The following was my facebook status update from this morning:

Sometimes our brains can run amok with too many thoughts & ideas that end up paralyzing us … especially during a time when we really need to be moving forward. Go do something different to change your energy like going for a walk. Let it all go for the time being and allow God, who is a God of order, to bring peace & clarity to you.

I posted that because I was so very stuck!  My brain was in a loop that was not allowing me to move forward and be productive… at all!  My stress level kept rising and fear was setting in … fear about all kinds of stuff.  You know how that goes.

I knew that I needed to do something to change things up … to change my energy as I say.  I needed to let go of everything so that I could not only feel at peace but also have clarity on what I needed to do next.

In other words, I needed to create a positive flow of energy once again.

Do you ever find yourself in a state like that?

My cat, Isabelle, often joins me on the porch. Today she watched me bounce. Do you see her in the corner on the table?

This is what I did:

1. EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique.  This is such an easy thing to do.  I have never taken a class nor have I gone to a practitioner.  What I know I learned from personal research.  I become very open as I tap and allow “whatever” to bubble up and then tap it away.  For more information about EFT you can go to:  http://www.eftuniverse.com/

1. Rebound – A rebounder is a mini trampoline that is fabulous!  It is important to purchase a quality rebounder as to not cause injury to yourself.  I bounced the day away!  Well, not really … I bounced for about 25 minutes.  The health benefits both physically and emotionally is enormous.

For that 25 minutes I worked every singe cell in my body and        made my lymph system very happy because it needs to be stimulated to keep it from becoming stagnant.  Rebounding is perfect for that!

I also rebounded out on my side porch as you can see from the picture so I was also able to be out in nature … an added bonus.

Between the EFT and Rebounding, my stress level has dropped significantly.  I am feeling a positive flow of energy that has opened me up to both giving and receiving in a way that has been playing out all day.

Whether it is rebounding, taking a walk, riding your bike, dancing, etc there are plenty of things that you can do that will help you bounce through your day.

What activities do you do that help you move forward when you are feeling stuck?  Please take a minute and share with us in the comment section below.

Here’s to bouncing!!

Shileen

In this podcast we continue talking about how to heal anger and hidden hurts.  Remember, emotions manifest in physical challenges trying to get our attention and can be reversed.   Shileen goes into more detail about how self-nurture helps us in the every day and especially helps us when we are working through issues and coaching.  Georgie then demonstrates with the help of a volunteer a very powerful coaching session.

To listen click the link below:

Healing Hidden Hurts Part 2

Today’s podcast is about how to heal anger and hidden hurts  – emotions manifest in physical challenges trying to get our attention and can be reversed.  We are beautifully and wonderfully made and now is the time to heal and be set free!  (Remember we shut down emotionally way before it comes out in a physical form.)

To listen click the link below:

Healing Hidden Hurts Part 1

I noticed she was very sluggish. She was having trouble fulfilling what was being asked, even small things. She would take what seemed like forever to do the simplest tasks, sometimes getting lost to the point where she would have to be saved.

I knew what was wrong. She was being overworked. Day after day she would have so many tasks going on all at the same time, juggling so much more than she could handle. But she continued to be pushed until she could not be pushed any further. Her productivity continued to decrease even though the workload not only continued, but also became more demanding.

Finally, I knew what needed to happen so I expressed to her that she really needed to shutdown for a bit and helped her to do so.

We all know how it is when we have been overworked, how hard it is to stop and unplug. It doesn’t happen right away. The mind and body still want to keep going. Things keep popping up to address that seem urgent in the moment, but really are not, so you just have to delete them from your mind … until that beautiful moment comes when you can finally rest and relax.

That is exactly what happened to her. I sat with her and watched and helped until she finally found her way to let it all go. I could almost hear her sigh of relief.

Turned out she really didn’t need much at all. It is amazing, really, how little it can take to restore only if we would give ourselves that privilege. Once she rested a bit, she woke up and was ready to get back at it … functioning her normal, productive way … feeling good about herself and her abilities to serve others.

