Last week of the year!?!

Hello and my sincere apologies ...

Last week was a real blur between Christmas and the wonderful weather (said with both love and sarcasm) the week got away from me and I never got around to posting the remaining Craniosacral informational postings. I will do that this week - so double time it is!

Today my computer also decided that not only would the '9' key not work consistently but also the 'i' and the 'k' keys now are becoming tempermental. So my apologies in advance if spell check and I miss anything until we get the key board on the lap top fixed.

Just one week and the new website goes live ... be sure to check back between now and then as I give more details. Will post more this afternoon.

Until then ... embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Christmas - Craniosacral week!

Good Morning Everyone,

Well in just a few short days Santa will be heading out to deliver his toys so I thought I would take a short trip down Craniosacral lane with you and give you an idea of what it is, how it works, training & education and the benefits of it.

Just like last week we focused on Reiki and received quite a few nice comments regarding them so this week will be just as good.

Side note ... Today is Tucker's 2nd birthday - he is our Rottie/Lab mix pup weighing in at 90lbs. We found out with all the snow that he loves it ... loves the snow which gives me a reason to get out and play in it since my son is too small to enjoy it as of yet.

Craniosacral is a portion of our unique Holistic Life Coaching practice and brings many benefits to not only the embracing of one's inner wisdom but also a physical feeling of well being. I have been receiving Craniosacral Therapy for almost 14 years and have been taking courses as a practitioner for the last two years. My perspective brings both what a client may experience as well as a practitioner's experience during sessions. Very different yet oddly some similarities.

Looking forward to sharing with you. Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Reiki ~ Benefits

Good Morning Everyone,

I haven't heard the saying TGIF as much as I have this morning. Here in the NW we are getting hit with an Arctic Blast as the news reporters have dubbed this latest winter storm. Arctic is right with temperatures staying at and below freezing. But it looks like there will be snow for Christmas which is always fun!

Okay, onto today's focus ... the benefits of Reiki. Here at Therapy in Transition we have heard numerous different types of results and outcomes from clients after their sessions. Some of these benefits have lasted hours, days and weeks. As we stated in our post from very early this morning, all of the sessions are unique to each individual and the same individual may have completely different experiences from one session to the next.

Benefits as we have heard them ...
~ increase in energy,
~ increased clarity on life's mission,
~ ability to balance themselves and their surroundings,
~ decrease in stress levels,
~ decrease in physical pain associated with different physical ailments,
~ increase in feelings of peace and acceptance,
~ increase in creative passion
~ increase in stamina
~ improved sleeping habits,
~ increase in ability to 'feel' their body's needs and make better choices surrounding nutritional and exercise decisions, and
~ increase in the feelings of self love.

Any of these benefits resonate with you? Then possibly a Reiki session is just what your inner wisdom is guiding you to embrace.

Hopefully this posting will help give a better understanding how Reiki can support you in your life's mission and journey. Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen

Reiki - So what is a session experience like?

Good Morning,

This is a few hours late, well let's just say almost a day late but definitely not a dollar short :)

I thought this morning I would walk you a through a session so you would have an idea of what to expect when deciding to treat yourself. Remember this is what it would be like if you were having a session with Therapy in Transition/me and please also remember each experience is personal to you. The following is a general outline of what happens and not what you personally will experience emotionally, physically or spiritually.

When choosing a time to come for a session remember to book a time where you know you will not have to do any tasks which entail major mental focusing. Also, I highly recommend to reduce or eliminate if possible caffeine, sugar and increase the intake of your water the day of and before a session.

Prior to arriving the Reiki Practitioner will have already 'cleansed' the treatment room. What does this mean? Well, it basically means they have set the energy of the room back to neutral from any previous clients allowing the room to be energetically available for you to do the work your mental, emotional and physical bodies are wanting to receive.

The sessions will last anywhere from 45 minutes to 60 minutes in length unless you have specified something different. As a client you will remain fully clothed during the session. The practitioner will most likely use a standard massage table covered in cloth with a blanket. Doing this type of energy work some clients tend to run on the chilly side.

There are different hand positions taught through different teachers but all start with working from the head down the body. Some will be guided to have their clients remain on the backs facing up and some will be guided to have their clients turn over part way thru. This is to allow the practitioner to work with the full spectrum of each chakra.

To see the different hand positions you can view our slide presentation by clicking here: hand positions

The work uses a very light touch and in some instances there is no body contact made by the practitioner at all.

When the session is over you will be told to take your time getting up and when leaving you hopefully will be told to continue to increase your water intake. The healing that has occurred requires the use of extra fluids to rid the body of toxins from your system.

I hope you find this helpful. Tomorrow ... or I should say later today we'll focus on the benefits some of our Reiki clients have reported.

Until then ... embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Reiki - Training and Education

Good Morning,

Thanks for making us part of your morning. I wanted to focus a today on the training of Reiki Practitioners which hopefully will enable you even if Reiki is not new to you to understand what the education and training of a Reiki Practitioner.

There are three levels of practitioner training; these are:

Level 1 ~ First Degree or Shoden: First degree teaches you how to heal yourself, creating balance between your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. At this level an individual is not truly a practitioner but is definitely in a place of self learning and self healing. My Reiki Master Teacher believes from Level 1 we are ready to work on others but we need to be sure we have a routine in life which incorporates Reiki into it daily and as we become more confident with hand positions etc our soul will be guided as to when is the right time to begin sharing this gift with others. There are a few Reiki Master Teachers which offer Level 1 and Level 2 together.

Level 2 ~ Second Degree or Okedun: Completion of the Second degree an individual is considered to be a Reiki Practitioner. It is at this level a practitioner learns Distance/Time-altered Healing.

Level 3 ~ Third Degree or Shinpiden: The third degree is for Reiki Practitioners who, having completed the second degree, wish to become Reiki Masters and Teachers. In most situations individuals wishing to move forward in their training wait at least 12 months prior to taking Third Degree. The reason for this is to allow ample time for Reiki Practitioners to embody the healing as part of their ongoing life's journey.

There are many places, organizations and individuals who offer Reiki training. The best advice when choosing to work with a Reiki practitioner or when choosing to embrace the knowledge of Reiki is to follow your heart. It will truly guide you to the right practitioner and/or training facility that is right for you at this time in your life.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Reiki ~ a little history lesson

Hi Everyone,

I thought a good place to start on this theme today is to go over the history of Reiki. The link from the title is a slide presentation which is also found on our website. When we launch the new site this presentation will also be updated.

Reiki was originally founded by Mikao Usui who lived from 1865 until 1926. Mr. Usui was a lifelong practitioner of Tendai Buddhism. He was a dedicated spiritual aspirant and through his spiritual journey he formulated the roots of what has come to be called Reiki in early 20th century Japan.

Mr. Usui was trained in a monastery as a young boy and began practicing martial arts from the age of 12. Mr. Usui achieved mastery in several disciplines and referred to himself as the founder of Reiki.

The following are a few other websites which go over the history of Reiki and as one indicates there is not definite record or documentation of the history but if we read enough we are able to glean the basic ideaology and philisophy of Reiki from these pages:

http://www.reiki.org/FAQ/HistoryOfReiki.html
http://www.reiki.nu/history/history.html


Enjoy and until next time, embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Christmas is approaching ... a little to quickly I think

I can hardly believe it is the 15th of December already and Christmas is just 10 days away. I think I am done Christmas shopping; I say I think because until the morning I am never really sure if I am complete or not.

Today was a snow day here in Wilsonville. We got dumped with a whopping 2 inches of snow last night but the roads are covered in ice and the ODOT required chains on the major roadways on all vehicles. I thought about heading to Target to purchase a few last minutes items like lights for our tree and an anniversary card for my husband tomorrow but thought better about it and decided I'll wait until he comes home from work and we will all go together.

I have been thinking of a 'theme' for this week's focus of blog postings and I believe a little energy work would be perfect. For the next four days I will post information regarding Reiki. What it is, how it works, the benefits and a little bit of history. I had posted information regarding Reiki on July 22 but feel with the winter solstice fast approaching it would be great timing.

Until tomorrow ... have an amazing day, enjoy the snow and embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

What happens in the end? Dealth is definitely difficult!

Another week is coming quickly to a close and I thought it would be appropriate to find an article that discusses a harder topic when it comes to our beloved furry friends. Death is not an easy subject whether it be our own passing, a relatives, or our four-legged buddies. Which is why the following article is something important to read and to begin to consider. My husband and I are working on updating our wills and this never even crossed our minds until I came across this article. I definitely got a lot to think about from it and hopefully you will too. Have an amazing weekend and we'll see you next week. Enjoy!

