Are you living the life of creativity and happiness that you’ve always dreamed of, or are you allowing your fears or other outside factors to influence you?

Following the path that your heart’s desires requires courage and might require a shift in attitude. There are several methods you can use to act as your own life coach and start working toward the life you dream of.

Ideas for self-improvement

You don’t need to change every aspect of your life at once in order to improve your attitude and outlook on life. Self-improvement can feel daunting if you try to change everything at once.

A good way to embark on your journey of self-coaching is to make one change and see what kind of impact it has upon your life. The following tips are designed to help you improve your life and become your own life coach. Try out one of the following tips at a time to positively impact your attitude and daily life.

1. Find some ‘you’ time. Everyone needs time alone to meditate and recharge. You may think you don’t have extra time in your day. Start with 10-20 minutes to use for meditation or silent reflection.

2. Ask yourself what you truly want in life. Are you living your life according to your true dreams and desires? You may be unaware of your desires that lie hidden beneath your surface needs and wants, so take the time to find out.

3. Write everything down. Even if your thought seems silly, write it down! You may be surprised by the inspiration and ideas you can come up with.

4. Journal daily, but with a twist. Instead of just writing about today, try writing about yesterday.

5. Keep track of the “happy moments.” Each day has potential for many small moments that bring joy and happiness. If you don’t make a special note of them, you may not even recognize the small joys in your day.

6. Choose one task each night to complete the next day. This way, you have focus, and you accomplish at least one task. Tasking and taxing yourself with effort is important in reaching goals.

7. Smile when you wake up. Smiling is contagious. By smiling you improve your mood and can potentially improve someone else’s day as well.

8. Give thanks each night. Gratitude will improve your outlook on life and help you see all the good and wonderful moments of your day.

9. Try something new. A new experience fuels creativity and your enjoyment of the day.

10. Create at least one memorable moment each day. Make each day unforgettable, even if in a small way!

One of the most common complaints of clients who want life balance coaching is that their plate is fuller than full. Many of us have so many responsibilities in life that we forget to take care of ourselves. And while it’s hard to prioritize something like taking a bath when you have so many other priorities in life, self care is an important aspect of stress management. A massage, soak in the tub or other forms of pampering revitalize you inside and out.

Live Passionately,
Coach Chris

Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!
Andrew Carnegie

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
Martin Luther

Success is 99% failure.
Soichiro Honda

Genius is one percent inspiration, and ninety-nine percent perspiration.
Thomas Edison

When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!'
Then get busy and find out how to do it.
Theodore Roosevelt

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Charles Dickens

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain

The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled.
Andrew Carnegie

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
Albert Einstein

Nurture your mind with great thoughts;
to believe in the heroic makes heroes.
Benjamin Disraeli

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.
Orison Swett Marden

Act as if it were impossible to fail.
Dorothy Broude

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost.
Robert H. Schuller

Throw back the shoulders, let the heart sing, let the eyes flash, let the mind be lifted up, look upward and say to yourself ...
nothing is impossible!
Norman Vincent Peale

Recipe for a Happy New Year………..

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past----have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make-up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing-don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The New Motto for 2010!! Start it early!!!

A Poem About Our Girlfriends

Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances
Think about it!
The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
The most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.
The richest woman you know, she's got the car, the house, the clothes~ might be lonely.
So, love who you are.
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,
'I am too Blessed to be Stressed and too Anointed, to be Disappointed!'
'Winners make things happen~~ Losers let things happen.'
Be 'Blessed' Ladies and pass this on to encourage another woman.
'To the world you might be one person, to me you are special!

Live The Life You Were Meant To Live...

Tis the Season to be stressed...

The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress — Holiday pressures can ruin what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But what if you decided not to let them get to you?

In fact:
Nearly half of all U.S. women experience heightened stress during the holidays at great risk to the health of their minds and bodies, according to a national survey by the American Psychological Association.

How's your stress level? Feeling calm and relaxed, or hurried and anxious? Are you sleeping okay? Keeping healthy habits? How about your friends?

As girlfriends we look out for each other, right? Well, female friendship actually makes us healthier and less stressed. Plus, it's just fun.

Give the gift of your time - spend it with your girlfriends over the holidays. You'll lower your stress levels, make memories and have fun. Be each other's seasonal stress solution.


Recognize holiday triggers

Learn to recognize common holiday triggers, so you can disarm them before they lead to a meltdown:

* Realize that the anxiety you are experiencing is common. Financial burdens around gift giving and extra chores when entertaining can make you feel stressed. Accept this as a normal reaction.

* Make sure that you have realistic expectations and don't take everything personally. Some family members may be struggling with financial, business or marital issues that have nothing to do with you.

* You don't have to be all things to all people all the time. It will make it easier for everyone to have an open mind and an accepting heart.

* Put aside differences and avoid hot button issues. Sibling rivalry and unfinished family business are bound to surface. Despite how hard it may be, go for the higher ground and walk away from misunderstandings. But agree to finish the conversation at a later time.

