just wanted to spread the word about Life Coaching and what it can do to help just about anyone. No, not every coach is suited for every client but the right coach/client combination is such powerful tool.
I hear different variations of the following questions and statements a lot: "What can a coach do for me?", "I can't afford to pay a coach!", "What does SHE know that I don't know?", "I don't need a stinkin' Coach!" Ok, well I tossed the word "stinkin'" in there (smile) but I do know there are many people who could benefit from the power of coaching but feel they don't need it.
Well hopefully the following can open some eyes to the magic of this wonderful tool!
Coaching is an effective process used to support individuals in creating something new for themselves. I work side by side with my clients coaching them by providing perspective and support for self-knowledge as they accomplish their business and personal goals.
I personal help women achieve balance and cultivate the tools necessary for them to evolve into a life filled with happiness and serenity. I believe all women have the tools they need inside to lead a more fulfilling life. I simply guide them along an empowering path that will awaken these tools, focus on their passion and ultimately lead them to a more fulfilled self. If you are ready to find your way to a more balanced you, I will be your guide.
Life coaches are great and act as your personal cheerleader. There are many benefits to having a Personal Life Coach and here are just a few. Coaching is a valuable process for people looking to:
design life intentions that include both your business and personal goals.
make meaningful personal changes that reduce stress and simplify your life.
free up energy and other resources to attract what you want for your life now.
enhance the quality of your communication and relationships
work through a career or life transition
achieve better work/life balance
gain clarity, focus and direction
Coaching is also for those that are successful and growing entrepreneurs, where everything is going really well, and you would just appreciate a neutral sounding board who will give you straight-up honest feedback and on-going support.
Aurelia Williams is certified Personal Life Coach and owner of Real Life Coaching. Take advantage of a totally free coaching session today! Aurelia would like to offer you a gift of a free sample session. There really is nothing like coaching. The best way to learn about it is to experience it for yourself! I would love to introduce you to the world of coaching in an absolutely free, 'no strings attached' sample session. If you are interested, simply e-mail me and we can set up an appointment.
Friday
What's On Your Treasure Map?
Do you have a Treasure Map? No, not the kind you find in Pirates of the Caribbean! This type of Treasure Map is a collage or story-board of what you want to draw into your life. It's a means to help you visualize your goals.
Have you ever closed your eyes and visualized something you wanted clearly? You take time to see yourself "there" enjoying your success, your vacation, your partner or your thriving business. You start to feel a number of emotions.
You may feel proud of your accomplishment. You may feel a sense of peace from achieving financial freedom. You may feel love and belonging. All of these positive emotions stem from visualizing and really experiencing your accomplishment in your mind. And the mind starts to accept what you are picturing. That's the power of visualization and it will move you to your goals.
But how many of us really take the time to do these visualizations daily? The dog needs to be walked, the kids are late for school, we've got to finish the project that's due at work today. Life is busy and we could use some help in focusing on our goals.
That's where Treasure Mapping can help. A Treasure Map is a constant reminder and reinforcement of where we want to go, what we want to accomplish and who we want to become. So how do you create a Treasure Map? There is not just one right way to create a Treasure Map, but here are some ideas.
1. Use one large poster board or you can take a poster board and divide it into several sections to represent different areas of your goals, i.e., spiritual, financial, relationships, personal growth, etc.
2. At the center of the board, place something that represents your center or the core of your being. It could be something that represents God, love, peace, or joy. This keeps your Treasure Map centered in something higher than material things.
3. Then add phrases of the type of person you want to be or the qualities you want to have. Happy, peaceful, kind, helpful, giving and wise are some examples. If you find pictures that represent these qualities to you, add those, but words or phrases work well too. These phrases can be added right around the center picture on your board. Or they can be scattered around your board…whatever feels best to you.
4. Start dreaming big! We tend to limit ourselves or feel we are not worthy of good things. In creating your Treasure Map include what your heart wants, not what you think you can have.
5. Once you have the center of your board and the phrases of who want to become, then move on to material items you want in your life. Sort through magazines to find colorful pictures of the vehicle, the home, the piece of jewelry or furniture that you want. Find pictures of the vacation spot you want to visit. Add these pictures to your board surrounding your center picture.
6. Fill your board. Don't leave any blank space. You want to create a full and exciting life and your Treasure Map should represent that.
7. At the bottom of your Treasure Map always include the phrase "Thank you for this or something better." Always be grateful for what you have and what you will be receiving. This phrase also acknowledges that there may be even bigger and better things waiting for us.
8. Place your Treasure Map in a place that you see it several times a day. And at least once a day take some time to use your Treasure Map to connect with your centering picture or word. Then expand that out to the qualities and material items that you have on your Map. Take time to feel the joy, the excitement and the pride of accomplishing and having everything on your Treasure Map.
Positive emotions are powerful and they can pull you forward to your goals. Use your Treasure Map as a daily reminder of your goals and what you will achieve. Make this year your best ever!
Donna Davis has successfully built several businesses from a local accounting service to a large online network marketing team. Visit www.HotAZCandles.com to learn more about her current business and her family. For a free ebook “Entrepreneurial Spirits” email ebook1@aweber.com
Have you ever closed your eyes and visualized something you wanted clearly? You take time to see yourself "there" enjoying your success, your vacation, your partner or your thriving business. You start to feel a number of emotions.
You may feel proud of your accomplishment. You may feel a sense of peace from achieving financial freedom. You may feel love and belonging. All of these positive emotions stem from visualizing and really experiencing your accomplishment in your mind. And the mind starts to accept what you are picturing. That's the power of visualization and it will move you to your goals.
But how many of us really take the time to do these visualizations daily? The dog needs to be walked, the kids are late for school, we've got to finish the project that's due at work today. Life is busy and we could use some help in focusing on our goals.
That's where Treasure Mapping can help. A Treasure Map is a constant reminder and reinforcement of where we want to go, what we want to accomplish and who we want to become. So how do you create a Treasure Map? There is not just one right way to create a Treasure Map, but here are some ideas.
1. Use one large poster board or you can take a poster board and divide it into several sections to represent different areas of your goals, i.e., spiritual, financial, relationships, personal growth, etc.
2. At the center of the board, place something that represents your center or the core of your being. It could be something that represents God, love, peace, or joy. This keeps your Treasure Map centered in something higher than material things.
3. Then add phrases of the type of person you want to be or the qualities you want to have. Happy, peaceful, kind, helpful, giving and wise are some examples. If you find pictures that represent these qualities to you, add those, but words or phrases work well too. These phrases can be added right around the center picture on your board. Or they can be scattered around your board…whatever feels best to you.
4. Start dreaming big! We tend to limit ourselves or feel we are not worthy of good things. In creating your Treasure Map include what your heart wants, not what you think you can have.
