This blog is dedicated to my best friend whom I lost to bone cancer on May 18, 2006 and is the inspiration behind - Therapy in Transition.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Happiest Time of the Year…Or Is It?
We've all heard the Christmas song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams. Being that the holidays are in full swing, I'm sure it's one of many you'll hear over and over again, whether on the radio while you're driving or in the shopping mall looking for last-minute gifts. The song sticks with you, and you can't get it out of your head—even when you seem to be overstressed and in a bah humbug mood.
No judgment with regard to the mood, Christmas and the holiday season as a whole are stressful. It's also an emotionally challenging time for people. With the current economic situation it can be downright depressing, even for those who have a great deal for which to be grateful.
Depression hits us when we least expect it, and the holidays can trigger some deeply rooted emotions which we've yet to deal with, admit to or let go of. A few people have good external reasons to be depressed. Let me share an example: a true story that was shared with me this morning.
A family with four young children just used its savings to move from a two-bedroom apartment into a four-bedroom, two-bath apartment with the intention that they can provide a more comfortable living situation for the children. It's nothing extravagant and both parents are employed, so the leap of faith was taken.
The wife left to spend the last few days with her dying brother. She came home grateful for what she had, which wasn't much. But she had her children, husband and job. Within a week of returning and moving into their new apartment, both she and her husband lost their jobs. Now, just a few weeks before Christmas, they have no income and virtually no savings, and they're looking at not being able to make the rent at the first of the month.
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Holiday Spirit and Your Stress
There is not a more stressful time than the holidays. And, well, I can't name one person who actually enjoys the stress associated with holidays. The stress of dealing with family, the politics that comes with buying the right gift—or worse, making the decision not to buy the gift at all! Let's not even mention the stress of dealing with other stressed out holiday shoppers all vying for the "last" of whatever is the hot ticket item.
Fortunately, in this age of technology the shopping is not so bad as it once was; with a few clicks of a mouse, you can purchase your much-needed item, have it shipped to you, and all that's left is the wrapping. I'll admit, I did a lot more online shopping this Christmas than for Christmases past, and I liked it.
The truth about stress is that a particular amount of stress or anxiety is healthy. As a Crisis Coach I deal with clients who are moving through not just this heightened holiday stress level that comes but once a year—which, by the way, we are more emotionally, physically and psychologically ready for than we might realize since we "know" about the upcoming stress and the triggers that get our blood boiling: triggers like line cutters, not getting the "good" parking spot, or missing the extra 20% discount by an hour.
Continue reading here.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Be Paid Your Worth in 3 Easy Steps!
Business is competitive. Period. You go into business to make money and be your own boss: to set your own schedule and work with only those clients who are in alignment with your philosophy.
Because of the high level of competitiveness, there is a chance in the beginning you are going to charge less than your closest competitors; and in the beginning, this is for most of you the best decision. You need to get the doors open and buyers in. But for how long do you continue to charge a fee that is a "steal"?
Yes, the economy isn't the greatest, and people still have their purse strings tightened. But those who are in need of your goods or services are ready to jump on board with you and invest the fees necessary. You know what sets you apart from your competitors, and the key to convincing a client or customer to choose you is what you offer that no one else does.
Ideally you want to charge a fee that can withstand whatever the current market will bear but still be considered a good deal. So what stops you from establishing a fair market value for your services and provide your knowledge for less than what it's worth? Simply stated: Your confidence is impacting your ability to be paid your worth!
Continue reading here.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Are You Financially Balanced?
Is your business growing? Or has it stagnated during these last few years due to the economic downturn? Like most of us who own their own business, going to the next level is always a big step: a step that takes more than just courage, optimism and a great concept.
It also takes money. Purse strings are tight, and to reach out and ask for financial help can be more than a little scary. The big question is what type of financial help you want—I mean, other than just asking for money. Are you open to giving up part ownership? What about paying interest on the money you receive?
The two means of financing available for your company are:
- Debt Financing, which is when you borrow a set amount of money for a predetermined period of time and pay a predetermined interest; and
- Equity Financing is receiving an injection of funding in exchange for an ownership stake. The percentage of ownership is based on the amount the investor is paying per share and how many shares he's purchasing.
But how do you determine which form of financing is right for you? Both of these financing options have advantages and disadvantages. Before we go any further, let me clearly state this: Your final decision, before doing anything, needs to be based on education and knowledge. Your specific business situation is unique to you and your financing options, no matter which path you choose. It is unique to you, and there are two professional resources you need to seek out and tap into before venturing into the wild world of financing. Those two resources are a CPA specializing in financial investment and associated tax laws, and a lawyer specializing in fundraising and associated state and federal business laws.