What Happens to Tiger if You Die?
By Colleen Patrick

Introduction:
Colleen is a volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter, and has been involved in animal care for more than 20 years, including taking care of a farm and all its animals while the owners were away for several months. She also is the creator of Peaceable Pets, a petcalming tape/CD in which she actually talks to the animals in a calm, soothing voice.

The Older Ones are Heartbreaking
One of the real heartbreakers I experience as a volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter is seeing older pets, cats and dogs, ten years and more, whose owners have died - usually unexpectedly. The older cats with whom I work who are suddenly without their attached humans become despondent and in some cases stop eating and drinking water because they are so sad, disoriented and of course miserable in the frightening environment of a shelter. Whenever we have such bereft cats in cages, we check them for dehydration regularly so they can be treated medically or put in a foster home if they become too depressed.

Never Enough Homes
Some wonderful people come in looking for older animals to whom they can give comfort and love for the remaining years they have left. But there are not enough of those kind folks, unfortunately. I always wish these cat owners had made arrangements for their cherished pets when they had the opportunity. It would prevent the suffering an animal endures in shelter situations. Worse, Seattle has a no kill police for healthy pets, but most shelters do not. They only keep animals for a certain period of time before they're put down.

Covering the Bases
I have made arrangements in my will for my pets, so they don't end up in a shelter if anything should happen to me - and I'm in the best of health! Each of my pets goes to an individual whom I know and trust will care for the dog or cat properly.
Although it would be ideal to have all three animals go to the same home, that would be a difficult situation to find realistically. Further, each pet is so fraught with individual idiosyncrasies that he or she will need a specific type of care or attention.

I've actually "trained" one person how to care for my 3 year-old Pomeranian, Oscar, so he will be treated in a way best suited for him. Being a rescued dog, his attitudes and aptitudes are different from a dog like my other one year-old Pomeranian, Missy, who has been hand raised before coming into my life. They can both be very well behaved, but need to be approached differently.

Likewise, my 13 year-old cat Cagney was brutalized as a young kitten (children set off firecrackers next to the mother cat while her kittens' eyes were still closed, for example), so it has taken virtually years to get her socialized to be an affectionate, loving cat who adores being held and petted now. So approaching her requires some knowledge - of her personality, problems and methods of continuing her sense of security.

I hope you will make some arrangements for your cats, no matter your age, no matter their age, so they don't end up alone, shuddering in a scary shelter, if something unexpected should happen to you.

Likewise, if you know you will be gone for a very long period of time - for reasons ranging from jail to business to extensive traveling - that you will make sure your pets will be provided for with a new home and some money for their ongoing care.
There is the mistaken notion about cats being able to easily cope with being left alone because they are normally not high maintenance animals. But as you know, they become very attached to their caretakers and revel in the affection they come to rely upon for their security and happiness. Believe me, if you saw these shelter refugees, you would make sure your cat has a good home waiting for him or her in the unlikely event you were unexpectedly taken out of the picture.

Put Together a "Care Kit"
In addition to making sure your cat is provided for in your will, specifically stating who should care for him or her, you might want to prepare a complete "How to care for my cat" kit. This would include things like:
• Inoculation records
• Recurring medical conditions
• Medications to be taken regularly
• Spay/neuter certificate
• Favorite food, amounts
• Whether or not the pet can eat table scraps
• Favorite type of petting, hugging or cuddling
• Fears that spark aggressive behavior
• How to calm your cat if s/he becomes frightened or aggressive
• A day schedule - what time s/he gets up, all activities during the day, and bed time.
• Where they sleep - in a crate, on the bed, on the floor, on a pillow
• Do they travel well in cars
• Do they walk well on a leash
• Special activities - like Cagney and I love to play "fish" with a stick, shoe lace and cork at the end. Even at 13, she loves to chase the cork.
• A scarf or handkerchief with your smell on it that the cat can sleep with after you are gone.
• Photographs from the cat's past. I think this helps a bonding process with the new caretaker.

Of course, the hope is that you never have to use this. But in the event you do, you know your cats will be properly cared for, and that can give you peace of mind whether you're among the living or if you unexpectedly become their guardian angel.

Pet Therapy Calms the Heart

I found the following article really interesting and very applicable in my own life. I know when I seem to get stressed about something and it feels more serious than the usual little life stresses I automatically spend more time interacting with my dogs. I spend much more time snuggling and hugging them which of course they can't seem to get enough of anyways so it really works out for all involved. Enjoy!

Pet Therapy Calms the Heart
Source: About.com
Friday November 18, 2005

Visits by a human and a dog decreased anxiety 24% in critically ill heart patients. Anxiety fell 10% when visited a human alone. The difference could save lives.

The study is billed as the first controlled study of the effects of pet therapy in a random sample of patients hospitalized with heart failure. Researchers also found changes in several physical measures. One example: levels of epinephrine, a hormone the body makes when under stress, dropped 17 percent when visited by a person and a dog, and only 2 percent when visited by a person alone. Epinephrine is also known as adrenalin.

This study joins others that demonstrate that pets are good for our mental health as well as our physical health.

Study Identifies Heart Patient's Best Friend
By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN
Published: November 16, 2005

Source: NY Times

DALLAS, Nov. 15 - For people hospitalized with advanced heart disease, it is better to have visitors than to lie quietly alone. But one type of visitor seems to be especially beneficial, researchers reported on Tuesday. That visitor is a dog.

In the first controlled study of the effects of pet therapy in a random sample of acute and critically ill heart patients, anxiety as measured on a standard rating scale dropped 24 percent for those visited by a dog and a human volunteer, by 10 percent for those visited by a volunteer alone and not at all for those with no visitors. Similar results were found in measures of heart and lung function.
In a separate study reported here on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, German scientists found that riding roller coasters may set off dangerously abnormal heart rhythms in people with heart disease.

The senior author of the pet therapy study, Kathie M. Cole, a nurse at the University of California, Los Angeles, said 76 patients with heart failure, a condition that affects an estimated five million Americans, were randomly assigned one of the three visit types. The dogs, from 12 breeds, were screened for behavior and disease before participating in the study.

Some patients in the first group, Ms. Cole said, "began to smile and immediately engaged in conversation with dog and volunteer." Their worries seemed to vanish from their faces, she said.

The researchers examined the patients three times: right before the 12-minute visit, eight minutes into it and four minutes after it was over.

Besides the anxiety measurement, researchers found, patients' levels of epinephrine, a hormone the body makes when under stress, dropped 17 percent when visited by a person and a dog, and 2 percent when visited by only a person. Epinephrine levels rose an average of 7 percent in the unvisited group in the study, which was financed by the Pet Care Trust Foundation, a nonprofit group.

Pressure in the heart's top left chamber dropped 10 percent after a visit by volunteer and dog. The same pressure rose 3 percent for those visited by a volunteer and 5 percent for the unvisited group. Pressure in the pulmonary artery dropped 5 percent during and after a visit by volunteer and dog, but rose in the other two groups.

Ms. Cole recommended further studies to determine how long the benefits lasted.
"Dogs are a great comfort," she said. "They make people happier, calmer and feel more loved. That is huge when you are scared and not feeling well."
The roller coaster study, conducted in Hassloch, Germany, involved 55 adults and Expedition GeForce, a 120-second ride that starts with a 203-foot ascent followed by a free fall. The coaster has changes in gravity of six G's in four seconds, and a maximum speed of 75 miles an hour.

The author, Dr. Jürgen Kuschyk, a cardiologist at the University of Mannheim, found that one participant's heart rate reached 200 beats a minute, which could cause dangerous rhythm abnormalities.

All participants were screened for heart disease before the experiment, and their heart rates were monitored throughout the ride. Heart rates appeared to rise more from psychological stress and fear at the beginning of the ride, rather than from the increased G force, Dr. Kuschyk said. After the ride, about half the participants had abnormal heartbeats even though their heart rates had returned to a normal range.
Dr. Kuschyk, whose main research field is sudden death, said his interest in roller coasters began when a journalist asked about their dangers on the heart. When he searched databases, he found no studies in scientific journals. His concerns rose as he learned that more roller coasters were being built in many countries to be taller and faster.

One potential danger is a coaster's magnetic brakes, which can interfere with the function of pacemakers and defibrillators, Dr. Kuschyk said. He said he knew of one heart-related roller coaster death, a man in Germany who was initially resuscitated but died three days later.

"Individuals who have suffered a heart attack, have heart disease or irregular heart rhythms should not ride a roller coaster," Dr. Kuschyk said in an interview. "For healthy people, I don't see any problem."

On Tuesday, the medical examiner's office in Orange County, Fla., attributed the death of a 4-year-old boy to an abnormal rhythm from a congenital heart condition after he went on a rocket-ship ride at Walt Disney World in Orlando, The Associated Press reported.

