San Francisco Womens Journal » Live Your Best Life

Astrology: 5 Ways Leo Stokes the Creative Fires

SFWJ — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:45:20 +0000

Jamie Kahl

Leo (July 22-Aug 21) is the most creative, expressive sign, there is, and that’s a gift! This can be hard to remember when your friendly neighborhood Leo is being loud and showing off.

by Jamie Kahl , SF Bay Area Astrologer

But the real purpose behind bad Leo behavior is to get in touch with one’s playful, innocent inner child, open up creativity and express one’s real self. Leos at their best are friendly, effusive, warm, welcoming and authentic. Here’s some advice for Leos (and the bit of Leo in the rest of us) on the path to self-discovery and creative expression:

1. Be appropriately self-centered.

This is a delicate balance. Love yourself without arrogance as a flawed-but-beautiful human being: one of many, all of equal importance, holding yourself as your own special charge. You are the shepherd of your own self, the guide of this body, this mind, this heart, this soul, this being. Cherish this person you were given to be.

2. Shine on everyone.

Leo knows a very special secret: that attention is the most valuable commodity in the world. Everybody wants some and almost everybody wants more than they are getting or a different quality of attention than they’re getting. When your Leo side is badly-behaved, it will pull you to grab attention—any attention at all. When your Leo side is healthy, you give attention as the Sun gives sunshine—naturally, because you cannot help it, and because you simply love to share.

3. Be a role model.

Be a leader. Stand up, be seen, be visible. Chief obstacles to this include embarrassment and fear of looking silly. But don’t let them stop you! If people don’t have other people to look to, how can they learn to live? If there’s something you’ve figured out about how to live an excellent life, model that, be that, show that to the world. I’ll betcha someone around you needed to see it in action.

4. Play.

Be a child. Have fun. Get so absorbed in what you are doing that you forget how others see you. Engage others in the fun you are having. Taking a playful approach to just about anything opens up creative channels and allows for relaxed, right-brain thinking.

5. Never underestimate the importance of your unique, authentic creativity.

Leo exists to remind us that the individual point of view is important. Modern physics tells us that the center is everywhere—and nowhere. This means the center of the universe resides in you just as powerfully as in anyone. Your point of view matters, and the creative flow that can come forth only from you and you alone is absolutely crucial to the workings of the whole.

Give Leo credit. It’s not easy to be your truest, most authentic self in front of God and everybody. That’s scary stuff. Occupy your whole social footprint—no more, no less, and the Leo in you will be happy.

* You don’t have to “be” a Leo to feel like one. Everybody’s got at least a little Leo inside (and sometimes a lot); even if their actual “sign”, (i.e. Sun sign) is something else.

Read more about Leo on Jamie’s Astrology and Personal Empowerment blog.

And if you’re not a Leo, check out Jamie’s other articles on Gemini, Taurus, Aries and Cancer!

Jamie Kahl is a professional astrologer with 30 years of study and 18 years of practice in Berkeley, CA. She specializes in showing women the power of feminine archetypes in everyday life. She does readings for individuals, couples and families. She also teaches classes in person in Berkeley and online.

Jamie believes that every human being contains the seeds of greatness, and that your astrology chart is the finest shortcut to accessing it. Using your chart as the “owner’s manual for being you,” Jamie can help you have satisfying relationships, enjoy career success, discover your life purpose and navigate your path in ways tailored to work uniquely for you. Learn more at Pandora Astrology.

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Increase Your Energy by Check’n Out to Check Back In!

SFWJ — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:09:16 +0000

Nikki Anderson

This past week was one of ‘those’ weeks. I had to get a lot done in a short amount of time with less energy than ‘normal’. During these times, there are always two voices that speak to me.

by Nikki Anderson
Founding Partner and Coach at Think Feel Know

The first goes something like this, “Just push through it- get another cup of extra strength decaf so you won’t have to feel so tired. After all you need to get this done if you want to be successful.”