5. Once you have the center of your board and the phrases of who want to become, then move on to material items you want in your life. Sort through magazines to find colorful pictures of the vehicle, the home, the piece of jewelry or furniture that you want. Find pictures of the vacation spot you want to visit. Add these pictures to your board surrounding your center picture.
6. Fill your board. Don't leave any blank space. You want to create a full and exciting life and your Treasure Map should represent that.
7. At the bottom of your Treasure Map always include the phrase "Thank you for this or something better." Always be grateful for what you have and what you will be receiving. This phrase also acknowledges that there may be even bigger and better things waiting for us.
8. Place your Treasure Map in a place that you see it several times a day. And at least once a day take some time to use your Treasure Map to connect with your centering picture or word. Then expand that out to the qualities and material items that you have on your Map. Take time to feel the joy, the excitement and the pride of accomplishing and having everything on your Treasure Map.
Positive emotions are powerful and they can pull you forward to your goals. Use your Treasure Map as a daily reminder of your goals and what you will achieve. Make this year your best ever!
Donna Davis has successfully built several businesses from a local accounting service to a large online network marketing team. Visit www.HotAZCandles.com to learn more about her current business and her family. For a free ebook “Entrepreneurial Spirits” email ebook1@aweber.com
Wednesday
Depression Hurts! I Know Because I've Been There
I suffer from the classic version of depression . I started with bouts of it when I was seventeen, but it wasn’t until my late thirties or early forties that it got so bad that I had to seek help. Over the years doctors prescribed Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin.
I got a little relief, but the pills made me so tired all I could do was lay around and then I put on weight, which made me more depressed. So I decided to try a natural approach.
Here are the steps to recover from depression - these are the same steps that I have used:
1) I can’t stress this one enough. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER, and more WATER! Drink approximately half your weight in water in ounces each day. (ex: If you weigh 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day). Your water should be bottled or filtered water.
If you are a soda drinker, cut back, better yet, quit drinking that STUFF! If you are a soda drinker, start using soda as a special treat. When I was growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. We only made it to the grocery store a couple times a month, but when we did go we were allowed to get a bottle of coke. What a treat, and that’s the way it should be. It has no nutritional value and only makes you fat.
Do not and I repeat do not drink diet soda. I have done research on the artificial sweeteners that they use and have found information that artificial sweeteners can cause brain tumors. Soda is a tough one for me, because I love Cocoa Cola, so if I do drink a soda I drink regular. If you are a coffee drinker, drink your one cup in the morning to get you going then no more the rest of the day.
2) Use a natural anti-depressant. I have used prescription anti-depressants and as I said before, I did get a little relief from my symptoms but I gained thirty pounds on the prescription drugs, which made me more depressed because of the weight gain. I gained more weight than when I was pregnant. There are a lot of side effects to consider when you take prescription drugs. I do not want to have to worry about the side effects on top of my illness.
Make sure the ingredients are herbs for depression. I've tried a lot and some work, some don't. Unfortunately I have found there is no magic pill. It's pretty much trial and error, as everyone's body chemistry differs. I take them still and my husband says I'm a whole lot nicer to be around and I have a lot more energy. My spurts of anger and mood swings have all but vanished. Something that my husband is very happy to see gone! He'll even remind me to take them, less I forget!!
3) Use good Multi Vitamin Supplements.Don’t buy these at department stores,but instead buy them from a store that specializes in natural vitamin supplements or online from a reputable company. I buy mine from the company in the above link but there are a lot of good online companies. Just make sure they're natural and have been tested.
4) Other vitamins and supplements that you need are a good fish oil supplement that has your Omega Oils. You can also buy a Flax seed oil that has the omega’s in it.
5) Eat a good healthy diet. I will tell you here to start using as many natural and organic products as possible. All of the chemicals that they put in our food are making us sick. Try to buy meat that is organic or has not been injected with hormones and chemicals. We women are already having to deal with our own unbalanced hormones. We do not need the ones that they give to the cows and other animals in our system making things worse.
Try to get vegetables and fruits that are organic. If you can’t afford organic, buy a fruit and vegetable wash that removes the wax and chemicals from the produce. Try to eat the deep colored fruits and vegetables they have more of the good nutrients in them.
6) Exercise. This is a hard one. When you are depressed, the last thing you have is energy to exercise, but you need to exercise to get your energy back. A catch 22. Start out slowly, even if it is only a ten minute walk or ten minutes on your treadmill. Something is better than nothing.
7) If you are a woman and are near menopause, use a Natural Progesterone Cream. I am 44 and use one. There are a lot of god ones out there but make sure it's natural and not synthetic. I have noticed that my mood swings have subsided and no more hot flashes, but it does take about three months of using the cream to get results.
When you suffer from depression, it is a tremendous battle, but it is one worth fighting. My family had to put up with so much during my severe bouts of it. Depression hurts your relationships. I would get mean and say hurtful things, then cry all the time. I would spend weeks in bed at a time. On my good days I work, read, and do research about depression. I hope that my information will help you. It may take some time, but you will get a handle on it and if you treat it with natural products, a healthy diet, pure water, and exercise, you will be able to keep a handle on it.
Remember, if depression hurts you depression hurts everyone around you!
So please seek depression treatment and help
Diana is a Natural Health Consultant, Weight Loss Specialist, Personal Trainer, Mental Skills Training Specialist and author of thewww.natural-herbal-remedies.net” Natural Health and Herbal Remedies website. She has gone thru depression, pms, perimenopause, weight loss issues, anxiety attacks, and more but has learned how to control them through natural approaches.
I got a little relief, but the pills made me so tired all I could do was lay around and then I put on weight, which made me more depressed. So I decided to try a natural approach.
Here are the steps to recover from depression - these are the same steps that I have used:
1) I can’t stress this one enough. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER, and more WATER! Drink approximately half your weight in water in ounces each day. (ex: If you weigh 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day). Your water should be bottled or filtered water.
If you are a soda drinker, cut back, better yet, quit drinking that STUFF! If you are a soda drinker, start using soda as a special treat. When I was growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. We only made it to the grocery store a couple times a month, but when we did go we were allowed to get a bottle of coke. What a treat, and that’s the way it should be. It has no nutritional value and only makes you fat.
Do not and I repeat do not drink diet soda. I have done research on the artificial sweeteners that they use and have found information that artificial sweeteners can cause brain tumors. Soda is a tough one for me, because I love Cocoa Cola, so if I do drink a soda I drink regular. If you are a coffee drinker, drink your one cup in the morning to get you going then no more the rest of the day.
2) Use a natural anti-depressant. I have used prescription anti-depressants and as I said before, I did get a little relief from my symptoms but I gained thirty pounds on the prescription drugs, which made me more depressed because of the weight gain. I gained more weight than when I was pregnant. There are a lot of side effects to consider when you take prescription drugs. I do not want to have to worry about the side effects on top of my illness.
