Community News
Develop a Growth Mindset

Improved resilience and a deep sense of empowerment are two of the main benefits of cultivating a growth mindset. Possessing a growth mindset means that one doesn’t worry about not having a specific skill or knowledge set because through effort and repetition, they can be developed and obstacles can be overcome. Failure is accepted as part of the process, and collaboration is welcomed. Having a fixed mindset, on the other hand, causes over-identification with one’s intelligence or talent, leading to a preoccupation with being recognized for these gifts. Praise, rather than personal satisfaction from a job well done becomes the desired goal, and threats to one’s identity, such as criticism or comparison, can lead to a fear of failure and a lack of motivation. If you are looking to create positive change, start by reflecting on your mindset. It holds the key to your success.

Brent Tocher, chooseauthenticity.ca

You Are What You Think You Are

Your mind is a very powerful thing, and most of us take it for granted. What if you could change your thoughts? What if you can be, do and choose to be anything? We’ve learned very early in life that judging ourselves is the “right” thing to do. We have learned that things are either good or bad, right or wrong, black or white. All of these are judgments that limit our possibilities. It is time for something different! It is time to have kindness towards ourselves that we always hoped someone else would have towards us. If you are not willing to be that kindness for you, you can’t receive it from others. Choose consciousness and create the true you.

Kori Gordon, Finding You

MB Hydro Offers Many Ways to Save

MB Hydro Offers Many Ways to Save Did you know that Manitoba Hydro offers a low-interest loan on solar thermal heat for your pool or hot water tank or infloor system? You can have a loan for up to $7500 this will not cover the whole system but can cover a lot of the cost. This can be paid right on your hydro account monthly, while you enjoy the savings of the solar thermal system. Did you know 1 manifold of 30 tubes can provide up to 7500 BTU of heating during peak hours of sun? Converted to kw is about 7kw’s of energy you are saving per hour when it is running. Solar thermal can dramatically reduce the amount of energy you consume! The Manitoba Green Energy Tax Credit can be applied in the year you purchase your solar thermal you get 10% of the cost back on your income tax.

Lorena Mitchell, President, Evolve Green, www.evolvegreen.ca

Positive Mental Health is a Laughing Matter

While living with mental illness is no joke, laughing for positive mental and physical health seriously works. In fact, evidence supports the claim that a joyful heart provides a similar benefit to that of medicine. Although not considered a replacement for medical treatment, some doctors are using laughter as an adjunctive therapy. In the short and long term, laughter has been shown to, 1. Stimulate/boost the immune system; 2. Alleviate pain; 3. Reduce anxiety and stress; 4. Reduce depression; and, 5. Promote a sense of hopefulness. What if you don’t feel like laughing? No problem, fake it until you make it. Physiologically speaking, for the most part, your body doesn’t know the difference. And, faking it often leads to the real thing which may be exactly the health supplement you need to get to the positive side of negative circumstances.

Sean Miller, Canadian Mental Health Association, mbwpg.cmha.ca

Book Club: Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear!

Empowering author Elizabeth Gilbert asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

Did You Know?

Blue corn has been popping up as an ingredient everywhere from tortilla chips to breakfast cereal. New research suggests that anthocyanins, the nutrients that give the corn its blue color, may help protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer!

www.newhope.com

Clean Eating: Spaghetti Squash “Mac ‘n’ Cheese”

Ingredients:

1 large spaghetti squash

3 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp spelt flour

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion or garlic powder

pinch ground black pepper

1 cup (4 oz) any hard cheese, shredded.

Red pepper flakes, to taste. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Wash squash, cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds with a spoon. Place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 40-50 minutes. Let cool and separate into strands with a fork. Preheat medium pot on low-medium heat and melt oil. Whisk in flour and milk until smooth. Add salt, onion powder and pepper; whisk and let simmer for about 4 minutes or until sauce has slightly thickened. Add cheese and whisk again until smooth. Add squash and mix gently with a spoon to combine. Cover and let squash warm through for about 5 minutes. Enjoy!

www.ifoodreal.com

Orthopaedic Manual Therapy: What is it?

The profession of Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy has a number of specialized areas of practice. Orthopaedic Manual Therapy is one such specialized area. The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT), which represents groups of Manipulative Physical Therapists around the world, defines this area as the management of nerves, muscles, and bones of the body, i.e. neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, using specific treatment approaches which include manual or manipulative techniques and therapeutic exercises. Scientific and clinical evidence and detailed physical examination of patients are used to arrive at a diagnosis and to develop a management plan to restore and improve the movement and function of these individuals. Orthopaedic manual therapists, in addition to their physiotherapy/physical therapy degree, also have extensive post-graduate education and training in this specialized area and have attained internationally recognized qualifications in manipulative therapy.

Paula Moreira, www.physio4u.net

Essential Oils for a Healthy Heart

This month is all about heart! But it isn’t all about hugs and kisses! In this very moment, the Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates that 600,000 people are living with heart failure. Modern medicine is working tirelessly to come up with solutions, but we can also look to natural remedies like essential oils to lead us on the road to better health. For example, Rosemary improves circulation and works to help strengthen blood capillaries. Marjoram helps lower blood pressure and Ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent blood from clotting. Ylang Ylang not only reduces anxiety and regulates heart rate, but also helps alleviate hypertension. Helichrysum (from the sunflower family) is somewhat of a natural blood thinner! So perhaps Mother Nature is the best Valentine of them all! Let this month inspire you to look after your heart and open yourself up to new ways of creating a healthy life; mind, body, HEART, and soul by incorporating essential oils into your daily health regime.

Sylvia Provenski, Young Living Essential Oils, www.canadianmoms.ca

Go Green!

Over the past year, more and more Manitobans are making the switch to renewable energy. With rising energy costs of 42% over a 9-year period and Hydro’s recently announced solar program, the appeal is higher than ever. Hydro incentives are making it easier to become an independent energy producer. Offering a rebate of $1 per watt installed and a loan with a low interest rate of 4.9% and up to $30k in financing. There are free assessments available to you so you can learn what it takes to go green today!

Lorena Mitchell, www.evolvegreen.ca

Begin Practicing Self-Compassion

If you were to hear your good friend being critical of herself for a mistake she made, what would you tell her? Most likely, you would tell her she was too hard on herself. You might also remind her of why she is a wonderful person. You would do this because you know people are not defined by one mistake, action, or imperfection. This is called compassion. And yet, while we often treat others compassionately, when it comes to ourselves, we do the exact opposite. We become our own worst critics and often set unrealistic expectations that we wouldn’t place on anyone else. Self-compassion requires a combination of self-kindness, awareness that many others have had similar experiences, and mindfulness in recognizing and accepting one’s negative emotions in a balanced way. Start small by choosing one of the three requirements to start with as you begin your self-compassion practice.

Brent Tocher, chooseauthenticity.ca