You might think I’ve lost my mind, but to me, this is about clearing my mind.  As I mentioned in my last post, my past couple years have been filled with one obstacle after another. Running this race is the perfect metaphor for my life!

It’s about taking on a challenge that feels a little scary, and will have me pushing myself beyond what’s comfortable and safe. The Warrior Dash is a series of 10 obstacles over 5K, that challenge you physically and mentally in ways you’ve likely never been challenged before. And don’t we all come up against stuff in life that requires us to dig deeper than we thought we could dig?  To summon up physical or mental reserves that we didn’t know we had?

Completing this race is about having the mindset of a Warrior.

A Warrior will face a challenge with a mindset of victory, and will persevere to the end.  Because what is on the other side is a victory that is sweet and satisfying in ways only a Warrior understands. We feel invigorated, alive and unstoppable, and move forward with that energy so that we meet our next obstacle with more strength and less fear.

With that in mind, it seems fitting that the cost of participating in this event goes to support the research and treatment of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Because any child that has to fight against cancer is the epitome of a true Warrior.

I could have just done the race with my friends and enjoyed the party at the end, knowing that my entry fee was going to the cause.  But with the way cancer has affected my life, I felt compelled to join their fundraising event, and become a St. Jude Warrior. As a mother, it breaks my heart to think about what these incredibly strong and courageous children are going through, and I feel it is a great cause to contribute to. I also love that a full 81% of the donations go to supporting the research and treatment of the hospital. Our dollars are making a real difference.

If you feel called, you can help me reach my goal by making a donation here.

Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude — research that is shared freely with the global medical community. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for anything.

My goal is to raise $1500 by November 10^th, and just days into my fundraising efforts, I’m so grateful for my community who has already helped me get half way there!

My plan is to finish this year strong, and remind myself of just how much I am capable of in life. Because I am a Warrior…I have persisted….I am persisting….and I will celebrate each sweet victory for the strength it provides as I continue on my journey.

Again, if you’d like to contribute, you can visit my fundraising page.

And I’ll be posting some wild and crazy pictures from the Dash in mid-November, so be sure to visit back often for updates!

To the Warrior in All of Us,

I truly believe we are not given more in life than we can handle. We are given exactly what we need to reach our fullest potential. IF, that is, we do not let our challenges be what define us, but what allow us to dig deep, grow, and realize just how great we can be.

Those who know me know that I choose to see the glass half-full. But in all honesty, I reached a point in my life last year where I was ready to throw in the towel on all that positive thinking business.  From intense fertility struggles and miserable pregnancies (that I don’t dwell on because a.) yay, they happened! and b.) they resulted in two beautiful natural births and two beautiful, amazing children!), to moving across country, buying our first home, buying 2 UPS stores with my husband (with plans of more)…..and oh yes, I can’t forget the life-altering, stop-you-in-your tracks discoveries of cancer and alcoholism that presented themselves in my life. While I am choosing not to discuss the details at this time, I can tell you that each of these discoveries felt apocalyptic in my life. I contemplated falling apart, but somehow, with strength that somehow appeared when I truly felt there was no strength left to muster, I prevailed. Or I suppose I should say, I am prevailing, day by day, moment by moment.

Add to all that some blatant excuses and procrastination, and there you have it. The blog I’d worked so hard to build a strong community and readership has been fizzling into the abyss. At least I know that there will be some great blog posts birthed from all of these life experiences!

So when September 22^nd arrived last week, with just 100 days left of 2012, I took some time to reflect back on one of those defining moments in life where I chose to take my life from content and comfortable to passionate and on fire.  In September of 2009, I was ready to kick myself into massive action, and revitalize that feeling that I know can only come from stretching beyond my perceived limits.  While I definitely had enjoyed slowing my business down a bit so that I could be a present mama for my baby, he was then 2 and starting Montessori, which gave me some room to think about ME again.

And for any of you stay/work at home moms or dads out there, I’m sure you can relate when I say that I was craving some mental stimulation! Life was good, but my business and fitness were far from where I wanted them to be.

It was time for a system re-boot.

And serendipity led me to the beautiful, amazing, 100 Day Challenge.

Without question, I accomplished at least 10 times what I would have without this program. It truly rocked my world.

So as I was sitting in reflection last week, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I needed to revisit the 100 Day Challenge. I have goals for my blog, my business, my fitness, my family, my home….and somehow, despite my lifetime of personal development work, I can admit that I’ve lost my groove, so to speak.

