Breakfast: Kick Start Your Day

You must have heard that a good, healthy breakfast in the morning can keep you alert and active throughout the day. Children do better in school and our physical health improves as well, as it is a great way to start the day in a state of nurturing ourselves in a positive manner. But the vital question that begs to be asked is, “What exactly does this healthy breakfast consist of?” The following are some tried and tested suggestions.

Balance between fats, protein and carbohydrates is critical, so when choosing what to eat ensure your breakfast does not contain more than one element from among oil, sweets and fats—especially if you are trying to lose weight. When choosing a fat element, stick to nuts, almonds, flaxseeds or other food containing Omega-3 fatty acids. These acids also carry EFA that can help improve your mental alertness and even IQ.

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Debt v. Equity Financing

When entrepreneurs begin to think about either going into business for themselves or taking their business to the next level, the financial and money concerns become the main challenge to address and/or overcome.

Debt and equity are the two main financing options from which most businesses can choose. Debt financing in simple terms means borrowing funds for the business for a fixed period of time at an interest rate pre-determined at the time of borrowing. Equity financing, on the other hand, refers to the capital raised for a company by selling common stock to individual or institutional investors. It leads to sharing of ownership in the business, depending on the amount invested. The following is a brief introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of both debt financing and equity financing.

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EFT and the Law of Attraction

We have discussed previously how our limiting beliefs and emotional blocks prevent the law of attraction from working. Getting these beliefs and blocks out of our system, however, is something with which most of us get stuck. If you are in a similar situation as well, you may find EFT useful.

EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique, is a simple yet effective healing process that can help you release negative beliefs and blocks from your system. The philosophy behind EFT is that our bodies contain pathways through which the life force energy flows; negative emotions create blocks in these pathways, thus interfering with free flow of the life force energy. EFT involves tapping on these pathways while focusing on the negative beliefs we want to release. I know this exercise sounds too simplistic to be effective, but it has managed to produce amazing results for many people who have tried it.

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Plant Growth and Moon Phases

Even though as I am writing this we are nearing the end of the year, it is the time at which most gardeners begin to think about the upcoming year and what seeds they would like to plant in early spring. There are many cultures in different parts of the world that share common beliefs about the effect of moon phases on the growth of plants. Farmers in several remote rural areas still swear by moon phases. It is believed that the moon’s gravitational force, lunar light as well as the zodiac sign that the moon is in all play a crucial role in plant development.

To support that inner gardener in you, here are few of those lunar gardening/planting beliefs to help you prepare for your spring planting.

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Tai Chi and Your Health

Tai Chi is a popular form of exercise based on the principles of martial arts. I personally do not practice Tai Chi, but I have always been intrigued by it. It has been recommended by a few health consultants for me to pick up, but like most people it is finding the time and energy to find space in my calendar. I hope one day to bring it up on my priority list. In my reading and interest level, I thought it would be interesting to share what I do know about Tai Chi with you in hopes that maybe through my writing and sharing I may one day get closer to embracing this practice.

What I have learned is that Tai Chi combines breathing and relaxation techniques with low-impact physical movements. Its roots can be traced to both the ancient Indian practice of yoga and a martial arts-like technique practiced by the Taoist monk Chang Sang Feng in ancient China.

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Human Resources: Employee Engagement

Employees are the key differentiating factor in any organisation. After all, they are often the ones who are instrumental in giving an organization an edge over its competitors. It is therefore essential for HR departments to ensure employees stay fully committed and motivated while performing their responsibilities; in other words, they must use effective Employee Engagement strategies.

Five Categories of Employee Engagement
Employee Engagement is a measure of how emotionally attached employees are to their organization and how passionate they are about their job and responsibilities. According to HR Anexi’s survey, employees tend to fall into one of the following five categories in terms of their engagement.

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Perfect Moment Monday: Season of Joy

My Perfect Moment for this week …

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I am not sure if it is all the glittery lights hanging from roof tops, the increased level of “happiness” in people, or the idea of buying and wrapping gifts to give to loved ones and those who’ve made a difference. This past week was filled with moments of purely enjoying the season of giving.

