Blog

Maybe this has been your year … you’ve jumped into health and wellness head first. You explored CPS’ programs and found the perfect fit for you! But now, the (dreaded, over-indulgent) holiday season is approaching and you’re worried that the traditional holiday fare will add everything back to your waistline. Or maybe you’re still trying to find your health groove and think there’s no point in starting now. Believe it or not, now is the perfect time to start focusing on your health.

You have 25 days to practice gratitude using some creative ways. To earn points, you must complete TWO rows of activities – either vertically, horizontally or diagonally. When you’re finished, you should have done 10 things to boost your attitude of gratitude.

Being a caregiver comes with its challenges. As a member of the “sandwich generation,” I understand these challenges can come at us from all directions. While it’s a fulfilling and honorable role many of us play at some point in our lives, it can also feel very “thankless” and draining mentally, physically and emotionally. It’s important to take time for yourself to recharge and relax to avoid the associated negative health effects of burnout.

Where thankfulness is an emotion, gratitude is an attitude of appreciation under any circumstances – more than just being thankful. It’s being appreciative of daily life even when nothing exciting happens. It changes our perspective and “flips the script.” Having a consistent attitude of gratitude isn’t tied to a specific circumstance or situation (James 1:2-4). This attitude is commanded (1 Thessalonians 5:18) to be an ever-present, daily acknowledgement of God’s unconditional love, grace, and mercy – fixing our focus beyond the temporary challenges of this earthly life. Not only is it not our natural tendency, but the circumstances of this life can really tug on our perspective (Romans 8:13). Cultivating this attitude and culture of our life takes intentionality and understanding of necessity.

Employee Well-Being is the latest recognized attribute.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions include back pain, arthritis, traumatic injuries, osteoporosis, spinal deformity and childhood conditions. They can lead to significant disability plus diminished productivity and quality of life. Treatment and lost wage costs associated with MSK diseases in the U.S are significant – BILLIONS of dollars annually! Unfortunately, research funding is currently less than 2 percent of the National Institutes of Health annual budget and continues to decline each year despite these associated high costs.

Whether it’s the risk of a natural disaster like the ones listed above, or a cyber-attack, Concordia Plans wants to help our LCMS communities be safe and resilient in the face of any emergency scenario. This month’s wellness newsletter aims to unpack what can seem like an overwhelming task of preparing for the unknown.

Sleep. Some of us can’t wait to crawl back into bed every night, while others feel there are not enough hours in the day. Sleep is more than just rest for our bodies and minds – there are many health benefits that come along with it.

We're attending the 2023 LCMS Convention and we'd love to connect with you.

Digital devices that are meant to connect us to information and to each other flood our brains with content each time we interact with them, preventing any sort of rest.