Well it’s time to get my groove back, baby!

And I’d LOVE you to join me.

IF, that is, you’re ready to….

Pay off that debt,

Shed those pounds,

Explode your business performance,

Release negativity,

Regain balance,

Or turn whatever it is that isn’t working in your life into something that is……

then this amazing program is for you.

Led by my friend, Gary Ryan Blair, also known as The Goals Guy, this program will get you to the place you want to go in life.

And I don’t say that lightly.

So let me ask you, are you waiting for Someday?

Because Someday Has Arrived.

So will you join me? You have until Friday, September 28th to sign up!

The 100 Day Challenge can symbolize the time in your life when you decided to take control of your destiny.

If you want to get things done that you’ve been putting off out of fear, laziness, scarcity or simply because you have “no time”, and you want to create massive results quickly, then this is the program that will have you finishing the year with a bang.

I certainly know I’m ready for this, and my mind is already swirling with ideas!

My Connect with Me buttons are at the top of this page on the right, and I’d love to hear about what opens up for you along the way, should you decide to rock the rest of your year with me.

I’m gettin’ my groove back already, and it feels fabulous!

Thanks for those of you who have found your way back here, and those of you who are just visiting for the first time. I appreciate our relationship as it was, as it is, and as it will be moving in to this new chapter of my life, and yours.

In Love and Gratitude,

Is it about achieving a particular status…the impressive title, the fancy car, the big house?  Does it come from a having a notable degree and a big bank account?

I’d venture to say that everyone reading this knows of people who can boast those “achievements”, but are in fact living unhappy, empty lives.  So despite the fact that we are enamored by the fame, fortune and power that society celebrates, I think we all know that true Success is much more than that.

So what’s missing?

A few years back I did a journaling exercise with a coach I was working with on my “Success Mindset”.  I defined Success as living one’s life in excellence…as having one’s internal experience (body, mind & spirit) completely in harmony with one’s external experience.

And then just a few weeks ago I was reading an article by Darren Hardy in Success Magazine, and I really resonated with his discussion on this topic.   He talked about how those people who have achieved that external, material success will inevitably feel that something is amiss if they have not also acquired the thing that matters most ~ Significance.

This is the key element to the harmony I was referring to in my definition.  It is significance that allows the internal experience to be as beautiful as the external experience.  Significance is about knowing that we have had a positive impact on others….that our lives and been meaningful.  The conversation shifts from one of power to one of value.

“The interesting thing is you can be successful and not significant, but you cannot be significant without being successful.   A successful person, by our definition, is one who has achieved five pillars of excellence: business, well-being, relationships, wealth and contribution. We call this “whole-life success,” and one who has achieved it has attained a life of significance.” ~ Darren Hardy

Whole-life Success.  Yes!  This is exactly why I became Holistic Health Coach and created Conscious Choices Wellness.  To truly live life to the fullest, we must focus on all the pieces of the puzzle called life, because if even one is missing, our potential impact is not fully realized.

So which are you striving for, Success or Significance?

I think this is the perfect time of year to begin evaluating how you are using your unique talents and valuable time and energy to create a life of abundance on the inside, the outside and all around you.  The new year is fast approaching, and it is always a time of great reflection.  Begin now to think about where you might need to shift something in your life to create space for more of the balance that leads to Whole-life Success.  Don’t wait until the very end of the year (or the beginning of the next!) to begin thinking about what you will be about and bring about in 2012!

Begin thinking about it now ~ what is the legacy you intend to leave?

This is important to know, because it’s your legacy that will last.  So take some time to get clear on this, because when you do, you will make your choices with complete confidence knowing whether or not they serve and support your intended legacy.

Because as my favorite goals coach Gary Ryan Blair says, “We only live once, but once is enough if we do it right. Live your life with class, dignity, and style so that an exclamation, rather than a question mark, signifies it!”

Yours in Whole-life Success!

I know that I very likely took several steps back in terms of ranking and probably lost many of my regular readers, but now I’m back and can build it back up by once again sharing stories of inspiration along with tools, tips and wisdom that I use to grow both personally and professionally.

Because that’s what I LOVE to do!

