Self Care Tip for Today: Be impeccable with your words...towards yourself and towards others.

Be kind and loving towards YOUrself.

The Four Agreements, a best selling book written by don Miguel Ruiz, four principles are outlined to practice in order to create love and happiness in your life. Adopting and committing to these agreements is simple. Actually living and keeping these Four Agreements can be one of the hardest things you will ever do. It can also be one of the most life changing things you will ever do.

As you practice living these four practices your life will dramatically change. In the beginning these new habits will be challenging and you will lapse countless times. With practice these agreements become integrated into your being and every area of your life and become easy habits to keep.

http://www.toltecspirit.com/

FEAR & PLAYING SMALL

FEAR is presenting everywhere. It's in our world, in our communities, in our relationships, in our lives. Feels a bit like being in a 'free fall'. No control. No GPS. No light at the end of the tunnel.

Fear freezes me in my tracks. Fear dims my light. Fear makes me play small.

And that fear is mirrored back to me everywhere.

Today I choose differently. I SURRENDER. I choose to use my fear as a reminder to breathe and to shift into my heart space, and to shine my bright light. I choose to play BIG. It's who I am. It's who God intended me to be. Brilliant. Gorgeous. Talented. Fabulous.

It's who God intended YOU to be TOO!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Nelson Mandela (Marianne Anderson)

Be well, Shine brightly!

What 'INSPIRES' you?

This looks like a simple enough question but I have had many clients simply say, "Huh? What do you mean by 'inspire' ?"

The word 'inspire' has its root in the word 'spirit'.

Many of the great philosophers speak to this concept in stating that one must be 'in spirit' to be 'inspired'. Genius, creativity, innovation...all connect with inspiration first.

What does 'spirit' mean and how do we get 'in spirit'?

'Spirit' is the essence of you. It's what makes you, Y O U, unique and different from everyone else. What inspires you and connects you to the essence of you---your soul or your spirit---is unique to you.

Think about what makes you feel happy? Joy-filled? Elated? Giddy? What activity have you been involved with and have completely lost track of time?

It may be an activity, or a person, or being immersed in nature or whatever you feel feeds your soul. THAT's being 'in spirit' and THAT leads to inspiration, innovation and genius!

Connect with spirit everyday for total wellness in body, mind & spirit.

Be well.

Dive Deeper

What exactly does the 'Dark Night of the Soul' mean? I had heard this phrase from other who were experiencing a particularly difficult or challenging time in their lives with things not lining up the way that they had planned; a challenging job market; financial woes; relationship troubles; health issues. Fear. Doubt. Anger. Frustration. Not a comfortable place to be and certainly not a comfortable place to stay!

Feeling many of these same feelings myself in this time of 'active waiting', I wondered, "Am I experiencing this 'Dark Night of the Soul'?" and if I am, what does that mean? I started to dig deeper and found some comforting information from one of my favorite authors, Sue Monk Kidd:

"Before new life can grow and emerge, darkness is a crucial step to the process---a caterpillar in the chrysalis; a seed in the ground; a child in the womb; True Self in the soul.

To hurry this process along or to 'pop out' of it too quickly or to eliminate this crucial step of darkness in any of these scenarios results in a form of 'caterpillar soup', and not the intended butterfly at all. The darkness, or the incubation, creates the conditions necessary for development and growth.

Entering this darkness is not easy. It's scary and it feels lonely. And having the courage to stay with this darkness and to allow the incubation and to not 'pop out' early to be more comfortable is even more challenging.

But rather to know that I am 'incubating'---and to know that this is a critical part of my process of becoming my True Self ---is allowing me to let go and surrender to the butterfly that is 'in progress'.

Be well.

Floating

I have had the great good fortune of being truly blessed with many soul sisters on this journey. They fill me up, inspire me and remind me of my truth. I was talking with one of my dear soul sisters from Santa Fe, New Mexico earlier today. We were commenting on this period of time in our journey which we call the 'waiting'...and that we feel ready for 'what ever is next'. In talking with her about her 'work' to actively wait, I am reminded again of my own work. We are not in 'control' of our destiny at all. This is an illusion. We think and we DO rather then simply 'Be'. This thinking and doing is the control or the resistance we create which stops our ability to receive the abundance that is waiting for each of us. The ego, not the Higher Self---thinks we are 'driving'; thinks that we are 'in control'; thinks we know best. Its not in the swimming but in the floating! We think when we stop swimming, that we will sink. But actually we will float. And this excludes the brilliance and power of Universal flow. This eliminates unconditional love for ourselves.

We agreed to try an experiment, a different way of BEING for both of us this week, starting with compassion and unconditional love towards oneself first. We agreed to be 'Compassion Partners' for the next 5 days. We will practice sliding into 'heart' energy several times daily voluntarily and certainly during times of stress, fear or doubt.