The second voice sounds like this, “If you want to do quality work, you need to take a rest and honor your health. Everything will be fine, EVEN if you take a break.” At different times both voices sound incredibly compelling. However, as of late the later has been more prevalent albeit a bit scary to trust.

Listen to What Your Body is Telling You

Sometimes as women, our energy level dips. At least mine sure does. And, I always have the choice to try and mask what my body is telling me with preservatives, caffeine, extra doses of vitamins, and I’m sure I could come up with more ‘additives’ to keep me going.

The thing is do I really want to do this to myself? Is ‘success’ or my ‘image’ so important that I’m willing to sacrifice my health?

Good Health AND Success at Work

Or perhaps I could have both – success and conviction around honoring my health and energy. I forget that this doesn’t necessarily have to be an ‘or’ decision – it’s this way OR that. I can make this an ‘AND’ decision.

That said, I am clear that honoring my health AND my work is not always the easiest or the most convenient choice. Sometimes this means I need to get an extra nap in my day or not stay after a work meeting for the after-work-dinner. Or call it a day at 5PM EVEN when there are a million more things to do.

But in the end, to my surprise, I’m finding that taking the time out for me and my health lets me re-fuel my tank. And it helps me get clearer and more concise about where and with whom I’m spending my energy. The bottom line, I become more efficient when I take time to check out!

Here’s to a time out for both of us! After all, we deserve it and so do our bodies!

Nikki
Nikki Anderson is a founding partner and a coach within Think Feel Know, USA. Her specialty is working with entrepreneurs, executive women, teams within small to medium sized businesses that are ready to grow to the next level. She is skilled at coaching individuals and groups and facilitating workshops, trainings and meetings to elicit connection, unity and clarity, resulting in forward action and bottom-line results.

Nikki is passionate about many things in her life although, at the core are health and wellness – her foundation. She is active in 12-step recovery work and is passionate about helping others to not only overcome their addictions but also to thrive in their life. You can learn more by visiting CoachNikki and ThinkFeelKnow.

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Work/Life Balance: 3 Ways to Make More Time for Your Family!

SFWJ — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:25:41 +0000

Kristin Southwick

Part 3 of my series on “Work Life Balance, The Juggling Act” is a very critical one…How to create quality time with your family while also meeting work demands, finding time to rejuvenate yourself, and continuing to foster relationships.

by Kristin Southwick
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

I have found that many people I work with struggle to find time to spend with their loved ones. Busy family schedules add to the feeling of impossibility and stress of creating family time together.

However, I think what’s most important is not the quantity of time, but the “quality of time”.

Consider these 3 suggestions to help you create quality family time:

1. Family Dinner Nights

Although schedules can be tricky, make it a priority to have at least three dinners together a week. This will be a great way to catch up on each other’s day-to-day life. It is essential during this time to turn the cell phone and TV off, and put Facebook away!

Use this time to talk with each other and open the lines of communication between family members. Ask each person to discuss what’s important to him or her or something special about his or her week. This is a great time for parents to acknowledge their children and each other for their successes.

One way to engage the entire family is to have each person take a turn choosing his/ her favorite meal and help prepare it. If weekdays are a bit hard to get everyone around the dinner table, take advantage of free time during weekends. This will build a wonderful family tradition that your children will look back on and cherish. And who knows…one day they may even continue the tradition with their own families!

2. Family Trips

Traditional weeklong family vacations may be difficult to take during this economic downturn. However, family trips are a wonderful way to bond, create memories and are something all family members look forward to.

A simple, fun and less expensive alternative may be a weekend trip. Or consider less expensive outings, such as camping. You can always pitch a tent in a back yard or even your living room for a fun adventure!

Encourage everyone to participate in all the details from planning through execution so that they feel their suggestions are important and validated.

3. Family Nights

Planning a weekly evening with the family can be relaxing and enjoyable. Renting movies, playing games, going for bike rides or to the park, picnicking at the beach, attending local sporting events are just some ideas. Allow each member a chance to pick an activity so his or her interest is recognized. This insures that every family member feels included and equally important.