* Consider what you love about your family and let them know how grateful you are they're a part of your life. Be sure to point out their positive qualities and personal strengths rather than focusing on the negatives. And realize that having feelings of gratitude and forgiveness are a gift you give yourself.

Be a role model for your children.

Visit the link below for more helpful tip on HOLIDAY STRESS

Holiday Stress: How to stay calm during the mad scramble of the holidays

Remember to laugh ladies throughout the holiday season...it reduces stress!
"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet."

Certified Life for Women
http://christine-livepassionately.blogspot.com/

Looking for words to live by?

Illustration: Stephen Doyle

The Top 20 Things Oprah Knows for Sure

Since the day the late Gene Siskel asked me, "What do you know for sure?" and I got all flustered and started stuttering and couldn't come up with an answer, I've never stopped asking myself that question. And every month I must find yet another answer. Some months I feel I hardly know a thing, and I'm always pressed to make the deadline for this column. This time around, in honor of our tribute to the subject, I looked back and came up with my all-time top 20:

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed.)

2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.

4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.

6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)

8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.

10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie.

12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

13. Let passion drive your profession.

14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.

15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good.

16. Every day brings a chance to start over.

17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.

18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.

20. "Trouble don't last always." (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite: This, too, shall pass.)

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/omagazine/wikfs/pkgforsure/200811_omag_for_sure
Source from Oprah.com


I know throughout my journey I have asked myself this very same question; Here are some of the things from my journal that I would like to share.

THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE:
* I know compassion, love, kindness helps us become our bestselves.
* I know that words can never express fully the LOVE, JOY and BLESSING I have for my daughter, Sausha.
* I know we need to love ourselves FIRST.
* I know consciousness will help us become more aware of our surroundings.
* I know passion is a driving life force.
* I know there is something to be learned every single day.
* I know being a Women is powerful.
* I know I am blessed
* Life is short, make the most of your opportunities...
LAUGH LOUDLY
PRAY OFTEN
FEEL DEEPLY
EXPRESS FEARLESSLY
PLAY HARD
WORK JOYOUSLY
COMMIT TOTALLY
TOUCH TENDERLY
LIVE CONSCIOUSLY

Surround yourself with:
People who motivate you
People who inspire you
People who acknowledge you
People who support your desires
And ...

People who love you!

Stay away from:

People who are jealous of you
People who are negative
People who blame others
And ...

People who make light of your dreams

Surround yourself with
enlightened people who will
help you soar above your
perceived limitations and
inspire you to the success
you so rightly deserve!


Thank you for listening.

NOW IT IS TIME TO ASK YOURSELF THIS POWERFUL QUESTION...
"What do you know for sure?"

Certified Life for Women
http://christine-livepassionately.blogspot.com/

Everyone needs someone to stand by them"? It is a montage that was done with help of people from all over the world.

Bringing In the Light

“…With forgiveness, your victim identity dissolves,
and your true power emerges - the power of presence.
Instead of blaming the darkness you bring in the light.“
~ Ekhart Tolle, from A New Earth

Insightful wisdom by Tina Su

Fluidity of Life - Life is always fluid. The unexpected and even unimaginable can and does happen at anytime. And all things, scenarios, events can shift their course at any time: from bad to good, from good to bad. There is no good or bad, there just is. Surrendering to whatever that happens, without placing unnecessary importance or investing excessive emotions holds the key to lasting happiness. At any moment, we have the choice to choose bliss, to see the light. Surrender to rigid thinking and choose to live a conflict free life.

Our Need to Blame - Blaming leads to nowhere, except temporary fulfillment for the ego. Yet, the ego does not stay fulfilled and will seek out more and more pain. Any kind of blaming thoughts, words, or accusations are ego-filling, unproductive and lead to our own suffering, even if they are “reasonably” justified.

Unconscious Actions - When we are in an unconscious state of mind (high TPS - thoughts per second), the survival instinct in our brain tells us to take unconscious actions with great urgency and conviction. These actions when taken, always lead to more unconsciousness and are rarely helpful.

The Mind’s Reality - Our mind always makes unknown situations worse than they actually are. Its goal is to dwell on pain and problems. Often when we find out the truth, we feel instantly relieved that the “reality” of events wasn’t as bad as what we had imagined.

Building Intensity - All my frustration and inner suffering really has a purpose and benefit: they build the intensity in me that further encourages me to break free from the inner conflicts, and to rise out a more conscious being established in Joy.

The Pain Body - When a person is established and reacts out of their pain body, they are no longer themselves, and we should not measure or judge their character based on when they are in this state. Recognize when they are in their pain body and detach from any painful feelings it may trigger in you. The pain body feeds on pain - its own pain and on other people’s pain. Whenever hurtful words are uttered and actions are taken, identify where they are coming from; likely, they will be coming from the pain body.