How? As we know any skill takes practice, :

• Take a deep belly breath (pranayamic breath) in through the nose and let it out through the nose.
• As you breath in, softly close your eyes and 'look' down (inside) towards your heart space(this may feel warm or like butterflies. Love.)
• Open your eyes when you're ready.

That is sliding into the 'gap'; connecting with Source, Universal energy, Higher Self, the infinite power of you, Oneness, God.

Letting go of the 'doing' and spending time in the 'BEING' might make all of the difference in the world for you and will be reciprocated to you as love, compassion and peace. Let go and float!

Be well.

Detachment

For those of you who have been following my blog, you know that I have been in a space of "active waiting", a term coined by Sue Monk Kidd's in her book, " When the Heart Waits". The term refers to the time in our lives that requires no action, but rather in-action or 'BE-ing'. This can feel passive, as if one is doing nothing. For someone like myself, who's middle name is action, this has been a very challenging time indeed. Kidd points out that the waiting is the work, and I am living testament to that statement! But the reality is that I had no other choice. Nothing was lining up; nothing was fitting; nothing was happening. My 'driving skills' had failed me. I had lost control. There was nothing else to do but wait. And so I waited and prayed. And found I had only God to trust; that He had a better plan for me.

During the waiting period, I had the great good fortune of a 10+ day trip to New England where I spent quality & quantity time with many of my favorite people, who welcomed me with opened arms! I actually had more invitations then I had days to spend! I spent barefoot days on many beaches, took long walks, slept late, did jigsaw puzzles, ate ice cream, took in a movie and basked in the unconditional love of family & friends.

As I returned home, I couldn't quite remember what all of my 'waiting' was about. And realized that I have been in a perpetual state of waiting the better part of my life. I have found myself asking, "What exactly have I been waiting for?"

Life feels really rich right now, in this minute with four beautiful healthy children who love and (generally) respect me, many friends who accept me and love me exactly as I am, food in my belly and clothes on my back, a strong relationship with God and a few dollars in my wallet. Perfect? No. But darn close!

I implore you to be with your 'waiting' when it comes---because it will come---without taking the easy exit; the quick fix. Just be with the waiting. It's when God allows your soul to grow up.

Be well.

Detox Your Way to Beauty...

Reading food labels and understanding the ingredients of foods that you are putting into your body make a huge difference in your life. And as always, no packaging is the best packaging: Out of the (organic) ground and onto your plate.

What about your skin? Its your largest organ. Although it does not actually breathe, it does detoxify or toxify the body with the products that you choose to put on it! Check out the ingredients of any product in your beauty arsenal at:

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

The Environmental Working Group gives you free information about the toxicity level of most products that you may use every day. Lets take a look at an old favorite:

Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen: "Smells good, its approved for use with babies--must be safe!"

...ITS A TOXIC NIGHTMARE! RATED A 7 on a scale of 0-10 (10 being highest hazard)

The info is free. Its easy. You can access the website on your blackberry BEFORE you buy.

Choose total wellness.

Choose to surround yourself with non-toxic food, products & people. Be well, be sustainable, be in spirit.

Pet Care and Self Care mirrored...

I noticed a commercial last night about 'pet care' or the lack of pet care during economically challenging times. Vets are reporting preventable diseases in pets that might have been avoided if Fido or Fluffy had come in for their regular check-ups.

How is this same "neglect" showing up in our own lives during these challenging times?

'Self-care' is not selfish, but rather self-fulfilling and self-sustaining. Self-care is an art; It requires study, observation and commitment; Committment to practice the art. That's why yoga or meditation or tai chi are each called 'a practice'. They take study, observation and commitment.

As you master the art of taking care of yourself first, you will be able to manage your energy efficiently and intelligently, giving you the increased capacity or band width to live the life that you have dreamed for yourself.

Take care of yourself first. Carpe diem!

Waiting...

I, like many others I know, find myself in these challenging times 'waiting'...Waiting for an answer; waiting for traction; waiting for something to shift. For anyone who knows me, inactivity is not one of my strengths. I am an 'action' person. I get things done; I make things happen. Clearly this is one of the many ways that I have chosen to show-up in the world.

For me, waiting feels like I am doing nothing; Waiting feels like a waste of time; Waiting feels lazy.

I tend to busy myself with other tasks. Always moving. Always checking things off of the endless "To Do" list, until I read this...

" When you're waiting, you're not doing nothing. You're doing the most important something there is. You're allowing your soul to grow up. If you can't be still and wait, you can't become what God created you to be."