So where have I been?  Well for any of you who have followed my blog, you know I am passionate about maintaining BALANCE.  I’ve written several posts on the topic, and while I believe the ultimate goal is to feel balanced across all areas of your life ~ physically, emotionally, financially, mentally, spiritually ~ I acknowledge that sometimes the healthiest thing to do is to temporarily go OUT OF BALANCE to create MORE BALANCE!

And that is why I’ve spent the past few months away from the computer, honoring and nurturing my dedication and devotion to family, as I welcomed my second child, Asher Matthew, into the world in July!

And what a beautiful blessing he is!  Being a mother is truly the most extra-ordinary gift I’ve ever experienced, and so as much as I LOVE my work, there is something magical about those first few months with a baby that deserve my full attention and energy.  And so that’s where I’ve put it!

But now with my older son back in school, and my baby in his third month of life, I’m ready to adjust the balance wheel once again!  So I hope I haven’t lost you all ~ because I’m back!

So I’ll be posting weekly again, and look forward to inspiring, educating and empowering you all to make conscious choices in everything you do so that you can truly live life to the fullest. Because that is what life is all about, wouldn’t you agree?

Your friend,

Here are 10 (very likely) reasons you may not be recruiting and sponsoring many people, or anyone at all, into your business.  Thanks to an amazing networker and new friend, Jon Gillardi, for passing these tips on to our rockin’ team and allowing me to share them with my valued readers.  They are so simple, yet so right on with what I’ve witnessed in my 14 years in this industry.  So enjoy….and get out there and own it, because you deserve to be wildly successful!

(Note: These reasons are in no particular order)

1. You aren’t really working. Many people kid themselves into believing they are actually working when they really aren’t. The big question is, how many people have you talked to in the past week about your business? Be honest with your answer. Doing busy work i.e. making things neat and perfect isn’t WORKING…

2. You aren’t asking enough questions. Start being more interested and more inquisitive. Be genuine. Focus on what they want, NOT what you need.

3. You’re scared. Perhaps you may be over-thinking and letting your head get in your own way. Stop the mental spin. Just take action.

4. You’re focused on the wrong thing. People do this all the time. They focus on themselves rather on what they can do for others. Change your focus and change your results.

5. You’re too timid and worried about what they think. Stop worrying about what others think. Just do. Maintain control. Own it. You have the deal. Act like it.

6. You aren’t finishing. Don’t be one of those people who start the process and not end it. Your prospect is HOPING you call them back…at least the good ones are. Don’t be a ball-dropper. Follow up.

7. You don’t have the best deal on the planet, so stop saying you do. No matter how good your company, comp plan or product is, STOP saying “We’re the Greatest!” Put your feet back on the ground and take a breath of reality. It’s fine to have a great product, very good comp plan, etc. Without having to LIE and say you are the best thing since sliced bread. Nothing screams scam more than hype.

8. You don’t believe. This one kills tons of people. You either don’t believe you’re worth it or that you aren’t capable. You are! You ARE worth it. And…you ARE capable. Stop the negative flow of energy. It isn’t serving you.

9. You aren’t listening. Start listening to your leaders, the ones who are REALLY producing and STOP reinventing the wheel because you think you are cool or good. Make your first 10k a month their way and if you wanna go screw it up after that, you’re free.

10. You’re scattered. Focus on one company. “MOST” Big producers don’t do multiple deals, so why should you unless you have already “MADE IT”. Make sense?

Like I said, simple reasons….but if you are truly with a great, financially sound company, with a solid management team and solid track record, global potential and mass market appeal, and a truly supportive, rockin’ team with great mentorship, training and systems in place for duplication, and are NOT having success, then the missing ingredient can only be found one place, right?!

To Your Wild Success,

One of my favorite leadership mentors, Robin Sharma, defines leadership in a way that I really connected with. He said, “Leadership is really about using the authentic power that resides within you to go out in the world every day and leave things better than you found them. I think that is really the ultimate definition of leadership. No matter what your station is in life, whether you are a taxi driver or a street sweeper or a poet or a CEO or a wildly successful entrepreneur, the best leaders have this ability to always be delivering what I call ABDOV, Always Be Delivering Outrageous Value.”

I believe leadership is something we all possess and can access to varying degrees. Whether you call it leadership, personal potential, authentic power or anything else, it is discovering and actualizing the power and greatness that lies inside of you. It’s about consciously choosing to never play small, because you know that you would not have the dreams you have unless you had the corresponding ability to make those dreams happen!