I hope these suggestions spark some creative ideas to help you easily plan and enjoy time with your family. With a little thought, family time can be fun and exciting, without spending a lot of money.

No matter how you decide to spend time with your loved ones, remember to talk, laugh, and turn off all the distractions around you.

Not only will this improve the “quality” of those precious moments, but it let’s all family members know that you cherish your time together!

Kristin Southwick is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the CA Board of Behavioral Science and received her Master’s from John F. Kennedy University. She has a private practice in San Francisco and Burlingame.

Kristin believes therapy is a meaningful experience that offers a supportive and confidential space to explore aspects of one’s life and relationships. She provides brief and long term counseling services to children, adolescent, adults, couples, and families. For more information regarding Kristin’s practice, please visit her website, KristinSouthwick.com.

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Astrology: Cancer Excels in Emotional Intelligence

SFWJ — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:21:04 +0000

Jamie Kahl

Do you know why Cancers (June 21-July 21) are so lovable? Emotional intelligence, that’s why! This sensitive Water sign quickly learns that life is all about feelings. Here’s just some of the great stuff Cancers learn as they swim through life’s waters.

by Jamie Kahl , Astrologer

Know What You are Feeling

One of the first and best pieces of knowledge that a smart Cancer learns is how to tell the difference between an emotion, an intuition and a mood. An emotion is any feeling you have. An intuition is a feeling you should pay attention to, even if you don’t know why you are having it, because it’s trying to guide you. A mood is a passing feeling that you don’t want to act on, because such impulses lead to bad choices.

Smart Cancers know the difference!

Manage Your Emotions

Knowing how to manage your own emotions springs directly from knowing the differences between kinds of emotions. When you know why you feel what you feel, then it’s easy to know what you should do about that (or not).

Suppose you just met someone and you took an instant dislike to him. Is that because there’s something creepy about him or is that because you’re in a sensitive mood or is that because they remind you of somebody who was mean to you years ago?

Each situation calls for a different response and you need to know how to choose.

Sympathy and Empathy

An emotionally intelligent Cancer is adept at sympathizing and empathizing with the emotions of others. Cancers are naturally supportive and sympathetic, which gives them an edge when it comes to establishing rapport and connecting with others. Being able to feel-with and feel-for others binds them to you.

Cancers are great bonders.

Cancers Value Love

Cancers value love and the ability to love above being right or being strong. They are not usually stoic people. A Cancer would usually rather be connected to someone they love, even if that connection is painful, than be shut out. Cancers are not usually interested in superiority or in dominating (unless they’ve got a Leo streak).

Loving, connecting and bonding and feeling-with are high on their value scale.

Channel Emotions in Ways that Make a Difference

As a Cancer matures, she becomes able to channel emotions into life in ways that make a difference. As soon as she’s comfortably situated, or at least oriented (and sometimes even before!) she looks around for things that need nurturing and she begins pouring love, care and thoughtfulness into those things. And whether those things include babies, gardens, businesses, projects, people or pets, under the loving gentle rain of Cancerian care, they cannot help but blossom.

It’s not necessary to have your Sun, Moon or Rising in Cancer to develop intuitive ability. Every human being alive has Cancerian emotional intelligence. Cultivate yours and watch your world flower!

* You don’t have to be a Cancer to be a Cancer type. That’s because you could be a Leo (or any other sign) yet have a bunch of planets in your chart in Cancer—enough to tip the balance and leave you feeling more like Crab than Lion.

Read more about Cancer on Jamie’s Astrology and Personal Empowerment blog.

And if you’re not a Cancer, check out Jamie’s other articles on Gemini, Taurus and Aries!

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Life Balance: Making Time for YOU!

SFWJ — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:12:18 +0000

Every time you board a plane, you hear the stewardess instruct you to put your own air mask on before helping those seated around you. Many women feel an instinctual desire to help their children and others first.

However the words of the stewardess turn out to be vital…not only in the event of emergencies but also in your daily life.

by Kristin Southwick
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

You must help yourself first in order to be available and effective…
for those around you!

