Ariane's Change Secrets2010-10-04T00:00:00Zhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets.htmlFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.comChats About Changehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/10/04.atom2010-10-04T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>If you're having trouble initiating or navigating your way through change, watch my series of videos with <em>Guidepost</em>'s Editor-in-Chief, Edward Grinnan. For example, I answer that ever-elusive question, how do you get started? It may not be how you think.<br />
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The very first step in making any change is believing that you can change. Unfortunately, most people don't believe that they can. Perhaps they've tried before and failed, or they're surrounded by people who don't believe they can change—basically, their environment is not setting them up to be successful.<br />
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Change is not about actions. The actions of quitting smoking, leaving a relationship, losing weight, etc are easy. It's the emotions that get in the way in the form of excuses—I'm too old, I'm too young, it's going to take time, it's going to be painful, it's going to cost money, someone's going to be upset, it</p>
<p>'s not my nature and so on. People need to get honest and ask, what’s the excuse I keep clinging to? Most likely, that excuse is what's stopping you from believing in yourself, and ultimately, from making that change.<br />
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Watch <a href="http://www.guideposts.org/video/personal-growth/personal-growth-tips-ariane-de-bonvoisin">the entire series of videos with Edward Grinnan here</a>:<br />
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Also, pick up a copy of my book, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/book"><em>The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier</em></a>, if you haven't already...perhaps for a friend. We all know someone who is in the middle of a break up, a job loss or some other life change.</p> A Free Gifthttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/09/27.atom2010-09-27T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>I recently was asked by the new Nate Berkus Show -- Nate is Oprah's design expert and regular contributor -- to be part of their Get Ahead Campaign: Get ahead of stress, bills, laundry, your next resolutions, basically anything that you're putting off or dreading starting. So I figured let's make a calendar with a little tip, quote, question, and something inspiring that we can print out and read daily. As you will see, Nate's web folks did a great job designing the calendar.<br />
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So, <a href="http://www.thenateshow.com/nate/docs/PDF-TipADayFromAriane.pdf">here it is</a> for free for you. Put it up in your bathroom, on your fridge or in your office. We have so many distractions, so much busyness, it's no wonder we spend so little time on what we all know needs to get done. <br />
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Having a hard time getting started? Not sure how to make the right decision? <a href="http://www.thenateshow.com/nate/docs/PDF-TipADayFromAriane.pdf">Click on the 30 short tips</a>.</p>
<p>Please feel free to pass this onto friends and family as well.</p> Talk to Ushttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/09/23.atom2010-09-23T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Whether you've recently gone through a difficult change, or you're in the middle of one, visit the Talk to Us section of our web site for questions and advice on every kind of life change-from losing your job to embarking on a new weight-loss plan to improving your sex life-all written by people just like you.<br />
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Did you just make it through a difficult change? Click Share Your Story and share the lessons you learned along the way. One piece of advice from you might be worth more to someone than an entire book by a so-called expert. You've lived through it, after all.<br />
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If you're facing a difficult transition, share what's going on for you. Ask a question or express your feelings. There's always someone in the community ready to offer advice, and I make it a point personally to write back to people.<br />
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When you ask for help, you show others that they aren't alone, and when you share a positive outcome, you offer hope to those who need it most. Either way, we hope you'll <a href="http://www.first30days.com/ariane/shared_stories">talk to us</a>. You'll feel good knowing that you're making others' lives just a little bit easier-yours included.</p> Bringing Back Meaning into Our Liveshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/09/13.atom2010-09-13T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>There's a deep longing that stirs beneath the surface of our lives—the desire for our lives and work to matter, for there to be true meaning in who we are and what we do. How do we bring this meaning into our lives?<br />
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<em>Slow down and stop your crazy deadlines.</em><br />
When we slow down, we see meaning in everything—a gesture, an animal, a sunset. Stop looking at your watch or your age for direction. There's another part of you, your intuition, that knows what really matters and can offer you peace, tranquility and wisdom. People who reach their goals and find true meaning in their lives give themselves twice as long and don't base their lives on a few numbers.<br />
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Know why you do what you do and you will have a sense of purpose and direction.</em><br />
When was the last time you asked yourself a deeper question: Why am I here? What matters? What’s a good use of my time? When you are constantly learning, questioning and growing, rather than trying to keep everything the same, life feels full of meaning.<br />
<em><br />
Surround yourself with people who are motivated and meaningful to you.</em><br />
The biggest influences on your life are the five people you spend the most time with. Who are your five? Are they optimists or complainers? Do they want you to change, or do they try to keep you the same? Write down and share your plan of action with others, consciously surrounding yourself with the people who will hold you to your new standard.<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/09/bringing-back-meaning-into-our-lives/">more ways to bring meaning back into your life here</a>.</p> The Largest Virtual Peace Summit Ever Created!http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/09/07.atom2010-09-07T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>I just signed up for <a href="https://shiftnetwork.infusionsoft.com/go/pwk/f30d">PeaceWeek</a>, the largest virtual peace summit ever created, with more than 50 global peacebuilders helping us make the shift to a culture of peace. Please join me for this inspirational event beginning on September 14th and culminating with the International Day of Peace on September 21st!<br />
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The summit is totally free and will feature leaders from around the world, such as the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Aqeela Sherrils, Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Shiva Rea, and Ambassador John McDonald. You'll hear about groundbreaking work from Israel to Sri Lanka to Watts, as well as emerging innovations such as a Peace Academy and the Youth Promise Act. You'll also learn powerful peace practices at the personal and community level.<br />
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Listen to as many or as few calls as you'd like. Calls are taped, so you can always catch up with the ones you miss later.<br />
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This should be <a href="https://shiftnetwork.infusionsoft.com/go/pwk/f30d">a fantastic event</a>! Please forward this invite to friends and others who may be interested in joining this global movement of peace pioneers!</p> Make the Next Half of Your Life the Besthttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/08/30.atom2010-08-30T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>You can make the second half of your life the best half! Many people spend the first 30/40 years getting ready—getting educated, trying things, establishing relationships, building careers, and so on—but then they begin to wonder. How can I have more meaning in my life? Why does this not feel good?<br />
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In a recent interview with life coach, Cynthia Freeman, I explain that the best change to make is to ask yourself, what do I now want to become? What do I want this life to be about? How can I raise the quality of my life not by <em>fixing</em> something, but by discovering the truth about life itself? Amazingly, when success is no longer about money, being special, or getting love and approval, your life will transform.<br />
