Soul Sisters Blog

Spring Cleaning Tip: A Lesson from a Diaper Bag

2012-02-26T17:09:00.001-06:00

We hit a pretty big milestone in our home last week; we threw away our diaper bag! My 2 year old (soon to be 3) has yet to fully master the “big potty”, and apparently likes the freedom that comes with being able to “go” and play at the same time. However, he’s taken to carrying around a little backpack, and in a recent light bulb moment, we decided that he could carry his own diapers and wipes going forward. So, while cleaning his closet the other night, I took one look at the diaper bag and said, “It’s time.”

While to some this may not sound like a major event, but to anyone who’s lugged around the bottomless pit of necessities that accompany a baby will appreciate just how exciting this moment was. This bag has been a member of our family for the last 3 years. Wherever we went it had to also go. It was our bag of “everything we will or might need to take care of our children (both of them) and any other child that might need something due to their parent being in-a-pinch”. I was ecstatic to get rid of this thing and my husband even commented on the smile that couldn’t have been wiped from my face. Tossing this bag was like lifting 5 pounds off my shoulder (literally).

Then the next morning, as I was taking something else out to the trash, I saw it there; all alone and cold in our trash can. OK, so I got a little sad. I mean this bag has been an important part of our family and has always been there to help us in our times of need. The memories of this bag being at every major milestone for my son came flooding back; the hospital when he was born, at baptism, vacations, birthdays, holidays, and more.

So, no, I didn’t take the diaper bag out of the garbage (eww). But, I did have to take a moment to remind myself that all those memories aren’t gone with the trash. They are held in my mind and in my heart, not in any bag. What I had thought was merely a milestone for my young son was a lesson of growth for me, too. The incident inspired me to look at other things in my house a little differently – what else am I holding on to, and for what reasons?

I have a new mental checklist while I’m cleaning now…Do I use it? Do I love it? Does it make me happy? Perfect...Just in time for spring cleaning!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” ~Kevin Arnold

What are the Stories You’re Telling?

2012-02-19T17:31:00.002-06:00

You know the drill; it’s a fairly common occurrence: you’re walking down the street and you run into someone who you haven’t seen in ages. You’re like, “Oh my gosh, it’s been forever!” and you give a quick hug. They say, “Wow, it’s so great to see you.” And then asks…

“How’s work?”
“How’s your family?”
“How are you surviving this economy?”
“How have YOU been?”
“How have you been feeling lately?”

So what “story” do you tell?

Some tell stories of victory while others tell stories of being a victim. We’re talking here about those stories that are more so half-truths and assumptions that are repeated over and over again – “I’m so busy.”, “I always have to be in charge.”, “If I want it done right, I have to do it myself.”, “I hate my job.”, etc. With any negative story that you’re telling, you need to decide to make a change – either with the situation or by changing the story.

So what stories do you find yourself repeating in your life? What do you say? Is it about time we take you from victim to victor?

Take some time to journal about how you’d rather feel (in relation to the stories you’ve been telling). When you remind yourself how you want to feel, you offer yourself a more empowered option than the drama that you’ve been creating. Even if you can't get there right away, make sure you know that this is where you can be if you choose it. So how do you want to feel? Who would you be without this story? How would it feel to be able to move forward?

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspriration of the Week:
“As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the situation is hopeless. It means that you are forever in the role of victim, that you’re suffering in paradise.” -Byron Katie

Selfish or Self-Care?

2012-02-12T17:33:00.004-06:00

It's February, the month of love. Of course our thoughts turn to our most precious of relationships: our spouse, our children, our parents. But often we forget the most important relationship of all; the relationship with ourselves.

Just as our relationships with others take great care to remain strong, so do we need to show our own selves that same kind of care and compassion. While you might expect me to suggest taking a long soak in the tub, which I must say is never a bad idea; the problem goes much deeper than that.

As women we are the nurturers, often putting the needs of others above our own. We tend to make family and work matters our highest priority, thinking that makes us a better mother, wife, sister, employee, and friend. The problem is that the longer we go without addressing our own needs, the more depleted we become. Our dreams fade, our goals wither and our passions slowly dry up. As you can imagine, this has a negative impact on us emotionally. Often overlooked however, is the effect this behavior has on us physically, as research reveals more about the connection between belief, emotion, and disease.

What we as women need to understand is that there is a difference between "self-ish" and "self-care". We have this one life to live and a purpose to fulfill. By not pursuing our passions and dreams we are doing the world, those we love, and most of all ourselves, a great disservice. That is "selfish".

By treating ourselves with respect, listening to the cues of our body, placing importance on our own dreams, and carrying out our divine assignment for our life, we are empowering ourselves at the deepest of levels. That is "self-care".

Below are seven tips (an entire week's worth) for incorporating a little more self-care into your life this month. Try one a day for seven days straight, and experience the difference a little self-love can make:

#1 - Know your limits. One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to say "no". Stretching yourself too thin and dividing your attention among multiple different tasks is not only doing a disservice to you, but negatively affects everyone close to you. If everything is important, then nothing is important.

#2 - Live your passions. Our passions are what make us feel alive. If we're not devoting time and attention to those things that ignite and inspire us, our lives become dull and dreary. Spending some time each day, even 10 minutes, on our passions or working towards an important personal goal makes us fulfilled.

#3 - Spend time alone. How much time do you allow to just let your mind wander? Probably not enough. Spending time alone gives us the opportunity to let our imagination take new heights. From what we want to do tomorrow, to what we want to do in 20 years, most of these realizations will occur when we allow ourselves time to get lost in thought.

#4 - Maintain healthy relationships. Limit the time you spend with people who exhaust you (I think you know who we mean). Increase the quantity and quality of the time you spend with the people who make you feel great; the ones who inspire and replenish you. Build a supportive and positive network of confidants by starting your own Soulspring group or joining one today!

#5 - Live your values. If we're not careful it doesn't take long before or own values are pushed to the side and suddenly, without realizing it, we begin to live our lives in alignment with the values of others. This causes stress and we innately know something is amiss. Make sure your own values are clear, practice them in your daily life, and consider them in your every decision.

#6 - Write in a journal. Expressing yourself in written form can open up much clarity for us. Take the time to write daily. If you find it difficult to get started, use Soul Searching Questions (many can be found within this blog and we incorporate them into each issue of our Soulspiration monthly newsletter), to get you started! Before you know it, the words with easily begin to flow.

#7 - Eat right. What we put into our mouths is the foundation of our physical and spiritual selves. Take care of yourself like the jewel you are; eat more fruits and vegetables and less fat, sugar, processed foods, and caffeine.

While you're showering affection on those you love this month, don't forget to give yourself a healthy dose of love. You're definitely worth it and it is only then that you will have the energy, enthusiasm, and power you need to be and give all you can for yourself and others.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:"The greatest love of all, is easy to achieve. Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all." ~The Greatest Love of All (Performed by Whitney Houston, and in her memory)

5 Ways to Live Life from the Front Row

2012-02-05T17:22:00.003-06:00

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that grab your attention. We posted this photograph and caption to our Soulspring Facebook page and were blown away by the response: 58 people liked it, 50 people shared it and 15 people commented!

The interaction caught our attention; clearly you were intrigued by the notion of living life out front. By looking closely at this photo we uncovered 5 Ways to Live Life from the Front Row...

1.    Dare to take the ride: Don’t let fear, age, size, [insert your excuse here] keep you from the excitement of life. Playing it safe is what the onlookers do--and surely you’ve noticed they’re the ones having the least amount of fun.

2.    Be the first one on: If you want to live life in the front row, you’ve gotta be the first one on the ride. If you hesitate for even a moment, some other brave soul is going to take your place and have all the laughs.

3.    Take a friend along for the ride: Who doesn’t feel a bit more courageous with someone they trust riding shotgun? Grab you BFF and take on the adventure together.

4.    Let your hair get messy (and your skirt fly up): I shudder to think of how many times I let an opportunity pass me by simply because I wasn’t dressed for it. So what if your skirt flies up and your hair blows around; hang on to your hat and enjoy every minute.

5.    Be o.k. with the next best thing: When all else fails, and you miss your chance to be up front, don’t underestimate the fun and excitement of the second row. From the looks of it, that’s the next best place to be.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.”   ~Dale Carnegie

Womanly Words of Wisdom: 25 Empowering Quotations for Your Life

2012-01-29T17:01:00.003-06:00

It’s amazing the comfort that comes from a good quote. They reassure us that others have been in the same place; physically, emotional, and mentally. And when only a good quote can help us through a trying time, the right one appears, as if by magic, to inspire and cheer us on.

We are the product of years and years of wisdom from other women. I can’t think of a better place to find advice, inspiration, support, or motivation than from their wise words. Below are 25 quotes that offer general thoughts on life. May the one that you need at this very moment find you…

1. “If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.” ~ Gail Sheehy

2. “Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.” ~ Betty Smith

3. “Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.” ~ Margaret Young

4. “There are two ways of spreading light ... To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.” ~ Edith Wharton

5. “Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.” ~ Janet Lane

6. “The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” ~ Sonya Friedman

7. “The opinion which other people have of you is their problem, not yours.” ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

8. “You can look at a person's attitude and know what kind of thinking is prevalent in his life... It's better to be positive and wrong than negative and right!” ~ Joyce Meyer

9. “What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner.” ~ Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

10. “You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.” ~ Erica Jong

11. “We never know how high we are till we are called to rise; And then, if we are true to plan, our statures touch the skies.” ~ Emily Dickinson

12. “Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response.” ~ Mildred Barthel

13. “Remove those 'I want you to like me' stickers from your forehead and, instead, place them where they truly will do the most good -- on your mirror!” ~ Susan Jeffers

14. “You never find yourself until you face the truth.” ~ Pearl Bailey

15. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” ~ Sally Berger

16. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” ~ Anais Nin

17. “Accept that all of us can be hurt, that all of us can - and surely will at times - fail. Other vulnerabilities, like being embarrassed or risking love, can be terrifying too. I think we should follow a simple rule: if we can take the worst, take the risk.” ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

18. “You can't punish yourself into change. You can't whip yourself into shape. But you can love yourself into well-being.” ~ Susan Skye

19. “It doesn't matter how long we may have been stuck in a sense of our limitations. If we go into a darkened room and turn on the light, it doesn't matter if the room has been dark for a day, a week, or ten thousand years -- we turn on the light and it is illuminated. Once we control our capacity for love and happiness, the light has been turned on.” ~ Sharon Salzberg

20. “No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.” ~ Barbara de Angelis

21. “When nothing is sure, everything is possible.” ~ Margaret Drabble

22. “The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions.” ~ Ellen Glasgow

23. “If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.” ~ Mary Engelbreit

24. “Don't be afraid to fail. Don't waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It's OK to fail. If you're not failing, you're not growing.” ~ Anne Sullivan

25. “I have discovered that patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” ~ Joyce Meyer

The Soul Sisters

Soulpiration of the Week:
“The wisdom of the wise, and the experience of ages, may be preserved by quotation.” ~Isaac D'Israeli

Living An Empowered Life Requires Asking the Right Questions

2012-01-22T17:00:00.003-06:00

Last week’s post referenced an article entitled, “How Far Has Your Bottle Gone?” Written by Ernest R. Stair, the article tells of a man who put a note in a bottle, asking whoever finds it to send him a letter revealing its destination. He seals it up and tosses it in the ocean, imagining all the exotic places his bottle would go and all the adventures it would have. He lived in anticipation, excited to see where the bottle would eventually be found.

Forty-five years later, he received a note that the bottle had been found...mere yards from the spot where it has originally been thrown it in.

Are there goals in your life that haven’t quite gone the distance? For most, it’s common to feel disappointment from not accomplishing the great endeavors you dreamed of as a child. We have hopes of changing the world, traveling to every corner of the globe, being top-dog in our career, saving helpless orphans. And, when we hit mid-life and haven’t achieved all we set out to do, we feel as though we’ve failed.

It's an issue many Soulspring Groups members are quite familiar, and if these feelings are common to you, too, then perhaps it’s time to change your way of thinking. Instead of asking yourself...

How much money do I make?
How many square feet does my house contain?
How will my job title sound at a high school reunion?
How many people report to me?
How many walls are needed to display my degrees, awards, honors, trophies and tributes?

What if you asked yourself...

How many times did I refuse to quit?
How many times did I learn from my mistakes?
How many times did I make a comeback?
How many times did I let somebody else have all the glory?
How many times did I take criticism gracefully?
How many times did I make someone’s day?

Notice how the first line of questioning has one thing in common; measuring your level of achievement based on other people’s opinions. The latter set of questions inspires deeper answers. Instead of basing our accomplishments on the size of your paycheck or the fancy options in your car, these are the true test of real achievement. They show what is deep down inside, and that’s what matters most.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“It has been said, ‘Accomplishment is socially judged by ill defined criteria so that one has to rely on others to find out how one is doing.’ It is our job to rise above it!” ~ Albert Bandura

Soul Searching Question: How Far Has Your Bottle Gone?

2012-01-15T17:27:00.001-06:00

January marks the beginning of the New Year; that means it’s time for a life review. Have you accomplished everything you thought you would in the past year? Are you at the exact point in life you thought you would be? If your answer is a disappointing “no”, and you suddenly feel a sense of failure sneaking in, wait...

A Soulspring Groups member shared a wonderful article with us last week, “How Far Has Your Bottle Gone?” from the January 2012 issue of Toastmaster’s magazine. In the article, author Ernest R. Stair writes about a man who put a note in a bottle. The note requested that whoever found the bottle send him a letter revealing its destination. He sealed the note in the bottle, tossed it in the ocean and began to imagine all the exotic places the bottle would go and adventures it would have. He waited anxiously for word that the bottle had been found; excited to see where it would eventually turn up.

Forty-five years later, his bottle was found, and he received a note from the finding party. The bottle was found only several hundred yards from the spot where he had originally thrown it. What a let-down...a great, big, giant failure; or was it?

While the bottle was found close to its origination there’s nothing to say that it didn’t travel the world before it came back. Perhaps the bottle thrower was correct, and it traveled to every exotic corner of the world, saw great vistas, and met many hands that threw it back into the water.

Or, maybe the bottle did only travel a few hundred feet before coming back to shore, and spent the remaining 45 years right there on the rocky coast. Imagine the sights of awe it must have experienced; the sunsets, the sunrises, the family outings, the fishing, the ships, the vacationers, the wildlife.

When taking stock of your life’s accomplishments, it’s inevitable to feel like you’ve had some disappointments. Do your grandiose ideas of travel, adventure, and changing the world seem a little more out of grasp these days? If so, perhaps you’re measuring the wrong thing. Instead of measuring your accomplishments by the final goal, what if you took stock of everything that has happened along the way? Isn’t that what’s really important anyway?

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare.” ~Georgia O'Keeffe

Goals to Propel You to a Bigger, Bolder Life

2012-01-08T16:56:00.001-06:00

We’re one week in to 2012; how are your New Year’s resolutions coming along?

Yes, the New Year holds so much promise and opportunity to set and achieve some pretty amazing things! Unfortunately, once we’re into January, and back to our daily routines, we often forget about the promise of the New Year and settle back into the mundane. Well, buckle up because Soulspring Groups is going to take you on an amazing journey this year.

As we go through life it’s easy to fall into a rut – the same routine day in and day out. What’s the fun in that? What we need is a jumping off point, a “springboard” to some adventure and excitement! It seemed to us that a “bucket list” would be an easy and fun way to ensure we’re adding the variety and spice to our lives for which we all yearn, and that is precisely the idea behind Soulspring Groups’ “My Spring Board” project.

This year we want to see you reaching, learning, and attaining everything you’ve always wanted to be, do and have. The first thing you’ll want to do is visit our page on Facebook and download your free Spring Board tools from the “Empowerment and Fun” tab (you’ll see the link below our profile image). Then, follow along on the Soulspring Facebook Page as we share an inspiring “Spring Board” idea every Friday!

Get ready for 52 ideas to help “spring” you into living a bigger, bolder life! If our suggested idea or activity sparks some interest within you, then add it to your “Spring Board” in the appropriate section; schedule something you would like to do in the summertime under June or July...something you think would be good to do with your family under the Family section.

If you missed the first Spring Board idea for 2012, you can see it here.

And of course we want you to add your own ideas to the plan! We’ve included more than 52 spaces for fun activities on this worksheet; plenty of room for your own personal goals. Remember to stretch and strive for interests that have been long lost, maybe since your childhood! To help inspire ideas ask yourself the following questions:

What dreams did I have as a child (i.e.: ride in a hot-air balloon, blow a bubble gum bubble bigger than my head, etc.)?

What have I always been curious about trying (i.e.: firing a gun, spending the night in a lighthouse, milking a cow by hand, etc.)?

What have others done that has fascinated me (i.e.: running a marathon, whitewater rafting, writing a book, etc.)?

What are the simple things in life that I need to be reminded to do (i.e.: drive around the lake in autumn, watch the sunrise, go on a picnic, etc.)?

What have I always wanted to learn (i.e.: knitting, changing a flat tire, learning to make Grandma’s special recipe, etc.)?

Our post each Friday on Facebook will prompt you to revisit this list often (as in weekly!). When you do, check off your accomplishments, add more ideas, and schedule your next to-do or adventure! Refer to this tool anytime you’re feeling down or bored; choose a goal and put a plan into action to achieve it! Heck, make it a family affair! A sense of accomplishment is one of the best empowerment-builders there is!

We want to stay updated on your accomplishments, both big and small! Post your latest achievement to our Facebook Wall, referencing “The Spring Board Project” and help to inspire the entire Soulspring community to live big this year!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

New Year’s Resolutions: What If Your Life Depended on It?

2012-01-01T16:45:00.000-06:00

Donna Fountain's Dreams

It’s the first day of 2012 and if you’re like most people you have a long list of resolutions and goals for the new year. And, if you’re like most people, you won’t even come close to making them a reality and they’ll be long forgotten come February.

This year at Soulspring Groups we’re looking at our goals and dreams a little differently. We were deeply touched by the story of Donna Fountain, 38, of Brooklyn, NY. Donna had goals for her life and she took them seriously. She had them in writing and carried them with her wherever she went.

On her way to work her early Christmas morning shift as a home health attendant at Partners in Care, Donna was struck and killed in a hit and run accident. The worn piece of paper, on which she had written her bullet-pointed list of dreams, was found at the scene.

Certainly a woman, who had taken the time to put her goals in writing and deliberately carry them with her daily, was extremely dedicated to seeing them through. Yet, we couldn’t help but wonder what extra steps if any, Donna would have taken, had she been forewarned of her fate. Would she have done anything differently? Would she have changed how she allocated her time, her energy, her attention, had she known her dreams had a deadline?

None of us know the exact day or hour of our death; but we know it’s coming at some point. How differently would you approach your goals if you had a definite deadline? That’s the kind of focus, energy and enthusiasm we must put into pursuing our passions and achieving our dreams.

Your goals have a deadline; don’t die with your dreams in your pocket.