Continue reading here.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Scuffling with Physical Success
The additional piece we are inundated with is eating. The holidays mean a time of splurging on the excess of sweets, cakes, home-cooked meals and beverages. If you're like me, then splurging means an extra visit to the gym or longer walks with dogs. I will admit that I do envy those fortunate individuals who are able to eat whatever they want, when they want, without adding on any or very little weight this season!
What keeps you motivated to stay healthy, eat and exercise during the holiday season? As you age your metabolism slows down, which means the level of calories we can consume is lower as you age—so you need to seriously increase you level of activity to offset the imbalance.
Have you formulated your list of motivators for what is going to keep you physically healthy this season? How about being able to achieve your business or career goals easier? Would becoming more financially abundant be a motivator?
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Steering Yourself to Victory
The end of another year is just about to arrive, and you are most likely caught up with the excitement of the holidays, shopping and spending time with those you love. It's around now that you begin to set intentions and goals for the upcoming year.
In business you are establishing budgets, identifying sales goals, and trying to locate potential expenditures on which to cut back. In your personal life you're looking at your level of happiness with your work, where you are in life, what you might like to change about where you live, or (if you're like the majority of us) identifying personal health goals.
When we establish goals for ourselves personally or professionally, it can be overwhelming at times since we think we know ourselves and like to believe we can do more than what's realistic. This results in your being overconfident or unrealistically confident. When you become overconfident, as bold and brazen as it sounds, you're actually lacking a certain amount of confidence of a particular kind. I'm sure you're wondering what I mean when I refer to "kind of confidence."
Continue reading here.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Holiday Mindset Melt-Down
We're just a week away from the busiest shopping day of the year – Black Friday – and it's also the beginning of the most stressful time of year: the days between Thanksgiving and the kick off of the next year.
For most it means a time of family, friends and great fun, but for others it could mean something quite entirely different. Stress does funny things, but this time of year we're emotionally triggered by numerous types of events and easily fall into the pit of allowing ourselves to become victims.
Victim mentality is a common and hot topic these days, and it bodes well to play the victim role when we need an excuse for certain types of behavior, or we feel we need to be right and validated. Take a minute and think back over the last several months to see if any of these statements have been true for you:
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Confidence + Goodwill = Success
Asking current clients for referrals can be difficult, but for moving forward it is an absolute necessity. What holds you back from asking? Your confidence: that's what! So how do you move through this confidence challenge? By looking back and identifying which of your clients had the greatest success. These individuals will be (and will continue to be) walking testimonials and advertisements for you and your business. Here are three tips to improve your business confidence and savvy while increasing your client base!
Take Stock & Boost Confidence
Your first priority is to gather all the positive feedback, comments and notes from current and previous clients you can find. Next, make a list and read through it a few times. Reading over your list of positive feedback will allow you to establish a mental and emotional connection based on positive thoughts and experiences. This allows you to reach out to each of these individuals more confidently. Asking for help is never easy, but when we make a positive emotional connection with those to whom we are reaching out, we can design a new thought pattern. With a new pattern in place, you create new beliefs—and your new beliefs increase your confidence level!
Using the positive comments from your clients in your communication, remind your clients of how much they appreciated what you have done for them. Then ask them for referrals to associates, family and friends who could use your services.
Continue reading here.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Women, Business and Confidence
Recently there has been quite a bit chatter in the news regarding women, business and women's inability to move ahead. A report recently on MSNBC cited the following two key elements for the reason: "Glass Walls" and confidence (specifically, a lack of confidence).
When I was watching these news broadcasts, the lack of confidence resonated with me, as I believe we've all had our confidence shaken and challenged more than once as well. Similarly, I connected with the reference to the Glass Walls. I never personally believed in the Glass Ceiling excuse, but I do see the truth within these newly identified walls.
What confines us behind these walls are the following three parts, as set out in the news broadcast:
- Doing everything
- Lack of network support
- Thinking small
But I would like to add a fourth part: emotional trust.
The first three are obvious in their definitions, but the fourth—emotional trust—may not be so obvious since it also contains a few elements of its own. Being part of the human race means we're emotional beings; we use our emotions to learn, experience and grow. As women we embrace our emotions on an even greater and deeper level, resulting in our having a larger emotional investment in all that we do. When our emotional investment causes us pain or we experience negative backlash, our emotional trust is challenged and we become more cautious regarding where we place this trust in the future.
All our decisions are based on where we stand emotionally with regard to...
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Postivity Tools for Your Business