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We also discuss the following questions:<br />
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- What changes do I see people going through now?<br />
- What's missing in our lives and how do we find it?<br />
- What questions do we need to be asking ourselves?<br />
- If we're overwhelmed, how do we start?<br />
- What holds us back from change?<br />
- What are the clues that show up in someone who is good at making changes?<br />
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To listen to the entire interview, <a href="http://cfreeman.audioacrobat.com/download/ArianedeBonvoisin.mp3">click here</a>.</p> A Truly Inspiring Story of Changehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/08/23.atom2010-08-23T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Walking away from a job or a living situation to follow your dreams can seem terrifying until you consider the alternative—a life of unhappiness and unfulfilled dreams. Former lawyer, Wani Manly, simply reached a point where living in survival mode was no longer an option. "I was beyond miserable," she recalls. "I decided that…2010 would be the year I would turn my life around."<br />
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Tired of pretending that all was well while not having the life that she imagined, Manly gave up her contract legal assignments to pursue her heart's inspiration: working for the UN and other non-governmental organizations. Almost immediately, doors began to open, and she knew intuitively that she had done the right thing. "Not only did I land on my feet," she says of her leap of faith, "but I'm proud to say that today, I've grown wings and have begun to soar." <br />
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Manly says that her blog, "Coming our of Survival," came to her one night in January as her life's purpose. Through sharing her own experiences of transformation, she hopes to help others transform their lives as well.<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/profiles-of-change">more about Wani Manly in our Profiles of Change gallery</a>.</p> Be the Best You, Make It through a Breakup and Talk to Kids about Moneyhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/08/16.atom2010-08-16T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p><em>You Get to Be You. How Great is That?</em><br />
It's up to you to determine who you are, what you want to do, how you want to live and where life should take you. Motivational speaker, Jay Forte, offers <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/07/you-get-to-be-you-how-great-is-that/">five suggestions for starting each day</a> to live your best life.<br />
<em><br />
Healthy Review vs. Unhealthy Obsession</em><br />
To make it through your next painful breakup, know the difference between reviewing and obsessing. A healthy review helps you understand what went wrong, so you can let go; unhealthy obsession—asking yourself the same, useless questions over and over—only creates more suffering. Relationship expert, Susan J. Elliott, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/08/healthy-review-versus-unhealthy-obsession/">explains the differences here</a>.<br />
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<em>Big Changes in the Little House</em><br />
While it isn't easy to discuss financial difficulties with children, avoiding the truth only makes them more anxious. All children really need to know is that they're loved and protected. Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/08/big-changes-in-the-little-house/">Dr. Maria Laura Ortner's tips</a> on discussing tough financial times with your children here. <LINK: http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/08/big-changes-in-the-little-house/><br />
</p> Free Telesummit with Eight Experts Who Will Change Your Life!http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/08/12.atom2010-08-12T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Does your life need a jumpstart in the areas of career, relationships or personal fulfillment? Join me for the FREE Dynamic Life Tele-summit August 16-19 and August 23-26 at 5pm EST. Listen for an hour a day as eight global experts share their secrets on anti-aging, prosperity, relationships, inner peace and my personal favorite, change.<br />
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Among other things, you'll learn to:<br />
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- Identify and design the life you truly desire<br />
- Find your way to financial freedom by eliminating debt in as few as five to seven years<br />
- Accept aging with grace and vitality and understand bioidentical hormone replacement therapy<br />
- Prepare your mind, body, home and spirit for the soul mate your heart desires<br />
- Navigate your way through life's changes, unpredictable transitions and tough decisions<br />
- Deepen your sense of inner well-being and emotional fulfillment<br />
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This event is organized by a good friend of mine, Cynthia Freeman whom I've known for nearly 20 years. So I know with my heart, this event is going to be good.</p>
<p>I will be speaking on Wednesday, August 25th. To register or for more information, <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1228737">click here</a>. I can't wait to "see" you there!</p> Wisdom from Some of our Expertshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/08/02.atom2010-08-02T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Here's what's going on with our expert bloggers:<br />
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1) The Power of Getting Real<br />
Motivational speaker, Mike Robbins, invites you to try the "If You Really Knew Me" exercise: In a small group, give each person a minute or two to complete the sentence, "If you really knew me, you'd know…," with things that are real, vulnerable, and below the surface (thoughts, feelings, dreams, insecurities, opinions, experiences, passions, challenges, and so on). Getting real is "one of the most meaningful, rewarding, and connective experiences we can have with other human beings," says Robbins. <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/07/the-power-of-getting-real/">Read more here</a>.<br />
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2) 5000 Synapses in the Width of a Hair<br />
Small changes in daily activities—meditating instead of sleeping in, driving a cab instead of working in an office—can make changes in the brain that seem small but actually create big changes in the mind. Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/07/5000-synapses-in-the-width-of-a-hair/">more brain wisdom from Rick Hanson</a>, Ph.D. here and in <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/07/the-brain-in-a-bucket/">his previous blog post</a>.<br />
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3) Coming Out of Survival: The Path<br />
Imagine there is such a thing called happiness and it's not just a fleeting moments or isolated incidents.<br />
Imagine Joy. Pure immense Joy.<br />
Imagine living from a place of inspiration, not desperation and all the time.<br />
Imagine knowing and understanding how Life really works and living it.<br />
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Read the rest of <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/07/coming-out-of-survival-the-path/">Wani Manly’s inspirational poem</a> here.<br />
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If you'd like to be featured as one of our bloggers, please send an email to allan@first30days.com.</p> Please Come to My Kripalu Workshop!http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/07/26.atom2010-07-26T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Do you wish you were better able to handle the tough changes that come your way and to pursue the changes you've always dreamed of? Then come to my workshop at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, <em>The Nine Principles of Change: How to Make or Face Any Life Change with Optimism</em>, from September 10-12, 2010. Breathe new light into your life amidst the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts as you drop your resistance to change and discover:<br />
</p>
<ul>
<li>The nine principles of change</li>
<li>The beliefs of a "change optimist"</li>
<li>How to find your "change muscle"</li>
<li>Ways to recognize and overcome your "change demons," those negative emotions that hold you back</li>
<li>How to create your change-support team</li>
<li>Your spiritual essence and how you can walk the spiritual path as you go through life changes</li>
</ul>
<p> <br />
Leave with a sense of peace, hope and strength, as well as the wisdom and skills to guide you through a lifetime of change.<br />
