10 Tips for De-Stressing Your Holidays The holidays are upon us, including all the insanity that all too frequently passes for MerrYness at this time of year. We are all faced with waiting in long lines, traffic jams and all the stress that can go with it. Remember to remind yourself of what is truly important to you - everyday! Here are some suggestions to help you stay connected to your mind, body, and spirit. ~ Happy Holidays mixed with Love and Blessings, Sue 1. Take Care of Your Body Try to do all those things you know are good for your physical well being: get regular exercise; Be light on the caffeine, sugar and alcohol; get enough sleep; eat healthy food — lots of vegetables! 2. Listen to your body Take time to check in and see how your body is feeling. Once you notice, you can make small corrections to relieve discomfort before it takes over. Breathe into tight places; stretch and move when your back or neck feels stiff; Take computer breaks - look out the window when your eyes are straining at the computer screen; massage your neck and press the acupoints when a headache is lurking. Get a professional Massage or Energy Healing session. 3. Learn to Relax Develop a regular practice to ground and relax you. Begin and end the day with guided imagery, yoga, meditation, relaxation, deep breathing. Enjoy simple things like - combing your cat/dog, a bubble bath with essential oils, rock in a chair or listen to soothing music. Even five minutes, twice a day, will give you some protective connection to spirit against the day’s stresses. 4. Take Mini-Retreats When you find yourself starting to lose it, take a quick break. Step away. Go outside for a walk, Be in nature, watch birds, do some guided meditation, snuggle with your favorite person, play some music, call a loving friend or do a couple of yoga stretches. Five minutes of conscious connection can clear your mind and give you back your perspective, flexibility and groundedness. 5. Laugh, Laugh and Laugh some more Humor provides instant joy, balance and perspective. It allows us to step back and take everything, including ourselves, less seriously. So practice the art of finding the ludicrous, paradoxical and nonsensical in daily events. Try to laugh at yourself and the game of life. A good belly laugh changes our biochemistry and clears out emotional gunk unlike anything else. 6. Be Realistic and Know who you are It’s a wonderful thing to know what you can and cannot do. Manage your perfectionism and don’t let idealized expectations press you into doing more than you can realistically do. Say NO. Set limits. Work smart. This is especially important around holiday time, when trying too hard to do too much creates the exact opposite of the holiday feeling you’re striving for, and you morph into the cranky, resentful, martyred, overworked nightmare you swore you’d never be. 7. Manage Your Time Try not to over-commit. If you do, make a list and prioritize. (Just getting these things out of your head and onto a piece of paper will reduce some stress.) If the list is out of control, look it over and assess what has to go — and then, cancel, with apologies. Then tackle things you can finish, one at a time. Work mindfully at it, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with getting it done. Procrastination can be a terrible stressor - we’re always aware of what we should be doing while we’re not doing it. So, Just do what you can and try to carve out time just for YOU. 8. Give Yourself Room To Breathe Try not to schedule yourself with back-to-back meetings. Leave time between things, to catch your breath, reflect on what’s next, and simply do nothing. Just Breathe and Relax. Remember, we are human Beings - not human doings! Once you get out of the habit of racing, you won’t be so eager to go back to it, I promise. 9. Practice Staying in the Moment By mindfully going about your day, putting your awareness into what you are doing at the moment, you will be using even mundane, everyday activities as the focus of meditation, and will regain peace and balance. Notice Little Moments of Beauty and Sweetness. Observe the sunset ~ take a moment to breathe it in. . . . same with a smile, a gracious act, a loving gesture. Practicing gratitude for these wonderful pieces of daily life is a powerful way to de-stress, and it’s contagious, too. 10. Get Support Sometimes talking things out with someone you trust will allow you to safely acknowledge your feelings, let off some steam, get you away from circular thinking and reestablish your perspective. Advanced Counseling & Coaching Services Living A Juicy Life ~ Loving Being A Woman! Date: Sunday, December 9, 2007 Presenter: Sue Waldman, MA,LPC,CEC Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm Fee: $45.00 pre-paid by Dec. 7 ~ $55.00 cash at door Advance Registration is Required ~ Call Sue Waldman at (973) 857-9090 Location: Sue Waldman's Office Are you living a JUICY life? This workshop will consist of personal processes and group interaction that explores different aspects of our lives as we age. You will discover tools and techniques with how to stay connected to the wonder of being a WOMAN. Themes include creativity, connection, compassion, completion, and comedy. We will aim to transform the experience of aging into the context of agelessness- a potentially, juicy, inspiring adventure into the essential truth of life. Attendees are encouraged to bring a story, a poem, or an anecdote that exemplifies your aging experience and 2 special objects that you covet and adore as a woman Each participant will leave with a special gift package to remind you to Love being a woman everyday. Register Online Living A Spiritual Life Date: Friday evening, December 14, 2007 Presenters: Karen Chambers and Sue Waldman Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm Location: Sue Waldman's office Fee: $40 Prepaid by December 12 - $50 cash at door Advance Registration is Required ~ Seating is