Make sure the ingredients are herbs for depression. I've tried a lot and some work, some don't. Unfortunately I have found there is no magic pill. It's pretty much trial and error, as everyone's body chemistry differs. I take them still and my husband says I'm a whole lot nicer to be around and I have a lot more energy. My spurts of anger and mood swings have all but vanished. Something that my husband is very happy to see gone! He'll even remind me to take them, less I forget!!
3) Use good Multi Vitamin Supplements.Don’t buy these at department stores,but instead buy them from a store that specializes in natural vitamin supplements or online from a reputable company. I buy mine from the company in the above link but there are a lot of good online companies. Just make sure they're natural and have been tested.
4) Other vitamins and supplements that you need are a good fish oil supplement that has your Omega Oils. You can also buy a Flax seed oil that has the omega’s in it.
5) Eat a good healthy diet. I will tell you here to start using as many natural and organic products as possible. All of the chemicals that they put in our food are making us sick. Try to buy meat that is organic or has not been injected with hormones and chemicals. We women are already having to deal with our own unbalanced hormones. We do not need the ones that they give to the cows and other animals in our system making things worse.
Try to get vegetables and fruits that are organic. If you can’t afford organic, buy a fruit and vegetable wash that removes the wax and chemicals from the produce. Try to eat the deep colored fruits and vegetables they have more of the good nutrients in them.
6) Exercise. This is a hard one. When you are depressed, the last thing you have is energy to exercise, but you need to exercise to get your energy back. A catch 22. Start out slowly, even if it is only a ten minute walk or ten minutes on your treadmill. Something is better than nothing.
7) If you are a woman and are near menopause, use a Natural Progesterone Cream. I am 44 and use one. There are a lot of god ones out there but make sure it's natural and not synthetic. I have noticed that my mood swings have subsided and no more hot flashes, but it does take about three months of using the cream to get results.
When you suffer from depression, it is a tremendous battle, but it is one worth fighting. My family had to put up with so much during my severe bouts of it. Depression hurts your relationships. I would get mean and say hurtful things, then cry all the time. I would spend weeks in bed at a time. On my good days I work, read, and do research about depression. I hope that my information will help you. It may take some time, but you will get a handle on it and if you treat it with natural products, a healthy diet, pure water, and exercise, you will be able to keep a handle on it.
Remember, if depression hurts you depression hurts everyone around you!
So please seek depression treatment and help
Diana is a Natural Health Consultant, Weight Loss Specialist, Personal Trainer, Mental Skills Training Specialist and author of thewww.natural-herbal-remedies.net” Natural Health and Herbal Remedies website. She has gone thru depression, pms, perimenopause, weight loss issues, anxiety attacks, and more but has learned how to control them through natural approaches.
Monday
What Do YOU Really Want? 8 Questions to Ask Yourself
What Do You Really Want?"
8 questions you should ask to yourself:
As a preparation to self-improvement
1. What do I really want?
The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day. Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.
2. Should I really change?
Today's generation has taken another level of redefining 'self'
3. What's the bright side in all of this?
With so much is happening around us there seem to be no room for even considering that light at the end of the tunnel. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it's a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!
4. Am I comfortable with what I'm doing?
There's always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what goes with which shoes, or purse, shirt and whatnot. It doesn't take a genius to see yourself as someone unique, or else we'll all be equally the same in everything we do. Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to be experimented.
5. Have I done enough for myself?
Have you, or is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you'll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing.
6. Am I happy at where I am today?
It's an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving mom or dad to your kids, then take it up a notch! Your kids will love you forever. The same goes with everyday life!
7. What motivates me?
What motivates you? It's an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that can make everyone happy, but to choose one of the may be the hardest part. It's not like you can't have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that's it. Just try it piece by piece.
8. What am I passionate about?
So? What really makes you tick? You can be just about anything you always wanted to be, but to realize that attaining something that may seem very difficult is already giving up before you even start that journey. Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical, psychological or philosophical change you choose to undergo, but in order to be successful, it's needs to be something that you really want.
Michele is a creative industry designer wich a wildly successful home, business and family life. www.achildsworld.ca yourbestlife.thesgrprogram.com
8 questions you should ask to yourself:
As a preparation to self-improvement
1. What do I really want?
The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day. Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.
2. Should I really change?
Today's generation has taken another level of redefining 'self'
3. What's the bright side in all of this?
With so much is happening around us there seem to be no room for even considering that light at the end of the tunnel. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it's a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!
4. Am I comfortable with what I'm doing?
There's always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what goes with which shoes, or purse, shirt and whatnot. It doesn't take a genius to see yourself as someone unique, or else we'll all be equally the same in everything we do. Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to be experimented.
5. Have I done enough for myself?
Have you, or is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you'll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing.
6. Am I happy at where I am today?
It's an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving mom or dad to your kids, then take it up a notch! Your kids will love you forever. The same goes with everyday life!
7. What motivates me?
What motivates you? It's an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that can make everyone happy, but to choose one of the may be the hardest part. It's not like you can't have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that's it. Just try it piece by piece.
8. What am I passionate about?
So? What really makes you tick? You can be just about anything you always wanted to be, but to realize that attaining something that may seem very difficult is already giving up before you even start that journey. Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical, psychological or philosophical change you choose to undergo, but in order to be successful, it's needs to be something that you really want.
Michele is a creative industry designer wich a wildly successful home, business and family life. www.achildsworld.ca yourbestlife.thesgrprogram.com
Saturday
At War with Our Bodies
For decades the media, entertainment, cosmetics and fashion industries have influenced the beauty standards created for women. As a result, certain body types and looks have become predominant measures for beauty in our societies. The established standards of younger, taller, thinner, paler – are often very detached from the way the majority of real women look. Case in point, the average American woman is 5’4” tall and weights from 140 - 146 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs anywhere from 108 to 117 pounds. Consequently, most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women- an unreal standard that too many women and girls are trying to live up to. Thus, an average of 7 million women in the United States struggle with eating disorders. This measure of female beauty is sold to women at very young ages, studies report that 42% of little girls in 1st and 3rd grades want to be thinner.
A consequence of this beauty standard is that the female body has become a gadget to be upgraded and overhauled. Besides our obsession with thinness, there’s also the rising trend among women to mutilate our bodies in the name of beauty and perfection. Some might argue that today’s woman has more choices to enhance her body and simply takes advantage of these. In addition, our bodies are flawed due to the fallen nature of humanity and in need of fixing. Nevertheless, the application of strategies to enhance is very different from taking actions to recreate or even re-design ones self.