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To register, or for more information, <a href="http://www.kripalu.org/program/view/LCO-101/the_nine_principles_of_change_how_to_make_or_face">click here</a>.</p> What No One Tells You about Artificial Sugarshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/07/19.atom2010-07-19T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Aspartame may be one of the most thoroughly tested food additives, but is it really safe? A new video documentary by PEERS (Public Education and Empowerment Resource Service), Sweet Misery, outlines the dangers of this artificial sweetener. Everyone should have this information to make an informed choice.<br />
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DID YOU KNOW?<br />
- There has been an increase in brain cancer and brain disorders since 1984. (The U.S. population began ingesting significant quantities of aspartame in 1983.)<br />
- Aspartame affects protein synthesis and how the synapse operates in the brain and DNA, accordingly, most aspartame-based symptoms are related to the nervous system.<br />
- Only a small percentage of users have an immediate reaction to aspartame. The rest experience a slow accumulation of toxins in the body that can begin to disrupt the normal activity of the brain and the endocrine system.<br />
- Almost all studies attesting to aspartame's safety were funded by the industry (NutraSweet, diet soft drinks, etc.). Virtually every independent study has identified one type of problem or another with this additive.<br />
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<a href="http://www.personalgrowthcourses.net/video/aspartame_dangers">Watch the entire video here</a>.</p>
<p>Please feel free to pass this onto friends or anyone you think will benefit from it.</p> Dear Friends and Fellow Change Optimistshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/07/01.atom2010-07-01T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>After two incredible years of sending out hundreds of thousands of Change Secrets emails, I've decided that it's time for a change: On July 1, I will stop our daily correspondence. All great things come to an end and something new follows. Or, in the words of The Change Guarantee, "from this change, something good will come."<br />
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There are many reasons for my decision, including your feedback. Some of you have shared that a daily email is too much to think about, or that you can't find time to listen to interviews, or that not all topics are relevant. I respect all of your opinions.<br />
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My personal reason is that I've been working on some new teachings and a new book and would like to commit to the call of my heart's inspiration. I am feeling guided to dive more deeply into the spiritual path, write about it and eventually speak and teach about what I've learned.<br />
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Later this summer, I will unveil a new site dedicated to those who want to stay connected to being in this world, through everything from their work to their relationships. Please help spread the word to anyone you know who is looking for a group of people with what I affectionately call, "A Foot in Both Worlds." You can sign up at <a href="http://www.arianestudio.com">www.arianestudio.com</a>.<br />
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If you're wondering what will happen with the daily emails, beginning July 1, we will maintain a newsletter-type connection with those of you who want to continue. You'll hear from us once a week or whenever we feel that there is some fantastic new content, an expert blog post, a must-read story, or an upcoming event that I'll be attending or hosting.<br />
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If you don't want to continue to receive mailings from us, this is a good time to say goodbye and we wish you well. (You may click here to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/suppress/0/1359002/130/3f560f4e57a413755c0e1c701e955532">unsubscribe now</a>.)<br />
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Of course, the <a href="http://www.first30days.com">www.first30days.com</a> site will remain a community of support, inspiration and information, offering regularly updated content, expert advice and resources to anyone going through a change.<br />
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Blessings and gratitude for what we've all been through together, <br />
Ariane</p> What Were You Born to Do?http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/30.atom2010-06-30T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>How often have you asked yourself "what was I born to do?" Maybe this is a question that excites you or strikes fear in you. Having been through a major career transition myself, I know from my own experience how difficult change can be when you can't quite figure out what you really want to do.<br />
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The folks at <a href="http://www.threegiantleaps.com">Three Giant Leaps</a> have been helping people answer this question for years through their unique programs. Discovering work that is aligned with your deepest values, passions and purpose is the best way to ensure you love what you do and fully invest yourself in your work and career.<br />
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Laurel Donnellan, President and Co-Founder of <a href="http://www.threegiantleaps.com">Three Giant Leaps</a> has just released a book called <a href="http://tinyurl.com/26l7ubv" target="ejejcsingle"><em>Born To Do – The Practical Guide To Loving Your Work</em></a>. This practical book uses exercises from Three Giant Leaps executive programs and combines them with real-life case studies of people who have successfully made major career changes.</p>
<p>Check out <a href="http://content.first30days.com/video/first30days.mp4">my video interview with Laurel about her new book</a>.</p> The Biggest Health Care Mythshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/29.atom2010-06-29T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>When it comes to health care, one of the worst beliefs that people buy into is that medication will make you healthy. "The public is medicating itself based on ads and the media," suggests Dr. Andrew Tutino, author of <em>Stop & Think: The Seven Habits of Healthy Living</em>. "They think the medication gets rid of your symptoms and problem solved." A pill might make you feel better, but it's not making you healthy.<br />
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People also tend to equate an absence of pain or sickness with good health. "High blood pressure is not painful," Tutino reminds us. "Most cancers are not painful until you have symptoms and it's already too late."<br />
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Good health is about taking care of your body now, starting with what you're not doing—i.e., not eating five servings of fruits and veggies, drinking eight to ten glasses of water, getting an hour of exercise or sleeping eight hours each day. Tutino also advises getting away from sugar, caffeine, drugs, alcohol and toxic mental environments. "Guess what happens?" he asks, rhetorically. "You get better. It's not rocket science."<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Living Healthier, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/living-healthier/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.</p> Getting Kicked in the Head and Other Life Lessonshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/28.atom2010-06-28T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>When peak performance strategist, Renita Kalhorn, decided to pursue martial arts, it changed her life. "Martial arts training was…a profound source of lessons and references that I could translate into work, music and every aspect of life," says Kalhorn. She shares what she learned:<br />
<em><br />
1. Break down the impossible into the possible.</em> I couldn't imagine ever throwing flamboyant kicks like the higher belts, but I made incremental progress until it was me doing it.<br />
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<em>2. Feel the emotion without reacting emotionally. </em>When sparring, anger only clouds your thinking and performance suffers. I learned to process my emotions quickly and not let them dictate my actions or demeanor.<br />
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<em>3. Energy starts in the mind.</em> If I was sluggish, when one of the master teachers appeared, I would be miraculously flooded with renewed vigor—proof that the mind controls the body.<br />
