Do You Cook The Same Way Your Mom Did?

Wow! My mom was a great cook… we could smell the bread baking when we got off the school bus in the afternoons…

Supper was always cooking when we got home… and there was always lots and lots of it…

Food was the great connector… we gathered in Mom’s kitchen…
Mom showed her love in the art of her cooking…

butter on everything… gravies… fresh breads almost every day… and sausage… European sausage… bacon and creamy potato salads and on and on and on…

ahhhhh…. those were the days… country cooking… food came from the garden and the farm… not from boxes… Mom was home and the kitchen was the heart of the family…

And… unfortunately, a generational heritage of lots of excess weight and the health problems that go with that type of diet… diabetes, high blood pressure… heart disease…

Wow… As much as I treasure the yummy recipes from my mom… I just can’t eat that way and stay healthy…

I had to learn to cook a whole different way…

My cooking now would probably look naked to my Mom…

She would understand the necessity, because she had a life long relationship with trying to lose weight and be healthy as well… she just didn’t have access to the wealth of support that I do…

So What about You?

Is your kitchen run the same as your Mom’s?

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Women and Self Esteem: You Are What You Think

Good Morning…

Do you realize that by the time you read this, you have already had thousands of thoughts?

Have you been paying attention?  Don’t even try… you would need a super computer to track them.

You do need to pay attention to the quality of your thinking.  And that’s where your feelings come in.

Just ask yourself…. How am I feeling right now?

Your feelings will tell you with complete accuracy whether you are thinking positively or negatively.

• If you are feeling happy and light and loving then you must be thinking thoughts that support that
• If you are feeling stressed, frustrated, worried, angry, etc.. then your thoughts must be supporting that

Your experiences today are created by the quality of your thoughts and how you feel.

• If you feel good… you will have a good day…
• If you feel bad… you will not have good day

Your mission then is to do whatever it takes to feel good.

Take your focus off things that make you feel bad, and put it on all that feels good.  When you are feeling good,  you create from that place and absolutely everyone benefits… heck.. I will benefit all the way over here where I live… send me your positive  vibes… send them all over the world… goodness knows we all need them….

Sending blessings for a lovely day…

Joyce

To read a bit more about me personally, feel free to visit my website  www.joyceleelifecoach.com

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Trusting the Universe… a personal view…

From time to time, I get caught up in the frenzy of fear being whipped up by the media.

I listen to the dire predictions, endless sad stories of regular people suffering and fearful… and my heart hurts… my chest clinches, my energy shrinks and I get worried and start thinking of my own worst case scenarios… “what if?…. what would we do?… will it happen to us?….”

The physical consequences:

• I can feel my heart beat…
• my mind starts racing around like a mouse in a cage, looking for a way out…
• I am tense, stressed and my energy is all puckered up….

The Law of Attraction consequences:

• what I think (doom and gloom) is what I feel (fear, worry)…
• what I feel (fear, worry) is what I vibrate (low quality)
• what I vibrate (low quality) is what I attract (missed opportunities, more to worry about)

All in all… not a great platform to create my day…

I hate feeling like that….

So… what do I do?????

I change the only thing I have control over…. I change my thoughts…yes… my thoughts…

I choose to think about my many blessings… I choose to focus of the unending abundance in the world…

I choose to trust… just trust… just trust that if I do my part, and you do your part, and they do their part….

I need to stand up and be counted for adding positive energy to the mix…. and you my friend…. need to do the same…

Sending love and thoughts of abundance…

Joyce

Make sure you are signed up to get the latest edition of my newsletter Notes to Self. It comes out every second tuesday.  Join hands with women all over the world who are reading it….

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The Art of Journaling: 3 Easy Steps to Getting Started… Every Woman Needs a Journal

“So… you have just been presented with another beautiful blank journal.  It calls to you with whispers of adventure and mystique.  How Delightful!  Wait a moment…

• “I already have 5 blank journals gathering dust on my bookshelf.”
• “I haven’t got a clue where to start.”
• “I have no idea what to write about.”

You Are Not Alone
The allure of beautifully bound and illustrated blank journals has both mesmerized and caused angst for countless women.  I have good news!  You can fill dozens of blank journals with inspiration and enthusiasm by following a few simple steps.

1.    Create a special time and space
Trying to write in your journal in front of the nightly news just doesn’t seem congruent with the nature of the activity, does it?
It is important to find a time of the day when you generally feel quiet, soft and reflective.  It may be first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening.

Your environment also plays an important role in your new habit of journaling.  A comfortable chair, a soft blanket, a favorite lamp, a candle, perhaps an aromatic oil or incense. Don’t forget a cup of your favorite tea.  sigh….

