Brian-Luke-Seaward-at-WELCOA-2016

Presentations

1. The Pursuit of Happiness:
Creating A Sustainable Work-Life Balance

In our rapidly changing world, stress has become ever so invasive in our lives; Information overload, changes in technology, information processing, social networking, and global economic dynamics affect everything from our sleep patterns, work habits and eating behaviors to communication styles and exercise habits; all of which affects health and productivity. This presentation offers wisdom, insights and practical life skills for both personal growth and professional development. Topics to be discussed include establishing healthy boundaries, achieving a work-life balance, and essential coping and relaxation skills to help create and maintain a sustainable work-life balance. Included in this presentation are valuable take-home tools and skills for all participants, based on his WELCOA book, The Road to Wellness. In the past two years, this has become Dr. Seaward’s most popular corporate wellness presentation.

Learning objectives include:

  1. Define the concept of “Healthy Boundaries” in one’s personal life.
  2. Demonstrate one coping skill for personal work-life balance.
  3. Demonstrate one relaxation skill for personal work-life balance.

2. Digital Toxicity, FOMO and The Art of Mindfulness (Digital Detox) in the 21st Century information Age

The topic of mindfulness is gaining great receptivity in the American culture, and not by coincidence, a parallel use of screen technology. Experts from MIT and Stanford University are now expressing concern with our love affair (screen addictions) with technology (known as FOMO: Fear of Missing Out, and Digital Dementia), citing and increased compromise of cognitive skills including short term and long term memory, attention span and critical thinking. Enter the age of Mindfulness, an ancient practice to quite the mind from sensory overload. This presentation examines the scientific data of “screen addictions“, FOMO, as well as the newest research of neuroplasticity; regeneration of brain tissue produced from meditation and relaxation.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the association between digital toxicity and compromised cognitive skills.
  2. Define the terms “neuroplasticity” and “mindfulness meditation”.
  3. Demonstrate the skill of mindfulness meditation for daily practice.

3. A Good Night’s Sleep: Stress & Insomnia

Over fifty percent of Americans claim to suffer from poor quality of sleep. Stress is ubiquitous in the work setting and one of the most common symptoms of stress is insomnia. Current research from the National Sleep Foundation suggests that over 60% of Americans suffer from insomnia each year. This epidemic is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. Poor quality of sleep translates into poor work habits, poor communication skills, performance deficits, and compromised health, especially the immune system. This presentation outlines the three categories of insomnia (transient, intermittent and chronic), the stress-prone behaviors that contribute to poor sleep quality and poor sleep hygiene, and several suggestions to improve the quality of one’s sleep. Two relaxation techniques will be demonstrated and taught at the end of this session.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the three types of insomnia.
  2. Explain the stages of sleep.
  3. List four “sleep robbers.”
  4. Identify four strategies to improve your quality of sleep.

4. Coming Up For Air: Decompressing From the Stress of Life

Indeed, we are living in stressful times! As personal and professional responsibilities mount, the cry for help begins as a muffled statement: “I need to come up for air!” Staying submerged under the pressures of a high tech world isn’t the answer. The basics of holistic stress management are nothing more than common sense, yet common sense isn’t too common with the stress of umpteen responsibilities. Economic meltdown, information overload, corporate downsizing, urban sprawl, chronic diseases, on-demand everything, global warming, techno-stress, 24/7 accessibility; the list of personal and planetary stressors is nearly endless. Holistic Stress management honors the integration, balance and harmony of mind, body, spirit and emotions where the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. This presentation highlights the essential tools for stress decompression; from optimism and assertiveness skills (healthy boundaries) to humor (comic relief) and relaxation skills so that you can catch your breath, regain a sense of balance in your life and reclaim your sense of empowerment to navigate gracefully on your life journey in the global community (this is Dr. Seaward’s most popular corporate presentation).