Can you relate to this story? I certainly can!

The truth is, the “she” in this story is my computer! That is exactly what happened to my computer last night. We were both tired … ha ha. So as I laid down to do what I call a 15-minute power nap or the R & R Pose and I had my laptop beside me helping “her” to shut down, too. She was so lost with so many files, windows, and applications running that it took time for her to reboot. I had to force quit many applications before she could finally shut down and reset herself.

I feel like that sometimes don’t you, the need to reboot? Why do we push and push thinking there is no time to rest? We only become unproductive or at best less productive by doing so.

Let me tell you that by taking the time to rest and take care of ourselves afford us the ability to be more productive … always! And, we are less stressed, healthier, happier people … operating from a place of inspiration and joy.

So, I urge you, dear women of wonder, to reboot your operating system BEFORE you get lost in the shuffle of demands in your life.

If you have a “rebooting” story or thoughts to share, please do so in the comment section below.

And, by all means, if you need help in rebooting your operating system email me and I would be honored to assist you.

So, how are you … really?  Do you even know?

We are asked all the time how we are.  Most of the time we give a pat answer that we are fine.  We go from meeting to meeting, activity to activity, job to job, etc. often times stressed without realizing just how stressed we really are.

Honestly?  That is where I have found myself recently!

I have started The Wonder Woman Challenge fan page on facebook where a bunch of us have started a 30 day challenge together.  It has just started on Monday.  Even though we are only a couple of days into the challenge I am personally amazed with just how much pressure I have been putting on myself, ignoring what all is going on inside … in body, mind and spirit.

So, how are you … really?

When was the last time you checked in with yourself, when you stopped to get quiet long enough to get an answer back?  And when was the last time you asked yourself what you needed and actually gave it to yourself?

We get caught up in life with all of its ups and downs.  In doing so, we tend to ignore, deny, and even mask what is going on inside of us and unless we take the time to stop and listen, we end up in a numbed out state just going through the motions of life.  And I know from personal experience how that state can lead to depression and illness.

I ask you, where’s the joy in that?

So, how are you … really?  Are you living in joy?

I encourage you to stop right now and give yourself a check in.  How full is your cup?  Take some time now to fill that cup of yours up with love and joy.

I invite you to join us at The Wonder Woman Challenge fan page on Facebook for a 30-day challenge.  It’s only 15 minutes a day.  You’ll get support there as well and you’ll get to read my personal journal.

Love and hugs to you!!

So you want to indulge in a treat … after all, this is the time of year where there are sweets and treats around every corner.  This is also the time of the year when stress is higher than normal as discussed in my last article, “Avoid the Holiday Meltdowns”.  With stress often comes over eating and/or binge eating.

I want to share a little trick I use to help curtail this kind of binge eating.  Keep in mind that this “trick” I use does not address the root problem.  That will be saved for another article.  This really isn’t even a trick at all but more of a special treatment.

What I want to share with you today allows you to indulge in a healthier way that, if done properly with the right mindset, can actually be a self-care activity. It’s very simple and fun.

Decide on a treat that you really want.  Don’t be mindless about it.  For example I made Pumpkin Cream Cupcakes the other night.  Oh my goodness!  They are so good! (I’ve included the recipe below.) They remind me of the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from Starbucks, which I love.  I could easily eat several in one setting if I’m not careful, so to avoid that kind of a binge eating I create “a moment”.

As you can see in the picture above, I created a beautiful holiday setting for eating one (not two, three or even four!) Pumpkin Cream Cupcake. I watched a holiday movie in this setting but sometimes I will play soothing music or sneak away to a quiet place in the house.

A very important aspect of this activity is to be in the moment and use your five senses while indulging in the treat.  Talk about an enjoyable stress reliever!  It feels very special because it is!  It sends a very nurturing message to yourself that you care enough to not binge on your favorite treat while meeting your need to de-stress in a more delightful healthier way.