According to a comprehensive survey of U.S. physicians and surgeons by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), women underwent 11.9 million cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2004. They comprised 90% of the total procedures done by men and women. The top surgical procedures carried out by women were: liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, tummy tuck, and facelift.
Furthermore, the fallacy of the beauty standard has become a global phenomenon that has crossed all racial lines. This thanks to the far reach of the powerful North American entertainment and media industries which have also set standards for women all over the world. Consequently, many women believe that their natural ethnic uniqueness is really a mistake of nature. And while many might rightly argue that today there are more famous women of color defying the standards of beauty many of these same women, within their ethnic uniqueness, seek ways to “soften” their ethnicity by chemically “lightening” their hair and skin. While many do this in order to achieve the beauty standard, it is also a political move to maintain a career presence within that standard.
Perhaps this is the most dangerous outcome of the beauty standard- that a woman’s beauty is measured by her proximity to the standard. The result is that women all over the world war against their bodies because they believe this fallacy. To wage this war they must constantly feed their minds, or allow others to feed it, with a negative body image - a distorted perception of their beauty. They must look in the mirror to see ugly and behold defects. They must look at other women and see them as more beautiful, and nurture envious desires to be like them. They must feel ashamed of their own nature. But like every war it is a cycle of destruction that transfers to relationships with self and others.
Women begin to wage this war from the moment we have consciousness of self. Very early on, the seed of inadequacy can be planted within our psyche. This seed is almost always planted by those who belong to our inner circle – those closest to us - and then it is ratified by the outer world.
Perhaps that seed was planted when every time Mommy combed our hair she complained that it was too tough, too unruly, too thick, too dry, too thin, too short - too something. Perhaps it was that aunt who, in passing, compared us to a sister or a cousin, highlighting her nice physical attributes and bemoaning our flaws. Perhaps it was those classmates who teased us day in and day out - mercilessly mocking some aspect of our physical nature. Our thinking pattern was transformed into believing that if we could fix those defects with the right hair, the right nose, the right body- we would then be beautiful. That initial seed of defectiveness, indiscernible to human eye, found abode in our psyche. Once it lodged deep, we then began to pick up all available and affordable arms to wage war against our bodies. Slowly. Silently. Unconsciously.
Norka Blackman-Richards is a member of the National Association of Women Writers. She is a writing instructor, writer, full-time minister’s wife, and a sought-after motivational speaker for women. You may visit her site and subscribe to her FREE newsletter at www.4realwomen.com
A consequence of this beauty standard is that the female body has become a gadget to be upgraded and overhauled. Besides our obsession with thinness, there’s also the rising trend among women to mutilate our bodies in the name of beauty and perfection. Some might argue that today’s woman has more choices to enhance her body and simply takes advantage of these. In addition, our bodies are flawed due to the fallen nature of humanity and in need of fixing. Nevertheless, the application of strategies to enhance is very different from taking actions to recreate or even re-design ones self.
According to a comprehensive survey of U.S. physicians and surgeons by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), women underwent 11.9 million cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2004. They comprised 90% of the total procedures done by men and women. The top surgical procedures carried out by women were: liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, tummy tuck, and facelift.
Furthermore, the fallacy of the beauty standard has become a global phenomenon that has crossed all racial lines. This thanks to the far reach of the powerful North American entertainment and media industries which have also set standards for women all over the world. Consequently, many women believe that their natural ethnic uniqueness is really a mistake of nature. And while many might rightly argue that today there are more famous women of color defying the standards of beauty many of these same women, within their ethnic uniqueness, seek ways to “soften” their ethnicity by chemically “lightening” their hair and skin. While many do this in order to achieve the beauty standard, it is also a political move to maintain a career presence within that standard.
Perhaps this is the most dangerous outcome of the beauty standard- that a woman’s beauty is measured by her proximity to the standard. The result is that women all over the world war against their bodies because they believe this fallacy. To wage this war they must constantly feed their minds, or allow others to feed it, with a negative body image - a distorted perception of their beauty. They must look in the mirror to see ugly and behold defects. They must look at other women and see them as more beautiful, and nurture envious desires to be like them. They must feel ashamed of their own nature. But like every war it is a cycle of destruction that transfers to relationships with self and others.
Women begin to wage this war from the moment we have consciousness of self. Very early on, the seed of inadequacy can be planted within our psyche. This seed is almost always planted by those who belong to our inner circle – those closest to us - and then it is ratified by the outer world.
Perhaps that seed was planted when every time Mommy combed our hair she complained that it was too tough, too unruly, too thick, too dry, too thin, too short - too something. Perhaps it was that aunt who, in passing, compared us to a sister or a cousin, highlighting her nice physical attributes and bemoaning our flaws. Perhaps it was those classmates who teased us day in and day out - mercilessly mocking some aspect of our physical nature. Our thinking pattern was transformed into believing that if we could fix those defects with the right hair, the right nose, the right body- we would then be beautiful. That initial seed of defectiveness, indiscernible to human eye, found abode in our psyche. Once it lodged deep, we then began to pick up all available and affordable arms to wage war against our bodies. Slowly. Silently. Unconsciously.
Norka Blackman-Richards is a member of the National Association of Women Writers. She is a writing instructor, writer, full-time minister’s wife, and a sought-after motivational speaker for women. You may visit her site and subscribe to her FREE newsletter at www.4realwomen.com
Friday
I'm on Entrepreneur Magazine's Blog!
I am so excited! I was featured on the Weekend Entrepreneur Magazine blog today!
Author Michelle Anton interviewed me and posted the story on her site. I am thrilled to be able to share my story with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Thanks to all my readers, students, and customers for all your support in making be still & knit a success.
I'd appreciate your taking the time to stop by the blog and add your comments about your experiences with me and be still & knit! If you would like your business featured there, please leave the details about it in your post. Michelle moderates all comments, and if she likes your story, then you'll get a chance to interview with her.
Please let me know if your business is featured!
Abundant blessings,
Lisa
~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º~º
Lisa Akers
be still & knit, llc
Classes and clothing for children and the women who love them.
lisa@bestillandknit.com
www.BeStillandKnit.com
(303) 345-7620
Wednesday
Lessons from Pink Floyd
Time by Pink Floyd
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to nought
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I'd something more to say
=================================
=================================
The Message by Courtney David Roth
Every body has 24 hours in a day.
So why are some people extremely
productive and happy while others
spin their wheels until they're exhausted?
The answer is incredibly simply but
often ignored.
The happy, successful person plans
their time. They have goals and they
stick to a plan to achieve those goals.
You can't manage what you don't
measure.
Do you plan your time? Do you know
how much time you waste? Do you
truly know how productive you are?
People often think and speak of
wanting more in life but these same
people rarely create specific goals,
plan their time to reach these goals, and then
ACTUALLY FOLLOW THE PLAN.
