[Inspiration] In Case Your Sass is Missing

By Jennifer Boykin

This week I’m stepping out in a Positive, Fabulous, Bold way.

Fifteen years after I decided to.

This week I’m launching my life’s dream, a MidLife Reinvention site for women.  I first knew what my life’s work was supposed to be fifteen years ago.  But I waited so long to do it, my demographic “aged up.”

Why have I waited this long?

Well, I was either afraid, or I was being loving, but I’m not sure which.  Maybe both.

You see, I was raising kids.  And they were also my dream.  It’s just that they weren’t the whole of it.  I always wanted something more – something that was just mine.

But I couldn’t figure out how to make that happen.

It just seemed that there was always “something else” that needed tending to.  Like my divorce.  The mortgage.  The bills.  Oh, and then dating.  And deciding to get remarried.

And so on and thus and such and more of the same.

For fifteen years.

Do you see where I’m going here?

The point is, there is ALWAYS something else to do besides your Big Dream.  Any old thing can draw our focus away from our Big Dream.

Sometimes it’s our fear.  Sometimes it’s our responsibilities.  Sometimes we’re just too damned exhausted to even think about it all anymore.

And I don’t think we women need to beat up on ourselves and judge ourselves too harshly for any of it.  Self-hatred is not an effective strategic planning tool.

The truth is, I was a mom — a single mom — and I had to do stuff to take care of that.  And now I have some more space in my life, and so I get to do this.

What is this?

Well, over at Life After Tampons, we seek to build a community of women who all seek the answer to this question:

“What would you do if you KNEW you could not fail?”

Well, what I would do is build a community of women who were all doing the thing they would do if they knew they could not fail.  I would make it MY LIFE’s WORK to see that you had everything you needed to manifest YOUR life’s work.

And that’s what I aim to do.

I’m guessing that some of you might be stuck where I was back in the days before the dream.  You’ll know if you’re there.  It will feel like you’re in stasis.  Like you’re on perpetual hold.  Like you’re swimming against the tide.

Interspersed with the utter exhaustion is a sense of hopelessness.  Maybe you’re thinking “what’s the use” or things like that.  Maybe it looks like all the other women, even some of your very dearest women friends right there at Positive Fabulous Women Toronto have it all together, while you?, well, you’re just a shriveled up dried up has been.

Right there I’m gonna stop you.  Because

1. None of that is true.
2. Each of us has inner battles and you ought not “compare your insides with other people’s outsides.”

Instead, let’s just get going on that whole Big Dream thing.  Let’s just commit to five minutes a day, in fact.  Start with a fresh notebook, and every day, record what you did to move your dream forward.  It WILL add up over time.  (You’ll probably waste more than that 5 minutes lamenting your woes, anyway.  Let’s put that time to better use.)

Here’s what I believe:  Nope.  Strike that!

Here’s what I KNOW…

Each of us was gifted with a unique skill set.  And THEN, our creator (don’t get stuck on semantics, here, sweet cheeks, I’m not talkin’religion) but, anyway, that CREATOR – YOUR CREATOR — whispered your Big Dream into your ear because that’s what YOUR CREATOR meant for you to DO with those gifts.  And ONLY you can do that particular thing.  That’s why you keep dreaming about it.  Because we (the Universe, the rest of us over here) WE need that thing and ONLY YOU can do it.

And let me know if I can help.  Come on over to Life After Tampons and be part of the solution, or sign up HERE and I’ll send you our free 21-day eCourse, “Reclaim the Sass.”

Much love and blessings,

Jennifer Boykin
Creator, Life After Tampons

Jennifer Boykin’s vision is to “rebrand a gazillion crones.”  She speaks, teaches, and writes as the Creative Visionary and Chief Rabble-Rouser of the MidLife Reinvention site, Life After Tampons.  When you come and visit, don’t forget to sign up for your free/priceless home retreat, “21 Days.  Reclaim the Sass!”  Then, visit our Facebook and Twitter Wisdom Circles.  We’d love to hear about your dream.