Thank you, Donna Fountain, for teaching us this important lesson.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:

"If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, it is now." ~ Unknown

Make Your Holiday Brighter

2011-12-19T09:09:00.000-06:00

December is in full swing and the big day is less than a week away. We know...there's lots to do and it’s all causing a ton of stress. We can relate.

Yet, there’s nothing worse than waking up December 26 with nothing to show for your efforts except bags of trash and a pile of returns. Now is the time to step back and re-assess what you want Christmas and New Years 2011 to be for you. There’s still time to re-prioritize, change up plans, and create new intentions (and memories).

Below we offer 31 simple ideas with the power to make the holidays brighter. All were designed to create a memory, pamper your senses, and cheer yourself (and others).

Don’t let the stress, hustle and bustle get to you! It’s time to take charge of your own holiday experience!

Set your holiday intention right now – what two words do you want to be the theme of this season?
Schedule a massage for after Christmas. You’ll definitely deserve it!
Hang a wreath on your door.
Buy yourself some holiday reusable shopping bags. Spread holiday cheer and be kind to the planet.
Decorate your car windows with window clings.
Decorate your key chain with a festive key ring.
Put a fancy holiday pin on your coat/jacket.
Here’s a simple way to add a holiday touch to any décor...Recycle that ugly Christmas sweater by turning it into a pillow cover! Learn how here.
Simplify your Christmas to-do list. Anything you can dump or delegate?
Get a new holiday towel for the kitchen or bathroom. You’ll smile each time you see it.
Decorate your place of work. Perhaps an ornament from your drawer or a bow on your monitor.
Burn a mulled cider candle ($5 at Wal-Mart). If nothing else, your house will smell like Christmas!
Take the family on an outdoor adventure. Just because it’s colder doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors.
Write your holiday affirmation: My holiday season with filled with _________ & _________.
Start one new tradition. Read a particular story on Christmas Eve, recite a particular prayer before meal, go caroling, ice skate under the moonlight.
Make tonight’s dinner conversation about holiday childhood memories.
Take a family picture this year…no excuses!
Make a batch of your favorite holiday cookie. On a special diet? Then give them away to others!
Try out a new mocktail recipe for Christmas! How about a Cinnamon Holiday Mocktini.
Take some time to reflect on your last year; when did you learn, when did you succeed, when were you amazing?
Make the game plan for 2012; what’s your intention, what are some goals?
Schedule an hour of “me time” today. Do whatever you feel will rejuvenate you!
Get yourself a fun new scarf! You’ll actually look forward to heading out into the cold.
Sport some new holiday undies.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the day to its fullest!
Buy a new journal for next year.
Try out a new mocktail recipe for New Year’s Eve! How about a Pomegranate Spritz!
Answer this Soul Searching Question for next year: What goal, if achieved by year-end, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?
Answer this Soul Searching Questions for next year: What am I willing to do differently this year that will lead to a life that more closely resembles my vision?
Make New Year’s Eve a little easier with these simple recipes.
Write your year’s mistakes and regrets on toilet paper and flush them down the toilet to close the year!

Favorites from Holidays Past

2011-12-11T17:28:00.002-06:00

Christmas is a time of memories and a lot of inspiration for blog topics! This week we decided to share some of our most popular blog posts from holidays past. It was fun for us to compile the list and reflect on the state of our lives at the time these articles were written.

For some we were inspired, and for others we were feeling overwhelmed; yet the exercise of writing pulled us from our current state of mind into a place of authenticity and peace.

We hope you enjoy reading this collection as much as we enjoyed writing each entry.

Love and hugs,

The Soul Sisters

Miracle of the Heart
The holidays is a time of open hearts. Could that be the start of a Christmas miracle?

The Gift of Memories
The best part of the season doesn't come gift wrapped. The memories can last a lifetime.

Christmas Compromise
Celebrating the holidays means something different to everyone and sometimes that requires compromise.

Message From My Christmas Angel
There are Christmas angels all around us. What messages are they giving you?

Are You Ready for Christmas?
This is the question that can throw you into a panic...unless you rethink what it means to be ready.

Spreading Christmas Joy Charlie Brown Style

2011-12-04T17:37:00.005-06:00

I’ve always been one to come up with silly ideas in the attempt of spreading a smile or two--A trait I acquired from my dad, I’m sure; the man who put an old cowboy boot out on the fence post – just to spark interesting conversation for the passersby.

Several years ago, my older sister lived on about 20 acres of wooded land, which offered the widest array of Christmas trees and pine boughs. It was a Christmas decorator’s dream, and each year we made a point of heading out for an afternoon to collect as much greenery as we could for our holiday decorating.

One year, shortly after Thanksgiving, she and I spent the afternoon clipping, chopping, and dragging out our wonderful finds. And then I spotted it – a six foot, spindly, Charlie Brown tree. I could have counted the total branches on both hands. And, my next idea hit me almost immediately. How funny would it be to strap that baby to the roof of my car and drive around for the entire Christmas season with it up there? It would be quite the opposite from the typical trees you see atop other cars this time of year.

And so that’s what I did; for four weeks I drove around with that spindly little tree on my car roof. But for such a sad little tree it sure spread a magnitude of Christmas cheer. Everywhere I turned there were people pointing and smiling. Perfect! Mission accomplished.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Lost on the Journey of Life: Soul Searching Questions to Discover Your Life Purpose

2011-11-27T17:37:00.005-06:00

If you’ve ever found yourself lost, then you know the anxiety and fear that comes with not knowing your way. Regardless of whether you’re lost on the highway or lost in life, the feelings are quite similar. Imagine yourself on a random road. Of course you’ll end up somewhere eventually, but the question is, will you end up where you want to be?

The same is true for our lives. We can live without direction, and eventually we’ll come to the end of our lives, but will we enjoy the way there? Will we have taken the right route? Will have seen the sites we were meant to see? While we can’t possibly map out every twist and turn in our lives, knowing we’re headed in the right direction eliminates anxiety, worry and fear, and allows us to enjoy the journey.

Your true "purpose" resides in your soul and to discover yours you need not only intellectual contemplation but a connection with your intuitive self as well. Prayer, meditation and journal writing are only a few of the many techniques you can use to get in touch with your true you.

And, these Soul-Searching Questions will also help. While initially the answers will come from your head, once you begin to open up to the process the answers will begin to come from your heart. When acting on the messages from within, you can't go wrong!

As a child, what did I dream of being when I grew up?
What were my favorite pastimes as a child?
What activities give me the most joy? Why?
What people do I most admire? What qualities do I most admire about them?
What things come naturally to me?
If “no” wasn’t an option, and I could have, do or be anything, what would that be?
When I think of my favorite books, movies, television shows, etc., which are my favorites? What common themes run through their plots?

The questions above provide enough fodder for several hours of reflection. As you work the process and re-read your previous answers and entries, more ideas and thoughts will come to mind. Feel free to edit your answers. As a final step, read through your thoughts and underline or highlight key words and phrases that trigger an emotional response, and watch for the clues that lead you in the right direction and closer to the mission for your life.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Each person has an ideal, a hope, a dream which represents the soul. We must give to it the warmth of love, the light of understanding and the essence of encouragement.” ~Colby Dorr Dam

Be Thankful

2011-11-20T17:21:00.003-06:00

With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, our thoughts naturally turn to gratitude. We know things aren’t perfect by any stretch, and many of our readers and Soulspring Groups’ members are experiencing the backlash of political unrest, financials woes, and natural disasters taking place in their parts of the world.

Still, regardless of your situation there’s always something for which to be grateful. Below is one of our favorite poems that puts the concepts of thankfulness and gratitude into perspective, and we would like to share it with you this Thanksgiving week.

Enjoy the holiday in joyful thanksgiving.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

The 30 Habits of Highly Empowered Women

2011-11-13T17:47:00.002-06:00

While doing a little dusting in the office, I spotted a well-worn copy of Steven Covey’s classic, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. This book first introduced us to concepts like the “abundance mentality” and the “upward spiral”, launching us down a path of personal development and growth, and a desire to support other women to do the same.

Seeing that title again got us thinking about the habits of highly empowered women. What qualities do these women have in common? What is it that sets these women apart from their counterparts? Some lively conversation and a brainstorming session later and we came up with quite a list that inspired our Twitter-series for the month of November: “The 30 Habits of Highly Empowered Women”.

Each day this month on Twitter we’ve been tweeting a habit that we have found that all empowered women share! Below is a recap of our list...

1.       Empowered women know they have a mission to fulfill. They think, plan and live in accordance with their life purpose.

2.       Empowered women set aside the stereotypes and instead choose to focus on being their best and most authentic self.

3.       Empowered women know it’s o.k. to ask for what they want. They feel deserving of the best life has to offer.

4.       Empowered women have an open mind. They welcome new ideas and often a change of mind is more like a change of limiting belief.

5.       Empowered women see fear for what it is, “False Evidence Appearing Real”.

6.       Empowered women spread love and kindness wherever they go. Their open hearts attract great opportunities and wonderful people to them!

7.       Empowered women make their own self-care a top priority. They know they can’t help others if their personal energy is in short supply.

8.       Empowered women show gratitude for all the gifts in their life. It’s this gratitude that brings them abundance!

9.       Empowered women accept the differences in others. We’re all uniquely different (and equally important) after all!

10.   Empowered women surround themselves with other empowered women. They know the support of others allows them to do really great things.

11.   Empowered women close energy-sucking cycles in their lives. They know what’s important and can delegate or even dump the unnecessary.

12.   Empowered women are clear on their core values and live according to them. It’s the only way to fulfill their life’s purpose.

13.   Empowered women live a life of clarity. They know what they want to create or accomplish and they keep their eye on their goals daily.

14.   Empowered women take 100% responsibility. No matter how difficult, they always have a choice, and every decision is theirs to make.

15.   Empowered women believe anything is possible! They achieve because they believe!

16.   Empowered women recognize when things aren’t working in their lives and make the necessary course corrections to get back on track.

17.   Empowered women commit to constant and never-ending self-improvement. Knowledge is power!

18.   Empowered women put more focus and attention on the positive than the negative.

19.   Empowered women are constantly challenging their limits beliefs. They often question “why” and “why not”.

20.   Empowered women live in present time consciousness. They experience each moment to the fullest.

21.   Empowered women are honest with themselves and others. By living truthfully they will have no regrets!

22.   Empowered women “pay” themselves first. When their financial house is in order, they have more ways and means to give to the world.

23.   Empowered women empower themselves by empowering others. That’s all we’ve got to say about that!

24.   Empowered women don’t fall into playing the blame game. “If it’s to be, it’s up to me,” is their mantra!

25.   Empowered women know how to say no. They don’t let feelings of guilt or obligation keep them from what’s really important.

26.   Empowered women never, never, never give up on their dreams and goals. They believe and achieve!

27.   Empowered women have a strong relationship with their Creator, taking time for daily reflection and meditation.

28.   Empowered women live in balance; mind, body and spirit.

29.   Empowered women go over, under, around or through every challenge until they achieve their goals.

30.   Empowered women spend life doing the “right” things, instead of just “more” things.

Of course there are many, many more qualities that highly empowered women share. What traits would have made your top habits list? Please comment below.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:

"Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.”

~ Shaquille O'Neal

The Happiness Secret You’ve Been Longing For

2011-11-06T17:04:00.003-06:00

Have you ever wanted to understand the secret to living a truly happy, empowered, and high-quality life? Well today we reveal the secret...

The Secret: Happiness and empowerment are not always achieved by doing more; happiness is sometimes more about what you remove from life than what you add to it.

How can this be? Wouldn’t it stand to reason that a full life (doing, accomplishing, and getting stuff done) would also be a fulfilling one? Well, not always.

Doing what you feel truly passionate about and eliminating what you do out of perceived obligation or guilt, is the key to living your best life. It's by recognizing where you can get the most reward from your efforts, and how you and those most important to you benefit, do you allow yourself permission to give your time and attention to those areas.

So how can you make sure you’re giving your time to the right stuff? Try this simple exercise:

Pull out your to-do list (if it’s currently in your head, get your to-dos down on paper for the purposes of this exercise). For each item on the list ask yourself the following questions:

Why is this task important?
Why is this task MY responsibility (in other words, why are YOU doing this task)?
Where does this task fit within MY priorities?
What is the worst thing that would happen if the task does not get done?

For example, if one of the items on your task list is to clean the cat’s litter box, the importance of the task would depend on how important your cat is to your life. If the cat is your daughter’s, you may be coming to the realization that your daughter might be the better candidate for the job, and that the cleanliness of the cat box isn’t a high priority task for you at all. You’re realizing you assumed the position of litter box cleaner several years ago, when the cat was given to your daughter as a kitten. She was too young to care for the cat at the time, but now is quite capable. Passing on the honor to your daughter is sounding pretty good right now, however the little voice inside argues that it’s easier for you to clean the litter box and takes less time and effort than the nagging that would be required to get your daughter to do it.

Well, that may be the case initially, however it’s now clear that you’re doing the task out of obligation, denying your daughter this important lesson in responsibility, and feeling very under-appreciated in the process; clearly not a recipe for happiness or empowerment for either of you.

While the above example may seem trivial, believe me, we’ve heard sillier reasons why there’s no time to work toward an important dream or goal. And since when is cleaning the litter box more important than your life purpose?

It’s time to challenge your obligations and priorities. While we’re not advocating that you dump all the dirty and menial chores on the spouse and kids, we are challenging you to question where and what gets your time and attention. What you may discover is that you’ve been giving top status to things that are unimportant and not your priority at all. Delegate, dump, divide or work out some deal, so you can have time for what’s really important to you.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
“A simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with—that’s poverty—but how efficiently we can put first things first. . . . When you’re clear about your purpose and your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever does not support these, whether it’s clutter in your cabinets or commitments on your calendar.” ~Victoria Moran

The Effects of Fear Can Be Scary

2011-10-30T17:25:00.012-05:00

Fear can be complicated and range from worry to phobia and all points in between. We all have times in our lives when we are gripped by fear. It's natural and thanks to fear and "fight or flight" the reason we're still surviving on the plant. But there are times when fear creeps into our everyday life like a goblin, trapping us in negative thinking and self-talk, and paralyzing us from taking the steps towards a better life.

That's when it's time to regain your personal power and the 5 tips below can show you how!

1. Fear is a talented trickster. Our fears trick us into believing they are based on fact, when in actuality most of our fear lives in the future. Usually fear is about something that "might" happen, not something that we definitely-know-for-sure will. Maintain a focus on the present and when fear sets in ask yourself, "Is there anything for me to be afraid of at this very moment in time?" The answer will surprise and relieve you!

2. Fear is just an emotion and just like any emotion, it can control us if we give it the power. Irrational fear is an overblown imagination of what might happen in the future. When you are afraid that your plane will crash, it is just an emotion not the crash itself that frightens you. Recognizing this will render your fear powerless.

3. Fear is always about loss; loss of life, loss of wealth, loss of security, loss of comfort, etc. The fear of loss is directly proportionate to the intensity of the attachment you have. Dissect your fear or worry down to what you fear will be lost and ask yourself, "If this fear came true, what is the worst thing that can happen?" Often you will find that your worst case scenario is a long shot and your fear can be easily overcome with the right plan of action and safeguards.

4. Fear is present only when there is a desire. Fear arises only when there is conflict between what we want and what "might" happen. We build up expectations around life and come up with a concrete picture of how our lives "should" turn out. This inflexibility forms a strong foundation for fear. If we are open to new possibilities and a new vision of safety, comfort and success, we can be courageous. When we flow with life, fears dissolve. When you find yourself wracked with fear, ask yourself, "Why should I resist this?" You may find the strength to let go and flow.

5. Beliefs about fear can be transformed. The scariest thing about fear is the effect it has on our lives. For many, it is fear that stands between us, and the best that life has to offer. It is possible however, to change how we look at fear. Instead of a barrier standing in our way, what if we chose to look at fear differently and really challenge our deepest beliefs about fear? Instead of thinking of fear as bad, consider the benefits we experience because of it. For example, fears like reaching into a burning fire, walking across thin ice, or driving under the influence are valid; these warnings should be heeded. However, most of our fears are based on worst-case scenarios that we fabricate in our head. Choose to adopt new and empowering beliefs about fear and you will find it easier to overcome them.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them. ~Brendan Francis

16 Empowered Beliefs to Conquer Your Fears

2011-10-23T17:17:00.007-05:00

Here we are, into October; the time of the harvest, leaf season, and Halloween. Perhaps you've been busy planning your party costume, or at the very least preparing for the ghouls and goblins soon to be knocking on your door for a trick-or-treat.

Well we've got a trick-or-treat of our own this month. Since October is the month of all that is scary, we couldn't think of a better theme for the month than "fear". When it comes to obstacles, fear is the most common one to be overcome when pursuing a passion, dream, or goal. That makes facing our fears and overcoming them an important skill to learn.

Between this blog and our Living Empowered blog on Area Voices, we'll be offering our insights on fear over the coming few weeks.

First up, we've got a "treat" for you...

What if we challenged our beliefs about fear and looked at this natural emotion differently? What would happen if we thought of fear as merely another obstacle that must be overcome? Just as with obstacles like time and money, we must challenge our limiting beliefs about fear and adopt new and empowered ways of thinking. This important shift will take you from fearful to powerful!

Yes, an important part of conquering our fear is shifting our beliefs, and we are offering a colorful and fun reminder of the empowering beliefs you can choose to adopt when faced by fear in your life. To get your copy of "From Fearful to Powerful: 16 Empowered Beliefs to Conquer Your Fears", become a follower of Soulspring Empowerment Groups for Women on Facebook and visit our "Empowerment & Fun" tab (below our page's profile image). There you can print a copy as our gift to you. Reference it each time you find yourself living a fear-based life instead of a fear-less one!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions." ~Hāfez

Don't Wait Until Tomorrow...

2011-10-16T17:20:00.026-05:00

Certainly you've heard the saying, "Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do today." Wise words by Thomas Jefferson and very true. We never know what the future will hold or how much time we really have. Yet many of us are doing exactly that...putting off important interactions, apologies, and actions of personal empowerment, choosing to instead procrastinate, or worse, put the agendas of others before our own important work.

We questioned our Facebook community and asked them what important work they thought should never wait until tomorrow and together we came up with quite a list. Their answers, along with our own, inspired a month-long Twitter series, which began each day with, "Don't wait until tomorrow to..."

Below is a recap of this powerful series, along with some important links to some helpful resources!

...take one risk. Do one great thing and the universe showers you with rewards!

...call your best friend. Go ahead, we'll wait...give them a jingle!

...tell your hubby that you love him. PDA (public displays of affection) to a minimum please.

...take that picture. It's digital now...snap away!

...hug your kids. PDA away!

...put yourself at the top of your priority list. You deserve it!

...put lotion on your heels. They're only going to get worse!

...start eating healthier. Baby steps are key…so why not take one today?

...get to work on your dreams. You’re not getting any younger.

...say thank you to your parents. I’m sure they more than deserve it.

...put some money away for your future...you’ll be happy to have the financial buffer in an emergency.

...recycle...if feels great to leave a cleaner environmental footprint.

...make peace with your body. Regardless of what the future holds, love yourself today for who you are.

