Empowerment Articles

5 Strategies for Enjoying Midlife when the Kids leave Home I was in conversation recently with another midlife woman and I asked her what word or thought comes to mind when thinking about this time of life. Her response was immediately, “freedom!” I thought that was interesting because it wasn’t my first thought, but it gave me reason to celebrate her reality.

When was the last time that someone asked you for motivation? Alte atively, when was the last time that you asked someone else to provide you with motivation? My point is this, it is part of human behaviour to appreciate being motivated! We all have received motivation, and we all have motivated someone in some capacity. In an article that I wrote on 5 February 2010, I suggested that in order to gain motivation, you absolutely must focus on the motive behind the motivation. The word ‘motivation’ originates from the word ‘motive’.

Have you ever had a problem with making a change that lasts? Have you ever started to change a bad habit and then go back to your old ways? Don’t feel bad, many people are victims of change. They just can’t seem to make a lasting change. Change is such a beautiful thing. When you make a change ...

In spite of advancements made in the employee time management industry, there is no dearth of businesses that still cling to the old-fashioned card punching time clock. The numbers however are declining as business owners discover the usefulness of time tracking clocks with time attendance software . It is only a matter of time that our old friend, the mechanical time clock, shall only be found at the Smithsonian Museum of History. Reason? Simple, because there are better opt

The sun is the center of our solar system, and our home planet circles the sun each calendar year. The sun makes life possible here on Earth and we ingest its energy indirectly from the plant and animal foods we eat. We need sunlight on our skin to produce vitami D for strong bones and immunity. Sunlight is also essential for our mental emotional health and well being. The sun decides how we count the months of the year, the hours, minutes and seconds of the day. We truly ar

Let me ask you a couple questions. How many stressed out, unhappy, and directionless adults do you know? Now answer the same question but replace adults with kids 12 and younger. It’s a much smaller list isn’t it? I’ll bet a lot of the kids on your list are related to the adults from the first question. Coincidence? I think not.

Analysis paralysis is a term that seems to be increasing in popularity. And it’s a term with which many non-fidents, whether they’ve come across it or not, will be all too familiar. Basically, analysis paralysis means over-thinking and over-analyzing one’s options until they all seem equally good, bad, or anywhere in-between. And so one is left unable to make a choice and move on. The expression allegedly stems from ‘paralysis by analysis’, which should be seen as t

How do you invent yourself anew? Re-inventing yourself is a courageous act. You’re asked to let go of the old, stale beliefs you cling to. Those beliefs about you that tell you that you can’t change or can’t do or be something. Why keep them around? They no longer serve you if they ever did and now’s the time to release them.

On 21 June, I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation by Dr Sarah Hanieh (research fellow) at the Doherty Institute, and recipient of a PhD in Medicine from The University of Melbou e). She titled her speech “Breaking Through The Ice”. The insights in her presentation were based on her adventures during a trip to Antarctica through the Homeward Bound Project (a ground-breaking leadership initiative for women in science, set against the backdrop of Antarctica, which aims to heighten the influence and impact of women in making decisions that shape our planet.)

Janice was a wisp of a girl, barely twenty-three. Her distant gaze, detachment and monotone voice all told me what she couldn't say. As a psychiatric nurse for almost thirty years, I recognized her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Janice was being admitted into the Adult Day Care Center where my therapy dog, Wendel, and I work. Patients enter the program for medication management, life skills training, along with physical and occupational therapy. “I’m not sure,”

important to realize that this pain is something that needs to be acknowledged and processed. The longer you hold onto that pain, the harder it is to work through it. There will come a time when you will be forced to acknowledge it. This old pain makes itself known to you in ways you can’t predict. Rather than waiting for this to happen, you can empower yourself by identifying the pain and resolving to take action toward healing it.

Humor and laughter are some of the most enjoyable and powerful emotions that we experience in life. It has the power to bond us together as people, regardless of our differences. Humor is a bonding language that all of us across the world share. While handshakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.