[Image] How to Make Your Appearance Count

[Travel] All About the Attitude…

Life is always there to hand us new challenges and speed bumps.  Over time I have found that it is really not about the actual challenge.  It’s   about how you handle the challenges and come out learning something that you can pass on to others. This is my lesson learned….

A few years ago I was finished with a tour and had some time on my own in Rome- three days to be exact, I was pumped. I would have time to do my own exploring, on my own time in the Eternal City.  First thing I did was dumping my luggage at the airport at the storage area and packed a small backpack with the essentials. I bought my ticket for the train to the downtown termini and in only a half hour I was going to be in the middle of Rome.   As the train passed the suburbs of apartments and the array of laundry hanging from the balconies my mind wandered…. awe Rome, I thought of all the places I wanted to visit without rushing.  I was going to take a day trip out of town first to Orvieto, a medieval village on a cliff. I made my way to the front of the line for my tickets. It wasn’t until I got to the point of paying that I realized that I did not have my wallet?? What?? My credit card, my bank card , I quickly got out of line in a panic, making my way to the side and frantically going through my bag. I realized what I had done, while organizing my bag I pulled my wallet out in the restroom and did not put it back in- ugh it was gone….Now what?

I had 82 Euros in my back pocket of my jeans and nothing else. I was in the middle of one of the most expensive cities in the world and could not reach anyone to help me. I remember sitting across from the termini, people coming and going all around me. I thought to myself oh my gosh what am I going to do, I felt myself tearing up. Then it came to me, something inside me reminded me that most people dream of coming to Rome their whole life and here I was. I was in one of the most spectacular cities in the world; I had to make this work! I was determined to make this into an adventure, “how to survive in Rome on 82 Euros”. It was all about my attitude…

I had to have a plan to make this work. It can be dangerous at night in any city in the world especially a women alone sooo I needed to find a place to sleep, I checked out the hostels. Just my luck there was some kind of conference going on and they were all booked or too much money. I took a walk around the block and came across a travel agency. I decided to ask for help, I told the lady my story and could feel myself tearing up, she said “ no problemo” she was able to book me a room at a dorm in the area for  $20 euro a night, I figured I would book this for two nights and sleep at the airport the last night. Place to sleep – check, now I needed to get my train ticket out to the airport, this was 11 euro- check, I felt like I was making this work… By this time I was feeling a little tired and hungry, it was later in the day- I decided to find a little trattoria and settle in for some cheap pasta.

Luckily I picked a place with some English speaking tourists. I tend to talk to everyone so once I heard the English being spoken I said hello. This is where I met Heidi. Heidi was a 25yr old medic who was on her first day of leave after being in Iraq for eight months. We shared dinner together and Heidi told me she w as looking to hang out with someone and enjoy some wine, I told her my story, I did not have allot of money for wine but I did know Rome and could take her for a small tour for wine , she agreed to the arrangement.  I ended up taking her on a walking tour and we ended up sitting outside at a cafe with a wonderful view of the coliseum. We talked and talked, laughed and were having and a great time, I thought to myself if I had had my wallet I would never have met this new friend. It is funny how life turns out.  We soon noticed that the outdoor cafe began to fill up and the music  became louder, looks like the party was beginning, but little did we know…  A little while later an Italian guy came up to us and asked us in a thick accent “ where are you from”  we obviously did not fit in to the high fashion of Rome… We chatted for a while then he asked us, “are you gay?” Nooo, he then went on to tell us that we were in a gay bar! We ended up meeting all of his friends and singing karaoke till 3 in the morning- what a fun time!

That was only my first day of adventures. The next couple days included exploring out of the way little piazzas and people watching. Sitting and taking in the abundance of art and ruins within the city. Whenever I passed a church and the doors were open I ventured in taking in all the beauty. I shopped at grocery stores for bottled water and fresh fruit, pizza slices. I really enjoyed my moments in Rome with hardly any money. This city is really like a walking museum, you just have to be willing to wander and keep your eyes open and lastly my adventure was all about the attitude.