If you're unhappy, unsuccessful, and
unsatisfied AND you're unwilling
to create goals, plan time, and follow
through then...
You will forever be frustrated.
If you want change then change what
you do.
Start measuring your time. Keep a
journal for a week and accurately
track how you spend your time.
Then create goals and find time to
work towards them.
Yes, THERE IS TIME.
Absolutely no one can claim to not
having enough time.
NO ONE!
I will laugh at anyone who attempts
to explain to me how there is no way
they could not find time to work towards
there dream.
That is honestly laughable.
It's time to suck it up, be a grown
up, and be a success...
On Purpose.
Plan your day and stick to it.
If you don't have your day planned
out on paper your life will never improve.
Much love and respect.
Courtney David Roth
One Rad Coach
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to nought
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I'd something more to say
=================================
=================================
The Message by Courtney David Roth
Every body has 24 hours in a day.
So why are some people extremely
productive and happy while others
spin their wheels until they're exhausted?
The answer is incredibly simply but
often ignored.
The happy, successful person plans
their time. They have goals and they
stick to a plan to achieve those goals.
You can't manage what you don't
measure.
Do you plan your time? Do you know
how much time you waste? Do you
truly know how productive you are?
People often think and speak of
wanting more in life but these same
people rarely create specific goals,
plan their time to reach these goals, and then
ACTUALLY FOLLOW THE PLAN.
If you're unhappy, unsuccessful, and
unsatisfied AND you're unwilling
to create goals, plan time, and follow
through then...
You will forever be frustrated.
If you want change then change what
you do.
Start measuring your time. Keep a
journal for a week and accurately
track how you spend your time.
Then create goals and find time to
work towards them.
Yes, THERE IS TIME.
Absolutely no one can claim to not
having enough time.
NO ONE!
I will laugh at anyone who attempts
to explain to me how there is no way
they could not find time to work towards
there dream.
That is honestly laughable.
It's time to suck it up, be a grown
up, and be a success...
On Purpose.
Plan your day and stick to it.
If you don't have your day planned
out on paper your life will never improve.
Much love and respect.
Courtney David Roth
One Rad Coach
Tuesday
Increase Your Possibilities for Positive Changes with a Mastermind Team
'The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.' John Sculley, past president of PepsiCo, celebrated CEO of Apple Computer and now a partner in the private investment firm of Sculley Brothers, teaches us that.
This is exactly what a mastermind group can do for us. A mastermind team will help us not only to see, but also to create and design exciting and new possibilities before they would otherwise become obvious!
Many people think masterminding is all about business. That probably is because financial success is a fairly clear measure of how the power of masterminding can make a difference.
The good news is that we can use the marvelous power of the mastermind to make positive and lasting changes in our personal lives as well as the lives of those we care about. What is one area of your life that you would like to make some positive changes in?
We suggest you stop and take time to step back and really look at and think about how your life is managed now. Think about what is working. Ask yourself what could be working better for you.
Next, review what kind of support you already have. Now, consider what your life could be like with a lot more positive encouragement, inspiration and extra ideas being shared with you.
It is quite likely that with a Mastermind team behind you, all kinds of possibilities that have been overlooked or unseen by you will be discovered and become available for you.
The entire Mastermind process is based on an ancient principle that has been proven time and time again: When two or more people come together in a spirit of harmony and trust to work together towards a common purpose or goal, their combined energies are many, many times greater than the simple sum of their respective individual energies.
Because of this extra energy that exists in Mastermind groups, you find solutions to your everyday problems whether they are related to relationships, money, or health.
It doesn't matter what area of your life you would like positive changes in, masterminding can provide insights and inspiration, combined with the best of advice, counsel, and encouragement for your personal situations.
Pick one area of your life that you would like to see some positive changes in. As you look at your current daily life, your family, dreams and goals, what part of your personal world would you like to begin with?
To make things easier for you, here is a list of "the Seven F 's " for you to review and choose from: Faith, Family, Friends, Financial, Fitness, Fulfillment and Fun.
In order to give you the greatest opportunity for success, we suggest you begin with only one area of focus at a time. Have you chosen one? Great! By having a mastermind group around, you won't have to go it alone.
The good news is that if there is not an existing mastermind group that fits your situation, it is easy to start one. The next step for that is to start thinking about who you know that you respect and enjoy being with.
Most successful groups have between 6 and 10 people. You can get started with as few as 2, and 12 has proven to be a maximum number.
Choose positive people that are already enjoying the kind of life you would like to be living. Variety really is a spice of life. Bring together a diversity of people. Look for different lifestyles, cultures, occupations, educations and more.
Masterminding can help you make decisions about issues you face each day of your life. You may have a catastrophe that could have occurred, a joyous occasion to celebrate, or an opportunity for growth or change that you want to investigate.
With the members of your mastermind group behind you, you will have the additional benefit of their combined years of success and experience to draw upon.
Identify the area of your life you would like to improve. Set your goals. Then, relax and focus on what you have to do each day for yourself and let your mastermind team help you figure out what is the best course of action to take to make those changes.
Stephen Covey said "How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most."
What does matter most to you? Your mastermind team will help you identify your priority, clarify your picture, maintain your focus and help you stay motivated to take action on what really matters in your life.
Masterminding has proven successful for thousands of years. The support of a team will help you recognize many wonderful options that are available much sooner than you would have seen them on your own.
Today is a good day to take it to your personal life and let the marvelous power of the mastermind help you bring more joy and happiness into your everyday life as you work towards success and achieving your dreams.
John Carpenter Dealey started his first business at age nine and became a "self-made millionaire" by the age of 27. If you would like to learn how to apply these powerful Mastermind principles in your own life, sign up for a free subscription to MasterMind Tips ezine at: http://www.dr-mastermind.com/
This is exactly what a mastermind group can do for us. A mastermind team will help us not only to see, but also to create and design exciting and new possibilities before they would otherwise become obvious!
Many people think masterminding is all about business. That probably is because financial success is a fairly clear measure of how the power of masterminding can make a difference.
The good news is that we can use the marvelous power of the mastermind to make positive and lasting changes in our personal lives as well as the lives of those we care about. What is one area of your life that you would like to make some positive changes in?
We suggest you stop and take time to step back and really look at and think about how your life is managed now. Think about what is working. Ask yourself what could be working better for you.
Next, review what kind of support you already have. Now, consider what your life could be like with a lot more positive encouragement, inspiration and extra ideas being shared with you.
It is quite likely that with a Mastermind team behind you, all kinds of possibilities that have been overlooked or unseen by you will be discovered and become available for you.
The entire Mastermind process is based on an ancient principle that has been proven time and time again: When two or more people come together in a spirit of harmony and trust to work together towards a common purpose or goal, their combined energies are many, many times greater than the simple sum of their respective individual energies.