The boy, Daudi I. Bamuwamye, of Sellersville, Fla., died in June after riding Mission: Space, which spins riders in a giant centrifuge and subjects them to twice the normal force of gravity.

The Healing Power of Pets ~ Pet Therapy

Krista Mifflin writes another great article on the healing power of our pets and outlines some of the positive impacts they have in our lives and our physical well-being. Enjoy!

The Healing Power of Pets ~ Pet Therapy
by Krista Mifflin
Source: About.com

Gaining recognition as a successful therapuetic program, Pet Therapy animals and handlers have been welcomed into hospitals and long-term care facilities all across North America. Health studies have shown how having a well-loved pet can lower a person's blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, but what can they do for long-term patients?
• The soft touch of an animal can bring joy to a person who's lost a beloved pet. People in long-term care facilities have often gone a long time without a gentle touch.
• Animals are non-judgmental, forgiving of mistakes and offer unconditional love where a human being may not.
• Animals offer entertainment, a willing ear, and tend to increase social interaction.
• A patient who is in pain or can not speak will not feel pressured to interact with an animal.
• Animals accept the patient for what he or she is, and will not stare or ask awkward questions regarding any disabilities.
• Having an animal present can often focus a patient on itself rather than the patient's current infirmity.
• Pets help people to relax, thus lowering blood pressure.

Animal Assisted Therapy is a great way to become more active in your community as well as bringing joy to dozens of other people.

The Human-Animal Bond ~ How Pets Help Us

The following is another article I found which give a bit of a description on how pets, of all sorts, can help us bi-peds. Enjoy!

The Human-Animal Bond ~ How Pets Help Us
By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM,
Source: About.com

We love our pets. That is why we have them, right? Did you know that there are actual health benefits for people living with pets? Studies have shown real health benefits - lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reduced stress levels, and better mental health for those living with pets.

Pets require our attention. Going for a walk, dropping everything for a game of Frisbee or hide and seek, going on a trail ride, and providing the everyday pet care encourage owners interact and to get out. We benefit from the exercise and fresh air that we may not seek out on our own. This does wonders for our health and emotions.
In addition to being a major health benefit just for being a pet, pets also actively help and assist humans in many ways. Below are just some of the ways that pets are formally helping humans live richer and fuller lives.

Pet Therapy
Pet therapy is something I have been involved with since an early age, and I have witnessed the the health effects; both for those receiving therapy and those who bring in their animals to hospitals and nursing homes. To see a nursing home patient light up when they see you and your dog or cat (or other approved therapy species) come through the door is an unforgettable experience. It is not uncommon for the nursing staff to remark that the patient hasn't spoken for some time or only speaks to some people - yet totally relaxes, talks to, and interacts with your pet. A current trend in nursing homes is to adopt a cat or small dog to live in the facility. This is a wonderful experience for the residents on a daily basis.
Hospitals, and children's hospitals in particular, usually allow pet therapy visits too, with amazing benefits for the sick and terminally ill. There are also pet therapy animals helping autistic humans interact and live fuller lives.
To get involved in pet therapy, please refer to some of the links below. There are national and local organizations. It is best to be affiliated with a therapy organization, as there are health and temperament requirements that need to be met by the pet therapists before visiting health care facilities.

Horse Therapy
Horses and horse riding is also part of pet therapy. Riding horses teaches balance and flexibility to the handicapped, and gives a sense of accomplishment and companionship to those involved. Some programs are related to the care of horses as well, teaching responsibility and horsemanship skills.

Service Dogs
Dogs are amazingly adaptable to the needs of humans. Services provided by dogs for humans include: dogs that guide the blind, assist the deaf, assist the mobility-impaired, even alert epileptic owners that a seizure is imminent, so the owner can sit down/take their medications before the seizure strikes. Dogs can be trained to turn on/off lights, pick up objects, even pull wheel chairs for those who are handicapped.

Police and Search & Rescue Dogs
Police dogs serve as protection for officers, as well as sniffing out drugs, explosives, and other dangerous chemicals long before a human can. Search and Rescue dogs use their powerful sense of smell to locate people lost or injured.

New week ~ new focus ... Animal Assisted Therapy

Pet Therapy was the main reason for beginning this whole journey ~ Therapy (pet therapy) in Transition (motion - going to a client's home/residence); as well the month of December holds a special place as it is the month of Tito's birthday, December 18th to be exact we are going to be focusing on animal therapy or pet therapy this week for topic of conversation. Enjoy!

Animal Assisted Therapy
by Krista Mifflin
Source: About.com

About Animal Assisted Therapy:
Animal Assisted Therapy is the use of therapy dogs and cats through structured organizations. Officially, dogs are certified and used to promote mental stimulation in patients requiring long-term care. The programs work closely with health care officials, often pairing up a single animal and handler to a patient.

Getting Started:
The very first step in getting started in Animal Assisted Therapy is to evaluate your dog's personality. Your dog must be confident, not hyper, and tolerant of surprising noises, and groping hands. A high tolerance to pain is also essential. Elderly people and young children may trip or stumble onto your dog, or may not be as gentle as they should be. A dog who will not tolerate these mishaps can easily lawsuit for the owner, facility, or organization.

Your dog must be friendly, to both complete strangers, and other animals. Others involved in Animal Assisted Therapy may also be present, and a dog who has a taste for cats will a be a large liability. Your dog must also be well-acclimatized to being passed around, left with a stranger, and touched continuously without preliminary greeting rituals.

While it is hoped that any patient you may end up with has been briefed accordingly in pet etiquette, it is also entirely possible that the patient will know nothing about approaching strange dogs.

Find an organization to join that is willing to help and work with you and your dog and has a program in place to certify your dog. Certification programs may vary, organization to organization, but the basic tenets should be identical (obedience training, Canine Good Citizen may be a required title). Check for liability insurance, and the overall reputation of the organization according to listed facilities.

How to Erase Negative Influence ...

Today's focus on erasing negative thoughts and living positively is definitely another area in which the general population needs extra support especially during these difficult economic times. Enjoy!

How to Erase Negative Influence and Live Positively
Source: Wikihow.com

All of us have at a time lived negatively or as I should say are still living negatively. There is a lot of negativity within us where people are afraid to express themselves as to being afraid of negative response. Every thing that we as human being do is for ourselves and I cant afford to make anyone happy if I am not. It has to start with me first and what I want in my life nobody can take away from me.

Steps

1. Anything that happens in my life affects me not anyone else.
   
2. Although anyone is affected the results pair on how I choose to overcome the situation. And nobody can make me happy either than myself.
   
3. Everything I do i do for myself.
   
4. If I dont believe im stupid the no-one can convince me otherwise.
   
5. I must set my own goal and dreams and live to achieve them.
   
6. I must learn to take all the advices I get from people whether negative or positive and use it in a positive way.
   
7. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking!
   

Tips

• Forget about anybody else and think about yourself.
  
• Nobody is going to make sure im sorted if I dont sort myself out.
  
• Everything I do I do for myself and everyone is for themselves so even if I do things to please other people I wont be happy in the end.
  
• For me to have a fruitful and happy life I have to make myself happy and thats all that matters.
  
• NOBODY CAN TAKE YOUR HAPPINESS AWAY.
  

Warnings

• People that always pull you down
  
• People that add negativity to your life
  
• Lastly people that never give you valuable advice.
  
• Attempting to satisfy immediate desire by compromising your integrity
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Erase Negative Influence and Live Positively. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Avoid Thoughts Hampering Your Daily Activities

This is another area which people allow themselves to get caught up in the negative self talk which can eliminate any possibility of achieving and manifesting your full potential and desires. Enjoy!

How to Avoid Thoughts Hampering Your Daily Activities
Source: Wikihow.com

Negative thoughts make a person dull and unable to function properly. Malefic thoughts spread laziness, procrastination, etc. Ample time can be wasted with useless thoughts. A person with no control over his / her thoughts has no control over his / her life. Thoughts lead to actions, actions become habit, habits form one's behaviour, behaviour builds character, and character ultimately makes one’s personality. If we don’t do the things which we ought to do, then we have wasted that particular moment which would remain a permanent loss of time from our life which would never come back. This precious time could have been spend for the other daily chores which we had to do anyway or something productive.

Steps

1. Identify the different thought threads
   
2. Allow a particular time period for it
   
3. Keep doing your essentials which you were in the middle of doing
   
4. Keep a running list of the thoughts which keeps pestering between your work
   
5. Think about all those on your allowed time
   
6. Make a list of things which you have to do anyway
   
7. Keep a running list for it too
   
8. The sooner you finish those things which you have to do anyhow, the more time you get to think about those thoughts listed
   
9. Talk with someone about it! Talking about things puts a little distance between you and your thoughts so they aren't so consuming.
   