Adoring mom of two, Darlene Christianson is an adventure seeker who is passionate about travel. She believes this is your time to create, learn, and experience the world and its many new moments.  A previous television host & travel writer, Darlene created “Venture Bound Tours and alongside her husband has been creating new memories for her clients overseas for years. She is thrilled to be sharing her lessons learned through travel as well as many humorous stories. Darlene also looks forward to sharing travel insights, assisting you in planning your next journey.

[Motivation] Brilliant Plans: 3 Mistakes You’ll Want to Avoid in 2012

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” Daniel Burnham

What’s your big game plan for 2012? Have you got your year – your business, your life, your health, or whatever you’re called to uplevel — all mapped out perfectly? You know – are your goals and plans put in your calendar, entered into spreadsheets, glued onto vision boards, added to your “to do” lists and Blackberry yet? Are you feeling on top of your road map to success?

If you are, thanks for stopping by and there’s no need for you to read further. Or perhaps you are feeling behind the eight ball in terms of getting your act together. I’m talking about having a tightness in your chest and a pit In your stomach. It’s that feeling that no matter how fast you run, you’re not entirely sure you’ll get there. Sometimes you forget where you put your finish line anyway. There’s nothing like a New Year to trigger an intense cocktail of fresh optimism and hope, with a dash of overwhelm, fear of failure and confusion about how to make sense of it all. Like a salmon ready to spawn knows it has to get back to the river it was originally born in, we know we’re supposed to create super-duper plans of action at the start of a brand-spanking new year. Planning is a huge topic and I work on this continuously with my clients, but I would like to distill down three key pitfalls you’ll want to avoid in your 2012 planning process.

Mistake #1 – Make Someone Else’s Plan Your Own Plan

One of the biggest pitfalls I see people making is not creating a plan that is congruent with their authentic self. It can make good business sense to learn from some of the marketing gurus or mentors. But please don’t blindly adopt their strategies, plans and schedules thinking that it will be a fast road to success and cash flow. When designing your brilliant business, it must be sourced from a place of deep authenticity and alignment with who YOU truly are. Ensure that your plan reflects your values, priorities and creativity.

Mistake #2 – Leading from Your Head, Not Your Heart

As coaches, we were trained to help our clients develop plans in a pretty systematic way. Make sure the goal feels like a stretch and that it is S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, actionable, reasonable, time-bound). These are all great tools that the head and intellect loves to play with. But the important starting point for your Brilliant Plan must come from your heart. If you were to strip things down to their most essential elements, what would your heart identify as the most important calling or priority you have for 2011? Could you answer that question more clearly if you knew this was your last year in your physical body? Forget about figuring out “how” to make it happen for now. But the first step in successful planning is to have the entire process anchored into a heart-centered, feeling-infused sense of your purpose.

Mistake #3 – Not Leaving Room for Grace and Space

One huge mistake people make (and I still have to check myself on this one too) is overestimating how much we can take on and grossly underestimating how much time it takes to get things done. We plan our schedules so we’re in a time bind right off the starting blocks. Throw in a few unexpected delays or setbacks and there’s nothing like that feeling of drowning in overwhelm to squelch your creativity and inspiration. Remember you are not the Planning Director for the Universe. Leave some breathing space in your plan. Don’t be so rigidly attached to your plan that you are unwilling to take advantage of the grace that is always around us, showing us unexpected opportunities and resources that were never a part of our plan in the first place. Planning is a great tool for sure, but leave room for your brilliance and magic to emerge fully. © 2011 Carolyn B. Ellis All Rights Reserved

Step Into Your Brilliance

Block off 15 minutes this week to create some quiet time. Bearing these 3 mistakes in mind, reflect upon and journal your answers to the following questions.

1. What are my three highest priorities and values?

2. How can I best express them this year? What can that look like? What will that feel like to manifest them fully?

3. What is one activity or priority I know in my heart I need to say good-bye to so I can allow more space and grace into my life?