Seek to Understand, Drop Self Pity - When others behave in ways that you are not happy with, drop the self-pity story, bring in compassion, and try to understand why they are behaving in certain ways toward you. There is always a reason. Often times, we’re so wrapped up in defending ourselves and making our own side be understood that we fail to truly see things from other people’s perspective, and we miss the chance to heal others and ourselves.

Everything is Auspicious - No matter how bad things seem there is always a reason that contributes positively towards us. There always exists an incredible gift in any “bad” situation, trust that you are always being taken care of by the protective arms of Existence.

LOVE

VALUES

Values are those things that really matter to each of us ... the ideas and beliefs we hold as special, not something you want or would like to have.
Caring for others, for example, is a value; so is the freedom to express our opinions.

A value is a principle desirable to you. Values are personal. They are your convictions, your beliefs, and your ethics rolled into one.

Living in agreement with one's values is fulfilling. Living in conflict with one's values is stressful and dissatisfying. That's why it is so important to clearly understand your own personal code of values; your happiness depends upon not only knowing your values, but living in accordance with them.

Be Stress Free
Stress does not result from hard work, long hours, or multiple roles in life. Stress results from values conflicts. When put in a situation where you are unable to honor a value, you will feel stressed out. No amount of relaxation, meditation, or exercise will eliminate the stress until the values conflict is resolved.

Living Your Purpose
Why is it important to understand your own personal values? Values are linked to purpose in life. You might say that your purpose is to live your values. When you do, life is good.

There are many things that we aspire to do, but, for some reason they remain quite difficult. It is better to have the right intention and be aware of how difficult they are.

*Be Non Judgemental
*Practise what we Preach (it is easy to say what we should do, but, it is another thing to do it!)
*Listen (Everyone wants to talk, but, how many have time to listen?)
*Be Cheerful under all Circumstances (Life gives us ups and downs, whether we like it or not. There is nothing we can do about our circumstances. Sometimes fate gives us challenging circumstances. Becoming miserable does not help, it only makes the situation more difficult)
*Do One Thing at a Time (Simplicity and focus is a great virtue)

Live passionately... what else have you got to do!

Certified Life for Women
http://christine-livepassionately.blogspot.com/

WOMEN-TO-WOMEN

Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. ~Arnold H. Glasow

A Long Hot Summer
By Carolee Ware
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Woman to Woman

There are numerous reasons why a middle-aged woman who has been away from the workforce rearing her children decides to go back to work. The obvious might be for money, but that was not my reason.

After my children departed for college, perhaps I was just bored, or possibly I was suffering from the empty nest syndrome, but in actuality I think I decided to return to work because I was just plain hot. Colorado was experiencing an extremely hot, dry summer and my home lacked air conditioning. It was hot, and I was hot. I determined a cool air conditioned office was where I belonged! Years ago my first job was that of a bookkeeper - - it was then that I worked for money. While my children were growing up I worked part time in the school system as a teacher’s aide.

This time around I wanted to do something different, something new and exciting, and the money wasn’t too important, as my husband made a very comfortable living for us. But what should I do? What sort of job should I look for? I knew I needed to be cautious as to what I became involved with.


I am not a “quitter” and therefore I hoped to avoid becoming obligated to an employer in a job that might turn out to be a mistake for me.

While I agonized over what to do, I was reminded of a past incident where I needed to replace my original engagement ring as the gold was wearing thin. My husband and I shopped and shopped for one, everywhere we went, even when we were on vacation. Finally this nonstop searching prompted my poor husband to ask, “Just what kind of ring do you want, what exactly are we looking for?”

My reply was, “I honestly don’t know, but when I see the correct setting, I will know it.” That was the way I felt about the new career I wished to pursue; I didn’t have a clue as to what I wanted to do, but knew there was a perfect fit for me, if I would just be patient.

Fortunately, that summer while attending my twenty-fifth high school class reunion, I overheard a former classmate describing what she did for a living. She was a travel agent, and she and her husband had just returned from a trip to Hawaii where they acted as chaperones for a group of travelers. WOW, that sounded like fun, considerably more fun and exciting than being a bookkeeper.

Apparently this profession also had some great travel benefits. I innocently pondered the idea of becoming a travel agent. After all, how difficult could it be to write airline tickets and plan vacations? I reasoned if my friend could do it, I probably could, too, and after all, “I love to travel.” I later learned uttering the phrase, “I love to travel”, is a surefire way to prevent you from being hired when applying for a job in the travel industry. That phrase is definitely a no-no!

BINGO! It was as if fireworks lit up the night sky! Right then and there I knew without a doubt, I had found the perfect fit; I wanted to be a travel agent. Little did I realize travel agents are a specialized group of individuals whose work is both stressful and demanding. Theirs is a profession requiring special education, training and experience to become proficient. There is definitely more to it than meets the eye. There is unquestionably more to it than just generating airline tickets.

