23. I text message my friends and parents more than I call them by phone.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
24. I watch more movies via the Internet or Netflix than in a movie theater.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
25. I make an effort to buy organic produce each week.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
26. I have more than 50 Web sites bookmarked on my computer.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
27. I have more than 250 friends on Facebook.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
28. I purchase plastic water bottles rather than use a stainless steel bottle.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
29. I have more than 25 apps on my iPhone/Android.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
30. I watch at least one YouTube or Socialcam video per day.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
31. The majority of my purchases are via credit card or debit card, not cash.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
32. I post an update to Facebook at least once a day.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
33. I belong to more than one social networking Web site.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
34. I prefer to read books via a Kindle or an iPad than hard cover books.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
35. I post photos and various items on Pinterest and Instagram each week.
F
F
YES
F
F
NO
Results: The purpose of these questions is to increase your awareness of the influence the current culture has
on your behaviors. There is no definitive answer or “score” regarding the impact of cultural influences. We
participate in cultural practices primarily as a means of being accepted. Most people are completely unaware
of the influence that society has on them, unless they purposely act differently than cultural norms suggest.
© Paramount Wellness Institute. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
EXERCISE 1.6: Are You a Product of Your Culture? cont....
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Experts have noticed a dramatic decline in civility, which closely parallels the rise in the use of technology. While
it is easy to observe rude and uncivil behavior in other, it’s not so easy to see it in ourselves (the ego’s ability
to rationalize one’s behavior is quite powerful). This exercise invites you to take an honest look at your civil
behaviors and determine how you stack up with what is culturally expected as good manners in a civil society.
Write the number that corresponds with the frequency of each behavior in the frequency column.
5 5 Always 4 = Often 3 5 Sometimes 2 5 Seldom 1 5 Rarely 0 5 Never
Behavior
Frequency
1. I hold the door open for people when walking into or out of a store or building.
2. If I use my smartphone in public, I find a quiet place to talk away from people.
3. I make a habit of smiling at others including store clerks, postal workers, and
restaurant servers.
4. I only use the express checkout lane in the grocery store when I have the limited number of
suggested items, even when in a hurry.
5. When driving, I allow other drivers to cut in front of me.
6. If I am at the movies with a friend, I will suspend all conversations during the film.
7. While on the phone, I give my full attention and don’t multitask with checking
emails, etc.
8. I let people finish speaking before I say something or comment.
9. I say the words please and thank you when requesting something.
10. I don’t use my smartphone while driving.
11. I will pull a dollar out of my wallet or purse for a homeless person.
12. If I receive a second call while talking, I will ignore the incoming call.
13. When listening to my iPod while walking, jogging, snowboarding, or downhill skiing,
I acknowledge others’ presence with a smile, nod, or comment.
14. When others express political or religious beliefs that are different than mine, I shift
the conversation to a different topic.
15. I tend to censor the use of swear words in public.
TOTAL SCORE
Key: There is no set standard for degrees of civility. Either you are or you are not! This survey is an awareness
tool to help you examine your own behavior. If you score less than 30 points, you might consider changing
because most likely people see you as lacking in civility.
© Paramount Wellness Institute. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
EXERCISE 1.7: Living in the Age of Civility
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Consider these facts: Today anyone can publish their own book, record their own song, enter a photo con-
test, post their own blog, make their own movie, and gain worldwide attention if not millions of fans via
YouTube. Reality shows are the rage on TV, from Jersey Shore to home improvement shows. Anyone can
become a celebrity, specifically a “laptop celebrity.” Experts who keep their finger on the pulse of humanity
grow increasingly concerned. The “me” generation has now expanded over several decades to include several
generations. The self-absorbed, all-about-me, narcissistic, 15-minutes-of-fame culture is nothing more than
the ego run amuck. The problems with unbridled egos (multiplied by 7 billion people) cannot be understated!
If everyone is only looking out for themselves, many people, perhaps cultures, if not the world, will suffer.
Recently the American Psychiatric Association decided to delete the Narcissism Disorder from the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, in 2013, suggesting that this behavior is too common
now to be recognized as a disorder. Granted, you have to have some interest in yourself. After all, that’s what
self-esteem is all about. Balance is the key. At what point is the line crossed? That is the million-dollar ques-
tion. The opposite of narcissism is altruism—doing something for others without any expectation of recipro-
cation; in essence, random acts of kindness.
1. Have you noticed that, in general, people are self-absorbed, perhaps even clueless about others eclipsed by
their own stature and in denial about their inflated egos?
2. Have you been accused of being narcissistic, or simply full of yourself? Please explain.
3. How would you best describe your “presence” in the world? Do you have a Web site? A blog? Mul-
tiple YouTube video postings? Tweets on a Twitter account? Books on Amazon? How many Facebook
updates do you post per day? How many minutes have you used up on your 15 minutes of fame allotment
(or have you gone over this limit)?
4. Why do you suppose people are over the top with being self-righteous or simply fascinated with them-
selves? Is it a need for approval? Is it a need for acceptance? Is it a question of insecurity? What is your
take on this new normal of the “me” generation?
5. If indeed altruism is the polar opposite of narcissism, what actions do you take on a regular basis to seek
balance? What do you do to domesticate your ego?
