously taught her to hold herself high from the surrounding people even after her father’s death. As time passes by, perspective about class and status change. People accepted the changes of time and ideas. But Emily who was a complex and well developed character chose not to adapt. This made her a grotesque or unique personality in the setting that encouraged the townspeople to analyze her life. Faulkner’s sympathy towards Emily is perceived through the narrator’s tone and how he symbolically represents the rose in relation to Emily’s life. The rose in the story represents affection. It is affection given by the narrator to Emily. Other people may perceive Emily’s pride and violence as something immoral, but the narrator’s point of view towards Emily is different. He clearly sympathize with Emily and understands the reason how Emily constructed such character. The narrator justified her through presenting series of events about her past. She was a victim of bitterness and complete attachment. The community itself during her father’s time constructed her different reality that made her of what she became. I can also suggest that the rose in the story represents Emily’s love for Homer. It represents the soft side of Emily which the outside world can not see. She was perceived differently by the people as a scandalous and proud. But Emily like any other needs love and affection. Her love was violent and harsh though which represents the thorns of the rose. The narrator gave detailed events of Emily’s history which suggests the gossip nature of the southern town where everyone knows everybody else. In the beginning of the story, the author emphasized those women in town had a different perspective in attending Emily’s funeral. Emily was respected by the men of the town but women were driven by curiosity. This suggests the domestic nature of women that time that seems more concern to the detailed events of Emily’s life. Women wanted to appease their long curiosity. Most of the time ladies in town find Emily’s scandalous and unusual. They find Emily a threat to the community. She was a symbol of the past. Other readers may perceive this horrifying when the people in town discovered the secret of Emily after her death. She has kept the body of her lover named Homer Baron locked in a separate bedroom after she killed him years before. But the body was not alone. The Northern man had been locked with an embrace since behind the indented pillow was a strand of iron-gray hair of Emily. The dead man had not died without love and attention. It was a horrifying in a way that Homer’s death was not given a social justice. But it was sad for Emily who wanted to give love and be loved but the circumstances and public opinion will no permit her so. The morality of Miss Emily Grierson was not justified in the end of the story. The consequences of her isolation and pride made the townspeople pity her all the more. However, her solitude made her missed significant chances of her happiness. Though destiny and fate is a choice but we must reconsider the factors that influenced Emily’s choices. The narrator was so clever on how he presented Emily not as an antagonist but a woman that has to be sympathized which made me see her as a victim. Abner on the other hand on the ‘Barn Burning’ story is a barn burner and who have a 10year old son named Sarty who always wish to death that his father will stop his horrifying and unjust activity. Abner finds perverse sense of joy in setting a fire on someone else barn without reconsidering that farmers hold their livestock and harvested crops on barns which provide food and money for the farmers and their families in order to survive. Moreover, Abner also never reconsidered that his activity and crime may affect his son’s sense of morality at his very early age since his activities of barn burning is no secret in the family. Faulkner generates a sense of sympathy to Abner’s character when he narrated Abner’s past involvement during Civil War. Abner grew accustomed to building small fires as a way to hide from troops during civil war. The threat of fire is Abner one and only source of power. Fire â€Å"spoke to some deep mainspring† of Abner’s character â€Å"as the one weapon for the preservation of integrity . . . and hence to be regarded with respect and used with discretion.† Fire is Abner’s unconscious defense mechanism believing that no one will ever harm him anymore. In setting fire, he unconsciously acquired sense of power, protection and confidence that he will never be defeated by anyone who cross his path and anger him. His experience in war continually haunts him. Ab has never held an allegiance to any man or thing.  In war, to kill is for the purpose of self preservation. After the war, he has not changed. When he experience pressure to an employer or to any authority, he takes away the power from them through burning what they own. Someone who is more superior than him is bound to destruction. When one is gone, he moves on and takes another again. Abner is basically a Southern man attached by the role given to him during civil war that a man’s place in the society is derived by their actions during the war. In burning barns, Abner accumulates a sense of pride and of manliness disregarding that the war is over and that his life is now in reality. Through the character of Abner, Faulkner illustrated the destructive psychological effects of war and how it distorts the participants’ sense of morality. Abner’s character manifests war’s ugly truths which are in contrast to the ideas of glory, courage and heroism associated with war. When the war ends, they perceive that everything is over. However for those who experience it, there is a greater battle that not everybody understands. Abner as a participant of civil war destroyed. He became a victim of political conflict. Both Emily and Abner’s actions were motivated by the psychological effects brought to them by war and societal norms and standards.

