Please join me at my new location.
See you there!
October 5, 2009
I’ve blended products for years and it seems that lately more people than ever are overwhelmed – understandably. I’ve decided to market some of my products that I’ve used on my journey with the intent that they be available to help others.
Since they were for personal use, I wasn’t concerned with “market appeal.” If you would like to offer feedback regarding the blend, I would appreciate your input.
This link will take you to a sign up page. This will enable me to send you some sample blends to smell. In return, I would appreciate your feedback regarding the blend, which you can email, snail mail or fill out a feedback survey. I will likely send out 4-8 different samples in October & November. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!
Categories: Aromatherapy.
September 10, 2009
Imagine a door in front of you. (or a cocoon all around you) It’s big and solid and you have no idea what is on the other side. It could be something awful. It could be something wonderful. You have no idea, nor can anyone tell you or offer advice, for it is YOUR door. It is only for you. It could shake your world as you know it, or add another layer of joy to your current situation. But you just don’t know. How do you feel about going through that door?
Most people have some level of fear around the unknown. Most people have resistance to change. While they may not like their current situation, it is comfortable and they know what to expect. Why rock the boat? Just get a “Life Sucks, then You Die” bumper sticker and on you go. And sometimes we must go through that door of change, even though we are fighting it all the way.
Or you could take a leap of faith in whatever lies beyond the door. You could possibly then own the bumper sticker “Life is an adventure. YEEHAW.” But you won’t know until you open the door and step through.
Why do we resist change? Primarily it is the fear of the unknown. What is behind that door? Adding to that, we live in a fear based society. It comes at us from all angles all day long. It is easy to buy into; to become fearful and try to stay safe. Though fear-filled “what ifs” we are controllable. Fear sells and marketing firms and politician know it.
We hold our life experience memories in our energetic fields much like a computer holds information; electro-magnetically. The more we think, feel and talk about something, the bigger it gets in our life—whatever it is (including fears!). We are feeding it and keeping it alive. That can be a productive thing for us, or not.
Perhaps you’ve been in a challenging relationship and it still pushes your buttons. It would certainly cause you to pause before jumping into another one, would it not? The energy you feed into that charge around the relationship is energy that you do not have available for something more joy filled. Plus the negative energy hurts you.
Pain, stiffness or movement limitations are often the result of trauma, stress, movement habits, injury, illnesses, stuffed emotions, fears or self-imposed limitations. The energy from these things can be stored in your body, causing you emotional and physical challenges.
Our bodies and minds are designed to be in motion, not frozen in time. The society we live in is constantly evolving and changing. As stated in the article, Centered in Chaos, “We are facing unprecedented danger as millions die annually due to an epidemic of stress-induced illness. The UN’s World Health Organization warns of a global epidemic of depression largely due to the stress of rapid change. Future shock is suffered by billions around the globe as the result of a world changing at ever increasing intensity.” That was stated in 1999.
Have you noticed an epidemic of depression in our country? It’s not surprising. And it’s commonly known that stress related illnesses are the majority of “what ails us.”
And our cells have a genetic programming to stress; fight or flight to save our lives. While that was appropriate when our survival depended upon it, these days our survival stress levels are more apt to come from the stupid computer, mile long To Do lists, change and the like. The response is the same. Being constantly on alert is making us ill and reducing our mental capacity. We have an evolutionary lifestyle and in order to not only survive, but thrive in it, we need to learn to deal with the rapid rate of change.
As we step into new territory (change) it is a wonderful time to also step into new, healthier habits and thought patterns. Like spring, it is time for us to begin to blossom into something new. And that can be very exciting. But how do you deal with ongoing change?
It may mean learning new stress-reduction skills or increasing your awareness of yourself and your environment. Learning to take care of yourself and your needs is very important. No longer is self care a luxury; it is a necessity. For if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of your life!
Albert Einstein once said “the significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of think we were at when we created them.” In other worlds, it’s time to be open to new perspectives, lean new skills or consider new ways of being.
Are you ready? (it’s ok to feel the fear, just don’t let it own you) Take a deep belly breath and let the door open. Often the more fear you feel as you approach the door (or work to keep it shut), the more joy you can find on the other side (perhaps it’s simply the relief that it wasn’t as scary as you thought). In any case, opportunities arise as you open that door.
All of life changes and grows, including us. Your piece is how you choose to handle it.
Categories: Self Help, Uncategorized.
September 10, 2009
Everyone is feeling the stress, the fear, the anxiety. But the question is – what are you doing about it?
If you want to transform or release the blocks you’ve created from an inward perspective, you might want to explore The Work of Byron Katie. Deceptively simple and oh so powerful!
You could also baby step your way through your fear. It often feels larger than it needs to be – we are SOOOO good at making it big! But the key is just to feel the fear, let it be ok that it is there, and take a step forward anyway. Courage is the ability to move forward even in the midst of fear. What is one small step you can take to move forward?