Carolyn Ellis is the founder of Brilliance Mastery ™, a program that helps women entrepreneurs own their brilliance so the mission of their business can be communicated clearly, powerfully and profitably. Carolyn is a certified Money, Marketing & Soul Coach, the creator of the THRIVE Principles ™, founder of Thrive After Divorce, and the award-winning author of The 7 Pitfalls of Single Parenting: What to Avoid to Help Your Children Thrive after Divorce. For more information, visit www.BrillianceMastery.com

[Inspiration] Being Called to Change (and the 4 Steps to Get There)

“Be the change you wish to see”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Well, it’s been a few days of very palpable shifts in the world around us…changes that we’re only beginning to process. From the dramatic election we just had here in Canada to the death of Osama bin Laden, I’ve been observing with fascination the wide range of reactions to the unfolding of these events…

In a Facebook discussion today, I watched folks getting increasingly snippy with each other as they argued about the lack of civility in this Canadian election…not pausing for a moment to consider how uncivil they were being to each other. Later in the day I caught myself harshly judging those Americans who were gleefully celebrating bin Laden’s death, but then realized it was a brand of harsh judgment between two factions 10 years ago that started this whole tragic cycle of death and war in the first place.

We all long to see positive change in this world of ours, but I think the question that begs asking is: what are the changes I need to make in myself to reflect the world I long to live in? So, you want the world to be more tolerant…how can you be more tolerant in your own workplaces and family units? You want a richer country…how about cultivating true gratitude for the abundance you already have. You want your voice to be heard…consider who you resist hearing and start listening. The world isn’t going to get better until we, as individuals, start channelling the power of change to grow our most magnificent, connected, and alive selves.

So, my lovelies…figure out what part of YOU is calling for change right now and then let me share with you some easy, practical tips for creating this change in your life starting right here, right now…

4 STEPS TO CHANGE

1. Define It – If you don’t define the change you’re looking for clearly and thoughtfully, you can’t set an intention. Not setting intentions is like traveling without a destination…even though it can be pretty interesting to be tossed around and lost for a bit, you might just end up wandering your whole life away without ever feeling quite fulfilled. So, think and feel what change is most calling to you right now (ie. starting your own business, quitting smoking, finding that life partner or leaving that partner, getting more fit, being of service to the world, reducing stress, or bringing more fun and joy into your life) and define it in measurable terms — “I want to start my own business by September”, “I want to be able to do a 10K run”, etc.

2. Declare It - First declare your change intention to yourself. Write it out, read it out loud, make it your screensaver or post your intention on colourful paper around the house. Make it as tangible and fun as possible, like declaring your intention in a voicemail to yourself or carrying an object in your pocket that reminds you of it or even choosing a theme song you play every morning hat reflects your intention. Then, share your intention with those around you and let them know how they can help keep you accountable to this change.

3. Energize It – Consistently generating the positive feelings you would get from achieving your change in advance of achieving it creates the energy that can’t help but attract the right people and opportunities to help make your intention a reality. So, take a few minutes to visualize what life would be like in achieving this change…just imagine what it would look like, sound like, and especially FEEL like. Write your vision down and then read it and feel it every day until the change is complete. Also, try going through a day acting as if this change has already happened…walk and talk as if you have abundant love in your life, dress as if you already have that promotion, relax your posture and soften your eyes as if you’re already Zen.

4. Take Action! – Let’s face it, change ultimately doesn’t happen without ACTION. So, decide one bite-sized manageable action you could take each day toward your desired change for the next week and officially mark them in your calendar. If you want to experience more joy for example…on Monday you could commit to smiling at every person you come into contact with, Tuesday – steal away to a sunny cafe to have a hot chocolate and read a novel, Wednesday – take 10 minutes to play with the next door neighbour’s dog, Thursday – bubble bath in candlelight, etc. Or if it’s more suitable, you could choose the same empowering action for each day. So, if increasing your tranquility is the change you want, make your daily commitment to meditate for 20 minutes each morning. Repeat forming a weekly action plan until your change has taken hold!

Now go out and get ‘em, Tigers!

“How much longer will you go on letting your energy sleep?
How much longer are you going to stay oblivious of the
immensity of yourself?”
- Bhagwan Stree Rajneesh

Kimberly Carroll is a certified Soul Coach and a television host/producer.  She is one of the authors of the award-winning anthology “Soul Whispers” and her popular 6-Week Soul Coaching Program has been transforming lives from the inside out.  Through her coaching, speaking engagements, and workshops, Kimberly lovingly guides women and men in a wild journey to ignite their body, mind, heart, and spirit!  For about Kimberly, please visit www.soulcoaching.org

[Travel] What is Travel?