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4. Persistence pays off in more ways than one.</em> If you don't break a block of five boards, you don't get your black belt. It took me five tries and hours of practice to do it, but the confidence in my ability to persist was priceless.<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/06/how-to-handle-getting-kicked-in-the-head-and-six-other-life-lessons-i-learned-from-martial-arts">Renita Kalhorn’s entire blog post</a>.</p> Career Advice from the "Passion Catalyst"http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/27.atom2010-06-27T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>There's more to finding your dream job than simply figuring out what you love and doing it. "People typically—and often erroneously—believe…that a career change is an overnight thing, where Friday night 'I'm this' and Monday morning 'I'm that,'" suggests career coach, Curt Rosengren. But "career change tends to be a long-term thing." In his experience, people tend to give up too soon.<br />
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For starters, "I can't now" doesn't mean "I can't ever." "The thing I always encourage people to do is to sit down and say, 'OK, well, when could I?'" says Rosengren. He advises defining the change you want to make and then figuring out the track you can take from where you are now.<br />
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The other thing to remember, says Rosengren, is that making a list of what you love is only a starting point and may not yield an obvious career choice. You need to ask yourself, why do I love what I love? He uses his love of travel photography as an example: "A big part of the reason of why I love it is the exploration and discovery…[which] tends to be in place whenever I'm on fire about something." Recognizing these underlying characteristics is what allows you to identify potential paths.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Finding Your Dream Job, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/finding-your-dream-job/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.</p> Gain Your Way to Better Shapehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/26.atom2010-06-26T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Getting in shape is not about what you're able to lose, but about what you gain. "People set themselves up to fail, thinking that exercise is just about weight loss," says fitness expert, Gin Miller, creator of step training. "The larger goal should be overall increased activity and movement as part of a lifestyle change." Miller offers these <em>don'ts</em> for getting in shape:<br />
<br />
- Stop making getting in shape about how you look. Genetically thin people can be as out of shape as someone who is overweight. People need to assess how their bodies function in daily activity and with occasional increases in work demand.<br />
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- Stop making comparisons, both to what you used to be able to do and to others. Just because you rode a bike everyday as a kid doesn’t mean you should start out in the Tour de France. Also, just because someone looks similar in age (or older) doesn't mean you should be able to do what they're doing.<br />
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- Stop getting information from headlines and "get results" articles. (That marketing machine is designed to sell products, books and magazines.) Put "amazing results" aside and commit to exercise for the health of it.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Getting in Shape, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/getting-in-shape/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> It Could Always Be Worse: My Change Nation Interview with Cherie Blairhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/25.atom2010-06-25T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>When you get to a place of feeling totally overwhelmed, one of the most helpful things you can do is to put things in perspective. Cherie Blair, wife of former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, says that it helps her to think of women who have had it much harder than she has, particularly her mother. "Her life was a lot harder than mine," she says, explaining that her mother worked to support two daughters after her father abandoned them. "She didn't have the resources that I have… and yet, she managed."<br />
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Blair finds great inspiration in women she has seen around the world—for example, in Rwanda or Sierra Leone—who have been through such terrible experiences as rape, genocide or losing their entire families, and who are perhaps bringing up someone else's children or struggling to bring up their own. "They have their feet panted firmly on the ground," she reports with admiration. "They're not worrying about whether their bum looks too big in whatever it is they're wearing. They're just getting on with life and doing the best for their children."<br />
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Whatever she has to suffer through, Blair reminds herself, it's nothing in comparison.<br />
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Listen to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/making-change-easier/videos/change-nation-cherie-blair-010909.html">my entire Change Nation interview with Cherie Blair</a>.</p> Three Giant Leaps: What Were You Born to Do?http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/24.atom2010-06-24T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Do you ever get the feeling that your career isn't really a good "fit" for you? You were probably taught at school and by your parents that you should move into work that's aligned with your obvious skills. However, just because you are good at your job because of those skills, it doesn't mean you love your job!<br />
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Most of us have experienced the anxiety and stress caused by not enjoying a job and for many people loving their work seems like a pipe dream. The folks at <a href="http://www.threegiantleaps.com">Three Giant Leaps</a> have developed a solution for this problem of an unfulfilling job.<br />
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The Three Giant Leaps programs focus on uncovering your hidden values, passions, purposes and talents. These are the four cornerstones on which Born to Do careers are built. It's through a deep study of "self" that your Born to Do career takes shape. Three Giant Leaps will assign to each program coaches who assess your needs immediately before and after each program. Doing so measures how close or far away you are from doing the work you were born to do. The career-change assessment is <a href="http://threegiantleaps.com/">available here</a>.<br />
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Once you have a deep knowledge of what the motivations are that make you tick, then you can easily figure out the right career for you. At that point, you'll agree. It's actually pretty easy to find your Born to Do career after you earn what the TGL coaches call a "Ph.D. in Self."<br />
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One more thing: The Three Giant Leaps are offering First 30Days readers free consultations and a 50% discount off their standard program. Call <a href="http://threegiantleaps.com/contact.php ">Three Giant Leaps</a> and mention the discount code "30 Days" to qualify for your program discount.</p> Romance Advice from the Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venushttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/23.atom2010-06-23T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>No matter how much we have or achieve in life, success is more fulfilling when we’re able to share it with another person. That's according to John Gray, best-selling author of <em>Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus</em>. He offers this advice on finding a new relationship:<br />
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- Try something new—join a club or an activity that might be different for you. New and different experiences bring out new and different parts of us, which makes us very interesting to others.<br />
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- Join a group that shares your values, such as a spiritual community. If you're political, get involved with that. If you have children, get involved in school activities, such as fundraisers and celebrations. You won't meet anyone new if you stick to your same old routine.<br />
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- Practice visualization. See yourself having fun on a good date. Imagine being in an ideal relationship without being concerned about how you're going to get there.<br />
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- Review previous relationships and the lessons you've learned. Recognizing mistakes helps you to have a better relationship next time.<br />
