Do you feel like you’re not living your life fully?
Rachel Luna is a highly sought-after international speaker, Certified Master Neuroscience Coach, former US Marine, and host of the Real Talk with Rachel Luna podcast. Forbes named her one of The 11 Most Inspiring Female Entrepreneurs to Follow on Instagram. https://www.rachelluna.biz
What causes us to procrastinate and is there something we ca do change that?
Fuschia Sirois, PhD, is a Professor of Social and Health Psychology at Durham University, and a former Canada Research Chair in Health and Well-being. Prof Sirois’ research focuses on understanding the psychological factors and qualities that confer risk or resilience for physical health and well-being outcomes through self-regulation and emotions. For over 20 years she has researched the causes and consequences of procrastination, and in particular the health consequences of procrastination, as well as how emotions play a key role in explaining why people procrastinate. Her research also examines the role of positive psychology traits, states, and interventions for supporting self-regulation and enhancing health and well-being She has authored over a 120 peer-reviewed journal papers, over 200 conference papers, and edited two books. Her research has been funded by a number of national funding agencies including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada, The Economic and Social Research Council (UK), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK). Follow her on Twitter at @FuschiaSirois
In the Moments with Marianne book club Chicken Soup For The Soul: Laughter Is The Best Medicine by Amy Newmark!
Do you need some levity to help with the ups and downs of life? Chicken Soup For The Soul‘s latest book Laughter Is The Best Medicine: 101 Feel Good Stories, gives readers an easy way to gain a laugh with short real-life stories. This is Chicken Soup for the Soul’s first-ever humor collection, and a perfect read for everyone!
Teri Karjala, is a Transformational Life Strategist, the founder of Creative Counseling Center and Talking With Teri, best-selling author of Be The Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life with a foreword written by Jack Canfield. She is Coach with Forbes and a Premier Success Coach with eWomen Network. https://talkingwithteri.com
Lisa Winston is an intuitive and healer. Having gone through numerous challenges, including losing her home to wildfire and breast cancer, she also teaches how those challenges are sent to refine, not define you. She has produced many global summits with top influencers, has been featured on national radio and podcasts. Lisa co-hosts “The Mindset Reset TV Show,” seen daily by 60 million viewers worldwide. Her mission is to support people in connecting to their inner guidance and love so they can shine more brightly in the world www.yesequalssuccess.com www.yourturningpointbook.com
Judy Goodman, CPC, CSRC, CRC may possibly be one of the most gifted teachers, and motivational speakers today. Her access to the workings of the physical world and ‘the other side’ is absolutely amazing. She works and teaches without the limits usually associated with the most talented. A ‘go-to person’ for many people! Born with a gift of seeing beyond the ordinary view of most people, Judy teaches ‘beyond conventional wisdom.’ She may be without peer in her experience of the events and workings of the physical and spiritual realms. This extraordinary combination of gifts is very unique. www.JudyGoodman.com
Kevin Murphy is a former Wall Street managing director, high school and collegiate wrestling champion, community activist, speaker, coach, and author. During his highly successful 33-year career at Citigroup, Kevin was responsible for the sales, marketing and trading of several different businesses within the firm. He served on the Board of Directors of multiple option exchanges and spoke at conferences all over the world. http://thethreerooms.com
David Cunningham, M.Ed., is a communication expert and seminar leader for Landmark, a personal and professional growth, training and development company that’s had more than 2.4 million people use its programs to cause breakthroughs in their personal lives as well as in their communities, generating more than 100,000 community projects around the world. In The Landmark Forum, Landmark’s flagship program, people cause breakthroughs in their performance, communication, relationships and overall satisfaction in life. For more information, please visit www.LandmarkWorldwide.com
Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences on topics at the core of the Go-Giver books. A former television personality and top-producing salesperson, Bob has shared the platform with some of today’s top business leaders, broadcast personalities, coaches, athletes, and political leaders, including a former U.S. president. https://burg.com
John Assaraf is a serial entrepreneur, brain researcher, and CEO of NeuroGym. He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books: “Having It All” and “The Answer,” and was featured in the blockbuster movie hit, “The Secret.” His brand-new book is called “Innercise: The New Science to Unlock Your Brain’s Hidden Power”. John is one of the leading behavioral and mindset experts in the world, with a unique ability to help people release the mental and emotional obstacles that prevent them from achieving their very best in life and business. www.MyNeuroGym.com
In 2013, Emily Ann Peterson was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological hand tremor, which forever altered her two-decade livelihood as a cellist/cello teacher. Refusing to lose her life’s love of expression, she knew she’d have to be brave. In an act of neurological defiance, she expanded into wider mediums and broke through her creative glass ceiling, opening the door to limitless possibilities through songwriting. www.emilyannpeterson.com