Separating what is happening in your personal life from your business life and vise-versa is difficult during the best of times. Working through times of challenge or crisis can make keeping the two separate nearly impossible. We all agree that your outlook in life doesn't need to be positive 100% of the time, nor do any of your family, business associates and friends expect you to be "up" all the time. When you're confronted with challenges that look bigger than life itself, having a few tools in your emotional balancing kit will allow you to dance through the challenge with a feeling of balance and grace instead of stumbling.
Several reports show meditation supports a healthy standard of living, and it's considered one of the best habits to decrease stress. When our worry is reduced or handled effectively, our outlook on life improves. This, in turn, results in an upward spiral in all areas of your life. Individuals practicing meditation on a recurring basis understand how meditation directly supports their ability to improve their mind's tricks, resulting in a more peaceful, calm and focused point of view.
Basically, the human mind is the key to reducing pressure. With the aid of meditation we're able to feel calmer and more relaxed while experiencing increased clarity, better mental focus and a boost in a sense of harmony. As we meditate our amount of random feelings diminishes, as will our attachment to those feelings and identification with them. This is because we're generally not conscious of all the mental goings-on in which we're engaged. Like with any inspiring method in which we engage ourselves, our ability to allow ourselves to "just be" emerges when our inner artist flourishes. Our ability to create from nothing is a knack with which we're all born but only a few permit themselves to embrace. When we allow our authentic selves to step ahead and bask in the glow, our outlook effortlessly improves. With an optimistic outlook we're able to step into action through the most complicated of times and crisis situations.
Continue reading here.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Where Your Truth Goes, Your Confidence Follows
In the first part of this three-part series you were introduced to your two main life accounts into which all your actions, decisions and experiences are either made deposits into or taken from as withdrawals from your integrity and confidence accounts. Remember that both these accounts affect your level of success in your career, your relationships, and your overall personal wellness.
Your confidence level will dictate how you handle and manage your stress. Some stress is important in life, but extreme stress can be hazardous. Your goal is to be able to handle yourself regarding decision-making during times of crisis as well as you do during normal circumstances. With a lower confidence level it becomes more difficult for you to make effective decisions.
Examples of normal stress or daily triggers of your stress might be balancing your checkbook, creating employee schedules at work, or arranging a food drive for the local food bank. While moving through these situations, your physical, emotional and mental bodies are working according to plan. There may be emotions you experience such as frustration due to trying to coordinate others' schedules and availability, but these frustrations are easily worked through and released. There are no residual emotions floating around; in other words, you've let them go and moved on.
Continue reading here.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Emotional Crisis? Emotional Infidelity
Emotional cheating typically starts when one develops an emotional bond with a person of the opposite sex and begins sharing more with that person then with his or her partner. These relationships may or may not lead to physical intimacy; in either of the two cases, the existing relationship of the cheater suffers.
In the majority of cases, emotional cheating begins as an innocent friendship but develops into a "more than friends" relationship without the physical intimacy. It therefore results in being simple for people to convince themselves and others that they only share a special friendship and nothing else. A person might even equate it to the sharing of information or time with that of two best friends.
With the age of technology and the ease of "meeting" new people and connecting with "old friends," it's easy to figure how sometimes people develop meaningful emotional bonds with their online acquaintances. It's this kind of emotional infidelity that's even more difficult to identify and admit. The clandestine nature of these relationships, along with the benefit of mystery the World Wide Web provides, makes the dynamic of emotional infidelity even more complex.
So how do you know whether you're cheating on your companion emotionally? The following are a few of the biggest tell-tale signs:
Continue reading here.
Monday, October 31, 2011
What's Your Confidence Level?
I was shocked to learn recently there is a crisis in self-belief running rampant among women these days: not just professionally, but in their personal lives as well. Women, it seems, are missing the self-confidence to articulate or offer up their two cents or receive acknowledgment for a job well done.
Sounding at all familiar? At first the thought seemed foreign to me, but then I started looking around at the ladies in my life and I realized that yes, the truth of the matter is that a good number of my conversations with friends and associates indicate they lack the confidence to move out and into doing more than just merely existing in their lives. Wow!
Continue reading here.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Money Talks; Everything Else Walks
You possess an impressive business plan, you've worked on your business design, and you've finished a feasibility assessment that indicates your business has the makings for making huge money. Great! The only thing stopping you from taking the leap is your need of raising money.
In this economy, finding individuals to invest in a small business isn't the easiest thing. But don't lose hope; they are out there, and yes, they are willing. These individuals are best known as "Venture Capitalists" or "Angel Investors." Basically, VCs impart fiscal backing to a company or firm that is in its early stages but nevertheless exhibits high potential in terms of forthcoming growth and profitability: exactly where you seem to be finding yourself. Their goal? To make larger-than-typical profits (i.e., stock market investments) on their investments. Don't fool yourself: VCs are fully aware that a number of these types of investment projects can and will end up losing money. However, VCs recognize that great earnings from some of their projects will more than compensate for their losses along the way. Venture Capitalists are receptive to taking high-level risks when other people may not be.