When we are stressed, scared or anxious we tend to hold our breath and freeze. Fight or flight. If you don’t released the energy, it will build up within you and cause problems down the road. “The psychological changes you get from exercise are influenced by different types of exercise in different conditions,” says Bonnie Berger, EdD, director of the School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Matching an activity to your problem can also help steer you towards a solution.
- Mindset: Overwhelmed by the prospect of a big life change (switching careers, moving …)
- For your Body: Try distance running, hiking, yoga, Pilates
- Why: Proving to yourself that you can accomplish a goal builds the confidence you need to follow through on big decisions.
- Mindset: Your self worth is challenged and you feel vulnerable
- For you Body: Rock climbing, skiing, weight training
- Why: Mastering challenging activities improves self image and strengthening muscles helps increase mental fortitude.
- Mindset: Stress & responsibilities are building
- For your Body: Dance, kickboxing, circuit training
- Why: Activities that require concentration help distract you from your worries.
- Mindset: Frustration and anger are building
- For your Body: Rowing, swimming, spinning, walking
- Why: Activities that don’t require quick thinking or decision making allow you to zone out.
There are many other ways to shift your mindset (music, creative projects…) and if you choose a more sedentary approach make sure that somewhere you include movement for your body. It could be dancing around your kitchen when no one is home, or better yet, singing AND dancing.
Get Moving – don’t let the stress settle into your body!
Categories: Self Help, Uncategorized.
September 10, 2009
In my workbook, How to Maintain your Strength, Courage and Stability, I shared a tool for standing strong in your personal energy called Radiating your Core Energy.
The gift in learning this technique is multifaceted. Not only does it strengthen your personal energy field, but it supports others to strengthen theirs.
Let me explain -
Imagine two people in a discussion where there is some level of disagreement. One path their discussion could take is one of escalation; each person is doing their best to make their own point which could mean their voices begin to rise, they begin to stand up taller to puff up and the defensive actions begin. Anger, frustration and rightousness may build. Another option is for one person to dominate the other – a classic power trip. Too often our interactions are based on some form of attempts to gain power, or energy, from another. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here’s another scenario: One is standing in their power, holding strong and steady and simply listening to what the other has to say. The second person is communicating some disagreement. As the first person holds their energy without defensiveness, simply to understand, the second person has the opportunity to say what they need to say. They can then step up to a more mutually respectful way to deal with the interaction because the first person is holding the energy for them, helping them to move beyond the power struggle.
In this way, the relationship can progress to a deeper level of authentic communication where a win-win result is possible, with both parties feeling better as a result of the conversation.
The second choice, of course, is for them not to step up to a more empowering way to interact, but simply to spew their anger. However, since there isn’t any defensiveness going on (and you aren’t playing the power game with them), they will simply walk away.
It’s amazing how naturally this can work. People feel the energy you put out and you may notice more people glancing your way (responding unconsciously to your energy field) and others may run as fast as they can in the other direction – and that’s ok too.
Categories: EMF Balancing, Self Help.
September 10, 2009
A friend of mine asked me to go SUP (stand up paddling) on the river with her; she said it would be fun.
Okay.
So as I looked around town for board shorts (in a town known worldwide for wind & water sports) all I found were clothes for size 7 and below.
A red flag went up – why is it that only small people do this sport??? Maybe there’s a reason there are no larger sizes. And I flashed back to a time when a friend of mine said to me “Hey, why don’t you become a WA State Volleyball Referee with me? It’ll be fun” and I’m here to tell you that being a volleyball referee is NOT what I would call fun.
All of a sudden “fun” and “personal perspective” loomed in front of me and I realized I didn’t know what “fun” meant to Yvonne, therefore I had no idea what I was really in for. Yikes!
But out we went and as she gracefully stood up on her board and said something about it being easy, I stood up. You know that wobble when things can either get under control or go out of control?
Yeah….I went out of control, bounced off the back of my board and right into the water. I stood up, tried again (while Yvonne was doubled over laughing, still in graceful balance I might add) and with wobbly knees we paddled off into the river. I went down again, of course, but I’m here to say that it was fun and thankfully those boards are very forgiving and supportive.
Perhaps like life.
Categories: Self Help, Uncategorized.
September 10, 2009
We all have them. We all share them. What’s yours?
When you go into your favorite coffee shop (or juice bar or bistro or lunch cafe) do you have a favorite barista (or creator of yummy foods) that you hope will be available to make your item that day?
Have you noticed that even through two people can use the exact same ingredients, the results are noticeably different?
Why is that?
What is it that really happens when you take that cup of coffee from your favorite barista? Certainly there is more than the coffee, water and cream that you receive.
