Do you subscribe to the philosophy that resolutions are made to be broken?

Or

Do you believe the New Year’s holiday is an opportunity for change?

Resolution makers generally fall into one of three categories:

1. Serious Resolution Makers

These individuals dedicate themselves to reach their goal – usually in self-improvement. They set their goals and plan the steps to achieve them. They take ACTION.

2. Good Intentions

These people really want to change. They say “This year will be different”. They probably manage the first week or two of following through then they abandon them. These people usually have a plan to begin with.

3. On the Spot Resolutions

These poople make up a New Yeaar’s Resoultion on the spot when they are asked what their resoultuion is. They rarely have any intentions on following through.

What group do you fall into?

Often times people don’t take New Years Resoulutions seriously. They believe it’s all a big joke ….

New Years is actually the perfect time to dedicate yourself to a goal. Here’s why:

• You can reflect on your successes and failures of the previous year
• You have the right frame of mind to plan for the future
• It’s easier to gain the support of family and friends that have thesame or similar goals
• It’s easy to measure your goals. The timeframe of a year is an excellent yardstick
• You have 12 months which is enought time to plan, execute and achieve your goals – even if you hit some roadblocks along the way.

Why do we make resolutions?

Think about your past resolutions …

• Why did you make them?
• What did you hope to accomplish?
• Were you just going along with the crowd?
• Did you really want to change your life?
• Did you take the opportunity to change your lfie seriously?
• Do you subcribe to the theory “Resolutions are made to be broken”?

Do you really want to change your life?

YOU CAN!!!

Want to give it a try?

Here’s how:

1. Choose a resolution that you believe you can attain. If you choose a goal to lose 30 pounds in January or to exercise an hour every day you’ll brobably give up because within a week or so you’ll feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Choosing small goals you can attain helps you to create a pattern of success.
2. Break it up into small steps. Any large goal can be broken into a series of smaller goals. For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds, begin by setting a smaller goal. Maybe losing five pounds is a good start.
3. Set a Deadline. Having a deadline helps you to stay on track and to track your progress. For example, if your goal is to lose 50 pounds, and your smaller goal is 5 pounds a month, you should achieve your big goal in 10 months. (Sound like a long time? How fast did 2008 pass?)
4. Reward yourself – For each small success you need to reward yourself. If your goal is to lose weight, then you don’t want to reward yourself with food. You may want a new outfit, a night out, a massage – get creative.
5. Be Prepared – Regardless of your resoulution you will have obstacles to face. Plan for these obstacles and be prepared to face them head-on. For example, if your goal is to stop smoking, be prepared for cravings and have something ready to distract you for 5 to 10 minutes. (Any type of cravings rarely last longer than 10 minutes)

New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be broken!

Establish a Winning Attitude, Set Proper Goals, and your New Year’s Resolutions will be life changing and rewarding experiences.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2012!!!

Do you struggle with being able to follow your heart and instincts? The truth is, in many circumstances, your instincts are usually right, but if you tend to over think things too much, you might stray from those initial inner thoughts.

Following Your Heart

Sometimes following your heart instead of your mind can seem like the “weak” thing to do. This is not the case; following your heart is following the core of your beliefs and is usually the best thing you can do.

When you follow your heart, you’re usually happy. Happy people enjoy their lives and are usually healthier in the long run. If you want to be happy, you must learn how to follow your heart.

You can begin following your heart by keeping these tips in mind:

1. Trust your subconscious thoughts. It can be tough to stay in touch with your subconscious thoughts, but they make up your initial instincts and they’re close to your heart. You know that the truth will be revealed to you if you give yourself enough time. Learn to trust yourself.

2. Go with what feels right. Don’t be afraid to take action towards the things that feel right. If something feels off to you, you can stop and explore the reasons why. It always starts with a feeling. Go in the direction of your positive feelings.

3. Avoid over thinking. Sometimes your mind can get away from you and start cycling through negative thoughts. Take deep breaths and get back into a positive mindset so that you can see your true path more clearly.

Trusting Your Instincts

There are several good techniques that can help you better grasp the process of trusting your instincts. Some of these common solutions might work for you.