Continue reading here.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Your Health, Your Business
In my line of work I see a lot of individuals who are self-employed and take active steps in ensuring they're doing right by both their businesses and themselves. They not only understand but embrace the philosophy that what affects one area of their lives will and does affect another. They also realize that when they are healthy, they actually end up positively affecting their bottom line financially.
Not quite sure how this all fits together? That's okay, because most people have a hard time grasping it as well when they allow themselves to see from a new perspective.
Continue reading here.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Love Your Children? Hate the Chaos?
I truly thought I would be able to keep some (if not all) of this ritual in place once my son, who is now three, was born. But reality set in quite quickly, and it took me almost 10 months to find my groove again. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it, but I did. Then in May 2011 I gave birth to my daughter, and the groove I was able to find is once again changing.
Chaotic? Yes. Manageable? Yes. What did it take? Three simple steps (Remember Coach Karen's three simple steps to managing chaos and emergency life situations is I.C.E.) and a lot of self-patience!
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
So You Think You're Confident?
So yes! Your self-confidence impacts your self-worth. And yes, your self-worth impacts your self-confidence. The opinion of life in general is that we have a tendency to magnetize what we believe we are worthy of receiving. Consequently, self-worth is one of the most important elements of how we go about escalating our self-confidence; that is, you need to possess belief in your own skills, abilities and most notably, you need to consider yourself truly deserving of the outcome you desire.
You can picture all you want, make yourself feel good, concentrate on encouraging emotions, etc. But unless you sincerely like yourself for who you are and think with every thread of your fiber you deserve to get the best out of life, you might not be able to improve your self-confidence, which in turn brings about good fortune, friends, love or success.
So here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to find out if your view of self stands in your own way to success:
Continue reading here.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Coaching and Your Business
a) Select the appropriate coaching model
b) Communicate effectively with your coach
c) Get maximum returns on your investment (on hiring a coach)
Coaching Objectives
Coaching essentially works on three tiers and in a corporate setting can often meld with the roles of consultancy. The first level or tier is performance, the second is behavior, and the third or outer layer is solution. The following provides a brief description of each layer.
Performance Your coach will observe as well as study your sales and profit levels, employee productivity, business financials, and your senior management team or leadership team. Depending on your business situation, your coach may end up making suggestions and offering new perspectives to enrich your profitability from its current levels. To make certain the coach stays in a coaching role and does not fall into a consultant's function, it is imperative that your senior management team is on board with the styles of brainstorming for solutions communication that will take place. Performance transitions into reviewing your guidelines of effectiveness to make certain the staff is empowered to be as efficient as possible. Keep in mind, employees can be only as successful as the tools they're given, and your business's guidelines and processes are vital to their success.
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Mentoring: Encouraging Success
I would like to share with you a few of the advantages of how establishing a mentoring program can encourage your small business to be even more successful while also touching on how setting up a mentoring program in a small- to medium-sized organization can help you develop your human resources and use these resources in the most efficient manner possible.
To begin, let's identify the key advantages of mentoring programs.
Reduced Learning Curve
When an organization establishes a mentoring program, it can prove to be individually one of the most important resources for employees in their initial learning phase or the new hire period. When a member of staff is transferred or promoted to a new department, having an adviser supports a less-demanding or stressful work environment.
Continue reading here.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
What Is Your Crown Jewel for Success?
For one, your attitude! Your attitude needs to be in what your crown jewels are encased, much like Queen Elizabeth’s crown is made of gold; your success crown is made of attitude, allowing you to show off the jewels within you. With a positive attitude, a little self-discipline and a certain level of knowledge, you're empowered to make sound decisions along your journey to success even when a challenge might raise its pretty little head. Your attitude can not be compromised by anyone but you. You are in complete control of your attitude, and being in control of your attitude means your limitations are set by you and only you.
In a previous article I talked about why your foundation for success needs to be built not just on stone but must also include sand to allow for flexibility and growth. Knowing where your foundation is enables you to then focus on identifying your crown jewel and gaining clarity on the steps it takes to achieve your goals. Your crown will, of course, have more than one jewel held within it but jewels (or, here, skills) that need to be on display for others to notice.
Continue reading here.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Achieving Goals: 5 Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Odds of Success