There is an aspect of that barista, called her jewel (or energy signature, or home vibration), that is unique to her and you are responding to that. It’s a quality, a vibration, that you are responding to and receiving.
How do you feel as you receive your coffee? What attributes come to mind after that interaction? It could be anything – gentleness, joy, connection, integrity …
What is your jewel? What is it that people receive when they interact with you? It is that trait or attribute that draws others to us. You and I can do the exact same procedure or session and yet they will offer different things because our jewels are different. What is yours?
And then, how brightly do you let your jewel shine?
Categories: Business, Self Help, Uncategorized.
September 10, 2009
It is now recognized that thoughts and emotions are also impulses that have a direct impact on our health, and are no longer viewed as separate from our physical well-being.
For this reason, balancing of the energy flow allows for integration of all these aspects, and can assist in resolving any distressing issues being faced. Rather than being designed to treat specific complaints, the EMF Balancing Technique® serves to open that space of peace and well-being within you, wherein your body’s own wisdom will promote healing on the necessary level. It is important to realize that a very powerful part of this work is the intent of the person seeking help. For individual’s facing major issues in their lives, the EMF Balancing Technique® offers a powerful tool for transformation. For those needing to simply relieve stress or bring more harmony into their lives, it is a wonderfully relaxing and nurturing process.
The recipient lies on a therapy table while the practitioner carries out a series of graceful Tai-chi-like movements. Most of the movements involve passing the hands through portions of the Universal Calibration Lattice (UCL). During some parts of the session the practitioner will gently place their hands on the body to facilitate the flow of energy. Each session results in a strengthening of the UCL, allowing it to carry a greater electrical charge.
The intent is not to rely on continual balancing by a practitioner, but to use your improved energy to move forward in your own power. The results are permanent, in that they establish a new pattern in the Electro-Magnetic Field that remains in place as the basis for ongoing development. Often clients will experience further positive shifts in the days following a treatment, as they adjust to their own new pattern. Occasionally, you may wish to return for additional calibrations, which will continue to clear and strengthen your energy body. Either a single session or a combination of two different phases can be performed.
Categories: EMF Balancing, Self Help.
September 10, 2009
While it is a big question, realize it is also a life long process. All it really takes is the desire and commitment to do so. Then, let the adventure begin! But first, let me ask you this -
Are you willing to be responsible for every decision that you make?
You are the one that chooses your direction in life—and how you will respond to situations that show up. No one else is responsible for you. Even as an employee, you agreed to do a job for a certain wage and it is your responsibility to hold up your end of the agreement. When you step into self employment, you wear both hats (well, many hats actually).
But even now, do you stand behind your decisions?
Do you walk your talk?
When we work for someone else, it is easy to just follow someone else. I’ve heard it said, “Suit up, show up and move at a reasonable pace.” When problems show up, it is very common to play the blame game with fingers pointing to someone else. With your own business, those days are over.
The responsibility and liability of leadership will be yours if you start our own business. Period. Are you ready to accept the responsibility and liability of being your own leader?
Who are you when no one is looking?
What are the skills that you feel are important leadership qualities? What are the qualities that you want to develop in yourself? Mastery of these skills simply requires attention and practice.
Let me say that again: Gaining mastery of leadership skills that are important to you simply requires practice. Practice. Practice. Practice.
You will have opportunities to practice these attributes on a daily basis. And each time an opportunity arises, you will choose whether to respond in a way that is in alignment with this new skill, or not.
Either way is ok—this is a learning process. Sometimes we don’t respond as well as we would like to. When that happens, simply re-evaluate the situation and reflect on how you would have preferred to respond. You will get another opportunity to practice it, I promise!
What will happen is that you will become more aware of the opportunities to practice your leadership skills, thereby making more conscious decisions and becoming the person you want to become. It’s called personal growth and empowerment.
In order to flourish, you must be willing to take charge of your life.
As you develop the ability to become aware and restructure your life with clarity where necessary, your leadership of self skills will continue to develop. The Toastmaster club produces a magazine to support the growth of their members. In Becoming a Leader One Step at a Time, they note:
“The contemporary view is that leadership is a set of attributes, attitudes and skills that by and large can be learned or developed through work, study and experience. Management scientists have looked at and studied factors such as Consideration—the leader’s concern for followers’ well-being (think clients); Structure—the leader’s skill at setting goals and determining work schedules and methods; Production Emphasis—the leader’s ability to get work done well and on time; and Sensitivity—the leader’s ability to keep people on the team happy with one another (think clients and word-of-mouth advertising). From The Toastmaster, Sept 2002, pg 9.
As you can see, they are all learnable skills. You can do this, one step at a time. The question is—do you want to? What leadership skills are important for you to develop?