Limited ~ please register soon! Living a Spiritual Life will continue it's discussion series on Friday, December 14 at 7pm facilitated by Karen Chambers and Sue Waldman. Come join us in a sacred space to connect with others interested in Spiritual Development, Successful Living and Networking. This meeting's focus will be concerning "Making Peace". In the midst of all of the Holiday rush, we will be concentrating on Love, finding time for quiet and keeping connected to our inherent peace of mind. We will examine making peace with everything that 2007 has been. Then, we can start 2008 with a clean slate, no regrets, just clarity, acceptance and forward movement. You'll learn tips, techniques and strategies to: Create infinitely more joy and dramatically reduce stress and overwhelm in your life & career. Connect you with a strong sense of inner purpose and motivation. Understand how to create sustainable change that will help you establish the behaviors, beliefs and habits that will lead to your inevitable success. Become a more inspirational and energetic leader in many aspects of your professional and personal life. And learn how to access your inner strength to bring out your smile so you radiate and shine. Feel it, Breathe it and Be it!!! ____________________________________________________ Karen Chambers is an Inspirational Lifestyle Consultant and Interfaith Seminarian. Her focus is the art of personal and professional transformation guided by sacred and contemporary spiritual wisdom teachings. She currently directs Product Marketing for IMAN Cosmetics and is a Career, Travel & Lifestyle Writer for national magazines like Black Enterprise. Her professional background includes fifteen years experience as a Marketing Executive and Image Consultant with clients that range from Gladys Knight to Quincy Jones and Patti LaBelle. Her work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in national magazines such as Women's Wear Daily, Essence & Latina. Her creative marketing & image consulting business - First Impressions - directs entrepreneurs, corporations, nonprofits, fashion, beauty and wellness professionals in the art of doing business with passion, purpose and prosperous possibilities! ___________________________________________________ Sue Waldman, founder of the Wellness Networking Group, works privately in New Jersey as a psychotherapist and business/life coach. Sue’s passion is empowering people to deeply love who they are and the life their living. Her specialty encompasses grief-n-loss, spiritual and personal development, self-care, women's wellness and creativity. Sue helps people heal from past experiences, awaken to the present, and look forward to the future. A weekly women's support group meets every Wednesday evening in Verona, NJ. Sue Waldman is available for business development, training, teaching engagements, energy healing, workshops, retreats, and telephone consultations. Register Online Discover Your Hidden Treasures! Date: Saturday, December 15 What: The Wellness Networking Group is Hosting "Discover your Hidden Treasures - a Coaching Treasure Box workshop" Instructor: Verena Aibel (Visionary Coach) Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm Location: The First Congregational Church in Verona Fee: $55.00 prepaid by December 12; $65.00 cash at door ($15.00 material fee for Treasure box and gems - Please also bring in your own sentimental gems, shells, buttons, photos, magazines to use for your special treasure box) Looking for ways to discover your creative self? This fun-filled workshop will involve a treasure charging exercise, journaling, a sharing circle and creating a one-of-a-kind TREASURE BOX to store your gems, dreams and prayers. If you are hearing an inner call to reclaim your connection to what's true to you, to create conscious change in your life, to heal the split between who you are on the inside and what you express on the outside, to unleash your passion, to live authentically, and to step beyond your self-imposed boundaries, this workshop is answering your call. This will be a sacred space using guided imagery, meditation, heart-sharing and interactive exercises to help you connect with your inner wisdom and divine self to make your life more creative, fulfilling and prosperous. Renew your spirit, become empowered and simply have some fun! ____________________________________________________ Verena Visser Aibel, Owner and Founder, Vibrant Visions International, Global Coaching and Consulting, is a Certified Graduate of Coach University (CTP) and has a BA in Communication Studies with Honors from the Pennsylvania State University. Verena is a true visionary, coach, speaker, author, teacher and artist. For more information on Verena go to her website at http://www.vibrantvisionsint.com/ Register Online Awaken Your Potential! The Life Potentials training is a program in which you’ll learn powerful life and professional skills, tools, theories, and everything you’ll need to begin to live to your potential, now. The training is mainly delivered over the course of one 3-day experiential weekend and through follow up tele-seminars. Over 40 hours of training in total that could easily cost thousands of dollars. If you’re ready to make a significant difference in your life, and the lives of others, the Life Potentials Training is now ready for you. Who is the Life Potentials Training for? We’re continually inspired by those who become part of iPEC programs. Many like-minded people from very different walks of life join our programs and community. These people are serious about seeing a difference in their lives, and are no longer satisfied to wait around for that difference to miraculously appear. These are people who care about others and about the world, and they are pioneers to a new way of living and being. Most importantly, they are ready to take action to create success in their lives, however they define it. If you’re reading this