Journal What?

A friend made me realize yesterday that loads of experts sing the praises of journaling, but no one ever explains WHY

I'm going to explain why journaling is so essential to living a vibrant life: 

• It allows you to let go - we walk around with so much crap literally weighing on our physical shoulders that the only way to let it go is to grant it space on paper, so that it can be released from your soul, mind, psyche. Whether you keep it, burn it, it doesn't matter - when you acknowledge it, you can feel the emotions related to the crappy stuff, so you can let it go. 

• You can chart your successes and failures - let's face it, our memory can fail us at times. However, if you write down the successes, on those days when you need them, you can read about it and relive it again when the world tries to tell you that you suck! On the opposite side, when you fail or mess up, write down the lesson you learned, so that when you're faced with a similar situation, you can be reminded about what not to do
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• It's better than escapism! Think about it, YOU now have a document that can track your own personal growth. Imagine it like you being Tolkien and writing your own Lord Of the Rings novel, except you are the Hero/SHEro of your own story. YOU have climbed those mountains. YOU have achieved those accomplishments.... Trust me when I tell you it's better than any soap opera when the story is about YOU.

Try it out for a few weeks, and write down those major wins and fails that you have. For the wins, celebrate! For the fails share your lessons.

How about we share both?

Too Busy to Eat Healthy?

Whether you're a busy young professional, new Mom, or an always-working entrepreneur, there are some simple things you can do to make sure you're still eating well, with a limited amount of time.

One disclaimer first:

Don't try to do everything at once!!!

Going from Junk Food Jane/Joe to Health Food Harriet/Henry overnight never happens, and is a sure-way to get de-motivated and stop trying at all. Use the following tips instead:

• Subscribe to a home delivery service - do an internet search for an organic/local food delivery service, and you'll find that if you're in North America they're nearly everywhere. And if not, create a shopping list, and give it to your local grocery store - they want you're business, so they'll find a way to deliver to you! You can use the list from one of the food delivery services as a template, if you don't know where to start. Experiment with simple recipes and try to use all the veggies in the box!


• Try a smoothie meal! - get some healthy ingredients, throw some greens in (especially kale!), and you've got a breakfast or lunch meal on the go! Delicious and healthy. Yes, the green pieces may take getting used to, but do you want to be healthy and youthful, or feel like a piece of crap?! :).


• Eat lots and lots of salad - buy a big box of pre-washed greens, chop up some tomato, cucumber (and I love using celery for a bit more saltiness), squeeze on lemon juice and some olive oil, and you got a salad made in literally minutes! Try nutrient-dense greens like spinach, swiss chard instead of iceberg lettuce (which is mostly water and has minimal nutrients).

Don't try all three things at once. Pick one thing to do it consistently for 21 days (which is the time it takes to form a new habit), and chart your success and changes. Whether its an increase in energy, loss of weight, journal it, so that you can see what's happening as you change something for the better.

Feel free to share your success stories here as you go along, for even more cheerleading support! :)

How to Bring Value to your Work

I get asked the question all the time (being  a buzz-creator and social media community builder) how to draw people to you. The answer is always bring value. However, many people do not ever tell you what value means. So here are some ways you can provide it to others:

• Make postings to your various social  media sites that improves the lives of those who read/see/hear it. 


•  Focus on quality over quantity - don't rush to do a "daily post" if it's not coming from the heart; you might as well not do it at all. 


• Be consistent with your branding - for instance, my overall messaging aim is always to make people smile OR think. Before I post anything, I ask myself if will do either (or sometimes when I'm luck, BOTH!). :)


•  Provide only possibilities - I do my best to make sure I write/speak of options and perspectives. I would be insane to think that I alone have the answers all the solutions of the world. Instead, I ask that people to look inside themselves for their answers; I provide them with alternatives at which to view whatever is happening, and THEY choose which action fits their circumstances.

I find it funny that so many "experts" are selling the "how to make a million dollars", "how to become a guru in 30 days", when really all people need is guidance, a mirror, and someone to help them develop new habits.

I look forward to the day when me and my fellow heart-based leaders start showing others new possibilities for living a life full of freedom, wealth, peace and happiness!

Here's the the New World that's a-comin'!  :)