I began scanning the “help wanted” ads in my local newspaper and quickly discovered agencies were interested in hiring “experienced only travel agents, or airline personnel.” I was neither. However, one agency located near my home (how lucky can you get) had an entry-level position available that involved answering the phone, typing itineraries and packaging tickets. The owner made it very clear this position would never lead to an agent position or agent training, but offered me an interview if I was interested. I was definitely interested! I interviewed and was hired. Bravo, at least I had my foot in the door.

After working on the packaging desk for nine months, I approached the agency owner, and again expressed my desire to become a travel agent. Fortunately, she made an exception and broke her


“no experience no training” rules by enrolling me in a United Airlines computer training course. Thus, I realized my dream and became a full-fledged agent.

My confidence and self-worth increased with each error-free reservation and each satisfied customer. I was having a ball! I learned as much as possible about the foreign destinations I booked and got to know my clients well, so their special needs could always be met. I loved my work and took pride in it. I am proud to say, never once did I take the marvelous travel benefits I was receiving for granted. I did keep track of them, however, and received a great deal of satisfaction the year the value of my benefits exceeded my yearly salary. Now that is what I call a job! Way back when I began this career, I could not imagine myself working full time, but just as quickly couldn’t visualize myself not working full time, for I was having the time of my life!

What a positive impact those middle-age “hot flashes” had on my life. Ultimately, I became a top-producing corporate international sales agent before my early retirement seventeen years later. I also experienced a world of travel, some shared with family and friends. Most importantly, I proved to myself I could do what I made up my mind to do, no matter how difficult or foreign the task. Yes indeed, life is beautiful and life can begin at forty-plus years of age.


Career Discovery
To find a career that you are truly passionate about,. list the activities you enjoy doing most; cooking, organizing, etc. Often these activities will help frame an idea on what your next career could be. When you find a career based upon a passion, returning to work will be an easier transition, and will ultimately lead to greater and longer-lasting job satisfaction.

No matter who you are, where you live, how rich you are or what your age is, life happens to all of us. However, we are all different and we need to find our own way.

Happy Fourth of July, 2009

Careers with Confidence: 6 Steps to Getting Back to Work

Live passionately... what else have you got to do!

Certified Life for Women
http://christine-livepassionately.blogspot.com/


Posh Mama Christine of Girltime Coaching Featured Weekly on Posh Mama Online Magazine

Superwoman Syndrome - When Best Isn't Good Enough

Despite the gains women have made over the past few decades, ‘liberation’ hasn’t always panned out to be liberating.
In real life terms, liberation for many women means assuming multiple roles, taking on multiple responsibilities and being the subject of multiple expectations. Working women who hold down demanding professional jobs are expected to be great mothers, attentive spouses, extended family coordinators, resourceful meal planners..etc...

These beliefs and judgments that we hold onto us as result of childhood issues, socialization, influences by the media, politics and religion, et cetera. In a nutshell our ‘Gremlins’ are perspectives that have helped to mould us since birth. Some of these perspectives are healthy and useful, but others are not, yet we continue to clutch onto them as if our very life depends on them.

The comparisons are everywhere.

Accept differences.
We are all unique, in our outlook, perceptions, attitudes, feelings, experiences, and history. There is no one just like us in the world. There never has been an exact duplicate of us, nor there ever one.

Differences make life interesting, and yes, challenging. Dealing with other people who see life differently makes for interesting relationships. Differences give life its opportunities for growth, insight, and awareness. The unfortunate thing is that these differences can often lead to unmanaged or unresolved conflict, stress, and disappointment.

People who live happy lives accept the uniqueness of individuals. They are not on a mission to change them, correct them or invalidate them. Happy people understand that everyone is on their own path throughout life doing what they need to do in order for them to fulfill their destiny.

"One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."
Eleanor Roosevelt
1884-1962, American First Lady, Columnist and Lecturer



Give yourself permission not to be superwomen… As a way of honoring yourself, I encourage you to practice some of these self care strategies that have been helpful for me and my clients:


1. Give yourself permission to add self care to your life. It's OK for it to be all about you sometimes. Think of self care as any act of nurturing, meaning anything that enhances your level of health, wellness and happiness. Look at all areas such as physical, mental, social, spiritual and financial. Paying an overdue bill can do just as much for your level of wellness sometimes as a warm bath.

2. Recognize and blast the barriers. Ask yourself: what is preventing you from making self care an everyday occurrence? Some of my clients' barriers that we often work through are feelings of guilt, lack of time, finances, lack of support or the need for perfectionism. If any of this ring true for you, take some time to determine a plan as to how you can overcome them. As Dr. Phil says...”You can't change what you don't acknowledge".

3. Ditch the Superwoman Syndrome. This syndrome is adding unnecessary stress and sickness to our lives. We place such unrealistic expectations on ourselves. The guilt we feel often fuels this Superwoman Syndrome. Start letting go of your mental chatter; practice saying No and remember no one's life is perfect. We need to take Superwoman off the pedestal and start putting a more realistic, imperfect, yet happier women up there.