So whether born with or developed, here are 10 attributes I believe are essential to truly great leadership:

1. Integrity ~ Great leaders have impeccable integrity. They are crystal clear about their core values, and always operate with sound judgment and strength of character. Integrity exists when your inner values and outward actions are aligned. It’s about knowing what your core values are, and then shaping your life around those values. And I do mean YOUR core values, not some perceived expectation that someone else has placed on you. In fact, another gem I once heard Robin Sharma share, is that “the greatest pain a human being can suffer is the gap between who you truly are and who you currently are in the world.” He called it the “integrity gap”, or the gap between your authentic self and the social self that you’ve adopted through the years based on the limiting beliefs, behaviors and assumptions of the world around you. Ultimately, leadership is all about closing that gap.

2. Vision ~ Leaders have the ability to look ahead and see possibility. They have absolute clarity of vision. Yet it’s not enough to just have vision … Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.” Great leadership requires masterful communication that is clear, passionate, purposeful and contagious! The vision has to be more than just inspiring, it has to light a fire and inspire a Movement!

3. Self Mastery ~ You must be very clear as to what you intend to create, and then spend time every single day seeing those things as if they have already been fulfilled. Great leaders lock in on that vision every day, and build their mission and action plan accordingly. World class results require daily, purposeful practices that you integrate into your life to serve as your constant reminder of your vision.

For me, it is focusing on things that fuel my body, mind and spirit that allow me to serve on a greater and greater level. Activities such as daily meditation, exercise, yoga, organic and sustainable food, inspirational reading or listening, seminars and choosing to surround myself with like-minded, positive people who are supportive and also actively pursuing great things in their lives.

4. Decisiveness ~ Leaders never suffers from ‘analysis paralysis’. They get the facts, weigh them against one another, and calmly and quickly make sound decision. Leaders are deeply grounded in their core values, and therefore, decisiveness is second nature. Because of their integrity, vision and self-mastery, leaders are not prone to unpredictable actions. Decisiveness is what moves the vision forward, and while there will be times that a leader receives additional information that causes them to change their decision, it is important that their community respects them as someone who typically makes excellent decisions and stands by them.

5. Positive Expectancy ~ Great leaders are optimistic. I wrote a post about The Optimist’s Creed, which embodies the principles that great leaders live by. Leaders always see the glass half-full, because they operate from a place of faith, not fear. Positive Expectancy is all about faith in action! This quote from Brian Tracy highlights what this concept is all about. “Feeling confident and hopeful puts forth an invisible and powerful influence that causes people and situations to work out as planned. When you believe in the likelihood of positive outcomes, your performance will lead to favorable result. Once you believe that it is impossible to fail, you will act in spite of your fears and uncertainties.”

6. Selfless Service ~ Great leaders are not motivated by their own agenda, but the well-being of the collective team, community or group being led. Their joy comes from serving others and raising them up! The new model of leadership is very much about collaboration, and creating a place where people feel heard, supported, guided and safe. Great leaders build communities where people feel respected and cherished, and it is because of the leadership that the tribe trusts that this is a place to grow and prosper.

7. Unwavering Commitment ~ Leaders dedication is simply not questioned, because their vision is so clear and so great. Time and energy are ALWAYS available, and their enthusiasm can move mountains! This insatiable appetite comes from an understanding that they will never “arrive”, and that there is always more work to be done and a bigger difference that can be made. This “unscratchable itch” is what provides the level and quality of focus that is required of great leaders.

8. Adaptability ~ Leaders are great listeners and open to possibility that there could be a better way. They are non-reactive, yet as I mentioned, they know when it’s time to make a decision and can make it! Leaders can adapt to change because they have the keen ability to find openings where others see walls, as well as see opportunity before it arrives. And of course, they always have a team of trusted advisors or mastermind group to call on for opinions, but in the end, it is the leader who makes the final decision, which is then fully supported whether the group actually agrees with it or not.

9. Humility ~ Unfortunately, humility is one of those leadership traits you do not see as frequently as you should. It is often perceived as a weakness when, in fact, it can be a tremendous asset. The humble leader rarely allows the power of their position to cloud their judgment. Leaders give themselves permission to be human! They know not just their strengths but their weaknesses, and understand that they cannot lead an organization in an evolving world without evolving themselves. By recognizing their own imperfections and focusing on their own personal growth, the humble leader creates an environment where others feel comfortable taking chances and making mistakes.

