Resources

Can increasing gratitude improve your brain chemistry and help you feel better? Can it improve your career? The science of gratitude has expanded greatly in the past twenty years. Studies increasingly show that regularly practicing gratitude contributes to better relationships, decreased anxiety, and increased internal satisfaction. These bolster what Daniel Goleman labels emotional and social intelligence, key items for success in our careers and lives. Though once labeled soft skills—i.e.,...

Have you ever found your ability to make a choice and act upon it lacking? Choosing and acting define the broad concept of volition. Some label this as having the power to use one’s free will. But in times of stress or anxiety, we sometimes feel hindered in our ability to exercise that choice and action. We may even feel powerless, frozen in place, and unable to act at all. Can you think of a time when you felt unable to make a decision and then act? It could be something major or minor.

Imagine a point in the future where you have achieved your greatest professional goal. Invest a moment here. Visualize your career success. You have worked hard and have earned this. Now consider this question: How does this success feel? I think most people will have some level of contentment or satisfaction. Others may feel a bit of pride in the accomplishment. Some may begin to ponder, “What’s next?” Those responses are all normal and valid. Now, imagine it’s six months after that major...

The Oregon State University Division of Extension and Engagement and College of Forestry are seeking an Extension 4-H and Forestry Natural Resources Program Coordinator to serve youth engaged in 4-H and Forestry Natural Resources programming in Benton County. This position is responsible for the development, management and integration of 4-H and Forestry natural resources non-credit education that meets the needs of youth in Benton County. The incumbent will collaborate with schoolteachers,...

Are you any good at managing your time? Some of you may think, “I'm not bad at it.” But most, like me, are no good at all. So here's the question. What if you worked on managing your energy instead of managing your time? Time is finite. But energy can appear seemingly out of nowhere. In truth, energy has four sources: the body, our emotions, our minds, and our spirit. Tony Schwartz, founder of the Energy Project, says we can learn to harness these dimensions, creating our own energy. Tony...

In this mid-career series, I mentioned that this time in your professional life can be exciting and scary… simultaneously. That’s just the nature of mid-career. If you embrace both the excitement and the worry with humility and a growth mindset, you can set yourself up a fantastic late-career success and positive impact. The next six posts (titles listed below) will give you some specific ideas ( and pose some challenging questions ) that will help you move through this part of your career.

Whether you’re working in Extension, education, the non-profit or government sector, or private business, mid-career can bring exciting professional development and growth, as well as great internal worry and doubt… often at the same time. At mid-career, we begin to trust ourselves (having been around long enough to learn a few things), but we can also have lingering existential questions about whether we’re really on the right path, or if our management and leadership and communication...

New handouts listing foods and beverages that are some of the highest sources of calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D, and iron are now available on DietaryGuidelines.gov! These printable handouts focus on the 5 dietary components of public health concern identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 . These dietary components are important for health and many people in the United States do not get enough of them. Calcium , potassium , dietary fiber , and vitamin D...

We are very fortunate to be surrounded by so many generous Cooperative Extension professionals throughout our country. Dr. Brian Raison from The Ohio State University exemplifies the concept of "giving as you go" throughout his distinguished career. In that spirit, this guest series launched with valuable insights for early career professionals! The ideas shared in this series are extracted from Dr. Raison’s 2024 book, The Encouraging Mentor: Your Guide to 40 Conversations that Matter . This...

Registration is open now for the Rural Grocery Transition Specialist program! This self-paced, online course is designed to train resource providers to better support rural grocery business transitions. Students who successfully complete the course will earn a microcredential through K-State Global Campus. The course will be held September 9 through December 8, 2024. Register by August 30, 2024 at ruralgrocery.org/specialist.

As Extension professionals, you know firsthand the challenges your community faces. Today, we're excited to announce a powerful opportunity to enhance your support for your community and the military families that live within them.

Your Personal Mission A personal mission is a statement about your why. This is what drives you to get out of bed in the morning. It describes what you believe is most important in life, what you wish to focus on, and what you want to be known for. If you allow it to direct your thoughts and actions each day, it has the potential to direct your life and achieve the future you want. I often tell my students to consider doing this exercise and then holding on to it. When one finds themself...