4. Remember that small acts of kindness and compassion can have big pay offs.

5. Allow yourself to dream. If you are craving something new in your life, ask yourself what are some of the dreams you have been putting off.

6. Get yourself a pair of rose colored glasses. Having a healthy perception of life and a positive attitude is one of the best self care strategies you can practice. It is universal laws that what you focus on expands so what are you focusing on? Is your glass always half empty? Do you complain about everything and everybody? Take some time to see what your inner chatter is saying. Then consciously take steps to changing your thoughts and seeing the glass as half full. A daily reflection of gratitude and appreciation goes a long way toward improving yourself care, yourself worth, and your whole life.


I acknowledge all women out there who on a daily basis… participating, engaging in the present moment. Take an opportunity to acknowledge yourself for the many big and little things you do. Honor yourself from a place of kindness and gentleness. We do what we know to be the best at the time. Forgive yourself when needed and celebrate yourself whether you think you need it or not. We all deserve to be celebrated. Here's to you...Cheers!!!

Would it be ok with you if life got easier??
What will you do today, to give yourself permission not to be a superwoman?


Live Consciously!

A POWERFUL MESSAGE...

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their
best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them
now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a
housedress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in
the other. It was the time for fixing things. A
curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven
door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.
All that re-fixing, renewing, I wanted just once to
be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things
away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's
night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was
struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there
isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up
and goes away...never to return. So... While we have
it... it's best we love it... And care for it.... And
fix it when it's broken...... And heal it when it's
sick.

This is true... For marriage.... old cars... children
with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad
hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We
keep them because they are worth it, because we are
worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that
moved away or a classmate w e grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important,
like people we know who are special.... And so, we
keep them close!

Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see
them, but you know they are always there...

People are made to be Loved and Things are made to be
Used.

There is so much confusion in this World because
People are being Used and Things are being Loved.

UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN CONNECTION

It is our right and our obligation to ourselves, and those in our world, to be certain we are engaging in our life with integrity, with accurate information and with full awareness about ourselves.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Mothers nurture and love their children from infancy, providing them with wisdom and guidance toward happiness. Whether you're a mother or an expectant mother, celebrate motherhood with love, laughter and joy.


Self-Care Tips for Mothers


While we're busy caring for others, let's not forget to be kind to ourselves.

Most of us give generously of our time and energy to family members, friends, and co-workers--and often ignore our own needs. It may not be until we become physically or mentally exhausted, or financially depleted, that we wake up and pay attention to our own needs. At that point we remember the wisdom of the flight attendant: Put on your oxygen mask first, and then you'll be able to help others.

Fill Your Own Cup

It is essential to tend to your basic needs and avoid burnout. You can build a strong reservoir of energy by "filling your own cup" with enough sleep, good nutrition, and medical care. We moms need to learn to care for ourselves as well as nurture and tend to our children.

Give Yourself Time to Adjust

When you add children to your life, your priorities become guided by a new North Star. Be kind to yourself and understand it will take time to adjust to your life as a mother. Women are often given very unrealistic expectations about motherhood, and the gap between expectation and reality can lead to disappointment. Exhaustion, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy can surface. By realizing that these feelings are normal—typical, if not ideal—you can spare yourself from on piling guilt during this adjustment period.

Allow Interests to Surface

You energy might start flowing in new directions that do not seem productive at first. But if you pay attention, you may learn something interesting about yourself


Express Your Creativity

Creativity is an underutilized secret weapon of motherhood. As a mother, you use your creativity when you play make-believe games or do projects with your children. But a few hours of pure creative engagement apart from your family can do a lot to recharge your batteries.

Use Family Teamwork

It’s natural to want to prove ourselves competent as parents, but it’s also worth remembering that a mother’s ultimate task is to send capable young adults into the world. Enlist family teamwork from day one with your partner, and bring the children into the circle of family responsibility as soon as you can. Even little kids can help clean up with a sponge or child-size cleaning tools. Don’t worry about whether they are doing the task perfectly, but encourage progress and participation. Fathers are such an important part of the parenting equation as well.

Build Your Support Network

The older I get, the more I realize that all families will face crises from time to time. It may be as simple as a flat tire that makes you late to school pickup, or as complicated as spouse or elderly parent getting sick and transitioning from being a caregiver to needing care. The key to coping in a crisis is to start developing a wide and deep support system before you actually need it. Who’s on your speed dial? You want to develop a set of close connections you can depend on in a pinch—and know that you would do the same for them. If you feel awkward about asking for help, you can start by offering help to friends as you get to know them better.

Keep Investing in Yourself

I encourage women to take a lifelong view of their personal and professional development. In these days of economic insecurity, every mother needs to be prepared to take her career into her own hands if necessary. If you are currently at home with your kids, you can still keep in touch with your professional contacts, credentials and identity. It can also be a good time to explore new interests that could translate into a job later on. If you are currently in the paid workforce, you may need to carve out time for your personal interests. Motherhood is such a demanding role that it can seem to stretch on forever, but the eye-opening truth is that many of us will live more years as empty-nesters than we spent with our kids at home.