Travel is actually the gift that keeps on giving with amazing experiences, moments and new memories made.

Travel can be an educator who teaches you about unique cultures, people and places.

Travel allows you to grow into a person who is more compassionate and understanding of others because you understand where they came from.

Travel can teach you about art, architecture and history and the world around you.

Travel awakes your dreams and stimulates your bucket list of. “To dos”, encouraging curiosity.

Travel can bring people together- creating new friendships that last a lifetime.

Travel reaches out to others in need by volunteering and teaching in countries of need.

Travel can be a celebration of life’s victories and milestones.

Travel is an escape from all the junk that holds us down in life- it can save your soul.

Travel can put the important things in life into perspective.

Travel can make us laugh- cry- dig deep down and celebrate life!

Travel  can fulfill a life’s dream lasting a  lifetime.

What is Travel to you?

Adoring mom of two, Darlene is an adventure seeker who is passionate about travel. She believes this is your time to create, learn, and experience the world and its many new moments.  A previous television host & travel writer, Darlene created “Venture Bound Tours and alongside her husband has been creating new memories for her clients overseas for years. She is thrilled to be sharing her lessons learned through travel as well as many humorous stories. Darlene also looks forward to sharing travel insights, assisting you in planning your next journey.

[Money Mindset] 5 Ways Your Money Story May Be Holding You Back From Living Your Most Joyous Path

Isn’t it wonderful that you inherited your beliefs about money, received societal programming, cultural conditioning, and then created experiences to illuminate the illusions that were shared with you?

It’s wonderful because the illusions that you inherited are there to support you in creating healing opportunities so that you can return to the universal truth about money and your divine birthright of infinite wealth and abundance on all levels.

In other words, you were not created to be in discord with money. Just as you are a part of creation, so is money. Any misalignment with this truth is simply illusion and keeps you from being at peace with all of creation, including yourself.

Give yourself a moment to take that in.

The illusions that you may be holding about money keep you from the truth of who you really are, what you are here to share, and what you are here to experience. These illusions keep you playing small, so in healing these illusions you will be free to live as the expansive being of love/light that you are.

Are you ready to BE all that you are and were created to BE?

Money *is* your healing tool.

It is not about the money, it is about how you transform and who you become, to create peace with the energy of money.

Really take a moment to be with that.

One of the keys to healing this relationship is to examine how you are using the excuse of money to protect you from stepping out into the world in a bigger way. Once you are clear on how it is showing up right now, you are then free to choose how you will shift the energy.

Although there are many, here are 5 ways that your money story may be holding you back from living the life of your dreams:

1. Putting your dreams on hold - You find yourself dreaming about all of the things that you wish to do but easily default to the statement, “but I don’t have enough money!”

If you allow yourself to dig deeper, what you may find is that you are afraid of how others may respond if they perceive that you have it all. Or, you may be afraid to outgrow others/leave the tribe behind. You may have a fear of losing it all, so to avoid disappointment, you avoid even trying (only to feel disappointed). These are just some examples to consider. What I do invite you to consider is how you *can* take one step in support of your dreams.

2. Staying stuck in icky situations – You find yourself in a job or a relationship that is not serving you, or may even be abusive in some way, but….you’ve convinced yourself that you need to stay because there’s not enough money or that you need the money.

What I’ve learned over the years, having served thousands of people, is that these situations do not get better….ever! And….. that it’s not about the money. We need to shift inside and declare that we are no longer prepared to settle for less than we are worth. It is only when this happens that the energies shift and opportunities open up. So, healing self-worth and self-esteem are a high priority here. Can you relate?

3. Chronic debt - You find yourself listing all of the things that you can’t do because of debt. Although debt is a complex energy, it ultimately is a protector and keeps us small and from experiencing that which we desire. When are mindset creates limitations about what we can and cannot do, this will always show up in our money story. How are you doing in this and how can you release limitation so that you can expand into all that you are?