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Christmas and Fuel Plans

The holiday season is now in full swing, and for those of us who love to bake and/or cook, you know this is the season in which you are in your glory. For the rest of us, we are challenged not to overindulge or partake in all the food lovingly shared with us by those in our lives. Whether it is home-baked goods brought into the office or sweets offered while visiting, the temptation is all around. I think for most people this is NOT the season for crash diets, restricted food intake or any other thoughts about reducing our weight; but it is the season for reasonable moderation and a daily check-in with your fuel plans.

If you are in the midst of manifesting a more appropriate physical body weight, then let’s take a few minutes to examine what it means to approach the notion of weight loss during the holiday season and how you still need to understand how weight loss needs to be a gradual process. Any technique or fuel plan (Remember, we changed the reference from “diet” to “fuel.”) that promises near-instant results is usually either a sham or extremely harmful for your health. During this season it can be even more challenging; therefore, your chances…

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Social Networking and Business Expansion

Most sales and marketing articles these days will tell you to take advantage of social networking sites in order to expand your business. While this advice is great, an important question that remains unanswered in most How-To articles is just how can you use social networking websites to your advantage? The answer lies in understanding social networking etiquette and is something I personally continue to revisit to refine my own approaches as an individual in business and for my overall business.

We all know social networking websites are an excellent way to make new contacts and keep in touch with old ones. However, most people tend get put off if you use the medium to blatantly promote a product or service. A social networking marketing campaign therefore has to be carefully drafted so it doesn’t look like you are on the site only to serve your business interests. This becomes a fine balancing act, and as a business owner I need to know when enough is enough or when I need to push through. If you are uncertain where that fine line is for you and your business, then consulting with a social networking expert is a great place to begin.

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Napoleon Hill

All of us yearn for success. We all want to be rich and fulfill our ambitions, but very few of us know what road map to follow in order to reach that coveted destination. Napoleon Hill not only discovered this road map, but he also shared it through his books and seminars.

Napoleon Hill (Oct. 26, 1883-Nov. 8, 1970) was perhaps among the first American author to write about the intricate connection between one’s personal beliefs and success. He explained how having a firm set of beliefs and values was an essential component of success, while negative emotions like fear, selfishness, anger, etc., only bred failure. His book Think and Grow Rich, in which he discusses his own observations and secrets about success, is the one of the best-selling books of all time.

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Perfect Moment Monday: On Track for the Holidays

My Perfect Moment for this week involved taking my son on the Oregon Holiday Express train. He was over the moon with excitement as we were walking up to the steam train.

A good friend of mine organized a group of us to go, and it was one of the best mornings this year—at least, that is what my son would say if you asked. We know he likes Thomas the Train and enjoys playing with his train set, but we definitely knew Saturday morning just how much he liked trains.

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Sixth Chakra and Intuition

According to yogic philosophy, the sixth chakra (or the third eye, as it is commonly called) connects us to our higher self. Our intuitive powers are based on whether or not this chakra is functioning properly. In simple terms, if the third eye chakra is blocked or restricted, our intuitive voice gets muffled.

To balance this chakra you can use yogic, crystal therapy, hypnosis, aroma therapy, simple meditation techniques and/or positive affirmations.

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Decoding Stem Cell Treatments

We’ve all heard about the "miracle" of stem cells and we all are aware of the controversy behind these treatments. We have been told and for some believe and know it is the future of medicine. We are even aware of how the treatment has given hope to several suffering from life threatening diseases like leukaemia, cancer and blood disorders. But what exactly does this treatment entail? How many claims about the treatment’s potential are actually true? Well, here are some facts that may help you gain a better understanding of stem cell treatments.

We’ve all been touched by someone who has gone through the painful journey of cancer and as such I encourage you to be conducting your own reading and research to allow you to come to your own conclusion with regard to your personal view of stem cell treatments. This article is just one perspective based on one person’s research and it’s intention is to provide you a glimpse at some of the facts that are out there.

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Perfect Moment Monday: Freedom Isn’t Free

My Perfect Moment for this week was having the freedom to spend Thanksgiving not only in a state of gratitude but in my home with my son and husband.