Stay Open to the World

The world needs your leadership. Even if you are overwhelmed with family life and your daily tasks, you can remain open to a calling or cause that speaks to you. Motherhood gives us an understanding of the world’s deep hunger and the capability to fill those needs through our skills, empathy, and leadership.

Resources: beliefnet.com

Quotations about Happiness

“Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile.”
Unknown

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norman Vincent Peale

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
James Matthew Barrie

“No one needs a smile as much as a person who fails to give one.”
Unknown

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they are not on your road does not mean they have gotten lost.”
Jackson Browne

“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.”
Benjamin Disraeli

“Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.”
Unknown

“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”
John Lennon

“The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance; the wise person grows it under his feet.”
James Oppenheim

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same" ~ Nelson Mandela

"
Reinvention and transformation come with new challenges. By stretching your envelope, your limits, and your thoughts, you are able to achieve more than you ever imagined. Give yourself permission to dream BIG, to do MORE, to BELIEVE in yourself. In other words, give yourself permission to be you. Take the time to show up and take care of yourself. Give yourself permission to do, be, act however you need to so that you can give yourself whatever it is that you truly want from your life.



BE YOUR BEST SELF!

12 Powerful Life Lessons

“Follow your dreams and transform your life“
~ Paulo Coelho

My husband and I are avid sailors, as we were planning our charter, one of the first things we do is get out a map and plan our route. Whether it was GPS or old fashioned paper maps - they all helped guide us to our destination. As I was looking at the maps spread across our galley table, I thought, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a map of life” that could guide you along your life’s journey?

A personal motivation map giving you those life lessons that one typically learns way too late in life. Does such a “map of life” exist? It was then that I stumbled upon a tattered copy of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in the bottom of my closet.

Paulo Coelho in his wildly popular book (65 million copies sold in 67 languages) tells the story of a shepherd boy and his quest to live his dream. Along the way, the boy meets an alchemist who has the power to inspire personal transformation. This Alchemist gives the boy a number of life’s lessons - lessons that are as fresh and applicable today as they were hundreds of years ago. The lessons by themselves are interesting, but it’s only when they are applied, that the power of personal transformation can be unleashed.

So what can Paulo teach us about life and pursing dreams in the face of obstacles that caused 65 million people to buy his book?

1. It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.
I believe this to be true and have experienced this with my own family. When I think of the times where we laughed the most or had the most fun - it was when we were doing the simplest things. Swimming in a pool, combing a beach for shells, playing a board game, or sharing a delicious meal - all simple things making up the best times we’ve had as a family.

Question: What were some of the happiest memories from your past? What were you doing?

2. Support your children in pursuit of their dreams.
In the beginning of the story the shepherd boy (named Santiago) tells his father he wants to travel and see the world. The father explains he wants his son to stay in the village and become a priest. But Santiago persists - being a priest is not his dream. What does his father do? He gives Santiago the small amount of money he had been saving for the boy and wished him well.

How many of us had parents who have - in not-so-subtle-ways - influenced us to take careers that were not in-line with our dreams? Be honest now, did you pick your current career because you’re passionate about the work or were you trying to make your parents proud? How do you feel about your career now?
As a parent, it’s difficult to accept when your child wants to take a path other than the one you had hoped and planned for them. But, it’s ok. Like my wife keeps telling me “give them roots and give them wings”. Give them a solid foundation of love, but give them the freedom to follow their dreams.

Question: What were some of your dreams as a child?

3. There is nothing to hold you back, except yourself.
There is only one question to ask yourself here: “What would you do if you were not afraid?” Think about it.

4. There is only one way to learn, and that is through action.
Trying to learn without doing is like trying to lose weight by watching someone else exercise. It’s just not going to work. We are all fundamentally hands-on learners.

Question: What would you like to learn? What next action step can you take?

5. Trust your gut
Many times our subconscious has already made a decision before we’ve caught up and made the same decision. Sometimes we don’t make the same decision and then ‘something does not feel right’ or there is a persistent naggingthat bothers us. Malcolm Gladwell wrote extensively about this phenomenon in his book titled Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking. Trust your gut - it may be more accurate than you think.

6. Follow your dreams.
There are many of us who dream our dreams without ever actually realizing any of them. For whatever reason we get locked in a “dream state” and never take action. We analyze too much and our dreams turn into giant mountains in our imagination that seem impossible to climb. As a result, we never learned that foreign language we’ve always wanted to learn, or traveled, or started that business, or written that book. Just think of the many bestsellers that would have been, but were never written.
The time is now, to awake from dreamland, to live the life we want and to achieve the extraordinary potential within us all.

Question: What are some dreams you’d like to realize now? Write them down on a piece of paper and make sure the success of their attainment is measurable.

7. Know what you want.
Set goals and make a plan to achieve them. It’s like the saying, “a goal that is never written down is nothing but a New Year’s resolution” - and we all know what happens to New Year’s resolutions.