These strategies can help you trust your instincts:

1. Stick with your gut feeling. Following your heart and instincts are very similar things. It’s important to go with your initial thoughts. This is because it’s likely a thought that’s coming from within and not something you’ve had time to think endlessly about. You’d be amazed with how many times you just end up going with your initial feeling anyway.

2. Write down your thoughts. It might help to engage in a free writing session. Pick up a pen and just write your thoughts down as they come. Try not to put the pen down. It doesn’t matter if you start writing some things that don’t pertain to the subject. After reading your notes, you’ll probably get a better idea about your base instincts.

3. Keep yourself in a relaxed state. It’s always best to do your thinking while you’re relaxed. That way you know you’re not making any strained decisions. Do what you can to relax yourself, whether it’s deep breathing, a warm bath, or meditation techniques.

4. Avoid changing your mind unless there’s a valid reason. Occasionally, you’ll know that your initial instinct was wrong. In this case, if you have a valid reason to change your mind, you should do so. However, if you don’t have a good reason, just follow through with your initial thoughts.

You’ll find that most of the time your instincts and heart are correct in the end. Even when they’re not, banish discouragement and keep practicing. Maintain a positive attitude and keep trying and soon your heart and instincts will be your guiding lights.

My grandma taught me everything about Christmas. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” jeered my sister. “Even dummies know that!”

My grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me.

“No Santa Claus!” she snorted. “Ridiculous! Don’t believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let’s go.”

“Go? Go where, Grandma?” I asked. I hadn’t even finished my second cinnamon bun.

“Where” turned out to be Kerby’s General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days.

“Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I’ll wait for you in the car.” Then she turned and walked out of Kerby’s.

I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock’s grade-two class. Bobbie Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough; but all we kids knew that Bobbie Decker didn’t have a cough, and he didn’t have a coat.

I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat. I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. I didn’t see a price tag, but ten dollars ought to buy anything. I put the coat and my ten-dollar bill on the counter and pushed them toward the lady behind it.

She looked at the coat, the money, and me. “Is this a Christmas present for someone?” she asked kindly. “Yes,” I replied shyly. “It’s … for Bobbie. He’s in my class, and he doesn’t have a coat.” The nice lady smiled at me. I didn’t get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, “To Bobbie, From Santa Claus” on it … Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.

Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker’s house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa’s helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie’s house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.

Suddenly, Grandma gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell twice and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobbie. He looked down, looked around, picked up his present, took it inside and closed the door.

Forty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker’s bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: Ridiculous!

Santa was alive and well … AND WE WERE ON HIS TEAM!

Author Unknown

We all have those moments when we need inspiration to gain confidence and build momentum.  That’s why inspirational sayings are so popular!

When you live a life without inspiration, it can be a life without any real joy or passion.  In those moments where you need a little pick me up or a reminder of the many great things you have in your life, you can turn to the power of inspirational words. You need to have a collection of inspirational sayings in your toolkit that resonate with you so you can get more done and still feel great!

The Top 10 Ten Inspirational Sayings You Can Use Everywhere!

There are a lot of great motivational sayings out there that we can turn to when we are feeling down, but we should be using them all the time, rain or shine!  Strive to incorporate inspirational sayings into your every day life, using them to inspire you to reach higher and push harder so you can achieve all of the things you have set out to do and more.

Some wonderful inspirational sayings include:

1.    There is a beautiful light at the end of my tunnel.
2.    I take small steps in life and value my time.
3.    In order to share happiness with others, I must also be happy.
4.    As I let go of dissatisfaction, I feel happiness in my life.
5.    My life is full of purpose, exciting change, and many recognized deeds.
6.    No matter the challenge, I will see it through.
7.    I am becoming more focused and confident every day.
8.    I welcome positive energy and I use that feeling to accomplish more.
9.    My life is already full of success.
10.    I keep only two mental snapshots of myself: where I am and where I want to be in life.

And a BONUS my favorite Inspirational Saying …. Compliments of Wayne Dyer ….

“I Want to Feel Good.” By continually telling yourself you want to feel good, things will begin to happen to make you feel good. Remember you can not be sad enough to make another person happy, healthy or wealthy.

These are all very simple inspirational sayings that work to affirm positive thoughts and attitudes in your mind.  Affirmations are simply positive statements that remind you of your goals and positive uniqueness so you can boost your self-confidence.