...use your super powers. Don’t save them for something big and challenging, let them help you today!

...get in touch with what you’re really feeling...beneath the busyness, emotional eating, etc., what’s really going on?

...quit that bad habit and don’t look back. It’s never too late to be a better you.

...clean that cluttered closet. Donate your “stuff” to charity and open yourself up to abundance in other areas of life.

...ask for what you want. Come on, you’re just as deserving and worthy as the next person!

...take a day off...just once...from everything! Don’t plan or make a list, just do whatever you wish as the mood strikes.

...put yourself first, even if it’s just for an hour. It’s not selfish; it’s self-care and it’s about getting your priorities straight.

...give yourself some quiet time and ask yourself what you're afraid of. Take on action step toward your fear. Face your fear with these gems.

...give yourself flowers. Whatever is in stock at the florist shop is fine; it’s all about acknowledging how special you are.

...create a plan to pay down your debt. Living within your means is empowering!

...dust off those long lost goals and fulfill your purpose! A Soulspring Group can help!

...take one risk. Do one great thing and watch the universe shower you with rewards!

...have dessert first. Being frivolous and silly will make your day!

...give someone a compliment. Not only will they feel great, but you will too!

...recognize happiness. Gratitude makes for happier people, not the other way around.

...say, “I’m sorry.”

...ask for help if you’re in need. We were put on this Earth with others for a reason.

...do something you’ve always wanted to do.

While this is quite an extensive list, we may have forgotten something! If you've found an important item has been missed, please comment below with your additions: "Don't wait until tomorrow to..._______________."

It looks like we've got some important work ahead of us; we better get busy!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:

"Warning! Dates in calendar are closer than they appear." ~Anonymous

Be Your Own Columbus: Your Greatest Discovery Awaits

2011-10-09T17:25:00.001-05:00

In the U.S., the second Monday in October is the observance of Columbus Day. Back in 1492 Columbus planned to sail to Asia from Europe by going west. It was by accident that he stumbled upon America. Imagine setting out for one goal, only to stumble across another. Makes one wonder, how many opportunities are waiting for you, waiting to be discovered, even if only by accident?

Let's face it, no matter how great things are in our lives, there are still some aspects we would like to change. A strengthened relationship, a more rewarding career, increased health, or the achievement of a passion or goal, are just a few examples we hear time and again. Yet setting out on a journey of self-discovery can be a scary thing. It's natural to let ourselves be content with the way things are. We get comfortable, and avoid making a change for fear that the end result might be worse than our current reality.

However, by avoiding the exploration of new and unchartered territory in our lives, we limit ourselves in achieving and experiencing our life's fullest potential. We are robbing ourselves of the opportunities intended for us, and in turn changing the person we were created and meant to be in the process.

This week embark on a journey of exploration and set out on an adventure to a new world of you! It all starts with a map (how else would we know where we're headed?) and all successful people have a definite purpose in life that serves as a guide. They know what that purpose is, they have it defined, written down, and committed to memory...in the form of a Mission Statement.

Your personal mission statement should define what's important to you (your goals, values and priorities), specify how you intend to make your vision a reality (your endeavors), and embody what needs you serve by doing so (your purpose). A great personal mission statement is one that inspires you, motivates you, and offers you the opportunity for continued happiness and fulfillment.

While writing a mission statement that truly resonates with you may take some time and commitment, at its core developing yours consists of asking yourself just one question: Why do you feel you were put on this earth?

Document your thoughts on this question in a journal and be as specific as you can in your answer. This single discovery is the foundation for all future mission statement work. Digging deep into your true self and discovering the secrets to who you are and who you are meant to be, may just be the greatest discovery of your life.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:The greatest explorer on this earth never takes voyages as long as those of the man who descends to the depth of his heart. ~Julien Green

Why Super Heroes Don't have Snarls

2011-10-02T17:19:00.004-05:00

While combing my 6-year-old daughter’s hair the other night, she irritably asked why she had so many snarls in her hair. Obviously the detangler wasn’t working. I explained that it’s just the price she’ll have to pay if she wants long hair. After a moment of thought she said, “Well how come Wonder Woman doesn’t have snarls?”

Wonder Woman doesn’t have snarls? This was complete news to me. Why wouldn’t she have snarls from time to time? Don’t we all?

So I had to ask, “Why doesn’t Wonder Woman have snarls?”

“Because she would use her super powers against them,” my youngster replied quickly.

This isn’t the first time my daughter has taken my long-standing limiting beliefs, and presented them to me in a new and fresh way. It’s one of the things I love most about her and is a little like a refreshing slap in the face.

After some thought I realized she was right; it would make complete sense that Wonder Woman would use her super powers in every way possible; from the biggest of rescue missions to the littlest of knotted hair.

(Do you feel an analogy coming on here? Of course you do!)

We all have our own unique set of super powers, but how often do we really use them? Do you tend to keep them secret, saving them for something truly worthwhile? Or maybe for you it’s the opposite; when you see a BIG opportunity to show off your stuff, you freak out and sink out of sight?

Your super powers are unique and special to you; a gift for you to use. They won’t run out or deplete with regular use, in fact it’s just the opposite. The more you use your unique set of strengths and talents, the stronger these super power gifts become! What a waste to not use them frequently and to their full potential!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?” ~Benjamin Franklin

A Tribute to Friendship

2011-09-26T08:25:00.000-05:00

What would we do without our friends? Strong and healthy friendships are extremely important to our well-being and empowerment. Women especially rely on close personal friendships for support, encouragement, inspiration and feedback.

This month via Twitter, Soulspring Groups has been offering a daily tribute to the important roles friends play in our lives. You’ve all heard the saying, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” Very wise advice certainly, however there were many more “don’ts” to add to the list, and with the help of the Soulspring Groups community on Facebook, we created this list...

Put themselves down.
Play it safe.
Think negative thoughts.
Let fear hold them back.
Lose faith.
Work too hard.
Miss an opportunity.
Get lonely.
Live in the past.
Ignore their passion.
Forfeit vacation time.
Sing karaoke solo.
Say never.
Feel sorry for themselves.
Give up.
Cower in the face of challenge.
Stop learning.
Underestimate their own potential.
Take "no" for an answer.
Waste energy on worry.
Take things personally.
Over analyze.
Forget your birthday!
Chicken out.
Put a limit on happiness.
Have regrets.
Want for love.
Forget who they are.
Miss out on a good sale.
Ruin a fresh manicure.
Walk around with food in their teeth.
Lie to themselves.

What an amazing list, and we’re sure there are many more! Tell us...how would you complete the statement, “Friends don’t let friends _______________.” Share your ideas in the comment area below as a way to pay tribute to your pals and share this post so your friends can do same!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:“Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things.” ~Author Unknown

From Fearful to Powerful: 16 Quotations to Conquer Your Fear

2011-09-18T16:40:00.002-05:00

There’s no denying there is power in words. That’s why at Soulspring Groups we believe an inspiring quote has the ability to empower, encourage, and uplift, even when all else has failed. If you’ve ever been held back by fear, and who among us hasn’t, you’ll want to keep these 16 quotations close at hand.

The next time you’re tempted to let fear get the best of you, let an opportunity pass you by, give up a passion because of the “what if’s”, read these wise words from those who looked fear in the face and did it anyway. Consider each your Soulspiration of the Week...

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” ~Mary Manin Morrissey

“Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop.” ~Usman B. Asif

“Panic at the thought of doing a thing is a challenge to do it.” ~Henry S. Haskins

“Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them.” ~Brendan Francis

“Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small.” ~Ruth Gendler

“Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real.” ~Author Unknown

“Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile... initially scared me to death.” ~Betty Bender

“I have accepted fear as a part of life - specifically the fear of change.... I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back.” ~Erica Jong

“Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.” ~Hāfez

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”

“He who is not every day conquering some fear, has not learned the secret of life.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.” ~Marianne Williamson

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ~Joseph Campbell

“You are frightened of everything. You call it caution. You call it common sense. You call it practicality. You call it playing the odds, but that's only because you're afraid to call it by its real name, and its real name is fear.” ~Mick Farren

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind.” ~Dale Carnegie

Do you have a favorite piece of wisdom that's inspired you in times of fear? Please share it in the comment area below and help us grow our Fearful to Powerful collection!

The Soul Sisters

Lessons from 9/11

2011-09-11T17:23:00.004-05:00

The commemoration of 10 years since the 9/11 attacks on our country has sparked many comments, thoughts and emotions. Each media outlet has scheduled a tribute. “Where were you on 9/11,” is a popular topic of conversation. Certainly your own community recognized the date with a remembrance as well.

We’ve seen mixed sentiments about the anniversary; everything from “we must never forget” to “it’s time to move on”. Without a doubt, the decision of “how” or “if” to recognize this tragic date is a personal one.

For us, it didn’t seem right to let the day pass without some form of acknowledgement. While we weren’t directly affected by the tragic events, our lives were drastically changed, nonetheless. What was essentially meant to be a political attack became, for every American, a personal one.

Now 10 years later, we look at where we’ve come since that tragic day. The disbelief, horror, fear, anger, frustration, have gradually given way to something deeper. What came out of the 9/11 tragedy for you? Below are 4 lessons that have emerged for us...

Appreciation: One of the most important lessons learned since that infamous day is the importance of appreciation; to learn to appreciate the little, everyday things around us. The hugs from our spouse, laughs from our children, casual interactions with friends; all could be snatched away in an instant. The present moment is a gift to be cherished.

Kindness: Who can forget the news reports showing strangers helping strangers? While most of us will never be called to carry a wounded person down fifty flights in a dark stairwell, in the shadow of 9/11 there are many more small and random acts of kindness taking place. Some even chose to commemorate the 9/11 anniversary with random acts of kindness campaigns. What a fitting tribute.

Passion: Whether to honor the dreams or desires of the ones who were lost, or the rekindled hopes of those that survived, many a passion was ignited in the aftermath of 9/11. We were inspired by the stories of families who started charities in the name of loved ones, and those who upon realizing how precious and short life is, took a leap of faith and ran after their dreams and goals. Certainly, countless people across the world were helped as a result.

Courage: Surely we’ve all imagined ourselves in the shoes of the victims of 9/11. Held hostage in an aircraft destined to become a flying weapon, trapped in the uppermost floors of a burning building with no hope of escape. How would we react? What would we do? In those final moments, there were phone messages to loved ones, giving many priceless mementos that will surely be cherished forever. There were last ditch efforts to thwart the plot, ultimately saving countless lives. There were selfless acts of heroism, forcing many to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Yes, there’s much to remember on this 10 year anniversary. What lessons did you learn since the tragic events of September 11, 2001? Please share them in a comment below.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:“Courage, in the final analysis, is nothing but an affirmative answer to the shocks of existence.” ~Kurt Goldstein

Women's Empowerment Tip: Soul-Searching Questions for Abundance

2011-09-04T14:30:00.000-05:00

The long warm days of summer are coming to an end andsuddenly there is a chill in the air. Fall is certainly upon us and we love what this time of year brings withit. Cool days meant for cozy sweatshirtsand sweaters, warm hearty eats, and bulging baskets of fresh gardenproduce.

Abundance...it’s all around us.

Abundance is the belief that we have enough and willcontinue to have enough. As economic andpolitical news is intently focused on scarcity, lack, and that which is inshort supply, a focus on abundance is especially important right now. And since we’re in the heart of the harvestseason, we couldn't think of a better time to reflect on the fullness of ourlives.

Yes, we all want more time, more money, more stuff. Yet, if we only open our eyes, and look atour lives differently, we see how blessed we truly are; our lives areoverflowing for sure!

So often when we think of abundance and prosperity, ourthoughts turn to money and financial wealth. While money is an important aspect of life, and an abundance of the greenstuff is a definite blessing, we can experience abundance in other areas of ourlives, too. Energy, love, joy, solitude, freedom,and space, are just a few areas you might enjoy in greater quantities.

Where would you like to experience greater richness? How can you get focused in on the abunance currently present for you?

We’re big believers in the benefits ofjournaling and personal contemplation, and when combined with our Soul-SearchingQuestions, the process can reveal the abundance and prosperity currently in your life, as well as areaswhere you wish to attract more. So grab your journal (or a notebook) and spend some quite time documenting your thoughts around these gems.

Soul-Searching Questions about Abundance:

Where in my life do I see and feel the most abundant rightnow?
Where in my life would I like to experience more abundanceright now?
What is one thing I know I must do to attract and experiencemore abundance in my life?
What thoughts, behaviors and attitudes are keeping me from amore abundant life?

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
“I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then whenever doubt, anxiety, or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal and soon they’ll forget my number.” ~Edith Armstrong

What Dis-Empowering Spells are you Under?

2011-08-28T16:13:00.001-05:00

There are times when life is pure magic; and then there are times when the spell is on you! We’re not talking hexes or voodoo. The curses we’re referring to are the ones we cast on ourselves. Below are the top 5 dis-empowering spells we see women living under and how you can break them.

Break the Spell of Negative Thinking: Watch what you think about because often it’s what you will bring about. Think positive, happy and grateful thoughts, and you’ll attract more of the same. Likewise, focus on what’s wrong in the world, the deadlines at work, difficulties with the family, and you’ll find it hard to fit a good thought in edgewise! If you’re looking to make a big impact fast, change the way you look at things. Find the silver lining in every situation and soon your outlook will transform, as if by magic.

Break the Spell of Limiting Beliefs: Our thought patterns are formed at a young age, often inspired by influential adults and experiences during our young formative years. Our beliefs about money, self-worth, deservedness, and more, are shaped early-on, never to be questioned again. But question you must! What if you belief is a lie?

Every belief that is holding you back from your best life can be converted into a new, true, and empowering belief, simply by changing your mindset. “The Work” by Bryon Katie, offers a formula for questioning these thoughts: Is it true? Can you absolutely know it’s true? How do you react (what happens) when you believe that thought? Who would you be without the thought?

Break the Spell of Blame: Have you been playing the game of “Blame and Complain”? Well, no more pointing fingers at your parents for the way you were raised, at your spouse for not helping enough around the house, or at the boss for hating your job. If you know there’s a problem and things aren’t working, decide to make a change and then follow through. Nobody is in charge of your happiness but you.

Break the Spell of Mistakes: We’re all human and make mistakes. Don’t let them hold you hostage for the rest of your life! Think of them as experience and practice for your future. Admit your role, make amends with those hurt (including you), and then break free from the past so it won’t screw up the present.

Break the Spell of Envy: Do you have a propensity towards a “grass is always greener” way of thinking? If you actually had the opportunity to walk a mile in some else's shoes, you might be surprised at what you find. If we all threw our problems into a pile, and saw ours compared side-by-side with everyone else's, we’re pretty confident we’d each grab our own back.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“The appearance of things change according to our emotions, and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.” ~Kahlil Gibran

Women's Empowerment Tip: A Life Lesson from Coffee

2011-08-21T16:50:00.002-05:00

I was inspired by an email forward the other day, and of course I knew I needed to share the lesson with my favorite group of empowered women!

As the story goes, a mother in an effort to teach her grown daughter a life lesson, puts three seemingly unrelated objects into separate pots of boiling water: a carrot, an egg, and some coffee. And here comes the lesson:

The mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

And we ask the same of you...

Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity wilt and become soft and lose your strength?

Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did you have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, became hardened and stiff? Does your shell look the same, but on the inside are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or, are you like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

Of course there are life lessons in every adversity we face, and as we mature and gain wisdom, our typical reactions to various situations change. Can you think back to particularly difficult time? Did you respond like the carrot, the egg or the coffee? How would you hope to respond to challenging times in the future? We would love for you to post your comments below.

Becky,

Sister of Soul

Soul-spiration of the Week:

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit

Who Do You Think You Are: Four Strategies for Self-Awareness

2011-08-14T16:36:00.004-05:00

Ask a woman to describe who she is and you'll often hear her describe herself in terms of her current title or role (wife, mother, daughter, etc.) or career (manager, accountant, nurse, etc.). Come on, we're so much more than that!

When it comes to self-awareness, we're our own expert! Being clear about who you are, what you want, and why you want it, empowers you to consciously and actively make those wants a reality. We can't rely on our spouse, family, work and society to tell us who we are! What we need is a clear direction; a feel for our own true north. Armed with that awareness, it suddenly becomes easier to side-step the drama, steer clear of the confusion, and step through your fear to the life you were meant to live.

We’ve found these four strategies especially helpful to the self-awareness process:

1. Know your purpose: Wandering through life hoping you'll stumble upon health, happiness and prosperity leaves too much to chance. Where does your true self want to go in life? What legacy do you want to leave behind? Where do you want to make a difference? If it's been a while since you've put any thought into what your purpose is for your life, it might take some time to tune in once again. Your true "purpose" resides in your soul and to discover yours you need not only intellectual contemplation but a connection with your intuitive self as well. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Tap into your personal power, pick a direction that represents genuine happiness, and move toward it.

2. Know your passions: What would life be without our passions? And yet, we find that many women toss their passionate pursuits aside, wrongly believing they are not important. It's amazing what we let come between us and our dreams. If you've always wondered what it would be like, not to wait around for the good things in life to come to you, but to actually go out and get what you want out of life, focusing on your passions is the first step in that process. As we like to say, our passions run deep. Stop waiting for "someday" and make your "someday" today.

3. Honor your strengths: Have you ever wished for a super power? Maybe the ability to leap tall buildings or become instantly invisible would come in handy? Well each of us possesses talents and strengths unique to us that allow us to contribute something special to the world. We tend to take these abilities for granted but it's time to start thinking of your strengths and talents as your own super powers!

An amazing resource for identifying your core strengths is Tom Rath's book, StrengthsFinder 2.0. A life-changing book for us, it was amazingly powerful to see our unique abilities on paper, allowing us to put into words what we could before only sense and feel, let alone explain. Pick up a copy and discover your strengths! It will change your perspective in a big way!

4. Write a mission: Businesses do it all the time and for good reason. Something truly powerful happens when you put your purpose into writing. Suddenly doors open to you and opportunities just show up. Where there was once struggle and never-ending challenge, now there seems to be a shift in energy and things flow easily and effortlessly. Putting pen to paper focuses your subconscious in a specific and targeted direction, declaring to the universe your desires and ultimate goal. Nothing screams authenticity like putting your mission in writing.

Kim,

Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

“Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.” ~Steven Pressfield

Women’s Empowerment: You’re Empowered If...

2011-08-07T16:30:00.007-05:00

We’ve been blogging for over three years now and we’ve tackled the question of, “What is empowerment?” many times. However, would you truly recognize an empowered woman if you saw one? Odds are you probably wouldn’t; not entirely anyway.

At Soulspring Groups (the meetings, the gatherings and all the events), empowerment is a common topic of conversation. When asked about empowered women, you’re probably as quick as most to list off a slew of names; women you know, women you admire, women you aspire to be. Yet one important person is likely to be left off the list, and that person is YOU.

So we ask you...Would you recognize an empowered woman if you saw one? What behaviors do they exhibit? What traits do they possess? More importantly, are you one?