Your journal is a profoundly private and personal relationship.  Treat yourself and the occasion with the reverence of a favorite date.

2.    Theme:
Think about a theme playing in your life right now.  Ask yourself how can you create a journal that feels empowering and uplifting regardless of the desirability of your theme.

If you need to work stuff out, it’s ok to explore your issues, even if they are troublesome.  Just make sure that your message and journey is one of resolving, overcoming and growing, rather than wallowing around in your problems.

The Law of Attraction states that you get what you focus on whether you want it or not.  The longer and stronger you maintain your focus, the stronger the attraction.  Make sure you keep your focus positive in nature; you will be rewarded with an empowering and inspiring experience.

3.    Let go of outcome
Something that may stop you before your pen touches the page is the pressure you put on yourself to “do it right.”  After all, “What will it look like?  What happens if you make a mistake?”

No-one else ever needs to see your journal.  This is a private and personal experience.  It is the journey, not the end destination that matters.  The process, not the product.

Have fun with this.  Let go of the outcome.  This is the perfect medium to express yourself creatively, with wild abandon if you want, any way you choose.  Let yourself go and dive to the depths of your inner self. Celebrate your uniqueness.

The best thing about getting started with your journals is the rich inner satisfaction and inspiration you will feel.  Every day you take the time for this wonderful exercise, is another opportunity to explore another thread of the tapestry that is your life.

Relax, get your journal out and follow these starter steps that I have outlined.  When you do, you will be thrilled with the way your inner life will immediately begin to blossom.

Namaste

Joyce

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Who Am I? 3 Key Questions A Woman Should Ask Herself As She Connects With Her Heart and Happiness

If we were sitting enjoying a cup of tea together and I asked you about your loves, your gifts and your vision for yourself as a woman, would your thoughts flow easily?  Maybe… maybe not…

The Law of Attraction states that we get more of what we focus on.  So, if you want to give and get more serenity, peace, love, gratitude etc in your life, you need to be focus on, project that kind of energy.

The easiest way to do that is by connecting with all the soft places in your heart.  The most important thing is that you feel good.  From there your beautiful world can be created.

Open your journal. Make yourself a cup of tea, light a candle and muse about these 3 key questions.

1. What Do You Love?
2. What Touches You Deeply?
3. What Brings a Tear To Your Eye?

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

Get in touch with your heart.  Explore all the soft parts.  Create beautiful gratitude lists.  The Law of Attraction will return more in kind when you keep your focus on what feels good.

Pay attention to the beauty around you. Watch your world blossom.

What Is Your Gift To Share With The World?

You are unique and unrepeatable.  You have been given special gifts and your assignment is to share.  The universe will expand when you give of yourself.

Not fully appreciating the unique and personal gifts that you have been given, not only shortchanges the universe, it is also disrespectful of the giver of the gift.

Spend time reflecting on your skills, talents and passions.

You are supposed to feel good.

Regardless of your life circumstances, give yourself full approval and permission to be a glorious.  Actively take the control of you life.  Choose how you want to feel, and put the thinking in place to support that.

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Positive Attitude Tips: 10 Tried and True Tips to Express Yourself With Confidence.

Do you feel awkward in social situations?  Do you dread dinner parties and   meetings? Does the thought of speaking in public make your knees weak and your temples throb?

You are not alone.  It took me years to develop the self-confidence to feel powerful and assured in any situation.  The good news is, it doesn’t have to take you years.  Here are 10 Tried and True Tips to Improve Self Confidence and be on your way to feeling powerful and at ease in any situation.

1. Know that you know what you know

Affirm that your interpretation of the world around you has value and is worth sharing.  You have unique and creative opinions and the universe wants to hear them.  No one else can put things together exactly like you.

2.  K.I.S.S.  Keep it Simple Sweetie

Wiser words have rarely been spoken.  How much interaction would be ideal for you and your comfort?  If you want to be a quiet participant, that’s ok.  Don’t feel pressured to grab the microphone if you don’t want to.

3.  Breathe:  Pay attention to your body

If you feel your anxiety raising, sit back in your chair, focus on your breath, and relax your body.  Bring your awareness back to center, back to balance.

4.  Know the basics of Social Interactions

No one likes a soggy, wimpy handshake… ewww…  Every woman needs a good handshake, a greeting that makes eye contact and a warm, confident smile.  That first moment of greeting sets the tone and speaks volumes about the power balance.

5.  It’s not about “Power”…  it’s about “Empowerment”

Your power should feel healthy and respectful and self-loving.  You should encourage others to feel the same.