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the terms “holistic wellness” and “holistic stress management”
  2. Identify the four styles of mismanaged anger
  3. List five effective coping/relaxation skills to decompress from the stress of life

5. Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backwards

Learn from the stories of several people who, in the face of stress, beat the odds in their efforts to gain control of their lives and come through gracefully. This inspiring talk provides an intimate look at how six people chose to confront rather than retreat from the obstacles that threatened to consume their lives with angst and torment. They now walk the streets as victors rather than victims. Weaving these stories through the wisdom of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey template, each story becomes an icon of heroic strength and wisdom in dealing with stress. Based on his popular best selling book, Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backward, these stories offer insight and inspiration as to how we too, might learn to diplomatically confront our stressors. The wisdom in “Desserts” teaches us to use our muscles of the soul and turn our threats into challenge, so that we may polish the rough edges of our existence and continue to live, love, and learn throughout the journey of our human existence. Educational, entertaining and inspiring, this by far, is Dr. Seaward’s most popular presentation.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the term “stress.”
  2. Identify the three stages of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey.”
  3. List three effective coping techniques (inner resources) to handle life stressors.

6.The Art of Resiliency: Triumph of the Human Spirit
Coping with Stress, Change, and the Pressures of 21st Century Life

In our rapidly changing world, stress has become ever so invasive in our lives (e.g., digital toxicity, insomnia, and social negativity), making work-life balance seem elusive. Resiliency means the ability to “bounce back” from the demands of life; the stress of 21 st century life. Resiliency skills are not gifts for a chosen few, they are birthrights for everyone. In this age of 24-7/on- demand living, the art of resiliency is an essential skill for everyone. This presentation offers wisdom, insights and practical life skills for both personal growth and professional development through the three bones of resiliency: The backbone, wishbone and funny bone. Specific skills to be discussed include establishing healthy boundaries, achieving a work-life balance, and essential coping and relaxation resiliency skills to help create and maintain a sustainable work life balance. Included in this presentation are valuable take-home tools and resiliency skills for all participants for the triumph of the human spirit. Learning objectives include:

  1. Describe the concept of resiliency and it’s importance to effectively deal with stress.
  2. Define the concept of “Healthy Boundaries” in one’s personal life.
  3. Demonstrate one effective coping skill for personal work-life balance
  4. Demonstrate one effective relaxation skill for personal work-life balance.

7. The Low Stress Diet: Stress, Nutrition, and the Immune System

Fact: Stress depletes essential nutrients in the body for fight or flight. When people are stressed, good eating habits go out the window; hence these nutrients are not being replenished. Moreover, many comfort foods tend to increase the stress response adding gasoline to the fire of stress. All of this compromises the immune system paving a clear path for disease and illness. Stress greatly impacts everything: from digestion and absorption to metabolism and elimination. Is there a relationship between nutrition, stress and disease? Sadly, the answer is yes, and it is not a pretty picture. But knowledge is power. Learn the latest facts regarding nutrition, stress, disease from Dr. Brian Luke Seaward, who served over 10 years on the faculty of the University of Colorado, teaching his popular course, Nutrition, Health and Performance.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. List the five (5) aspects of healthy nutrition
  2. Identify the four “stress and nutrition dominos”
  3. List 10 ways to enhance the health of the immune system through optimal eating habits.

8. Eco-Therapy: The Healing Power of Nature

It might seem intuitive that a walk through a cathedral forest or along a sandy beach might be good for mind, body and spirit, but research now reveals that an experience of nature immersion lowers blood pressure, heart rate and Cortisol levels as well as boosts immune system function. Through a backdrop of stunning nature images from around the world (Hawaii, Iceland, Patagonia, the Caribbean, Colorado and the Canadian Rockies), this presentation highlights the current research in eco-therapy (from entrainment and circadian rhymths to fMRI brain studies) and the need to balance one’s life to avoid nature deficit disorder.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the terms Nature Deficit Disorder and Biophilia
  2. Explain how an experience of nature immersion affects human physiology and promotes homeostasis
  3. Explain the concept of entrainment and circadian rhythms

9. Re-filling Your Cup: Care For the Caregiver

All allied health care professionals are noted for their devoted public service. The service of caring, however, is not without its drawbacks. “Burnout” is all to common a problem. Nurses, social workers and caretakers of all kinds are no strangers to the stress of burnout and “compassion fatigue.” This presentation highlights the nature of 21st century stress, caregiver stress, the quadrants of holistic wellness, signs of mismanaged anger (compassion fatigue), the relationship between stress and physical health, digital toxicity, and several effective (timeless) coping skills and relaxation techniques proven to help restore one’s personal energy levels, including: resiliency skills, creating healthy boundaries, humor therapy, energy vitamins, diaphragmatic breathing, guided visualization, and many other effective techniques for personal growth and professional development. (This 1-2 hour presentation can also be extended to a one or two day seminar retreat.)

