Chrysalis Coaching Connection

Hale Dwoskin: Getting Rid of Bad Habits

2009-02-16T08:10:00.001-07:00

Life Coaching Tips Revealed: How To Engage Your Power Source

2008-10-09T16:54:00.000-06:00

Take time now to notice your personal energy. How are you feeling? Notice how present you feel in your body. Notice your posture, and whether or not you are tired. Just notice. Are you fuzzy? Are you clear? Are you joyful? Are you energized?

What impact does your physical and mental energy have on your ability to make decisions, get things done and engage with others? Does your energy and self-care make you feel like you are being your own hero, at work and at home? Does the way you care for yourself honor you and your work/life balance?

If you are taking fantastically great care of yourself, wonderful! How can you engage even more of your power source to create added vitality and presence in your life? Can you use your power source to create even stronger leadership and work/life balance? Here are six life coaching tips to engage your power source for more powerful living and energy leadership.

Life Coaching Tip #1: Breathe! How are you breathing? Do you take deep breaths and stay conscious in your breath? Or, is your breathing short and shallow? Breathe deeply, inhale and exhale. Not only does this put more fresh oxygen into your body, it also provides a way of keeping your mind present and focused.

Life Coaching Tip #2: Take a break! You need a break every 90-120 minutes throughout your day. Stop what you're doing, get up, move around and go get something to drink. Whatever you do, the point is to "disengage" from your activity for a short bit. Taking a break will help you sustain "full engagement" throughout the rest of your day.

Life Coaching Tip #3: Pull your shoulders back! This is a no slump zone! Pull those shoulders back, stand up or sit up straight, engage your core muscles (abdominal and low back muscles) and see what shifts for you from this posture.

Life Coaching Tip #4: You are what you eat! Remember this old saying? Well, it has interesting implications when it comes to leadership and engagement. Many studies link food to mood, disease, depression, fuzzy thinking, etc. I suspect you don’t need me to tell you that. Notice the way food impacts you. Do you feel energized and focused after a meal loaded with processed foods and junk? Probably not.

Make a shift in your diet by integrating more whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, eating more fruits and vegetables instead of sweets, and opting for foods that are baked instead of fried. You get the picture. This is all stuff you know. You've probably heard it a thousand times. Will this information affect your work/life balance? Will you make a choice to take action and create a shift?

Life Coaching Tip #5: Hydrate! Living on coffee and sodas all day? Do you notice that your thinking is a bit slower? Got water? Drinking water is an undervalued source of physical energy renewal. Did you know that by the time you're thirsty, you are already dehydrated? Research has shown that when you dehydrate a muscle by as little as 3%, it loses 10% of its strength and 8% of its speed. Dehydration compromises concentration and coordination. Imagine the effect on energy leadership and thinking. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated. Drinking water at regular intervals throughout the day will serve performance in a range of important ways.*

Life Coaching Tip #6: Move your body! No simpler way to say it. I'm not even going to go into starting an exercise program. It's even simpler than that. Get up, move around, dance, stretch, whatever you want to do to move your body and get into action. Some of my energy leadership clients go into the bathroom during a break or before a meeting to dance in the stall to wake up and get present! Other clients have integrated "stretch breaks" into their days and meetings. Find something that will work for you and try it out. You'll be surprised.

Engage your power source with these quick and simple life coaching tips that you can work into your days. Just paying attention to these tips can create a shift, and taking action on even one of them can create ripple effects on the rest of your life. Decide to take action today, play with taking a stand for your self-care, give yourself a bit more focus and see what shows up.

NOTE: Always consult your physician, or the appropriate medical or health professional, before embarking on any kind of exercise or nutritional program.

(*Source on Hydration facts: "The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz – An excellent book by the way!)

Anese Cavanaugh of Dare To Engage, Inc., is a Certified Professional Coach with a focus in Leadership Development, Performance Improvement and Health and Productivity. She works with individuals and groups, privately and in organizations, to help them lead authentically and be their own best heroes in business and life. To learn more about her work with people, the DTE Programs and services, and for additional resources and tools, go to http://www.daretoengage.com where you can also sign up for a Free Report (also available in audio format), on "Three Key Strategies to Lead Your Energy and Create Results (in Business, in Life and in Leadership)".

Professional Development Tools: How to Effectively Use Inspirational Books, Audios and Videos

2008-08-29T09:09:00.000-06:00

What books are you currently reading? What audios are in your car? One of the quickest ways to master anything is to read books, listen to audios and watch videos on the subject. These are your tools for professional development and business success.

If you're spending free time reading novels or listening to music, you're missing a major key to personal and business success. People who achieve high levels of abundance generally read two or three inspirational books every week. They aren't parked in front of the TV all night.

With today 's technology you have many choices of how to best receive personal growth information. There is no longer an excuse for not having time to be educated.