You feel tired and exhausted. Sure, you don’t get enough sleep, so that explains some of it, but there’s more. It’s not just physically tired. You feel emotionally drained. You feel stuck. You feel like you’ve tried what you can think of, and you just don’t really feel like trying anymore, even when new ideas pop into your mind. Your chest clenches; your head tightens. You just want to scream, but you keep it inside, and it slowly weighs you down. You try to take a few deep b

Did you ever stop and wonder what life would be like if Wilbur and Orville Wright hadn't given us the airplane? What about Thomas Edison and the light bulb?nnHelen Keller was deaf and blind before the age of two. Yet she accomplished great works that have benefited others tremendously and still impacts people's lives today.nnImagine, what if these great achievers had not dreamed their dreams? Did they possess a secret formula for success or were they just that much smarter th

Recently, I was sharing some insights with a friend about developing the dream that is on the inside of us. The conversation was fairly casual until he asked me a serious question, "What do you do when people try to criticize your motives and goals for achieving a God-given dream?" nnDuring the conversation, we discussed various ways to "Silence the voice of your critics!" I want to share some of the things we discussed with you in hopes that when you strive to venture into n

Good morning everyone…. I’m not sure if my week is going fast or slow…I thought it was Thursday today. Then Sarah, my oldest daughter, reminded me that it is Wednesday. So do I slow down or speed up? I’m feeling a whirlwind here. Speaking of whirlwinds…..George and I were discussing our schedules and we both felt a bit overwhelmed. It is at these times where we must “stop, drop and roll.” Like so many other people we have a lot on our plates. Then we ask ourselves - without doing these things…where would we be? Have you asked yourself that?

Why do we put things off? Believe it or not most people procrastinate because of anxiety. The list of defense mechanisms (otherwise known as excuses) is: * Unprepared * Waiting for the right time * Feelings of inadequacy * Not organized enough * Waiting for inspiration * Not enough money * Too busy Let's get clear here! There is a difference between coming up with a strategic plan and procrastinating. To cut to the chase I'll tell you what the common denominator is with procrastination, FEAR.

Yes, simply decide where you want to be in life and take the necessary steps to give your life the X-Factor you want for it. You will be surprised how much you will achieve by yourself and how much help you will get to assist you on your way once you “put it out there” or declare your intention. Yes, there will be those that want to put “the mockers” on you, belittle your dreams, if you choose to listen to them you might just end up where they want you to be instead o

In the previous article (titled Worrying – The Truth About It), we discussed the negativity that we are exposed to on a daily basis. To be precise, I suggested “Switch off from the media – the Black Eyed Peas said “Wrong information always shown by the media. Negative images is the main criteria.” Regardless of how positive or optimistic you are, your mindset will become what you feed it.” After receiving feedback from more than a dozen readers about how they resonated with that suggestion, I decided to elaborate on how to productively handle daily exposure to negativity.

Not long ago, the world waited with bated breath while watching the rescue of 12 boys, members of the Wild Boars soccer team, and their coach, who were caught in a flooded subterranean cave deep under the mountains of Chang Rai, Thailand. We witnessed the extraordinary worldwide commitment to their safe return to their families as rescue workers from different nationalities, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds dedicated their time, effort and means, once even at the expense

There is an argument that there is no difference in the Bible between the mind and the heart. But here I will use the mind as the intellectual thinking part of man and the heart the emotional part of man. There is a thought that the mind is the conscience and the heart is the sub-conscience. You may be able to guess what a person is thinking, but you can’t guess there heart.

Be all you can be, you may recognize that this is the old army slogan. That slogan is a call to greatness. When you hear it you know you want to be more than average. You want to be one of the elite. There is no room for mediocrity. You want to be standing on the mountain top and still looking higher. But how do you see yourself. Do you see yourself as someone with low potential or do you see yourself as someone with unlimited potential. How you see yourself will make the difference of how far you go.

In our country, workforce engagement is at 30 percent, those not engaged is at 52 percent, and actively disengaged is at 18 percent (Gallup, 2012). Creating a multi-dimensional focused workforce environment is key to increasing engagement, buy-in and performance — for both employees and the company itself. Employee engagement can often make or break a company’s reputation and sustainability. Recently I experienced firsthand an incredibly good example of a fully engaged emplo

How often do you catch yourself worrying? When I was a kid my mom used to say to me, "95% of what you worry about never happens." I think she recognized that I was the "worrying type" and was trying to help ease my mind. Although this rarely worked, I appreciated her sentiment and know now that she was right.

