Train the brain, not the body

if you really want to lose weight.

There are five levels of stress and five tools to reduce them. Take a few breaths and identify your stress level (SL). Then use this tools to reduce it.

1 Compassion Tool (SL1: Very Low). Say to yourself, “Feel compassion for myself,” then wait for a wave of compassion to flow through your body. Next say, “Feel compassion for others,” and feel a slight wave of warmth. Last, say, “Feel compassion for all living beings.”

2 Feelings Tool (SL2: Low). Ask yourself, “How do I feel?” Often, three feelings bubble up, but wait long enough so that one feeling is the strongest. That’s the one! Next ask yourself, “What do I need?” and, finally, “Do I need support?”

3 Flow Tool (SL3: A Little). Say the words: “I feel angry that...” and watch what words arrive in your mind. State the sentence again, for seven more feelings: sad, afraid, guilty, grateful, happy, secure and proud. When we feel our negative feelings, they fade.

4 Cycle Tool (SL4: High). Start by stating what is bothering you, then protest that stress by saying “I feel angry that... I can’t stand it that... I hate it that...” and each time watch what words arrive in your mind. This can unlock the circuit so that you can change at a deeper level. Pause and take a few deep breaths, then say the words: “I feel sad that... I feel afraid that... I feel guilty that...” and watch what words arrive in your mind to complete each sentence. Next support yourself, and say, “OF COURSE I could do that (such as overeat) because my unreasonable expectation is...” and again wait for words to bubble up from your unconscious mind, such as: “I get my safety from overeating.” That’s just an old glitch of a memory that needs updating. Say the opposite expectation (such as “I cannot get my safety from food... I can get my safety from connecting to myself”).

5 Damage Control Tool (SL5: Very High). When we’re that stressed, we need to be held and comforted. Sometimes just rocking in your chair or breathing deeply helps. Also, you can say calming words repeatedly: “Do not judge. Minimize harm. Know it will pass. After all, it’s just stress and it will fade.” Read note: theconversation.com/want-to-loseweight- train-the-brain-not-the-body-56243

Emotional first aid

We are expected to just “get over” psychological wounds —when as anyone who’s ever ruminated over rejection or agonized over a failure knows only too well, emotional injuries can be just as crippling as physical ones. We need to learn how to practice emotional first aid. Here are 7 ways to do so:

1 Pay attention to emotional pain —recognize it when it happens and work to treat it before it feels all-encompassing.
2 Redirect your gut reaction when you fail.
3 Monitor and protect your self-esteem. When you feel like putting yourself down, take a moment to be compassionate to yourself.
4 When negative thoughts are taking over, disrupt them with positive distraction. 5 Find meaning in loss. It might look hard, but try.
6 Don’t ever let excessive guilt linger.
7 Learn what treatments for emotional wounds really work for your own needs.

Norwegian wood

Norway becomes first country in the world to commit to zero deforestation.

The Norwegian parliament pledged the government’s public procurement policy will become deforestationfree after a committee of MPs recommended imposing regulations to ensure the state did “not contribute to deforestation of the rainforest”. Norway funds forest conservation projects worldwide and also supports human rights programmes for forest communities. Nils Hermann Ranum, the head of Policy and Campaign at Rainforest Foundation Norway, said in a statement: “This is an important victory in the fight to protect the rainforest. Over the last few years, a number of companies have committed to cease the procurement of goods that can be linked to destruction of the rainforest. “Until now, this has not been matched by similar commitments from governments. Thus, it is highly positive that the Norwegian state is now following suit and making the same demands when it comes to public procurements”. The Rainforest Foundation Norway has campaigned for years to secure a zero deforestation commitment from the Norwegian government. Read full note: www.independent.co.uk/news/ world/europe/norway-becomes-first-countryin- the-world-to-commit-to-zero-deforestation- a7064056.html#gallery

Eco-friendly coolers

Bangladeshi inventors are making them from plastic bottles.

When inventor Ashis Paul came up with an innovative way to draw cool air into homes using plastic bottles, his whole company got on board to help teach people living in rural Bangledesh to do the same. Since February this year, they’ve helped people to install these units —which don’t need electricity to function— in more than 25,000 households in developing areas of the country. In rural Bangladesh, most people build their homes out of tin. But the problem with these tin huts is that they get unbearably hot in the summer. Ashis Paul started thinking about ways to bring relief to these people. He had this idea of making an air-conditioner out of plastic bottles —the simplicity of the Eco-Cooler is incredible. Read full note, and learn how to make an eco cooler: observers.france24.com/en/20160602-bangladesh- air-conditioner-plastic-bottles-technology

Walk with me

Mom invents harness for children with disabilities

Debby Elnatan, an American-born mom who lives in Israel with her family, created the Upsee harness for her son, who has cerebral palsy, to help him explore the world around him when he was a child. Now, thousands of other children with disabilities are using the Upsee, too. Debby decided to take matters into her own hands when it came to son Rotem, who has cerebral palsy. When he was a small child, she came up with a harness device that allowed him to “walk.” It wasn’t an easy path from concept to mass market; it took nearly two decades. Finally launched last April by the Ireland-based company Leckey, Upsee is available for purchase online at Fireflyfriends.com. To date, more than 5,000 of these harness devices have been sold worldwide, and more are selling every day as word spreads of their availability. Read interview with Debby Elnatan here: www. notimpossiblenow.com/lives/moms-love-for-herson- leads-to-harness-for-children-with-disabilities

Kashmir deer in danger

This shy, endangered deer in India could go extinct very soon.