8. Make a decision and dive in with massive action.
The river of life will take you to places that you have never imagined. Once you make a decision, take action. You’ll be surprised to find where it will lead.

9. Move on - always look forward.
It’s ok to look back once and a while, but don’t live in the past. You can visit “pity city” for a short time, but after a while you have to leave it all behind and walk on.

10. You will encounter obstacles and take detours while realizing your dreams.
As you strive to achieve your dreams, you can count on there being some setbacks and disappointments. Don’t get discouraged, the road to your dreams may not be an easy one. Think of these challenges as tests of persistence and courage that life throws at you during your quest. They were necessary and were meant to help you grow as a person.
Learn to adjust the sails of your life to unpredictable winds, while keeping your focus clear on your destination.

11. Don’t fear the unknown.
As long as you’re resourceful and have a few skills, you’ll be able to provide for yourself (and your family). Have confidence in yourself at all times.

12. Learn to understand the universal language - the language without words.
There is so much more said from a person than just words alone. You can read the expression on someone’s face, sense their body language, or hear the tone in their voice - these thingsare all part of the unspoken language. The more conscious we become at noticing them, the better we become at interpreting them.

Question: What are some subtle unspoken gestures from the language of love?

The Alchemist is a deeply moving, yet simple fable about a shepherd boy living his dreams. Now that Paulo Coelho has taught us his lessons, can we, like an alchemist, change our lives from one of dreaming about our dreams to one of living our dreams? It’s up to us to take action…today!
What are some of your dreams? What are some dreams you’ve achieved, and how did you achieve them?

External Resources:
• Book: The Alchemist
• How to Doggedly Pursue Your Dreams in the Face of Naysayers

Live passionately... what else have you got to do!

WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.

Some people come in to your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real.

Thank you kindly Liz - CRAFT FROM MY HEART BLOG for this brilliant award, I am honored!


-WITHOUT DASH "Being A Better Women"

-BRAVE HEART WOMEN "Inspiration in Action"

- AUSTRAILIAN WOMEN ON LINE

- CHIC GALLERIA "The go-to magazine for all personal care, beauty and fashion- related must-haves

- IDEAS FOR WOMEN "Inspiring, Daring, Educating Women to Achieve and Succeed"

- WOMEN TRIBUNE "A community for women & their guilty pleasures"

- GIRLFRIEND CELEBRATIONS "Because Girlfriends Make Life Better"

- CHRISTINA'S WORLD

- WOMEN'S SELF ESTEEM

- MAITRI'S

- SHE TAKES ON THE WORLD



I have created this award 'WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE' below to CELEBRATE the above Women

Woman who know that self-care is not selfish and that she has to take care of herself first so she can be there for others. She is always learning and growing; has an idea where she wants to go and is looking for ways to get there. She makes a difference in the lives of those around her. She may be an entrepreneur, a corporate executive, a stay at home mom, an artist, a college friend, a volunteer or a retiree. But whatever these extraordinary Woman are doing, she’s doing it with passion, joy and commitment.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND JUST BEING YOU :)

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs "WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received this award
5. Share the love, gratitude and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award.

copy and paste this award
WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Are women more emotional than men are?

It's clear that estrogen is closely linked with women's emotional well-being. Depression and anxiety affect women in their estrogen-producing years more often than men or postmenopausal women. Estrogen is also linked to mood disruptions that occur only in women -- premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and postpartum depression.

Exactly how estrogen affects emotion is much less straightforward. Is it too much estrogen? Not enough? It turns out estrogen's emotional effects are nearly as mysterious as moods themselves.

To learn more about ESTOGEN

Women and Stress
Are women more stressed out than men are?

Women sometimes have a reputation for being worriers. According to a 2005 Gallup poll, women are more worried about a range of social issues than men are. Significantly more women than men answered that they worried "a great deal" about seven of the 12 issues in the survey.
­­
Stud­ies show that, in addition to worrying more often, women may be physiologically prone to experiencing more stress. For example, the amygdala of the brain processes emotions like fear and anxiety. In men, the amygdala communicates with organs that take in and process visual information, like the visual cortex. In women, though, it communicates with parts of the brain that regulate hormones and digestion. This may mean that stress responses are more likely to cause physical symptoms in women than in men [Source: Live Science].

To learn more about STRESS

EMOTIONS
Understand your emotional makeup -- Emotions can be positive or negative, giving pleasure or discomfort. The feeling can be slight or intense. It can also last for a shorter or longer period.

Temperament

Temperament is associated with your personality. It is something you are born with or acquire young and seldom change. Some people have a sunny disposition whilst others are always nervous or irritable.

Temperament thus lasts for the duration. It is a lifetime platform on which moods and emotions occur. If your temperament is negative, being happy may seem better to you, but it may yet be lower than the everyday median of a naturally optimistic person.