The Effects Of Obesity On American Culture - 1657 Words

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Health Disparities Among the Poor - 1074 Words

Health Disparities Improving the health of the socially and economically disadvantaged is a major task. Many Americans are living with poor health because of their socioeconomic statuses and it has many negative effects on their long term health. Improving access to health care is not enough to help fix the lower death rates among low income families. Our social status in our economy has large effect on our lives including how we are able to live our lives and in tern it has large measurable effects on our health. San Antonio is no exception, in low income areas the mortality rates by diabetes are stunning and need to be changed in order to help improve the lives of so many people. In my essay I will be proposing a plan to help lower†¦show more content†¦People can be recommended to wear work out attire in order to teach simple yet effective workouts that everyone could enjoy in their own homes, finding a way to make exercise fun and easy for busy families can influence the community to do it. It can be a large scale effort to get private companies to donate their time or money for the cause of healthier communities. Another way of helping the overall health of the people who are socially and economically disadvantaged is to addressed the social determinants of health. Access to clean water, healthy food, safe homes and neighborhoods, increasing job benefits and wages, improving schools are just some of the ways that we can help increase the life expectancy of the poor and increase health. We can go about addressing these areas by having increased awareness through San Antonio and city wide efforts to help lower income families. Helping create cheap health insurance for low income families can help open the doors to better health care for more people instead of just the higher income families. Having more local parks and easier access to a running track can help push start fitness for adults and children. I believe that making social programs that hel p give poor families air filters, water filters, non-lead based paint, new mattresses, insulation and other basic things that people need toShow MoreRelatedHealth Disparities And Health Care895 Words   |  4 Pagesethnic health needs, including culture norms, religious mandates, and health disparities. The health disparities refers to specific differences in disease incidence, health outcomes, quality of health care and access to health care services that exist across racial and ethnic groups (Mandal, 2014). Disparities may result from inadequate access to care, poor quality of care, cultural issues and social determinants. Health Policy Issues Disparity Despite improvements, differences persist in health careRead MoreHealth Disparities Among African Americans893 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican-American men lack appropriate necessities when it comes to health care. Continuous efforts to bridge the gap among African American men with prostate cancer still remains high in the United States. Evidence shows how disproportionate this ethnic population leads in both incidence and mortality rate concerning social determinants of health, as well as health disparities. Major key factors that contribute to this health disparity among African Americans men are low socioeconomic status (SES) andRead MoreHigh Rates Among Various Ethnic Backgrounds1060 Words   |  5 Pages Healthcare disparities exist at higher rates among various ethnic backgrounds as well as individuals with disabilities. Although receiving good healthcare should be a privilege, statistics have shown that social determinants such as poor education, low income, limited access to quality care, as well as environmental factors have contributed to healthcare disparities. If society could improve barriers like health education, communication, and healthcare cost, quality healthcare could be successfullyRead MoreDiscrimination And The Health Care977 Words   |  4 Pagesin health care. A large percent of minorities are the majority of workers of America, in which requires the most of the health care distribution. But are they receiving the proper access to health care and prescription access based on their ethnicity/race? Discrimination and racism continue to be a part of the unbalancing inequality in society and have adversely affected minority populations, and the health care system in general. Analyzing some of the racial disparities in health care among AmericansRead MoreRacial Discrimination And The Health Of African Americans911 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscrimination is the ground root of disparities letting African Americans to low socioeconomic status a nd poor health outcomes. Why disproportionality in health is so high among African Americans in the United States? Disparities limit the continuity of improvement in overall quality of care and population health and result in poor health outcomes as well as unnecessary costs. Despite an upsurge focus on reducing disparities and increasing a set of advantages to address disparities in the federal, state, communityRead MoreThe Community Needs For Santa Rosa1183 Words   |  5 PagesCHNA report, among the nine cities in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is the largest and is one of the two cities expected to grow the fastest. There are many health needs that must be focused on