6.  Slow down.  It’s all about rhythm

A tendency to rush is common when you are nervous.  The more anxiety you have, the more speed you pick up and that’s when things can get messy.  Gear down. Speak slower, pause between thoughts.  Consider your words before you speak them.

7.  Redirect the Spotlight

People love to talk about themselves.  Let them.  Become an interviewer and ask questions.  Let ‘them’ do the talking.  Listen and allow the conversation to find it’s own natural rhythm.

8.  Study the Crowd

Notice who is talking and what they are talking about.  Amuse yourself by watching people interact and learn from their body language.  This will be fun and it will take your focus off your anxiety. You can learn a lot about people in a herd.

9.  Own Your Power

Rather than wondering if anyone will like you, ask yourself who you would like to get to know better.  Pick one or two intriguing people and get to know them.  As you are ready, you can let them get to know you too.

10.  Walk like a queen

Hold your head up, put your shoulders back, open your chest and breathe.  Connect with your power, Give yourself permission to think what you think, know what you know, feel what you feel and say what you want to say.

Save yourself years of anxiety.  Follow these tips and improve your self confidence in any social situation.

Make sure you are subscribed to Notes to Self.  My bi-weekly newsletter for smart and self aware women, such as yourself.

enjoy this one and only Thursday, Feb 12, 2009… once it’s gone, it’s gone… make it worth the ticket price…

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Your Personal Development Plans: 3 Biggest Mistakes Women Make and the 3 Best Solutions

Have you ever started a personal development program, only to become overwhelmed, discouraged and finally give up?  You wouldn’t be the first one to experience this.  Welcome to the club…

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to finally reach your personal development goal?  To unleash the power within and make a real life style change?
Well you can… and it really is a simple process.

Here are the 3 biggest mistakes women make and the 3 best solutions.

Mistake #1.  Taking on too much at one time.

Many women decide that they want to make sweeping lifestyle changes and although they feel uplifted and excited for the first while, too much change can be unsettling.

You lose your balance and feel discouraged, and soon drift away from your changes and return to what is comfortable.  “Failed again.”

Solution:  A master juggler doesn’t begin her act with 10 items right off the bat.  She starts her act with one or two items.  Only when she has developed a good rhythm will she introduce another.

Pick one positive lifestyle change and with your plan in place, find your rhythm with that one change.  Regardless of how many areas you wish to change, start simply and take it one step at a time.  Find your balance and your rhythm.

Mistake #2.  Focusing on what you don’t want.

The Law of Attraction states that you get what you focus on whether you want it or not.
You may think you are focusing on what you want, but chances are, you will find that your attention is predominantly on what you want to change.  That will invite more of what you don’t want into your experience.

Solution:  Instead of focusing on all that is unacceptable about you, put your attention on what your positive life change will feel like.  What you think about, you bring about.  Keep your thoughts on the positive and let go of the negative.

Mistake #3.  Not waiting around for the miracle to happen.

Solution:  Pick a specific amount of time to devote yourself 100% to your well thought out personal development goal.  Give yourself enough time to find your rhthym.  As a loose guideline, give yourself 30 – 45 days… You can survive anything for that long. Mark it on your calendar and commit to complete dedication.  No matter what.

There will be a process of letting go of the old while you embrace the new.  Be willing to be uncomfortable while you make the necessary adjustments.
It took time to develop what you want to change, and it will take time to adjust to the changes.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Don’t be in a hurry to change.  Let your life style changes soak in one at a time.  Give them a chance to really take root and become your new reality.

The wise woman finds her rhythm and takes the time it takes.  Most importantly, she doesn’t give up before the miracle happens.  You are that wise woman.  You are absolutely supposed to have anything you want.  Namaste.

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You Can Wish Until the Cows Come Home and Still Not Get What You Want… sorry… But Here’s the ‘Fix’…

Do you ever wonder why you just aren’t getting the ‘stuff’ you are wishing for?  You wish and wish and nothing changes?   Well, there is something you may not be aware that you are doing and it is keeping what you want just out of your reach, in fact you may be strengthening your hold on what you don’t want. With a simple shift in perspective, you can turn this around.

Here is the thing…

Most people don’t realize that simply wishing for something is built on a belief of lack.

Your wish:  “I really want a new red sports car.

What you think about, talk to your friends about over and over is:

• “I really want a new red sports car because the car I have is old, it’s falling apart, it is miled out, I am embarrassed to be seen in it, I am worried to drive it any distance because it doesn’t feel safe anymore

• The tires are bald, they won’t last another winter, I am not sure where I will get the money to buy a new set of tires,  my gear shift sticks… I hate this old car, I really wish I had a new one, but I don’t.