Author and mindfulness expert Julie Potiker is an attorney who began her serious study and investigation of mindfulness after graduating from the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program at the University of California, San Diego. She went on to study with Brené Brown (the Living Brave Semester) and become a graduate of Rick Hanson’s Positive Neuroplasticity Training (Professional Course) as well as the Mindful Self-Compassion program created by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. She holds a B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from George Washington University. www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com
Marc and Angel Chernoff are the creators of Marc & Angel Hack Life, which was recognized by Forbes as “one of the most popular personal development blogs.” Through their writing, coaching, and live events, they’ve spent the past decade sharing proven strategies for getting unstuck in order to find lasting happiness and success. http://www.marcandangel.com
Rev Carol Howard Merritt is an award-winning author, speaker, and minister who speaks and writes on the topic of ministering in a new generation. Merritt is the author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation and Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation and writes for Christian Century, The Huffington Post, Duke Divinity’s Faith and Leadership blog. https://www.carolhowardmerritt.org
Brooke Alpert, MS, RD, CDN, is a nationally recognized nutrition expert and author. She is the founder of B Nutritious, a private nutrition counseling and consulting practice in New York City. Brooke’s expertise and nutrition knowledge has lead her to be featured on national television regularly including, The Doctor Oz Show, The Today Show, Access Hollywood and more. She was named one of the new up and coming stars in the beauty and health field in W Magazine and has been quoted and featured extensively in magazines including People, Shape, Glamour, Town & Country, Tatler, and more. Brooke received her Masters of Science at New York University and completed her training at Mt. Sinai Hospital in affiliation with NYU. www.b-nutritious.com
What does it mean to truly forgive somebody, on every level and for everything? I used to think that I had a great capacity for forgiveness and that, over the years, I had developed a deeper level of compassion for those that had slighted me, understanding that they are often operating out of an unresolved pain or trauma. However, my belief in my abilities was shattered and dramatically changed after watching the movie The Shack.
The film, based off the book by William P. Young, follows the journey of Mack Phillips who spends a weekend with a trio of individuals, each personifying God, at an old shack in the woods. The story takes place after a man called, “The little lady killer” kidnaps and murders Mack’s youngest daughter while the family is on a camping trip. While the rest of the family attempt to move through the pain, Mack falls into a deep depression that spurs doubt regarding his beliefs. The topics of forgiveness, judgement and love are discussed in a whole new way and eventually brings Mack back to peace, healing and a deeper level on his personal beliefs, changing him forever.
Watching this movie was an eye-opening experience that left me questioning how deep my level of forgiveness was. Did I truly forgive everyone with an open heart? Even if it was something unforgivable?
Every painful moment can be traced back to an initial heartache or trauma someone has endured, usually at the hands of another. The root of this suffering is often not easily visible to the person experiencing the pain. Yet, if we are willing to step back and see the entire story, the reason someone might have wronged us becomes clear. While this doesn’t condone behavior or activity that goes against social and moral conduct, it offers us the opportunity to be more compassionate and objective when forgiving someone, being careful to not get caught up in the energy of their story. If we are willing to step back and look at the bigger picture, we find that, while each of us is unique, we are not all that dissimilar.
As expressed in The Shack, we were made to love and forgive. That is our legacy to the world. Love is the answer to all things and the greatest gift we can give one another. But the first step to giving love is receiving peace. And how is it possible to receive peace? By freeing ourselves with forgiveness and approaching all situations with the same compassion and wisdom we would like to see in others. I encourage you to break the chains of resentment and find a way to peace, in all of your relationships, even if it means forgiving the unforgivable. As my mentor Judy Goodman has taught me, forgiveness doesn’t mean condoning what someone has done, it’s about freedom & peace. You deserve to have peace in your life! Only then will we be on track to living the life we desire — a loving, joyful and fulfilling one.
Make Every Moment Count!
While out walking the other day, it seemed like I had just stepped into the perfect day. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing and birds were singing as my thoughts wandered to the topic of mindfulness as a path to self-care. While self-care and mindfulness are not new topics, both still offer a greater shift in perspective when we choose to dive deeper into the practice of caring for our mind, body and spirit.
Many times, self-care only captures our attentions while we are on vacation or out of town on some far away trip, miles away from the typical stresses of everyday life. Self-care is often placed at the very bottom of a never-ending list of things to do. Meanwhile, busy work and being overly connected take center stage in our lives, drowning out our body’s cry for some major tender loving care.
But how important is it to devote time to ourselves? Can we really find moments in our already overbooked schedules and hectic lives to develop a solid routine of self-care?
When the topic of mindfulness finally does surface above the daily noise, it is often thought we need to have a serene place, void of distractions to develop a state of awareness with everything around us and, most importantly, with ourselves. However, cultivating mindfulness as part of a self-care regimen can take place anywhere, regardless of what is going on around you. The advantages of this practice can be immense.