in order to promote better health to all of those residing in Santa Rosa. The main health needs for Santa Rosa include: healthy eating and physical fitness, gaps in access to primary care, access to substance use disorder services, barriers to healthy aging, access to mental health services, disparities in educationalRe ad MoreHealth Disparities Of Indigenous Populations885 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Disparities in Indigenous Populations Around the globe in countries from Australia and New Zealand to South American and North America there is a disparity in the quality of healthcare and life that indigenous people receive compared to their non-indigenous counterparts (Ring Brown, 2003). Life expectancy for Aboriginals, the indigenous people of Australia is 19-21 years less than non-indigenous life expectancy; 5-7 years for the Maori population in New Zealand; and 5-7 years less forRead MoreThe On The Last Straw Game961 Words   |  4 Pagesdeterminants of health disparities. Disparities exist when differences in health outcomes or health determinants are observed between populations. In the United States health disparities are well known problems among ethnic groups such as African Americans, Asia Americans, Native American and Latinos. Other disparities that contribute to unequal health outcomes include race, gender, sexual and orientation. The aim of this game was to make us aware of the health disparities among the population andRead MoreEssay on Barriers and Disparities in Health Care893 Words   |  4 PagesBarriers and Disparities in Health Care NUR/550 June 8, 2012 Cynthia Holsen R.N. – C.W.H.N.P. Barriers and Disparities in Health Care Everyone should have the opportunity to achieve a healthy life and have comprehensive health care services available to them. To achieve this healthy life, people need to have access to the health care system and to a health care provider with whom they can develop a trusting relationship. However, existing barriers to attaining health care services oftenRead MoreHealth Disparities Among Homeless Women And Their Children1015 Words   |  5 Pages Health Disparities Among Homeless Women and Their Children Geraldine Barron Denver School of Nursing Cohort C â€Æ' Health Disparities Among Homeless Women and Their Children Health care disparities is known for its vulnerability among low income and minority status populations. Of most concern are the vulnerable population subgroups known by the harsh environments in which they live, their endangered and unhealthy life styles and the illnesses and injuries that afflict them. â€Å"These subpopulations

Human Trafficking And Slavery A Violation Of The...

Global Overview Human Trafficking and Slavery universally happens in the world when individuals are placed or maintained in and exploitive situation for economic gain. Women, men and children are trafficked for a range of different purposes; forced and exploitative labour in factories, farms and private households, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage. Trafficking can happen to all people if the circumstances are right. Human trafficking and slavery is in direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Article 4 which states â€Å"No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms†. Human trafficking and Slavery in its sole purpose and intention is violating human rights, by forcing people to become slaves because they have no other option. In countries like Uganda and Guinea – Bissau, children as young as five have been trafficked to the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) as either soldiers or as sexual slaves, while others have been sent to work in cotton fields in Southern Senegal. Human trafficking and slavery is also a violation against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3, which says â€Å"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.† Human trafficking and Slavery is in violation of numerous international documents which are aimed at preventing it from happeni ng and protecting the rights that are presented to people some of these documents are; Convention againstShow MoreRelatedWomen s Traditional Cultural Values Of Gender Roles1333 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Human trafficking is a heinous crime and a horribly profitable business which affects hundreds of millions of people every year worldwide. 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NeverthelessRead MoreHuman Trafficking- The Escalating Global Violation of Human Rights1355 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Trafficking- The Escalating Global Violation of Human Rights Human Trafficking is a serious Global matter that violates a multitude of the Human Rights articles outline in The Universal Declarations of Human Rights. Thousands of individuals are subjects of Human Trafficking every year; the perpetrators of this crime do not discriminate, targeting men, women, the young and the old all over the world. Human Trafficking is indeed a Global issue, occurring in nearly every country on the planetRead MoreThe Violation Of Human Rights1284 Words   |  6 Pages784478 Title: The Violation of Human Rights Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction 3 2. Relevance and value of human rights 3 3. Case studies 4 3.1 Universal Declaration of Human Rights 4 3.2 African Charter 5 3.3 Bill of Human Rights 7 4. Conclusion 7 5. Bibliography 8 1. Introduction Basic human rights are being violated every day all over