This is part 2 of a 4 part series on creating life balance. Last month we talked about the Juggling Act between work and home. In this article we’ll talk about an important part of life blance…finding time to nurture and care for yourself.

Consider this, when you are exhausted or overwhelmed, do you feel as though you have the same level of patience or desire to meet the needs of those around you?

Many women may feel guilty about taking care of themselves, or feel that they can’t spare any extra time to attend to their own needs. But if you take time to respect and listen to your body, you’ll have more energy, optimism, and patience for others. You’ll feel less depleted and will be able to create more balance in your life.

Following are 3 simple steps to help you make time to nurture yourself.

1. What’s Important to YOU

Think about what’s important to you…something you love that you don’t get enough of. Maybe you wish you had time to practice yoga, go to the gym, read a book, have a coffee date with friends, take a walk around your neighborhood, or indulge in warm bath with a glass of wine before bed.

These are all simple basic needs that are positive and healthy for the body, mind, and soul.

2. Consider Your Schedule

Once you discover what you would like to do to pamper yourself, consider your schedule.

How much time you would like to take to enjoy yourself so that you get a sense of fulfillment?

For example if it’s going to the gym, figure out what time of day would be best, morning before you get lost in the activities of the day, or maybe lunch time. Perhaps evenings or weekends would work better for you. Decide how long you want to stay, and how many times a week you feel you could participate. You might decide to take an hour right after work twice a week while your children are at day care.

3. Get the Support You Need

Now, talk to your partner about times during the week that each of you could plan something for yourself.

Brainstorm ways you can support each other without the guilt that sometimes comes with putting your needs first.

Perhaps your partner can watch the children so that you can pursue something that relaxes you. It’s so important to communicate with your partner as to what your needs are, and how taking time for yourself will help you and your relationship with those around you.

If you don’t have a partner, ask a family member, neighbor, or make arrangements to extend day care for an extra hour once week. Remember, if people offer to help you, take them up on their offers. They would not offer if they didn’t want to support you.

I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration to plan something for yourself that you love and are passionate about. Taking care of yourself helps you be a better partner, mother, friend, career women, and person.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like Part 3: Creating Quality Family Time!

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Shift to a Brighter Perspective by Taking the Bigger View!

SFWJ — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:55:17 +0000

Do you ever have those days where you had every intention of doing the ‘right’ thing yet nothing went as planned …. Or even worse, it went ‘wrong’.

by Nikki Anderson
Founding Partner and Coach at Think Feel Know

Today was ONE of Those Days!

Today was one of those days for me. First it was an exchange with my boyfriend that was meant to be warm and fuzzy and instead was cranky and disgruntled. Then I was told that something I did wasn’t satisfactory to someone else when I ‘know’ I went above and beyond to deliver excellence to this person.

Then I accidentally sent an email to the wrong person…. And, the icing on the cake was burning part of my dinner (that I was going to serve to my boyfriend too).

It truly was one of ‘those’ days. Thankfully, no one was hurt and nothing was life threatening to myself or anyone else involved. Yet, when I’m in the throws of a day like this, it can seem like everything is bad and all hope is lost…d-r-a-m-a! Yes, it can feel very emotional.

Shift into a Brighter Spot by Taking the Bigger View!

What I’ve learned over time is we ALL have days like this and sometimes even weeks …It’s life!

No matter who you are, how much money you have, how great your sweetie is or how much you love your job – we ALL have days we’d like to order a “do over!”

I’ve also learned that taking a bigger view on my life will shift things into a brighter perspective. For example, does burning a part of dinner for my boyfriend mean that we’re going to split up? NO. In fact, we laugh over it ….and as it turns out he prefers to cook for us.

And, do many of my clients enjoy and get great value from my services? YES. And, in fact, many refer me to others in their network. Most important, am I healthy with wonderful friends and family in my life? Yes, blessed beyond belief.