Because of this extra energy that exists in Mastermind groups, you find solutions to your everyday problems whether they are related to relationships, money, or health.
It doesn't matter what area of your life you would like positive changes in, masterminding can provide insights and inspiration, combined with the best of advice, counsel, and encouragement for your personal situations.
Pick one area of your life that you would like to see some positive changes in. As you look at your current daily life, your family, dreams and goals, what part of your personal world would you like to begin with?
To make things easier for you, here is a list of "the Seven F 's " for you to review and choose from: Faith, Family, Friends, Financial, Fitness, Fulfillment and Fun.
In order to give you the greatest opportunity for success, we suggest you begin with only one area of focus at a time. Have you chosen one? Great! By having a mastermind group around, you won't have to go it alone.
The good news is that if there is not an existing mastermind group that fits your situation, it is easy to start one. The next step for that is to start thinking about who you know that you respect and enjoy being with.
Most successful groups have between 6 and 10 people. You can get started with as few as 2, and 12 has proven to be a maximum number.
Choose positive people that are already enjoying the kind of life you would like to be living. Variety really is a spice of life. Bring together a diversity of people. Look for different lifestyles, cultures, occupations, educations and more.
Masterminding can help you make decisions about issues you face each day of your life. You may have a catastrophe that could have occurred, a joyous occasion to celebrate, or an opportunity for growth or change that you want to investigate.
With the members of your mastermind group behind you, you will have the additional benefit of their combined years of success and experience to draw upon.
Identify the area of your life you would like to improve. Set your goals. Then, relax and focus on what you have to do each day for yourself and let your mastermind team help you figure out what is the best course of action to take to make those changes.
Stephen Covey said "How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most."
What does matter most to you? Your mastermind team will help you identify your priority, clarify your picture, maintain your focus and help you stay motivated to take action on what really matters in your life.
Masterminding has proven successful for thousands of years. The support of a team will help you recognize many wonderful options that are available much sooner than you would have seen them on your own.
Today is a good day to take it to your personal life and let the marvelous power of the mastermind help you bring more joy and happiness into your everyday life as you work towards success and achieving your dreams.
John Carpenter Dealey started his first business at age nine and became a "self-made millionaire" by the age of 27. If you would like to learn how to apply these powerful Mastermind principles in your own life, sign up for a free subscription to MasterMind Tips ezine at: http://www.dr-mastermind.com/
Sunday
Seven Steps To Follow Through Your Action Plan
When we have goals, we have our destinations in each period of our life. Whether we will get to those destinations depends on our actions. In order to have the right actions, we need to have plan. It is however difficult for many people to follow through their plan despite the need to achieve their goals. What are the reasons why they can not follow through? In this article, we will talk about why people do not take actions that they are supposed to take and how to follow through their action plan.
One of the most common reasons that make people do not follow through is that they are not willing to be out of their comfort zone. We are all animal of habits. We normally do what we used to do. This is normal animal instinct. We feel safe when we are certain on the result we will get from our actions. The space that we limit our action is called the comfort zone. We are comfortable staying in this zone and on the contrary we feel unsecured when we are out of it. We have comfort zones in every area of our life. We need to understand how important it is to step out of comfort zone.
The disadvantage of staying in your comfort zone is that you will never grow within it. You will not grow physically, mentally, spiritually, financially and on the relationships with others. We have to practice our mind to get used to working our way toward our goals despite feeling uncomfortable. The following seven tips will help you to follow through your plan.
1. Know what you want and why you want it.
You need to know what you want out of your actions and the reasons why you want it. You will not be motivated to do what you are supposed to do if you are not clear on what you want. Clarity is your power to go to your target. Be clear on your goals. You need to decide what you want and then make the commitment on achieving it.
2. Choose the area that you love to do.
Your actions to your goals will need to be repeated over and over again. If you do not love what you do, it is very hard to continue doing. Your mind will tell yourself that you have no fun doing it. This is why people give up a lot easier than they are supposed to. Many people said they do not have choice doing what they do not like. On the contrary, they do not really decide to do what they love. Instead, they let themselves in doing what they do not like. It is up to your decision to stop what you think you must do and go to the area that you love most.
3. Start doing something.
Another thing that happens to many people is that when they want something, they do not even bother to start doing something. Tony Robbins always mentions his technique on actions that he never leaves the site of making decision without doing something toward his goals. You can do that also by start doing something toward your goal. Once you have the first step, other steps will be a lot easier for you.
4. Keep your momentum and keep your target at sight.
Once you start doing something, don't let your actions die afterwards. Keep doing what is in your plan. Do not let your mind flies away while you take action. Focus on your goals. You can make a vision board or some goal vision note to see as often as you want. This will remind you the importance of your goal and motivate you.
5. Evaluate your actions and results.
Review your actions and see if you need to correct anything. Keep your statistic and compare with the standard. Change your approach if you need to but never change your goals.
6. Resolve not to give up.
Not giving up is one of the best qualities of successful people. You need to make sure that you also have that quality. Commit to yourself that you will not give up no matter what happens.
7. Visualize your success regularly.
Visualization will make your subconscious mind attract what you want into your life. This is according to the law of attraction. You can attract all situations and attributes favorable to your goal achievement by visualization daily. Visualize in your mind as if you are achieving your goals in front of you. Feel it and absorb what happens. You may want to add the background audio while you are visualizing. It will enhance your attraction. There are many background audios in the market. Attraction Accelerator can be one of your choices.
Not following through what you are supposed to do is one of the major hurdles to your success. This article talks about why this happens and how to overcome it.
Jim SomchaiRead more of his articles from his site. http://www.visualizationmeditation.com/go/siteGet The Attraction Accelerator to help your visualization and attraction.Geting FREE REPORT ON SUCCESS SCIENCE and Earn Money.
One of the most common reasons that make people do not follow through is that they are not willing to be out of their comfort zone. We are all animal of habits. We normally do what we used to do. This is normal animal instinct. We feel safe when we are certain on the result we will get from our actions. The space that we limit our action is called the comfort zone. We are comfortable staying in this zone and on the contrary we feel unsecured when we are out of it. We have comfort zones in every area of our life. We need to understand how important it is to step out of comfort zone.
The disadvantage of staying in your comfort zone is that you will never grow within it. You will not grow physically, mentally, spiritually, financially and on the relationships with others. We have to practice our mind to get used to working our way toward our goals despite feeling uncomfortable. The following seven tips will help you to follow through your plan.
1. Know what you want and why you want it.
You need to know what you want out of your actions and the reasons why you want it. You will not be motivated to do what you are supposed to do if you are not clear on what you want. Clarity is your power to go to your target. Be clear on your goals. You need to decide what you want and then make the commitment on achieving it.