• I can’t afford it.  I have been living in my overdraft for years, I haven’t been able to save any money.

• Everything is so expensive these days, the price of gas really hurts.  I just don’t know what I am going to do.

• I wish I could win the lottery and buy a new car, but I’ll never win it, someone else always does, I never win anything big.  The only things I win are free coffees… big deal.”

• I’ll probably end up driving this old beater for the rest of my life.

You think you are asking for a new red sports car, but your focus is actually like asking for more of the old one…

The Law of Attraction states that you get what you focus on whether you want it or not.

Are you starting to see what I mean?

You need to make sure your focus lines up with what you want… take you focus off what you don’t want (the crappy car)… stop thinking about it and talking about it… put your focus on what you do want (the yummy new red one)…  think about and talk about that….

That’s the real secret.

Have a groovy day…

Joyce

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Happy Full Snow, Hunger Moon

Good Monday Morning to You,

Do you pay attention to the full moons?

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Here is the Farmers Almanac’s list of the full Moon names.

Full Snow Moon – February Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February’s full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.

The above information is from the Farmers Almanac.

We aren’t very connected to Mother Earth any more are we?

• our food comes from the grocery store instead of our farm (garden, hen house, milk shed)
• we heat our homes through a thermostat instead of a woodshed (do you have an ax and splitting block?)
• we plug our cars in when it’s cold instead of putting the horses in the barn overnight (and giving them a tobacco can of oats)
  

I don’t know about you, but I yearn for a deeper connection to the world around me, and I have found that although I certainly don’t want to give up the conveniences I have grown accustomed to, but I do want to participate in a meaningful way.

One of the ways I connect is to pay attention to the full moons.  I write them in my day planner, I look forward to them.

I am a moon girl… I have made it a practice to go outside during every full moon.  This is a time when I mindfully connect with the generations before me.  Wondering what they were living through when they gazed up at the very same moon…

I have heard that the moon can cleanse and recharge the energy of objects, and being a gal that’s all for clean and healthy energy, I often take a basket of my personal items out to sit in the light of the full moon.

• my journal and special pen to represent my spiritual and inner growth
• a picture of someone I love to represent my connections to others
• an apple to represent my dedication to my health
• my beautiful mare’s bridle to represent the freedom my horses bring to me
• my big crystal to represent the grounding energy I want in my house
• my pliers to represent my jewelry creations

Some people may roll their eyes and find this ‘kooky’… I don’t care… It’s a dedicated time of the month to reach back in time, and reach out beyond the confines of my day to day life and connect with Mother Earth and beyond…

What about you?  Are you kooky too?

Enjoy this lovely day… once it’s over, it’s over… make it worth it… be mindful in your own way…

Peace

Joyce

Make sure you are subscribed to get Notes to Self delivered to your mail box.  My bi-weekly newsletter for smart, self aware women.  Full of articles and tips to celebrate and connect to what being a woman means to us today…  I would love to connect with you….

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Healthy Body Image: Would you leave your shoes on when you step on a scale?

Like I have to ask that question… (chuckle)

Good Morning…

I have a whimsical little story for you:

I was in the local drugstore the other day, picking up a prescription.  There is an old fashioned standing scale in the store… you know the one I mean…

It was quite early in the morning and there was a man waiting in the pharmacy.  He looked like a guy that worked outside… He was a big man and was wearing a bulky winter coat and big heavy boots.

Anyway, while we were both patiently waiting, he stepped on the scale.

That simple action caught me up short.  I immediately laughed and and told him:

“There is absolutely no way most women would get on the scale the way you just did.  We would take off the coat and shoes. If we were thirsty, we would wait to drink until after, and… we would use the washroom first, too”… I still chuckle…

Just wanted to share that.

Have a great day…

Joyce

Make sure you are signed up to get my newsletter Notes to Self.  The next issue comes out on Tuesday, Feb 2.  This one has an article about the 15 qualities of Smart Women. I think you’ll like it.

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Women and Self Esteem: Why are you in such a hurry? Why am I in such a hurry?

Good Morning.

I had an interesting thing happen to me today.  My planned nap in the afternoon (otherwise known as my horizontal cellular regenerative procedure), didn’t work out.

Thing is… the only reason I didn’t have my nap was because my mind was going a mile a minute and I just couldn’t get into that napping state… you know, when all is well with the world and you feel yourself drift off… peacefully… sigh….

Well, I just couldn’t get there… I tried reading a bit from Lord of the Rings… that always takes me away to dreamland… not this time…

I realized that I was in a state of “hurry up, hurry up, hurry up”… I had allowed my day to be so busy and so complicated, requiring a great deal of concentration and focus, that I got all wound up.