4. Not allowing support - When you are not allowing, you are not receiving. When we believe that we need to be the lone ranger, or we don’t trust support that comes to us, our money has a ceiling. The truth is that money wants to provide for us, so it is only when we activate the energy of allowing, and align with the receptive nature of the divine feminine that we can shift our money story. How can you shift your receptivity muscle to support you in this moment?

5. Sabotaging business – This shows up when expenses are not managed, overspending occurs, there is no marketing to sustain the business and attract new clients and customers, actions are not take to support the growth of your business (and so much more). I can’t even tell you how many entrepreneurs that I’ve worked with who set themselves up and reinforce the “I have no money” mantra which only serves to keep repeating more of the same.

It actually pains me to see how many talented souls are out there trying to get their business of the ground or keep their business afloat, but feel like they are failing because their unhealed money story is getting in the way. Believe me when I say that you are not alone.

In fact it pains me so much that all of my coaching programs have this component as an essential module since any business will not succeed if there is an unhealthy money story that is sabotaging it’s success.

The time is now. Giv eyourself the gift of looking money in the eye so that it can partner with you in all that you create rather than being the reason that you don’t!

Jennifer Longmore, Business Energetics Expert, is a leading expert on creating profitable, sustainable, highly-conscious businesses models for healers, visionaries, and spirit-based entrepreneurs. As an internationally-acclaimed radio host, best-selling author, healer, and speaker, she is recognized for creating a 6 figure enterprise within the first 10 months of launching her healing practice and now is best known for teaching others how they can do the same. As founder of the Soul Journeys® Spiritual Leadership and Legacy Program and the Highly-Conscious Business Intensive, Jennifer teaches you how to apply these same principles of business energetics to expand beyond what you thought possible for yourself so that you can anchor your vision through your business and serve more people with your unique gifts and a soul-centred entrepreneur. Through high-level private and group coaching programs, Jennifer’s innate ability to visualize the entirety of your business and find your hidden jackpots that can yield instant returns of more than 1000% is unprecedented. To learn more, visit www.souljourneys.ca

[Success] 5 Simple Steps to Elevate Your Life

by Ali Brown

I know what it’s like to think that the lifestyle you want is out of reach. Just over 12 years ago, I would lie on my bed in my tiny 400-square-foot studio apartment and flip through magazines, wishing I could have the luxurious lifestyles I read about.

Despite that negative, nagging voice in my head that reminded me I could barely afford rent, I’m now living a beautiful life I created for myself from scratch. Instead of moping around an apartment I can barely afford, I now have the means to travel and to inspire others. This year, I spent a few days at Sir Richard Branson’s private island attending the “New Frontiers in Philanthropy” meeting, and I even took an Eat, Pray, Love-inspired solo retreat to Europe.

How’d I do it? By deciding not to settle for being average and thinking BIG.

Changing your mindset can be a challenge, but the rewards are well worth the cost. Here’s how you can get started…

1. Eliminate negativity. This includes negative self-talk, too. Why would the universe bring you a better life if you don’t appreciate what you already have? Show gratitude for everything in your life now. Those seemingly bad days happen for a reason, so whenever you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do this” or “that’s impossible,” reframe it as the opposite. “I can do that, that is possible…” You owe it to yourself to give yourself the love and support you need to succeed.

2. Document your dreams. I wanted to manifest a new house, so I listed all of the qualities in my dream home: a 3-car garage, workout room, walk-in closets… (Don’t censor yourself! Anything is possible, even if it seems silly now.) I also bought some real estate magazines, cut out pictures of homes I love, and created a collage. I’m constantly updating my “dream board,” which is now proudly displayed in my new house!

3. Surround yourself ONLY with supportive people. I only shared my house dream with friends and family I knew would support my decision. (NOT those prone to phrases like “Are you crazy? Who do you think you are? Ms. Trump?”) Your true friends and family will be happy to share in your dream. If you don’t have anyone else to support you, then it’s time to make new friends—join a local networking group or a mastermind.