For some this may come as a given, and for others it might be overstating the obvious. But for more than just a few, it’s a luxury they wish they could be experiencing.

I say this because a friend of ours has been deployed to Iraq. His daughter is the same age as my son, and he will be gone for almost 15 months. Even though Thanksgiving Day was spent hanging out and literally doing nothing but…

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The Most Common Law of Attractions Myths

There is something devilishly addictive of invoking the Law of Attraction. We take the time to call upon this law when it seems to be convenient for us in our lives; we read and begin to immediately apply what we just learned to support us even further to “manifest our desires.” And, well, our actions just may be contradicting what we were doing before to invoke this amazing law. Confused? Yes, many of us are when we think of the principles of the Law of Attraction. Despite everything that’s been written and aired about the law of attraction, a lot of people still do not understand its true philosophy and meaning because of the many contradictions surrounding it. The following are some the most common ones I’ve come across.

Myth 1: The law of attraction works only with conscious thought
This statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Your subconscious thoughts, feelings and actions all activate the law of attraction. Therefore, working on yourself on a superficial level won’t do you much good. If you want the law of attraction to work for you, you have to purge negative and limiting beliefs from your system completely while stepping into action. The key is action!

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Manpower Planning

Irrespective of the size of your organizations, you must make staffing decisions carefully. After all, poor manpower planning results in either overstaffing or understaffing—both of which can act as major roadblocks in an organization’s growth.

Understaffing often results in unnecessary delays, unproductive hours, unsatisfied customers, unfilled orders, and last but by no means least: uncontainable losses! On the contrary, overstaffing leads to additional and pointless cost burdens and diminishes the competitive advantage and efficiency of the business. To add to these problems, eliminating extra staff can lead to legal complications and extra costs in terms of compensation.

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Perfect Moment Monday: New Space

My Perfect Moment for this week…

Well, actually the last few weeks, has been heading into my new office.

Beginning Nov. 1, 2010, I was offered an opportunity to share an office space with a good friend of mine. It is only two and one-half days a week, but it is a start for creating a full-time space for me to meet with my clients that is not located in my home.

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Foods that Support Sex Appeal

Yes, you heard it right: foods can indeed add to your sex appeal. How, you may ask? The fact is, eating foods rich in vitamins C, A and E, calcium, iron and antioxidants, etc., can make you look and feel good about yourself. It’s a well-known fact that when you feel confident about your appearance, you feel sexy!

The following is a list of foods that are easily available.

Nonfat yogurt Yogurt is rich in vitamin A and calcium, both nutrients essential for the health of your skin, bones and hair. You may also add fruits to it and improve both its taste and nutritional value.

Dark Chocolate Chocolate has always been associated with sex appeal, but do you know why? Dark chocolate apparently contains phytochemicals that improve blood flow to all parts of your body, including the brain and the sexual organs.

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Downside of Social Media?

A tool is as good as its user; that rule applies to social media as well. Though social media is a wonderful and relatively cost-effective marketing tool, it does have a few downsides. Through my experience I have come to realize there are always two sides to every thing, every experience and every exchange. Social media is definitely not an exception to the rule, and the following ideas are just a few alternative perspectives that have come to mind while I have been exploring the wide world of social media.

Time is Money, Honey
Building your social networking pages and writing articles and blogs takes a lot of time and effort. Your business’s brand value depends largely on the kind of content you create. False information, tall and baseless claims, or overtly promotional language can backfire on your business. Therefore, you must use social media with great care. When creating your content, remember it may be the first impression for some and for another confirmation of your brand and message. If you cut corners on the creation process of your message, it may cost you more than just the time it took to create it.

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Supernatural Archangels: An Introduction

I have been on a personal growth journey most of my life but consciously walking a path of being open to learning more about all there is with regard to what makes me, well, me. I have learned that I definitely love Sci-Fi and shows that push the envelope when it comes to the good and evil fight. For the last numerous years Supernatural has been a favorite in our household. If you don’t watch, that is all right since the premise is just based on two brothers fighting all that is “evil” in the supernatural world. Over the last three seasons they have had the support of an Archangel name Castiel. I’ll let you Google to learn more but the television show, but it definitely keeps me on my toes with regard to the Angelic realm and who is who.