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Avoid Thoughts Hampering Your Daily Activities. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to do a Concentration Meditation

Another area of focus which you might be interested in considering regarding meditating and bringing this stress reducer into your daily life. Enjoy!

How to do a Concentration Meditation
Source: Wikihow.com

This type of meditation can really help you focus. It will take time to get into the correct mental state, but once you do, you'll be able to improve your life.
Steps

1. Sit down or stand very still.
   
2. If you choose to sit put your palms on your lap or knees. If you are standing, let your arms fall naturally at your side.
   
3. Relax.
   
4. Breathe naturally, but deeper than normal.
   
5. Be attentive to your breath, in and out.
   
6. Count your breath from one to ten (Don't count loudly. Just count in your mind). Example: Breath in, count one; Breath out, count two; Breath in, count three.
   
7. When you have counted to ten, repeat counting from one to ten.
   
8. Think nothing. If thought enters your mind, acknowledge it, then go back to become aware of your breath.
   
9. Relax.
   
10. Continue.
    
11. Stop your meditation when you want to.
    

Tips

• Benefits: Your concentration will increase; You will develop self-confidence; You will develop reflex skill in your martial art training.
  
• Breathe with your stomach. When you breathe in make sure your stomach goes out. When you breathe out make sure your stomach goes in.
  
• If you try to think of nothing you will be thinking. Try not to think of not thinking anything.
  
• It helps to concentrate on a single very simple thing in your mind such as a plain white circle with a black outline. You could also concentrate on the sound of yourself breathing.
  
• It is recommended that you obtain direct instruction from a meditation teacher.
  

Sources and Citations

• 5min - A great video about how to meditate 5min is a videopedia for instructinal videos. Source of images in this article, shared with permission.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Do Concentration Meditation. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to do an Awareness Meditation

Passing along knowledge is very important and it because of this personal philosophy I chose to do these "how to's" postings. Enjoy!

How to do an Awareness Meditation
Source: Wikihow.com

Steps

1. Sit down or stand still. Sitting in a lotus position is usually quite stressing on your legs unless you know how to do it very well.
   
2. Rest your palms on your lap or knees. If you are standing, let your arms fall naturally at your sides. Just don't collapse!
   
3. Breathe slightly deeper than normal.
   
4. Be aware of your breath.
   
5. If you notice that you are thinking, acknowledge it. Then let it fade away.
   
6. Return to awareness of your breath.
   
7. Repeat steps 4-6. Once you are done that, repeat this step. This step is an infinite loop.
   
8. Stop your meditation any time if you want to.
   
9. If you have back problems you may want to sit on a pillow.
   

Tips

• The Benefits: You will become calmer; you may have insight; you will increase your level of martial art skill; you can get along with people easily.
  
• If you count your breaths for the first few tries it will become easier to think of nothing. Beginners should try in for the count of 5 hold for 5 and out in 5. Get slower as you go but only up to 7.
  
• It is recommended that you obtain direct instruction from a meditation teacher.
  
• Meditation may be prayer, and you may believe in meditating, or praying, "through," perhaps for hours to find, "peace" (a quiet place).
  
• Some believe in an unknown meditational language, "glossolalia" - lingua - tongue (or tone) with which the "Holy Spirit" may groan to the heavenly Father in "charmistic" meditations.
  
• Charisma has an attribute of the unseen leading of the Holy Spirit in personal relationship with the Father (discerning the Spirit).
  
• That word derives from the Greek charis (“grace”) and charizesthai (“to show favour”), connoting a spiritual grace for salvation granted by grace through faith for enabling good works.
  
• Charisma comes from the being comfortable with yourself, it comes from practicing meditation. From knowing and accepting the core human fallible and childlike part of you that connects you to all humanity. It comes from letting go of all the 'chatter' that we learn in our lives, of how we should be and what we should be. It is about being in the moment and letting go of all the external stuff.
  
• With meditation you can learn to let all the stuff that is other peoples frustrations and problems wash over you and stop affecting you because you are aware of the core central person you are, with all the strange feelings that this involves. These feelings are all about you being a human rather than because of external factors, it is about knowing yourself. Try to remember that others behave according to their internal stories and therefore it is not necessarily to do with you, even when it seems to be directed at you. Rise above it. do not engage in this tit for tat type stuff.you can be above it. Letting go of this is liberating and this is what meditation offers. Go for it no matter what you religious stand point is at the moment, its no other than learning about the central human self.
  
• When you meditate the goal is zoning out. To practically fall asleep while still staying aware or focusing on certain points. This allows your mind to revert to that relaxed, stress free mental state during stressful situations (IE taxes or work). So when you do a session, always pick really warm thoughts that help you zone out. You will go deeper when your more comfortable!
  

Warnings

• Don't fall asleep, especially in a large crowd.
  
• Don't collapse (if standing), especially in a large crowd.
  
• Make sure you have plenty of time. True meditation makes time seem to accelerate, and you might not notice the hours passing.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Do Awareness Meditation. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

New week ~ new theme? How to's ...

Last week we focused on different articles that I had read and thought were interesting regarding coaching and the articles offered some food for thought. I have been searching the 'how to' websites like Wikipedia and About.com for support regarding plain text verbiage for my new website regarding how to explain in layman's term exactly what I do. I was quite surprise at what I could find descriptions and instructions for and as a result decided to post a few of these this week. Enjoy!

How to Find the Motivation to Meditate
Source: WikiHow.com

Meditation can be a great way to relax and de-stress, as well as to create emotional and spiritual well being. With the hectic pace of life in today's society, however, even these benefits can get lost in our lists of to-do's. Fortunately, meditation may help you overcome these same scarcity conversations in your head. Now if you could just start meditating...A bigger idea: Meditation may be called prayer, perhaps for hours, to find a quiet place, "peace." Some believe in an unknown meditational tone or language ("glossolalia" - lingua) with which the "Holy Spirit" may communicate in "groanings" to the heavenly Father as in "charmistic" meditations.
Charismatic meditation has an attribute of the unseen Holy Spirit in relationship with the Father (discerning the Spirit).

• Derivation: charis (“grace”) and charizesthai (“to show favour”), connoting a spiritual grace leading to salvation granted through faith into good works.
  

Steps

1. List the reasons why you avoid meditation. Handle the problems.
   
   • If you don't like spending an hour meditating, or you get frustrated easily, then try half an hour. Or ten minutes. One true moment in meditation will be greater than one hour spent fidgeting and grumbling.
     
   • If you feel too busy to be still (in body or mind), then give yourself permission to be completely and totally free during your meditation time. (Yes, that means turn off your cell phone.) After all, you deserve to be peaceful as much as you deserve to eat, sleep, or breathe. It is a part of who you are. Furthermore, the world around you—your family, your friends, your companion animals, even strangers—deserve for you to be peaceful, too.
     
   • If you are distracted by your environment, then change what you can control, wait for quietude, or find a more serene location.
     
   • If you feel like a failure, then remind yourself that in meditation, there is no such thing as failure. Or success, really. Do not be attached to your results. They do not tell you who you are, only where you are.
     
   • If you feel physically uncomfortable in your posture, then try sitting on a pillow or in a chair. Lie down if you have to do so. You can always try other postures later.
     
   • If you feel emotionally or physically disturbed (other than how you're sitting), then you may have some mental or emotional issues that you need to address. Meditation may help you with your problems, but usually other techniques are quite effective too, sometimes more effective. Try for example to write your thoughts down.
     
   • If you have other reasons for avoiding meditation, analyze them and create your own solutions. You know what you need better than anyone.
     
   
   
2. Schedule meditation into your day. While it may not motivate you to meditate, at least you won't have anything else to do at that moment (it's true—check your schedule!).
   
3. Try meditating first thing in the morning or last thing at night. At these times, you will probably be least busy, so there will be a limited number of excuses. Moreover, early morning meditation may help you focus throughout the day, and late night meditation may help you sleep deeply.
   
4. Make meditation enjoyable rather than a chore. Perhaps you could create a "meditation zone" in your house or play soothing music.
   
5. Find a community. You may enjoy meditating with others. If you prefer solitary meditation, you may be motivated by discussing meditation with a supportive friend that also meditates, exchanging insights and questions.
   
6. Continually remind yourself of the benefits of meditation. (Remember that one benefit for busy people is that meditation may help you remain more aware and focused, which will make all those tasks you have to perform much easier!)
   

Tips

• Make sure you are comfortable while you are meditating. Full lotus position, for example, may look cool, but it may not be a comfortable position for you. If you are uncomfortable, you'll hardly be able to motivate yourself to practice meditation on a regular basis!
  