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- Be persistent, confident and self-assured. Those are the key ingredients.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Finding Romance, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/finding-romance/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.</p> Trust Is Granted not Earnedhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/22.atom2010-06-22T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>What if, rather than expecting others to earn our trust, we granted it freely? Trust is one of the most critical elements of healthy relationships, families, teams, organizations, and communities; and yet, as motivational speaker, Mike Robbins, points out, we tend to resist trusting others based on being burned, hurt or disappointed.<br />
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"We put up barriers to keep ourselves <em>safe</em>," says Robbins, but that "usually leaves us guarded, leery, and insecure—unable to easily create meaningful and fulfilling relationships with people." Not only that, but no matter how guarded we are, we end up getting hurt anyway.<br />
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Robbins invites us to ask ourselves, what if we were willing to make ourselves vulnerable, to count on other people in a genuine and healthy way, and to expect the best from others authentically? Yes, we might wind up hurt or let down, but this will happen anyway. More importantly, think of we stand to gain.<br />
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"The more we are willing to grant our trust consciously, the more likely we are to create a true sense of connection, cooperation, and collaboration in our lives, relationships, families, teams, and more," concludes Robbins.<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/06/trust-is-granted-not-earned">Robbins' entire blog post here</a>.</p> Your Home Will Sell Itselfhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/21.atom2010-06-21T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>One of the most important steps in selling your home is the staging—de-cluttering, cleaning and rearranging to make your home as enticing as possible to prospective homebuyers. Marcia Layton Turner, author of <em>The Complete Idiot's Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell</em>, offers these tips to help you sell your home as quickly as possible for the highest price:<br />
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- Give the impression that you are fastidious about cleaning and upkeep by paying attention to detail at the front door. Put down a new welcome mat, paint the door and trim, clean the windows, sweep the stoop, trim the bushes and add some fresh plants. <br />
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- To lessen interior odors, wash and clean bed and window coverings, open the windows for 10 minutes before a showing, put liquid cleanser in the toilet and leave it there, and add fresh flowers.<br />
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- Make sure closets aren't stuffed to the brim. It gives the impression that there isn't enough storage.<br />
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- Orient furniture to draw attention to positive features, such as architectural details, fireplaces, built-ins or an outside view. Pull back curtains and window treatments to bring in light. To draw attention to hardwood floors, pull up rugs.<br />
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- For ideas on how to arrange a room or on the type of furniture buyers respond to, flip through catalogs from Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware and so on.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Selling A Home, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/selling-a-home/tips">go to</a> and click the Yes button.<br />
</p> The Secret to Deep, Abiding Confidencehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/20.atom2010-06-20T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>If you'd like to be more confident, meditate more and gossip less. According to healer, teacher and visionary, Scott Schwenk, true confidence (as opposed to a projected image of confidence), requires an inner recognition of your true nature. The best way to experience this Truth, he says, is through consistent meditation.<br />
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"Without this constant contact" with your true nature, "you're lost," explains Schwenk. "All that's left is to negotiate and barter with the external world for temporary energy spikes, brief moments of respite through food, sex, shopping, drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and other stimulants." Like everything temporary, these things can be taken away instantly, along with your sense of self.<br />
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While meditation improves confidence, gossip hinders it. "If you listen to gossip and engage with it (internally or conversationally), your confidence can only go so deep," says Schwenk. "Gossip creates separation between people, and when you sow separation, you yourself experience separation."<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/06/harvesting-confidence/">Scott Schwenk’s entire blog post</a>.</p> Guaranteed Successful Marketing Strategyhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/19.atom2010-06-19T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>If you want your business to be more successful, start marketing from the inside out. "A great deal of time and money goes into building a brand, gaining attention, and telling a story to consumers," says motivation and productivity expert, Michelle Kerrigan. But "where’s the marketing to employees?" After all, they’re customers, too.<br />
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Customer support, in particular, should be the focus of some extra attention. Companies tend to overlook their influence on sales, but as Kerrigan points out, customer service is marketing. "Just think of all the companies you love and hate, and why, and I'll bet your customer service experience played an enormous role in making up your mind, or changing it," she reminds us.<br />
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Kerrigan advises setting up a continuous dialogue between customer service and other departments, such as marketing, product development, merchandising, and so on. In her experience, involving these agents in everything you're doing creates an amazing exchange of ideas and enthusiasm across all levels.<br />
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"The success you have with your internal audience will help you win your external one," she promises. "Satisfaction guaranteed."<br />
<br />
Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/06/marketing-from-the-inside-out-to-win-buy-in-and-succeed-at-change/">Kerrigan’s entire blog post on inside-out marketing</a>.</p> Embracing the New Midlife: My Change Nation Interview with Marianne Williamsonhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/18.atom2010-06-18T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>If middle age scares you, try reframing the experience. You may "need to transition from a sense of self as merely material to a sense of self as something way beyond" that, suggests internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher, Marianne Williamson, author of <em>The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife</em>. "A time of physical decline can be a time of spiritual incline."<br />
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The problem, says Williamson, is that we tend to derive our happiness from external factors—in this case, our physical state. "If you think that your body is the source of your good, then it scares you when your body changes," she explains. But if we can accept that nothing external is dependable (except for love given and received), we begin to relax our hold on the things that we think we need, such as youth. After that, fear melts away.<br />
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Williamson was asked what it feels like to be in the autumn of her life. "I don't have as many leaves on my tree as I used to," she answered, "but the ones I have are a lot more colorful."<br />
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Listen to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/making-change-easier/audio/change-nation-marianne-williamson-091908.html">my entire Change Nation interview with Marianne Williamson</a>.</p> Entrepreneurial Excellencehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/17.atom2010-06-17T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>One of the most important things to do as an entrepreneur is to remain humble. As I explained in an interview on the Entrepreneurial Excellence Radio Show with Frank De Raffele, I learned this lesson very quickly when first starting out.<br />
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After leaving the corporate world, my ego kept telling me, you had a big and special job, so clearly, whatever you do next also needs to be big and special. But it was when I got trapped in those ideas—I need to be big, I need to hire a lot more people, I need to get office space—that everything started going wrong!<br />