We know angelic beings are divine entities that can help us face our challenges in life if we seek them out. Based on differing religions and beliefs, the Great Archangels are not all known by the same name, nor are they consistent in naming or recognition—which can add to the confusion. The following is a brief introduction to the Great Archangels to support you as you move forward in your own personal journey. Remember, calling on the support of these great beings is not a sign of weakness, nor does it mean you have immediately changed your belief system. Rather, it means you are truly open to receiving support at this particular time in your life.

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Stress and Spirituality

No one likes stress, but the fact is that it exists and a certain amount of stress is important to our bodies being able to respond properly. That doesn’t mean we need to allow stress to build to a level that is unhealthy, so it is therefore important we learn how to manage it. All of us seek different ways to keep stress as far away from our lives as possible; some techniques work well and some don’t.

More often than not, stress-busting techniques that fail are the ones that focus on eliminating stress or suppressing it. The truth is that stress is an unavoidable side effect of living, and to an extent it is even necessary. Your focus needs to therefore be on reducing your stress to a manageable level.

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Perfect Moment Monday: Family Forever

My Perfect Moment for this week …

…was spending my birthday with my two special guys: my husband and son.

It wasn’t as though we did anything super special, or that it was a day filled with going here, there or anywhere. We spent the day, just the three of us, hanging out and spending some wonderful quality time as a family—which of course includes our two dogs.

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Common Law of Attraction Misconceptions

Have you been able to make the law of attraction work for you? Do you often wonder if you are doing something wrong? Are you unable to attract what you want in your life despite doing everything “right”? Think again, as you may just have fallen to one of the following common misconceptions.

Believing only positive thinking will get you the goods
The law of attraction is not just about thinking about all you want from life; rather, to invoke the law you have to believe with all your heart that you deserve the best and take small steps to work toward your goal. Positive thinking is a great principle by which to live, but following this principle to the exclusion of everything else can’t do you much good. The key: you need to be in action!

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The Whys and Hows of Corporate Coaching

As a small business coach I work with different types of clients. There are those who are working for someone else but hold the desire to start their own business, as well as those who have been in business for a few years but are seeking to move their business to the next level. An increasing trend in both small and large businesses is the human resources department acknowledging the value of coaching for employees, which then in turn supports a stronger bottom line for the business.

Before hiring a corporate coach for your employees, it would be a good idea to gain a basic understanding of corporate coaching concepts and techniques. The knowledge of how coaching works and what it can help you achieve will make it easier for you to:

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Zig Ziglar Biography

This month I wanted to share with you a brief introduction to a man who definitely walks his talk. Zig Ziglar is one of those individuals whom if you ever needed an individual to keep you motivated for owning your truth while embracing all life has to offer, then he is one you want to keep on your motivational radar. From a sales expert to a popular self-help and motivational author, Ziglar has had one incredible journey. Ziglar is a born-again Christian and places immense faith in God. His belief in Christianity is strongly reflected in most of his works. However, what makes Ziglar’s teachings unique is that he combines his religious beliefs with the philosophy of positive thinking.

The following are some of his famous quotes that speak volumes about the man, his teachings and beliefs:

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Colors: Healing, Inspiration & More!

Colors have been used both for healing and influencing people’s moods since ancient times. Light/chromo therapy is a popular alternative healing technique that uses colors for healing. The underlying belief of this therapy is that colors have the power to influence our moods.

Though psychologists believe in the power of colors as well, they are largely skeptical about the therapeutic effects of color. Also, several research studies have suggested the affect of colors on one’s mood may be only temporary. Some studies, in fact, also attribute the affects of color-therapy to what is called the placebo effect; i.e., we believe a certain color affects us because we already associate it with some pre-determined characteristics.