• Prolonged stress can result in serious health problems. Even if you are busy, make sure you take some time to relax, such as through meditation, for your own well being.
  
• If you find it difficult to meditate start with sitting for just 10 minutes at a time and gradually increase the time as you feel able. 10 minutes a day will benefit you as you become accustomed to your meditation.
  
• Try listening to your favorite music and if you can, wear headphones, this makes the music more personal to you as you sit with your eyes closed.
  
• If you want to, keep an area of your home just for meditating. Put crystals around the area and light candles during your meditation. Make where you meditate a special place, and in time you will be aware that the energy where you sit is far calmer, because it will become a special place to you.
  
• Have fun! Meditation should be fun. Put a little smile on your face to remind yourself to be happy. Smile with your heart, eyes and mind. If it doesn't go the way you want it to go, just laugh at how silly your mind is.
  
• There are thousands of styles of meditation. Mixing it up and finding new methods (often free, most with creative visualizations) can really keep you looking forward to the next session. Then you can stimulate your imagination a lot easier, making meditations extremely enjoyable. Ya know, the cyclic thing.
  

Warnings

• Be aware that circumstances (of varying importance) will arise in your life. It is up to you if you decide to follow through with your commitment to meditate. As a meditation in itself, notice when and why you decide to meditate anyway. Also, notice when and why you decide to skip meditation. There is no need to judge yourself. Simply notice and learn.

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Find Motivation to Meditate. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Rounding up the week's focus ...

It's Friday that means the topic of focus is coming to a close and next week we will move onto a new area and topic.

Finding the perfect coach for you and your small business might be easier than you think or is it? David Mason from Resourcenation.com recently posted this article. Enjoy!

How to Find the Right Small Business Coach for You
Written by: David Mason
Source: Resourcenation.com

Small business coaching is hot. A few years ago the only coaches anyone talked about were sports coaches. But today, PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimates that there are 30,000 business and life coaches worldwide.

Thousands of small business owners and managers turn to coaches every day to improve their personal skills and business results. You can, too. But first you have to determine if you're ready for coaching. Then you have to select the right coach.

Are you Ready?

Rosa started her business out of her home. She made money, but not as much as she felt she should. She was frustrated that she couldn't find time for her family. That's when a friend suggested that a small business coach would help.

That's a typical situation. Most small businesses owners don't start out using a coach. They usually come to coaching when they've had some success and when they know they could have more. They usually come to coaching when they're ready to listen and when they need a little knowledge and a little nudge to do the right things.

The best coaching in the world won't help you if you're not ready to be helped. So before you go hunting for a good small business coach, answer the following questions.

- Are you ready to listen to the things you need to hear? A good coach will ask you about things you haven't thought of and push you to think outside the box. That's often scary. A good coach may also tell you to change the way you do some things. That's hard for many small business owners because it means admitting that you've made some bad decisions and choices.

- Are you ready to take a hard look at your business? Even the best coach can't help you if your business can't deliver quality to enough people at the right price. Sometimes a business simply can't succeed because the market is too small or too hard to reach.

- Are you ready to pay the price? Coaching does not come without a price. You will pay a price in both money and time. You may even realize that you need to invest in new things for your business.

Coaching is not a magic bean. You have to work at success every day. I tell my clients that "success is based on persistency and consistency, not magic." You're ready for coaching if you see coaching as an investment in yourself and your success. Your next challenge is to find the right coach for you.

Choosing the Coach for You

Great coaches, like great chefs and great football players, are rare. And, sometimes, even a great coach is not the right coach for you. Here are some ways to evaluate coaches.

1) Look for a coach who's run a small business. Before I started coaching I built two successful small businesses. I've really "been there and done that" so I know what my clients are going through. I also use coaches myself. The ones that work best for me have small business experience. Small businesses are different from big businesses and you need a coach who understands the special challenges.

2) Look for a coach who's been doing it for a while. My job as a coach is to help you know what to do, but it's also to help you do what you know. It takes time to learn to coach well.

3) Look for a coach who won't nickel and dime you to death. It seems to me that there are two kinds of coaches when it comes to billing. There are coaches who charge you by the minute, hour or session. And there are coaches who are always accessible or available for short conversations between sessions, if needed without piling on extra charges. I find the latter works better for my clients.

4) Look for a coach that you're comfortable with. Successful outcomes demand a productive relationship between you and your coach. It won't work if you feel talked down to or belittled or if you feel like your coach doesn't care about you. If you feel any of those things, look for a different coach.

5) Look for a coach who's picky. The best coaches are selective about the kind of clients they work with. We expect a lot of our clients and we limit the number of clients we work with so we can concentrate on helping each one succeed.

After some soul searching and some research Rosa started working with a small business coach. It wasn't always easy, but together they found ways to help Rosa's business grow and help her reap the benefits of success. They took her business and life to a whole new level.

It can happen for you, too. If you're ready, if you're willing to embrace change and if you're willing to pay the price, a small business coach can help you become an amazing success story.

Five Questions to Ask

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone,

I would like to express my gratitude to all those that have supported me over the years and give thanks to my clients for trusting to partner with me in their success.

To continue with the topic of the week - Hiring a Coach and what to consider, ask, know, and expect, here are five questions to consider:

1) Who have you coached and in what industry?
2) What do you charge per coaching session and how long do clients typically work with you?
3) Are you a member of any professional coaching organizations?
4) What is your area of expertise?
5) Can you provide me with references from current and past clients?

These are great beginning questions as posed by Resourcenation.com and they are more geared towards business coaches but they can be applied to just about any type of coach you are seeking support from and to partner with.

Remember conversations and clients list are subject to privacy and therefore you may not get names from your potential coach.

Source: Resourcenation.com

Get the Most from ...

Another good article giving some advice as to how to get the most out of your coach. Remember you do the work in the coach/coachee partnership so you best make the best out of your time together.

How to Get the Most From Your Business Coach
Written by: Editorial Staff of ResourceNation.com
Source: Resource Nation

A business coach can be a valuable asset for your business. A coach can show you how to exploit your strongest characteristics - and really get your business moving in the right direction. But to get there, you're going to need a few tips on how to have the most positive, productive relationship with your business coach.

Be honest! How is your coach supposed to help you if you don't come clean about your problems? Consider all the time you spend talking to your coach as a "safe zone." Unburden yourself of the things that are really concerning you about your business so that your coach can help find solutions.

Know your goals. Face it, your coach is going to need a little more to go on than "I want to be in the Fortune 500!" Streamline your goals - then work with your business coach to craft a plan for attaining them.

Select a business coach with experience relevant to your business. If you run a chicken coop, then a business coach who once built an empire of chicken coops from scratch would be ideal. If a match that specific isn't available, try the next level up (in our example, a coach with farming experience).

Be comfortable with the cost. Concerns about costs can keep a relationship with a business coach from truly soaring. Make sure that you know how much you can spend on sessions with your coach and plan accordingly. Ask your coach about her rates for extra one-on-one time. Nasty billing surprises that arrive in the mail can hamper your future together.

A business coach can provide a fresh set of eyes from which to view your business. A good coach will use his or her expertise to identify opportunities you might have missed, show you how to make more while spending less, and most importantly rediscover the joy that got you to start your own business in the first place!

Find the Right Small Business Coach

This week I am going to share a few articles that I am finding from one source - Resourcenation.com. If you haven't gone and visited their site I highly recommend it. Plus, as a coach myself these articles are focused on this topic specifically. Even during these economic times we all need support and a coach just might be what you are in need of. Enjoy!

How to Find the Right Small Business Coach for You
Written by: David Mason
Source: Mason Performance Development

Small business coaching is hot. A few years ago the only coaches anyone talked about were sports coaches. But today, PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimates that there are 30,000 business and life coaches worldwide.

Thousands of small business owners and managers turn to coaches every day to improve their personal skills and business results. You can, too. But first you have to determine if you're ready for coaching. Then you have to select the right coach.

Are you Ready?

Rosa started her business out of her home. She made money, but not as much as she felt she should. She was frustrated that she couldn't find time for her family. That's when a friend suggested that a small business coach would help.

That's a typical situation. Most small businesses owners don't start out using a coach. They usually come to coaching when they've had some success and when they know they could have more. They usually come to coaching when they're ready to listen and when they need a little knowledge and a little nudge to do the right things.

The best coaching in the world won't help you if you're not ready to be helped. So before you go hunting for a good small business coach, answer the following questions.

- Are you ready to listen to the things you need to hear? A good coach will ask you about things you haven't thought of and push you to think outside the box. That's often scary. A good coach may also tell you to change the way you do some things. That's hard for many small business owners because it means admitting that you've made some bad decisions and choices.