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Thinking big stops you from even doing anything. It stops you from writing an article (instead of a book), from speaking to 10 people as opposed to 10,000 people, and so on. I really had to look at these thoughts and remind myself that every entrepreneur starts small.<br />
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It's not about recognizing your gifts or not. It's about staying humble to what you're doing and why. That's when amazing things start to happen. <br />
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Listen to <a href="http://content.first30days.com/audio/arianedebonviosin2_fullshow.mp3">my entire interview on the Entrepreneurial Excellence Radio Show</a>.</p> The Miracle Is Youhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/16.atom2010-06-16T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>What if you could wake up to who you are most truly and deeply? Kute Blackson, founder of <a href="http://www.lovenowmusic.com/">the Love.Now movement</a>, wants to help you do exactly that. (His Love.Now CD includes high-frequency messages to help you break out of old patterns.) Below, he offers some inspiration:<br />
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With all the changes going on in our world, many of us are feeling fear and instability, wondering when someone is going to come and fix it all. Well guess what? You are the ONE. You are the miracle that you have been seeking. The real wonder of the world is not the pyramids, Angkor Wat, Niagara Falls, the Himalayas or the Taj Mahal, but YOU.<br />
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We seem to have lost touch with the power of Life, of the SOUL and of our very own Infinite nature. Increasingly, we have become disconnected from the flow, from our true source.<br />
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When you live in the mind you limit yourself to the known, but when you go beyond it, you access a field of pure potentiality. Then infinite creative intelligence rises to meet you in a co-creative dance. When you are in tune with yourself, miracles happen as an effortless byproduct.<br />
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Now is the time to accept, to embrace and to step into your own magnificence.</p> Dear Friends and Fellow Change Optimistshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/15.atom2010-06-15T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>After two incredible years of sending out hundreds of thousands of Change Secrets emails, I've decided that it's time for a change: On July 1, I will stop our daily correspondence. All great things come to an end and something new follows. Or, in the words of The Change Guarantee, "from this change, something good will come."<br />
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There are many reasons for my decision, including your feedback. Some of you have shared that a daily email is too much to think about, or that you can't find time to listen to interviews, or that not all topics are relevant. I respect all of your opinions.<br />
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My personal reason is that I've been working on some new teachings and a new book and would like to commit to the call of my heart's inspiration. I am feeling guided to dive more deeply into the spiritual path, write about it and eventually speak and teach about what I've learned.<br />
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Later this summer, I will unveil a new site dedicated to those who want to stay connected to being in this world, through everything from their work to their relationships. Please help spread the word to anyone you know who is looking for a group of people with what I affectionately call, "A Foot in Both Worlds." You can sign up at <a href="http://www.arianestudio.com">www.arianestudio.com</a>.<br />
<br />
If you're wondering what will happen with the daily emails, beginning July 1, we will maintain a newsletter-type connection with those of you who want to continue. You'll hear from us once a week or whenever we feel that there is some fantastic new content, an expert blog post, a must-read story, or an upcoming event that I'll be attending or hosting.<br />
<br />
If you don't want to continue to receive mailings from us, this is a good time to say goodbye and we wish you well. (You may click here to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/suppress/0/1359002/130/3f560f4e57a413755c0e1c701e955532">unsubscribe now</a>.)<br />
<br />
Of course, the <a href="http://www.first30days.com">www.first30days.com</a> site will remain a community of support, inspiration and information, offering regularly updated content, expert advice and resources to anyone going through a change.<br />
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Blessings and gratitude for what we've all been through together, <br />
Ariane</p> Teens Really Need These Threehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/14.atom2010-06-14T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>During summer break, if you want to improve your relationship with your teen, start giving them exactly what they want—deep down, that is. According to Sue Blaney, author of <em>Please Stop the Rollercoaster! How Parents of Teenagers Can Smooth Out the Ride</em>, teens need three basic things:<br />
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<em>Love:</em> Regularly express your love in ways that feel comfortable for your teen. This is especially true for teens who are uncommunicative.<br />
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<em>Boundaries:</em> Teenagers need rules for which they are held accountable. Truly, this is an expression of your love. Teens who have reasonable rules actually have better relationships with their parents than kids with no boundaries at all. Strive to find the balance between being over-protective and giving teens too much freedom.<br />
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<em>Power:</em> Allow your developing child to tune into his or her own interests and desires and practice making good decisions. One of the biggest mistakes that parents make is to jump in to solve their teen’s problems, or to tell them what to do. It’s best to act like a mentor, offering guidance when it is requested.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Improving Relationships, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/improving-relationships/tips">go to</a> and click the Yes button.</p> Top Tips for Entrepreneurshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/13.atom2010-06-13T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>The first 30 days of starting a new business is the most important time for any entrepreneur. Stephanie Chandler, Founder of BusinessInfoGuide.com, offers these tips to help you lay a foundation of success:<br />
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Learn everything you can about your industry. Education really is power. Listen to books on tape. Read business books. Talk to other business owners in your industry of interest. (Outside of your area, that is—don't expect your competition to help you get started.)<br />
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Be flexible and responsive. While you may have very specific ideas, research may lead you in another direction. Listen to what the market is telling you and don't be afraid to modify your plan as you go along.<br />
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Commit to keeping your bookkeeping records straight. Start the minute you decide to go into business—don't wait until your doors are open. One of the smartest things I did was to hire a professional bookkeeper to help build my budget during the planning stage.<br />
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Get a backup source of funding early on, in case you need it later. For example, put a home-equity line of credit in place while you're still getting a regular paycheck.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Starting a New Business, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/starting-a-new-business/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> The Best Time to Eat Chocolate Cakehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/12.atom2010-06-12T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>When it comes to living healthier, when you eat is just as important as what you eat. That's according to Marcella Vonn Harting, author of <em>Yes, No, Maybe: Chronobiotic Nutrition</em>. "It's about eating foods at a specific time based on the body's optimum utilization for the easiest digestion and for nutritional efficiency," she explains.<br />
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According to Harting, when we don't eat food at the right time, our bodies store it. "In the morning, you want to eat food that is at its peak, which is fruit and nuts," she advises. "Ideally, our nighttime foods grow under the ground, including fish and eggs, which produce melatonin" to make us sleepy "and serotonin."<br />