As the old adage goes, seeing is believing. Are you living empowered? Check yourself against these ten examples of empowering qualities and behaviors and see just how empowered you really are.

You are empowered if...

You recognize the fear and do it anyway. Why would we let a little thing like fear hold us back from what we want in life? After all, the key to overcoming our fears is to just stop it!

You learn something new every day. The world is full of adventure and there’s a lesson around every corner.

You believe that you have the potential to achieve great things. In the words of the great Dr. Seuss, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."

You display patience and accept divine timing. We once heard Echkart Tolle, author of such great books as “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth” say, “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment.” Well said!

You welcome each day with enthusiasm and excitement. Each day is a gift after all; is there really any other way to accept something so special?

You accept challenges as opportunities for strength and character building. Heck, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right?

You squash the negative self-talk and speak only positive and affirming statements. Our positivity is what fuels us and makes us shine! That’s why we offer a new positive affirmation with every visit to the Soulspring Groups’ website!

You begin your day with a ritual such as quiet journaling, meditation or prayer. Silence, personal reflection and time spent connecting to our Creator, keeps us focused and centered on the bigger picture.

You believe above all else that you have what it takes. How cruel of a joke to be given a deep desire with no way to achieve it. No, we’ve got everything we need, or at least have access to it, if we stay focused and conscious. While it may not come to us exactly as we envision, our passions will be realized in wonderful ways if we keep the faith and believe.

You take time for regular personal development and the exploration of important life principles. For a growing number of women, that means being active in their Soulspring Group. If you’re not yet part of this inspiring trend, you’ll want to learn more about joining a Soulspring Group or starting one of your own today.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:

"By conquering your challenges, taking control of your thoughts, listening to your soul and uniting with others like you, you can bestow your unique gifts and talents unto the world. When your strengths and spirit meet that's when you achieve a level of true empowerment!" ~The Soul Sisters

It's Time to Start Living the Rich Life

2011-07-31T16:59:00.004-05:00

When you think about "you", what comes to mind? Do you glow with pride for your successes, or instantly recall every mistake and misstep? Do you live life with guts and gusto, or feel undeserving of the abundance available to you?

Living a rich life has little to do with net-worth and everything to do with self-worth. Your personal value is a direct result of your self-esteem and beliefs about your deservedness. It's a sad reality that many women suffer from low esteem and consider themselves inferior to others. Don't you think it's time you realize your true value and embrace the best life has to offer?

Well we do! Don't surrender another day to anxiety, worry, regret, dissatisfaction, or inadequacy! Boost your self-worth and self-esteem using the five strategies below.

Stop the Comparisons: Don't try to be like everyone else. Comparing yourself to others only perpetuates the cycle of low self-worth and confidence. Remember, you are unique and created with your own special strengths, skills and talents. Your main goal is to be your best YOU! Strive to improve and develop yourself, but don't judge yourself for not being like someone else. You're unique abilities make you great in other ways.

Don't Take Mistakes so Seriously: Everyone makes mistakes; it's part of being human. Mistakes and failure are a necessary part of achievement and success. Look at Michael Jordan: "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." If you haven't made any mistakes lately, or if it's been a while since you've failed, you have to ask yourself what you're missing out on.

Self-Worth Begins with Self-Care: Self-worth, confidence and assuredness increase when you focus on your needs and desires. By ensuring your needs are addressed, you can be the best wife, mother, friend and co-worker you can be. Deplete all your energies trying to satisfy the needs of others, and there literally will not be enough of you to go around. What will all the important people in your life do then? Remember, there's an important difference between self-ish and self-care.

Throw out the Junk: The junk? Yes, you know, the mean, hurtful and unconstructive things said to you by others. The criticisms you repeat in your mind in a never-ending loop? It's one thing to be given constructive feedback, but quite another when people use their words to demean, manipulate, degrade and control you. Toss those words, and the accompanying feelings, out with yesterday's trash! Remember it's the offending party's issue, NOT yours. You know the truth and those are the words you must keep repeating... "You are precious," "You are worthy," "You are GREAT!"

Power Up Your Passion: Passion takes hold of you and fuels your power. Passion sparks extreme emotions and makes you feel alive. Get fired-up about life and make a difference. The more passion and zest you feel, the more alive and shiny you are! Get passionate about something...anything! Let your passion rise to the surface and watch your value grow as you make a difference in the world...even if it’s just your little part of it!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.” ~Unknown

Looking at our Decision Path

2011-07-24T17:45:00.005-05:00

It’s always enlightening (and I think kind of fun) to mentally walk backwards through your life and pinpoint a decision that brought you to where you are now.

I can go back all the way to when I was 18 and I decided to take a temporary summer position at Smead Manufacturing in Hastings, MN. Through that position I met my friend LuAnn. A year later I rented a room in the basement of LuAnn’s home and got to know her family very well. Her 14 year old daughter, Taryn, and her friend, Ashley, schemed away at how amazingly perfect it would be for me and Ashley’s older brother to “fall in love and live happily ever after”. Sure enough they managed to get the two of us on the phone together one afternoon. We talked that day for 30 minutes and then the following Sunday for 3 hours. Our first date was a week later. We dated for 18 months, were engaged for 6 months, and now have been married for 9 years. So you could say the decision to work at Smead that summer was the best decision of my life.

You’ve also had pivotal decisions in your life that have been important to bringing you to where you are today. Perhaps choosing the college you attended (or didn’t attend), the person you married, the group of friends you have, or maybe even something as seemingly simple as taking a left turn instead of a right.

To me, retracing your decision path is the ultimate proof that our lives are really in our hands. While it would be easier to say that we were just dealt a lucky/unlucky hand in life, the truth of the matter is that we are responsible for creating our lives by the choices we make. Our lives are basically just a summary our years of decisions.

Sometimes it is easy to feel we don’t have a choice in a decision. It is important to remember that we always have choices; sometimes we just don’t like our options.

It’s important to remember, too, that a choice is rarely the final word. It’s not a must that we always make the right decision the first time. But it is a must to know when a different decision is necessary. I love the quote by Steven D. Woodhull, “You’ve got a lot of choices. If getting out of the bed in the morning is a chore and you’re not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.”

Take a look at your decision path today. Are you accepting 100% responsibility for your current livelihood? By blaming others you are giving away your power, and by giving away your power you are not left with the power you need to make a change.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:“Life is the sum of all your choices.” ~Albert Camus

30 Power Thoughts to Change Your Life

2011-07-17T17:38:00.001-05:00

Thoughts are things and when you consider that 80% of our daily thoughts are negative, that can be a pretty frightening scenario. It’s no wonder we’re stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, stuck and afraid; it’s what we think about all day long!

But what if for 30 days you could take steps to change the way you think? What if you took responsibility and control over the way you think? What if you began each day with the intention to make a positive change?

Below are 30 Power Thoughts that will help you do just that! A statement to kick the day off right, we’ve given you one for each of the next 30 days. Print the list and commit to focusing on the “thought of the day” for a few minutes each morning, afternoon and night. Then watch how your perspective, attitude and life change as a results! Please report back with your results!

30 Power Thoughts:

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
To fulfill my desires all I need to do is step up and claim (and proclaim) what I want.
I teach people how to treat me. Today I will teach them to treat me the way I desire; kind, loving, respectful.
By holding on to past wrongs I am not making room for my future. Today I choose forgiveness.
Even in difficult times, there’s a reward in knowing I did what was right. Today I will do what feels right to me.
I must be truthful to myself in order to grow. I release myself from denial and choose honesty.
I was put on this Earth to fulfill a purpose and the sooner I discover my purpose, the sooner I can get busy!
I am in the here and now. I will no longer base decisions on what has happened to me in the past.
There is no reason for me to fear failure. Failure is the best way to learn and grow in experience.
I am responsible for my own choices. Therefore, I will not make choices based on the desires of others.
It is never too late for anything. Instead of wasting time with regret I will set out to do what I’ve always intended.
I will take the golden rule one step further; I will treat MYSELF with the same kindness & respect as I show to others.
I understand that I can be my biggest problem. But I also know within me is the power to be the ultimate solution.
Remaining in my comfort zone doesn’t allow for growth. Today I’m busting out from what feels comfortable and safe.
Everything in life is neutral. What I deem to be positive or negative is based on my attitude and perspective.
I always have a choice. While I may not like my options, I accept the power and responsibility that comes with decision.
I will not over-exaggerate nor belittle my problems. Instead I will face them, deal with them, and then move on.
I will take a hard look at what isn’t working in my life and take deliberate action to make positive change in those areas.
I will not limit things to what I perceive to be possible. I will dream big and have faith that the way will appear.
I will take the time to define my values. This is the only means by which I can gauge what is right for me.
Within me is the power to change my life. I will plug into it and use it to fulfill my purpose.
I no longer fear change! Every change in my life elevates me to new levels of empowerment.
I understand I’m the average of the 5 people I hang around with most. I accept loving and inspiring people into my life.
I rise above the daily chaos that keeps others busy and distracted. I allow myself to be centered, self-aware and wise.
I accept that thoughts are things. I replace disempowering thoughts with empowering ones.
The past and future are illusions. We only have the present and I stay focused on the now, taking a moment at a time.
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. Cutting ties does not represent a failure. I know when it’s time to move on.
How I start the day sets the tone for the rest of the day. My morning ritual ensures I experience an extra great day.
Just because it’s a rule doesn’t make it right. I break the rules whenever my highest values are supported by doing so!
With each moment comes an opportunity to create a new beginning. My best self continually reveals itself to the world.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:"You can close the windows and darken your room, and you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of choice. Your mind is your room. Do you darken it or do you fill it with light?" ~Remez Sasson

Women’s Empowerment Tip: Kick Your Habits to the Curb

2011-07-10T17:20:00.003-05:00

Habits, no matter if they are good or bad, make us who we are…and, habits, no matter if they are good or bad, can make us or break us.

Habits have a way of overtaking our lives and as a result we find ourselves stuck. They’re sneaky; silently creeping up on you until you’re hooked! You may not even realize the negative impact they are having on your life until it’s too late! That’s why it’s so important to be aware of your habits and confront the ones that no longer serve you.

Identifying bad habits is as easy as asking yourself, “What am I doing out of habit that no longer serves me?” Look to the areas in your life that cause you constant struggle or challenge for an additional clue. For example, if you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, your spending habits may need a review. Habits such as eating the wrong kinds of foods in excess, shopping or eating out of emotion, spending too much time in front of the television, and most likely many more, might also come to mind.

Once you have identified the habits you know you must change, follow these 6 tips to kick your habits to the curb:

1) Tackle one bad habit at a time and give your new positive habit 30 days to develop and establish new muscle memory. Don’t be hard on yourself if you have a set-back; put any digression behind you and pick up where you left off.

2) Write it out; don’t leave commitments in your brain. Put pen to paper and gain clarity around the change you wish to make and why. It’s tempting to skip this step but it’s extremely important! Whenever you’re tempted to give up, this is just what you need to once again get clear on your objective and what it will mean for your life!

3) If the habit you want to change is an especially tough one, recognize the need for a step-by-step plan. Just like when you create a plan to achieve a goal or finish a project, identifying key steps to break your habit will allow you to make small but steady progress each week. Taking manageable action steps over time will ensure you have a successful outcome.

4) Habits are often prompted so it’s important to recognize your trigger (ie: If TV sparks a snack attack, stop the urge by eliminating TV time or replacing it with another activity).

5) Surround yourself with loyal supporters. Let them help you and cheer you on! Your Soulspring Group will undoubtedly be a valuable resource to you at this time. They will gently hold you accountable to your mission and some members may even join you in your quest to kick the habit!

6) Awareness is key. Present time consciousness (PTC) will ensure you don’t mindlessly revert to old ways. Don’t look back and don’t look ahead, stay focused on the now and take it a moment at a time.

It’s not necessary to remain a hostage to your habits. A desire to change combined with a splash of will-power and the right support network, is all you need to change your life!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:“The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” ~Samuel Johnson

Your Summer Bucket List

2011-07-03T16:03:00.003-05:00

The 4th of July holiday tends to mark the half-way point of the summer season. We don’t know about you, but we’re wondering where the first half of the summer went? Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?

Don’t let the few remaining weeks of summertime get away from you. Make the most of the sunshine and warm weather by creating a special "bucket list" specifically for summer! Need some inspiration? We’ve compiled a list of a few of our favorite summertime activities and we know you’ve probably got a few ideas of your own. Create a list of things you want to be sure to do and experience before the days get shorter (and the snow flies)!

Get up before the crack of dawn and savor the sunrise.
Buy yourself a hula-hoop and give it a whirl.
Wait for a warm rain (no hail, wind, or lightning please) and dance in it.
Find the most perfect picnic location, pack up your favorite foods in a basket, and have a picnic.
Go fly a kite up where the air is clear.
Here’s a real adventure if you’re feeling a little risqué? Go skinny dipping!
Get in touch with your inner child and blow some bubbles.
Be a do-gooder and volunteer for a day.
Be an astrologer for a night and lay out under the stars.
Try all 31 Baskin Robbins flavors.
Act like a kid again and instigate a water fight.
Combine the perfect shade tree with a perfect book for an afternoon of reading.
Make memories with the outdoors as your backdrop. Schedule a family photo session with a photographer.
Connect with nature. Go on a nature hike with a camera and see how many species of flower you can capture on “film”.
Dream up some fantastic architecture and build a sand castle.
Show your team spirit and attend a Minor League baseball game.
Enjoy all-natural produce by visiting (and purchase from) a local farmer’s market.
Capture light by catching fire flies in a jar (but be kind and release them again).
Get creative with your grill – think pizzas, quesadillas, salads, and desserts!
Create a summer playlist. Pull together your favorite tunes for the season.
Head north and view the Northern Lights.
Take a day off work and surprise your kids by playing outside games all day!
Plan a mystery day trip for you and your group of besties!
Enjoy “the arts” in the great outdoors! Attend an outdoor concert or live production in the park.
Find an outdoor eating establishment in your area and enjoy dining al fresco.
Toss out the maps – just pick a direction and drive for a day. See what amazing things you can discover.
Forget about the PGA. Play a round at a miniature golf course.
Indulge in homemade lemonade on a hot day.
Make homemade ice cream. No maker – no worries. Try this!
Spread some love. Pick flowers and leave them on someone’s desk, doorstep, windshield, etc.
See something on a HUGE screen. Attend a movie in a local park or go back in time at a drive-in theater.

Yes, don't forget to have some fun this summer. We would love to hear about your experiences so please report back with a comment below!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~C. S. Lewis

You’re in Control: 7 “Empower Points” for Decision Making

2011-06-26T17:19:00.011-05:00

What to eat for breakfast, what time to go to bed, should you go to that social event or not? We’re faced with a million choices throughout the course of the day and unless confronted with an especially tough decision, rarely give them a second thought.

There’s power in choice and decision-making however; it’s one of the few areas of our lives that is within our control.

“Your money, or your life?”
“You or me?”
“Happiness or success?”
“Paper or plastic?”

While we may not always like our options, the final choice is up to us, and when we realize the responsibility we have in our own lives based on our decisions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

When it comes to making empowered choices, we offer these 7 “Empower Points”:

1. There are 2 ways to live – floundering and drifting or making conscious decisions. The choice is yours.

2. Making a “right” decision will lead to less stress and a path to move forward in life.

3. The ultimate goal in life is to look at our wants, determine our opportunities, and try and make the best choices by weighing the costs.

4. Take the time for self-reflection. This will often reveal where different choices need to be made in your life.

5. Before taking on a big decision make sure your goals and values are crystal clear…these will point you in the right direction.

6. Don’t let a BIG decision scare you. Feel free to break a decision into smaller decisions and from there steps that feel more attainable.

7. There will always be people who question your priorities, disagree with your decisions, and get mad when you don’t follow their lead. Don’t base your decisions on the need to please others.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"We make our choices; then our choices make us.” ~Unknown

Life Lessons from Dads to Daughters

2011-06-19T17:05:00.004-05:00

It’s Father’s Day and of course our thoughts turn to that of our Dad. We’ve been posing questions to the followers of our Facebook page all week, “What’s the biggest life lesson you learned from your dad?”

We received some great answers from the women in our community. They mentioned traits like respect, honesty, integrity, loyalty, sociability, and hard work.

One loyal fan shared an important life lesson her dad taught the family on the topic of perspective. You see, her dad was in the septic system business and they had a “potty pumper” parked in their driveway the entire 30 years of his career. She shared that he always used to say, “It’s all in how you look at it. To some it’s S#!$$, but it’s my bread and butter!” The phrase “S#!$$ happens” had an entirely different meaning in their family!

Yes, dads hold a special place in the hearts of their daughters. I know for us we’ve learned many valuable lessons from our Dad too! Here are just a few...

Friends are all around you: Yep, Dad doesn’t know a stranger. Everybody is somebody and there are no exclusive or private clubs in Dad’s world. His philosophy is clearly an “all-inclusive” one. Dad can find a friend in the most unlikely of places and as a result can find the best place to grab a burger, the must-see point of interest, and the back door entrance reserved for those few people “in-the-know”, no matter where he is. Yes, all this because he struck up a conversation with an unlikely stranger. Some might call it luck, but we know it’s more. When you reach out to people and are genuine and sincere, they’ll do anything to return the favor.

Do what’s right: Difficult or easy, expensive or cheap, long or quick. None of this matters because Dad’s first consideration in any decision is always, “what’s right?” Taking a stand for what’s right doesn’t always come easy. It requires strength and fortitude to have a differing opinion from your boss, from the other members of a jury, from the status quo. Not to say Dad was always right, or that he never changed his mind. Still, if Dad believed it was right, even the underdog of underdogs had his support and allegiance.

Work hard: Dad didn’t believe in wasting time complaining or in slacking off. Nothing was ever done half-way. Anything worth doing was worth doing right the first time, and you gave it your best and enjoyed the doing as much as having it done. That’s why Dad always whistles while he works, and others are drawn to work at his side. He makes even the most mundane chores fun and as a result time flies.

Just ask: Dad’s not afraid to hear “no”. It’s just a two-letter word after all. If he’s got an inkling to take a different trail, try it a different way, or get up close and personal (you know, beyond the sign that says, “No Admittance Beyond this Point”) he just asks. I’m sure he’s heard “no” many times, but mostly people give him points for having the guts to inquire, and how can you say “no” to that?! He’s helped us cross many a thing off our bucket lists, all because he wasn’t afraid to ask (even if we were).

If you asked our brothers what lessons they’ve learned from Dad, you’ll probably get a different set of answers. We see dads and daughters as having a unique kind of relationship; different (although just as important) as the unique relationship daughters have with their moms. Yes, dads play an important role in the lives of their daughters, and while as a result our lives are impacted 365 days a year, it’s on Father’s Day that we say thanks.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:"Dad...A son's first hero, a daugther's first love." ~Unknown

Same Old Routine? Get Yourself Out of that Rut

2011-06-12T17:18:00.000-05:00

Routines are convenient and have their uses, but sticking to the same-old-same-old, day in and day out, can make life boring, drain your energy and squelch creativity and inspiration!