Look at this partial list of delivery methods for getting professional development information to you:

- Read online or listen to PDFs online-software can read text to you!
- Listen to audio or watch streaming video online
- Download audio or video to your iPod
- Download print, audio or video to your cell phone or PDA
- Print out a PDF to take with you in a folder
- Read a print book
- Listen to CDs or watch DVDs-in your car, on a plane, on your TV or computer

You're probably thinking, "I barely have time to complete all my tasks now. How could I add anything else?" But, we all have the same 24 hours each day.

Since you can't add hours, it 's up to you to decide how to spend the ones you have. The advent of the iPod makes it easier to access professional development tools. Now you can listen discreetly while standing in line or waiting for an appointment. iPods aren't just for kids. They're important tools for business success and personal growth.

To create the life of your dreams, you must make new choices about how to spend your time. If it were possible to achieve your personal development goals by doing what you're doing now, you would already have everything you want.

I'm sure you've heard the adage that you can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it. It 's the same with any personal growth change you want to make in your life. You can't create a new life with the old habits that produced the life you have now.

Just as when you were a child and books magically took you to places you'd never been, inspirational books will guide you to become the person you want to be and will help build the business success of which you dream.

Every multi-millionaire I've met had many personal growth obstacles to overcome in their lives. Not one of them was born into a life of ease. They dealt with circumstances ranging from total poverty, abandonment as a child, abuse, depression, life-threatening illness, divorce, business loss and bankruptcy.

This reality shatters all the excuses you've been using throughout your life for why you can't succeed. For many, inspirational educational tools were the beginning of their road to personal and business success. These professional development tools will start you on the road to your dreams, too.

Let me give you some examples of abundant people who are big readers. Robert Allen, real-estate guru and author of best-selling books including my favorite, Multiple Streams of Income, reads several books at once by leaving them in various rooms throughout his home so a book is always available.

Cynthia Brian, co-author of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Gardener 's Soul and author of Be the Star You Are, finds it easy to read several books a week because she carries a book everywhere and spends at least two hours nightly reading instead of watching TV.

David Anderson of Famous Dave 's really raises the bar. He 's a self-proclaimed night owl, sleeping an average of five hours. He not only reads two or three books a week, but 20-30 magazines a month! He reads continually for personal development and to stay current on business trends.

You say you want more from life, but will you move outside your comfort zone to make it happen? Maybe reading a book every week seems unfeasible. Commit to reading one book this month, or in the next two weeks. When you find it 's not so difficult, up your quota.

The key to effective use of inspirational books, audios and videos is that you implement what you learn. Put your new knowledge into practice; don't just read, listen or watch for the sake of spending time doing it.

Lynn Pierce, the Success Architect, has taught people how to live the life of their dreams for over 25 years. Now she shares her keys to success and life mastery. Get the first five lessons of "Change One Thing, Change Your Life: A Personal Transformation System" at http://www.YourBreakthroughToSuccess.com

Simple Strategies And Steps To Building The Life You REALLY Want

2008-06-07T11:29:00.000-06:00

Do you feel stuck and need simple and practical ideas to move your life forward?

Are you in a rut and want to find simple strategies to making ever lasting change?

There are so many different and varying approaches to how you can work on your personal growth and development that it can often look very complex. A good starting point is to look for what connects with you and look for ideas and strategies that have a common sense approach.

One great way is to read as much as you can on personal development and attend workshops, seminars and complete exercises and programs.

The next step is to take the required ACTION. Nothing is going to change unless you do something differently to the way you are doing things today.

One of the key and simple action steps to take in any area of personal growth and in building the life that you really want, is to write things down on paper.

Writing things down on paper has such power.

Writing things down can clarify and summarize your thoughts, your ideas and goals, your concerns and your beliefs. When writing these things down, you can start to see more clearly where you are going now and more importantly, where you want to go in the future.

Often when you write down something that has been worrying you, seems complex or there is simply so much stuff going on in your head, it all suddenly appears more simplistic when you see it in black and white or a solution can come to you more quickly.

A personal journal or diary is a great thing to have and use everyday to keep all the associated notes. Use it everyday and it will become your constant companion and best friend. It is a great place to use as a gratitude diary, to list al the everyday things that you are grateful for but may take for granted. It can become your reminder of all the things you need to do today. You will have at your fingertips, everything that you need and in one place. You will gain huge benefits from reading through your list of things to do every day and for personal goal setting for the week, the month or the year. You will find that as you use your journal diary, you will decide what things you want to write down and in what classifications, so make sure you find a book that will give you the ability to personalize for yourself.

Reading is a powerful tool and when you are reading through personal development and self help books, you can make notes on new ideas and the things that seem to sit with best with you. Or if are going to a personal development seminar, the same principals apply. Take notes on all the key points and on what resonates with you. If you keep the notes simple, concise and easy to understand, you can have this on hand to read and re-read and put into use every day.

These notes from personal development seminars, programs or from books that you read, can often trigger the response I know that, but if you really think about it the real response is more likely to be I should have know that. A follow on from I should have know that, is to take it to the next level and actually DO something.

We can all read the books, go to the seminars and think we already know that, but unless we are prepared to actually DO something then we are not on the right road to making lasting change to our lives.

As with any area of personal development, if you take the action steps, you really can not go wrong in building your dream life.