2. Choose the area that you love to do.
Your actions to your goals will need to be repeated over and over again. If you do not love what you do, it is very hard to continue doing. Your mind will tell yourself that you have no fun doing it. This is why people give up a lot easier than they are supposed to. Many people said they do not have choice doing what they do not like. On the contrary, they do not really decide to do what they love. Instead, they let themselves in doing what they do not like. It is up to your decision to stop what you think you must do and go to the area that you love most.
3. Start doing something.
Another thing that happens to many people is that when they want something, they do not even bother to start doing something. Tony Robbins always mentions his technique on actions that he never leaves the site of making decision without doing something toward his goals. You can do that also by start doing something toward your goal. Once you have the first step, other steps will be a lot easier for you.
4. Keep your momentum and keep your target at sight.
Once you start doing something, don't let your actions die afterwards. Keep doing what is in your plan. Do not let your mind flies away while you take action. Focus on your goals. You can make a vision board or some goal vision note to see as often as you want. This will remind you the importance of your goal and motivate you.
5. Evaluate your actions and results.
Review your actions and see if you need to correct anything. Keep your statistic and compare with the standard. Change your approach if you need to but never change your goals.
6. Resolve not to give up.
Not giving up is one of the best qualities of successful people. You need to make sure that you also have that quality. Commit to yourself that you will not give up no matter what happens.
7. Visualize your success regularly.
Visualization will make your subconscious mind attract what you want into your life. This is according to the law of attraction. You can attract all situations and attributes favorable to your goal achievement by visualization daily. Visualize in your mind as if you are achieving your goals in front of you. Feel it and absorb what happens. You may want to add the background audio while you are visualizing. It will enhance your attraction. There are many background audios in the market. Attraction Accelerator can be one of your choices.
Not following through what you are supposed to do is one of the major hurdles to your success. This article talks about why this happens and how to overcome it.
Jim SomchaiRead more of his articles from his site. http://www.visualizationmeditation.com/go/siteGet The Attraction Accelerator to help your visualization and attraction.Geting FREE REPORT ON SUCCESS SCIENCE and Earn Money.
Thursday
You Can't Be Both Aggressive and Assertive
During a girl's high school finals basketball game, I heard some spectators talking about the youngest player. "She's so aggressive for a small player." One spectator must have been to the previous play-off game. He said, "She was high-scorer in the last game. What do you think makes her so good? She's aggressive and fun to watch."
Aggressive or assertive? Confident or angry? What motivates superior performance? What separates the one from the many?
With two minutes and thirty-seven seconds left to the last quarter of the game, our team was losing by 7 points. A win means a day-off from school since the championship game is played at the TDBankNorth Garden in Boston on Monday, a school day.
In the last minutes, the youngest player, praised at the beginning of the game, punched an opposing player. Sheer frustration, assertion or anger? Probably sheer frustration and disappointment tainted by aggression. Our youngest player and her teammates did homework Monday night.
During a game, aggressive behavior is called by the ref. He gave the leading team an automatic two-point penalty shot. With seconds on the clock, the team with 6 players (only one "sub") celebrated.
Tuesday morning on page one, above-the-fold, the Boston Globe Sports section proclaimed their divisional championship victory, A remarkable achievement for an inner-city school with six young women who defeated challengers on and off the basketball court.
Aggressive reactions bring harm usually. Assertive actions express confidence and skill. One may indulge anger while the other exudes affirmation. Anger may win occasionally; assertion wins without exception. Oh, you won't win every debate, athletic event, or sales pitch, but you will attain confidence and encouragement.
Some good words nurture assertion:
*Mom loves me
*Dad loves me
*I had permission to share my opinions
*I had permission to test my talents
*Mom and Dad loved me
If all of us lived assertively, would we play the life-game more effectively?
My anecdotal experience suggests that confidence is the euphemism for assertion. Sounds better when we say, "She's confident" rather than "She's assertive." I believe that same, assertive behavior springs from the court of confidence.
So, just where do you acquire these confidence skills? It all starts with Mom and Dad. If they fail at it, you'll have to hope for someone else to coach and nurture you. Acknowledging your need for confidence precedes the possibilities. Once you accept the need, watch people show-up to help you.
So, how do I know parents matter? Well, it is axiomatic. Everyone knows it. When a parent shatters or stifles their child's confidence with abuse, they can expect angry acts of aggression in their child's life.
A friend said, "My Dad criticized me, but I know my Mom and Dad adored me." Not many children describe their parents affection as adoration. Is my friend assertive? Although inherently shy, he travels, writes, and lives his strengths confidently and successfully.
What do you do if Mom and Dad, for whatever reasons, forgot to read or ignored Dr. Spock? You forget the past; drop resentment, and work out your own confidence. These beliefs may help.
First: You matter, therefore love yourself.
Second: Others matter, therefore express love.
Third: You have talents. Identify and exercise them.
Fourth: write your purpose or mission. How come you're here?
Fifth: Set goals and tasks to fulfill your purpose or mission.
Undermined or undeveloped confidence can be encouraged and developed. Every skill takes discipline and energy. Sometimes it's just plain, ordinary, day-after-day practice. Get it right during practice, and you'll perform instinctively during the game.
Your life matters. Assert yourself. Seek family, friends, and a coaches who care about you. Acknowledge your talents. Set goals. Write your mission statement. Live days with passion. You matter; your contributions matter, and your happiness matters.
Aggressive or assertive? Confident or angry? What motivates superior performance? What separates the one from the many?
With two minutes and thirty-seven seconds left to the last quarter of the game, our team was losing by 7 points. A win means a day-off from school since the championship game is played at the TDBankNorth Garden in Boston on Monday, a school day.
In the last minutes, the youngest player, praised at the beginning of the game, punched an opposing player. Sheer frustration, assertion or anger? Probably sheer frustration and disappointment tainted by aggression. Our youngest player and her teammates did homework Monday night.
During a game, aggressive behavior is called by the ref. He gave the leading team an automatic two-point penalty shot. With seconds on the clock, the team with 6 players (only one "sub") celebrated.
Tuesday morning on page one, above-the-fold, the Boston Globe Sports section proclaimed their divisional championship victory, A remarkable achievement for an inner-city school with six young women who defeated challengers on and off the basketball court.
Aggressive reactions bring harm usually. Assertive actions express confidence and skill. One may indulge anger while the other exudes affirmation. Anger may win occasionally; assertion wins without exception. Oh, you won't win every debate, athletic event, or sales pitch, but you will attain confidence and encouragement.
Some good words nurture assertion:
*Mom loves me
*Dad loves me
*I had permission to share my opinions
*I had permission to test my talents
*Mom and Dad loved me
If all of us lived assertively, would we play the life-game more effectively?