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe how stress can lead to professional burnout.
  2. Identify four ways to adopt humor as a coping technique.
  3. Demonstrate two effective relaxation techniques for personal/professional growth.

10. Leadership in the 21st Century

What does it take to be a great leader in this day and age? Whether you run a Fortune 500 company or a non-profit organization, regardless of your job title, occupation, or passion in life, we all need to step up to the plate and exhibit the characteristics of great leadership! What derails leadership? In a word, stress. People who rule from anger or fear prove to be the epitome of horrible leaders and business managers and this negative vibration spreads through the entire workforce. While there is no magic formula for who or what makes a great leader, there are specific attributes that are regarded as vital to make things happen well. This presentation highlights the essential qualities of great leadership including: Integrity, vision, perspective, communication, collaboration and many more. Today’s millennium generation (ages 20-40) are now being placed into leadership positions without the skill set to perform at their highest potential. This presentation will help steer them in the right direction.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

  1. Identify two factors that detract from leadership excellence
  2. Describe five qualities essential for all people in a position of leadership

11. The Healing Power of Humor

This one-hour multi-media presentation highlights the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of humor therapy, dating back to the Ancient Greeks up to the remarkable recovery of humor laureate, Norman Cousins and beyond. Reasons why we laugh and smile, types of humor that make us giggle, and 10 ways to tickle our funny bone are included in this topic. This presentation is filled with colorful images, hilarious cartoons, video clips, memorable quotations, and a wonderful narrative created by a scholar of humor therapy and comic relief. Perhaps because the nature of laughter is infectious, this is one of Dr. Seaward’s most popular presentations. Bring your sense of humor and get ready to achieve your quota of laughs!

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the terms “humor” and “comic relief.”
  2. Identify the four reasons (theories) why we laugh and smile.
  3. List five ways to increase your sense of humor.

12. Coping With Change at the Worksite

The ever-changing dynamics of our global economy are forcing dramatic changes in the corporate setting, and these ultimately affect every working employee. Change is often synonymous with the word STRESS! Downsizing, right-sizing, early retirements, mergers, and job consolidations are just a few of the repercussions in the worksite today. In addition, emails, blackberries, webinars, text messages, twitters, and cell phones may initially seem to make our jobs easier, but ultimately they remind us that we are forced to adapt to the changes in this high technology age or be swept behind. So how does one cope with change effectively and not feel as if he or she is a victim in the ever-changing world we live in? There are effective coping techniques and non-effective coping techniques that are used in times of stress. Coping with change means learning to adapt positively to change while maintaining a sense of self-control. This presentation begins with an overview of the “change = stress equation” and continues with creative anger management skills, the concept of positive thinking strategies, and several effective relaxation tools to adapt to change successfully.

Presentation Learning Objectives:

  1. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
  2. Define the term “Healthy Boundaries.”
  3. Identify the four styles of mismanaged anger.
  4. Explain three effective coping techniques.

13. Relaxation 101: The Art of Calm

In a high tech, 24/7 society the body (and mind) craves relaxation. Most people do not take the time necessary to bring the body back to homeostasis. This one-hour presentation briefly explores the how’s and why’s of relaxation in a simple, straightforward process that can be learned and practiced just about any time, anywhere. With a 10-minute prelude of theory, the remainder of this session involves 4-5 ten-minute relaxation (experiential) sessions including diaphragmatic breathing, guided visualization and mental imagery. Everyone will walk out relaxed and re-energized. The secrets of relaxation are no longer secret, yet the benefits of quiet solitude are immeasurable—at many levels. Take some time to learn the simple steps of solitude that help promote a sense of inner peace in everyday life and incorporate these into your life for optimal wellbeing.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the term “stress response”
  2. List three effective coping techniques that promote homeostasis
  3. Demonstrate four effective relaxation techniques that promote homeostasis

14. Creative Anger Management

There are two primary emotions involved with stress: Anger and fear. Until recently, fear (also called anxiety) has eclipsed the attention of virtually all health practitioners with regard to effective coping strategies. However, with the revelation that hostility is the primary characteristic of Type A behavior, a risk factor so strongly associated with coronary heart disease, the spotlight is now shining strongly on the aspect of aggression and anger management. What exactly is anger? Why has this emotion been ignored in terms of stress management? What myths are associated with anger? How is anger mismanaged? And perhaps most importantly, what steps can be taken to creatively vent feelings of anger and frustration? This presentation will discuss these and other answers about this often dark and misunderstood emotion and help everyone creatively manage their anger feelings better. Everyone will benefit from this presentation, regardless of his or her levels of stress.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the root cause of all anger episodes
  2. List the four styles of mismanaged anger
  3. Explain five effective strategies to creatively manage anger

15. Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water: Reflections on Stress and Human Spirituality

Alternative Title: Health of the Human Spirit

Stress is a stranger to no one. Once described merely as wear and tear on the body, stress is now best defined as “a disconnection from our divine source.” Times of stress may bring feelings of panic and mayhem, but stress also provides the opportunity for spiritual growth—when we call upon our inner resources (faith, patience, humbleness, intuition, courage, humor and compassion) to dismantle life’s major roadblocks so that we may walk in balance on the human path. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that speaks to the nature of human existence, and underscores the importance of finding balance in our lives. It reads, “Stand like mountain, move like water.” To stand like a mountain means to feel strong and secure in the midst of change. To move like water means to go with the flow. In times such as these where change is ever present in the global culture, balance is necessary to stay grounded, centered, and connected. Times of change bring with it stress. It’s no secret that we are living in a time of great stress, yet we are also living in a time of a spiritual awakening of the human soul. Are the winds of change and the winds of grace one in the same? Perhaps! Based on Seaward’s popular bestseller, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, this presentation weaves theory and story, personal experience and humor, wit and love in a poetic synthesis that both educates and inspires audiences of all ages. This presentation has become one of Dr. Seaward’s most popular talks. Television host, Joan Lunden (formerly of Good Morning America), credits the book, Stand Like Mountain, with helping her get through life’s most difficult passages.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. List the three components of human spirituality
  2. Explain the difference between the terms “spirituality” and “religion”
  3. Explain the four “seasons of the soul.”
  4. List five “muscles of the soul”
  5. Explain the difference between roadblocks and distractions on the spiritual path.

16. Walking in Balance: Strategies for Living a Balanced Life

Wellness can best be defined as “the integration, balance, and harmony of one’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual components of well-being,” with a special emphasis on the aspect of balance. It is a common belief that the reason why we, as individuals and the world population as a whole, are experiencing so many problems today is that we have lost our sense of balance; balance between work and home, freedom and responsibility, sensory stimulation and sensory overload, and ties between civilization and nature. The result is an imbalance within the core of our very Self. There is an ancient Native American expression that states that in order to find true happiness we must “Walk in balance.” This seminar helps to bring to your awareness those aspects that may be out of balance within your essence, and how to regain a sense of balance with the various aspects of your life. Soul searching, self-reflection, values assessment and clarification make up a large part of this presentation, combined with some practical exercises to apply the concept of ‘walking in balance’ in your life.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. List the four components of the holistic wellness paradigm
  2. Define the terms, “emotional well-being,” “mental well-being” “spiritual well-being” and “physical well-being”
  3. Identify one healthy behavior for each wellness quadrant
  4. Demonstrate two effective breathing techniques for homeostasis

17. Letting Go of Stress

Stress is the equal opportunity destroyer. It affects everyone! We are living in stressful times of rapid change. As a rule, people do not like change. This dynamic presentation outlines the parameters of stress, why the fight or flight response is considered antiquated, the relationship between stress and disease, and a holistic approach to stress management through a combination of effective coping strategies and relaxation techniques. Also included in this presentation is a brief session of visualization and mental imagery, as well as some additional techniques to take home and use on a daily basis. This one-hour lecture presentation highlights several key points from Dr. Seaward’s critically acclaimed book Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the terms stress and the Wellness Paradigm
  2. Explain the relationship between chronic stress and disease/illness
  3. Practice two effective coping techniques for personal use promoting homeostasis