Some people are very good at communicating with their Self, and others are rather new to it. Here is one meditation tool for you to use to gain the answers from within ourselves. The following “Answer Room” exercise comes from Barbara Marciniak’s Path of Empowerment. It provides a framework to ask questions and receive answers.
You can empower yourself, and set the reality that you want into motion, by taking time to communicate with the subconscious and unconscious levels of your mind. First slow down and focus on your breath. Gently separate your jaw and relax your tongue, and allow deep, rhythmic breathing to relax your body and open your mind to an enhanced state of awareness. Continue to breathe deep and imagine your body fully energized with golden spirals of energy. Now visualize a wave of energy, like a gentle spring shower, sweeping over the top of your head down to the bottom of your feet. Any tension that you have been carrying will be washed away, leaving you feeling fresh, clear, and free to proceed unencumbered into the depths of your being. There is a place in your mind called the “answer room,” and you must use your imagination to cross the bridge and find your way to the door. It may be on a busy street in an old stone office building, down a quiet country lane, or secluded like an eagle’s nest overlooking a cliff.
The answer room is your creation and can be anywhere you choose; feel a strong intent to go there, and then see yourself standing before the door. Take special note of the quality and color of the door, as well as the shape of the doorknob and once they are clearly etched in your memory, open the door. The answer room is very well furnished with beautiful fabrics and a comfortable seating; fascinating pieces of art, a globe, books, plants, flowers and a tea set add a warm welcome, and large glass doors open onto a sumptuous garden. Now enter the answer room and make yourself at home. You will find anything you ant in this room. Once you are cozy and settled in, thinking about what you want to know. Look around the room, allowing your gaze to rest here and then there, steadily taking in all that you see. When you are ready, clearly state the question to which you are seeking an answer and ask that an answer be clearly presented within the next three days; then sit back, enjoy some tea and bask in the serenity of your room of inner knowledge. You can visit this room anytime you choose to fine-tune your frequency and gain greater clarity about yourself and the world at large.
We all need some time to find counsel with ourselves—this is one way. There are many other ways to do it. We each need to find out which ways work well for us.
Is it time for you to step up to the plate of Self-Leadership?
Are you ready?
Categories: Business, Self Help.
September 10, 2009
Life is a risk. Some people are certainly more comfortable with it than others, and the level of what we are ready, willing and able to risk varies but that said – we all take risks, everyday.
How do you approach risk?
Where is your edge?
Have you jumped off that ledge yet to see whether you would fall or fly?
How many times?
We will have to learn to face our own failure once, twice, three or even more times before we make our business successful. We will have to be prepared to learn from our own mistakes. And we will have to learn how to deal with the ups and downs in our own business.
It is likely that, as a practitioner of holistic health, one of the best assets we have is our passion. But are our passions strong enough to let us take the risks of learning to be a good leader, particularly if this risk is directly linked to what our family will eat at the end of the day?
To be our own leader means to directly face the unpredictables in life with courage. We will learn how to take calculated risks to the best of our knowledge. We will trust that our decisions are the best we can do at any given moment. And we will learn.
Since it takes time for us to learn good leadership through our practice, we will have to accept all the consequences. Taking risks, boldly facing challenges and acting decisively will help you become a very strong leader.
It doesn’t mean that we have to do it all alone. Some services may be hired out to specialists in those fields, such as accounting or legal work. There are many organization and schools to help us learn various new skills that we will need. There are other practitioners that could be wonderful to brainstorm with. However, we do have to be solely responsible for all aspects of our business.
In her article, Risk Taking in Business has its Rewards (http://searchwarp.com/swa64569.htm), Regina Barr offers these first steps towards learning to be comfortable with risk taking:
How can you overcome the fear of taking risks? Try these simple steps:
- Decide what your tolerance is for risk. Some business owners might feel perfectly comfortable putting their business on the line regularly, whereas other business owners may not feel comfortable doing this unless the chance of success is very high. Both are taking risks, but at the level they feel comfortable with.
- Start small. Take a new route to work. Go see a movie by yourself. Try coffee instead of tea. You get the picture.
- Take “deliberate” risks. Deliberate risks are ones that you choose to take, typically after completing some fact finding or analysis.
- Set risk taking goals. Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish. Then write down one goal about the risk that you would like to take. Break it down into smaller chunks. Then do one thing – today – to move yourself forward.
- Have a contingency plan. Ask yourself what you would need to do to recover should the worst happen, and then create a back up plan.
- Reward yourself. Risk-taking can be draining, particularly if you are not used to it. So, don’t forget to do something nice for yourself after taking a risk – no matter how large or small!
What are the benefits? People who are comfortable taking risks typically experience “increased autonomy, heightened self-esteem, a more positive attitude toward life and an increased sense of personal power.”
Risk taking is a mind-set. Are you ready to learn to be a calculated risk taker?
Categories: Business, Self Help.