The next time you feel a binge coming on due to stress or any other reason, allow yourself to indulge in a small treat if you like but create a special moment that tickles your senses.  You will be quite surprised with the results!

Pumkin Cream Cupcakes

From Food & Family Kraft Magazine

www.kraftfoods.com

1 pkg (2-layer size) spice cake mix

1 pkg (3/4 0z) Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 pkg (8 oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake batter as directed on package.  Add dry pudding mix and and pumpkin; mix well.  Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.

Beat cream cheese with mixer until cream.  Blend in sugar and egg; spoon over batter.  Swirl gently with small spoon.

Bake 18 to 21 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.  Cool 5 minutes; remove to wire racks.  Cool Completely.

Special Extra:  Stir 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg into 1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip; spread over cooled cupcakes.  Keep refrigerated.

There’s a lot going on at this time of the year as we get ready for Christmas.  Stress is at an all time high … wouldn’t you say?  Life is crazy enough but then when you add the holiday “stuff” on top of an already busy schedule?  It spells … m-e-l-t-d-o-w-n!

Ok, girlfriends, how do we avoid the holiday meltdowns this year?!

First of all, stop wherever you are in your holiday preparations and celebrations and think about what you want Christmas to be for you and your family.  Certainly you don’t want it to be all about stress and meltdowns.  I know that my family does not want me to be irritable, resentful, and miserable during a time that is supposed to be about family, love, and celebrations. They told me so many years ago.  It was then that I began to scale down and slow down so that I could enjoy the beautiful season that it is.

Forget the picture perfect Christmas.  Choose one or two things that are most important and focus on those things.  Do you really need a million different kinds of homemade cookies?  No!  Does your house need to look like something out of a magazine?  No! Seriously, keep it all simple so that you can devote the time you do have to those you love in a way that will create beautiful, fun memories.

That takes me to you.  You know how it goes … “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”  Let’s keep mama happy during this holiday season.  What do you need to do to make that happen?

Yes, scale down the preparations and celebrations.  But also keep up with your self-care activities.  You only need 15 minutes a day – that alone makes such a big difference.  But ya know what? If you need to shut the world out for a while, do so.  Watch your favorite movie, read a book, take a long nap, a bubble bath or whatever you need to do to restore.  These little things make all the difference in the world!

Avoid the holiday meltdowns this year by simplifying and taking a little time to de-stress.  It’s the best Christmas gift you can give to your family and yourself!

Do share your own thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.

Here I sit in the middle of Starbucks sipping my favorite latte, listening to beautiful music … just being … allowing thoughts to come and go … mostly go as I release them onto the pages of my journal.

Release. It’s so important to release the pressures of life. We need to release the stress, the tensions, the worries that tend to build up inside of us. Yes, unless we have a way to let it all go, to release, the “stuff” gets stuck in our bodies causing all kinds of havoc.

Right now, my dear reader, stop. Take a minute or two right now and just stop what you’re doing. Get quiet, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Check in with yourself. Go inside and ask yourself how you’re doing right now in the moment.

What’s the very first answer that comes to your mind? Don’t judge it, accept it whatever it is.

Got your answer? Ok, here we go again. Ready? Take another deep breath. This time ask yourself right now, in the moment… “What do I need?” What’s the very first answer that comes to your mind? Don’t judge it, accept it whatever it is.

With your eyes still closed take another deep breath and just be. Revel in the moment of being.

Release. It’s so important to release the pressures of life.

Now, I challenge you to do whatever it is your body is telling you it needs. Honor yourself, love yourself, give yourself the tender loving care that you so deserve.

Below is a 5 – 10 minute yoga routine that I do daily. It’s a simple, quick way to release the pressures of life. Once you learn this simple routine you can practice it in quietness if you like or set it to relaxing music. For me, it releases the pressures of life, gives me energy yet relaxes me, and it puts a bounce in my step. It’s been known to give me warm fuzzies even! Really! ☺

Give it a try and let me know how it makes you feel.  Remember, take the time to release the pressures of life.  The results will amaze you.