Karen Oates is a woman just like you. Find the techniques and tools that helped redesign her life and will help you. http://www.15-minute-life-coach.com http://www.think2ink.com

How To Use Your Thought Power

2008-05-21T15:11:00.000-06:00

Thought Power is the most powerful creative force known to humanity...

Everything that we have today - the inventions and modern conveniences, our legal system, the books in our libraries, and our religious belief systems, to cite but a few examples, all began with a concept in someone's mind and came to fruition with thought power.

Some people who have studied various types of Metaphysical belief systems believe that thought power creates a being called a Thought-form. Thought-forms are dispatched to go get whatever it is that the meta physician desires.

Thought Power Is Contagious

Have you ever been in a down mood and then entered into the company of someone who was so happy and charismatic that it was impossible to be sad or angry around this person?

A great public speaker has the ability to transform the emotions of their audience with their thought power. This can work for either good or bad-one of the prime examples of a public speaker with this power in modern times was Adolf Hitler.

Like attracts like, and thoughts are contagious. Hitler knew this and used this fact to turn the emotions of his mesmerized audience over the course of the many years of his reign, unfortunately turning thought power into a force for destruction and death.

Examples of those who have this power and use it to help people include Anthony Robbins, the dynamic motivational speaker, and Dr. Maxwell Maltz, the creator of the Psycho-cybernetics system.

The Psycho-cybernetics system runs on the principle that as you think of yourself, so you become. Dr. Maltz was a plastic surgeon who couldn't understand why his patients would undergo surgery to correct birthmarks or facial damage caused in an accident, and then still think of themselves as ugly, despite the evidence in the mirror to the contrary.

Psycho-cybernetics utilizes thought power in the Theatre of the mind, a place inside your mind where you go everyday and play out scenarios of how you would bring about changes in your life right down to the level of envisioning what you will say to others to cause the changes and events that you desire to take place.

We all have the power to do this - you don't have to be Dr. Maltz or Tony Robbins to use your thought power in this way...

All of the new and wonderful information contained in the book The Secret was actually written many years ago in books that are now in the public domain. One such book is As A Man Thinketh by James Allen. In this book he teaches that our thoughts change when we raise the level of our vibration to a higher level.

Our thoughts have the power to heal us or to kill us. Think for a moment how you feel after you have gotten angry and gone off on someone.

While it may be good to get an injustice off your chest, the very act of sending out angry thoughts can make you physically ill. Likewise, thinking happy, uplifting thoughts will make you feel much better...

Want more mind power, simply visit our website. www.MindsofPower.com

Affirming Your Success

2008-04-08T15:04:00.001-06:00

Do you ever listen to your inner voice? Amazingly, that inner voice can guide us to a richer, more fulfilling, and more successful life. How, you ask? Really it’s quite simple – we just have to take the time to listen to this voice. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? But in reality, our thoughts often limit us from succeeding. It seems that, for many of us, our inner voice is somewhat negative, feeding us thoughts such as “you can’t do this”, “you’re not smart enough”, or “this will never work”. Our minds are programmed to believe exactly what we tell it to. So, if we give our brains negative information, that is all it has to process and will act accordingly. It’s as simple as that. On the flipside, if we fill our brains with positive affirmations, there is no alternative but to succeed. But how do we turn our limiting thoughts into positive affirmations? That’s simple too!

If you have negative thoughts that are limiting you, simply turn those into positive affirmations. Thoughts such as “I’m not good enough” can be changed to “I give 100 percent to everything I do”. Change “I can’t do it” to “I am capable and competent”. As you continue to tell yourself these things, you will start to believe it and your inner voice will be giving you positive messages. Write your positive affirmation down on a piece of paper and read it frequently, at least every morning and every night. Say it to yourself over and over again. Release the limiting belief, replace it with your positive affirmation, and see what happens!

To write your own affirmation, determine what you want to work on. This could be any area of your life from relationships to finances to work to health. Then decide what you want to happen. With those two pieces of information, develop a concise statement to express your desired outcome. Be sure to state your desire positively, in first person, and present tense. For example, if you would like to work on losing weight and implementing a healthier lifestyle, you might say “I make positive healthy choices for myself” or “I choose to exercise regularly”. To find love, you might say “I release any desperation and allow love to find me” or “I deserve love and accept it now”. Find the words that feel right to you and that you are comfortable saying to yourself. Repeat your affirmation frequently and consistently while releasing the outcome to the universe.

Remember that it is important to be quiet and listen to your inner voice. Eliminating distractions will help you hear your inner voice more clearly. It takes focus, attention, commitment and faith to see the results of your affirmation. Be patient and trust that it is working. Over time, you will see the results. Keep in mind that you get what you focus on, so make it good!

April Mims is a life and career coach specializing in work/life balance issues and life and career transitions. Her coaching practice is Nexus Coaching Partners. She is passionate about empowering clients to balance the demands of a successful career and a strong family life. April invites you to a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to see if coaching could benefit you. To learn more or subscribe to The Nexus Connection newsletter, visit www.nexuscoachingpartners.com.