Accomplish More with the Power of Inspirational Thinking

Inspirational sayings and affirmations can help us move forward in life and accomplish greater things than we could have ever imagined.  After all, we can’t deny the power of a can-do attitude.  If more of us incorporate inspiration into our lives, we would all be happier and more successful people.  When you incorporate positive sayings into your life, you’ll find that you’ll respond on a subconscious level and you’ll no longer need to look very far for inspiration!

If you’re down or lacking confidence, you can use inspirational sayings to find the courage to move forward and force out any negative thoughts that may be cycling through your mind.  When you say these statements with gusto, you are re-affirming positive thoughts in your mind, making them a part of who you are.  Remember to use these sayings at any and every occasion to give you the inspiration you need to get through any challenge, both big and small.

It was exactly one-week after my mom died, I sat in a restaurant with my husband of 15 years, Earl. I was distraught, still thinking of the sudden and unexpected death of my mom that just ripped through my heart. Earl and I were having a squabble, when he looked at me straight in the eye and said “I don’t know if I love you any more or not.

I was knocked to the floor. How could he do this to me while I was grieving my mom? I knew we were having problems, but why was he being so cruel? It was the last thing in the world that I needed or wanted to hear. Out of shock and anger, I replied with some “not so nice” words.

Through all of his faults, Earl was a man of his word. He married for better or for worse, and would never have taken the initial steps towards divorce.

For the next five years we lived together as man and wife – yet so distant. There is NOTHING Lonelier than being in a marriage where you feel unloved, unworthy and unappreciated.

During this period my dad, grandmother, brother and aunt died. In addition, Earls, brother was murdered, his grandmother and grandfather died and his father almost died of pneumonia and lung cancer.

Earl and I kept growing apart, yet I clinged to what was familiar to me. I knew how to act, when to say what and more importantly when and how to avoid his massive outbursts of anger which appeared to get worse every day. I had been with him since I was 16 years old, how in the world could I live without him?  If I left him, my parents were no longer around to help me, who would support me? More importantly, how would I support my children, because Earl constantly threatened to leave the kids and me penniless.

I began doing a lot of self-improvement. I read any and every book I could find including books on how to save my marriage. The more I tried, the farther he drifted. During this time, he said and did some horrendous things.
I finally decided to take the plunge and leave. It was the scariest thing I ever did in my life. I had never been completely on my own; I went from daddy’s house to Earl’s house. I was fortunate that I had the support of a few very good friends who encouraged me, even though I often felt that no one had been through what I was feeling and that no one truly understood. The separation and divorce was as amicable as one can be.

Four days after I left Earl, my son was in a car accident, I called Earl and was horrified at what he did. He came to the hospital, talked to my son for a few minutes and then gave him $20. And said, “Here, maybe your mom will get you something to eat on the way home.” We did not even have all the x-rays back, and did not have any final word on my son’s condition.
For weeks or months, I was fueled with anger at him for the way he treated my son, as well as all the past hurtful things he did. I was further enraged when he told me that getting a demotion at work, hurt him more than me leaving did.

Then one day it hit me like a ton of bricks ….. I was allowing Earl to continuously hurt me and control my life because I was holding onto anger of the past. What did Earl care that I was angry? Did it affect his life? Of course, it did not. This anger was eating away at me, making me scream, making me cry, making me think life was unfair and making me want to strangle Earl’s neck. This affected my moods, my actions and feelings about myself.

I decided right then and there to “LET GO” of the anger. To let go of the “What Ifs” the “If Only’s” and the “Why’s”. I just Let everything go and accepted what is. I looked to the opportunities I had. I looked to how I wanted to shape my life. I looked to the newfound freedom I found. I embraced the fact that My Life is My Choice, and that by holding onto the anger was giving my choice away.

Fast-forward 15 years. Both my children are grown, living happy healthy productive lives. I am married to a wonderful man who treats with the utmost respect and love. I have a career that I love! Some of the journey has been rough but it has been worth it. Sign up for your “Life After Divorce” coaching session, and allow me give you the support you need in dealing with the roller-coaster of emotions felt during and after a divorce.

Read Jenna’s story of how she turned her life around after divorce.

Are you Living your dream?

Have you been suppressing it because you don’t have the support of your parents, your family or your friends? Maybe they say you are not good enough or smart enough to accomplish your dreams.