10. Perseverance ~ I wrote a post a while back about the Power of Perseverance, where I shared a great story called “Shake It Off and Step Up”. Leaders possess this capacity! They have the fortitude to overcome any obstacles, perceived or real, because of the strength of their mindset and vision. Leaders understand that failure is part of the process, and use the hardships as lessons on the path to greatness.

So which of these traits do you feel you were born with, and which have you either intentionally cultivated, or know that you’d need to in order to step fully into the leadership necessary to achieve your dreams?

If you’d like, share in the comments, as I’m sure we can create a lively discussion on this topic! And as always, if you’ve benefited from this post, use the buttons at the top to share with you friends and followers on the various social sites.

To the Leader Within You!

Well these past few weeks have been one of those times for me, and while I’m EXHAUSTED, because of my commitment, not just my desire, but my commitment to achieving certain results in my life, I am actually on Cloud 9, filled with love, blessings and abundance, despite the tests and the exhaustion!

You might be wondering, how is that possible?

Without going in to too long of a song and dance, suffice to say that I am roughly 6 weeks away from welcoming baby #2 into our family, we just moved across the country and bought our first home in Austin, TX, and moved in about 10 days ago (yeah!), my mom turned 65 this past weekend and we had already planned houseguests and celebrations extraordinaire for 4 days straight AND to add icing to the cake, I experienced a very unexpected shake up and massive transition in my business that required significant and immediate time, energy and decisiveness.  Phew!

So while I always like to give everything my 100%, I knew that I needed to muster up more than that if I was going to pull all of this off.  And so I reflected on a book I read last year sometime, and it’s corresponding amazing video, 212 Degrees.

The premise is based on the notion that raising the temperature of water by one extra degree means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine.  At 211 degrees, water is hot …. at 212 degrees, it boils.  And with boiling water comes steam …. And steam can power a locomotive!

So what does this mean in translation?

It is a beautiful metaphor for our focused actions ~ reminding us that consistently pushing ourselves to make the extra effort, even just one degree of extra effort, can make extraordinary differences!

Watch this awesome and beautiful video to get a glimpse into just how powerful this principle really is….

So you are now aware!  And with awareness, comes responsibility….to yourself and others.

As the video says, It’s YOUR life.  YOU are responsible for your results.

And because I know this, and care about creating extraordinary results…..in business, for my family, for my life, in the world….this past 10 days has been about seriously TURNING UP THE HEAT!

So I cranked it up to 212 degrees…..

212 degrees of Service

212 degrees of Attitude

212 degrees of Leadership

212 degrees of Kindness (and Patience!)

212 degrees of Commitment

212 degrees of Belief

212 degrees of Focus

212 degrees of Perseverance

And like I said, I’m exhausted, but because of my extra, focused action, my cup runneth over!

I’d like to leave you with an excerpt from the book that sums this all up perfectly ….. it is called “And then some….” By Carl Holmes

“And then some….these 3 little words are the secret to success.  They are the difference between average people and top people in most companies.  The top people always do what is expected….and then some.  They are thoughtful of others, they are considerate and kind….and then some.  They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely….and then some.  They are good friends and helpful neighbors….and then some.  They can be counted on in an emergency….and then some.  I am thankful for people like this, for they make the world a better place.  Their spirit of service is summed up in these three little words….and then some.”

So what are YOU willing to do today, that you’ve never done before?  What extra degree of heat (effort), of persistent and additional action, are you willing to apply to whatever task or activity you are currently undertaking in order to achieve the exponential benefits that this principle makes possible?

It’s time to TURN UP THE HEAT!!!

So today I wanted to share 5 key strategies to assist you in establishing and cultivating quality relationships so that people have the experience of being REALLY happy they know you, and not hesitating for a second to help you out in return.

1. Be Strategic

Know who the movers and shakers are and find ways to get in close proximity to them.  Who are the leaders in your community?  The decision makers?  The connectors?  If possible, research who they are and what they’re interested ahead of time, so that you can make a strong first impression.  We all know that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!

2. Make an Impact

Have courage and introduce yourself.  Or even better, if you have a mutual connection and it’s someone they respect, have that person make the introduction.  This will create an opening and establish instant credibility and rapport.