The Proper Care And Feeding Of Your Attitude: 7 Tips For Maintaining A Positive And Healthy Attitude

2008-04-03T17:11:00.000-06:00

Much has been written and spoken about attitude. In fact, you can find literally "tons" of information about the right mental attitude, positive attitude, a winning attitude, and so forth. So what makes this article different?

Like everything else in life, having the right attitude requires practice. Your attitude is the key to success in every aspect of your life such as your health, wealth building, relationships, success at work, and enjoying everyday life. Your attitude is more than just a decision to "think happy thoughts" although thinking happy thoughts is certainly a key to developing a positive mental attitude.

My assumption here is that you are reading this because you already understand the importance of your attitude. You also understand that there is a difference between choosing to have a positive attitude and the difficulty to maintaining a positive attitude.

Your body requires proper care and feeding to achieve and maintain good health. You simply cannot eat one nutritious meal, take one vitamin, and have one really great exercise day to be healthy. This applies to your attitude as well.

Developing and maintaining a positive, healthy, and productive attitude begins with making the choice to change your attitude. The decision to have a great attitude is the starting point and that decision is a daily decision, even a moment by moment decision. With all that life throws our way each day, just the decision alone can be tough. Here are some tips on how to properly care for and feed your attitude.

1. Be thankful. You and I both have circumstances in life that take a toll on us everyday. Most of the time we let negative circumstances get the best of us and our positive mental attitude takes a beating. Take a moment, several if necessary, and reflect on what you have to be thankful for. If you are having trouble getting started let me suggest you go to a mirror, get real close to it, and breathe on it. If a fog appears on the mirror you're in good shape...you are alive.

Next, think about other things for which you are thankful, even the simplest things such as your family, your job, the very fact that you are able to read this. Each of these are true blessings and for every blessing you can think of there is someone who does not have such a blessing. There have been innumerable studies investigating the link between good health and a thankful attitude. In a story that aired on the CBS Radio Network's The Osgood File, Dr. Michael McCullough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, said their initial scientific study indicates that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being. Develop an attitude of gratitude.

2. Have faith. Research has shown that 97% of the things that people worry about never come to pass. The remaining 3% are things that are mostly beyond our control, so there is nothing we can do about them anyway. A small portion of that 3% are the direct or indirect results of the decisions we make so learning to make better decisions is the key to avoiding the worries that we can control. Have faith in yourself and the decisions you make regarding the things you can control.

Have faith in the One who created you and know that He is looking out for you. Have faith that good things are in store for you and focus your attention to the good rather than the bad. Life is made up of opposites. Sir Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Faith has an opposite called fear. Both work equally well. When you allow fear to dominate your thinking you literally bring negativity into your life. Bad things happen, even though you do not desire them, because you are operating from a fearful expectation. Faith, on the other hand, brings positive things into your life.

There is not enough room hear to fully explore the deeper meaning of the effects of faith and fear. Let me summarize the concept of faith in this manner, expect good things and good things will happen. Develop an attitude of faith.

3. Guard your mind. Look at the influences in your life. Decide which of these should be eliminated or at least minimized. According to the A.C. Nielsen Company, the average American watches over 4 hours of television each day. That comes up to over 9 years by the time you are 65 years old! Most of what is available to watch on television has very little positive value. Do the TV shows you watch leave you feeling empowered or deflated? If what you watch, listen to, and read bring you down instead of lift you up you need to stop allowing those things into your mind. Like it or not, they have a profound negative influence on your attitude.
The same is true with the people in your life.

Do you know someone who brightens the room by leaving it? Do you associate with someone who constantly has some bad news to share or some tidbit of negative information about someone else to expose? Avoid them like the plague! These people will only cause a negative effect on your attitude.

Eliminate everything possible that affects you negatively. This may be difficult at first because negativity is very addictive. In the end it is like taking in poison little by little, so get rid of it! Develop an attitude of discernment.

4. Feed your mind. You don't have to look far to find uplifting, inspirational, and motivational literature to read. If you don't have time for much reading, look into audio versions to listen to in your car as you travel to and from place to place. Music has the power to go beyond your conscious mind deep into your subconscious mind. A good rule of thumb in selecting the music you listen to is ask yourself "Do I feel better or worse after listening to this?"

Consider if the TV shows you are watching are feeding your mind positive information. Seek out and engage in conversations with positive minded people. If you notice a conversation taking a negative turn, interject a positive comment or idea to bring it back on track. Develop an attitude of mental nutrition. This leads to the next process of The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Attitude.

5. Change your speech. Do a Google search on the phrase "power of words" and you will find 116 million results. The same search on Yahoo shows 122 million results. Words have power. Choose your words carefully. They can either be used to build up or tear down and as you already know, the words you say influence everyone who hears them. Your words originate in your mind so it is necessary to mentally speak to yourself with positive words. Keep them positive.

By consciously changing your speech you subconsciously change your attitude. You will be amazed at how this one little piece of advice will bring positive changes to your relationships with others, but more importantly, the changes that will occur within yourself and in your own thoughts. Develop an attitude of positive speaking.

