Browse Empowerment

In early March of 2011, I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, Califo ia, where I was scheduled to speak later that morning. Although it was a pretty big event, I wasn't feeling all that nervous about it-I had other things on my mind. I called one of my best friends, Theo, to reach out for his support.

I recently gave a TEDx talk in which I reflected on what I've seen and learned over the past fifteen years - researching, writing, and speaking about essential human experiences in the workplace. As I addressed in this talk, I believe that for us to thrive professionally, especially in today's world, we must be willing bring our whole selves to the work that we do. And, for the groups, teams, and organizations that we're a part of to truly succeed, it's essential to create an environment where people feel safe to bring all of who they are to work.

I never thought too much about the definition of the word stress until I began writing this article. The first definition has to do with importance being attached to a thing, i.e. "She stressed good manners in her household." The way we tend to think about the word stress these days is in relation to pressure. Fifth definition - the physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another; strain. Are you feeling pushed or pulled as if another force is being exerted upon you? Are you feeling frazzled (weary, tired, a remnant or thread)?

You were born with a personal guidance system set to always lead you in the direction of your dreams, what your heart calls you to become. This internal GPS is your intuition, the voice of your Higher Self, your Inner Being or what I playfully call the Wizard Within. Wizards are alchemists, after all. They know how to turn dreams into reality.

The Single Most Important Reason You Are Not as Effective as You Can Be! I work with clients daily to clarify their efforts toward success and to see what is hobbling them in that process. After over twenty years of this I see over and over again how some form of self-judgment and self-criticism is the major culprit. I see how it establishes self-doubt, stops possible solutions from developing, and diminishes the vision and energy of what could be. It keeps many people withi

You probably know what it takes to live a healthy life, right? Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, take vitamins – maybe add in some fish oil for cardiovascular health. Make sure you get enough protein, carbohydrates, and lean fats. Fortunately for many, healthy eating and exercise have become more and more a way of life. You know the list of do’s and don’ts to keep your body strong and fit.

How many parents don’t care about their child’s ability to succeed and excel in life? Very few, I think. Isn’t it our goal as parents to bring up our child with the values, beliefs and self-esteem they need in order to enable them to meet life’s challenges successfully and with confidence? Yet how many parents worry that their child may not have the skills and tools necessary to accomplish these goals?

You’re Right!: Thinking the Right Way to Your Greatness! By: Myles W. Miller “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”rn- Henry Ford One day, I was listening to an audio book by renowned success teacher, Brian Tracy. He made a profound assertion about the thoughts that we think that has had an impact everything that I do now. Mr. Tracy said that, “we become what we think about most of the time.” After much debate, long deliberation and cautious execution, I accepted this statement as the truth. Let me show you how I came to this conclusion.

As Awakening Leaders in these ever-changing turbulent times, it is important to check-in periodically and evaluate your situation. When was the last time you took a look at the various aspects of your life to see how your choices are creating your reality? Is everything going smoothly or are there any minor refinements or major adjustments that are calling for your attention in your personal life, physical health, finances, profession, partnerships, and family or community re

Baby Boomer women are starting businesses in record numbers. There are three main reasons: flexible lifestyle, income, and personal passion. Many baby boomer women want to take these businesses into their retirement - early or otherwise. Women over 50 are looking for a personal and professional outlet for their time and energy. They are looking for some structure but not the 9-5 work commitment. Been there, done that. They are not thinking about golf, tennis, or shopping 24/7. There is so much more to boomer women. They have a lot to offer and they are ready to go into business.

Let's look at this much dreaded word. F.A.I.L.U.R.E Is it really that bad? Having trained tens of thousands of people around the globe, the answer usually varies depending on who you talk to, their upbringing and their culture. This usually determines their views on failure. Over all though, failure is seen by many in a negative context. Not many people like the idea of thinking of themselves as failures or having had to experience failure in an aspect on their life. But, I have to bring to your attention one of the very few guarantees we will all have in life.