18. The Hero’s Journey: Exploring the Wisdom of Joseph Campbell

Perhaps no other person has provided such a wealth of knowledge about myth and mythology as Joseph Campbell. His work has inspired thousands of people from anthropologist Angeless Arrien to filmmaker George Lucas. Campbell believed that the hero’s journey is the metaphorical expression of our soul-growth process. His work was brought to national consciousness with Bill Moyer’s PBS series, The Power of Myth, and today, the work of Campbell is recognized in many circles as a fresh look at ageless wisdom for the new millennium. His protégé, Jean Houston, has also inspired many people about the core aspects of humanistic psychology. This presentation will highlight several themes, concepts and ideas that form the works of both Campbell and Houston including the three stages of the Hero’s Journey, various archetypes of the Hero, Mythology as it relates to human psychology and Houston’s concept of the four levels of one’s being.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the terms, ‘Myth” and “Mythology”
  2. List the three stages of The Hero’s Journey
  3. Identify four inner resources for optimal life challenges
  4. Explain the term, “Master of two worlds”

19. Mind-Body-Spirit Healing

Three hundred years ago, the philosophy of Rene Descartes altered the course of Western medicine by conceptually dividing the human being into two separate entities: the mind and the body. The result was a commonly held view that the human body functioned like a large grandfather clock with fixable or replaceable parts. What this theory abandoned was the incredible healing power of the human spirit. Recent scientific discoveries are leading us to a new awareness of the connections between mind and body, specifically the healing potential of the mind-spirit. A new emerging paradigm, termed holism (where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and all parts—mind body, spirit and emotions—are tightly integrated to comprise a whole being), is slowly replacing the once prevailing mechanistic paradigm. Concepts including hypnosis, placebos, multiple personality disorders, and spontaneous remissions are being completely revisited under this new paradigm. How does this new concept of mind body healing affect the average worker? The World Health Organization has cited job stress as a global epidemic of the 1990’s. We now know that emotional stress can markedly affect the integrity of the immune system and nervous system, putting you at risk for disease and illness. This seminar (also offered as a daylong workshop) will highlight the following: 1) a brief history of medicine, 2) explorations of the mind and spirit, 3) some remarkable healing stories and 4) practical techniques for mind-body-spirit healing.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the concept of the Wellness Paradigm
  2. Differentiate the terms “healing” and “curing”
  3. Explain the stress and disease connection
  4. List four areas of CAM

20. Spirits on a Human Path

We are living in a time and age where the recognition of human spirituality is now deemed an essential aspect of humanity. Not long ago, the word “spirituality” was rarely heard in public. Rather, this topic was confined to the walls of churches, synagogues and temples. Today, the essence of spirituality is finding itself acknowledged in all factions of society and culture including the workplace. Perhaps the reason for the popularity of this topic is the craving, hunger, and desire to become whole; a human need not be satisfied through material possessions or the realization of the puritan ethic where worth equals work. Learn the difference between spirituality and religion, follow the footsteps of several spiritual travelers from Carl Jung, Black Elk and M. Scott Peck to Hildegard von Bingen, Lao Tzu, Joseph Campbell, and Albert Einstein, and explore the process of higher consciousness through the centering, emptying, grounding, and connecting processes. Colorful slides, inspiring quotes, and eclectic stories give this a fresh perspective and engaging exposure to this essential aspect of our lives.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the term Spirituality
  2. Explain M. Scott Peck’s concept of Spiritual Growth/Progression
  3. Explain the commonalities of three spiritual luminaries and their theories

21. Health of the Human Spirit

Wellness was the buzzword of the 90’s, but this topic includes more than aerobics and a high fiber diet. Long ignored in the allied health fields, spiritual well-being has now moved beyond an “inference” in health promotion programming to a recognized cornerstone of the wellness paradigm. If we were to first place importance on the health of our human spirit, all other aspects of our lives would fall into place. This presentation outlines several ways to increase the awareness of all things spiritual including: the practice of self-renewal, the art of sacred rituals, sweet forgiveness, embracing your shadow, surrendering the ego, keeping the faith, putting compassion in action, and living your joy. Among the exercises included in this seminar/workshop are: identifying roadblocks and distractions on the human path, engaging the centering and emptying processes, and identifying your inner resources. The health of the human spirit is health to body, mind and soul. Come explore the spiritual dimension of well-being through engaging stories, and breathtaking photography that combine to synthesize the ageless wisdom of humanity.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the term, “human spirituality”
  2. Explain the difference between “spiritual potential” and “spiritual health”
  3. List five strategies that enhance the health of the human spirit