Focus on the Whole Truth…versus the Small Stuff

In other words, focus on the WHOLE truth. There’s a bigger picture to every situation.

Yes, it is easy it is to get side swiped and carried away with things that go wrong and turn the feelings into a global perspective making EVERYTHING in your life seem bad/wrong….which, of course, is never true.

In the end, all is fine as long as I can remember that it’s small stuff…it’s ALL small stuff. I’m ok, you’re ok … we’re all doing our best and some days are going to be ‘those’ kind of days.

Here’s to the EZ days,

Nikki

Nikki Anderson is a founding partner and a coach within Think Feel Know, USA. Her specialty is working with entrepreneurs, executive women, teams within small to medium sized businesses that are ready to grow to the next level. She is skilled at coaching individuals and groups and facilitating workshops, trainings and meetings to elicit connection, unity and clarity, resulting in forward action and bottom-line results.
Nikki is passionate about many things in her life although, at the core are health and wellness – her foundation. She is active in 12-step recovery work and is passionate about helping others to not only overcome their addictions but also to thrive in their life. You can learn more by visiting CoachNikki and ThinkFeelKnow.

If you enjoyed this article and want to share it with a friend or the world:) …it’s easy. Click on the Share/Save button and you can e-mail, Tweet or Bookmark it!

Success Tool: Step beyond Exam Anxiety with Hypnotherapy!

SFWJ — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:26:00 +0000

This week a wonderful email landed in my inbox. It was Annie announcing the opening of her acupuncture office. She’d achieved her dream! And hypnotherapy helped make it come true.

byJane Ransom, Certified Hypnotherapist

Exam Anxiety Blocks Achievement of…
Your Goals

More than a year ago, Annie had failed the state board exam for acupuncture. The day-long test is notoriously hard. Many people fail it the first time around. But Annie is a highly self-disciplined and intelligent young woman who knew the material inside out.

Her problem was exam anxiety. And so, last December, she came to see me. She was signed up to retake the state boards in February, and wanted to know if hypnosis could dispel her anxiety. Short answer: Yes!

Some people suffer their whole lives from exam anxiety. Occasionally we can trace the cause back to a harsh upbringing. But just as often, there’s no clear origin; the fear takes on a life of its own. Indeed, it usually gets worse with time.

How Anxiety Takes Control of Your Mind

Whenever the person goes to take an exam, their sympathetic nervous system kicks in, putting the test-taker into “fight-flight” mode. Their heart speeds up, they perspire, their blood rushes to their inner organs. This is helpful if you’re in mortal combat or fleeing a saber-toothed tiger. But it’s no good for focusing your logical mind or accessing memory.

Each time the experience reoccurs, the subconscious mind forms a stronger association between exam-taking and “fight-flight.” A snowball effect occurs. Soon the anxiety is triggered when the sufferer merely thinks about taking an exam! Even studying becomes fraught with fear. The constant anxiety causes exhaustion, yet sleep can become elusive as insomnia adds to the snowball.

Annie’s doctor had prescribed Paxil to quiet her nerves, but the drug impaired her ability to concentrate. As her date to retake the exam approached, she was going off the Paxil and she wanted my help. We began in December with a two-hour session to condition her to sleep well at night without drugs. We agreed she’d come back in January to begin five weekly sessions to prepare for the exam.

Retraining Your Subconscious Mind

During each session we “desensitized” her to studying and test-taking. In every session, I had her visualize in great detail her studying routine and the day-long exam. The key was having her imaginatively experience those events while in a state of deep relaxation induced by hypnosis.

In that manner, I coaxed her subconscious mind to let go of the negative association between test-taking and anxiety, and to replace it with a positive association involving relaxation. Her subconscious mind learned to associate studying and test-taking with relaxation, mental focus and recall.

On the day of the actual exam, Annie felt calm and confident, able to access her full mental powers. By the end of the day, she knew she’d passed. Weeks later when scores were officially announced, she called to share the good news.

