7 year old Cody McCasland’s positive attitude and his closetful of legs can make anyone smile. Yes legs! His lower legs had to be amputated at the age of 15 months due to a rare condition called Sacral Agenesis, yet that has not stopped him one bit.
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Many of my clients would like to create more time in their lives. However, it’s not about CREATING more time, it’s about MAKING time for the important things in our life. One thing to consider are the choices that we make throughout our day. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself to help make decision making easier and to make time for the things that you want.
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The current economy adds an element of stress that can affect our state of mind and our attitude, which can, in turn, disrupt our own health and well being.

It’s ironic really. When we’re busy and overwhelmed with our job and work, we wish we had more time to ourselves for the things we want in life. For some, the economy has opened up time - and plenty of it. But instead of moving forward with what we want to do, urgency drives us toward what we feel we should be doing. Read the rest of this entry »

The old adage, “You are what you eat” has much more meaning behind it than just the notion that good health comes from eating good food. It also effects your state of mind and overall wellness. It effects your whole Being.

Last week I shared some super produce items (see “Confessions of a Foodie“). Not only do they benefit your physical health, but you get a lot of “bang for your buck” with each food, mentally. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables provides more balanced and sustained energy, which reduces the risk of mood swings due to spikes and crashes in energy levels. Also, studies have indicated that diets more rich in junk food are linked to higher memory loss, slower thinking and are associated with the onset of ADHD in children and Alzheimer’s in adults. Read the rest of this entry »

I always like a good deal.

The same is true when I shop around for nutrient rich food. I am a “foodie” and a label reader. When I look at labels, I assess the value by looking at two main things: the nutritional data and the ingredients. This works great for me. I feel good about what I’m putting into my body and how much I’m spending doing it.

Then there’s produce. NO LABELS!

So, in the last few years I’ve been on this kick (call it the “food geek” in me) where I look up the nutritional values of foods. Not only do I get the most bang out of these foods Read the rest of this entry »

Sing it out!!!! . . . well not exactly. . .
I read a about a study where doctors have found that listening to music can improve not only mental health but physical health as well! Read the rest of this entry »

In this season of giving. . . I want to say, it’s cool to receive as well.

So much of our lives we give and give and give - and there is definitely plenty of opportunity to exercise this muscle: as sisters, as volunteers, as mothers, as community members, as caregivers, as nurturers, as employees, as managers, as service providers, as compassionate people, as wives, as someone who simply empathizes.

And as the holidays approach, most of you will be organizing parties, planning the gifts, coordinating the menus and giving more of your time and energy. It is fun. It is exciting. It is something you enjoy. It is an expression of your love.

But believe me when I say this - Others enjoy giving as well. . . and I’ll bet they’d love to give to YOU.

For some people, receiving is harder to do than giving.
Part of the reason is because Read the rest of this entry »

Anger is a good thing.
Or rather, it is an emotion that can have positive benefits that too often (and perhaps too readily) are looked upon negatively. Anger can be unnerving and uncomfortable, but totally getting rid of anger would mean that you won’t have that certain mechanism to help self-preservation, establishing healthy boundaries, determining wants and needs, and just not getting hurt overall.

Anger can protect us from that which may be harmful.

The “problem” or issue of anger comes into play when people react with anger inappropriately or for manipulative and self-serving reasons; when anger becomes abusive. Oftentimes when we react “in anger” the result is a shift from anger to a feeling of guilt, resentment, embarrassment or even more anger. Then THESE emotions can feed on themselves and exacerbate the problem. Other times you might derive a sense of relief and release from the stress.

Either way, understanding your emotions and being able to process and control them is a part of Self Care. It follows that when we take care of ourselves, we are mentally and emotionally better able to address various challenges throughout our day. However, on the flip side, understanding our own patterns of emotions, especially anger, allows us to practice Self Care more fully as well.

The key is to understand where the anger is coming from, identify it and then learn how to appropriately express (or not express) that anger.

What are some ways you “manage” your anger?

Make Happiness Yours,
Susan

Talking about technology this month has brought out the “geek” in me – who doesn’t like the bright and shiny objects that dangle in front of us? However, sometimes we purchase the “upgrade” just because it’s there, not necessarily out of purposeful intention or because it is a good choice.

The important questions to ask yourself are:
How does it benefit your life TODAY?
Does it upgrade your lifestyle?
What systems in your life need to be “tweaked?”

Distinguishing between trinkets that serve you and enhance your life VS. those that make your life more difficult and stressful, is a great tool to have. It helps you to make choices on a daily basis that suit you and makes life EASIER for you.

Make Happiness Yours,
Susan

Technology used to benefit our self care can make a huge difference in how we organize and plan.

1 1/2 years ago when I changed from carrying a separate cell phone and palm pilot to ONE Palm Treo that served both for me, it was the best thing I could have done! I had always utilized various systems to help me organize - Franklin Covey, Day Planners, the Palm Pilot – but the Palm Treo helped me take it one step further and really helped me be more efficient throughout my week.

The fact that I have all my contacts in one place makes it easier to update/revise and/or access my contact information. It was cumbersome to maintain when I had three separate places for my contacts: my pda, my cell phone AND my contact software on my laptop. Now it’s all in once spot, saving me time, energy and sweat! With the extra time, I do a little more yoga or walk my dog.

TAKE ACTION! CHALLENGE:
Life does not have to be hard work. Instead of working hard to maintain technology, let technology work hard for you.
How can you improve your daily “system” to incorporate technology for you to enhance your life, to “upgrade” life?

Another example would be my coffee maker. I purposely bought a coffee maker with the brew timer. It’s easier for me to set up the coffee the night before and have fresh brewed coffee ready for me in the morning when I wake up! Now I just have to get someone to bring it to me in bed. . .

Make Happiness Yours,
Susan