If you’re introducing yourself online, don’t just send a quick friend request to their social media sites ~ ask compelling questions that show you have an interest in what they’re working on and make the conversation exciting and engaging.  I highly recommend sending them a personal video introduction.  This way they don’t just read what you have to say that’s important and valuable, but they hear you, see you, and feel your energy and passion.  They see that you’ve put effort in to this and are willing to differentiate yourself from the masses.

And most important, if you do get the chance to connect in person, maintain your composure and confidence, stand tall, give a firm handshake (yes, even you women!), make eye contact, smile ….. and approach each contact as if it is the beginning of a long-term, high-value relationship.  Because this could be the most important contact you ever make! So expect great things, and do everything you can to make your time with them memorable.

3. Find Out What’s Important to Them

Ask high-mileage questions.  I have found that a question expressing your genuine interest in their current projects and passions is one of the very best places to start.   Find out what keeps them awake at night …. what has them face each day with the energy and enthusiasm that you found so attractive and had you wanting to connect.

Here are a few of my favorites rapport building questions to get you started:

• What is the most important project you are currently involved in, in case I or someone I know can be a resource to you?

• Who is your perfect customer/ partner in case I can refer you business?

• What has been the biggest challenge of you career and who helped you?

• What do you do for fun when you are not doing _________?

• Have you had any mentors?  If yes ~ What was the most valuable lesson you learned from them?

• What is most important to you personally and in business?

Get creative, actively listen and take mental notes, and then be sure to write them down as soon as you can after the conversation!

4. Help Them Get What They Want

To truly set yourself apart as a person worthy of long-term connection and relationship, it is critical that you do your part to help both of you benefit from this new relationship.  And the best way for you to get what you want, is to help them get what they want!

You’ve asked the important, high-mileage questions, and now it’s time to see how you can assist them in furthering their mission.  Who do you know that can solve a problem they might be facing or complete a project they’re working on faster or more effectively?  Do you know someone that fits their description of their ideal contact?  If you didn’t ask these questions, you are missing out on a gem of relationship building!  In my experience, being a connector is one of the very best way to demonstrate your value, and have people remembering you and wanting to assist you with your projects and passions in return.

Hint:  The more organized you are with your contacts and resources, the easier it is to be a great connector!

5. Establish a Consistent and Meaningful Follow-Up System

I wrote a post a while back called The Fortune Really IS in the Follow Up, and you might want to check that out to learn the very telling statistics about the power of follow-up.  If after reading them you are not doing everything in your power to create a system for following up, then you must not want to succeed, because there are not many people doing it, which makes this a critical place for you to shine!

People need to believe in you and know that their money, time, energy, etc. will be well spent.  It’s a process of establishing trust and credibility, and this means that you must be consistent in your communications.  Consistent in frequency, consistent in the value you have to offer, and consistent in your desire to champion THEIR mission.

Personally, I use multiple avenues for follow up, including email, autoresponders, skype, telephone and social media.  My favorite method is video email, because of the distinct power behind video communication.  Video creates a level of connection and authenticity that is often lost in simple text or audio messages, and because it lends itself to multiple communication styles, you have a much higher likelihood of being remembered.  This is why I suggested this as both a great initial contact method, and for follow-up as well.

The bottom line is that it’s not just what you know, but who you know, that can vastly influence your success in business.  So taking time to establish and cultivate quality relationships is, without a doubt, one of the most productive uses of your time and energy.

I’d love to hear from you, what is your favorite relationship building strategy? Leave me a message in the comments, and of course, if you’ve benefited from this post, be sure to use the buttons at the top to share around the various social sites!

To Your Successful & Prosperous Relationships,

We learned from the nation’s leading health and wellness authorities, including Andrew Weil MD, Barry Sears PhD, Mark Hyman MD, David Wolfe,  and Deepak Chopra MD to name just a few.  I really love that the school teaches bio-individuality, which takes in to account that one person’s food is another person’s poison.  There is no one “right” way of eating, so my job as a health counselor is to work with individuals by guiding them to discover the healthiest food and lifestyle choices for them.

What I love most is that IIN bridges the gap between nutrition and personal growth by teaching a concept called Primary Food. Healthy relationships, regular physical activity, fulfilling careers and a spiritual practice all nourish our souls and satisfy our hunger for living. With this in mind, the food we eat becomes Secondary.  Because while the food we eat plays a critical role in our health and happiness, food can fill us, but it cannot fulfill us!