I came across this quote in a book called, 'When the Heart Waits' by Susan Monk Kidd.

http://www.suemonkkidd.com/WhenTheHeartWaits/default.aspx

This one quote has provided the re-frame that I am seeking.

Waiting is the work.

And the work means being still. Stopping the "doing" and simply BE-ING.

Being still is the heavy lifting.

And in the stillness, God can be heard.

So in this society of 'quickaholics', I am choosing to slow down and stop doing.

I have undertaken the practice of "active waiting"...

...and letting my soul grow up.

Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS)

"Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) describes an estimated $209 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. The consumers attracted to this market represent a sizable group in this country. Approximately 19% percent of the adults in the U.S., or 41 million people, are currently considered LOHAS Consumers." http://www.lohas.com/about and http://www.lohas.com/

That's exciting information and speaks to the need in business practice to continuously strive for Conscious Capitalism with a triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit.

Buying habits and emerging market trends are rapidly changing:

1. People in US Are Changing: They have a strong desire to be self reliant; to conserve resources & prioritize their spending and behaviors towards more purposeful buying decisions
2. People Are Redefining What "Value" Means: a new definition of sophisticated value from companies; a better company overall for society and the planet
3. People Want to Simplify What They Spend Their Money On: They want purity and simplicity
4. People Want A 'Dialogue' with the Company: based on product integrity, authenticity and performance.Transparency and corporate responsibility have become far more important to consumers in a tough economy

Go green or go home!

Be well~

Life feels scary...

May 1st is right around the corner. Time is passing very quickly. There are metaphysical reasons for this, but that's a whole different blog! In the 'quickness' of time passing, its easy to feel overwhelmed by all that there is to "Do"; afraid that you're falling behind; less than someone else who seems "ahead" of you. A friend sent me this quote this morning: "In life you can only ever be scared, when you believe in limits. You can only ever become bored, when you no longer follow your heart. And you can only ever get overwhelmed, when you think the illusions are real. Thoughts become things...choose the best ones." Limits & limiting beliefs are the 'old' story that we repeat to others and ourselves every chance we get..."I can't seem to get ahead", "My parents screwed me up so badly", "If only I had ____, THEN I'd be ____!" Sound familiar? Feels scary, right? STOP. BREATHE. SHIFT INTO HEART ENERGY & SELF-LOVE. REFRAME. Choose differently. Choose to follow your heart. Choose to create the life of your dreams! Think BIG and watch the magic manifest in your life. Be well~

What goes ON your body is as important as what goes IN your body...

Corwellness often blogs about what we choose to put into our bodies for our health & well-being, choosing organic when possible and eating plant foods often. Do you know that it is AS important to pay attention to what you put ON your body as well? Our skin, or epidermis, is our largest organ. Although it does not actually breathe (no lungs or gills), it does absorb what we choose to put on it. Time to rethink that fragrance filled-body lotion? Just like the foods you choose to purchase, read the labels of products that you purchase as well!

Here is a way to make it easier.

The Environmental Working Group is an organization working for us. Their mission is to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment. EWG's Skin Deep database http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from everyday exposures to chemicals. They launched Skin Deep in 2004 to create online safety profiles for cosmetics and personal care products. Their aim is to fill in where industry and government leave off. Companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish. The U.S. government doesn't review the safety of products before they're sold.

Their staff scientists compare the ingredients on personal care product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. Now in its eighth year, EWG's Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for a wide range of products and ingredients on the market. At about one million page views per month, EWG's Skin Deep is the world's largest personal care product safety guide.

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Caffeine Withdrawal...

The mere thought of having to eliminate my morning Starbucks French Roast mug of deliciousness---made in a french press no less---immediately has me shaking my head from side to side, saying "NO." Simple. No drama. "No."

Does this mean I am addicted to caffeine? Does this mean I am dependent on caffeine to get me moving in the morning? Does this mean---like most women I know---that I am sleep deprived? Yes, yes and yes. Have I weaned myself off of caffeine successfully in the past and supported many others in doing the same? Yes again.

Rather than condemn myself with self-loathing for this indiscretion, I choose to be mindful and observe my 'habit' this week. I want to become more aware of why I choose to imbibe each & every morning...blissfully. Am I sleep deprived? Would that be aided by my getting into bed a little bit earlier at night? Or is it the ritual of doing something that is just for me every morning? Could that be replaced with a healthier habit? All good questions...

I will observe.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness: dis-ambiguous; paying attention on purpose; in the present moment non-judgmentally

I recently attended a 'sustainability' workshop and was reminded of this word, mindfulness. This is a word that I have always found intriguing. Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn is a master in this arena: the art of non-doing; the art of BE-ing.

We live in a multi-dimensional Universe; We are multi-dimensional beings. To live fully---with purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally---we must 'tune our instrument'.