6. Give to others. Whenever possible, give someone else something they may not have. One simple gift you can give to anyone, anytime, without cost or loss to you, is a smile. Years ago, I adopted the motto of "Leave Them Better Than You Found Them" which can be as simple as opening the door for someone, smiling, offering a pleasant comment, and many other simple things.

Of course, I recommend giving to charitable organizations but what I am talking about here is to give of yourself in some small way that makes someone else's day brighter. In turn, you feel better by doing it. Develop an attitude of giving.

7. Lighten up. Start by being friendly to everyone. No one likes a sourpuss, so just lighten up and become someone who is easy to be around. People tend to like people who like them. Learning to like others will relieve a great deal of tension and stress in everyday life. Interestingly enough, if you follow the previous tips you will be amazed at how this one develops naturally.

By becoming someone who others desire to be around you bring benefit to both them and yourself. You will soon find that those around you will begin to lighten up and model after you, even though they may not be aware that it is happening. Develop an attitude of pleasantness.

These tips on The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Attitude will help get you well on your way to keeping your attitude up and running smoothly. Just like caring for yourself physically you must care for yourself mentally. It is easier than you may initially think but it does require effort on your part. If attitude is everything then we certainly need to learn to take care of ours. You will be healthier for it.

Rory Elmore is an author, consultant, and speaker with over 25 years experience in management, customer service, and technical operations in the communications industry. Find out more about his strategies to turn any situation around personally or professionally and sign up for his FREE Mega Turnaround Newletter at http://www.MegaTurnaround.com

What In The HECK Can A Personal Coach Do?

2008-03-31T20:12:00.000-06:00

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.

What's On Your Treasure Map?

2008-03-28T20:11:00.000-06:00

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

Depression Hurts! I Know Because I've Been There

2008-03-26T19:58:00.001-06:00

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.

What Do YOU Really Want? 8 Questions to Ask Yourself

2008-03-24T20:08:00.000-06:00

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

At War with Our Bodies

2008-03-22T19:56:00.000-06:00

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

I'm on Entrepreneur Magazine's Blog!

2008-03-21T18:17:00.000-06:00

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

Lessons from Pink Floyd

2008-03-12T07:05:00.001-06:00

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

Increase Your Possibilities for Positive Changes with a Mastermind Team

2008-03-11T10:06:00.001-06:00

'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/

Seven Steps To Follow Through Your Action Plan

2008-03-09T10:00:00.000-06:00

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.

You Can't Be Both Aggressive and Assertive

2008-03-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

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.

The Power Of Passion

2008-03-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

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.

Are You Coachable?

2008-03-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

Success! Secrets of most productive companies in the world

2008-02-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

Winners Work With Coaches

2008-02-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Coaching is, by far, one of the most effective and efficient ways to move ahead to success. Winners choose to hire a coach because they're ready, ready to succeed, ready to make their dreams a reality. They know that professional coaches can help them see their goals become reality more quickly, with a lot less stress and strife, and with results that are even better than they ever imagined.

What do you really want, anyway? Seems like a simple, innocent question, right? Yet lots of coaching clients start with this as their biggest puzzle. How can you work toward a goal you don't really have? Your coach has seen this a million times, and will work with you to discover what you really want, if you don't already know. Chances are that you want more than one thing. Your coach can help you prioritize your goals and create an action plan before you get moving. Coaches also help you see what potential obstacles lie in your path, and help you formulate a strategy to move past them as they arise.

Nothing gets past your coach, and this works in your favor, too. Your coach will hold you accountable to doing what you say you're going to do. This is really important because of how much easier it is to talk the talk than to walk the walk. Talk is cheap, and your coach is there to make sure you take every action you decide to take.

Why doesn't everyone have a coach? Well, most people who don't have a coach don't "get it" and don't understand the value of personal coaching. Some think they can't afford to hire a coach. They look at the price tag and compare it to their bank account; they do the math and say, "Nope." That 's their biggest mistake, basing their decision on where they are right now. Coaching is a profession that 's experienced huge growth over the past few years. Coaches don't stay in business long without having measurable success with their clients. If a coach has been around a while and can show how they've helped others, you can bet they know their stuff.

In fact, if you do some research, you'll find testimonials from clients who've experienced a return on their coaching investment of more than 100%. That 's the report across the board. You'll hear clients say, "It was the best money I ever spent. I wish I did it sooner." It 's a way of putting your money where your mouth is, a way of anchoring yourself to your success plan.

Are you holding off on hiring a coach because you think the timing isn't right yet?. Or are you waiting for the stars to align, and your life to be in perfect order first? Chances are, your life will never be less busy, have less pressure, responsibilities and obligations. Are you going to let your life get in the way of your dreams? Your coach doesn't have the power to stop the clock, but can definitely help you find more time. You'll learn how to wring the most out of every moment, both in your business pursuits and personal life. You'll find yourself more effective, more present, and more efficient.