Don’t let yourself get stuck in a rut…You’ve got too much living to do! That’s why we’ve compiled this simple 6 Day All-Intensive Routine Breaking Program to free you from the tedious, dull, and mundane! By next weekend you’ll feel more alive, energized, creative, and inspired, we guarantee it! Even more important however is the fact that you’ll have a lot of fun while doing it!

6 Day All-Intensive Routine Breaking Program

Monday: Even a simple change can spark creativity! What could you do differently today to change up your usual routine? Today keep it simple; change up your reading habits, your typical eats, your usual route, your workout, etc…

Tuesday: Today your task it to “rearrange”! What you change-up is your choice; rearrange the living room furniture, the top of your desk at work, the drawers in the kitchen, or the seating arrangement at the dinner table.

Wednesday: Review your “morning ritual”. How you start the day sets the tone for the rest of your day. A healthy breakfast, some prayer or journaling time, uplifting music instead of the morning news, might be all it takes to make your day extra great! Punching up your morning could change your life!

Thursday: Review your “evening ritual”. How you end the day is powerful. Be purposeful as you go through your evening and pay attention to what feels right to you; a few yoga poses or some light stretching, tea on the deck, relaxing in the tub, or reading in bed. Whatever brings your day to a proper close is the new routine for you!

Friday: Hang out with a new crowd and experience new ideas, new insights and new points of view! Hey, that sounds like a Souslpring Group! This is the perfect opportunity to join a group or start one of your own!

Saturday: Try a new hobby or recipe, switch sides of the bed, or plan an adventurous outing…the goal today is to spend your Saturday in a new way. Dedicate today to all things NEW!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.” ~Henry Van Dyke

Top 10 Quotations to Inspire Empowered Choices

2011-06-05T17:44:00.008-05:00

We all know them (or maybe you're the guilty party); those people who are self-proclaimed “indecisive”. They are the last to choose from the menu at a restaurant, try on 3 differnt outfits before deciding on the perfect one, and choosing the right toothpaste could easily suck up a good twenty minutes of their time.

Being “indecisive” is a personality trait that is often taken pretty lightly, while the contrary is actually true. Choices are powerful! With each decision we exert some level of control, and while we may not always like our choices, the final decision is up to us. We think that's pretty empowering!

Yes, the decisions we make and our daily choices are very important. Even the smallest of choices are what pave our paths to the future. So how can we inspire you to step into your power of choice?

Well, who doesn't love a good quotation? Time and again we find it's a simple quote that draws the most attention on our Facebook page! We love those short little nuggets of wisdom, and we've actually amassed quite a collection! Below we share our top ten favorite quotations to inspire you to choose...and choose wisely!

Enjoy!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

1. “In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

2. "Don't get your directions from someone who's never been where you want to go." ~Unknown

3. “…to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” ~Kofi Annan

4. “I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude.” ~Unknown

5. “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ~Joanne Kathleen Rowling

6. “There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy.” ~Unknown

7. “When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice.” ~William James

8. “When making a decision, focus on what feels “shackles off” versus “shackles on." ~Martha Beck

9. “It is the big choices we make that set our direction. It is the smallest choices we make that get us to the destination.” ~Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D

10. “You are your choices.” ~Seneca

Soulspiration of the Week:
“When emotions are locked up in your heart, they can find release through words.” ~Simran Khurana

New Website Offers Women Inspiration and Community

2011-05-29T17:53:00.001-05:00

There’s a new website in town…perhaps you’ve heard of it? We’ve often said there’s nothing like a woman on a mission and The Letter W Online, launched earlier this month by creator/editor Shalena Janis, is yet another example of this.

Despite the “what ifs” and doubts within her own head, Shalena made a commitment to a long-time dream, reached out to area writers for support, and launched what is proving to be a thriving and growing online women’s community; a place where one can sit down in the comfort of their home (or convenience of a computer, anytime and anywhere) and take time for themselves to learn, become inspired and spark an idea or two to contribute, not only to the website, but also to their community.

The Letter W Online is essentially a site for women by women. Stories feature local women from all walks of life. Other content includes informational items with a local flair and focus. New content will be added to the site several times weekly and no matter which day of the week you visit, you are sure to find something that will make you laugh, pull on your heart strings, or move you to the point where yourl feel compelled to contribute to the site through a forum, e-mail or phone call.

And if you’re a local writer, The Letter W Online is always looking for contributors to submit content or inquire about a story assignment, making the dream of getting your written works in front of a local female audience within reach!

Soulspring Groups is excited to be a part of this active and growing community. Too often we see women putting their passions, goals and dreams aside because they don’t believe their passions are important, their goals are possible to achieve, and that they themselves are worthy of success. That’s why we’re so enthusiastic about his venture and the premise behind it.

We’ll be sharing our message of self-empowerment and inspiring women throughout the area to dust off those long-ago forgotten dreams, realize once and for all that they are stronger than they think, and that with commitment, focus and the right support network it is possible to bring them to reality, just as Shalena did with The Letter W Online.

Visit The Letter W Online today to see what’s new, and don’t forget to follow them on Facebook so you can see the latest new content and features being launched via your Facebook newsfeed.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ~Nelson Mandela

From the Perspective of a Dandelion

2011-05-22T17:37:00.001-05:00

One of my earliest memories was when I was in preschool at the age of 4. It was May Day and as part of the celebration we transformed cardboard milk containers magically into the most beautiful flower baskets you’ve ever seen. Before our moms came to pick us up that day we filled our baskets full with blooms picked from the millions of dandelions in the backyard of the school. We all left with bunches and bunches of the most fabulous yellow flowers. I’m sure our moms were thrilled.

I’ve always loved dandelions. You have to admit that it’s kinda nice to see that first pop of bright color every spring. And when you come across a whole field of the vibrant yellow flowers, you can’t help but smile! They’re just so cheerful! Oh, and I can’t forget to mention how fun they are when they turn to white puffballs! What kid (and sometimes even adult) doesn’t love to blow the dandelion wisps? I’ve always had the feeling that those tiny seeds carry some sort of magic with them as they take to the wind.

So, yes, I really do enjoy dandelions.

I have to keep my opinion of dandelions rather quiet from my husband though. He puts hours into removing the “weed” from our lawn. He (along with many, many others) absolutely despises dandelions. Where I see them as cheerful and pretty, most see them as a nuisance and are frustrated by their heartiness. They pre-treat early spring, trying to cut the blooms off at the pass. Then, when that’s not successful, they spray each individual plant after they show their ugly head. It’s nearly impossible to stay ahead of them. And then of course, a different line of defense is necessary if they take up residence in your flower garden. Spraying would most definitely kill all the legitimate flowers growing there, so this is when it’s necessary to find that really sharp weed digger tool and dig those little monsters up from the root ball.

So, yes, most people hate dandelions.

Perspective is an amazing thing, isn’t it? An identical object, in this case a dandelion, can be beautiful to one person and a nuisance to another. And so it goes with anything in life: a situation, a circumstance, a daily occurrence. While some may look at them as bad, there are always others who would look at them as good. So what’s the difference? It all comes down to a decision. Because of my own perception, I’ve chosen to like dandelions. And we all have that same power over everything. So today, instead of deciding to dislike the same old things, choose to look at the silver lining, and find something to like instead. You’ll have a better day because of it!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are.” ~Talmud

Empowerment Tip: You Don’t have to be a Rebel to Break the Rules

2011-05-15T17:48:00.002-05:00

I’m a rule follower by nature. I tend to wait my turn, be on time, wear my seatbelt, come to a complete stop at a stop sign, return books to the library by the due date, and refrain from drinking before noon (not that afternoon cocktails are usual for me either).

But lately I’ve been thinking about rules. I can see some are important for our safety, and others are important for civil order; but I’ve come to realize that we accept some rules without a second thought. Could we benefit by taking a closer look at our beliefs about rules and rule-breaking?

That might make me a rebel, but I don’t really feel like one. Instead I prefer to be an independent thinker; capable of making up my own mind and setting my own rules for my life. Maybe it’s time for you to think about breaking some rules too? Consider these points…

• Famous rule breakers include Christopher Columbus, our Founding Fathers, Susan B. Anthony, Picasso, and we could go on. How different society would look if they hadn’t had the courage to break a few rules in their day. Instead of inspiring change, they could have chosen to stick with the status quo. For us as women that would mean living on an Earth that’s flat as a pancake, subservient to the king, without the right to vote. Oh, and while the men are out discussing politics and the news of the day over fine scotch and cigars, we’re stuck at home staring at boring art. Doesn’t sound appealing to me.

• Conflict isn’t very becoming of a lady. Women belong at home. Women and children should be seen and not heard. Sounds preposterous in this day and age and yet at one time these unwritten rules were believed and enforced. Makes me wonder…What unwritten rules keep us from speaking our truth today? What would breaking those rules look like?

• Many of the rules we follow today we do to avoid conflict. Nobody likes an argument but it’s healthy to express your opinion! Remember, you don’t have to agree with everyone, and it isn’t necessary to have a winner in every debate. Everything doesn’t have to be open for discussion, does it? If you believe in it, I say break the rules!

• Sometimes it’s our own rules that keep us hostage. What self-enforced rules are keeping you from your true power? Take some time to question your perceptions, assumptions and beliefs.

• Just because it’s a rule doesn’t make it right. If you believe you need permission to break the rules, please do so anytime your highest values are supported by doing so! I’ll back you all the way!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Life is short; break the rules...Forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile." ~Unknown

With an Ageless Attitude You're Never Too Old

2011-05-08T16:09:00.002-05:00

It seems as though there’s a common fear among women as they age; that they have an expiration date and once they reach a certain point in time they’re too old. Too old to try new things, go on grand adventures, start new careers, or live the life of their dreams.

We’ve never really bought into that way of thinking. Perhaps it’s because within our midst is a real-life example that debunks this limiting belief; our own mother, Rita.

Shortly after Mom turned 60, she and Dad sold their farmstead of 30 years, got rid of most of their belongings, purchased a massive RV and hit the road with nothing but a compass and possibility ahead of them. When they announced their plans it wasn’t hard to imagine Dad loving life on the road, but Mom? She was more of the stay at home and tend to the garden type. But, it’s been over 6 years now and together they’ve had enough adventures to prove to anyone that you’re never too old.

While they still summer back at the farm, the rest of the year is spent touring the highways and byways of the country and volunteering for the Texas State Park System. They’ve been east and been west, visited what we believe to be a record number of wineries, walked battlefields and toured mansions, and never leave a state without stopping at the Presidential library, if there is one. Some of their escapades make us extremely nervous and we remind them that we’re not made of money and should they be kidnapped while exploring those remote towns in Mexico, we’re not quite sure how we would pay?!

Their State Park stories make us a bit anxious too. The long hikes on rough terrain setting trail markers is very physically demanding, even for the much younger park rangers, let alone a couple of 60 something gringos. Still, they send back pictures of the group, park rangers exhausted and resting in the shade, Mom and Dad in wide brimmed hats, spry as always and smiling from ear to ear.

You can image our surprise when Mom announced she and Dad would be taking a 4 day tour across the Rio Grande into the mountains of Mexico, on mules no less. Mules? Yes, the extremely steep and rough terrain was too much for most horses. Mules could navigate the rugged country much better. And so they went, and rode, and had a great time. We picture their adventure to be a little like Billy Crystal and the gang in City Slickers. They say it was a full trip, riding up to 25 miles a day, but that they hope to do it again, sore butts and all.

And who can forget white water rafting on the Rio Grande. The white water was no match for Mom. Five hours was spent navigating the river along with a guide. The areas of rapids were a little threatening to them at first but it didn’t take very long at all before they had the hang of it. They also were able to experience rafting through multiple narrow gorges, too. And as they glanced up they couldn’t help but notice stranded vehicles perched along the side wall. Cars that had driven off the road up above and it was too dangerous for any rescue personnel to pull them back out, so there they stayed. Yikes is right!

But the adventure to beat all, and one that makes us wish we could implant a tracking device into each, consisted of them setting out through the Texas dessert to look for ancient hieroglyphics. They had heard about them from a park ranger and listened intently as he described the location. On their next day off they packed up their Jeep and set out across unkempt roads (later we would learn a cactus spine had actually lodged into the tire of their vehicle but they made it all the way back to Wisconsin before the tire began to leak!).

After hours of driving they finally arrived at their destination, a sheer rocky cliff. Not exactly as they envisioned, and not prepared with any type of climbing gear, they stopped for a moment to question if they should really continue.

Well, since others had done it, they certainly could too and so they set out up the rock face. Carefully climbing but enjoying every minute. Upon reaching the top and discovering the ancient drawings, they decided their climb was definitely worth it; a view of untouched history. The hieroglyphics were amazingly preserved within the recesses of the cliff. And the view of the mountainous dessert, well that was amazing too.

But then came the even more difficult task of climbing down. Thankfully they made it back safe and sound and reported back to the park ranger about how amazing their day was. With wide eyes the ranger replied, “What?! No one climbs up there! How did you even make it?!”

Thanks for being such a positive influence on us Mom! We may not be quite as adventurous as you, but we haven’t given up on ourselves yet! You’ve proven to us that there’s plenty of time for wild escapades and thrilling explorations. But more important is this lesson: Age isn’t a number, and it has nothing to do with how you feel…it’s more of an attitude and yours is ageless. We love you!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~C.S. Lewis

Growing Grass the Wrong Way

2011-05-01T17:30:00.001-05:00

My husband and I bought our home 10 years ago this November. We were 20 and 23. Uffta, way too young to take on such responsibility! Thank goodness my husband and I had the perfect mix of patience, love, and common sense to see us through!

When we bought our house it was newly built but had been left vacant for over a year. It was exciting to have a “new” house but the yard definitely needed some TLC. Grass was never planted and the lawn was literally a yard full of waist-high weeds. It was November and there was no growing season left for the year. The only option we had was to cut everything down to the ground and tackle the grass situation the following spring.

Five months later my husband decided it was time. Finally some green grass was in the works! The first step was loosening up the dirt and since we had no prior knowledge of anything of this magnitude (we had only cut the stuff before), we relied on our common sense and went to work. Brad put me on a lawn mower and told me to drive in circles while I pulled a “drag”, weighted by a concrete block, behind me. So that’s what I did – round and round. The ground was exceptionally hard but to me that only meant more trips around.

Being that this was spring, the neighbors were making their first appearances outside after their winter hibernating and we were seeing a lot of them for the first time. As I was busy attempting to bust up the dirt, a neighbor gentlemen stopped me, literally, and said, “You’re doing that completely wrong – you’re going to have to get a tiller in here and till up that ground if you ever want anything to grow.”

I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe that someone would actually stop to point out that they thought we were doing something “wrong”. I drove to the backyard where Brad was working and told him. He said, “Well, get back up there…now we really need this grass to grow.”

The grass did grow that year in our little plot of land. And all these years later we have one of the best looking lawns on the block! I think back to that man anytime I find myself labeling someone’s process as “wrong”. It’s easy to slip into that “controller” role but just because I would do something differently than someone else, doesn’t make their way any less right. And most of the time their way works out just fine. There’s more than one path to the same destination. It was an important life lesson…There is no sense in spreading negativity by pushing our mistaken ideals on other people.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"When you know you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut." ~Will Rogers

Look a Bit Deeper

2011-04-24T20:30:00.016-05:00

It was an unexpected surprise to find myself in the company of several former coworkers earlier this week. Some of whom I hadn’t seen in over 15 years. The conversation was much what you would expect to hear during such an occasion; a few laughs over old times, updates on jobs, careers, children, and for some even new grandchildren.

It was during the goodbye’s that one individual looked at me and said, “Jenny, you haven’t changed a bit; you look exactly the same as you did all those years ago.” Well, how about that…Obviously, he wasn’t close enough to see the wrinkles and I have to admit the lighting wasn’t the best so that would explain the fact that he missed the hues of gray in my hair. But still, a pretty great compliment just the same.

Later that day I thought about the comment once again. I pondered it for a moment I had to ask myself, “Can I really look exactly the same after so many years…How could that be possible? I certainly don’t feel like the same person that I was back then.”

To the untrained eye I might seem the same…but a closer look would reveal something quite different. The slight streaks of silver in my hair signify my 20 years of marriage this year. Those little gray surprises appear out of no where with deep rooted strength. They soften with age and blend in time to create a new shade of color; rich in love, respect and compassion. The two crow’s feet that are beginning to appear along side each of my eyes signify my two children. The subtle lines change and grow with each passing year. Becoming more noticeable on the surface as their character develops and they begin to make their mark on the world. The small laugh lines around my mouth signify my challenges and trials. They are very small in the big scope of things, but are necessary for growth and learning life’s lessons while remembering to keep a sense of humor at the forefront. And, the brown age spots, well those are simply reminders to wear sunscreen and a large brim hat.

On the surface it may appear that not much has changed in my appearance over the course of 15 years. But I feel better knowing that that isn’t the case. I love these marks of aging and I wear them proudly.

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." Sophia Loren

Who Do You Think You Are?

2011-04-17T19:15:00.018-05:00

Who are you? It’s such a simple question, and yet at the same time so complicated. As women we’re influenced by the media, society, mentors, parents, friends and spouses. We conform and adapt to be accepted, promoted, liked, loved, and admired. But peel away the layers of what others want us to be, and who are we then?

Consider the story of the eagle who thought he was a chicken…

A naturalist was visiting a farmer one day and was surprised to see a beautiful eagle in the farmer’s chicken coop. "Why in the world have you got this eagle living in with the chickens?"

"Well,” answered the farmer, “I found him when he was little and raised him in there with the chickens. He doesn’t know any better, he thinks he is a chicken."

The naturalist was dumbfounded. The eagle was pecking the grain and drinking from the watering can. The eagle kept his eyes on the ground and strutted around in circles, looking every inch a big, over-sized chicken. "Doesn’t he ever try to spread his wings and fly out of there?" asked the naturalist.

"No, said the farmer, and I doubt he ever will, he doesn’t know what it means to fly."

The naturalist persuaded the farmer to let him take the eagle out and do a few experiments with him, even though the farmer made it clear he thought the naturalist was wasting his time.

First, the naturalist lifted the bird to the top of the chicken coop fence and said "Fly!" He pushed the reluctant bird off the fence and it fell to the ground in a pile of dusty feathers. Next, the undaunted researcher took the ruffled eagle to the farmer’s hay loft and spread its wings before tossing it high in the air with the command "FLY!" The frightened bird shrieked and fell ungraciously to the barn-yard where it resumed pecking the ground in search of its dinner. The naturalist again picked up the eagle and decided to give it one more chance in a more appropriate environment, away from the bad examples of chicken lifestyle.

He set the docile bird on the front seat of his pickup truck and headed for the highest butte in the country. After a lengthy and sweaty climb to the crest, with the bird tucked under his arm, he spoke gently to the golden bird. "Friend, you were born to soar. It is better that you die here today on the rocks below than live the rest of your life being a chicken in a pen, gawked at and out of your element."

Having said these final words, he lifted the eagle up and once more commanded it to "FLY!" He tossed it out in space and this time, much to his relief, the eagle opened his seven-foot wingspan and flew gracefully into the sky. It slowly climbed in ever higher spirals, riding unseen thermals of hot air until it disappeared into the glare of the morning sun.