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Weight Loss and Metabolism

All of us envy those lucky souls who get to gorge on food without putting on any or very little weight! Ever wondered why it happens? The answer lies in the magic word “Metabolism”! A person’s metabolic rate seems to decide how difficult or easy it is for her (and you) to lose or gain weight. Obviously, metabolic rates differ from person to person. Very simply put, the metabolic rate refers to the amount of calories your body manages to burn in a day’s time.

First, before I continue I am sure you are wondering why the focus on your physical weight so much this month, and the answer is the holidays are right around the corner. I want to empower you to be able to make educated, smart and healthy decisions as you move through these next eight to nine weeks.

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HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and Weight Loss

One of the more controversial approaches to stopping the weight gain associated with aging is the introduction of HGH, or Human Growth Hormone. Your body’s natural production of HGH reduces as you age. The hormone affects almost every part of our body and regulates necessary functions such as cellular growth, muscle building and bone density. It is in fact because of the decline in natural production of HGH that we develop a lot of age-related problems, including obesity.

This means if the body can get more HGH through supplements or artificially, it may result in weight loss. However, HGH therapy is extremely expensive and not everyone can afford it. It is therefore a good idea to make lifestyle changes that can lead to greater natural production of HGH in the body in order to stay healthy and fit. I wanted to share with you a few of those tips to hopefully support you in the wonders of aging.

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Financing and Funding: Venture Capital

You have a great business idea, have worked on the business blueprint and done a feasibility check, and have forecast that the business possesses enormous potential for making large profits! In short, everything is in place and the only thing stopping you from taking the plunge is lack of avenues for raising funds.

To provide financial support to such business firms and promising entrepreneurial abilities, the concept of venture capital emerged. Venture Capital is a significant source of finance for those small and mid-sized firms in their early-stages that nevertheless exhibit high potential in terms of future growth and profitability.

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Dreaming in Color?

Over the last year I have introduced different concepts, theories and meanings that can come from your dreams. One we’ve not covered is decoding the meaning of colors in your dreams; that is, understanding some basic color indicators can help you delve deeper into the meaning of your dream and how it applies to you.

Colors have a lot of symbolic and hidden meanings; if a particular color stands out in your dream, it means your subconscious is trying to communicate an important message. The following is a list of some of the most common colors and their general interpretations.

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Massage Therapy and Digestion

Think “body massage” and words like “soothing,” “relaxing” and “pure indulgence” likely come to mind right. The fact, however, is a body massage actually goes far beyond indulgence into the realm of therapies. Massage improves blood circulation in the body, and therein lie most of its benefits. The therapy has been used for several centuries to cure various ailments in the body and is today a popular alternative healing technique.

Apart from the conventional uses like relieving muscular pain, calming the nervous system, reducing tension and stress, etc., the therapy also has its uses in improving one’s digestion. Here’s how it works.

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LOA and Your Income

Everyone wants to increase his income, and if the law of attraction can help, why not? The problem is that while most people have the desire to earn more money and theoretical knowledge of the law of attraction, they do not know how to apply it to their own personal situation to support a positive outcome.

I thought I would share a simple step-by-step action plan that may help you increase your income by using this natural law. Remember, for the Law of Attraction to be “activated” you need to be in action and taking steps to positively support your desired outcome.

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Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

To grow in life you need to embrace and accept change constantly. The problem is most of us agree with this statement in principle, but when it comes to following it we find it difficult to get out of our comfort zone and break our established routine.

A practical example will perhaps explain my point better. Let’s say you’ve been working in a firm for five years, know everyone at your work place and have built several good personal and professional relationships. You’re good at your work and have established a routine you can follow with your eyes closed. The situation sounds comfortable, right? But the vital question here is “Are you challenging yourself enough to deliver your best constantly?”

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Rich Dad, Poor Dad: Which Are You?

Recently I was introduced to a book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Kiyosaki is a revered financial guru and is well known not just for his innovative financial philosophies but also the entertaining way in which he presents them. The man owes his popularity to his ready wit, straightforward approach, out-of-the-box ideas and brilliant finance theories. The following list contains a few of his quotes I consider my favorites; they will also give you an idea of what he is all about…

“The poor, the unsuccessful, the unhappy, the unhealthy are the ones who use the word tomorrow the most.”
“I have a problem with too much money. I can't reinvest it fast enough, and because I reinvest it, more money comes in. Yes, the rich do get richer.”