- Are you ready to take a hard look at your business? Even the best coach can't help you if your business can't deliver quality to enough people at the right price. Sometimes a business simply can't succeed because the market is too small or too hard to reach.

- Are you ready to pay the price? Coaching does not come without a price. You will pay a price in both money and time. You may even realize that you need to invest in new things for your business.

Coaching is not a magic bean. You have to work at success every day. I tell my clients that "success is based on persistency and consistency, not magic." You're ready for coaching if you see coaching as an investment in yourself and your success. Your next challenge is to find the right coach for you.

Choosing the Coach for You

Great coaches, like great chefs and great football players, are rare. And, sometimes, even a great coach is not the right coach for you. Here are some ways to evaluate coaches.

1) Look for a coach who's run a small business. Before I started coaching I built two successful small businesses. I've really "been there and done that" so I know what my clients are going through. I also use coaches myself. The ones that work best for me have small business experience. Small businesses are different from big businesses and you need a coach who understands the special challenges.

2) Look for a coach who's been doing it for a while. My job as a coach is to help you know what to do, but it's also to help you do what you know. It takes time to learn to coach well.

3) Look for a coach who won't nickel and dime you to death. It seems to me that there are two kinds of coaches when it comes to billing. There are coaches who charge you by the minute, hour or session. And there are coaches who are always accessible or available for short conversations between sessions, if needed without piling on extra charges. I find the latter works better for my clients.

4) Look for a coach that you're comfortable with. Successful outcomes demand a productive relationship between you and your coach. It won't work if you feel talked down to or belittled or if you feel like your coach doesn't care about you. If you feel any of those things, look for a different coach.

5) Look for a coach who's picky. The best coaches are selective about the kind of clients they work with. We expect a lot of our clients and we limit the number of clients we work with so we can concentrate on helping each one succeed.

After some soul searching and some research Rosa started working with a small business coach. It wasn't always easy, but together they found ways to help Rosa's business grow and help her reap the benefits of success. They took her business and life to a whole new level.

It can happen for you, too. If you're ready, if you're willing to embrace change and if you're willing to pay the price, a small business coach can help you become an amazing success story.

Business Coach? Here is an article to help you decide if it is right for you

Good Morning,

Well as you can see I am back on the horse of blogging here on blogspot and coming in the new year - just 44 days and we launch the new site we will be hosting our own blog on our website. We will however still continue to use this blog to post the same postings as on our website so you don't have to worry about missing any postings.

Since we are busy getting the website ready time to write blogs is limited so I thought I would post my favorite article from the days reading to share. Here is today's - Enjoy!

10 Ways a Business Coach Can Help Your Business
Written by: Editorial Staff of Resourcenation.com
Source: Resourcenation.com

Many business owners are hesitant to hire a business coach - instead content to try and find all the answers themselves. But for those who make the leap into coaching, there are many important things a Business Coach can help accomplish. Here are ten things you should know about what a Business Coach can bring to the table.

1. A Business Coach can help you develop a marketing plan

Without a well thought out marketing plan, you might be throwing money away on promoting your business without even knowing it. A solid business coach will help you craft a marketing plan and, most importantly, stick to it!

2. A Business Coach can help you find your niche

Business Coaches can help you identify your ideal demographic. And when you find the right customers to focus on, you'll get better responses and in all likelihood, more sales.

3. A Business Coach can help you hire the right people

Hiring is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you don't have experience in the area. A business coach can provide advice on what types of positions you need to add, and identify the qualities of ideal candidates.

4. A Business Coach can help you get organized

Once you hire a business coach, you can likely say goodbye to papers flying everywhere and important notes kept on Diner napkins. If it's one thing all great business coaches have in common, it's the ability to get you organized!

5. A Business Coach can help you make contacts

Even if your business coach is not "connected" with the players in your industry, chances are she will be able to show you how to build a powerful network of your own.

6. A Business Coach can get you to enjoy your business more

Are there stressful days where you forget why you even got into this business in the first place? Business Coaches can help ease some of that stress and reconnect you with the joy you felt when you went out on your own.

7. A Business Coach can help you obtain a more positive mental attitude

By helping you achieve a better positive mental attitude, the business coach will be opening the door for you to explore new markets, take more risks, and bring in additional revenue!

8. Get to know your coach before your work together

When you meet with a professional business coach, get a feel for them personally. With coaching it is important that you make a "connection" on a non-business level as well as a professional one. You are going to be opening up to this person on many levels. So the more comfortable you are with him or her, the more you will be able to accomplish as coach and client!

9. Always be honest with your coach

How can your coach help you if you're not be 100% open about the challenges you are facing. Business Coaches help you succeed, but they are also people who care. Be yourself and don't be afraid to talk about failures and fears.

10. Don't "stand up" your Business Coach

We know you're busy - heck, so is your business coach. But please, don't just blow off a scheduled meeting between the two of you. Besides being expensive, it plants seeds of doubt in everyone's mind about how serious you are about the program.

Something to consider ~ Five ways to save money (layoffs not included)

With the economy doing what it is doing - I read this article this morning and thought it was good to share. The suggestions may or maynot be applicable but the point is it is very important for to be thinking outside of the box when trying to continue business as usual when your sales maybe declining. Wishing you the abundance you deserve. Enjoy!

Source: MSNBC

Five ways to save money (layoffs not included) ~ Some creative ways for companies to save without cutting back on staff
By:Darren Dahl

Are your costs on the rise?

Don't bother answering — it's a rhetorical question. Inflation recently reached a 17-year high, and the economy is still dragging along at a maybe-we're-not-technically- in-a-recession-but- it-sure-feels-like-it pace. Earlier this year, there were lots of optimistic predictions that growth would pick up in the fall, but you don't hear that kind of talk much anymore.

Businesses need to find every possible way to cut costs — while, ideally, avoiding morale-busters like layoffs. Here are five ways companies are doing just that.

1. Send Your Employees Home
Amount saved: $48,000

Earlier this year, David Nilssen went searching for ways to cut down on office space. His Bellevue, Washington, financial services company, Guidant Financial Group, has 110 employees and occupies about 11,000 square feet of space. Despite the real estate downturn, commercial rents are still high in the Bellevue area, thanks in part to neighbors like Microsoft. So Nilssen decided to send some of his employees home. Starting this month, Guidant's 15-person Web publishing team will be working remotely, bringing the total number of telecommuters at the company to 20. Nilssen will supply these employees with laptops and Internet connections -- costs he would incur even if they worked in the office. Guidant has also begun testing out four-day, 40-hour weeks for some administrative employees. The workers will have rotating schedules and share desks to cut back on the need for space.

The arrangement does present some challenges. Nilssen knows he will need to work harder to communicate with his remote staff and to organize events that bring everyone in the office together. But he thinks the savings will make it all worthwhile: This month, he won't renew the lease on 3,000 square feet of office space, which will save the company $48,000 in rent and operations costs next year.

2. Share Your Staff
Amount saved: $24,000 to $30,000

During downturns, many companies lay off administrative workers, HR staff, or others who aren't directly involved in production or sales. Tom Darrow, founder and principal of Talent Connections, a 12-person recruiting firm in Roswell, Georgia, took a different approach. When sales slowed earlier this year, he helped his marketing project manager, who earned an annual salary of around $32,000, find a part-time job with another firm. Now, he pays her to work 10 hours a week while she works another 30 hours somewhere else. "The last thing I want to do is downsize because of its negative effect on morale," says Darrow. "We found a way to bridge the hard times and keep a popular and productive employee on board until the market rebounds."

Dennis Brown also turned to some creative job sharing at Logistic Dynamics, a third-party logistics provider in Amherst, New York. When Brown needed to hire an HR person to manage payroll and benefits for his 25 employees, he teamed up with another company housed in his building. Brown and his neighbor hired a joint HR manager, who splits her time between the two companies, with each shouldering roughly half of her $60,000 salary. "Rather than hire someone we could afford but who might be unqualified, we now have a true professional who meets our needs at half the cost," says Brown.

3. Get Customers to Put Away Their Credit Cards
Amount saved: $49,000

Like many business owners, Matthew Kirk is tired of paying fees on every credit card payment he accepts. ClickSpeed, Kirk's online marketing company, does about $7 million in annual sales, and as of a year ago, about half of that revenue came via credit cards. The company, based in Overland Park, Kansas, pays about 3.2 percent in fees on each transaction, which added up to more than $100,000 last year. "Our customers like the convenience of using their credit cards," Kirk says. "But I thought if we could come up with incentives for our customers to pay us directly, we could both make out."