You might wonder whether hiring a coach is the best possible use of your money. I mean, isn't it the same, just reading a good self-improvement book? You can put that info to use on your own, right? Yes and no. Books are great, they help you open your mind to new, more helpful ideas. They give good information. But, they fall short in one area. No book can magically bring about the results you want. Having information is necessary, but not sufficient to achievement. Only consistent, massive action moves you along the path to success.

You may believe that if you just work harder, you'll succeed, with or without a coach. Good luck with that! You may succeed, of course, but at what cost? You can trade your every waking moment for money, work like a dog, and never take a break, but you'll be left with calloused hands, a drained brain, and a family and friends that don't even recognize you. Your coach specializes in helping you work smarter rather than harder. You'll learn how to eliminate activities that aren't helping you, how to make space in your life for what really matters, and to align your priorities with your calendar. Companies spend millions to hire efficiency experts, you'll get the same benefit for pennies on the dollar.

Andrew Cocks and Terry Zambri are Certified Bob Proctor Life Success Consultants and Network Marketing Coaches. Their new FREE book, The Life Success Factor, combined with their exclusive 3 step marketing system is creating massive success for their team. Visit: http://www.TheNetworkMarketingCoach.com

Writing Your Personal Mission Statement

2008-02-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Companies use mission statements to let people know why they are in existence. Their mission statement could include information about who they are, what they do, and how they do it. Although corporate mission statements vary greatly, each serves as a guide for the company, its employees, and the general public. But how many of us have personal mission statements?

Informal research suggests that few people use detailed written mission statements in their own lives. Sure, most people have some idea where they are going and what they hope to accomplish in life but few have actually written a formal mission statement. What are the benefits of having a written personal mission statement? First, it’s easier to define the actions and goals that will help you achieve your vision. It serves as a roadmap to get you where you want to go. A mission statement allows you to measure your current reality and your progress toward your ideal life. It also allows you to evaluate your values and incorporate them into your daily life.

A mission statement is simply a statement of what guides you, what inspires you, or what you want to accomplish in your life. There are many different ways to approach writing a personal mission statement, but an effective statement can be written in four simple steps. First, list one to three values or principles that you live by and why these are important to you. If you have more than three values on your list, order them by importance to you and select the top three. Next, list the things that bring you happiness, inspire, and satisfy you. This would include the things you do best and most enjoy doing. Then list the things you’ve always wanted to do or the legacy that you would like to leave. These three lists will be combined and used to write your personal mission statement.

An effective mission statement will be simple, clear and brief (between 2-5 sentences). There are many different ways to combine these three lists into a personal mission statement. The first method is to use your own words and combine each of your three lists into a meaningful statement. The second method is to use a template and fill in the blanks with your answers from the above exercises. There are many templates available online that can guide you to crafting a mission statement. Here are a few of my favorite templates:

I value [1-3 values] because [why these are important to you]. I will [what you will do to live by these values].

To live each day with [1-3 values or principles], so that [what living these values will give you]. I will do this by [specific behaviors].

To treasure above all else [most important things to you] by [what you can do to live priorities].

As you write your personal mission statement, remember to keep it simple, clear and brief. Be sure to state everything in the present tense and keep it positive. If there are any negative statements, restate or redirect them to positive statements. Make your personal mission statement part of your everyday life – keep it handy and review it frequently as you schedule your daily or weekly activities. You will find that your mission statement may continue to change and evolve as you do. Revisit it often and make any necessary changes. And finally, keep in mind that you will get what you focus on. The more effort and focus you give to living your mission statement, the more results you will see in your life.

April Mims is a life and career coach specializing in work/life balance issues and life and career transitions. Her coaching practice is Nexus Coaching Partners. She is passionate about empowering clients to balance the demands of a successful career and a strong family life. April invites you to a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to see if coaching could benefit you. To learn more or subscribe to The Nexus Connection newsletter, visit www.nexuscoachingpartners.com.

To Do Or Not To Do

2008-02-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

That is the question…whether 'tis nobler to spend eighteen hours a day trying frantically to wipe out your "to do" list, or to throw in the towel and admit that not even an army of ants could get it all done. You're zipping along in the fast lane of life. You've got e-mail, voice mail, a pager, a cell phone, and a lap top computer-- all supposedly designed to bring you convenience and flexibility. Along with all that convenience are 53 unanswered e-mails, a pile of voice mails delivered at midnight, and a page sounding in the middle of your child's soccer game. What's worse is that we have come to accept this high-speed rat race as the norm.

Humor me and answer these questions:

Do you have things on your "to do" list from last week, last month, last year?

Do you go into withdrawal if you forget your cell phone?

Do you routinely work at home in the evenings or on weekends?

Have you considered having your pager implanted on your arm?

Do you fantasize about putting this message on your voice mail:

"Hi, this is Bob in Accounting. I can't take your call right now because I'm busy having a nervous breakdown. I'm sure that the reason you called is very important. I hope to call you back sometime this decade if I don't die of exhaustion. Have a terrific day. Beeeeeeeeep."