Consider this – On America’s Got Talent Cindy Chang, Age 42 comes onto stage and states that her family doesn’t even know that she is auditioning. Listen to her voice – It’s fabulous. Whether or not you care for this style of music, I believe that you will agree that iit’s a shame, she has not been sharing it with the world because of things people have told her.

She says she used to be shy, but is getting over it. It’s great that she has gained the confidence in herself to overcome her shyness, ignore the advice of others and go for her dream!

Next time some one tries to squelch your dreams, take a deep breath and go for it anyway. It’s your life LIVE IT to the fullest!!!

What is a Master Mind?

A Master Mind is a group of like minded individuals who have similar, yet very distinctive goals and aspirations. There are several types of groups to choose from. Some have paid facilitators and some do not. Note that master mind groups without paid facilitators are normally a group of people that met at an event (either online or off) that decided to get together once or twice a month to brainstorm ideas. Large business owners often create their own group of master minds to focus on brainstorming new and creative ways to market their business.

The Best Master Mind Group integrate teaching and sharing with a paid facilitator. At each meeting the participants learn new strategies to grow their business and then have homework to put the strategy into action. There is also time set aside to brainstorm and ask questions related to their niche and business. In addition they may be partnered with another member, and often these partnerships lead to long-lasting friendships and brainstorming sessions.

How Can a Master Mind Help You Succeed?

*  Being in a group of like minded individuals is exciting and motivating. By promising to do something in front of a group, you are more likely to follow through so you can tell them how it went.

*  You’ll get feedback on your ideas and goals. You can ask for help in overcoming obstacles you face and learn by another’s experience. Master Mind groups can often speed up your success because you learn what doesn’t work by other members so you can avoid some of the learning curve.

*  Learn creative ways to market your business. It’s amazing what can come out of a brainstorming session. Bring your idea to the table during the session and be blown away by the ideas that come from group members. Members also share ways they have marketed which can spark new ideas for your own niche.

*  Position yourself as an expert in your niche. A group can help you to narrow your niche down to a targeted market of hungry customers. This includes tips on SEO (search engine optimization) that will give you a greater chance of being ranked higher in the search engines.

*  Use social media to grow your business. When you belong to a Master Mind group, participants often help you build your brand by retweeting your tweets and talking about you and to you on Facebook and other social media sites.

Sign up for the Success Charged Master Mind Group today.

Peaceful moments in our lives are like precious rare jewels that need to be appreciated, remembered and cherished. Each one of us regularly experiences wonderful moments of bliss and peace during the course of our daily activities.

Determine to become more aware of those moments, notice how you feel at such times, work toward extending those precious moments of peace, and listen to the subtle clues for your life that these moments whisper to your soul. Our very own private and intimate moments of peace are unique to each of us, depending on our own lifestyle and the unique interests of each of us that causes our own heart space to be touched.

For many people these moments of peace will be experienced just being in the presence of the beauty, solitude and sounds of nature. On a quiet, warm day, it is easy for anyone to feel very peaceful while strolling through a scenic park setting, or perhaps, just sitting in your own backyard if it is only for a few moments. Observing nature’s perfect color schemes, feeling the soft and gentle breezes brushing on your flesh, watching the squirrels scurrying about and the birds gliding through the air is enough to fill your heart with wonder, appreciation, and blissful peace.

Those moments of peacefulness will surely be yours as you are holding and gently rocking your baby to sleep, snuggling with your toddler in one of your favorite chairs while reading, “Adventures With Dora” one more time, or hugging your teenager just because it feels so good.

Those blissful moments of peace for many people will also occur while being immersed in a project or hobby that you truly enjoy. Painting, drawing, or sculpting, for instance, are hobbies that indulge your senses and satisfy your natural creativity so that you find yourself in a completely peaceful place, almost as if you have entered another space and time.

Whatever the activities or situations you experience that causes you to feel peaceful, notice the sense of clarity, gratitude, love, and comfort that you feel at those times. You feel as if your sole is smiling. You feel warm and fuzzy. In those moments of peace, life is flowing very well indeed. In those moments of blissful peace anything is possible. You are where you want to be, doing what you want to do, and you are completely fulfilled and satisfied in those fleeting moments of peace.