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There's even a right time to eat chocolate cake. "Chocolate is actually a morning food…most of the things that you would use to make a cake are really afternoon foods," Harting explains. "So, somewhere between 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. is the ideal time to eat chocolate cake or a chocolate chip cookie."<br />
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A bit skeptical? "You don’t have to believe a word I say," Harting says confidently, "just test it out."<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Living Healthier, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/living-healthier/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.</p> Win by Going Last: My Change Nation Interview with Scott Hamiltonhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/11.atom2010-06-11T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Can you really win by going last? Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton, thinks so. It's one of eight principles detailed in his book, <em>The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable)</em>. "When I look at how I've been most successful or how I've had the greatest impact in my work environment," says Hamilton, "it was by putting the spotlight on everybody else."<br />
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While every company has specific goals, without a strong team, it's really hard to micromanage everything personally. "You're not going to enjoy the process," Hamilton explains, "and at the end of the day, who are you going to share it with?" So rather than making it about him, Hamilton has always focused on allowing everybody to shine and really to enjoy their role (for example, in Stars on Ice).<br />
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It's "really the best thing you can do," he insists. "Everyone enjoys themselves a lot more and the work is better."<br />
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In the words of Harry S. Truman, "it is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."<br />
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Listen to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/being-happier/audio/change-nation-scott-hamilton-021309.html">my entire Change Nation interview with Scott Hamilton</a>.</p> Top Tips for Instant Success at Your New Jobhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/10.atom2010-06-10T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>The first 30 days of a new job are tremendously important, because they set the tone for the rest of your work life. Career expert, Roy J. Blitzer, author of <em>Find the Bathrooms First: Starting a New Job on the Right Foot</em>, recommends doing the following within the first few days of a new position:<br />
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- Come to your first day prepared. Bring something to read about the company, perhaps an annual report, and have a cell phone with you and some Post-It notes. A lot of times people forget about you on the first day.<br />
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- Collect data. Meet the people who are part of your stakeholder network. If you don't know who they are, ask someone to introduce you. Get a preview of how you are being positioned to your co-workers. Ask your boss if you can see the information he or she is using to announce you.<br />
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- Have a very important meeting with your boss. Ask "why did you hire me? What about me made you make the decision?" Once he or she tells you, try to play to that.<br />
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- Ask your co-workers, "how can I help make you or your department look good?"<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Starting a New Job, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/starting-a-new-job/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> Becoming: "The One"http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/09.atom2010-06-09T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>The quickest way to find a new relationship is to be "The One." That's according to international speaker and life coach, Bonnie Bruderer, author of <em>Becoming: "The One."</em> "Be the person you wish to attract in life," she advises. "If you want someone kind, compassionate, sexy, playful and fun, be those things."<br />
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Bruderer stresses the importance of getting your "mojo" going by doing things in your day-to-day life that make you feel alive, sexy and deserving of a relationship. "Flirt with someone at a coffee shop," she suggests. "Dress up like you have an incredible date and notice how people react to you and your energy. You will be pleasantly surprised with what shows up in your life."<br />
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As Bruderer points out, if you resonate as if you already have what you are looking for, it will be delivered to you.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Improving Relationships, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/improving-relationships/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> The Truth About Green Productshttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/08.atom2010-06-08T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>The biggest misconception about the green industry is that every product that says "green" is actually green. "There is very little oversight of the industry," explains Lawrence "Axil" Comras, creator and founder of Greenhome.com. "People assume just because [a green product] is sold that it has passed some kind of inspection or review process, and that’s not true."<br />
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With cleaning products, Comras suggests looking for the highest percentage of organic ingredients. When shopping for other items, look for a certification mark given by a trade association. He gives a few examples: "If you buy a carpet, look for Rugmark, which lets you know that the carpet has been made with sustainable materials and fair labor. Green Guard is a new label that deals with…indoor air quality. And, paint products and related products can carry the Green Seal label."<br />
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In the end, says Comras, the way someone uses a product is just as important as the product itself. "Overusing even eco-friendly laundry detergent and washing everything in hot water all the time isn't green," he points out. "Green is much more about the how than the what."<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Creating a Green Home, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/living-healthier/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> Why Are Some People So Happy...While Others Aren't?http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/07.atom2010-06-07T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>You probably know someone in your life who is just so happy that it almost doesn't seem REAL to you. They seem to have it all effortlessly. You might work harder than they do, take twice as many seminars, and practice all the right stuff, but yet that real HAPPY feeling they have, just eludes you. Or you have it for a day or two and then it FADES…darn it.<br />
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Why is that?<br />
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I asked my friend Michael Beckwith about this. (If you saw the movie The Secret, he was featured as one of the spiritual teachers). Michael is the KING of happiness. He teaches it. He lives it. He knows the "SECRET"! Here’s what he said.<br />
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"Once when I was speaking on the subject of happiness someone asked, 'Why is it that when I am doing things that are supposed to make me happier I just feel more empty?' When I asked him what those things included, he gave me a long list of activities – hobbies, working out, seminars, social outings and so on. What is clear, I shared, is that external events are neutral – they don't in themselves produce happiness.”<br />
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Then Michael said, "it's the CONSCIOUSNESS in which we participate in activities that makes the difference."<br />
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What he means is that when you start paying attention to the riches INSIDE, the riches start manifesting OUTSIDE, because you start exuding the happiness you want to attract. That’s the Law of Attraction. <br />
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Michael is a generous guy and has agreed to let me offer you his support program called <em>Living the Awakened Life</em>. You can get the VERY BEST guidance on LASTING happiness from him. <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3758513">Check it out here</a>.<br />