It's no surprise if you answered yes to any of those questions. An article in Fast Company magazine entitled, "Don't Manage Time, Manage Yourself" by David Beardsley states that the average businessperson has a chronic backlog of 200 to 300 hours of uncompleted work! That's a month or more! It's impossible to catch up-that's the bad news. People everywhere are routinely a month behind.

That brings us to the $63,000 question. If we can't get it all done, how do we actually live with the pressure of always being behind? The answer just may lie in the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching. This ancient Chinese book reminds us to seek simplicity, to let go. The Tao states, "In letting go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go." The good news is that when you surrender to the reality that you can't do it all, your stress level goes way down and your quality of life goes way up.

Am I saying just forget about your responsibilities and walk away? No, ignoring things won't make them go away. I'm saying take some time and look at yourself and your life and figure out what you need to let go of to feel good. Maybe you need to let go of the belief that in order to go home from work you must have your work finished, or have a very good handle on it. Perhaps you need to let go of the idea that you have to be in total control all the time. With change being flung at us constantly, we have a tendency to hold on tighter because of our fears. Yet, if we could only let go and live with uncertainty, we'd actually be a lot happier.

It's tough letting go because we feel out of our comfort zones and even incompetent at times. I know I get nervous when I feel like I'm in completely new territory and nothing seems familiar. I had a Macintosh computer ever since I can remember. Many of my friends and colleagues switched to an IBM platform because the Mac was no longer meeting their needs. I shared some of the same frustrations, yet I didn't want to switch. I had never even turned on a PC before.

Finally, my frustration got so high that I made the switch. At first, the learning curve was painful, but now I look back and I can't believe I waited so long.

Don't we frequently say that after we've made a major switch in our lives? Once we released the fear and took the plunge-whatever it was-we often say, "I wish I had done it sooner." The other great bonus in letting go of fear and making a change is the learning that comes from it. It's revitalizing. It's energizing.

Staying energized is tough if you feel like you are always behind. Living faster and harder does not improve quality of life; living with more focus does. You can't be focused and energetic if you are running nonstop, trying to do everything. Instead of adding every event, project, goal and opportunity to your list that comes your way, you must become discriminating. You need to become a connoisseur of possible "to do's." Reframe the way you think about your "to do" list. Instead of viewing your list as an endless list of obligations, it should be a reflection of your passions and priorities. It should be an honor to get on your list.

The key to creating a Grade A list is to really take some time to affirm your priorities. To be effective, this requires honest soul searching about some difficult choices. A fast track at the office, involved parenting, a serious hobby, volunteering, and season tickets to 81 home baseball games is probably too much to juggle. You can't avoid making these choices. You have to set your priorities.

Once you have decided what's important your world gets a whole lot clearer. When you ask yourself, "Is chairing this committee in alignment with my priorities?" you'll know whether to accept or not.

You will be able to let go of other potential distractions and unwanted commitments. Jeffrey Miller, President and CEO of Documentum said it well when he stated, "There is always too much work to do and not enough time to do it. In order to prevent insanity, frustration and burn out, we need to develop our own pace and then develop laser-like focus on your priorities."

Day in and day out it's still tough to keep track of priorities. I have found something that really helps keep my priorities in focus. Every night, the last thing I do before I end my workday is to make a realistic list for the following day. Don't make your list too long to achieve. Stick to four to six items. Through trial and error, I have discovered that it's best to allow for the unexpected. I leave open some unscheduled time to build in for distractions that invariably crop up. The other element I include is time for important long-term projects. I spend a set amount of time working on one component of a big project. This is true whether it's a work-related project or a personal goal.

The other tools I regularly use are three questions I repeat like a mantra. They are:

What's important? This reminds me what my priorities are because sometimes it's hard to decline appealing invitations that are not reflective of my priorities.

What's important now? What has to be done now, today, and this week? This keeps me from getting distracted and focusing on good things at the wrong time.

What's important, not? I phrase this one with the "not" at the end because so often we think something is important and then belatedly realize it's not.

Once you determine what's important and establish your priorities, it becomes much easier to eliminate the clutter that can cloud your vision.

Once we let go of what isn't important and what we can't control, we can enjoy the wild ride. Maybe you can even let go and ride "no-handed!"

Author Information: Scott Friedman Scott Friedman is a nationally recognized professional speaker speaking over 100 times each year to companies, associations, and youth. His book, "Using Humor for a Change" is chock-full of great ideas to lighten-up the workload. His improvisational comedy training, quick wit, and thought-provoking material make Scott a master at holding the attention of his audience. Scott customizes all programs to meet the specific needs of each group. He is perfect for kick-offs, closings, lunches and midnight snacks.

Success Strategies

2008-02-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

There’s no hard & fast rule when it comes to becoming successful in life. But, there are things you can do and guidelines you can follow to make your dreams more attainable. Here are a few of the most important strategies that you can use to get where you really want to be.

The farm principle:

Farmers do it and Jesus taught this to his disciples. “As we sow, so we shall reap”. The principle is that success is not an overnight thing. It’s got nothing to do with nightly prayers (couldn’t hurt though). And it’s got nothing to do with watching others become successful. It’s all about consistent effort. Farmers tend their crops every day without fail, and when the time comes, they reap the benefits.