Throughout the entire school year, I felt my core values and beliefs were re-affirmed time and again, and it was the most rewarding experience.  In my last blog post I shared a great tool called Think Right Now that I find to be an amazingly effective combination of affirmations, meditation and psychotherapy all rolled in to one 30 minute a day at-home practice.

So knowing I’m a huge fan of affirmations, it felt natural to share the incredibly powerful and purposeful affirmation that I was left with in my final week at IIN.  Our guest lecturer was a very accomplished and inspiring woman, Terri Kennedy PhD, and when she read this affirmation, or pledge, it resonated with every cell of my being.

I immediately ordered her book, The Power Living Pledge, and as I read it I felt like I was reading my personal mission statement for how I choose to live my life, and what I hope to inspire in others!  Her “Power Living” Practice is a systematic approach to becoming conscious and living from self-awareness and self-control.

And this is what I blog about ~ making Conscious Choices so that we can truly live and experience life to the fullest! Kennedy says that the ultimate goal of Power Living is to get in the habit of consciousness and action …. and I couldn’t agree more!

“Power Living is being spiritually connected, mentally focused, physically energized, emotionally engaged, and environmentally supported.  It is a way of being that allows life to flow.  It is committing your energy to what you care about on a day-to-day basis.”

The practice is guided by Five Principles, each of which represents the five dimensions, which are all inter-related:

1. Live on Purpose (spiritual)

2. Tune your Mind to the Positive (mental)

3. Honor Your Body (physical)

4. Be a Humble Warrior (emotional)

5. Sanctify your Surroundings (environmental)

The bottom line is, if you are NOT currently living a powerful and purposeful life, it is because you are blocking the flow of energy along one or more of these dimensions.

Kennedy shares that Power Living is about knowing who you are and what you value, and then organizing your life around it ~ from what and when you eat, what you do for work, the relationships you choose to surround yourself with, to how you communicate with yourself and others.

It’s about living on Purpose, not just with Purpose.

With this in mind, I want to now share with you The Power Living Pledge.  I have been reading it every morning and evening (it seriously takes 30 seconds of your time!), as a promise to my Self to live a powerful and purposeful life each and every day.  As I mentioned, this pledge felt like the epitome of what I’m all about and what my work as a Holistic Health Counselor is all about, and so I’m excited to share that with you!  You can learn more about my practice at my new website, Conscious Choices Wellness.

Enjoy!

The Power Living Pledge

I live on Purpose every day;

I look to my Creator to show me the way.

I choose thoughts that nurture my mind;

I eliminate views that are negative and unkind.

I honor my body as the temple of my soul;

I choose foods that are nourishing and whole.

I serve my Self, and others with Love;

showing gratitude to my Source above.

I seek order, simplicity and peace,

creating space for my blessings to increase.

I choose wisely in all I do, prioritizing

my energy to live authentically and true.

I pursue every task with conviction;

I view unconscious inaction as an affliction.

I am fully Present, living as if,

this is the last day for me to enjoy my Gift.

I take time to Pause and Play,

giving balance and joy no delay.

I live these power-filled principles every day;

I do my best to get out of the way!

Purposeful and Powerful, indeed!

Kennedy continues the book by explaining each of the 10 affirmation statements in the pledge through discussions on Clarity, Focus, Energy, Gratitude, Simplicity, Choice, Action, Presence, Balance and Faith, and offers questions for journaling so you can fully sink in to your true Purpose and Self.

It is a short and sweet read, yet so perfect that I’ve incorporated this in to my gift package for my clients.  It was such a wonderful way to complete my school year ~ the greatest affirmation of my mission and vision in life.   I hope you enjoyed it, and if you feel that your friends and followers would enjoy it, you can use the social sharing buttons at the top of the post to pass it along.

With Purpose,

This post is not about network marketing in particular, but about being the very best we can be in everything we do.  And like I said, I really believe in the power of affirmations.  So many people spend so much time repeating negative thoughts in their minds, often unconsciously.  So when you tell yourself that you can’t do something, that you lack confidence, that you’re not strong enough or that you’re going to fail, well, considering that the subconscious mind accepts as true what you keep saying, you’re going to attract events and situations into your life that are in alignment with those negative statements.  Yikes!

So if our negative thoughts can break us down, it makes sense that our positive thoughts can build us up.  And that’s why affirmations are such a powerful tool.  These positive statements describe a desired situation, are repeated many times, and create an impression on the subconscious mind and trigger it into positive action.   The key to success with affirmations lies in the repetition, which must be done with conscious focus, conviction, interest and desire for them to work.