now, and can relate to any of the desires below, there’s a good chance that you’re ready for Life Potentials Training. Perhaps you are a mother who would like to know the best way to have her child actually want to do her homework, how to empower her when she’s being bullied at school, how to inspire her when she doubts herself, or how to connect with her during her teenage years. You could be an entrepreneur who would like to attract more clients, manage your time, be in control of your business (instead of having it controlling you), get more from your employees, and learn how to earn more while working less. Maybe you’re a nurse or doctor, or know one, who wants to more honestly and openly communicate with patients, so that they feel heard and understood, as well as fully understand your efforts and suggestions, so they can feel great about you, and then make smart decisions once they leave your care. You might be a senior executive who would rather focus on developing your team members and vision than to listen to problems and deal with the high cost of attrition. You could be a new couple looking to plan and build your future together, or in a long-term relationship that you’d love to renew by deepening your conversations so that you can share and grow together You are, possibly, a social worker, psychotherapist, or counselor who would like to incorporate highly effective coaching skills into your practice, or who is considering adding professional coaching to your service offerings. You could be a teacher who would like to empower students to be more open to, and excited about learning and trying new ideas, to help them be accountable for their learning agreements, and to inspire and motivate them to be their best. Or you may be one of many life-long learners who desires a stronger foundation for living a conscious, expressive, and fulfilled life, and who would like to become part of a family and team that is dedicated to continuous growth. And of course, the Life Potentials Training is the prerequisite program for those who are ready to or are considering becoming full or part-time professional coaches. What is the purpose of the training? The Life Potentials Training is built on improving three areas in your life: your relationships with others, the relationship you have with your own self, and the relationship you have with a support mechanism for the implementation of what you’ve learned. The basis of the Life Potentials Training is the very best of the amazing Core Energy Coaching process that has transformed the lives of nearly a half-million people. The skills, tools, techniques, and theory that we’ve taught our professional coaches are provided to you so that you can learn how to coach your family, friends, peers, co-workers, clients, and more. The professional and life skills that you’ll learn in this program are priceless, and if you’re like most people who take our trainings, you’ll wonder how you ever communicated or interacted with anyone before. What you learn in this course isn’t taught in any educational or business facility, and that’s amazing, since mastery of interpersonal relationships, both at home and work, is perhaps the most important indicator of success in life. You’ll quickly learn how to help people from all walks of life by being able to see their greatness, and you’ll learn how to pull from them the answers to their questions, thereby empowering them to succeed in life without being dependent on you to do so. You’ll know how to help people set lofty, but reasonable goals, and exactly how to help them achieve those goals. You’ll learn how to eliminate the buttons that others push, so that you can remove much of the negativity in your life. You’ll understand how to see and help people break through their fears, doubts, worries, and blocks to achieving whatever they choose. And you’ll feel great about inspiring and motivating positive change wherever you go and in whatever you do. Besides the strong professional and life development program, the Life Potentials Training offers you the ability to develop the most important relationship in your life, which is the relationship you have with yourself. Through foundational Empowerment Principles and 10 High-Energy Concepts, you will be able to break though the limitations that you and others have placed on you—limitations to being all that you have the potential to be. We’ll give you the tools to break through the blocks that have held you back in all areas of life – blocks that you might not be aware of, and even those that you’ve tried to overcome but have been unable to until now. We’ll help you to discover your own personal formula for success. And you won’t just learn that formula, you’ll experience it first-hand in the training. We actually give you a blank rulebook so that you can, during the training, re-write the rules of your life. You’ll learn the keys to self-leadership, so you can not only inspire greatness in others, but so you can also coach yourself to achieve success over and over again. These aren’t skills that will impact you just in the short term. These are skills that will empower the rest of your life. Through the Life Potentials Training, you’ll learn to be at the cause, instead of the effect of your life, and so, you’ll be able to create a life that you choose. Register for the next training: 2/29 - 3/1/2008 - Shrewsbury, NJ Call Sue Waldman for more information about any of iPEC's programs: The Law of Being, Life Potential and Coach training at (973) 857-9090. For more information on iPEC and Life Potential Training An Inspiring Story from CBS news I encourage all of you to press the following link to hear one of the most inspiring and joyful news reports about one of the happiest moments of an autistic boy. He teaches us what it really means to Believe and Succeed! Press this link for a moment of complete Joy! subscribe | unsubscribe | preferences | send to a friend | report spam