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Test Your Intuition

You may have come across several articles, blogs and videos telling you to trust your intuition, but how exactly do you start trusting it if you aren’t even sure if such a thing as intuition exists? The answer lies in experimenting on your own and figuring out just how strong your intuitive powers are. I thought I would share a few simple “tests” or “experiments” to help you increase the trust you have in your own inner voice and wisdom.

Coin Flipping
This really is one of the simplest ways to build trust in your intuition. Flip a coin and try to guess its result. Go by your gut feeling and make a note of all the times you were right as well as…

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Client Referral Systems

Any small business owner worth his salt will tell you word of mouth publicity is one of the best ways for securing more business. Client referral systems are based on this very thought. Generally, when a satisfied client refers your name to someone chances are good the person will end up becoming your client as well.

However, you can’t depend only on the whims of clients to refer you to their friends. To secure referrals you may have to offer your clients incentives. A lot of businesses successfully use an incentive-based system to get more client referrals. The following are five of the most recommended and used client referral incentive programs or techniques currently being used.

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Perfect Moment Monday: The Simplest Things

My Perfect Moment for this week …

…was quite simply becoming conscious of full my life has become.

The moment was Saturday evening. My husband and I were sitting on the couch with our two year old sitting between us. On my left was our dog Aine, curled up with her head on my lap. And on my husband’s right…

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Pregnant? Upset Stomach?

An upset stomach is believed to be one of the first signs of pregnancy. The exact cause behind this side effect of pregnancy is not known; however, many researchers believe pregnant women experience an upset stomach because of the sudden hormonal changes. Another reason attributed to this is the acid levels in the stomach increase as digestion slows down during pregnancy.

Nausea (a side effect of pregnancy) is also believed to trigger of an upset stomach as well. Constipation is yet another side effect women experience. With that said, I personally did not enjoy these side effects when pregnant with my son, for which I am grateful. But I did receive quite a few recommendations and tips about how to offset these side effects that I think might be helpful for those who are pregnant, may become pregnant or know someone who is.

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Social Entrepreneurship: What Is It?

Is profit the sole focus of entrepreneurship? Is maximizing returns the only thing that matters? If we answer these questions with a yes, we would not be doing justice to a whole class of social entrepreneurs—people devoted to bringing social change through their business ventures.

Social entrepreneurs are in the business of touching lives. Such individuals do not believe addressing social issues is the responsibility of the government and large corporate houses alone; they take it upon themselves to champion the cause in which they believe. Social entrepreneurs go beyond philanthropy to bring radical changes in their society and put forth new and sustainable models of businesses with a cause.

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Breast Cancer: One Degree of Separation

I sat down to write a blog about breast cancer, not really sure why since I know so many people who are first-hand experts and I am fortunate enough to be at arm’s length and hold an inexperienced and innocent view. I truly believe there is not one thing that happens on this earth that there is not a higher reason to support the experience, but when it comes to the C word I often wonder what in God’s name is a good enough or high enough reason for anyone to experience cancer. And then I always pose the question, “Isn’t there another way to learn the same lesson or experience the same emotional learning opportunity?”

My very first experience with breast cancer came just two months after moving to California from Vancouver, British Columbia. One of my closest friends, Roberta (Bobbi) Stackhouse, called me with the news she had found a lump while in the shower. I was 28, she was 34, and it was September 1997. When we hung up the phone I cried: not because I felt bad, but because I had not one clue about breast cancer or what she might have to go through in the coming months. From my perspective, my fears of being of “uneducated” and “ignorant” had come true.

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Pet Therapy and Depression

That animals have cathartic effect on humanity is more than just a statement expressing the belief of doting pet owners across the world. Pets are being increasingly used by psychiatrists and psychotherapists to help patients recover from depression. The reason is simple: pets, with their almost childlike antics and the ability to respond freely to the love and affection shown to them, offer several emotional and social benefits to the humans who seek their company.