Science has now proven the wide range of benefits derived from practicing a state of mindfulness as a path to self-care. These benefits include…
I would like to share with you a very simple mindfulness exercise that I use on a daily basis which only takes a couple of minutes. It doesn’t matter if you are at your desk, just got off a phone call with a difficult client or you’re feeling generally overwhelmed. This practice can bring you back to center allowing you to focus on what is truly important — your inner peace.
Close your eyes (not while driving) and focus on your breathing. Feel the expansion of your body with each inhalation and rhythmic flow as each exhalation leaves the body. Clear your mind. When thoughts arise without judgement, gently allow those thoughts to drift away while bringing your attention back to your breathing.
Initially, it might seem like a battle to win over the quiet moments of your mind, but with each practice it gets easier and the times that you experience peacefulness will last longer. In time, you’ll find that it’s extremely easy to drop into a mindfulness state and that those few moments allow you to recharge quickly.
This simple mindfulness tool has allowed me to remain centered and focused over the years even during a bustling workday. You see, it’s not about finding the perfectly quiet and serene place to refocus and find your peace. It’s about finding the mindfulness practice that is the perfect fit for you, plus getting in the habit of using that practice to improve your self-care if even for a moment.
Our minds, bodies and souls are always working hard, so show yourself some love and take a deep breath. Kick off your shoes. Find your center. I hope it brings you peace like it has for me.
Make Every Moment Count!
With the accelerated energies on the planet, many people are coming face-to-face with issues that they have either not dealt with or lessons that need to be experienced in one degree or another. With all of this taking place, there is great opportunity for personal development like never before and at the same time, there is also a lot of energetic chaos that feels more like blindly walking through a dense fog, unable to distinguish any path leading out.
Staying centered allows us to move through these transition points with grace, while finding tranquility in the moments offers a greater sense of peace. Developing a consistent practice of mindfulness eventually makes these moments of internal bliss last for longer periods of time. Ultimately we become more focused on the miracles that each moment brings as opposed to the perceived chaos that surrounds us.
When we take personal responsibility for the world that we choose to live in, we realize that we are the direct creator of what we are experiencing. The inner journey for peace starts with me, only then can it be reflected in the world around us.
Make Every Moment Count!
With so much going on in the world, how we choose to perceive things seems to be more important than ever. While putting on rose-colored glasses isn’t something that I would suggest, choosing to change our perception of the challenges we face gives us the opportunity not only to shift how we show up in the world, but also allows us the opportunity to view the outer world and our inner world with more compassionate and grace. This discussion often has me thinking about this quote from the Dalai Lama:
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
If we’re having a difficult time liking ourselves, how can we like those around us? If we allow ourselves to fall into judgement or criticize those that are different, how can we love the uniqueness that we alone bring to the world?
The journey of developing and maintaining inner peace traverses a road with no end, yet the journey itself offers new vistas, plateaus and valleys of who we really are. Thus granting us a deeper awareness and understanding that we truly are one, regardless of our outer world and differences.
Wishing you much peace, grace and love.
Marianne
Bestselling Author. Acclaimed Speaker. Filmmaker – Greg S. Reid is a natural entrepreneur known for his giving spirit and a knack for translating complicated situations into simple, digestible concepts. As an action-taking phenomenon, strategy turns into results fast and furious, and relationships are deep and rich in the space he orbits. www.BookGreg.com
Published in over 45 books, 28 best sellers, five motion pictures, and featured in countless magazines, Greg shares that the most valuable lessons we learn, are also the easiest ones to apply. Recently, Greg has been hand selected by The Napoleon Hill Foundation to help carry on the teaching found in the bible of personal achievement – Think and Grow Rich.
His latest Movie ‘Wish Man’ features the real life story of Frank Shankwitz (Founder Of the Make A Wish Foundation) where one boys desire inspired a man to change the world.
www.WishManMovie.com
Illuminate your spirit. Cherish your well-being. Become a source of positivity in the world. Find your life in life.
For centuries, experts have extolled the virtues of meditation, and countless people have used it to become happier, live longer, strengthen relationships, and create healthier lives. Studies show that just a few moments of meditation each day can be extremely beneficial to overall well-being.
In Life in Life, Dr. Laurie Ann Levin, award-winning author and renowned holistic psychologist, guides you effortlessly into loving yourself through meditations that spark connection to your highest self. An interactive, easy-to-use, personal journal, Life in Life will inspire individual exploration and spiritual expansion with exercises that build insight, intuition, and a capacity for calm.
Almost all of us struggle with destructive thinking and toxic self-criticism. Life in Life can help you overcome past traumas in your career, relationships, health, and love. Whether you are beginning your journey or have experience meditating, Life in Life will elevate you to a new level of wholeness. The exercises in this journal can be done anywhere, anytime, in private, with a partner, or in a group.
Let Life in Life guide you on your daily journey toward well-being as you learn to love . . . both yourself and others at the same time.