And yes, I’ll admit, I’m one of those people that has sticky notes all over my house with various affirmations written on them.   And while I do love my affirmations, about 2 years ago, I stumbled upon a program that takes thought and habit modification to a whole new level.  It’s kind of a combination of affirmations, meditation and psychotherapy all rolled in to one 30 minute a day at-home practice.

Think Right Now!, created by Mike Brescia, is truly an extraordinary accelerated success conditioning program that isn’t the typical “how to” manual…showing you show you how to eat, how to get more done, how to be more persuasive or how to feel happy or get rid of fears….because the truth is you probably already KNOW what you *should* be doing, but just can’t seem to get yourself to do it, right?!

Instead, these audio programs actually alter the core-level mental “triggers” that create specific emotions, which control what your attitudes and actions will be.  And this is critical, because as we discussed above, our thoughts and emotions will either stop us in our tracks, or serve as the foundation for us to be, do and have anything we truly want in life.

Think Right Now! is helping tens of thousands people all over the world feel in ways they’ve never felt and do things they’ve never done before.  Here are just a few of the outcomes you can expect depending on which program is right for you:

• Hit your ideal weight and stay there forever without feeling miserable
• Exercise like a maniac and LOVE it
• Be free of depression no matter how severe or how long you’ve suffered
• Explode your personal sales and fall in love with prospecting
• Get rid of your panic attacks and stop obsessive behaviors
• Live every single day with passion and purpose no matter what your age
• Have more money than you could ever need. Quit bad habits for good – and not miss them one little bit
• Become a goal achieving machine
• Feel great about who you are, happy to be you

Sounds pretty fabulous, right?!  Well it is!  I’ve been using the program Supreme Confidence Now for close to 2 years, and the results have been profound for me.  I think a lot of people would be surprised to hear that I lack confidence at times, but we all have our perceived limitations and places we feel that growth and expansion would serve us greatly….and confidence is definitely a biggie for me.

Essentially, Think Right Now! is about re-training your brain’s mental patterns with laser focused statements to change your thoughts, emotions and actions to be exactly like the people who have already done what you want to do.

Focusing on 22 core mental patterns found in the people who have the success characteristics that you want, these audios will literally re-groove your core-level habitual, automatic “unconscious” thoughts and attitudes about whichever area of your life you are looking to create lasting transformation in.

The process combines a specific delivery method known as Suggestopedia, developed by famed Bulgarian psychotherapist Dr. Georgi Lozanov, which has been the foundation of Accelerated Learning courses throughout the world.  It has been used for over 40 years with Olympic athletes and in top universities and corporations to speed retention of materials 5-10 times compared to standard teaching methods, while dramatically reducing stress in the body at the same time.

The process consists of:

1) A brief relaxation session at the beginning of each program, to produce the optimal state of mind for learning and retention.

2) 55-60 beat per minute music to further reduce stress while lowering brain waves into the alpha and theta levels.  Alpha brainwave state is the key to heightened recall and accelerated learning, while Theta brainwave state is where deep emotional changes can occur with great speed.

3) Special pace and repetition of the re-scripting statements to further speed internalization.

From there, it’s about Releasing unsupportive patterns.  In a study looking at the major differences between the most accomplished, happiest, content people and those who have the least self-control and who suffer greatly for it, there were 11 core mental patterns found in the failures not found in the successful group.  And these 11 Mental Patterns of Failure are exactly what must be released so you can move on to the next step of owning the thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of champions.

And that leads to the final step of Installing the 11 Core Positive Mental Patterns so that you create lasting change.  Releasing unsupportive patterns is only half the battle ~ without filling in the void with positive patterns, you will slip right back in to your old ways of thinking and acting.  Or you might even end up creating new bad patterns and be right back the cycle of failure!

You can learn more about the exact 22 mental patterns that are released and installed in this process here.  They are incredibly powerful and definitely life-altering.

With repetition, and over time, Think Right Now! programs will have you feel increasingly more and more empowered.

Your choices will be right a lot more often.

Your actions will take you toward greater and greater accomplishments.

Your life will be a whole lot happier and more fulfilling.

You will be an extraordinary success in every endeavor you pursue, be it personal or professional.

The question is, are you ready to let go of whatever is holding you back from being your most extraordinary self?

To Your Accelerated Success,