Forget the hot flashes, power surges and the constant forgetting of… what was the word I was looking for? Let’s talk about your spirit. While your hormones are winding down and there is a lack of energy, interest in nurturing and loss of motivation, to a degree, this is by design! Yes, this time is one of great importance as a woman and your spirit wants you to go within and explore.

This is usually the half way mark and time to shift away from an “other” orientation to
one of “it’s my time.” The more aware you are of this natural change that is taking place within you, the better you can communicate to your family about what you need. They need time to realize you are not their personal attendant and to get on with their own development. Are you in conflict because of a backlash from beliefs and values from your community or culture, feeling … Read the rest

See it and Believe it

You need to visualize the specific changes to develop this stronger sense of self. You want to act as if what you want is already here; walk tall, feel majestic, slim, poised, powerful. Stop comparing yourself with TV, the movies or the cover of a magazine.  

Mirror Mirror on The Wall

If you are avoiding looking at yourself in the glass or mirrors, you are discounting yourself. It is important to find the features you do like and focus on them as you give yourself kudos as you glance at your reflection.   

Kick it up a Notch

Do something just a little bit better than you did in the past. Give it a few more minutes, focus, concentrate and just give a little more effort. It could be at work or at home. Cooking up a special dish, perhaps it is giving yourself … Read the rest

Are you reactive? Can’t let things go? Would you like to shift out of overdrive? Many people think that being “neutral” means you are indifferent or simply don’t care. Neutral is not the same as being in the middle of the road or stuck. Being “neutral” means you are in place where you don’t react in a knee jerk manner, triggered by stress. Stress, especially chronic stress can create a new “normal” making chaos and drama the status quo. This heightened state of emotions changes perception and interactions. It doesn’t take long before you forget that you are in control of your emotions and reactions. Want to learn about your own Stress Reaction?

Your brain is designed to store memories and to make associations between events that happen and when the stress reaction is triggered there is a “fast track” bypassing rational thought creating a knee jerk reaction. Often, looking … Read the rest

In a recent study,  volunteers who said they were really stressed out ate dark chocolate for two weeks. When tested, scientists found reductions in stress hormones and other stress-related biochemical changes.

“The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 grams (1.4 ounces) during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of healthy human volunteers,” the scientists said in the press release.

Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects.   J. Proteome Res., 2009, 8 (12), pp 5568–5579

Ok so Chocolate really does have great health benefits. Sugar on the other hand can be very damaging and anyone who struggles with cravings knows this.

Another study, presented in late 2008 at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology annual meeting, found that sugar is addictive to rats. Sugar binges changed the levels of the rats’ brain chemicals that … Read the rest

Have you seen people who are simply radiant? Or perhaps you have noticed the glow in children’s cheeks? Do you think it is too late to have that radiance come through when you smile? Are you bogged down in the details of everyday living that you have lost your sense of awe at the miracles of everyday life?

While life happens and you can’t always control it – what you tell yourself about what is happening makes all the difference in your experience. The habit of negative or fearful thinking becomes a pattern setting up fear to rule all your decisions. Fear is usually not based in reality but based in emotion. Emotions distort reality and come out of the past – old experiences.

In my experience, fear based reactions come from the experience of never having enough. It may seem like a contradiction, but the way it was for … Read the rest

The nutrient, Alpha Lipoic Acid, is not talked about much, yet it is safe to take and yields great health benefits such as:

• energy production,
• blood sugar control,
• help to decrease discomfort from Diabetic neuropathy (may need 800 mcg or more a day)
• supports brain health
• detox support

Lipoic Acid in involved in the conversion of carbohydrates to energy. As sugar is metabolized to produce energy it is converted to pyruvic acid. When adequately oxygenated, this is broken down by an enzyme containing Thiamine, Niacin and lipoic acid.

Ok, think about what happens with the stress response, breathing becomes more shallow, decreasing oxygenation of tissues, building up acidosis. Diet is usually higher in sugar as well. If you are suffering with increased pain in joints or stiffness, the lactic acid build up may be the problem. Without oxygenation, the sugar that gets converted to pyruvic acid cannot be metabolized leaving … Read the rest

Today almost half of workers “love their job” according to Ranstad, a global HR provider.   Even more interesting is that over half, 60% feel the love coming back from their employers!  This is a shift given that in 2007 70% of workers disliked their jobs!

“This could point to feelings of gratitude and appreciation for being employed when so many have been laid off. ”   Eileen Habelow, Ph.D., senior vice president of organizational development for Randstad

Let’s break it down based on Randstad’s survey:

• 66% feel the love because of the work they do
• 11 percent because of their coworkers
• 10% because of their employers
• 9% because of pay

Older workers cite their contribution as a main reason  for staying in the job while younger workers like the experience they are getting.

With over half of the workers saying they do not believe their job is going anywhere, 30% … Read the rest