the world. This includes each human being’s fundamental rights, which are rights that come with beingRead MoreHow Much Would You Sell For?1131 Words   |  5 Pagesand Crime (UNODC), Trafficking in Persons is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. The most common forms of human exploitation are sexualRead MoreInternational Law Threatens Western Countries1262 Words   |  6 PagesTherefore, in this essay, how do violations of international laws present a direct threat to Western countries will be discussed in the first part, then the understanding of such th reats and justice perpetrators of international crime will be examined in relation to comparative criminology in the second and the third part with illustration of various international data. Firstly, violations of international law generally refer to violation of human rights. Human rights are a complex area in internationalRead MoreFence Of Human Trafficking811 Words   |  4 Pagesoffence of human trafficking encompasses multiple countries and by extension, multiple jurisdictions. To simplify, the issue can be trichotomised to ‘source countries’, ‘transit countries’ and ‘destination countries’. Australia, alongside with the rest of the developed world, is widely considered a destination country. A destination country, as inferred from the title, is one where those trafficked are most commonly sent to. Throughout the world, it is estimated the number of victims of human traffickingRead MoreEssay about Case-Documentary: Child Slavery in the Chocolate Factories730 Words   |  3 PagesThe issue of child slavery within the chocolate industry is a complex issue to solve for corporations within this market sector. Child slavery is heavily embedded into the working culture in cocoa farming, and as a manager, it is important to recognise the problem and do all possible to abolish such activity. As a manager overseeing these issues, it is key to be a leader and enact objectives to inspire other corporations to stand against child slavery in the chocolate industry. Since corporationsRead MoreHuman Trafficking Has Been Existent For Thousands Of Years983 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1863, the United States enacted laws that formally abolished slavery. However, modern day manifestation of slavery still exists; it is called â€Å"human trafficking.† Human trafficking, according to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 is â€Å"trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person forRead MoreHuman Trafficking And 19th Century American Slavery2818 Words   |  12 Pages Many people believe that slavery was abolished in the 17th century; however, this is only partly correct. Slavery is technically illegal in the United States, but on the black market, humans are still constantly trafficked. Specifically, a lot of men, women and children are trafficked from another country and brought to America to be a slave. This comparison will focus on the similarities of today’s human trafficking and 17th century American Slavery, specifically relating to sexual exploitation

Hero’s Journey Free Essays

Each person undergoes a unique journey in their life. However, each person goes through the same basic steps; Choosing different paths to make each journey unlike anyone else’s. The Hero’s Journey is a journey that everyone will take during their life. We will write a custom essay sample on Hero’s Journey or any similar topic only for you Order Now We should acquaint ourselves with the type of journey we are on in order to successfully complete our journey. I had traveled down the wrong path and had gone from using marijuana occasionally to being physically addicted to methamphetamines. I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t stop myself. I needed something to motivate me to change my ways and become a better person. To begin, the hero’s journey is initiated when the hero is removed from their comfort zone. This irresolute feeling is agonizing, confusing, and manifests a Call to Adventure. A call is in demand when the hero has room to grow and develop: when he must change. My personal Call to Adventure was when I overdosed and nearly died, landing me in the hospital for weeks. The hero must answer this calling in order to satisfy this need to grow, face the unknown, and to gain something of magnitude. I knew now was the time to change my ways and get my life back on track. While I was lying unconscious on the hospital bed, I can clearly remember somebody telling me that I would die if I didn’t change my ways. I never figured out if it was God or a person talking to me but it definitely hit home with me. This was where I made the decision to get clean and change my life. This was the jumping-off point; it was now or never. After I decided that, I knew there was no going back. After I was released from the hospital, with the help of my doctor, I convinced my parents to send me away to inpatient rehab. That is where I encountered my first trials and challenges. My first trial and challenge was going through the withdrawls from the drugs. I was sick, nauseous, and delusional for about a week until it all got out of my system. That was probably the hardest part. I kept imagining was being in a fire and then directly into an ice bath because of the raging fever I had. After that subsided I could start to work on my issues and start to deal with my addiction. My next trial and challenge came when I was released and went to hang out with my old friends. At first, I