Have you ever wondered what enables some people to make positive changes throughout their lives while others seem to be standing still in situations that they are clearly unhappy with? What enables some people to take risks and use courage to forge into the unknown to grow and develop in positive ways? To help illustrate how some people make the decision to take such risk, I would like to share with you a metaphoric story. There was a young girl who lived happily and comfort

Mindset is like a thermostat. Where your mind is set, like a thermostat. The setting holds the temperature—temperament, as in mindset—in place. Mindset settings have two basic ingredients: thoughts and feelings. Belief is formed from emotionalized thought that has an assigned meaning. Brain research shows that we are assigning the meaning to what happens to us; it is not objective, in general. Your perception of life is different from mine.

Do you struggle to design and carry out a vision for your life? Do you find yourself living day-to-day without a plan and feeling like you have lost your focus? Read on to discover some inspiring tips on how to develop a vision for your future: Allow some time in your schedule to do nothing but reflect on your life. Having time to ponder how far you have come and where you are headed is integral to proceeding to develop your life vision.

Greatness, magnificence, and brilliance – do you realize that these are words that really refer to your unique “Self”? Then why do we tend to feel so uncomfortable applying these words to our self? For that matter, we tend to only apply them to other people, after they have died.

One of the world’s foremost leadership experts, Dr Marshall Goldsmith (who is like a virtual mentor to me) once said “Personal contact matters — and matters greatly”. When I was an Executive Coach, I came across many CEOs and MDs who were very emphatic on the personal touch. Regardless of whether you are in a leadership role or not (in a professional capacity), you must have come across situations where you acted as a leader. Leadership is a very wide and deep area, and it covers many aspects of human behaviour.r

It's hard to find any woman who doesn’t understand the meaning when you talk about "pushing" all the time. Pushing to get more done. Pushing to get more done faster. Pushing to be more, do more, have more. Pushing to feel more love, more secure, and more successful as a woman, mother, ...

It’s easy to get sucked into all the negative talk about the recession. But if you do, before you know it, you’ve prescribed to a new and pessimistic attitude that negatively impacts your management style and, quite possibly, your profitability. While fear and worry may be all the rage right now, allowing those emotions to influence your business approach will only undermine your efforts. If you continue to think negatively, you’ll find yourself battling a mental curren

As we embark on another new year of life, I find myself experiencing a mixture of emotions about 2011. I'm excited about the possibilities of this New Year and inspired by the energy of creation that exists at this special time. Similar to last week, there is a magical quality to this first week of the New Year - lots of hope and positive anticipation.

ON APPLE Apple has more cash on hand than the U.S. government. It's easy to see why. In 1984, Apple introduced a groundbreaking commercial that revolutionized the advertising industry. I am a huge Apple fan, but I'm an even greater fan of the woman in their first commercial. She is a woman who recognizes that there ...

Did you know you already own the best stress zapper in the world! It’s with you no matter where you are and what you’re doing. Even when you’re impatiently standing in a long line at the store or after you find out you didn’t get the job or when you’re angry with your partner or your kids or your roommate. It’s right there… inside you. It’s your breath. Everyone knows how to breathe. In fact, you are inherently good at it. You are constructed perfectly to employ your breath to dissolve anxiety and doubt and fear at a moment’s notice. Pretty Cool, huh!

This morning I was working out with a friend who was telling me a story about how he went to a quintessential Cuban cafe for breakfast. Although he used his best Spanish to order, they ended up giving him the wrong kind of steak with his eggs. Now my friend, who is dedicated to health and fitness, is vigilant about what he puts into his body and eating clean. When I asked him if he sent his meal back, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, “No. I don’t want to be that per

Reaching your goal weight brings a feeling of elation that you won't soon forget. 16 years after reaching my goal weight using Weight Watchers, I still remember that feeling of joy and pride. That feeling - although you remember it, unfortunately won't keep you from gaining the weight back. I ...