Success is a lot like that. Continuous, consistent effort makes all the difference.

Zero shortcuts:

For some, it’s a hard pill to swallow: there are no shortcuts. Your destination is a direct result of the level of commitment and effort that you put into becoming successful. The harder you try, the faster you’ll get there. Shortcuts lead to disappointments. Luck may sneak into the mixture on occasion, but shortcuts will spoil it.

Map it out:

Your mental state has much to do with your becoming successful, but the physical acts you undertake make a difference too. Make a plan, stick with it and measure your results. Keeping track of the things that you do and the success rate of those efforts helps you understand what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. During this journey of yours, fine-tune your plan and map out the route you want to take. The better you adapt and change according to circumstance, the faster you’ll get there.

Handle stress:

We all have to deal with stress whether we like it or not. If you want to be successful, you need to learn how to deal with stress. Firstly, you have to learn how to deal with the “daily stuff” in your life. Secondly, you have to learn how to sublimate or channel that stress energy into something that will work for you. Really, stress can be your ally. Turn stress into motivation. Whenever you encounter stress, push-forward and channel it towards achieving something. Do something positive that helps you forward toward your dream. Do not waver from your goal – focus.

Stay positive:

It’s often easier said than done. Try starting-off by eliminating any negative influences in your life. Get them out of the way, and it’ll be easier for you to become positive. Surround yourself with things that will benefit you, hang out with positive, successful or success-minded people. Embrace the positive and shun the negative.

Mike Nalbone’s “Success University” web site is helping thousands of people achieve their personal and financial goals.

Life Coach: 7 Questions To The Deepest Level Of The Subconscious

2008-02-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

What determines human behavior? This is a question that is not only not answered by anyone in the mental health community it is not even asked. In the resolution of any problem it is always about the question and if you cannot answer this question (What determines human behavior?) you are guessing how to help someone with depression which is the primary symptom for almost all behavior disorders. There are 7 questions that will lead you to a basic understanding of how to take control of what controls you.

Question:
1 - Are you running your life?

Question:
2 - Do you know how the subconscious works?

Answer:
If you do not know how your subconscious works you are not running your life your life is running you.

Question:
3 - How can the subconscious possibly be running my life?

Answer:
To give you an idea of the power of the subconscious, you can speak at a rate of about two to three hundred words per minute. The subconscious runs at a rate of approximately one thousand to twelve hundred words per minute which is about four times faster than you can speak. This is why you can talk on the phone and perform other tasks like typing on the computer or driving a car because the subconscious is already programmed to do the other tasks.

You can look at the conscious mind and the subconscious mind like a tug of war with a vat of mud in the middle for whomever loses. The conscious mind is one person on one side against the subconscious, which are four people on the other side. If the conscious mind decides to move in a different direction like losing weight, increasing your fitness program, making more money, quitting smoking or any number of other things, it is usually a losing proposition because you are simply outnumbered with information.

This is why it is so difficult to attain spontaneous change. Evidence of this is with the approximately 98% fail rate for people who do not maintain a desired weight loss. The dilemma is that the subconscious is not only running four times faster you also have no idea what it is doing.

Gaining Access to the Deepest Level of the Subconscious

Question:
4 - Do you ask yourself questions?

Answer:
Yes. You begin the process of asking yourself questions as soon as you get up every morning. You ask yourself questions like…What do I need to do today, what am I going to wear, what calls or emails do I need to return?

Question:
5 - Does the subconscious work on questions when you are not consciously involved?

Answer:
Yes. If you have ever asked yourself the question…What is that person’s name? It may take an hour, a day or even a week but at a time when you are not even thinking about it the person’s name will come popping into your head. This is because the subconscious was working on the question even when you were not consciously involved. This process happens with every question you ask yourself.

Question:
6 - When I ask you a question where does the answer come from?

Answer:
The subconscious

When I ask you a question about questions that you ask yourself you have now gained access to the very core of the subconscious and the very beginning of what brings about an emotional state and in turn determines your behavior.

If I ask you where you went on your last vacation, you repeat the question to yourself which brings up a picture of where you went on vacation and then you are able to explain to me where you went on vacation. Without going through this process there simply would not be any communication. The bottom line here is how you communicate with yourself.

What you say to yourself is more important than anything anyone will say to you or about you especially the questions you ask yourself. The questions you ask yourself represent the very core of your power or the very core your destruction. This leads us to the most fundamental question of all.

Question:
7 - What determines human behavior?

Answer:
Information

What determines human behavior is simply information and the components of this information are words and pictures. Getting control of this information from the deepest level of the subconscious will allow you to determine your emotional state your behavior and your life's path. When you learn how to get control of this information your life's path becomes intentionally directed by you, instead of a random event.

Kelly Burris has set the standard for Life Coach Training and Life Coach Certification with the only clinically proven process for depression. Kelly's two current books are THE Burris Life Coach for Adults and THE Burris Life Coach Ages 7-17. These two new books are the foundation of this program process. Please visit KellyBurris.com for the clinical study and more information about this powerful program process.