So, who do you think you are? Are you living life true to yourself? Or, are you living life based on the perceptions, expectations, beliefs, and/or desires of others? This story is a wonderful parable for how we live life unaware of who we really are, and instead settle for living life based on the lives we see others leading, or worse, what others want us to be.

Thankfully it doesn’t have to take a life-threatening situation like a push off a cliff to make us realize who we are, our true desires, or our calling in life. It just takes awareness and a little detective work, and our upcoming tele-training event is just the thing to get you started! We would love to introduce you to someone truly amazing…The real YOU!

Self-Aware: Discover the Real You

Monday, May 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. (CST)

The Soulspring Tele-Classroom*

It’s FREE*! We invite you to be our guest!

*Long distance phone charges apply where applicable.

You will receive your tele-classroom access code and training materials via email prior to the training call.

REGISTER FOR “SELF-AWARE: DISCOVER THE REAL YOU” TODAY!

Kim,

Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul.” ~James Allen

Don’t Wait for the Next Commercial

2011-04-10T19:10:00.001-05:00

I had just gotten home from work. It had been a tense day; everyone coming at me with their requests and nothing was getting accomplished or checked off my own list of to-do’s. I headed to the kitchen to begin preparing supper. I put a pot of water on to boil and was trying my best to hurry up the process. I quickly took an inventory of the ingredients I was to need and realized the vegetable was in the freezer downstairs. Not wanting to leave the heating pot unattended I threw the request out within earshot of the two bumps sitting on the couch watching TV. I got a quick response from the male teenage bump, “At the next commercial”. (Now let me just say these two rarely sit comatose in front of the TV for hours on end. However, this day was chilly and damp outside so they were spending their after school unwind time watching ICarly.) Wait for the next commercial, what am I suppose to do with that? What if I need the vegetable before the next commercial comes on? Ugh! My pot of water still wasn’t boiling but I can attest that something else was about to boil over.

I mustered up the kindest sounding voice I could and asked the request a second time. To my relief my son dragged himself off the couch to fetch that last supper ingredient. Thank you!

But still I was pondering this idea of waiting for the next commercial, where did they learn it anyway? Who am I kidding….This is certainly not a new phenomenon. Since there has been televisions there have been kids procrastinating on every task imaginable. They wait for a convenient point to break away and do whatever it is that is waiting for them. And, it’s not just kids, as adults we have been known to pull the same trick. Household chores are often broken up into 3 minute chunks of time, perfect for completion during the scheduled commercial interruptions.

Actually, it affects a number of areas in our adult lives as well! How many times do we wait for that convenient place to break away in order to do the things that are waiting for us. You’ve got big things waiting for you; goals, dreams, passions. Don’t just live life commercial to commercial, force yourself to pause the programming a little more often and you’ll be amazed at the things you can accomplish. Turn off the repeats and reruns and a make an all new primetime show…starring YOU!

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
We shall never have more time. We have, and have always had, all the time there is. No object is served in waiting until next week or even until tomorrow. Keep going day in and day out. Concentrate on something useful. Having decided to achieve a task, achieve it at all costs. ~Arnold Bennett.

I Struck it Rich in My 20’s

2011-04-03T18:00:00.001-05:00

I’ll be jumping feet first into another decade of life later this week. Hello 30! I think about where I was ten years ago and I laugh. The good ol’ days when the spending limit on my one and only credit card was $150. I struggled to make my $130 car payment each month. It was a chore to get out of bed early enough to make an 8 a.m. class. And my idea of a cheap and healthy meal was sitting down to a can of corn (no kidding). Oh, to be young and naive!

As I get closer and closer to my big day the off-handed jokes and comments about "being old" are becoming more frequent...having a hard time getting out of bed, or teasing about spotting a gray hair. And then, of course, I hear the congratulations on “surviving” my twenties.

I wouldn’t really say I “survived” my twenties, more so I’d say I got rich in my twenties. These past ten years have been overflowing with blessings that I could never have imagined. Allow me to reminiscence:

I became comfortable with myself. Coming off the heels of high school, where your idea of how you’re supposed to be comes from the popular crowd at school, my early twenties was full of being uncomfortable; a mix of low self-esteem and confusion. But over the past ten years I’ve grown in confidence and self-awareness – I finally feel a sense of who ME is supposed to be.

I became a wife. In our case, it’s true what they say…you’ll find love when you least expect it. My husband and I were unknowingly set up by two 14 year old girls. Who really expects that to work out? (It’s a cute story that I should share with you sometime). But they obviously knew what they were doing; we’ll be married nine years in October. It’s simply wonderful when you find someone to walk along life’s path with you; truly making the good times sweeter and the hard times easier.

I became a mom. I always knew that I wanted kids but until you’re a mom you never really understand the extent of the blessings that come with it. While sometimes annoying, I’m lucky enough to hear the word, “mom” exactly 1,000 times a day. I have never-ending supplies of wet kisses and sticky fingers. My office corkboard is always filled with construction paper hearts, stickers, stick people, and finger paintings. And our hallway closet will probably always smell like Crayola crayons. Children are definitely blessings you can never imagine to be so great.

I became unemployed. I remember a conversation I had with my mom when I was expecting my first child. She was gently urging me to quit my job and stay home to enjoy the rewards of being a stay-at-home mom, as she had. I replied with a “we’d love that but there’s no way we could make it on one income.” Little did I know we actually could, we just needed a little push from the Universe to believe it. Three years after that conversation, when I was expecting our second child, I was laid off with no opportunity to be called back. Sure it was shocking, stressful and maddening at the time, but now look at me, I’m considering that one of the highlights of my twenties!

Those were my BIG blessings over the last decade. Of course there were plenty of smaller, but equally as sweet ones sprinkled in as well; a Hawaiian cruise, Josh Groban in concert, buying a home, whale watching, RV trips with my parents, a visit to the most magical place on Earth (Disney World), my own good health and that of my loved ones, the launch of Soulspring Groups, gaining an appreciation of wine, attending “I Can Do It – Tampa”, pursuing my passion of photography, learning patience, and making some amazing friendships.

Life is grand! Happy birthday to me!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soul-spiration of the Week:
“A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.” ~Unknown

Women’s Empowerment Tip: What Are The Deeper Issues Behind Your Lack of Time?

2011-03-27T20:51:00.000-05:00

Check in with any woman and the odds are pretty good that she’s busy, overwhelmed and living life fast! We’re known to have bouts of overwhelm ourselves, and any time we share a time management tip, you devour them in the hope of finally finding the secret to your challenges with time!

Unfortunately, it takes more than a quick tip. Often there are deep-seated issues that fuel our feelings of overwhelm, and until we get clear on what those issues are and resolve them, there’s not a scheduler, a calendar, or a piece of software or technology, that is going to solve our challenges with time. This requires us to honestly answer some hard questions…5 questions actually.

1. What are my top 5 values? Your values are the key to many time challenges. For example, if your highest value is family, but you’re spending 80 hours a week at work, are you going to feel balanced? Knowing what your highest values are is extremely important to uncovering what’s working and what’s not about how you manage yourself in relation to time. If you can get clear on this, you will be amazed at how the answers to your time challenges will become clear. Suddenly you’ll know where you need to adjust your schedule and to-do list; all the hard decisions you were forced to make about time before, become easier because you now know what’s important!

2. What are the top 5 goals for my life? I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t even have time to check my email let alone focus on my life goals right now!” That kind of thinking is going to lead you to waking up one day and realizing that life has gotten away from you. What you think about, you bring about…and if your life’s goals aren’t in your consciousness, you’re going to look back someday with regrets. You don’t need to add your goals to your schedule (not yet anyway), but you must list out what they are before you can be in alignment with how you spend your time.

3. What am I avoiding? You’re busy, we get that. But if you investigate further into where your time is being spent, you may find it’s on the wrong things: time wasters and things that aren’t important. We quickly say yes, when we should say no. We do what’s easy, instead of what’s right. We focus our efforts on what pleases others, instead of what pleases us. So what is it for you? What are you avoiding? Are you avoiding the unpleasant conversation, the difficult decision, the hard choice, your own power? It’s a very important question to answer.

4. How much time do I need? Seems like a silly question but an important one if you hear yourself wishing for time. If time has been your excuse for not perusing your passion, goal or dream, you must understand that time is a lot like money. If you’re going to attract more, you have to show that you can handle the responsibility, that you have a plan, you’ll use it wisely, and put it to good use. If you’re just going to fill your time with more busy-work and nothing truly important, what’s the point? So what’s the big monkey on your back and how much time do you need to work it? Put a number to that. Finding the time then becomes easier.

5. What is the 1 thing I know I need to do to handle time better that I keep putting off? We all know the answers, don’t we? We don’t always like the answer though…we let our fears get in the way and keep the answers buried, and believe it or not, keep ourselves busy and occupied to avoid them! Still, if you can answer this question honestly you’ve made an amazing breakthrough because you’ve got your answer and a starting point for change. The key is being honest with yourself, and getting over the fear that goes along with it.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Now is the only time there is. Make your now wow, your minutes miracles, and your days pay. Your life will have been magnificently lived and invested, and when you die you will have made a difference." ~Mark Victor Hansen

Choices Suck

2011-03-20T18:57:00.001-05:00

It’s great to have a choice, right? I mean, the power of choice is one of our most precious freedoms. It’s what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom after all. That’s what we tell ourselves anyway.

The reality of the situation…Well, I’m going to venture to say that most people actually hate choices, and avoid making them at every opportunity. Ultimately, it’s the choices we make that put the responsibility in our lives, and our own happiness squarely on our shoulders.

Everything in life is a choice left to us; the job we accept, the spouse we marry, the schedules we keep. But what do we tend to do? We make choices that are not right for us. We choose what society thinks is right, what our husband thinks is right, or what our children think is right. And that’s where it begins…Instead of choice being one of our greatest freedoms it becomes one of our strongest captors.

We blame our circumstances and situations for our problems and hardships because it’s easier if we pretend that we don’t have a choice in the matter. Instead of becoming the hero of our own story we become the victim; full of anger, complaints, resentment, and sadness.

We tell ourselves that for one reason or another, we aren’t able to make the choices that others are able to make. They’re lucky or special and we’re the ones that got stuck with what we got. Somehow we confused making “tough” choices with having “no” choices and as a result we do what’s easy, play it safe, try to make (or keep) others happy, and instead of loving choices…we hate them.

It’s time to exercise your freedom to choose and to learn to love every opportunity you have to make a conscious, honest choice, whether it is difficult or otherwise. It’s the only path to fulfilling your wildest dreams!

So you’ve got a decision to make...You can either read this post, applying the message to your own life, and start making conscious and powerful choices, or you can choose to skim this text and quickly decide that your life is different and this lesson doesn’t apply to you. The choice is yours. Which will it be?

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better." ~Sydney J. Harris

Not Weird, but Wise!

2011-03-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

I am fortunate to work with such a diverse group of women. All of varying ages, personalities, backgrounds, and experiences; it sounds a lot like the Soulspring Groups concept, I know. Although, much time is spent as it should be, on the work at hand, quite often tidbits of advice are exchanged while on the clock.

One instance in particular stands out from the past week. As I was working at my desk I overheard a conversation happening outside my door. The younger of two women was describing a situation that she was experiencing with her in-laws. I could tell she was obviously angered by the situation. Like many of us, she was letting the emotions take over and was losing the focus of the big picture...the long term results. The older women confidently stated, “You have to let it go – for your kids and your husband’s sake, it’s best to let it blow over…and it will in time!” I muttered to myself, “Good for her, that advice was spot on!” The younger woman didn’t much like that advice. It was obvious she was hoping for the green light to call her in-laws and tell them a thing or two. Knowing she wasn’t going to receive the message she was seeking, she went on her way. I secretly hoped she would reconsider the advice, however.

The older woman then popped her head in my office, knowing that their conversation had been overheard. She said, “I guess I’m just getting weird in my old age!” I replied, “I wouldn’t call that weird….I’d call that wise!” She gave me a smile and said, “I’d never thought of it that way…”

Do we really buy into the old adage, “Wise beyond our years”? Every single day we are faced with numerous new challenges, new tests, and new opportunities. And everyday we figure out how to deal with each thing that comes our way with style and grace. We learn from the experience itself. We constantly try new things to find out what works and what doesn’t. Give yourself some credit for the gained knowledge that comes at the end of each day. You truly are "Wise beyond your years!"

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

“We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.” ~Samuel Smiles

Strength in Rank

2011-03-06T18:35:00.002-06:00

My sisters and I were blessed once again to attend an annual women’s faith conference with several dear friends this past weekend. The retreat is always amazing and this year didn’t disappoint; it was filled with great speakers, workshops, and conversation. One of our favorite speakers is always Susie Larson. This year, during her “Taking Back Your Land” workshop she made a powerful point that we found particularly inspiring as we finalize the content and training materials for our upcoming Self-Worth: Finding the Value in YOU Tele-Class.

As women we sometimes forget that we’re all on the same team. At the end of the day, after we leave behind the labels, we are all joined together as humans. We stand in rank, no one better than another; all beautifully complete with our own set of virtues, imperfections, strengths, and weaknesses. Standing together, linked arm in arm, this is when we’re at our strongest.

Standing there together, each unique in our own way, Susie says, "We are more alike than we often care to admit. Our main similarity is that each feels imperfect in some way. "

No matter who we are we have struggled with things about ourselves; our habits, our perceptions, our idiosyncrasies, our weight, or our value. We’re all guilty of negative self-talk or of taking to heart the critical comments spoken from some wounded individual. Instead of locking arms and standing up to those voices in unified formation, we listen to the voices that say we’re not worth enough, not good enough, not smart enough. Instead of standing strong together, we step out of rank and find ourselves alone.

Why would we step away from the safety of our support network? We step out because we think that’s it only us, and as we do we begin to believe those voices and feel vulnerable, insignificant, and worthless.

Self-worth is the foundation by which you will build up your power and your life. If you’re in need of a self-worth boost, you won’t want to miss our free tele-training event! See details below.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on.” ~Unknown

At Soulspring Groups we’ve declared 2011 “The Year of Self”. From self-esteem and self-image, to self-care and self-discovery; we’ll be bringing you a series of reflective training sessions focused on the most interesting of topics: YOU!

When you think about “you”, what comes to mind? Do you glow with pride for your successes, or instantly recall every mistake and misstep? Do you live life with guts and gusto, or feel undeserving of the abundance available to you?

Living a rich life has little to do with net-worth and everything to do with self-worth. Your personal value is a direct result of your self-esteem and beliefs about your deservedness. It’s a sad reality that many women suffer from low esteem and consider themselves inferior to others. Don’t you think it’s time you realize your true value and embrace the best life has to offer?

Well we do! Don’t surrender another day to anxiety, worry, regret, dissatisfaction, or inadequacy! Join us as we reveal powerful strategies to boost your self-worth and self-esteem. Prepare to tap into your inner power, and expose the value of YOU!

Self-Worth: Finding the Value in YOU

DATE: Monday, March 14, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. CST

LOCATION: In the Soulspring Tele-classroom

FEE: It's FREE*! We invite you to be our guest!

*Long distance charges apply where applicable.

You will receive your tele-classroom access code and training materials
via email prior to the training call.

Life’s Lessons in your Email’s Inbox?

2011-02-27T18:55:00.004-06:00

You know those “FW:” emails? The ones that clutter up your inbox? The ones that require you to forward them to 10 of your closest friends or suffer some horrible consequence, thus perpetuating the cycle of the “FW:”?

I know, they can be annoying but curiosity gets the best of me every time I see one. While the time management experts will tell you to immediately hit “delete”, I just can’t bring myself to do it. What if there’s some important message, some life lesson, some clue to my purpose hidden for me within the text?

And so I read, on the quest to discover some piece of treasure buried within the typed words, and every so often I find it. It’s an exciting moment when you stumble upon a story that touches you to your heart, which is what the following parable did for me. Hopefully as you read it, its lesson will touch you as well. No need to forward to your 10 closest friends; nothing bad will happen as a result if you don’t. On the other hand, if you think the story will warm their heart, feel free to share the link to this post.

Enjoy!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
Once upon a time on an island, there lived all the feelings and emotions: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to them that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left.

All that is except for Love; Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment. But as the island was becoming nearly submerged, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "Sorry Love, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat and so there is no place here for you."

Next, Love asked Vanity, who was also sailing by, for help. Vanity was ready with the same answer, "I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat.”

Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, take me along with you."

"I’m sorry, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!" was Sadness’ sullen reply.

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so preoccupied with her happiness that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. An overjoyed Love jumped up into the boat and in the process forgot to ask where they were going. When they arrived at a dry land, the elder went her own way.

Realizing how much was owed to the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who was that who helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered. "Time?" thought Love. Then, as if reading the face of Love, Knowledge smiled and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is." ~Unknown

Jump Ball!

2011-02-20T18:45:00.001-06:00

I’ve spent the past two months battling a very common physical condition affectionately known as bleacher butt. After years of waiting, our daughter finally reached the required age where she could begin her youth basketball career. As the first official season to play the sport against another team, keeping score, and tracking fouls just like the big leagues got underway, she realized it was just what she was hoping for. It involved everything she loved….competition, ball handling, fast-paced action, and of course social time with her teammates. It wasn’t quite the same as one-on-one with her brother on their make-shift half court in the garage; nonetheless, she was in heaven.

It was during that very first game that I noticed a yet to be learned skill; the concept of fighting for that jump ball hadn’t come alive just yet. Our girls were still displaying those first rules of the playground that we as parents tried so hard to teach them when they were young. We’d closely watch the interaction between the children, and promptly step in when our child would try to claim a toy that another was playing with. We’d find ourselves repeating over and over again, “Don’t take toys away from other kids.” And now, how many years later, we see them doing just as we taught them on the court…we should be so proud. At the first sense that the other team would get their hands on the ball our girls would instinctively let go, giving up an opportunity for a “jump ball”; a possession change. They were just doing what they knew, what was polite, what they felt was the right thing to do.

But, let’s take a timeout and consider the power of this important skill. As we go through life and begin to realize our dreams and goals, how many of us simply let go and give up the control when someone comes by and starts to steal it away? Do we give up too easily and relinquish an opportunity all together, or do we firmly plant our feet and hold on tight with both hands in order to show them we’ve got the confidence to stay in the game? In order to reach the goals we set for ourselves we’ve got to learn to stay with those “jump ball” situations.

Now fast forward a mere two months to the last game of the season. It was obvious that somewhere along the way our girls realized the benefits that come from a “jump ball” situation. They confidently wrapped their arms around the ball and hung on with all their might. At the end of the game they had a ton of possession changes and a win under their belt. It was empowering to see the fearless look on their faces as they sought out the opportunities to go after the ball and most importantly held on tight until the whistle blew; signaling a JUMP BALL!