Striving for Imperfection Had enough of trying to live up to impossible beauty standards and the pursuit of “perfection?” I say it’s time for a beauty revolution. Throw down those skinny jeans. Quit dissecting your body. Stop trying to recalibrate your self-image and start embracing your imperfection. What do those self-confident, self-assured women know that you don’t? Here’s the secret…..beauty lies in your flaws and your glorious uniqueness.

“The heavens themselves, the planets and this center, nnObserve degree, priority and placennOffice and custom, in all line of order “ nn – Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, Act I, sc. 3, 1.85 nnnn “There are no accidents.” nn - Alan Walter nnnnEverything you did today, everything you have accomplished in the past, everything you own and cherish, everything that exists, has followed an exact sequence of steps to its creation. If you follow these steps, your dreams w

How many times have you set out to do something, and when it doesn’t work out after the 1st or 2nd attempt, you decide that you’re a failure, you’re not good at it, you’ll never learn how to do it, or it’s not for you? I often hear a story similar to this from women when I first meet them. Some examples include: “I posted my online dating profile 2 weeks ago, and while I’ve emailed with a couple of guys, I still haven’t met someone I’d like to go on a date with. The online dating thing will never work for me!”

The responsibility of becoming a parent creates a massive shift in your life and what is important to you often also changes. Women who wish to have children and obtain a successful career, have often struggled with the concept that both can exist and thrive simultaneously without feelings of guilt that they should be with their children when at work, or they should be at work when with their children.

How Our Thoughts Influence Our Health Have you ever ruminated endlessly about a decision and felt a pain in your stomach? Do you notice yourself having critical thoughts and feel tightness in your chest? Have you been happy, excited, thinking positive thoughts and felt your whole body ...

For sustainability in a complex ADD world, the key is focused engagement. What the business community knows today is that old ways are not sustainable and you can no longer execute without engagement. However, a strategic business advantage comes from knowing there is a flow to the focus of engagement. Focus is like water, it flows where it is easiest to flow and as leadership, you take advantage of its flow or you don't. The flow is already in your workplace and within your

I’ve noticed leadership and personal development being associated with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a framework in online and offline conversations these days. Maslow was obviously a thought leader, especially ahead of his time. I see an interesting twist, however, that deviates from the typical line of thinking.

As we start another year, people everywhere are looking for certain things in 2012. Well, whatever you are looking for, you will need to be well prepared for the opportunities, challenges, and rewards in 2012 So, here are my 7 Steps To Creating A More Rewarding 2012.

What will you do with Now? Will you continue to live in the past, as good or bad as it was? 'Was' being the operative word here - it's gone. Or will you constantly live in the future - that which is not here yet? Your past and your future only exist in your mind. All you have is here and now. Will you give your power to the past, releasing all your energies into something that no longer exists? Will you dwell in fear of the future that has not yet come?

What makes plot development work in a novel? There’s quite a lot to know about this, but here are some high-points. A strong novel writer causes readers to feel they experience a slice of someone else’s (one or more characters) “real” life. Even Science Fiction and Fantasy must accomplish this in their own ways. Readers want to relate to characters in novels, whether that’s just for one novel or in a series that involves the same main characters throughout. It’s up to you as a writer to create this for readers. You do this through plot and character development.

I am a firm believe that each of us, no matter who we are, has a deep and sacred desire to be BIG and be seen for the positive impact we are making on our families, friends, communities and the world. Even if you know yourself to be the most modest person out there, you still have, somewhere ...

It's Valentine's Day – a day when many wear red, receive roses, and revel in romance, while others roll their eyes, denounce it as being "no big deal," and wish they could ignore it completely. It is also a day that can trigger painful memories, uncomfortable emotions, and give rise to a steady stream of shadow beliefs that generate negative self-talk that loops in our head. Instead of hearing "silly love songs," we hear a choir of self-condemnation and criticism that remin

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 ...

Do you love your body? No really, do you? If you’re a woman, chances are you don’t. Studies show that 80-90% of adult women dislike their bodies. In fact, many of them truly hate their own bodies. 15% of women say they would sacrifice more than five years of their lives, and ...