There is no coincidence behind what we seek as humans and what animals provide; in previous writing we’ve touched on the importance of Pet Therapy and how one might consider embarking on having his animal become a certified therapy dog, but today we would like to lift the veil of awareness with regard to how the therapy actually works through four very specific interactions.

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Perfect Moment Monday: Flying High

My Perfect Moment for this week…

Today my Perfect Moment is actually happening on a Monday! My father arrived for a visit from Canada last week, and today he and I took my son Caden to Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.

Going to the Evergreen Museum is a treat all by itself (It's even home to the internationally known Spruce Goose!) since it's full of stories about history and heroics....

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Secrets about Meditation

I’ve written about meditation before and how it is a simple exercise, how to easily begin fitting it into your daily life, and the many benefits it offers, Yet there are lots of misconceptions and myths surrounding it. I thought I would take some time today to share with you a few of these secrets before you start or get too far down the enlightening and invigorating path of meditation. Having a clear understanding of its concepts will allow you to travel a little easier. The following are five of the common meditation facts of which people may be unaware.

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The Science of Intuition

Instinct, gut feeling, intuition: all of us have had moments when a hunch has proved correct, only to wonder later whether it really was intuitive brilliance on our part or just a lucky coincidence. After all, intuition is a just “acquisition of knowledge without using rational reasoning and logic,” right? Perhaps not!

If certain research studies are to be believed, intuition is probably an amalgamation of past data, increased sense of observations and a skill to look beyond the obvious and the reality.

According to research, intuition really is the result of our brain’s information processing mechanism. Several other research studies have also put forward similar theories.

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Wayne Dyer: LOA Godfather?

There are a lot of talk shows, books, videos and “gurus” focusing on the Law of Attraction, but there is one man who just might be considered or referred to as the “Godfather of LOA.” Wayne Dyer gave the world undying and unparalleled hope when he put forth the Law of Attraction, which argues that "if you really want something and truly believe it's possible, you'll get it."

Dyer has touched many lives, as he is so much more than just a good author. He has built his own life on the theories in which he believes. Dyer served in the United States Navy from 1958-1962 and pursued an academic career thereafter. He published several journals, ran a successful private therapy practice and took lecture at St. John’s on positive thinking and motivational speaking techniques. These lectures brought him a lot of popularity. The turning point in his career, however, came when he published his first book, Erroneous Zones.

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Perfect Moment Monday: Of RVs and Memories

My Perfect Moment for this week…

This past week I was fortunate enough to have my best friend visiting from Vancouver, BC. She and her nine-year-old son spent the week camping with us in Pacific City, OR. Beautiful!

We were able to spend a lot of time chatting, sharing stories and watching our two boys playing and interacting—similar to what we could expect two siblings to be doing. The weather was wonderful, with only one day of rain. For us, fortune was staying in an RV and having a portable DVD player along with GameBoys for each.

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Aromatherapy Dos & Don’ts

New to Aromatherapy? Confused by the sheer number oils and their uses? Feeling overwhelmed with too much information? So was I. Then I took an online course offered through Tito’s Learning Center and was given a basic list of Dos and Don’ts by the instructor, Doris Payne. It has definitely helped me, and I wanted to share some of this new-found knowledge. My intention is that this list of Aromatherapy Do’s and Don’ts will make your journey into this fragrant world simpler.

Don’t Buy Perfumed Oils
They do not offer the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. If you want to practice Aromatherapy or simply want to use oil for its healing powers, make sure you buy only authentic, pure grade essential oils. They will be more expensive but the results will be worth it.

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Perfect Moment Monday: Golf Tourney "Fore" a Good Cause

My Perfect Moment for this week …

Well, it seems I missed sharing my Perfect Moment this week—but that does not mean there weren’t any. Definitely there was excitement building up to last Friday’s Blue Butterfly Campaign fundraiser golf tournament. The power of people coming together to help raise funds for research was enough to carry over be two perfect moments of focus.

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Stand Tall or Stay Flat?