had no idea what to do when I saw my old friends using drugs so I just stopped going out. I had no social life for a time so I decided to try to get back with my old friends and not use. This is what led up to my final battle/climax. The final battle/climax of my personal hero’s journey was when I went to a party with my friends and had promised myself that I wouldn’t use drugs. Unexpectedly, somebody had brought some and everyone was joining in on it. I had to choose between using the drugs and getting my life back on the downward spiral that It was on a couple months ago, and between walking away from the situation and keeping my life on track. Even though everyone was pressuring me to do it, I stayed strong and didn’t; I left and went home instead. I had chosen to keep my life on the path I was on, the path to success and sobriety. My atonement phase was almost as hard as the rest of it. I had to confront the issues that I had suppressed with drugs during a crucial development period in my life, emotionally. I had always coped with my emotions by using drugs but that was no longer an option so I started going to the gym to let off stress. There has been nothing negative about getting my life back on track. My home life with my family is much better. I am much happier overall. My return phase consisted of successfully going back to school with the kids I used to use drugs with and be able to function without giving in to the peer pressure. It was here that I became the master of two worlds. I was still friends with all the kids that I used to do drugs with but I was sober and had sober friends at the same time. These two worlds were vastly different but I am still able to balance my time between them so nobody feels like I am no longer friends with them. I am confident that I can handle the peer pressure of kids at school and outside of school now and that is crucial to my journey to adulthood. How to cite Hero’s Journey, Essay examples

Things Happy People Do Differently free essay sample

I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed. I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life. † -Dan Millman (author of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior) Happiness and science. Did you know that the two are in a relationship? Something amazing has been happening in the last 10 years. It’s called the positive psychology movement. The world’s leading psychologists are saying that instead of using psychology to simply treat mental illness, let’s use it to make normal life more fulfilling. That’s where you and I come in: The applied science of happiness! I used to think that happiness was some far off elusive destination to be reached only when the sun, moon, and Martha Stewart’s sleeping patterns were in sync. Finding out the things that are proven to make us happy, and then doing them and feeling the results for myself, is one of the most valuable things I’ve ever discovered. Let’s start things off by learning how happiness works 2 | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Help your friends: 0 How Happiness Works In the 20th century, from 1900-2000, for every 100 articles published on the negative side of psychology (illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, etc†¦) there was approximately ONE article published on the positive side (things like gratitude, exercise, optimism, etc ). Here’s where happiness comes from. Research done involving identical twins separated at birth shows that about 50% of our happiness is determined by our genetics. We’re pretty much born with a â€Å"happiness set-point† and regardless of what external circumstances are going on, in the long run, if unchecked, we’ll return to that level of happiness. Now this is where most people (including myself at one point) take a wrong turn: They spend most of their time chasing the *things* that they’ve been brainwashed to believe will bring them happiness. However, science shows that the *things* you have in life only bring about 10% of your happiness. Stuff like what kinda’ car you drive, how much money you have in the bank, and what your job title is all fit into this category. For the most part, you can think of this 10% as â€Å"external incentives. † The warm fuzzy feeling that those things initially bring will diminish kinda like the experience of eating cookie-dough ice-cream. The first taste is a euphoric explosion of enzymes tangoing with your taste buds. But by the time you’re on spoon six – it’s nothing new. So that leaves us with a big fat chunk of 40% left to address. These are our behavioral tendencies which we have direct control over. And *this* my friend, this is where we have the power to make change†¦ RIGHT NOW! WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 3 1 Express Gratitude When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value. Kinda’ cool right? So basically being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your live will bring you a deeper sense of happiness. And that’s without having to go out and buy anything. It makes sense. We’re going to have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have. â€Å"Self-actualizing people have the wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy, however stale these experiences may have become to others. Abraham Maslow (founder of humanistic psychology) An easy way to implement this happiness habit is by keeping a gratitude log. When you wake up in the morning, jot down a couple of things that you’re grateful for that