He knew many of his customers paid with plastic because they earned points they could redeem for cash or airline miles. So Kirk decided to offer similar perks. About a year ago, he told his customers that if they paid their monthly invoices with electronic debits from their checking accounts, he would give them a cash-back bonus equal to 1.25 percent of their payments. Kirk got about 70 percent of his credit card customers, representing $2.5 million in revenue, to make the switch. Now, about 12 months later, even though he has paid out bonuses of some $31,000, Kirk has saved $49,000 by eliminating fees he would have paid to the credit card middlemen.

4. Cut Back on Travel
Amount saved: $115,000

Nearly every company is being squeezed by rising fuel costs, but Midwest Recreational Clearinghouse, based in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, is suffering more than most. It runs an online auction site, CrankyApe.com, that sells repossessed recreational vehicles like snowmobiles. The company must pick up most of those vehicles by truck before prepping them for sale. MRC originally operated out of a single warehouse, which made sense when its vehicles came principally from Minnesota. From 2004 to 2006, as the company expanded, it opened one more warehouse each year. But in 2007, MRC's co-owners, Jay Adams and Brian Livingston, along with their controller, Holly Ward, realized the company could cut travel costs if it opened even more warehouses.

"After we started adding up the costs of airfare, equipment rental, labor time, and fuel, we saw opportunities to save money," says Ward. In the past year, MRC has opened three additional locations, bringing the total to seven. MRC's trucks now make shorter trips and, whenever possible, pick up multiple vehicles on each one. Ward expects to save about $115,000, even after taking into account the expense of leasing and operating the facilities. No surprise, then, that the company is eyeing two more locations for 2009.

5. Try Do-It-Yourself Marketing
Amount saved: $66,000

These days, some of the best marketing is cheap or even free, so think about whether you really need to spend big bucks on marketing consultants or advertising firms. "With sales of $6 million, we can't afford to waste a single dollar on marketing," says Scott Millwood, CEO of CustomerEffective, an IT services company in Greenville, South Carolina, that specializes in installing and maintaining customer relationship management, or CRM, software. Last year, Millwood spent about $85,000 on a consultant who was supposed to improve CustomerEffective's Web site traffic and another $16,000 buying Google ads. Yet the company landed only one deal, worth $5,000, from leads generated online. So Millwood started looking for alternatives.

Last November, Millwood fired the consultant and quit paying for Google AdWords. Instead, he turned his tech staff into bloggers and created a bonus program. Over the past 11 months, he has paid eight of his workers a monthly bonus of up to $2,000 to blog about CRM in their spare time. The results have been promising: His investment in bonuses has been $35,000 so far, and the firm's search-engine rankings have improved dramatically. Qualified prospects, including one from England, have begun to fill up the firm's sales pipeline. Revenue from the new project in England alone could pay for the bonus program. "Now we can put that money we used to give to Google to better work elsewhere," Millwood says.

Today's Article of Interest ~ What a 4-Year-Old Can Teach You About Managing Your Boss

I can't believe it has been 10 weeks since I last posted on this blog. I know I have been busy with the new website - just 46 days until launch day!!! but really 10 weeks - yikes! Okay, I promise to do better starting today. I found the following article which I thought was right on the mark and I wanted to share it with you all. Enjoy ...

Source: MSN

What a 4-Year-Old Can Teach You About Managing Your Boss
Written by: JT O'Donnell

had a revelation last week: My 4-year-old daughter is gifted at managing up.

Does she work? No -- but as I see it, right now, I'm the boss and she's an employee in our family firm. And I've noticed that she's become quite adept at getting what she wants from upper management.

Please know, I'm no pushover. I stand my ground on the important issues like "No popsicles for breakfast" and "Socks are not optional when it's 2 degrees outside." But on the fuzzier stuff, I must concede that she's mastered the art of persuasion.

So, it occurred to me that we could all learn from her expertise. Consider these three techniques as performed by my pint-sized employee:

1. Learn how to say "no" disarmingly
When my daughter doesn't want to do something, she stares deeply in my eyes and with an "I'm so sorry to disappoint you" smile and calmly says, "No thank you." It throws me off every time.

First, the thank-you is so polite, who can criticize that? Second, her body language and facial expressions are soft and nonconfrontational. It's hard to respond negatively to someone who is displaying no anger or tension of their own.

Translation: Employees who learn to engage in conflict without confrontation are appreciated for their calm communications skills by management.

2. When you want something, be a sweet but squeaky wheel
Once my daughter has decided she wants something, here's what she does: First, she asks for your time and tells you it's serious. She sits right down and holds your attention with her eyes. Then, she explains in detail what she wants and why it is so important that she have it. She is energetic and passionate in her description.

If she doesn't get it, she asks why. And if she doesn't like the answer, she says no more and walks away.

But that's not the end of it.

Shortly thereafter, she returns, having thoughtfully pondered my denial and ready to further explain additional reasons for me to change my mind, as well as reasons why my own argument doesn't hold water. Additionally, if I say "no" yet again, she solemnly walks away, waits awhile, and then comes back again and asks for the same thing in a slightly different way, hoping her willingness to compromise will pay off.

At this point, she watches me intently for signs that I am going to either A) cave in and let her win, or B) start to raise my voice and get angry. If it's the latter, she immediately calls it quits -- for the day.

She knows just how far to rock the boat and has no problem waiting for a better time to try again. She doesn't hold a grudge, she stays happy and upbeat, as if nothing has happened. In her mind, it's a minor setback, as opposed to a crushing loss.

This approach always makes me want to be able to say "yes" to her next request because I'm so impressed that she accepted the "no" without making a scene.

Translation: Employees who patiently promote their cause and can accept an unfavorable decision gracefully are respected and valued by management.

3. Use unexpected recognition as a way to score points
My daughter doesn't butter me up. She doesn't gush with compliments in an effort to get what she wants. But every so often, quite randomly, she will say or do something that makes me feel fabulous.

One day, when I was especially frustrated and feeling overwhelmed by all that I had to do, she looked at me with a compassionate face and simply said, "It must be tough to be a mommy."

Ironically, it's technically not even a compliment. She didn't have to lie and say she thought I was a great mommy. I wouldn't expect her to. I'm the rule enforcer -- who likes that? But, she acknowledged the difficulty of my role and that recognition felt wonderful. So much so, that I canceled an appointment and took her out for ice cream.

Translation: Employees who convey their respect and appreciation for the level of responsibility and efforts of management are seen as good team players.

These are just a few of the ways that my 4-year-old manages her boss. Why not try them? With a little practice, you could be managing up with the finesse of a pre-schooler while reaping the rewards bestowed to wise employees.

Vote for us ...

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Where has the time gone?

I can not believe it has been two weeks since my last posting here! Where has the time gone? The summer is not just cruising by ... it is jetting by and I can not get over how much I have actually gotten done.

Over the last six weeks I have been averaging 4 - 6 clients a week and it looks like I will be getting some much needed rest over the next little while. This is perfect timing. It never ceases to amaze me how the universe truly supports my higher purpose and journey in life. The next few weeks looks like I will a little lull in the number of clients coming through my door which affords me the time to revamp my website. I got the bug last week while my best girl friend was here visiting with her son and I happen to be up feeding my own son at 3am one morning.

I signed the contract and paid the fee to have a basic template put together for me which looks like it will be ready for me to start filling in content and configuring the members area. Yes ... you are reading that right. Therapy in Transition will be offering the ability for clients to sign up and access the library of information that is used during their sessions and to exchange information with other individuals as well.

We will also be starting a lending library here in the office where individuals and clients will be able to borrow books which seem to be calling out to them. The exact details of the lending library are still being worked on but it will be awesome when it is ready for our clients.

This is a short one but wishing you all a wonderful day and until next time ... Embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

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Karen Kleinwort
Therapy in Transition LLC
(877) 255-0761

www.therapyintransition.org
info@therapyintransition.org
follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/kmkleinwort
connect with me on Facebook: Karen Kleinwort

Happy 8/8/8 Everyone!

Well it certainly is already been a powerful day! Later this afternoon I will be sending out an email announcing registration is open for the Seraphim Sphere "workshop" style women's group. I am really excited about it and believe it will be very powerful for those who register and go through the four weeks of brainstorming solutions to their everyday business challenges. Visit our website to register and learn more: http://www.therapyintransition.org

I wonderful friend of mine, Laura Rose, sent this out this morning and I thought it was important to share. It focuses on the energies of today, its lengthy but an excellent read so grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! ...

The Numerology of 8 August 2008

Today’s date maybe written as 08/08/08 (which adds to the number 24, which reduces to 6), or the date maybe represented as 08/08/2008 (which adds to the number 26, which reduces to 8).

In numerology, what today reminds us is that when we move into our Heart (the number 6), and feel with every level of our being the Love of Source from within, we are the bridge that brings together Heaven here on Earth.