Some people believe that when they fail in achieving a goal, it ends the existence of their goal. But this is not true at all. Failing to achieve a goal provides you the opportunity to go back to the drawing board to redefine it and refuel the spirit of your motivation.
The first step you can take to improve your odds of succeeding and achieving your goal is not to allow failure to enter into your description or definition of success. Instead, replace the term "failure" with the idea and feelings associated with the term "reset": meaning, you did not fail at achieving your goal, but instead you need to simply reset the goal you had. Where you are today is not where you were when you initially established the goal. The growth you've achieved means that resetting your goal today makes it that much more achievable.
Continue reading here.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Organize Your Business
An organized workspace—both physical and virtual—will give you confidence and a sense of empowerment, whereas a cluttered desk or inbox can make you feel lethargic and confused and will zap your creative energy!
So now you may wonder how a pile of disorganized paper can cause stress. The simple answer is not just procrastination; these pieces of paper and unanswered emails are actually deferred decisions. Each piece of paper or email in the stack is a reminder of something you need to support, which will inevitably stress you each time you see. If you do nothing, then that small molehill of paper you’ve create will grow into mountains of stress, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain where to start.
Continue reading here.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Choice Is Motivation
Mainly what motivates you is the dream of having a better life, career, family or love. Acquiring self-motivation can be a difficult process to start, but it ultimately all comes down to making a choice. Your decision to choose an appropriate motivational tool can be more difficult than you might think.
Personal motivation is a very important skill in this day and age, especially when we have so many distractions to pull us away from tasks at hand. When you can maintain your focus on the tasks at hand, you will begin to see you journey take great, positive strides toward the success you seek. I've talked about and given ideas in previous blog posts regarding your focus, but how do you stay motivated when some days are filled with challenges? Feeling empowered is important, but being a self-starter – a person who can pick herself up and jump right back in – is the foundation of staying motivated.
Continue reading here.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Leadership and Marketing
We’ve heard of the different types of marketing, and it can be very confusing. I'd like to support you in reducing your stress regarding marketing; there are amazing marketing coaches out there who can support you in creating a full marketing plan, outlining what is specific to you and your organization. But today let's bring your focus back to the basics so when you decide to hire that coach or consultant, you have an idea of what marketing means to you and your business.
So what is marketing, or a marketing budget, and why do you need one? Simply put, marketing is defined as the process used to determine which products or services are of interest to your clients and outlines the strategies best used in the sales, communication and development of new business. Okay, that wasn't so simple; but basically, it means matching your product or service with your client. The budget piece is the estimated cost of running these programs and projects. The "why" is basically all about transparency and empowering you to stay focused and moving forward in the right direction with each decision you make regarding spreading the word about your wonderful products.
Continue reading here.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Hocus Pocus, Let There Be Focus