5 Powerful Mind Success Strategies Building a business is a fantastic and challenging experience. You can wake up exhilarated to begin your day and go to bed feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. The key to success is to maintain a positive, yes you can do it, mindset. Easier said than done, right? Here are 5 keys to help you create and sustain a positive mindset so you attain the success you desire. 1. Surround yourself with successful and positive people. The influence peo

Are you a life coach (or not) who toys with the idea of writing articles, e-books, and/or books? Don’t let a block stop you from making a difference; someone is waiting to hear from you. Imagine receiving emails that say something like “I had a breakthrough when I read your article.” (from a reader) “Your articles are so good I have difficulty choosing which one to use.” (from the editor of a monthly newsletter) “I recently re-read your book and had a major shift about a life-long issue.

You're angry. Royally pissed off some, or most, of the time. You were not supposed to be divorced. Especially not at this age - after everything you've been through. You're knocked on your ass, want to get up and move on but can't. Why? Because you've fallen into the deep divorce drama ditch. And its hard to climb out - especially when you unknowingly keep digging deeper and deeper. How? For protection, you've hidden your heart away and your head is running amok spewing babblecrap back atcha. There's hurt all around. Hurt people, hurt people. Including themselves.

1. Ask Yourself: What Do I Want? To know what you want is the first step for you to get it. If you don’t know what you want, how are you supposed to get it? Many people know what they don’t want, but that does not help them to get what they do want.nn Walking through life with a clear understanding of what you don’t want is not sufficient to empower yourself. It is like going shopping with a list of items you don’t want to purchase. It can help to keep you away from t

Fear is defined as a distressing emotion. It’s aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc. It doesn’t matter if the threat to us is real or imagined; that feeling is real! When those feelings are imagined, we stir them up with our thoughts. We can shift those thoughts and choose to focus on others, even conjure up pleasant memories to influence our emotions. I’m not suggesting ignore your feelings. They are strong indices of how things are and how you are. Acknowledge them; pay attention to them and learn from them. Often, strong feelings can be predictors of what’s to come.

Are you someone who avoids public speaking? Giving a presentation doesn’t have to be stressful and won’t age you. You can learn how to be savvy every time you talk to a crowd or at a business meeting. If you follow a few basic principles, public speaking can be satisfying and upbeat. And the ...

Most people attribute success to luck. Though I agree that there is always an element of luck involved, I am a believe that success is more of a science rather than luck alone. In many cases, what ever it is you are striving for, it has been accomplished by someone before you in some way, shape or form. This makes success more than just an element of luck. Over the years with all my travels around the world, I've been fortunate to get to know, rub shoulders and coach people from all walks of life, from CEO's to students, from Olympic athletes to Guinness World Record holders.

Energy-Wise, Are You a Cheetah or a Tortoise? Christine-Anne Platel, Life Coach and Certified Metabolic Typing Adviser ENERGY-WISE, ARE YOU A CHEETAH OR A TORTOISE? ARE YOU TIRED ALL THE TIME? DOES YOUR WEIGHT FLUCTUATE? DO YOU HAVE FOOD CRAVINGS AND FEEL WORSE AFTER EATING? DO YOU STILL FEEL HUNGRY AFTER EATING? ARE YOUR EMOTIONS MANAGEABLE, OR ERRATIC? DO YOU OFTEN GET IRRITABLE OR ANGRY? CREATE BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

That's what A Winning Mind would do. After all, what's the worst that can happen? You fail! While most people focus on the risk they are taking, A Winning Mind focuses on the end reward--what their actions could bring them. Everything else is a process to get to the end reward that they have in mind. If you do nothing, you get nothing. When you give something a go, you have a shot at Winning. Not acting on your goals won't give you an reward at all. That's a hundred percent guarantee. At least when you give something a go, you have a fifty-fifty chance of winning.

We all have had differences of opinion in our lives. But what happens when someone makes a comment that offends you? Or when you have a different way of handling a situation? Or worse, someone you care about is mad at you and they withhold communication? In dealing with this type of situation your immediate reaction may be to turn your back on it. Ignore it, and the feelings might go away. Or you could decide to defend your position, and lash back in dispute. Either way, you end up with feelings of rejection, resentment, and most probably anger.