Temperaments are often vague, diffuse emotions, which may be contrasted with the more distinct mood and very specific emotions. In this way, we may well not notice our temperaments.

Temperament can be based on beliefs, which does hold out hope. Examine what you believe: What long-term emotional state does it lead to? What if you believed something else?

Mood

Moods are shorter-term emotional states, typically lasting hours, although they can last for days or longer. For example you may wake up feeling a bit down and stay that way for most of the day.

We can be sent into a mood by an unexpected event, from the happiness of seeing an old friend to the anger of discovering betrayal by a partner. We may also just fall into a mood.

Medical conditions such as depression are not really moods and are typically caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Moods can be caused by shorter-term chemical imbalances, for example brought on by a poor diet.

Emotion

Emotions as commonly experienced and discussed are different from moods and temperament in several ways.

First, emotions tend to last for much shorter periods. The delight at being given a birthday present may subside in minutes as it is replaced by disappointment about a useless gift. Emotions thus tend to replace one another and it can be difficult to be both happy and sad (although we may have a good go at it).

Emotions also tend to be more extreme than moods and temperament, with higher highs and lower lows. We can become very angry very quickly, though it is difficult to stay very angry and it may subside into a irritable mood or be replaced by another completely different emotions.

Emotions tend to be very specific, triggered by noticeable events and are immediate reactions to these and which drive us to particular actions, for example running away from a snarling dog or going to chat up an attractive other person.

Emotional well-being is not the absence of emotions, but it is your ability to understand the value of your emotions and use them to move your life forward in positive directions.


To learn more about MENOPAUSE

TAKE CARE OF YOUR WELLBEING;
With emotional well-being, you can experience:

Healing – from stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and other issues

Change – to transform unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving

Self-confidence – as you gain trust and belief in yourself

Growth – to live more authentically

Leave worry, stress, and despair behind as you learn to lead your life with vision, inspired action, and an inner state of creativity. Emotional freedom is your ability to connect with your body and utilize emotions, feelings, senses, and intuition to guide you into an empowered alignment with purpose.

The web is an amazing educational resource.
Before you jump into the vast ocean of the web, take a few minutes to think about your main objectives:

* What do you really want to know?
* How deep an understanding do you need?
* What is the ultimate application of this knowledge?

By answering these simple questions, you’ll give yourself a much better grasp of your educational purpose. This is essential when evaluating sources and making the decision to move on or dig deeper.

Here is an interesting post-

The Female Brain - Posted on OPRAH

The female brain is a "fabulous learning machine" that governs a woman's life from birth to birthing and beyond, says Dr. Louann Brizendine, a neuropsychiatrist and author of The Female Brain.

Dr. Oz talks with Dr. Brizendine about what makes the female brain unique, as well as some of the fascinating changes that occur in the brain over the course of a woman's life. Here are just a few of her recent findings:

Birth of the female brain

* Up until eight weeks, every brain is female. In males, a huge testosterone surge hits and kills cells off in the communication center, and grows more cells in the sex and aggression centers.
* In females, huge amounts of estrogen spur brain growth and enhance circuits and centers for observation, communication, gut feelings and caring.

The teen girl brain

* During puberty, a girl's primary purpose (from a biological standpoint) is to become sexually desirable and attractive.
* Girls speak two to three times more words per day than boys do and they also talk faster. Connecting through talking activates the pleasure centers in a girl's brain, Dr. Brizendine says

The mommy brain

* The brain shrinks during pregnancy—it does not lose cells but changes metabolism and restructures. Then in the final one to two weeks, the brain begins to increase in size again and construct maternal circuits. It does not return to its former size until about six months after giving birth. "We don't know what it's doing but we think it has something to do with redeveloping the mommy brain's circuits, but also maybe even letting the fetus 'snack' on the mommy's brain," Dr. Brizendine says.

The mature female brain

* The "mommy brain" unplugs.
* Menopause means the end of the hormones that have boosted communication circuits, emotion circuits, the drive to tend and care, and the urge to avoid conflict at all costs.
* More than 65 percent of divorces after the age of 50 are initiated by women. Dr. Brizendine attributes this to something called "post-menopausal zest." "They want their turn, they want to go and do stuff that they're passionate about and step out in a more independent way—they don't want to be taking care of everybody else," she says.

Sex and emotions

* Female sexual turn-on begins with a brain turn-off: Orgasms can only be triggered when the amygdala (the fear and anxiety center) is turned off. "It requires turning off the worrywart circuits in the female brain to have an orgasm," Dr. Brizendine explains.
* For women, foreplay is everything that happens in the 24 hours before intercourse. "She needs to feel comfortable and loving towards her partner and everything in the relationship is alright, so you're reducing that amygdala's activation that something is dangerous or fearful," Dr. Brizendine says.
* Women have evolved to cry four times more easily than men. "The silent treatment is not a way, women, to get his attention," Dr. Brizendine says. "Crying is a way to get his attention that something is wrong and upsetting you."

Found on Amazon

BE YOUR BEST SELF!