As an entrepreneur, what was the first organizational decision you made? Most likely it was accounting or something to do with internal procedures, or maybe it was something to do with the product or service you were going to be selling. If you are like most small businesses, one of the distant decisions you rarely think about when you go into business is how you’re going to structure your business as it grows—organizationally, that is.

Choosing your organizational structure is a strategic decision that involves a careful evaluation of your options, but long before this decision you need to believe that what you are creating will grow and ultimately become its own entity; therefore, it needs to have its own family tree. This article will help you with the visualization of two of these main organizational hierarchical structures.

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Is Your Canine Best Friend a Therapist?

When I adopted Tito, never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate he would become the type of dog suited to support others in transitions, challenges and personal journeys. But slowly, after he out grew his puppy, teenage and young adult stages and matured, his true inner beauty and kind heart emerged. Now, looking at my dogs Aine and Tucker I can see their inner healers boldly shining. Aine, the gentle soul, was born ready to be a Pet Therapist and will be able to officially wear her vest by the end of August 2010, whereas Tucker will take a few years to mature before stepping into this roll. But I’m patient!

When you look at your dog, do see “just” a dog or do you see a healer? If you want to spread some happiness through your friendly and loving pet, then it truly begins with you. Your intention and attitude toward your dogs will empower them to expose this healing side sooner rather than later (or, sadly, never).

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Adolescence: What I Need to Know

As a mother of a toddler with friends in the adolescence stage, I often wonder what is in store for me. Adolescence is the period from 10 to 20 years of age, and this period is rightly known as a transformational period as one progresses from childhood to adulthood. As a parent I would tend to describe this phase of my child’s life as difficult, overwhelming and stressful. A little knowledge of adolescent psychology might, however, make this period easier—not just me but for you and your child. This article will focus on only two elements an adolescent might go through, and as with any transitional period in a person’s life each individual will experience something unique to himself.

Sexual Awakening
The most important aspect of adolescent psychology is perhaps the sexual awakening that accompanies this phase. A lot of parents still find it difficult to deal with the subject. However, the fact is that consciousness of one’s own sexuality and a growing interest in the opposite sex is but a natural biological aspect of this phase. It had been suggested to me—long before becoming a parent—that in order to ensure your child gets the right start regarding having a healthy outlook on sex, sexual interaction, and what is truth versus fable, it is wise to have a copy of a book on sex on the book shelf—and, yes readily available for them to thumb through.

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Interaction with Your Animal Totems

As a young child I always loved animals; dogs of course were my favorite, but any animal really fascinated me. This didn’t mean I wasn’t cautious or timid of certain animals, but I did have a healthy respect for them. There were times I thought I could understand them, but I always wrote it off as my being silly. Over time, though, I’ve come to realize that actually each interaction held a special gift—and if I was open enough to receiving it, I would. During my personal growth journey I’ve learned a little about animal totems and how they can be wonderful guides in your journey toward spiritual enlightenment. The following are six different approaches to learning how animals can support us and how we can, in turn, actually seek their guidance when we know how to interact with them. In previous blogs I’ve shared my experience of learning how to discern which animals are part of your totem, so this blog will focus on the available modalities we can use.

Totem Oracle Cards
There are several oracle cards available on the market to help you communicate with your totems. In most such decks each card has a picture of an animal and a small description of what the card means. The decks usually come with a booklet that contains detailed descriptions as well as spread suggestions.

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Importance of HR Accounting

There is no undermining the value of Human Resource in any organisation. To quote Narayan Murthy founder of the IT giant Infosys, “My assets are not the buildings, the business or foreign contact. My assets walk out of the gate every evening and I wait for them to come back to me the next morning.”

Human Resource is the greatest asset of any organization, and like any other asset you need to account for it. This is particularly true in service-based organizations where instead of a tangible product there’s an intangible product (i.e., service to offer), and hence the conduct and approach of the employees assumes greater importance. Human Resource Accounting (HR Accounting) may be a new term for a lot of small businesses since most view their employees as assets but forget that there is a real tangible cost associated with obtaining these assets and well as maintaining the assets to ensure a long and loyal life.

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