The Law of Attraction (hereafter referred to as LoA for brevity) is one of the most popular topics in personal development, and there is no end in sight to the growing popularity of what its proponents call an unfailing Universal Law. If LoA exists, then like gravity, ignoring it would be foolish and counterproductive if leading an abundant, prosperous life is your goal.

It was January, 2003… the beginning of a whole new life for me. A few months earlier, my thriving business of eight years had abruptly changed course, seemingly out of my control. Within a period of twelve weeks, my business, and my life, as I had known it was over. For some reason ...

I See You...a Timeless and Powerful Message In the movie, Avatar, released in 2009, the Navi greet each other with the words, "I see you" expressed in their native tongue. This simple phrase translates into a more profound message of mutual respect and regard for one another as if you are saying "I recognize the value in you." This same timeless message has been shared many times throughout history with the promise of great power for any who might embrace it, and for good reason. It is the message of equality, unconditional love, and human/civil rights.

Are your family travels a time of togethe ess, discovery, and fun? Or, do your children play with electronic gadgets and plug in their headphones? Does their cell phone look like part of their hand because they text so much? You can easily turn this around by using a family travel jou al. It opens the door to connecting family members and creating lifetime memories. Try this for an approach: tell your kids that everyone will have their own section in the travel jou al. Are you shuddering just thinking about their reaction? Will your kids groan?

The Law of Attraction is the latest buzz phrase! It literally is beginning to have a celebrity status because of the media exposure it’s receiving. It’s everywhere and it’s about time! Here’s why: All living things on this planet operate through the law of attraction. We as humans simply have ...

Activities we usually name as time wasters are too much TV viewing, daydreaming, or anything that isn’t a productive use of minutes and hours. Here are a few more to consider. Gossip. What’s the point, really? Conveying needed information to the appropriate person or people is useful, but negative gossip is a misuse of time and energy; and as Gandhi said, a form of violence. Each of us does the best we believe we can to make our way through our lives and challenges even if others don’t see it that way.

I'm a world-class violin player. I make hundreds of thousands of dollars each year playing in public shows that get massive audiences and rave reviews. I stay in the finest hotels, hob-knob with some of by far the most talented folks on the planet and I'm frequently asked to play solo on soundtracks for smash hit A-list movies. I owe all of these achievements to neuro linguistic programming. At one time, not so very long ago, I had such terrible stage fear that I'd just free

I am not talking about crass materialism or consumerism, nor am I talking about better living through greed. Rather, I am talking about a psychological stance that you take toward your “own” life. “Own”, used as a transitive verb means to have or hold a property or to have power or mastery over. It is that latter sense in which I am using the word. When you were a baby, your parents may have felt that they “owned” you. After all, they bred and bore you or, if you were adopt

I have been so excited and inspired by this year's baseball post-season and the big World Series victory by the San Francisco Giants. As a Bay Area native, a lifelong baseball fan, and someone who has been fortunate enough to have the Giants as a client this year, of course I was rooting for them with passion. The fact that the Giants had not won a World Series since moving from New York to San Francisco (in 1958) and that we haven't had a major sport championship here in the Bay Area since the 49ers won the Super Bowl in 1994, made it that much more exciting and meaningful.

How often do you not say or do something because you’re worried about how it’ll be perceived? For most of us, myself included, this happens more often then we’d like to admit. We live in a culture that is starving for authenticity. We want our leaders, our co-workers, our family members, our ...

Integrative Perspectivesr Releasing the Inner Magician (RIM™): Awakening the Unconscious for Insight and Healingr Deborah L. Sandella, PhD, Deborah Sandella, PhD, RN, is an author, international seminar leader, and transformational coach in Denver, CO. “No journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within us.” Lillian Smith (1994)

Like so many people here in the United State and around the world, I've had a very strong reaction to our election. Given the pre-election polls, I was shocked by the outcome, and given how I voted, I was disappointed by it. As I've ridden the roller coaster of intense emotions over the past week and listened to reactions, read articles, and talked with people in my life - I've been struck by the profound level of division and disconnection in our society, which actually conce s me as much as almost anything else right now.

I have to say that affirmations are a personal favorite manifesting tool. Once you start to use affirmations, you realize just how easy they are, and what an affect they can have on your life. An affirmation is simply a positive statement. You can create an affirmation about just about ...