Yes, my butt will soon be back to normal. It was certainly a season that we’ll remember. It wasn’t about tracking wins and losses, but a season for the entire team to learn the basics, understand the rules, master the skills, and gain the confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. And, we adults may have even learned a thing or two along the way. Remember to plant your feet, wrap your arms around that dream and hang on with all your might until you hear the sound of that whistle signaling you did it!

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of Week:

A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals. ~ Larry Bird

I’ve Got Some Bad News and Good News

2011-02-13T19:05:00.004-06:00

How many times have we heard that statement? We’re reluctant to hear the bad news but at the same time so relieved to hear there’s some good in the mix. The only question that remains is which to hear first.

Recently I had a revelation; a big ah-ha moment that has changed forever the way I think about the “good news-bad news” phenomenon. What if the “bad” news was also the “good” news? Bear with me a moment and let me roll out my thought process…

A few months ago when I was in Tampa for the “I Can Do It” seminar I called home to check in with the hubby. I could sense immediately that something was wrong and sure enough his mother had fallen and broken her leg. Mom celebrated her 86th birthday in August and has been struggling with foot and leg pain for a while now, and her eyesight has been deteriorating as well; all a result of diabetes. Getting around was a challenge for her already and now a broken leg…yes, this was definitely bad news.

However, I was already in day three of my “I Can Do It” experience. I had received a hug and a kiss from Wayne Dyer, saw Louise Hay gush over pictures of my niece and nephew, heard the greatest motivational speakers share about God’s hand in our lives and His miracles (not their rarity, but their frequency), and saw scientific evidence proving the existence of Divine support (as if I needed more). The underlying message throughout the event was that we are part of a greater plan, contributing to a greater purpose, supported and loved by a greater Power. Thus, everything that happens, happens for a reason.

But what could possibly be the reason for my mother-in-law having to suffer yet another blow to her health? Well…with the broken bone and surgery to repair it, Mom will be getting some physical therapy; I’m sure that will contribute to her ability to get around in a more stable fashion in the future. Maybe eating meals and taking her medications under the supervision of medical staff will improve her health overall. And Dad…well the best of Dad comes out in times like these. At the age of 90, his Marine training kicks in and…how shall I say it…everything from meals to laundry becomes a little more regimented.

Wow, maybe some “good” could come out of this. I started to think back at other “bad” experiences from my past and found that even the “worst of the worst” of them had set into motion events that in hindsight support my happiness today.

From our vantage point it’s impossible for us to see the greater plan for our lives. We must stop labeling anything as “bad” because it might actually be for our “good”. What if instead we imagine the best that could arise from the situation and look for the lesson or gift that is hiding there for us?

O.k., humor me one last time… “I’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news IS the good news.”

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?” ~ W. Somerset Maugham

Empowerment Tool: The Change Equation

2011-02-06T18:35:00.007-06:00

I’m sure we would all agree that empowerment would come easier if we lived in a plastic bubble. Our world would be safe and totally under our control. We could go through our day and not have to deal with the driver that cuts us off, the spouse that doesn’t fold the laundry according to the approved protocol, or the negative co-worker whose main goal in life if to drag everyone down into the crab bucket. Unfortunately we don’t have that kind of isolated existence and we must interact with people of all kinds, as well as their behaviors and actions, daily.

We’re faced with obstacles, challenges, and irritations day in and day out, and if we’re not careful it’s easy to play the blame game. The areas in our life that we’re not happy with become due to someone or something else: My marriage is dead because of my husband, I hate my job because of my boss, I’m physically unhealthy because of my genetics, etc. We think that nothing can get better unless these other things change, and because changing another person or a situation that truly is out of our control is impossible, we become stuck.

But I have some fantastic news…It IS possible to change the outcome of any situation. It’s as easy as a mathematical equation and starts with changing that which is truly in your power; yourself!

Would you like to see proof?

It’s called the change equation, or simply A+B=C, as described by Dr. Catherine Birndorf, MD in her book “The Nine Rooms of Happiness”. Consider it a little empowerment tool to tuck in your belt.

A – is you, B – is the thing you are blaming (that is not in your control to change), and C – is the outcome. So you see, if you make a change to A (yourself) and leave that which is out of your control (or B) unchanged, you will still get a different end result for any challenge or difficulty you may face. Such a simple solution for becoming unstuck!

The next time you find yourself blaming, find your solution in the change equation. Experience a different result by changing yourself.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soul-spiration of the Week:

“Every man is the architect of his own life. He builds it just the way he wants it. However, after he has built what he wants, he sometimes decides that he doesn't like what he has built and looks for someone or something to blame instead of changing himself.” ~Sydney Madwed

Are You Making the Grade?

2011-01-30T19:09:00.000-06:00

We are all familiar with the concept of being graded for the efforts we put forth in school. When you took a test you expected a grade as a result. You also received grades for things other than the display of your knowledge in a certain subject. In the early years you may have received a gold star for finishing an assignment, regardless of how accurate your answers were. A value was often times given for class participation, effort, and your respect toward classmates and classroom equipment, for example. Those grades were recorded, compiled, and sent home periodically in the form of a report card. Report card day was either looked forward to, or dreaded, depending on how you performed as a student.

It seems the idea of giving out grades hasn’t stopped at students. Now it’s being applied to teachers. It wasn’t long ago that politicians, parents and school administrations developed the idea of grading how well of a job our teachers are doing. Whether that idea sparked the next to receive a report card I don’t know…but this week I read that parents could be next in line to receive a letter grade for their efforts and involvement in their child’s education.

The grading system is a powerful tool. It’s there in black and white….there is no longer a question of how you are doing; you either excel, need to put forth more effort, or you are smack dab in the middle; an average student. Bottom line….you know where you stand, what you have to work on, where your strengths lie, whether or not your hard work had paid off, and whether you’ve shown improvement.

So let’s see….how do our report cards stack up? In the subjects of FAMILY, SELF, GOALS, MONEY, and WORK, give yourself a grade: A, B, C, D or F. Be sure to take some time and really be honest with yourself. Are you excelling in any one area? Do you need to work a little harder on another? Maybe you are just riding the fine line of mediocrity; doing just enough to get by? Are you satisfied with your grades or do you feel you need to make some changes? It sometimes doesn’t take much effort to make some small improvements.

And, don’t forget that Gold Star. You deserve extra credit for participation, attempting something new, or taking steps toward a goal! Sometimes it’s the Gold Stars, that when added together make the difference between an F or an A+.

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

"Life is an error-making and an error-correcting process, and nature in marking man's papers will grade him for wisdom as measured both by survival and by the quality of life of those who survive." ~Jonas Salk

Life Purpose: What’s That Got to Do with Goal Setting?

2011-01-23T18:30:00.005-06:00

One of the best parts of my Soulspring Groups work is meeting with women in a group coaching setting and leading them through our Passion Processes. Few women actually take the time to do this type of self-reflection on their own, and after a few hours of exercises, interaction and conversation, I’m always amazed by the clarity, light bulb-moments and bits of brilliance that surface amidst the fun and laughter.

Women are so wise when they allow themselves to be. Unfortunately, all the chaos of daily life keeps us pretty busy and distracted. That’s what our Soulspring Groups meetings are all about; giving women one evening a month dedicated to gaining clarity about their own personal dreams, goals, passions and life purpose.

It was at such a gathering, during a “Rapid Fire” exercise, when an important lesson revealed itself. So basic was the message, yet it’s one that is often overlooked. Our question was, “I’ll be living on purpose when…” and the premise of the exercise was to go from woman to woman asking them to fire off the first thing that came to mind. Of course all the answers were wise and great, but one in particular stuck out…

“I’ll be living on purpose when…I do the things I say I will do and don’t agree to the things I know I won’t do.”

Yes, seems pretty common sense, yet within that one statement are a multitude of life lessons. The stress that comes with over-commitment, the integrity issues that accompany our inability to say “no”, but at the core is an even more significant principle for success and happiness.

The happiest and most successful women are masterful goal-setters. They decide what they want, set goals around those desires, create a plan, and then work the plan step by step until victory is achieved. We’ve worked hundreds of women through this very process and have seen many amazing accomplishments as a result. But for every goal achieved, there are many more goals that are not. How could this be?

There is a precursor to this process; one might even call it a secret to goal setting success. The secret is that if the goal you wish to achieve is not in alignment with your purpose, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to realize. However, set a goal that is consistent with your purpose, and not only will you achieve it, you will be inundated with help, support and resources, the process of pursuing it will be easy, exciting and fun, and the speed at which you fulfill your dream will be greatly accelerated!

If realizing your dreams and goals have proven to be a challenge for you, perhaps the problem is within your purpose, or rather the lack of clarity around it. How can you get clear?

Soulspring Groups can help you gain clarity about your dreams, passions and purpose. Visit our website to learn about joining a Soulspring Group in your area, or starting a Soulspring Group of your own.
Connecting with like-minded women will lead you in the right direction! We invite you to stop by our Facebook page and join our growing community of inspiring and empowered women.
Remind yourself just how amazing you are! Get your free copy of our newly released e-book “50 Reasons to Believe in You” HERE.

Above all, remember it’s about more than goals and success; it’s about living on purpose.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” ~Napoleon Hill

Stop the Clutter!

2011-01-16T18:37:00.005-06:00

I came home last night and completely lost it. You know what I mean by “lost it”; where the ugly twisted sister, that you stuff way deep down within, rears its ugly head. It’s never a pretty picture. But it happens to the best of us if we’re not careful.

Against my better judgment I made a late night grocery run in -15 degree wind chills, which added to the excitement I’m sure. By the time I got home I was tired and chilled straight through to the bone. I walked into the kitchen, and there it was…the island counter of clutter that had been staring me in the face for almost two weeks. I’m sure you can picture it; where you almost have to remind yourself that yes, there is a countertop under there. And when you look at it you kind of tilt your head and think, “There must be some sort of space vacuum occurring here to support this type of balance.”

How do countertops get that way? Most of us have them; the one counter area in the house that’s a catch-all for all the items that we need, maybe need, or might need someday. Heck, there’s probably even stuff there for the shear reason we needed a pit stop on the way to the garbage. And before you know it, you can’t find your counter. It’s gone.

For someone like me, this was a recipe for disaster. Clutter has never been my friend. So why was the mess still there? Who knows? I’m sure I was busy, or lazy, or didn’t feel like spending 2 hours cleaning it up…again. Strangely enough I seem to be the only one in the household bothered by this particular type mess.

This monstrosity had been sucking my energy to live! I couldn’t think straight, I felt depleted, it was hindering the potential of my kitchen, and it was draining my positive energy. But in what must have been my cloudy thinking I made the choice to leave it there. So there it sat, eating away at me…for two long weeks. I’m not sure why it seemed like such a surprise that it was still there when I arrived home. Did I really expect that it would have magically cleaned itself?

So I sent my husband to bed (it would be better for him to not be around for this) and I dove in to finally clean the mess. How I had built the job up in my mind to be a 2-hour ordeal, I’ll never know. Just ten minutes later (yes, it took me a grand total of 10 minutes) the mess was clean and I was sane again. Ten minutes well spent!

What clutter do you have in your life? By tackling this clutter head-on could you free up your energy and harness new power? What shift would occur by focusing just 10 minutes on one area? There’s only one way to find out. Now roll up those sleeves…

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

"Clutter is stuck energy. The word "clutter" derives from the Middle English word "clotter," which means to coagulate - and that's about as stuck as you can get." ~Karen Kingston

We Encourage Returns

2011-01-09T19:15:00.002-06:00

It always amazes me how quickly the Holidays fly by. With a blink of an eye you’re staring glassy eyed at a room full of ripped wrapping paper, boxes, and bows strewn about. All the time wondering to yourself how could it possibly be over? It seems like we just got finished with the dishes on Thanksgiving Day. But now we enter the unofficial part of the Holiday season….gift returns.

Millions will head to the costumer service department with receipts in hand ready to exchange their gifts for something different. Maybe they want to exchange it for a color or size that suits them better or even returning it all together because they don’t want it.

Things get returned to the store for so many reasons. Either it doesn’t fit or it’s not our style, we don’t feel good in it, maybe it’s damaged or we just plain don’t need it. Making a return has really come along way from years ago. It used to be a much avoided task. There you were standing in line waiting for your turn to be interrogated. The unhappy clerk would fire a dozen accusatory questions in your direction and upon finally realizing that they couldn’t change your mind would leave you with a sneer that made you feel guilty for the entire day. Fast forward a few dozen years and we now have the easy pain-free process which can take just a matter of seconds if handled properly.

Now this idea of sending things back from hence they came could really fit into some other areas of our lives…

As you head into this New Year, take notice of items you might be better off returning. Maybe you have a group of friends that are negative and full of criticism - they aren’t your style anymore. Trade them in for more positive models. Or, how do you spend your free time? If it’s in front of the TV watching drivel hour after hour – sounds like that might be damaged? You might need to return it for a few more productive habits like reading, journaling, or taking a walk. Let’s try one more… how are your goals and dreams coming along? If haven’t had any time or energy to focus on them – you probably don’t feel good about it! You should really consider exchanging some of your time and focus on a few things for yourself. Now, I think you’re getting the picture.

How many of us would keep a sweater that is too large or a set of towels that don’t match our bathroom? If we have the receipt we’d be the first in the return line. We do not need to hang on to those other things in our lives that just don’t fit right. And the best part about that is some returns don’t need receipts.

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the week:

"I exchange the habits and beliefs that I have outgrown for new and empowering ones that fit with the new vision for my life."

The Choice is Crystal Clear

2011-01-02T18:45:00.001-06:00

The picture to the left is more than a lovely snowflake. It’s the result of an amazing series of experiments (or more accurately a life’s work) by Japanese researcher, Dr. Masaru Emoto.

I was first introduced to Dr. Emoto’s work in the 2004 movie “What the Bleep Do We Know!?” The movie highlighted Dr. Emoto’s studies on water and how water crystals change when exposed to various stimuli, specifically written and spoken work, and music.

It didn’t come as a great surprise to learn that water from clear springs produced colorful snowflake patterns and that water from polluted sources were murky, dull, blobs. What was eye-opening to me however, was that similar results could be duplicated by taking the same water and exposing it to positive and loving intentions, or negative words and thoughts. Depending on the stimuli, the water would transform when viewed under a high-powered microscope. He was able to capture the results using high-speed photography.

His experiments involved writing the words or phrases on the bottles which contained the water samples, or having classrooms of children speak to the water. With one water sample the children screamed, “You make me sick.” Another sample heard the children enthusiastically say, “We can do it!”

The water crystal above was formed when infused with the intention “love and gratitude”. And look at the two examples below. One crystal was formed when exposed to heavy metal music, the other heard Mozart.

When you consider that 50% of the earth is water, that 75% of our bodies are comprised of water, and that Dr. Emoto’s research is revealing how positive and negative stimuli can transform water dramatically, you have to pause and question how our own thought patterns and habits are affecting the makeup or our bodies. What an amazing visual reminder to maintain positivity in word, thought and deed, and as a result be filled with beauty. What you allow yourself to be exposed to should now be crystal clear.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"I am as close to changing my life as my current positive thought." ~Louise L. Hay

The Most Wonderful Time of Year?

2010-12-26T18:45:00.005-06:00

We’ve made it! It’s the day after Christmas and I hope you were able to spend at least some of your day relaxing in your PJ’s. It is a great time of year; full of memories, family, and friends…but it sure takes a lot out of a person!

So how’d you do? They say this is the most wonderful time of year after all…you know, “with the kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer”. So was it the most wonderful time of year for you?

I have to admit, I absolutely love Christmas; even more so these last couple years while I’ve been enjoying my time as a stay-at-home mom. But I’ve heard the signs loud and clear from a few women I know. While Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, we find ourselves being over-stressed and over-stretched. Where did all this hype come from? I’m sure we can all look back at our Christmases growing up and think, “They were all such quaint little gatherings back then.”

So we hear the advice time and time again, “streamline your schedules, do only what’s important, delegate, etc., etc.” but we obviously aren’t listening. Every year the bar is placed higher and higher. We definitely aren’t enjoying the holidays as much as we once did.

So here’s another approach we could take. Wouldn’t we enjoy the holidays more if we weren’t trying to jam so much into one month? Instead of Christmas being the social climax of the year, why don’t we celebrate year-round? If you think I just fell off my rocker, stick with me here…

Whoever said that holiday greetings and gay happy meetings could only happen during the Christmas holidays? I’m pretty sure 4th of July cookies would taste just as good, and I’m sure extra kindness to strangers would always be welcome.

I’m not saying forfeit the Christmas season and its traditions altogether. I’m just proposing we all take a step back, and spread it out a little more; carry it beyond the end of the year. Instead of trying to run the marathon that is Christmas, why not visit some family at Christmas, some at Thanksgiving, and some in…June? Perhaps send your donation to the Salvation Army in August instead of trying to remember your change jar in December? And couldn’t we send greeting cards in the spring?

So here it is, December 26. Are you going to plummet off the Christmas high, or are you going to carry the magic of the season into 2011? Now that I think about it, February would be the perfect time for hearts to be glowing!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.” ~Francis C. Farley

Are You Ready for Christmas?

2010-12-19T18:30:00.001-06:00

It’s been a very consistent theme this week. Everyone you meet seems to greet you with a friendly hello quickly followed by the million dollar question, “So, are you all ready for the Christmas?” I’ve been asked that question nearly a dozen times over the past several days; I was always quick to respond with, “No, I‘m not!” And that would send me into an immediate mental review of my “What I have to do before Christmas” list.

It struck me like a brick to the head last night while watching my son’s last basketball game of the season. Sitting for over two hours my butt was numb from the hard wooden bleachers and I felt my energy dwindling by the minute. The game got a late start which set the tone for my mood that evening. I kept checking the time; getting antsier by the minute. I should be home getting things ready; checking the items off my list was all I could keep thinking about.

And, then it happened again. Another mom sitting close by leaned over and whispered, “Are you all ready for Christmas?” It took me minute to gather myself away from my pity party before I could answer her. I again responded, “No, and actually that’s what I was just thinking about.”

I was forced to snap out of it when I noticed the score was tied with only minutes left in the game. We scored, and then they scored. We got a free throw, and then they got a free throw. It was all very exciting as the game went into overtime. The boys played tough. It was a great game even though the scored resulted in a loss by 2 buckets. Not even mentioning the loss, my son was beaming; smiling from ear to ear so proud of the 7 points he had scored. What an inspiring attitude he has.

As we drove home I was still thinking about everything I have to accomplish in a matter of days. But what if I didn’t get it all done. What’s the worse that could happen? Would it be so bad if my house wasn’t all decked out with Christmas décor? Is it the end of the world if I opt for gift bags over precision wrapped presents complete with a coordinating floofy (no, that’s not a typo…floofy is a very technical term which means not quite fluffy, yet not poufy) bow?

So what does it really take to be ready for Christmas? I’m beginning to rethink my answer to that question. After all, if God wants to send his Son…. “Yes, of course I’m ready!”

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

"For onto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9: 6

Take a Shortcut Through Your Problems

2010-12-12T19:00:00.002-06:00

The process of self-discovery and the change that goes along with it can be a confusing journey. There are many stages and emotions throughout the process including blame, pain, avoidance, personal responsibility, blame and avoidance some more, awareness, and awakening.