My anecdotal experience suggests that confidence is the euphemism for assertion. Sounds better when we say, "She's confident" rather than "She's assertive." I believe that same, assertive behavior springs from the court of confidence.
So, just where do you acquire these confidence skills? It all starts with Mom and Dad. If they fail at it, you'll have to hope for someone else to coach and nurture you. Acknowledging your need for confidence precedes the possibilities. Once you accept the need, watch people show-up to help you.
So, how do I know parents matter? Well, it is axiomatic. Everyone knows it. When a parent shatters or stifles their child's confidence with abuse, they can expect angry acts of aggression in their child's life.
A friend said, "My Dad criticized me, but I know my Mom and Dad adored me." Not many children describe their parents affection as adoration. Is my friend assertive? Although inherently shy, he travels, writes, and lives his strengths confidently and successfully.
What do you do if Mom and Dad, for whatever reasons, forgot to read or ignored Dr. Spock? You forget the past; drop resentment, and work out your own confidence. These beliefs may help.
First: You matter, therefore love yourself.
Second: Others matter, therefore express love.
Third: You have talents. Identify and exercise them.
Fourth: write your purpose or mission. How come you're here?
Fifth: Set goals and tasks to fulfill your purpose or mission.
Undermined or undeveloped confidence can be encouraged and developed. Every skill takes discipline and energy. Sometimes it's just plain, ordinary, day-after-day practice. Get it right during practice, and you'll perform instinctively during the game.
Your life matters. Assert yourself. Seek family, friends, and a coaches who care about you. Acknowledge your talents. Set goals. Write your mission statement. Live days with passion. You matter; your contributions matter, and your happiness matters.
Tuesday
The Power Of Passion
Recently I was speaking with an attorney; talking about their business and what they wanted from their networking. We discussed the idea of focusing their initial dialog on their preferred aspect of their business and an interesting situation arose. When I asked what really set them on fire - what passion fanned their flame, they answered, "It 's not Law."
Understand this: this person is successful by all standards as an attorney. They have a wonderful, engaging personality and I would trust them to handle any case. They nearly froze when I asked that question.
As the conversation went on, we discussed the fact that many people hold the idea that one cannot make money doing what one is passionate about.
As I see it, that 's the one true way to really make money and live a full life; to really make a contribution to the world.
In order to make money there is some transfer of energy. It can be either goods or services, yet, although I have both to offer, the concept that I've struggled with in the past is that it 's about the selling.
I've been taught that I need to be able to close the sale; I need to be able to move in that arena in order to make good money. If nothing else I'm selling myself, my concept.
As much as I've hated selling in the past I have discovered a different way of thinking about it.
**IF I believe in what I do, I'm driven by my passion and my passion is the driving energy behind what I do;
**IF I know that what I bring to the banqueting table is honorable, viable, and beneficial to human kind and
**IF I know that I am on the right path;
**THEN I am morally bound to pursue that passion
**AND I am bound by that same moral code - that same integrity - to be sure that everyone understands what I have to offer and give them every opportunity to "get it."
That means that it isn't about the selling at all.
It 's about using every resource I have to speak the language of my clients. Using skills, that I may or may not have developed yet, to be sure that I've exhausted every avenue to educate them about the benefits and options my company brings to them.
A recent article in CNN quotes Explorer Robert Ballard, who has spent most of his adult life exploring the ocean floor and combing the deep-sea for lost shipwrecks (notably he was the discoverer of the Shipwreck Titanic), as saying, "Follow your passion. Chase your passion whatever it is. If you don't do what you love you'll never get where you want to be."
Following a passion, believing in your dreams, has been a successful model for a multitude of individuals: Walt Disney, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates, just to name a few.
When we fan the flame on our passion, move toward our freedom, doors open. Opportunities are created out of what seems to be thin air.
If you find that your activities are neither in line with nor support your passion, take some time today and let yourself dream. Ask yourself what your world would look like if you were doing what you were wildly passionate about. What would it look like if you were as successful as you knew you could be?
Give yourself the gift over the holidays; imagine how you might achieve a passionate life and know that it all starts with being who you really are from the inside out.
Kira Wagner is a living example of recognizing choices to achieve tremendous results. Born to blind parents, she 's aware that the only handicaps are those we place on ourselves. Kira Wagner is a speaker, writer and seminar leader. For additional information visit my website at http://www.freedomsformula.com.
Understand this: this person is successful by all standards as an attorney. They have a wonderful, engaging personality and I would trust them to handle any case. They nearly froze when I asked that question.
As the conversation went on, we discussed the fact that many people hold the idea that one cannot make money doing what one is passionate about.
As I see it, that 's the one true way to really make money and live a full life; to really make a contribution to the world.
In order to make money there is some transfer of energy. It can be either goods or services, yet, although I have both to offer, the concept that I've struggled with in the past is that it 's about the selling.
I've been taught that I need to be able to close the sale; I need to be able to move in that arena in order to make good money. If nothing else I'm selling myself, my concept.
As much as I've hated selling in the past I have discovered a different way of thinking about it.
**IF I believe in what I do, I'm driven by my passion and my passion is the driving energy behind what I do;
**IF I know that what I bring to the banqueting table is honorable, viable, and beneficial to human kind and
**IF I know that I am on the right path;
**THEN I am morally bound to pursue that passion
**AND I am bound by that same moral code - that same integrity - to be sure that everyone understands what I have to offer and give them every opportunity to "get it."
That means that it isn't about the selling at all.
It 's about using every resource I have to speak the language of my clients. Using skills, that I may or may not have developed yet, to be sure that I've exhausted every avenue to educate them about the benefits and options my company brings to them.
A recent article in CNN quotes Explorer Robert Ballard, who has spent most of his adult life exploring the ocean floor and combing the deep-sea for lost shipwrecks (notably he was the discoverer of the Shipwreck Titanic), as saying, "Follow your passion. Chase your passion whatever it is. If you don't do what you love you'll never get where you want to be."
Following a passion, believing in your dreams, has been a successful model for a multitude of individuals: Walt Disney, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates, just to name a few.
When we fan the flame on our passion, move toward our freedom, doors open. Opportunities are created out of what seems to be thin air.
If you find that your activities are neither in line with nor support your passion, take some time today and let yourself dream. Ask yourself what your world would look like if you were doing what you were wildly passionate about. What would it look like if you were as successful as you knew you could be?
Give yourself the gift over the holidays; imagine how you might achieve a passionate life and know that it all starts with being who you really are from the inside out.
Kira Wagner is a living example of recognizing choices to achieve tremendous results. Born to blind parents, she 's aware that the only handicaps are those we place on ourselves. Kira Wagner is a speaker, writer and seminar leader. For additional information visit my website at http://www.freedomsformula.com.
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