Success comes to those who are able to complete projects in a timely manner. Whether projects are for school, hobbies, or large scale production, everyone wants the satisfaction of completion. The problem is that a large number of people aren’t able to complete projects they’ve started or are unable to get started at all. Many believe that this problem relates to a lack of motivation or laziness; but in my experience, this is rarely the case.
If you’d like to complete more projects and enjoy more success, see if you’re able to identify yourself in any of the following scenarios: The first describes people who are able to do whatever is necessary to start, execute and complete tasks. Throughout the task, flexibility allows them to insert changes whenever necessary in order to achieve the desired result. You’re lucky if this describes you! You’d make a terrific employee or business owner. Chances are that you’re very successful at everything you undertake and are doing things to stay healthy, including keeping your sympathetic and your parasympathetic nervous systems in balance. If you aren’t, keep reading to find out what you should be doing!
The next scenario describes people who have lots of enthusiasm starting a project but get lost along the way. They start new projects before finishing the first one. Although the degree of completion varies, few projects are ever completed and they become frustrated. Often these are highly intelligent people who may become even more frustrated as they become aware of their problem.
The last scenario describes people who have good intentions of getting started but as the saying goes – they just can’t quite get all their ducks in a row – the epitome of a procrastinator.
One might question whether these personality types are the result of upbringing or genetics. Fortunately, we know through the science of epigenetics (Thank you, Dr. Bruce Lipton) that we are not the victims of our forbearer’s genes as was long believed. We can also thank science for shedding light on some of the factors that influence why some people are better at completing tasks and are enjoying more success.
It’s undeniable that one’s health influences one’s success. Therefore, it seems obvious that having healthy neural communication pathways that run through our brain is critically important to our functioning. These communication pathways or governing systems that have a primary influence on our functioning and decision-making are part of the autonomic nervous system, and include the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. When these systems are in balance and working properly, life is good. This sounds simple, but it explains more than you might imagine!
As sub-systems of the autonomic nervous system, both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems operate automatically. We don’t have to think about it for it to work; it’s automatic. Thank heavens, because no one would want to be responsible for telling their heart to beat or their lungs to breathe, as well as all the other tasks that the body handles without any conscious direction. Perhaps it’s time to take notice of these systems. (More in next month’s article.)
The sympathetic system picks up information from the environment and the body responds by dealing with the potential threats. This is what is referred to as, ‘fight or flight’. The job of the sympathetic nervous systems is to shut down as much of the normal functioning of the body as possible and redirect all available energy for protection from any perceived threats. Threats are perceived as greater when the spine is impaired and signaling is altered, thus reducing our perception of what’s truly going on.
When we are unable to start or finish projects, it falls under what is called sympathetic overload. With sympathetic overload, there’s a good chance that the vertebrae in our spine are misaligned which alters our perceptions which leads to misreading the true environment. Parasympathetic overdrive comes into play when describing those who can’t get started on projects. (Explained in more detail at my workshop on April 30th at the Livonia Civic Center Library.)
One of the best ways to keep the autonomic nervous system running smoothly is by correcting subluxations of the spine through chiropractic adjustments. This allows the proper flow of information to go to the brain to run the body. To effectively balance the sympathetic system that resides mostly within the spine, and the parasympathetic which resides mostly near the spine on either side, I utilize an instrument called an adjuster.
Proper nutrition is also essential for keeping the autonomic nervous system in good health. However, in the case of nutritional deficiencies, you may need to supplement with specific high quality whole food supplements that help re-regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems of the body. Be sure to have an experienced professional with a strong background in nutrition check to see what may be best for your particular needs.
Sanity has been identified as the number of completed tasks on hand; lack of sanity relates to the number of incomplete tasks – both those started and not yet started. Don’t let unfinished tasks make you crazy! Take the necessary steps to rebalance your nervous system. Put yourself back in control. Stay sane, be efficient, complete projects, and enjoy life and success in all you do!
Dr. William H. Karl, D.C.