I was recently introduced to the short poem below that so wonderfully simplified life’s journey. I don’t know about you, but I’ve walked down the same dangerous street myself a few too many times. Hopefully as time goes by I’ll get a little more “street-wise” and start taking that shortcut down another street through my problems.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters ~Portia Nelson

Chapter I:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter II:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter V:
I walk down another street.

A New Self-Care Motivation

2010-12-05T18:30:00.004-06:00

I had the most amazing “ah-ha” moment a few weeks ago while I was attending the “I Can Do It” conference in Tampa. Although I had several of these moments at the conference, I feel most compelled to share this one. I can see how it really relates to all of us as women (and especially as mothers) as we tend to fall more into the category of “giving” rather than “receiving”.

My moment of enlightenment happened during a break-out session with author, coach and speaker Cheryl Richardson. She asked the audience what seemed to be a simple question, “How many of you feel you would have had better childhoods if your own mother would have devoted more time to her personal self-care?” And the hands went up. As I looked around the room of a couple hundred people there were only a handful that did not have their hands raised.

Wow, I had never thought about it that way! When asked about self-care I’m quick to say, “Oh, yeah, that’s so important.” But I’m sure I’m not alone in that my own time seems to come last; after the cooking, cleaning, homework, laundry, care-giving, etc. My own self-care is something I do when I have “extra time”, and of course there is rarely such a thing as “extra time”. So I carry on, day in and day out, not doing the self-giving activities that would rejuvenate my patience, happiness, spirit, and overall mood.

I knew self-care was important, but never really thought it was THAT important. Now, for the first time, I’m realizing that my own self-care would contribute to my children having a better childhood. As a mother, isn’t that ultimately what I want? With all the hands raised that day the chances that my children, and your children, will feel the same way if asked that question in their adulthood seems extremely likely, unless of course we change our ways.

So here I go…I’m devoting more time for myself. Perhaps a weekly bubble bath, some time spent each evening reading or writing in my journal, date night with my husband, and maybe the kids need to take more trips to Grandma’s house. It’s about time I finally make some changes in this area. My children’s happiness depends on it!

So what do you say? Who’s with me?!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"When you can lovingly be present to yourself, your presence to others takes on a deeper quality also.” ~MacRina Wiederkehr

Message from my Christmas Angel

2010-11-28T18:30:00.002-06:00

We’ve come upon it; that time of the year. Its official “The Holidays” are here. We’ve got Thanksgiving under our belt…literally, and as we round the bend toward December the big push begins. The lists of to-do’s start to grow and you now remember why you opted for the calendar with such big boxes a mere 12 months ago. Let’s face it; Christmastime is a busy time.

I was pondering that very issue last weekend. Exhausted from a day of cleaning in preparation for Thanksgiving, I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to put my feet up for the evening. I had a few dishes to wash and then I was home free. And that’s when it happened….in walked my angel. Of course I didn’t think that at the time, I certainly wasn’t expecting her. She floated in and spoke just a few words. It wasn’t exactly what she said that was so touching, but the sweet twinkle in her eye that tugged at my heart; there was something familiar about it. She opened her precious mouth to ask me one simple question, “Mom, can we put the Christmas tree up now?”

I will be the first to admit that I didn’t handle it well. Without even thinking I quickly responded, “Are you kidding? No!” And that’s when I saw the spark begin to fade. I took a deep breath and soon realized from where I had known that bright twinkle of excitement. Once upon a time I held the same elation for Christmas time. (Where did that girl go? I want her back! I thought to myself.) Now, she is not one to give up easily. She didn’t miss a beat and commenced the negotiations. She was quite surprised when my next answer was, “OK” and quickly skipped off happily, ready to begin the assembly process.

Sending my own angel to rescue me from the “busyness” of the Season…what He wouldn’t do.

I’m happy to report we had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Our family gathered with food galore not commenting on the bare, yet to be finished Christmas tree in the corner. It might look bare to the untrained eye but I see it adorned in angel kisses, bright twinkling lights, and trimmed in the magic of the Season. Thank you, Christmas Angel!

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~Peg Bracken

Your Golden Buddha

2010-11-21T18:31:00.005-06:00

I heard a beautiful (and true) story recently and just had to share...

In 1957, a group of Tibetan monks were informed that a highway was being built and the highway would have to go through the location where the shrine for which they were responsible was currently located. The shrine, a huge clay Buddha, would have to be moved.

Arrangements were made and the day of shrine moving arrived. A crane began lifting the clay Buddha, but as it rose off of its block resting place it began to crack. It was far heavier than all the engineers had estimated. The monks and the engineers examined the Buddha and found several large cracks. A larger crane would be needed and that crane would not be brought in until the next day. The Buddha would have to spend the night in its current location. To make matters worse, there was a storm building and the night would be a stormy one.

The monks covered the Buddha with waterproof tarps on poles to keep it dry overnight. All seemed to be well. During the night, the head monk awoke and decided to check on the Buddha. With a flashlight, the monk carefully checked the condition of the Buddha. As he walked around the huge clay figure shining his light on the cracks, something caught his eye. He returned to the spot on which he had just shined his light. He peered into the crack. What he saw he did not understand. He needed to see more. He went back to his quarters, found a chisel and a hammer and returned to the Buddha. He began carefully chipping at the clay around the crack. As the crack widened, he could not believe his eyes. He ran to wake the other monks and instructed each to bring a hammer and chisel. By lantern light the monks carefully chipped all the clay from the Buddha. After hours of chiseling, the monks stepped back and stared in awe at the sight before them. There, in front of the monks, stood a solid gold Buddha.

After much research, the pieces of the story were put together. The Golden Buddha was the cherished responsibility of a group of monks several centuries earlier. These monks received word that the Burmese army was headed their way. Concerned that the invading army would loot the shrine for its Golden Buddha, the monks covered their Buddha with 8 to 12 inches of clay. When they were finished the Golden Buddha appeared to be a Buddha of clay. The invading army would surely have no interest. The monks were correct. The invading army had no interest in the Buddha. They did, however, kill all the monks before they moved on. The Golden Buddha was lost in history until 1957.

I think there is a Golden Buddha inside each of us. As a child we’re all shiny with possibilities but as time goes on, and we become programmed to believe our abilities and potential are limited, our golden selves become tarnished and dirty, and our exterior becomes hard.

Imagine what would happen if we cracked open and exposed our true selves! Just think what life would be like if our talents and gifts came pouring out! What if your greatest discovery didn’t lie within your future or within the outside world, but rather was within your very soul?

Yes, within each of us lies a golden treasure just waiting to be uncovered and there’s no better time to discover yours.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” ~Marcel Proust quotes

Teaching What's Right

2010-11-14T18:18:00.002-06:00

We’re continually bombarded with advice about parenting; seems like you can’t get far these days without hearing some sort of report or recommendation. Advice comes from Dr. Phil saying to increase communication, and from Parenting Magazine saying not to bribe too much. Now my personality being what it is, I take everything to heart and try to apply any good suggestions to my personal life.

I hear that reading to your children improves their literacy in the future and so I read to them. I hear that they need to be eating more fruits and vegetables, to which I say, “Bring on the green beans”. I just heard the other day that children are hearing “I love you” less these days, so here comes the “I love you”s. It really goes on and on, and the list gets longer and longer. Seems there’s so much to keep track of in the quest to be the “perfect parent”.

And then I heard it; the mother of all parenting advice! This advice makes remembering all the other advice unnecessary. It’s really very easy but it will guide you from this day forward. The advice: Simply ask yourself every night, “What did I teach my children today?”

It’s no surprise that children learn from example, and everyday is jam-packed full of learning. From the moment they wake up until the moment they go to bed, they are examining, questioning, and remembering everything.

So what are we teaching our children each day? Are we telling our son that the computer is more important than his questions? Are we portraying the role of a disempowered woman to our daughter? Maybe we’re showing them that living in a state of overwhelm and clutter is normal? In our relationships are we being role models of a loving and happy couple? Are we teaching them how to deal with disappointment in the right way? Are we teaching them to be safe and set limits? Are we showing them that our dreams and goals are important and within reach?

Spend some time contemplating what you taught your children today. Is it what you want to be teaching them? If not, it’s time to implement a new lesson plan.

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.” ~Jacques Barzun

Listen Up!

2010-11-07T20:14:00.005-06:00

As children we are taught to wait our turn. Toddlers as young as 2 or 3 are reminded of this simple concept of good manners every time they budge in line to go down the slide first or grab a toy from a friend. As we approach preschool age and our verbal communication develops, we are then taught the very important rules of the classroom: Only one person should be talking at a time, you must not interrupt, and you must sit quietly and listen. Now let’s fast forward 30 or 40 years. How are we doing with those classroom rules now?

I heard an interesting statistic the other day - immediately after we listen to someone, we only recall about 50% of what they said, and long-term we only remember 20% of what we hear. I was shocked, have I really been missing 70% of what’s been happening?

It wasn’t too long after that I caught myself…I was guilty! While having a conversation with someone in my office, I was only half listening and the other half (if you could call it that) was replying to an email. Shame on me! I realized what I was doing and immediately took my fingers off the keyboard and turned slightly to face the individual. As I was trying to catch up with the conversation I was stunned to catch myself again a short time later, but this time not just once…twice!

I was anticipating the end of the conversation and felt the need to hurry things along. Instead of listening to this individual make his final point and move on with my day, I interrupted him and finished his sentence by incorrectly stating his position. Yikes! I not only just added another 10 minutes to this conversation simply because I couldn’t sit quietly and listen, I took away this person’s power by trying to finish his thought.

In our fast paced life we think in order to stay ahead and be competitive we must be proud of the fact that we can efficiently “multitask”. This buzz word became popular several years ago as a positive thing and everyone soon added it to their resume. But the fact is Wikipedia defines human multitasking as the performance by an individual appearing to handle more than one task at the same time. New research is showing that humans aren’t as good as they think at handling many things at once. Not only that, but we are finding we’re also damaging our relationships because our interpersonal skills are waning.

Possessing good listening skills can benefit all aspects of your life. It can create strong teams, resolve conflicts, and build trust and respect. It may take some practice on your part, but by simply going back to those once upon a time classroom rules you can become a good listener again.

Jenny
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." ~Epictetus

Got Limiting Beliefs? Top 3 Questions About Limiting Beliefs Revealed

2010-10-31T18:04:00.002-05:00

With our “Busting Through: Life Without the Limits” tele-training event only a week away, we’ve been fielding a lot of questions on the topic of limiting beliefs; how to know if you have them, how to know if they’re holding you back, and what to do if you recognize disempowering thought patterns in yourself.

Obviously we’ve hit on a hot-button topic and it’s no wonder, we talk to a lot of women, and in nearly every conversation, a limiting thought will be verbalized in one way, shape or form. It’s easy to do, and with all the research and speaking we’ve done on this topic, we’re even guilty ourselves from time to time.

Yes, limiting thought patterns are hard to break…wait, is that a limiting belief? Oh goodness, it is! See what we mean!

O.k., let’s just say that it is possible to turn your disempowering beliefs into empowering ones, but it takes knowledge, awareness and a little something we call PTC (Present Time Consciousness), to do so. So with that in mind, let us answer the top three questions coming our way on the subject of limiting beliefs.

Limiting Belief Question #1: How do I know if I have limiting beliefs?

This is an easy one to answer; we all have limiting beliefs. For women we often hear them verbalized this way: I’m not smart enough, I’m not old (or young) enough, I’m not pretty enough (or the right weight or build), I don’t know who I think I am to even think I could achieve that, I always get the short end of the stick, and many, many, more.

These beliefs are often developed in childhood, we may have even heard important people in our lives verbalize the same things, consequently making these degrading thought patterns acceptable and correct. Often these ways of thinking are passed down between generations!

Limiting Belief Question #2: How do I know if limiting beliefs are holding me back?

Obviously, verbalized statements and recurring thoughts like those mentioned above, are pretty easy to identify once you become aware and listen for them. In addition, you can pay close attention to your emotions and use your feelings as a barometer for these hidden beliefs.

Sometimes a deeper analysis is needed and uncovering limiting beliefs requires a careful examination of your life. Here are two additional clues that disempowering thought patterns are holding you back:

1. If you have recurrent problems that don't seem to go away, such as constant money problems, relationship issues or challenges in your career, chances are you have a limiting belief.

2. If you find there are behaviors or reactions that constantly get you into trouble, you definitely have a limiting belief!

Limiting Belief Question #3: How do I overcome a limiting belief?

The secret to changing our limiting beliefs is found in the Pain/Pleasure Principle. Associate enough “pain” with your old beliefs, and a tremendous amount of “pleasure” to your new empowered beliefs, and you can change your life!

We’re going to be sharing more about the Pain/Pleasure Principle during “Busting Through: Life Without the Limits” as well as reveal our 1-2-3-4-5 Exercise for challenging your limiting beliefs! This is one training you won’t want to miss. Get registered today!

Busting Through: Life Without the Limits

Monday, November 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. CST

In the Soulspring Tele-classroom

It's FREE*! We invite you to be our guest!

*Long distance charges apply where applicable.

You will receive your tele-classroom access code and training materials via email prior to the training call.

REGISTER TODAY!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them." ~Anthony de Mello

Developing An Attitude of Patience

2010-10-24T18:34:00.002-05:00

I’m not a fan of driving in Minneapolis/St. Paul - especially during rush hour. All those vehicles stopping, going, merging, dodging; seems to me like a good way to get into an accident! So when I realized I needed to make back-to-back trips to St. Paul this week I wasn’t overly excited. But I’m a strong, confident woman, right? Certainly I can handle this!

Day one of my consecutive trips I was feeling pretty great about everything as I traveled through St. Paul and back without the slightest inkling of rush hour. I questioned why I even thought that rush hour traffic could be a problem. It was smooth sailing; this was the kind of driving I liked! Then, about 10 minutes outside of the city, everything came to a screaching halt. As I crested a small hill I could see the four completely full, completely stopped, lanes of traffic as far as the eye could see.

This was not perfect.

So there I sat for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and then 60 minutes, without reaching a speed any higher than a crawl. Early on in the waiting game I figured traffic would start moving at any moment, but as I sat, and sat, and sat some more, I figured I better do something constructive with my time. Let’s see…I know! Practice the virtue of patience. Perfect!

That lasted exactly 6 minutes until the first tinge of needing a bathroom break hit. How could I be patient at a time like this?! My focus quickly shifted from practicing patience to practicing bladder control. But hey, this is a skill that could be just as handy though, right?

As the minutes ticked away at the ratio of what felt like about 3 minutes to every 1 actual minute I was getting close to the breaking point. What on Earth could be going on to stop traffic for this long?! I’ve got places to be people!

OK, so maybe it was time to try the patience thing again. But how can I just be OK with sitting here, wasting an hour of my time? And that’s when it hit me; As with anything in life, it’s not so much “being OK” with a stressful situation but more so our attitude towards it. Being OK with an extensive traffic jam was not coming easily to me that day, but changing my attitude towards it? That I could do.

I spent the rest of the hour-long delay mentally listing all the reasons why it was good that I was there at that moment. I thought of the more serious ones; how I was being held there in a safe spot so that whatever harm lay ahead could be cleared. And then of course I had to throw in some silly ones; this was giving me the opportunity to find out if it’s possible to get a tan through a car window.

And surprisingly enough it worked! No, not the tanning through a window part, the part about restoring my patience. The rest of the hour breezed by.

And thank goodness the second day’s trip to the city was not as eventful!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."　~George-Louis de Buffon

Living True to Your Theme Song

2010-10-17T18:40:00.001-05:00

I loved the Laverne and Shirley TV show. I’d live for Tuesday evenings, getting my homework done immediately after school and settling in at 7:30 p.m. so as not to miss one minute of the show.

And, you’re probably wondering what brought this up out of the blue? Well, I attended a conference this week and the keynote speaker asked what our life’s theme song was. How cool is that – I didn’t have to think long at all. Mine is the theme song from Laverne and Shirley. It wasn’t just the catchy tune that stuck with me…the words spoke true to what I believed then - and still do today.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Schemeel, schlimazel, Hasenfeff Incorporated

We're gonna do it!

Give us any chance - we'll take it

Read us any rule - we'll break it

We're gonna make our dreams come true....

Doin' it our way

Nothin's gonna turn us back now

Straight ahead and on the track now

We're gonna make our dreams come true...

Doin' it our way

There is nothing we won't try

Never heard the word impossible

This time there's no stopping us

We're gonna do it

On your mark, get set and go now

Got a dream and we just know now

We're gonna make our dream come true

And we'll do it our way - yes our way

Make all our dreams come true

And do it our way - yes our way

Make all our dreams come true

For me and you

The conference presenter went one step further with this exercise and asked, “What might the people in your life perceive your theme song to be?” Now there’s an interesting question. If you went around and asked your co-workers, family members, and friends what they think your theme song is, would you agree? Are you telling yourself one thing in your heart and mind but portraying something completely different to those around you by your actions, body language, and words?

Take a minute to ponder your life’s theme song. Do you walk around humming the Peanuts theme to yourself or are you whistling the Titanic’s sinking tune live on the stage of your life?

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Behavior is a mirror in which every one displays his own image. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

An Empowering Approach is Needed to Prevail Over Bullying

2010-10-10T19:01:00.004-05:00

I don’t watch much TV and tend to steer clear of the news (I opt for a more positive media experience). Still, the latest trend in bullying and teasing among our young people, and the suicides resulting from the behavior, couldn’t help but catch my attention.

Even in my forties I can still feel a painful twinge inside when I reflect on the teasing back in my day. I wouldn’t compare it at all to the stories of late, but painful at the time none the less. Now as an adult, and after talking with others about our school years, it seems no one escaped unscathed. Yes, even the best-looking, the most talented, and the biggest bully, had someone harassing and degrading them in some way. What’s a kid to do? Some took it, some fought back, and some focused their aggression by bullying others.

If there was ever a time that our animal instincts as a species become most evident, it would have to be when we are trying to secure our position in the pack. Sad, isn’t it?

While I don’t condone bullying and teasing, and believe it to be wrong and inexcusable in the strongest sense, I guess it’s programmed in us and in a way part of growing up, in learning right from wrong, of establishing our character as we grow into adulthood. Kid’s know it’s wrong, they know it’s mean, they know it leads to trouble (and in light of recent events, a criminal record and prison time). Still the behavior continues.

The anti-bullying task forces and bullying awareness campaigns are a great start to combating the pranks, abuse, and torments, but in my opinion that’s not enough and only addresses half the problem. We’re missing a more important focus. Where are the empowerment programs and self-esteem classes?

I don’t mean to go all “touchy-feely” but wouldn’t it serve our youth in the long-run to develop the confidence, personal power, and understanding that comes with self-acceptance? The bully would no longer feel the need to put down another to elevate himself, and the bullied might gain some valuable insight about the acts against them, understanding they are not the source of the problem. I believe this is a crucial missing link and what it’s going to take to stop the cycle of abuse within our schools.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.” ~David Brinkley