Friday, August 26, 2011
Surviving Reality: Compassionate Competition

Sunday, August 21, 2011
A Stone Foundation Supports Your Success

Thursday, August 18, 2011
Entrepreneurs: Motivated Procrastinators?

Friday, August 12, 2011
What’s Your Edge?

Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Employee Motivation: A Secret Society?

Continue reading here.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Business Leadership: Leading with Social Responsibility

Friday, July 29, 2011
The Secret Weapons of a Good Business Leader

Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Meaning and Essence of Leadership in Business

Friday, July 22, 2011
Plan, Action and Achieve

When the objectives we set are large or complex, we often need a plan of some sort to ensure we reach them. However, planning is just half of the story: you also need to take action. Before implementation of any plan, it's useful to check where you are both physically and mentally. Achieving our success is based on our "whole" being fully present and accountable, and that means making sure both bodies are not only on board but have the capability to do the work necessary.
Take a few moments to take another look at your plan. Look at the activities that make up the plan, the feasibility of them, and the overall timeline. Then ask yourself the question: "Am I ready for this challenge mentally? Physically?"
If the answers are yes to both, then try asking yourself these questions:
- "Am I ready to let go of or put on hold certain areas of my life so I can continue this challenge?"
- "If I am not ready now, when will be I ready?"
- "What do I need to in order to have the right mental perspective and physical support?"
- "Do I need outside help?"
Continue reading here.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Healthy, Glowing Skin and Your Confidence

Monday, July 11, 2011
Activity and Our Well-Being

- A three-year-old girl running awkwardly to her mother across the lawn while smiling.
- A housewife, age 43, trotting in the park with her colorful running shoes.
- A skinny boy of 15 trying to keep up with the pack in a cross-country race, hoping to be part of the team.
- A 29-year-old teacher who walks to the starting line with his wife, two children and a picnic basket and welcomes his opponents with great pleasure.
- Far behind the front riders, soundly defeated, a solitary rider gives the maximum, excited because he is beating his personal best.
- A nuclear physicist, 39 years old, passing the finish line and trotting to 36th place, quite pleased with himself.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Going the Distance

I saw a video on YouTube and realized it was a perfect way to illustrate a resource I’ve been wanting to share with my readers. The video features two self-made multimillionaires asking self-help guru and motivational speaker Tony Robbins why some people follow through while others don’t.
Robbins points out to the two men (John Reese and Frank Kern) that asking yourself two questions can help you identify where you are and where you’re going, which will crystallize your understanding of where you currently stand. The guru says that asking "What excites me?" and "What pisses you off" can be tremendously effective in helping you determine what you do and do not want out of your current situation.
Further, Robbins explains that while some people get where they intend to be, those who don’t usually fail for reasons other than a lack of resources or ability. Rather, they fail to follow through because they’re not "afraid enough" of not reaching their full potential, don’t have a driving hunger to success, or haven't given themselves permission to get out of their comfort zones. He points out that when your back is against the wall, you're more likely to do whatever it takes to prove yourself and succeed.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Adopting Healthy Eating Habits