4. Decide, believe, and watch for clues. It’s not enough to make a decision to work towards your dreams. You must also truly believe in them! Don’t worry about HOW your dreams will manifest themselves. Watch for clues, and the HOW will find you, perhaps in the form of a new business partner or a new client. But remember that the dream comes before the HOW.

5. ACT on opportunities when they appear. Action involves risk. You might have to hire more people to help with a new client. You’ll need time to research that prospective business partner. Or figure out how to hire that amazing new mentor. But it’s up to YOU to take action when the path is revealed. The universe is supporting you, and each step will bring you closer to your dreams.

Entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow a profitable business that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD “Top 10 Secrets for Entrepreneurial Women” at www.AliBrown.com

[Inspiration] Stress to Serenity: 5 Simple Tools

By Kimberly Carroll

”I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.
- Jennifer Yane

Ahhhh…the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!  For many, summer can be a wonderful balm to bring you to life and soothe all that ails you. However, if you’re dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety in your life right now, then frolicking summer and all her participants can feel like they are mocking you with their easy joy and carefree spirit. ; )

Whether it’s still the after-effects of the recession or just the continual amping up of our work week productivity, so many people have been coming to me lately feeling so generally stressed and anxious. These frenetic qualities can be very insidious in the way they take up permanent residence not only in your life, but in your body. So much so that you find yourself not even being able to relax during “down” time or even…gasp…vacations!  Well, in my 6-Week Body/Mind/Spirit Bootcamp we work with a lot of tools for moving out of a place of anxiety. I want to share a few of the simple and easy ones for you to try out right here and now to help rescue the rest of your summer from the clutches of stress…

1. Reality Check – Anxiety is usually only present if you’re not. If you’re feeling anxious it means your mind is stuck in the past or future where it’s building big scary scenarios (that presentation you’re going to blow, the inadequacies you must have that drove your ex away, etc.) So, today whenever you find yourself feeling stress or anxiety, I want you to stop for a moment and ask yourself: “Am I in grave danger right NOW?“  Then, I want you to ask: “What is so right now?” and take a moment to sink into the truth and experience of this very moment. For the most part you’ll find that you’re actually in a relatively safe place surrounded by potentially soothing or inspiring people/things. This little check-in reminds you that you’re not really in any mortal danger even though your mind has just tricked your body into feeling that you are, and done consistently will start relaxing your fight or flight response.  (Caveat: If you actually are in mortal danger, you have my permission to feel a whack-load of stress and RUN!)

“If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched.”
- Terry Guillemets

2. Mind Dump – If you wake up or go to bed feeling stressed, this is a great daily practice to do first thing in the morning or last thing at night (or both!). Grab a journal or have some loose paper handy and simply start writing whatever thoughts are whirling around your head…good, bad, or ugly.  Go for about 5 minutes of uninterrupted pen-never-leaving-the-paper writing — no censoring, no pausing and thinking before you write, and remember that it doesn’t have to be well-written or even that legible. Think of it as pouring all the stuff that’s clogging up your brain onto the paper. Not only will this help to neutralize your mind for the day or sleep ahead, it will sometimes even help you to discover some deeper, less obvious underlying anxieties you weren’t aware of or even solve a dilemma for you. You can also draw/doodle, colour, or paint instead of write.

3. Laughter – When I was little and in tears over some fleeting upset, my Grampa would look at me and say, “Oh! I see a smile… Here it comes… There it is!!”  As much as I tried to resist that damn smile, it never failed to come…along with full-blown giggles and a complete shift out of my momentary tragedy. So, today I want you to try some laughter to break you out of the clutches of anxiety, blow off some stress, and raise your vibration. Ask your mate or a friend to tickle you, watch one of the funniest scenes from one of your favourite comedies on youtube, tell somebody a joke that never fails to make you smile (even if you’re a terrible joke teller — that can be even more amusing!), or even try faking a great big ole’ belly laugh! That’s right – slap your knee, force some snorts, roll around on the floor… It may start off feeling way fake (and silly as hell), but after rolling around on the ground for a bit, you can bet you’ll be experiencing the real deal in no time at all.  Oh, stop rolling your eyes and just give it a try already, ole’ Stuffy Pants!

“Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you”
- John De Paola

4. Say “No” – Philanthropic tycoon Warren Buffet says: “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything.” So, start practicing the one little word that might have kept you out of this stressful mess to begin with!  Today I challenge you to say “no” once more than you regularly would during the day. Your “no” may be anything from not answering the ringing phone when you don’t feel up to talking to telling your boss who asks you to work overtime for the umpteenth time that you have something else scheduled (yeah, your sanity!)  Even if you disappoint someone with your “no”, let yourself sit with that, but then savour the idea that you just said YES to yourself for a change.  Remember, you will eventually not be able to say yes to anyone if you burn through everything you’ve got without a chance for rejuvenation.

5. Shake It Off - Close yourself off alone in a room, put on a powerful or frenetic piece of music (I love using Prodigy’s “Breathe”, for example) and start moving as if you’re shaking all these feelings of stress and anxiety right out of your body. Stomp it out of your feet, shake it out of your head, wring it out your hands, pull it out of your center — just start shaking those stuck sensations of heaviness, panic, fogginess, or frenzy loose. Allow your body to shake and vibrate from inside and out. Get wild and SHAKE FREE of this feeling that you’ve been feeling trapped in. See it leaving you and dissolving. When the song is over, let yourself drop to floor and savour your breath flowing freely and softly through the energetic space you’ve cleared in your body.

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”
- Chinese Proverb

I wish to all of us an August of love, freedom, and serenity…let’s not let this beautiful season go by without fully tasting it, breathing it, and loving it!

Kimberly Carroll is a certified Soul Coach and a television host/producer.  She is one of the authors of the award-winning anthology “Soul Whispers” and her popular 6-Week Body/Mind/Spirit Bootcamp has been transforming lives from the inside out.  Through her coaching, speaking engagements, and workshops, Kimberly lovingly guides women and men in a wild journey to ignite their body, mind, heart, and spirit!  Her next 6-Week Body/Mind/Spirit Bootcamp starts Sept.13  in Toronto and Sept. 14  for the Online/Tele-Program. For about Kimberly, please visit www.soulcoaching.org

[Travel] Everyone Loves A Rebel

My love of art history has drawn me into the intrigueing life of Michelangelo Buonarotti- a true rebel of his time. There are so many stories to share but lets start with one of his earliest rebellious acts; “La Pieta’”.

This incredibly breathtaking and famous sculpture was completed when Michelangelo was in his early twenties. This sculpture was commissioned for the French Cardinal Jean De Billheres. This sculpture was to be his funeral monument,this never happened. Upon completion it still sits in its original position,”St Peters Basilica in Rome”.

Now let’s get to the rebellious nature of our famous artist and sculture. As Michelangelo’s career began to flourish, many rumours circled the La Pieta, one being that it was not done by Michelangelo but another artist,” Cristoforo Solari”. Michelangelo overheard this dreadful rumour and was furious. He thought about how he was going to make this right and how he was going to let the world know that he was the masterful sculture of the”La Pieta”. One night he broke into St Peters with his precious tools in hand and by candlelight carefully chipped away across Mary’s sash-” MICHAEL(N)GELUS BONAROTUS FLORENTIN(US) FACIEBA(T)- meaning; “Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florence, Made it.”

Yes, his revenge was sweet, news spread like wild fire! Although gifts to the church were not supposed to be signed by the artists, the powers to be allowed it due to Michelangelo’s popularity and fame.

As he aged and matured he later regretted acting in this manner and never signed another piece of art or sculpture again.

The next time you are visiting the La Pieta in Vatican City be sure to lean forward and see if you can slightly see the light words of rebellion across Marys sash. I know this story will make you smile because everyone loves a rebel and Michelangelo truly was an original one.

Adoring mom of two, Darlene is an adventure seeker who is passionate about travel. She believes this is your time to create, learn, and experience the world and its many new moments.  A previous television host & travel writer, Darlene created “Venture Bound Tours and alongside her husband has been creating new memories for her clients overseas for years. She is thrilled to be sharing her lessons learned through travel as well as many humorous stories. Darlene also looks forward to sharing travel insights, assisting you in planning your next journey.

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