Over recent years, I have come to realize that the complete elimination of fear is unlikely. There was a point, not too long ago, that I believed I could learn to get rid of fear and then life would be grand. Well, not exactly. I still have fears, but guess what? Life is grand anyway.

Only a few people have it. More than half the population would like to get it. The future of America depends on it. \ This priceless gift is the ability to create good paying jobs. It’s rare and fragile. It’s fleeting and precious. It’s the foundation of our economy and our only ...

The difference between a winner and an 'also ran' isn't extra ordinary skills or talents. Let's face it, people who are at the top of their field excel at their game be it sports, business or personal achievement. In the sports world there are two champions, titans of athletes, who share one ...The difference between a winner and an 'also ran' isn't extra ordinary skills or talents. Let's face it, people who are at the top of their field excel at their game be it sports, business or personal achievement.

When I'm in the mood for a little inspiratio I seek out extraordinary people speak their truth from the heart. These are the thought leaders who fully express their Moxie - the confident courage to achieve authentic greatness with unrelenting drive and passion. In this abundant content drive Web 2.0 age it only takes a few clicks of a mouse to bear witness to their words of wisdom.

Financial worries are at the top of the list for most people in our present times. Many of you have lost a huge amount of money and assets due to the downward spiral of our economy, and if you’ve been paying attention to what’s going on in our world, it doesn’t seem to be getting better; it seems to be getting worse. A lot of fear surrounds many of you as you look to the future, wondering what it will be like for not only yourself, but for your children and grandchildren.

"I’m leaving you!”

Have you ever heard the statement, “Thoughts are things?” Many people say these words without consciously realizing just what the meaning of the statement really is. Our thoughts ARE energy and they are as real as the vibration of light, heat, magnetism, sound and electricity. When we think, we ...

Why do we worry? Why is it so hard to stop? These are the questions I often hear from my clients. They tell me how it affects their lives on a daily basis, how it depletes their happiness and stops them from being all they could be because of their fears. They describe this worry as an endless loop of negative, fearful thoughts that they can't seem to shake or ignore for more than a short period of time. Even when there are joyful times, they say that they can't really enjoy it because they worry about it stopping.

To have a competitive edge today, companies are taking on a different strategy,and turning to different models rather than the traditional ones. Many old models of leadership, doing business and multiplying wealth are no longer effective. We have to turn elsewhere not just to stay afloat, but to stay on top. Empowerment can generate high performance, excitement,in-house cooperation and healthy competition- all occurring at the same time.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to point at and click a Delete button at what clutters your inner space? Our days would be so different if we could.

When you see your body through the eyes of the Spirit, you begin to see and treat your body differently. Your body should not take the attention away from who you truly are inside, but it should be seen as a visible means of expression of the Spirit and of your talents, abilities and inspiration. All thought and desires alone without your body remain in the invisible realm. But when the body is involved you enjoy the physical manifestation of those desires.

May 16, 2013 (For this week’s audio podcast, click here.)

Perhaps you’ve never thought about having a gap between your thoughts and maybe cannot imagine it right now. After all, our thoughts tumble one right after the other, oftentimes overlapping. I’ve heard we can entertain hundreds of thoughts per minute but only about 5 or 6 ever reach our mind to register as a thought. So how could there possibly be any gap between thoughts? There is always a gap, or space between every thought just as there is a gap between every step into the next step that you take. You never think about it most likely; you just do it without realizing there is a gap.

In a secular or a non-Buddhist context enlightenment is often used to mean full comprehension of a situation, or having gained spiritual insight. Enlightenment is also construed as being a state of freedom from suffering, desire and ignorance. The term enlightenment has been broadly and loosely used to indicate the opening of one’s eyes to a spiritual realm. Almost all religions and philosophies have some concept of a blissful state to which they believe we should aspire.

Dedicated to empowering, inspiring and influencing people to rediscover their Inner Wizard to turn their dreams into reality. Empowering your Inner Wizard is the "magic pill" for healing your Inner Critic. Build self-esteem, rediscover your purpose and passion in life to live a rich delicious life.