day. It could be anything from your freedom, to your health, to your family, to the food you eat. Another amazingly power ful thing to do is spontaneously call someone and thank them for something that they did for you. Although it may have been a recent act of kindness, it could potentially also have happened 10 years ago at your cousin Lisa’s wedding. Your call – it’s a powerful one! | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Help your friends: 2 Cultivate Optimism Winners have the ability to manufacture their own optimism. No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it. She knows â€Å"failure† only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life. People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, *especially* in trying times. â€Å"Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole! Oscar Wilde (19th century Irish poet) We know that the thoughts we think repeatedly are the ones that create our reality. So when you train your mind to expect the best, you get the best results in return. One way you can implement this habit today is by starting a â€Å"best-selves diary. † Spend a couple of minutes each day visualizing what your life would look like in a year, or 5 years, or 20 years, if everything from now until then went perfectly. Then write down what your day would look like, how you would fe el, what you would have accomplished, etc I personally love to cultivate optimism by spending a couple of minutes each night while I’m lying down in bed visualizing what my *ideal* day will be tomorrow. I imagine waking up and having a powerful meditation, followed by a creative journaling session, and then spewing out a series of rock-star writings. I also think about all the interactions I’ll have that day and visualize what the best possible outcome is. I picture myself bringing love, playfulness, insight, and growth to every interaction I have. I like to spend 2 minutes doing the same when I wake up in the morning before I open my eyes. WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 5 3 Avoid Over-Thinking Social Comparison Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous. If we’re â€Å"better† than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense of superiority. Our ego inflates – kaboom! Our inner Kanye West comes out! If we’re â€Å"worse† than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and all the progress that we’ve made. What I’ve found is that the majority of time, this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place. If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an older version of yourself. â€Å"Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide. † – Ralph Waldo Emerson (19th century American philosopher) I’ve made this mistake a lot in my life – I’d see some successful person and do everything I could to become them. But while learning about *how* they’ve become successful is super powerful, trying to *be* them is kryptonite. I’ll never be able to be a sexy Brad Pitt than Brad Pitt, but I can learn what he did to make himself so attractive. It makes a lot more sense (and life a lot easier) to strive to be a first class version of yourself rather than a second class version of someone else. If you catch yourself compulsively comparing and thinking about these kinds of things, break the habit. I’ve found out the hard way that over-thinking while your mind is in a negative state is TOXIC! The best thing you can do is stop thinking – completely! Go for a walk, sing a song, work-out, get a massage, take a power-nap, watch a funny movie – anything to get your mind to shut up! 6 | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Help your friends: Practice Acts of Kindness Performing an act of kindness will release serotonin in your brain. (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful. ) Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside. â€Å"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in givin g creates love. † Lao Tzu (mystic philosopher of ancient China) I love this one! Both big and small acts of kindness are equally amazing. You can imagine how good it feels to come through for someone and save their day. By the same token, I love doing little things for people like opening the door to the bank and letting them in first. Another fun one is making eye contact with a complete stranger and instead of holding an intense stare, I’ll break into a really big smile! It totally takes them by surprise. Complements in elevators are nice gestures too and a good way to kill the awkward â€Å"iPhone/Blackberry moment. † WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 7 5 Nurture Social Relationships The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep meaningful relationships. Did you know studies show that people’s mortality rates are DOUBLED when they’re lonely? WHOA! There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from having an active circle of good friends who we can share our experiences with. We feel connected and a part of something more meaningful than our â€Å"lonesome† existence. â€Å"Stay with friends who support you in these. Talk with them about sacred texts, and how you are doing, and how they are doing, and keep your practices together. † – Rumi (13th century Persian poet) Ah yes, what good is all the success in the world if we don’t have anyone to share it with?! One way that you can nurture social relationships is by taking a sincere interest in what people are going through in their lives. Schedule