As you become more aware of how you feel and listen to your heart space in those moments of peace, you will notice that creative ideas flow through your mind, inspiration exhilarates you, you become energized with a renewed sense of purpose, and answers for troubling problems come to you effortlessly. Listen and remember. Those beautiful intimate moments of peace will softly and gently lead you to a more satisfying, fulfilling, joyful and purposeful life.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning spinning wheel. These are a system of seven energy centers located along the spine. Each chakra corresponds to an area of the body, a set of behavioral characteristics and stages of spiritual growth.

Practicing yoga and focusing your energies during different postures can help you to align your chakras and get all the wheels spinning in the same direction and speed. Understanding how to fine tune and control your chakras through yoga and meditation can help bring balance and peace to your mind, body and spirit.

There are seven chakras, each associated with a different part of the body along the spine from the perineum to the crown of your head. Each chakra is associated with a particular body location, a color, a central emotional/behavioral issue, as well as many other personal aspects including identity, goals, rights, etc.

The seven chakras are: Muladhara- base of the spine; Svadhisthana- abdomen, genitals, lower back/hip; Manipura- solar plexus; Anahata- heart area; Visshudha- throat; Ajna- brow; Sahasrara- top of head, cerebral cortex.

Through the movements and postures of yoga, you can learn to focus your concentration and energy to and from the various chakras in your body. This can allow you to compensate for areas that may be out of synch with the rest of your body or not active at all.

By balancing the energy among all seven of the chakras, balance can be achieved. This spiritual energy is known as Kundalini energy. In its dormant state, it can be visualized as a coiled up snake resting at the base of your spine, the Muladhara chakra.

Since the chakras act as valves or pumps regulating the flow of energy through your system, controlled and purposeful movements such as yoga can be extremely beneficial in realigning your chakras in a way that can cause great benefits to you in your physical and emotional well-being.

Meditation is a great way to clear your mind of the worries and stresses of the day. If you’re not familiar with this method of relaxation, you may think it’s difficult, however with practice, you’ll find that it’s not hard at all.

Starting a Meditative Practice

Want to know what the hardest part of meditation is? Here’s a hint: It has nothing to do with meditation at all!

The hardest part is simply making the time to meditate. Once you believe in its power and see its results, you won’t let anything get in the way of you and your peaceful practice. It might be tough in the beginning, but stay with it! It’ll be well worth the effort.

Make a goal for yourself and evaluate your progress as you go. Commit to at least weekly meditations for four weeks. After this time, evaluate whether the meditation has made a positive difference your life.

These meditation tips will help you in your quest for obtaining inner peace:

1. Choose a time to meditate. Find a good time for you to meditate. You can start with shorter sessions in the beginning, but generally you should shoot for between 30 minutes to an hour during each session. Right when you get up or before you go to bed are good times to practice.

* Make meditation a priority for yourself just like you would for everything else that’s important in your life.

2. Keep an elevated posture. If you slouch, you won’t be in a good position for meditation and you’re more likely to feel like falling asleep. Elevate your posture and you’ll feel more open to the world. Relax in a crossed legged or other comfortable sitting position and rest your hands in your lap.

3. Focus on your breath. Your main goal is to keep your attention on your breath as you breathe in and breathe out. It may help to say a mantra and visualize breathing in good energy and letting out the bad energy with each cycle.

* Breathe at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Work toward deep, long breaths.

4. Acknowledge your thoughts. You want to remain fully present while you’re meditating, and there’s no doubt that thoughts are going to enter your mind while you’re trying to concentrate.

* Don’t be frustrated by these thoughts, but at the same time don’t let thoughts take your attention completely away. Acknowledge your thoughts and then bring your focus back to your breath.

5. Fight the urge to sleep. Many people complain of the urge to sleep during meditation sessions, mainly because it’s relaxing and you’re meditating during early morning or late evening hours. Try to remain awake with focus and good posture.

6. Maintain your practice. After you discover the many benefits of meditating, it will most likely become a part of you forever. You may not have time to do this every day, but it’s important to keep up with regular meditation sessions.

Meditation will help you keep a peaceful perspective on life and can tell you a lot of things about your true self. You can use it to relax, motivate, or energize you, depending on your purpose for each session. As you get more experienced with meditation, a more joyful and peaceful life will be yours!