Eating healthy is critical whether your goal is weight loss, fitness or a healthier lifestyle in general. However, you don’t have to meticulously count calories or starve yourself to be healthy; rather, you need to provide your body with ample nourishment. While junk food and sugary treats might present challenges and temptations, adopting correct eating ideas and strategies will help make healthy eating a natural habit.
Below is an overview of basic tips and suggestions to help you stay fit and eat healthy.
Learn to Love Your Veggies Include as many vegetables in your diet as you possibly can. In addition to vegetables being packed with more nutrients and fewer fats and calories than meat-based dishes, vegetarian foods also offer a lot of variety and can be a real treat for the taste buds.
Get Creative with Fruits Fruits have natural sugar and can quell a sweet tooth. But if the sucrose from the fruit alone is not enough, add a little honey to sweeten it further. The sweetness from these choices is healthier than refined sugars, and the natural sugars in fruit and honey have far fewer calories.
Eat the Rainbow If you’re concerned about whether or not you’re eating enough from each of the food groups, try seeing each meal as a rainbow. What colors are missing? What colors are present? Are you eating many colors, or do you tend to focus on just one? If your plate usually looks like a multi-colored painting, then you’re likely consuming the minerals, vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
Drink Water or Fresh Juice with Crushed Ice Instead of Fizzy Beverages Although this may sound too easy to be worthwhile, it does have legitimate merit. Crushed ice gives water a slightly fizzy texture that can meet your need for carbonation. If you drink a lot of sodas because of their sweetness, add fresh juices to your water and crushed ice.
Employ Positive Affirmations If you have a problem with willpower and find it difficult to stick with your plan to eat healthy, consider reciting positive affirmations every day to help make eating healthy a natural instinct. Although this may sound too simple to be realistically effective, the truth is that the simplicity of the act is where the power lies. Perhaps the example that follows will illuminate this concept for you.
If someone tells you day in and day out that you are unattractive, over time you will begin to believe that assessment. Similarly, if you tell yourself that you’re ugly over and over again, you will begin to feel ugly regardless of how physically appealing you may actually be. Positive affirmations function the same way, in that telling yourself over and over that you enjoy being a healthy eater will cause you to embrace and believe this statement over time.
Continue reading here.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Sussing Out Your Sixth Sense

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Law of Attraction and Building New Relationships

Friday, June 17, 2011
Finding Guidance

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
How Your Past Can Lead to Obesity

Saturday, June 11, 2011
Embracing Change

Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Negative Body Image Issues

Both emotional specialists and psychologists generally agree that eating disorders are generally rooted in negative body image. When this happens, sufferers usually see distorted body images when they gaze in a mirror – and as such, feel "fat" or otherwise imperfect regardless of whether these terms accurately describe the structure of their physical bodies.
Negative body images can manifest from one or more of the following factors:
Negative Conditioning Our parents' and family members' attitudes toward food and concepts of beauty can significantly factor in our body image. For example, parents who emphasize the importance of outer appearance or who obsessively count calories may have children who retain or develop similar attitudes that can potentially result in negative body image.
Negative Thinking If you have low self-esteem and therefore constantly hound yourself about your appearance or give undue importance to other’s opinions, you can develop a negative body image over time.
Unrealistic Ideals Movies, articles, advertisements and other media propaganda often promote perfection as being attainable – which, of course, it is not. Aggressive marketing techniques seek to create unrealistic aspirations regarding beauty ideals for profit. Children and teens are particularly susceptible to these techniques and can therefore develop negative body image issues due to their desire to conform to media "norms."
Overcoming Negative Body Image
You will have to affect a dramatic change in your self-perception to successfully build a healthier body image. I'll readily admit that negative attitudes firmly entrench themselves in the subconscious over time...
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Saturday, June 4, 2011
Your Aura's Energy

Energy is a word from which most people draw the definition of electricity, gas or some other form of power to produce movement or change. In the context in which we use it here, these definitions really aren't that far off from how practitioners like me would describe or explain energy. But what is an aura, you ask? Simply put, your aura is the space surrounding your physical being; it extends outward and upward and is approximately the length of your arms. You might refer to your aura as your own personal airspace, and you are the flight commander with regard to what gets in and what doesn’t.
We all understand as humans that we are walking energy sources. The heat we produce keeps us warm when the air is cool, and the sweat we produce when the air is too warm functions similarly. Our metabolism is a form of energy that uses the food we consume as its fuel, and we carry a certain amount of electricity in our bodies. The electricity can affect our heart rates, breathing rates and CranioSacral rhythms. Add electricity from an outside source – you know, when you shuffle your socked feet on the carpet and "zap" your friend or sibling — and a few things can occur: your heart can actually stop or go out of normal rhythm. More likely, however, nothing at all will happen except your friend becomes focused on getting you back.
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