some time to talk with them about what they’re up to and share some things that are meaningful to you as well. A cup of tea during the day, meeting up for lunch, going out with them on nights or weekends all of that is great stuff. Another thing you can do is when you’re dealing with people at work, instead of rushing into whatever the reason for the interaction is, genuinely ask the person you’re working with something about themselves. Sometimes you’ll be shocked as to what you can find out about someone†¦ â€Å"You toured with Kiss for 6 years in the 70s?! What!?! † 8 | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Help your friends: 6 Develop Strategies for Coping How you respond to the â€Å"craptastic† moments is what shapes your character. Sometimes shit happens – it’s inevitable. Forest Gump knows the dealio. It can be hard to come up with creative solutions in the moment when the manure is making its way up toward the fan. It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal. â€Å"Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition such as lifting weights we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity. – Stephen Covey (author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) When stuff starts to heat up, one of the first things I do is exchange a big belly breath with the universe. That may be the single most effective thing you can do to cope with any situation. BREATHE! It’s also great to become conscious of your physiolo gy straighten your back and ground your feel flat on the floor. So much out of our mental energy is directly dictated by our physical being. Take a couple more of those deep breaths. Another thing that can help tremendously is to take the other person’s perspective and ompassionately imagine what it feels like to be them. That’s a HUGE one. Also, If you have a favorite song, or YouTube video, or person to talk to – use it! Embrace the positive emotion that comes from these things to get your mind off of what’s going on. Has something been reoccurring that really pisses you off every time it happens? Think about the best way to respond to it before it happens again. WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 9 7 Learn To Forgive Harboring feelings of hatred is horrible for your wellbeing. You see, your mind doesn’t know the difference between past and present emotion. When you hate someone, and you’re continuously thinking about it, those negative emotions are eating away at your immune system. You put yourself in a state of suckerism (technical term) and it stays with you throughout your day. â€Å"When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. † Catherine Ponder (American minister and inspiration author) In order to creative our ideal futures, we need to be able to forgive our pasts. If we stay in the past, our minds will grow old and bitter. We’ve gotta’ focus on what we want from life and not what we don’t, because ultimately, what we continuously focus on is what we’ll get. It helps to keep in mind that when you forgive someone, you are really doing *yourself* the favor, not them. 10 | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Help your friends: 8 Increase Flow Experiences Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still. It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task. Action and awareness are merged. You’re not hungry, sleepy, or emotional. You’re completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing. Nothing is distracting you and competing for your focus. â€Å"Enjoyment appears at the boundary between boredom and anxiety, when the challenges are just balanced with the person’s capacity to act. † – Tal Ben-Shahar (professor of positive psychology at Harvard University) Flow comes from an equal balance between the difficulty of what you’re doing, and how skilled you are at doing it. If you’re over-skilled, the task will be boring. If you’re under-skilled, you’ll become anxious and stressed. But when you find the delicate balance between the challenge and your ability, you’ll enter a state of flow. WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 11 9 Savore Life’s Joys True happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy. It is easy in a world of wild stimuli and omnipresent movement to forget to embrace life’s enjoyable experiences. When that happens, we rob the moment of its magic. It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them. â€Å"He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise. Henry David Thoreau (19th century American philosopher) A great way place to start savoring life’s joy is with food. When you sit down to eat, you can start by reminding yourself how fortunate you are for having the food in front of you. Yes, bless it, thank it, and then eat it. When you take a bite, put the fork down and focus of chewing and tasting the flavor of the food. See if you can take 40 chews before you swallow. Wait until you’ve completely swallowed the food in your mouth before you put another piece of it onto your fork and into your mouth. Of course, there’s an infinite amount of things that you can choose to savor. The trees, the bees, the grass, some ass†¦ Chilling with friends†¦ Coming home to a warm home†¦ Being able to look up information in a split second (that up until recently could have taken weeks to find†¦) you pick! 12 | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Help your friends: 10 Commit To Your Goals Being wholeheartedly dedicated to doing something comes fully-equipped with an ineffable force. Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to get somewhere. When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing. Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose. â€Å"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. † – William Murray (19th century Scottish writer) I love, love, love this one. There’s something so ridiculously extraordinary about being committed to doing something. You can feel the difference is saying â€Å"I’m going to *try* to live a life I love† and â€Å"I’m fully committed to living a life I love. † I write my biggest commitment (aka my purpose) down every morning after I wake up. One piece of wisdom that I’ll offer you here is this: When you get all excited about committing to something, focus on being consistent with it and not intense about it. Resist the urge to blast off face first into a new project, task, or goal. You’ll probably be super stoked to get your groove going, and in turn, you may burn out pretty quickly. Commit to things for the long term. I’m not committed to living an extraordinary month – I’m committed to living an extraordinary life! WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 13 11 14 | 12 THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY Practice Religion Spirituality When we practice religion and spirituality, we get in touch with the fact that life is bigger than us. We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever. It enables us to connect to the source of all creation and embrace a connectedness with everything that exists. The spiritual force transcends all. I feel this great creative and spiritual force within me that is greater than faith, greater than ambition, greater than confidence, greater than determination, greater than vision. It is all these combined. † – Bruce Lee (20th century Chinese martial arts philosopher) Some of the most accomplishe d people feel that they are here doing the work they are â€Å"called to do. † Some take it a step future and feel as if they aren’t doing work at all, but are *being used* as an instrument for a higher power to operate. Whether or not you believe in â€Å"god† as popular culture and ancient scripture depicts her, this is an enormously powerful paradigm to have. Meditation is one of the most powerful ways in which you can step your spirituality game up today. Sitting quietly for a couple of minutes and focusing on your breathing has been shown scientifically to have TREMENDOUS benefits on your mind, body, and soul. I committed to meditating every day about a year ago and haven’t missed a day since. I can’t speak highly enough about the transformation it has helped bring me through your turn! Help your friends: 12 Take Care of Your Body Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be. If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (focus), your emotional energy (feelings), and your spiritual energy (purpose) will all be negatively affected. â€Å"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. † – Plato (classic Greek philosopher) Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness level just as much as Zoloft (karate chop to all you pill poppers throats! Not only that, but here’s the double whammy†¦ Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of accomplishment since they made the change in their life themselves. Profound findings indeed. One easy thing you can start doing is taking 30 minut e walks. You can wake up earlier and take them then. You can get out during your lunch break. And you can even do them in the evening. If you committed to spending just 1% of your time to exercising, you’d be in great shape. In actuality, exercising 1% of your time equals about 5 separate 20 minute workouts throughout the week. WWW. SENSOPHY. COM | 15 🙂 Feeling The Wisdom Sensophy comes from two words: Sense + Sophy. That means Feeling + Wisdom. Here’s why that’s important: Just knowing the above won’t do a damn thing for you. You’ve gotta’ create non-negotiable rituals in your life around this knowledge in order to feel the effects of it. Positive rituals are as essential to daily life as eating, showering, and breathing. Happiness is a skill†¦ a practice†¦. a muscle†¦ The more time you spend consciously working it out, the more jacked up you’ll be about life. If you start slacking and skipping sessions at the happiness gym, you’ll shortly after shrink in size. The above research is based on topics tackled by Sonja Lyubomirsky in her book called The How of Happiness. Here’s something really cool that Sonja says: â€Å"Pick your *favorite* happiness habit from the list and just focus on that *single* one. Not the one that you think you should do, but instead, the one that you want to do! † So pick one. Just one. Any one. And commit to consciously and deliberately practicing it for the next few months of your life. Happiness, like mastery, is about the journey. Sure there are ups and downs but those pass, and in the long run, you’re only gonna’ be as happy as you’re committed to being. One of the most effective ways to consistently live from a place of happiness is to live life â€Å"on purpose. † Finding and living your purpose brings the type of happiness that emanates from your core no matter how somber a situation can seem. In 4 days from now, I’m gonna’ send you 7 ways to tell if you’re not currently living your highest purpose, and 7 tricks for fixing that. In the mean time, if you enjoyed this report, please share it. On Purpose, Jacob.