Meditation allows us to 'tune' our instrument (your body, mind & spirit) before we begin our day. Awareness. Intuition. Creativity. Innovation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nwwKbM_vJc&feature=relmfu

Namaste.

Stop Cheating...

Last night I had the privilege of moderating a 'Women's Empowerment' workshop with two wonderful women from the Morris County Women's Center. I was asked to participate as the Corwellness curriculum provides 'tools' for wellness empowerment. Here are a few examples of the 'tools' shared last night. These 'tools' may feel strange at first but with some practice, you master these and find some of your own for true empowerment:

1. Food Choices: Your food is your most intimate relationship as it creates your cellular structure. What you choose to put into your body IS what creates your body. Hmm...a packaged bar or an organic apple? Choose wisely because you are worth it!
2. Breathe: When you feel threatened and dis-empowered, you move into fear. Stop, breathe deeply & slowly, focus on your heart---move into love, speak from a place of empowerment.
3. Re-frame: Your words create your reality. When you say 'should' you dis-empower yourself. "I should be thinner; I should volunteer for that school function; I should be more successful." I want to be healthier. I do not want to volunteer this time. I am successful"
4. Stop Cheating YOU: Make the better food choice for you. Leave the sugar in the sugar bowl for you. Do the last 5 minutes on the Stair-master for you.
5. Gratitude: Make it a practice to write a quick gratuity list every morning: 10 things I'm grateful for; 10 things I want to attract today. Ex: I am grateful for fresh food; I want to attract laughter.

Empowerment is a feeling and feelings start in your heart and brain. The mind rules the body. Think Empowerment. Be Empowerment.

Until nest time,

Be well~

'Tools' for kicking the sugar habit

In my quest to build an awareness about my sugar addiction, I have become 'aware' of my daily habits, starting at the beginning of my day with omitting breakfast which IS the most important meal of the day because it 'set up' your day. As stated in the name, this is breaking the fast, which signals to the body to re-stoke the metabolic fire. If breakfast is omitted, the body is messaged "Starvation". It stores the fat rather than burns it for fuel.

Great choices for breaking that fast? Complex carbs plus protein: Try low sugar (less than 4grams/serving) whole grain bread with low sugar almond butter or scrambled egg whites. You will be amazed at how well fueled you are for your morning with energy, mental clarity, focus and concentration and an even mood. And you won't NEED the 10A Starbucks run!

Its a start. At some point I will need to address the mug of Starbucks French Roast... Be well~

My Addiction...

So, guess what happened when I walked my talk and ate more veggies and drank more water? Yes! I lost some weight! Yes! I felt less bloated. Yes! I craved sugar 24/7. It may as well have been heroine I was quitting! I needed a 'fix'! (And truth be told, if you put that white stuff in a little baggie, its hard to tell the difference...)

We are all 'addicted' to sugar because its hidden everywhere! Even in foods where you'd least expect it! And the food companies like it that way because the more we eat it, the more we want it---need it!

Why do we care? Well, these foods raise our Glycemic Index or our sugar levels. That plays havoc with your hormones and makes you store more fat. In addition, this provides the perfect acidic environment in our bodies, which is the perfect host for cancer and a myriad of other illnesses!

If I can teach you one thing, and one thing alone, it is to READ FOOD LABELS. Did you know that there are 50+ 'names' for sugar? http://commonsensehealth.com/Diet-and-Nutrition/List_of_Sugar_Names_and_Sugar_Facts.shtml Especially the 'low-fat' version of foods---they take the fat out and add sugars. When you read a food label and begin to add up the multiple names of sugars in the product and the total grams of sugar per serving, it is no surprise that we are FAT. Our bodies can only utilize 2-4 grams of sugar at one time. The remainder is stored sugar. Our muscle & liver store some for when we need it, but the rest becomes FAT---adipose fat which settles around our middles, and around our vital organs. This IS the most dangerous fat as well. And guess where I have been gaining weight?

This week in posts and in blogs, I will be addressing 'Sugar' and how to get the excess sugar out of our diets, for good. There's no time like the present!

There is a great book with the simple facts called just that by Ann Lousie Gittleman, MS, CNS. http://www.annlouise.com/

Lets get the sugar out and work together towards a Spring Cleanse for a healthy and happy (oh and did I say thinner?) Y O U!

Be well!

http://www.highvibrations.org/archive3/water.htm

W A T E R.

Did you know that your body is 80% water?

Did you know that your body cannot messenger you when your dehydrated to drink water so it may messenger "FEED ME! FEED ME!"

Did you know your best you is hydrated with half of your body weight daily in ounces? (150 lbs/2 = 75 Drink 75 ounces)

W A T E R. A Privilege.

Enjoy!