Ecstatic, she exclaimed, “This is the beginning of my new life!” It will be, among other things, a life free of exam anxiety.
Jane Ransom, MA, C.Ht., conducts hypnotherapy sessions in her downtown San Francisco office, as well as by phone and online web-cam. She helps clients with a multitude of health issues, including weight loss, chronic pain and smoking cessation, and she also leads clients to achieve career, sports and artistic success.

As a public speaker, Jane offers talks and workshops on how to boost self-confidence and motivation, improve relationships and invite inspiration. For more information, please visit Jane’s website, HypnotherapyThatWorks.

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The Art of Trusting the Process!

SFWJ — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:51:01 +0000

Do you ever find yourself losing sleep over whether things in your life are going to work out? Whether it’s a relationship that you’ve been investing time and energy into for the past year or a business deal that could net a great sum of money…there are periods, sometimes brief, sometimes not where you are left in a space of ‘not knowing’.

by Nikki Anderson
Founding Partner and Coach at Think Feel Know

Panic or Trust the Process

It is in this space that you can choose to either panic or trust the process. For many, myself included, knowing how something will turn out gives a sense of security and confidence.

But really, how do we ever really know how something will turn out? Why is it that there are some circumstances in life where we have more confidence in the outcome and others we are forced to have faith?

Confidence and Experience Build Trust in the Process

I believe we all have areas in our lives where we are more confident in our abilities. We have accumulated enough experience to trust ourselves and the process. And there are other areas where our experience is limited or we are more stunted in spiritual maturity.

For example I know some people who have very little fear when it comes to finding well paying employment. Yet they are constantly fretting over not having a partner in their lives and have very little faith they will ever find their match. For others it’s the opposite.

There are places of less confidence and less ‘knowing’ for each person. I believe this is because, as one friend put it, “if we knew the answers to everything we’d never have to ask for help.” And, if we never had to ask for help from one another or from our spiritual guide we’d miss the opportunity to grow.

Not Knowing is Thrilling to Children

Small children move through the world not knowing. In fact they wake up each day not knowing what will happen and it thrills them…they stay curious and in wonder. Maybe there is something for us to learn from children. Perhaps it’s to stay curious, open and intrigued by what life brings us.

We do have a choice…to be in fear and panic OR trust that something much bigger is at work and in the end it really will ALL work out! Maybe not the way we picture it, but it will ALL work out.

Relax. Trust. Enjoy!Nikki is passionate about many things in her life although, at the core are health and wellness – her foundation. She is active in 12-step recovery work and is passionate about helping others to not only overcome their addictions but also to thrive in their life. You can learn more by visiting CoachNikki and ThinkFeelKnow.

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5 Ways Taurus Finds Inner Peace

SFWJ — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:20:25 +0000

Why does the zodiac’s second sign Taurus (April 19-May 19) have such a lock on inner peace? In today’s article, find out why and how you can too.

by Jamie Kahl
Astrologer

1. Stillness…Taurus is not only capable of it, Taurus revels in it.

This ability to be the eye in the storm, the rock everyone can cling to, the still point of the ultimate balance is the envy of all the other signs (especially Librans). How does Taurus do it? The secret is that Taurus loves to stop moving and simply be still.

Your friendly neighborhood Taurean type resembles Newton’s Laws of Motion: Taurus is static, unmoved except by an outside force; they tend to go in the direction they’re moved until stopped or slowed by (again) an outside force; and every action causes an equal and opposite reaction. Ponder that next time you ask a Taurus to do something for you.

2. Yoga…The practice of gentle stretching is good for the Taurean soul as well as the body.

Not-for-Taurus are those high-impact, high-energy workouts that bring sweat and require uncomfortable bras. The sheer slowness of yoga is soothing. And if that wasn’t enough, doing yoga means engaging in a practice that brings flexibility to this sometimes very stubborn Fixed sign.