22. Stress, Disease & the Human Energy Field

For ages, healers around the world have suggested that indeed, each person has an “aura” that surrounds the physical body. Modern medicine and Western science were quick to ignore such “superstitious” claims. However, recently it was discovered that every body does have an electro-magnetic energy field, which not only surrounds but also permeates the human body. Could these be the same? Scientific data show that people who are exposed to high tension power lines and other high voltage power circuits have a higher incidence of cancer. And the ancient art of the healing power of touch, once considered to be a placebo, is now being studied scientifically with some amazing results with the modalities of Reiki, Acupuncture, Bio-Energy and many other types of energy healing. This presentation unites the fields of physics and metaphysics in an effort to understand the newest frontier of medicine and health. This lecture includes a short film clip from a video produced by the Wirkus Foundation highlighting research conducted at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. Come explore this amazing shift in paradigms.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the terms, “Subtle Energy and Subtle Anatomy
  2. Explain the term, “Entrainment” and its relationship to stress and disease.
  3. Explain the dynamics of stress and disease through the subtle energy paradigm

23. Exploring the Dynamics of Complementary Medicine

In 1998, a Harvard study re-investigated the popular use of alternative medicine in the United States. It was revealed that well over 33% of the American public typically use some form of complementary healing modality. Moreover, it was learned that most Western-trained physicians know next to nothing about various forms of complementary healing, yet have a strong bias against it. Meanwhile, Americans today are voting with their checkbooks scheduling sessions in acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, and bio-energy healing because these and other modalities, unlike conventional Western medical practice, address the integration, balance, and harmony of mind, body, and spirit. The purpose of this presentation is to begin the bridge-building process by explaining what complementary medicine is and how allopathic (Western) and holistic (complementary) medicine can work together for the best health care practice in North America.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Define the term CAM (complementary and alternative medicine)
  2. Explain the concepts of Subtle Energy and Subtle Anatomy
  3. List the four major categories of CAM

24. Words of Mercy, Words of Grace: The Healing Power of Prayer

Until recently, the dynamics of prayer, although greatly appreciated, have not been understood very well. Interestingly, a handful of significant studies have emerged revealing what most people have assumed all along, that prayer works! As the fields of science and spirituality broach the topic of prayer, they find they have much common ground, specifically the aspect of energy in the form of conscious intent. This presentation looks at the dynamics of prayer, the concept of the non-local mind, the collective unconscious, the holographic universe theory, and as Einstein so eloquently once said, “The thoughts of God.” Additionally, there will be insights provided from various luminaries, from Larry Dossey, M.D. (author of Healing Words) to Sophy Burnham (author of A Book of Angels) whose wisdom shows us how to best articulate our thoughts to prayer.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

    1. 1. Define the term “Prayer”
    2. Define the term, “non-local mind”
    3. List four criteria considered necessary for effective prayers

25. Holiday Stress Survival

The winter holidays are cited as being the “happiest time of the year”, but for many people it’s anything but happy. It is a time of mixed messages and family stress. Stress may surface at any time in our lives for most people the most predictable time is the winter holiday season. Saddled with expectations, responsibilities, dysfunctional families, commercialization and even exploitation of the season, patience and good cheer are often hard to come by at a time when they are needed most. This presentation examines the reasons for holiday stress, from Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD) to the onslaught of holiday shopping, and offers many ideas and strategies (including healthy boundaries) to rise above the fray to help you achieve that often-illusive sense of inner peace.

Presentation Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. List two ways to refine expectations and manage holiday frustrations
  2. Define the term, “Seasonal Affected Disorder”
  3. Describe five ways to promote healthy personal boundaries

26. No Rain, No Rainbows

Alternative Presentation Title: Grace Under Pressure

There is a wonderful Hawaiian proverb that simply states, “No rain, no rainbows.” The inherent message suggests that no matter how difficult things might seem, there is always the promise that things will get better; in essence after the struggle, comes the victory! It’s no secret that we are living in a time of great stress, yet we are also living in a time of a spiritual awakening of the human soul. Are the winds of change and the winds of grace one in the same? Perhaps! Stress is a stranger to no one. Yet in these times of turbulent change, we must remember that stress is an opportunity for spiritual growth. This presentation offers insights into the relationship between stress and the health of the human spirit through the wisdom of Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and many other luminaries. Dr. Seaward weaves theory and story, personal experience and humor, wit and love in a poetic synthesis that both educates and inspires everyone.

Presentation Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

    1. Define the term “stress”
    2. Distinguish the difference between victim and victor
    3. Identify the three stages of the Hero’s Journey
    4. List four ways to effectively cope with stress