Within our Heart we remember they were never really separate, the separateness is but an illusion of the 3D physical world. As we move into our Heart space, the Zero Point centre that unites through the Divine Heart of all Creation, we become conscious of our connection with the infinite all.

The 888 Gateway

The 888 Gateway, is an energetic construct, built within our DNA to facilitate an awakening of grand proportions here on Earth. But with all energetic portals/potentials the choice is always ours as to how we use the energy in our moment of Being.

If we take the time to consciously go within our Heart, and BE the bridge that links the ‘As Above, So Below’ we will have awakened and opened more consciously to Be-ing a co-creator of our realities.

When we are asleep, we allow the shadows to control our lives, we fall victim to our circumstances and we are dis-empowered to be active participants in our reality.

The 888 is a wake up call to propel you into your ‘POWER”. Your POWER that takes ownership of your existence, and recognises self-responsibility as the means for humanity to move forward. Thus POWER is synonymous with being able to respond.

The 888 energy thus provides you with the tools to respond, it is then your choice as to whether you use the tools. The choice is always yours.

Interestingly the word POWER in numerology is the number 5 – the halfway point between 1 and 9. Thus when we sit in our POWER we are sitting on the precipice of change (the number 5) – we are empowered to make the choices and co-create. We choose the direction, and we choose to be EMPOWERED.

The 888 gateway is one of many in the years toward 2012. Next year we have the 9/9/9, the following year the 10/10/10 (ie 1/1/1) and then the 11/11/11, culminating just before the Summer/Winter Solstice in 2012 the 12/12/12 which reduces to 3/3/3 - the triple of heart of the three aspects of being.

How to connect with the 888 Gateway

Today, simply take the time out for you. Whether it is 8 seconds, 8 minutes or 8 hours – take the time to feel the 888 energy within your very BEING.

If you miss today, don’t use that as an excuse ! All is perfect in every moment. When your soul awakens to the 888 potential, with intent simply connect with the 888 gateway – it will be there for you when the time is right.

To connect with the 888, take a quiet moment, away from material distractions and focus on your breath.

Take a deep breath in, and breathe out. Take a deep breath in, and breathe out. Then on the third inhalation breathe the breath into your Heart and on the out breath release any tension or fear that you maybe holding onto.

Then once again, breathe the breathe into your Heart, and breathe the breath out again. Continue this breathing process until your breath falls into a rhythmic motion. Feel the breath waves moving in and out – forming a figure 8 loop on every inhalation and exhalation set.

As you focus on your breath, on the rhythmic flow of the figure 8, allow your consciousness to become aware of your Heart centre expanding further on each inhalation and exhalation set.

Become conscious of your Hearts energetic field, its toric field, expanding and becoming so large that it begins to fill the room. Allow it to expand further to surround your home, expand further again to surround your neighbourhood, then to surround your suburb, then to surround your city, then to surround your country.

Continue expanding the energetic field of your Heart Torus until it surrounds the entire planet, and hence merges with the Toric energy field of the Earth.

As you now breathe in and out, your breath is the Earths breath, you are now breathing together as one. As you breath as one, your Heart and the Earths Heart Beat (the Schumann Resonance) are beating together as one. Your 8 Heart/breath energy and the Earths 8 Heart/breath energy are now forming a double Heart – the master number 88.

In this unified state of Breath & Heartbeat with the Earth, now expand your Hearts Toric field out further again, until it surrounds and hence merges with the entire Toric field of the Sun.

As you now breathe in and out, your breath is the Earths breath, is the Suns Breath. Your Heartbeat, is the Earths Heartbeat is the Suns Heartbeat. Your 8 Heart/breath, is the Earths 8 Heart/breath and is the Suns 8 Heart/breath. You have now formed a triple Heart/breathe – a triple Master Number 888.

As your Heart, Earth & Sun breath and beat together in Unity, you are connected through all Suns, in all directions of time and space to the infinite ALL. You are the ALL. You have always been the ALL. You are the One Breath, the One Heart, the One Beat. You are the One expression of all Creation.

In this conscious state of awareness of the Oneness with the All, open up to your full POWER as a soul having a physical experience here on Earth.

In this enlightened state, you acknowledge that you are the Creator, and all the elements of Creation are yours. In this state of Oneness of being, set forth your intent of what you wish to create for yourself and hence all of humanity in this experience during your journey here on Earth.

Use your POWER to bring your grand visions of Love, Peace, Joy & Unity into physical reality, for the highest good of all. Use your POWER to co-create and become the Heaven here on Earth. Heaven has always been here, we have just forgotten to be it.

You have the POWER to let the infinite magnificence of who you are flow unobstructed. Let it flow in waves, and surround you in an infinite Ocean of beauty, which is a reflection of the infinite beauty of you.

© Simone M Matthews 2008
information retrieved from: http://www.universallifetools.com/feature.aspx?sid=131


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Thanks for reading ... until next time remember to embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

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Therapy in Transition
www.therapyintransition.org
info@therapyintransition.org

Daily Affirmations ... coming soon!

With posting yesterday's affirmation I quickly realized that this is definitely something I would like to implement here on the blog as well as on the website. I will also be making these available for people to sign up to our email listing to receive these each morning in their inboxes.

To sign up to receive our eNewsletters click here.

By signing up for our eNewsletters you will be kept up to date with all that is new with both Therapy in Transition and Sponsor a Teacher Program.

If you have a favorite affirmation that you would like to share with us; please email us and we'll be sure to give you the credit well deserved when it is used.

Thanks for reading. Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

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Karen Kleinwort
Therapy in Transition
www.therapyintransition.org
info@therapyintransition.org

A morning affirmation for you ...

Just a quick morning affirmation to share with you ...

"I am an open book in which I receive easily and effortlessly guidance and wisdom."

Thanks for reading. Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen

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Karen Kleinwort
Therapy in Transition LLC
www.therapyintransition.org
info@therapyintransition.org

Falling Awake ... update on book

WOW ... this book is definitely one to put on everyone's "to read" list and if it is already there then move it up to be the next book.

I love the easy reading layout and the different exercises the author has you moving through for self discovering. I have completed four of the chapters - well not quite completed all of the exercises because they are 'thinking' exercises that are definitely not to be rushed through.

David Ellis the author has done an incredible job with his approach and allowing people to feel secure with this type of work.

Completing Chapter 1 gives the reader a sense of accomplishment and certainly a feeling of their goals are attainable.

A definite must. Will offer more updates and feedback as I continue through this amazing journey.

Thanks for reading. Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen

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Karen Kleinwort
Therapy in Transition
www.therapyintransition.org
info@therapyintransition.org

Craniosacral - a bird's eye view introduction

Today I wanted to share a bird's eye view of what Craniosacral is and how it works - sort of. People study this healing modality for years and are still in wonder of it. This blog today is truly just the first outer most layer of what Craniosacral is.

Craniosacral Therapy is a way to influence the contents of the brain and spinal cord by affecting the mobility and tensions of the dural system, using the bones of the cranium and sacrum as handles. The Craniosacral System is a semi-closed hydraulic system contained in a tough waterproof membrane called the Dura Mater which envelops the brain and spinal cord.

During a Craniosacral session there are three elements which the practitioner works through.

The first is the palpation. The practitioner is palpating through approximately nine different areas of the client's body. These are the ankles, shins, thighs, hip bones, ribs, shoulders, and three different aspects of the cranial bones. Depending on the client the practitioner may choose to palpate additional areas. They are palpating four different aspects of the Craniosacral rythym. The symmety, quality, amplitude, and rate per minute.

The second element is the diaphragm releases. The practitioner uses the areas of fiber transverse to release tension and blockages to enable the CSF to move easily throughout the Craniosacral system.

The third element is the actual working with the sacrum and cranial bones to release restrictions and promote internal healing.

Some common questions people ask are:

1) what does the treatment feel like? Well, the easiest way to describe it is to think of the weight of a nickle. The is the 'force' which the practitioner uses while conducting a treatment. The 'feeling' of release is different for every client. Some feel a sense of warmth moving through, a vibration running through and sometimes there is no physical feeling.

2) am I dressed or undressed? This is similar to Reiki, you do not need to get undressed. It is advisable though for you to where light comfortable clothing. Heavy clothes like jeans and belts can inhibit the practitioner from doing their 'job' of facilitating your healing process.

3) how often do I need to see a practitioner? This is again individual and depending on the individual is might be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or semi-annually. I always recommend my clients do a daily or weekly check in with their bodies. How are they feeling on a scale of 1 - 10? When their bodies tell them it is time for another treatments then schedule an appointment.

You can learn more about Craniosacral by visiting our website and you can also visit the Upledger Institute's website.

Thanks for reading. Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

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Karen Kleinwort
Therapy in Transition LLC
www.therapyintransition.org
info@therapyintransition.org