I also realized that this hurried state of mind is happening more often these days…

I DON”T LIKE IT!!!

I guess awareness of a problem has to come before the solution, right?

So…today… I intend to slow down… chill out… take it easy… feel groovey… take a powder… let calgon take me away… don’t sweat the small stuff… take time to smell the sweet peas…  know what I mean?

What about you?

• Do you have a sense of urgency in your personal life?
• Are thing really that important?
• Is it what you want?
• Do you like it?
• Can you change it?

Wishing you a laid back, easy going, feeling groovey kind of day…

Namaste

Joyce

Make sure you are receiving my bi-weekly newsletter Notes to Self .  Just pop over to my website and fill in the box and it will be delivered to your email box every second tuesday morning.  Join the conversation.

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Woman’s Wellness: How much daily lovin’ do you need? How much do you give?

Good Morning,

I was just thinking about what contributes to ‘feel good’ day for me… I love hugs, and ‘I love you’ and teasing and attention.  My day just goes better when there is loving expression.

I realize that I need to take the time to extend my loving energy to others as well.

• tell others what I appreciate about them
• go out of my way to inquire about them
• listen, really listen to what others have to say
• take the time to joke around… life is supposed to be fun
• touch…  merging energy creates sparks…
• surprise people with interest for no other reason than to let them know they are important to me
• make time for chit chat… quit taking myself seriously…
• go out of my way for others…
• and on and on….

I love getting and giving love.  It is like sunshine and water to a plant.

We all know human cactus’s.. cacti?   They walk through their day like they are sucking on a lemon.  How much fun can that be?

Not me… If I were a house plant, I would sit in a sunny window, with a great view.  I would have regular spa treatments (water, fertilizer, misting, primping)  and I would bloom, bloom, bloom! The room would would be filled with my sweet fragrance and everyone who visited would come over to say hello… sounds like a nice life…  (sigh….some days …)

So, if you want love, make sure you give love… surprise people… be someone others look forward to spending time with!

And there you go… off to your day….

Here’s a hug…. ((((((((((you)))))))))

In a-bun-dance…

Joyce

Be sure to look for me on FaceBook just click the link…

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Woman’s Wellness: Life is Supposed To Be Yummy…

Good Morning…

Life is supposed to be yummy and you are supposed to get what you want.

If you aren’t getting what you want in a specific area of your life, it’s simply because you are focused on the negative aspects of it.  You are summoning the power of the Law of Attraction to keep you stuck in lack.

You get what you focus on whether you want it or not

It is a simple concept to understand… not an easy one to implement… we are so conditioned to worry and doubt and live fearfully…

But… and this is the big butt….if you want to experience wonderfulness in an area that you are currently experiencing lack in…you need to change your focus… period…

If you don’t have time to create elaborate vision boards, or read a bunch of Law of Attraction books… take heart… there is one, simple thing you can do that doesn’t take any time at all… you can do it as you are :

• driving the kids to school
• making dinner
• talking to your boss
• working
• walking
• shopping
• whatever…..

Just Be Grateful For Your Many Blessings

(did you know green is the color of receiving and abundance)

Where was I?

The feeling of gratitude… you know… that warm fuzzy feeling in your heart… will immediately raise your personal vibration and when that happens, the universe will respond with more thoughts, events, circumstances for you to be grateful about…

Let go of the outcome… practice deliberate gratitude… and enjoy the ride…

Then… pay attention to the red carpet starting to roll out in front of you to walk on like the Queen you are….

(i just found the color button… cool…)

Namaste.

Joyce

Are you signed up for my newsletter Notes to Self ?  The lastest issue comes out this morning and it’s about the 15 qualities of a Smart Woman… how many will you claim for your own?

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Cleansing Energy: lessons learned from cleaning my house.

Ah… the cleansing energy of spring cleaning…

What started as a desire to clean one little dresser drawer grew into a full blown spring cleaning of the bedroom the other day.  All the drawers, closets, shelves… the whole shebang…

Why… why do we feel the need to collect so much ‘stuff’.  I turn into a reduce, reuse and recycle maven when I do the spring cleaning thing…

I love the feeling of freedom that comes with letting go of attachment to ‘stuff’.  Not only that, I reaffirm my intention to collect less in the future… It’s a process…

To gather or not to gather, that is the question… I’m still working that out for myself.

What about you?  Do you have more ‘stuff’ than you want or need?  Is it easy of hard to throw it out?

Peace and abundance…

Joyce

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