While the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) continues to thrive across the planet, it’s relative, the Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu), also known as the Kashmir deer, isn’t nearly as lucky. According to RelivEarth, it went from thriving in the high altitudes of India and Pakistan to being “the most endangered species of India”. The stag’s numbers dropped from 5,000 before the 1950s to only 220 members in a 2011 population survey. Indian authorities are trying to save the endangered stag. Earlier this year, The Tribune India reported how the Park’s wildlife officials have banned private vehicles, with the exception of government ones, from entering the Park in an effort to protect the Hangul. While wildlife officials are taking steps in the right direction to protect the Hangul from outside disturbances, many are reluctant to tackle what is inside of the Park: a sheep breeding farm. Take Action! If you agree that a sheep breeding farm doesn’t belong inside of a National Park, then sign and share a petition urging Indian authorities to move the sheep breeding farm out of Dachigam National Park and to offer the endangered Hangul more protection before it’s too late. Read full note and SIGN: www.care2.com/causes/ this-shy-endangered-deer-in-india-could-go-extinctvery- soon.html#ixzz4CELrPN7v

Knowledge and expertise

One of the three things you need, beside money, to start a successful business. (part 1/3)

Over the past four years I’ve met hundreds of entrepreneurs and worked closely with a number of them. I’ve helped in all aspects of starting a business, from the initial legal setup, to defining the product and business model, to actually designing, building and iterating on the product. I’ve seen a ton of different approaches to building a business. There’s no one “right” way to do it. However, what I have realized is that those who succeed have three things in place. When one of the three is missing, success becomes a lot more difficult. Those three things are: knowledge and expertise; strategy; and execution.

Knowledge and expertise
The most successful entrepreneurs have an advantage of an acute knowledge in whatever industry they are targeting. They have become experts by spending time learning about the problem they are trying to solve and the target market. Thus they are naturally in a better position to start a company. For example, Jopwell (a company I worked with) connects Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native American professionals and students to amazing companies. Jopwell has two black founders that have personally experienced the recruitment challenges with top tier companies. Since founding the company a couple years ago they have partnered with the top companies from Finance, Technology, and Media amongst other industries, gone through the prestigious Y Combinator and recently raised $3.25MM from great investors like Andreessen Horowitz. There are many factors that have contributed to their success, but I am confident that they were in a much better position to found the company than someone like me. The two founders collectively spent seven summers interning in high school and college, assisted with diversity recruitment efforts and listened to what the pain points were for recruiters. This isn’t to say that every black person would be able to build a diversity recruitment platform. Rather, the point is that their experiences and research gave them the knowledge and expertise to solve this problem better than others. This same principle applies to other industries as well. For example, if you are trying to start a commercial real estate startup, you’ll have a huge advantage if you’ve worked in commercial real estate or have someone on your team who has. After reading this section you may think this is common sense. But don’t overlook it. When you have an idea make sure you have a knowledge advantage over others. (To be continued)

Greenhouse

Create your own indoor sanctuary where you can protect and cherish the beauty of nature. By Worapong Manupipatpong and Ada Chirakranont. www.momastore.org

Impossible I-1 analog instant camera

It gives instant photographers new levels of manual control through the companion I-1 App, which allows control of aperture and shutter speed, and lets you try out creative techniques like light painting and double exposure. www.momastore.org

Bachelor degree in Petroleum Engineering

school of science and engineering

The Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering (BS) program objective is to help students further widen their knowledge as it applies to the exploration and development of mineral resources and upon the economics of the business of Petroleum. The Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering (BS) program is offered online via distance learning. After evaluating both academic record and life experience, AIU staff working in conjunction with Faculty and Academic Advisors will assist students in setting up a custom-made program, designed on an individual basis. This flexibility to meet student needs is seldom found in other distance learning programs. Our online program does not require all students to take the same subjects/ courses, use the same books, or learning materials. Instead, the online Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering (BS) curriculum is designed individually by the student and academic advisor. It specifically addresses strengths and weaknesses with respect to market opportunities in the student’s major and intended field of work. Understanding that industry and geographic factors should influence the content of the curriculum instead of a standardized one-fits-all design is the hallmark of AIU’s unique approach to adult education. This philosophy addresses the dynamic and constantly changing environment of working professionals by helping adult students in reaching their professional and personal goals within the scope of the degree program.

Important:
Below is an example of the topics or areas you may develop and work on during your studies. By no means is it a complete or required list as AIU programs do not follow a standardized curriculum. It is meant solely as a reference point and example. Want to learn more about the curriculum design at AIU? Go ahead and visit our website, especially the Course and Curriculum section: aiu.edu/course-curriculum.html