© Paramount Wellness Institute. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
EXERCISE 1.8: It’s All About Me: The Age of Narcissism
“Enough about me. What do you think about me?” — Bette Midler
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Technology is great and can make so many aspects of life convenient. Conversely, we can spend untold
amounts of time online with some unhealthy consequences. Sociologists have noted that three specific behav-
iors are common with people who spend gobs of time online. They report being constantly tired, always busy,
and, perhaps most surprising, lonely. It’s time to do an inventory on how you feel with regard to these specific
aspects of your life.
1. Tiredness: Generally speaking, how would you rate your overall energy levels? Are you tired when you
wake up in the morning, or do you feel fully rested? Do you find yourself dragging through the course of
the day and cannot wait to get home to unwind? Do you have plenty of energy in the early evening, or do
you flop on the sofa and veg out till you fall asleep? Take a few moments to explain your levels of energy,
and if you do feel a sense of constant tiredness, describe it here.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Busyness: Do you feel that you barely have time to catch your breath with countless responsibilities to
do each day? Do you feel like you are constantly running on a treadmill and there is no way to get off?
Do you find that you are always doing something related to your smartphone or tablet? Are you always
plugged in? Do you feel that your rate of busyness is proportional to what you actually get done, or do
you feel that you are always busy but don’t have much to show for it? Take a few moments to explain
your perspective on how you actually spend your personal energy and your level of productivity.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Loneliness: Experts who observe people constantly using their smartphones and tablets have noticed that,
generally speaking, people spend a lot of time online because they fear being alone. Spending time posting
updates on social networking sites tends to make people feel like they belong, yet when questioned, these
same people often describe life off line as feeling alienated and detached. Loneliness isn’t the same thing
as being alone (there are many people who will tell you that they feel quite lonely with their spouse, their
roommate, and even their friends). Here are some questions to contemplate: (1) Do you stay online to feel
a sense of connection to people even if it’s a virtual rather than actual connection? (2) Do you feel awk-
ward or uncomfortable being alone for long periods of time? (3) Do you make it a point to never be alone?
(4) Do you constantly fill your social calendar to the brim every day? (5) Describe your typical day and
include purposeful alone time.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
© Paramount Wellness Institute. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
EXERCISE 1.9: The Tired, Busy, Lonely Checklist
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How tuned in to the environment are you? Let’s find out. Take this quick True/False quiz.
1. The majority of the ocean’s coral reefs are dying due to agricul-
tural runoff, poor fishing practices, and formaldehyde used to
capture tropical fish.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
2. Over 60 percent of food in your local grocery store is genetically
modified.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
3. About one half of the world’s population does not have drinkable
water in their house.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
4. The acidity of the world’s oceans is increasing at an alarming rate.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
5. Wild salmon has much less PCBs than that raised in fisheries.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
6. Mercury found in coldwater fish comes from coal-burning plants
used to make electricity for everyday use.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
7. Hormones and antibiotics dumped into toilets are not filtered
out in water treatment plants.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
8. Experts predict that the ocean’s natural fisheries will collapse in
your lifetime.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
9. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one hamburger.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
10. On average, there are over 16 million new cars on the road every
year.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
11. Ethanol fuel still requires petrochemicals (oil) for fertilizers to
grow the corn.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
12. Farm-raised salmon must take beta carotine pellets so its flesh is
pink/orange.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
13. City light pollution is thought to be a contributing factor to the
increase in insomnia across the United States.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
14. The majority of food in your local grocery story has been trans-
ported over 1,500 miles to rest on those store shelves before being
purchased.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
15.
Droughts in the Amazon rainforest contribute to global
warming.
F
F
TRUE
F
F
FALSE
The answer for all of these questions is true. But don’t get too stressed out. Being aware of each problem is
half of the solution. Knowledge is power. Environmental disconnect is based largely on ignorance and apathy.
Although some people choose to stick their head in the sand, others are taking an active role towards living
a sustainable life by changing their behaviors to become in sync with the environment. One person’s life may
seem insignificant to the big picture, but nothing could be further from the truth. What can you do? Plenty!
EXERCISE 1.10: The Environmental Disconnect
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EXERCISE 1.10: The Environmental Disconnect cont....
List ten things that you do (or can start doing) to live a more sustainable lifestyle and reconnect with the
biosphere we live on called planet Earth.
1. _________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________________________________________
8. _________________________________________________________________________________
9. _________________________________________________________________________________
10. _________________________________________________________________________________
© Paramount Wellness Institute. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
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The circle is a universal symbol of wholeness, as expressed in the American Indian medicine wheel, the
Tibetan mandala, and many other symbols recognized worldwide. Typically these symbols depict four aspects
such as spring, summer, winter, and fall; mind, body, spirit, and emotions; or north, south, east, and west.
This exercise invites you to increase your awareness of the power of this symbol.
1. List ten objects, found in nature, that symbolize wholeness (e.g., full moon, sun, etc.).
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
2. List ten objects or designs that are used in American culture (or world culture) to convey a sense of
wholeness to the unconscious mind (e.g., Starbucks logo, dinner plates, Christmas wreaths, the peace
symbol, etc.).
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
© Paramount Wellness Institute. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
EXERCISE 1.11: The Circle: The Universal Symbol of Wholeness
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