3. Simple Pleasures…Taurus is endlessly entertained by the small, immediate yummies of life.

The Taurus type loves things—expensive things, shiny things, lots of things, quality things but definitely things. Taurus loves well-crafted objects, fabric with a good drape, food with subtle flavors and lovely smells. Even earthy smells—such as a freshly plowed field—can bring secret nostalgic delight to a Taurean (“ahh, the farms where I grew up. . .”). Taureans are earthy creatures and this world is full of sensory delights for them to enjoy. Where’s the nearest flower?

4. Body awareness… A Taurus who is living the best of this sign is really in touch with her body.

She loves her body and her body gives her good messages. It’s not easy to cultivate real body awareness in this modern world, with its continual barrage of sexual images, but the Taurus side of us can do it, needs to do it. A woman who’s really in her body knows when something feels wrong. And when something is wrong she has to set it right or she’s just not comfortable in her skin.

The enlightened Taurus is not distracted by bling or pulled off center by men’s offers to “take care of her.” Instead she checks with her abdominal compass and holds her own dignified center.

5. Low Tolerance for Drama…And here we get to the heart of it.

The Taurus part of us is very much a practical person. Unnecessary shouting (and to Taurus, all shouting is unnecessary) is met with raised eyebrows. Willful pushing and manipulations are useless, because Taurus has grappled with some of the finest manipulators ever (perhaps they are attracted to the challenge). And when you get out the really big guns and throw a screaming hissy fit in front of a crowd of people, hoping to embarrass a Taurus into capitulation, you can almost see those heels dig in. And once that happens, forget it. To Taurus, you just look crazy.

To Taurus, drama is ridiculous. Gentleness and reason will always work far more effectively with a Taurus of any age. And this keeps life simple—exactly the way Taurus likes it.

And if you’re not a Taurus or just curious to learn more about astrology, check out last months article on 5 Ways Aries Stays Young Forever!

Read more about Taurus on Jamie’s Astrology and Personal Empowerment blog.

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Take a Walk on the Bright Side!

SFWJ — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:23:56 +0000

Put on your sunglasses…it’s time to take a walk on the bright side! What you think, feel and how you react to all of your life events determine your enjoyment or lack of it in your life.

by Lisa Lewis

This seemingly simple statement is actually an exciting way each of us can make small changes every day that cumulatively, will absolutely change your life for the better!

What Happens When You Run Into a Detour?

How do you react when you run into snags, detours or “situations”, (which usually means the outcome, no matter how temporary, is not to your liking)? What are the first things that cross your mind when things don’t go exactly as planned?

This momentary view into your own pattern of thinking can be one of the most revealing insights into how well you deal with life. It also gives insight into whether you are more of a pessimist or an optimist.

Take a step back and notice, just notice, what your thoughts are when you start to feel uneasy in any way.

“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better.” Jim Rohn

Your Attitude Determines Your Life

You cannot control the situation or the happenstance of everything, but you can control your attitude towards it. And that attitude will greatly determine how you feel about a situation and cumulatively…your life!

Knowing that, aren’t you excited that you can immediately increase the quality and joy of your life just by changing what you think?

Easier said than done! Never the less, well worth the effort.

Have you ever spent time with a person who is just filled with joy, light and love? One who doesn’t get rattled by the minor incidents that sometimes cause other people to completely lose it?

These people have found a way to understand that feeling good is all that matters and when you think thoughts that make you feel good … you feel good. You feel as if you are taking a walk down a wooded path in the middle of spring and the flowers are all blooming and the air smells so sweet… and you have nowhere else to be but right here right now! You feel like everything is well.

Start Today and Improve Your Life

That’s a nice feeling and one that you can achieve also, starting today! All you need to do is look inward and see if your thoughts make you feel good about what’s happening or not. And if not, then choose to improve your situation by shifting your thoughts and attitude so that you can see the situation in a different light…one that makes you feel good.

Lisa Lewis has gone from life in the FAT lane to life in the FAST lane through a remarkable renovation of the body and the mind. She is a certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant and an Independent Associate with Isagenix International. Lisa is the author of “ Being Fat Sucks!” and is dedicated to causing a breakthrough in people’s health and well being. Please contact Lisa for more information.

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