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He’s put together a complete package so you can get the SUPPORT you need to really master your INNER self. And I know this will help, because you can have everything there is to have, the house, the money in the bank, the car, the charming spouse, and vacations all over the world, but it’s not going to make you happy unless YOU bring your BEST SELF to it. <br />
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I trust Michael Beckwith, because <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3758513">he really LIVES his message</a>. In fact, he has founded an entire community in Los Angeles called Agape International Spiritual Center. <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3758513">Check out his complete spiritual support program</a>.</p> Your Teeth and Your Overall Healthhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/06.atom2010-06-06T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Oral health plays a bigger part in your overall health than you might think. For example, did you know that any time your gums bleed, you're weakening your immune system? "When you bleed anywhere in your mouth, think of it as an opportunity for bacteria to enter your bloodstream," says Stanton Young, D.D.S. The solution, of course, is to floss daily. Below, he shares more tips on improving dental and overall health:<br />
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- If you have sensitive teeth, you probably have a very acidic diet. Eliminating vinegars and lemons is a good place to start.<br />
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- If you have a bad taste in your mouth, you may have an abscessed tooth, which can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. In general, an abscessed tooth is very harmful to the overall health and well-being of the body.<br />
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- Clenching and grinding wears down teeth and enamel, increases sensitivity and can lead to bone loss and gum recession. Make a conscious effort to keep your jaw relaxed, especially when you're at the gym, working, studying or in any stressful situation.<br />
<br />
- Too much brushing is abrasive for the teeth, making them more sensitive. Brush twice a day, but not four times a day, using only soft or extra-soft brushes.<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Living Healthier, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/living-healthier/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> Are You Making the Right Impact?http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/05.atom2010-06-05T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Each of us makes an impact, but is it the right impact? Motivational speaker, Jay Forte, invites us to do more of some things and less of others. He offers some examples:<br />
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- A twelve-year old girl works with her family to limit their trash output to one bag a week.<br />
- A bystander helps an elderly man who has fallen on the street.<br />
- A neighbor funnels rainwater from his roofs to irrigate plants and gardens.<br />
- A friend never misses an opportunity to send a card, make a call or stay in touch.<br />
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"It is our choice to respond—to tread lightly," Forte reminds us, "when it comes to our planet, our resources and our world—and not to tread lightly when it comes to kindness, generosity, help and support."<br />
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What do you choose? Ask yourself:<br />
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What three ways will you use to tread lightly on the planet? And how will you share your ideas with others to do the same?<br />
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What three ways will you use not to tread lightly—BE BOLD—in your service and kindness to others, and how will you share your ideas with others to do the same?<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/05/do-more-of-some-things-and-less-of-others/">Forte's entire blog post here</a>.</p> Want More Money? My Change Nation Interview with John Assarafhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/04.atom2010-06-04T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Just because you can't afford to buy companies or invest in real estate doesn't mean you can't start making more money. Entrepreneur, John Assaraf, author of <em>The Complete Vision Board Kit: Using the Power of Intention to Achieve Your Dreams</em>, shares three steps that anyone can take right now to achieve greater wealth:<br />
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1. <em>Have a long-term perspective. </em>Rather than looking at the marketplace and running the other way, start off with the right vision of what it is you want. Where do you see yourself in 12 months, in 24 months, in 3 years?<br />
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2. <em>Have the right beliefs.</em> What beliefs do you need to have about yourself and the economy to make your vision become a reality? Beliefs are nothing more than either declarations or feelings about what's possible and what's not.<br />
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3. <em>Take action.</em> You've got to move towards what you want. If you're sitting there paralyzed, you're never going to achieve your goals and your dreams. What skills do you need to learn? What knowledge do you need to accumulate? What plans can you put into place to really start moving towards your vision?<br />
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Listen to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/having-more-money/videos/change-nation-john-assaraf-12508.html">my entire Change Nation interview with John Assaraf</a>.</p> Top 5 Ways to Fill Your Empty Nesthttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/03.atom2010-06-03T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Becoming an empty nester gets easier when you look at it as an opportunity to learn more about yourself, improve relationships and start a new chapter in your life. Here are five things you can do to help ease the transition:<br />
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1. <em>Set up a schedule.</em><br />
Before your child leaves for college or a first apartment, decide how often he or she (and you) will call, email, visit and so on.<br />
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2. <em>Acknowledge your feelings.</em><br />
Experience and accept your emotions about your child's departure. Share them with your spouse, and listen without judgment to his or her feelings. If you're a single parent, share your feelings with close family members or friends.<br />
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3. <em>Rediscover your mate.</em><br />
Schedule regular dates and take advantage of the chance to have meaningful conversations without distractions! Take a second honeymoon. If you're a single parent, now may be a good time to consider dating again.<br />
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4. <em>Explore new opportunities.</em><br />
Research that new career, educational degree, hobby or volunteer work you've been thinking about. Now you can actually consider doing these things!<br />
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5. <em>Enjoy your friendships.</em><br />
Renew old friendships and reconnect with relatives. Be open to meeting new friends at the gym, an art class, the library and so on. Look for an empty nest support group in your neighborhood or online.<br />
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<a href="http://www.first30days.com/your-empty-nest/tips">To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Your Empty Nest</a>, click here and then click the Yes button.</p> What May Be Missing in Your Headhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/02.atom2010-06-02T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>One of the easiest ways to bring more peace, joy, and fulfillment into your life is to become more flexible. "It's not about being weak, wimpy, or passive," says motivational speaker, Mike Robbins. "We can be firm in our convictions…and at the same time be flexible enough to make significant changes and be open to new ideas." He offers these five suggestions for increasing flexibility:<br />
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1. <em>Let Go of Your Attachment</em> – Let go of specific outcomes, particular way sof doing things, rigid opinions and so on. Don't stop caring. Just let go of your fixation on how something should be.<br />
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2. <em>Be Willing to Be Wrong</em> – Our obsession with "rightness" and fear of "wrongness" gets in the way of really going for what we want and letting go of attachments.<br />
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3. <em>Don’t Take Yourself too Seriously</em> – It creates unnecessary stress and worry. The ability to laugh at ourselves allows us to relate to things in a more balanced, peaceful and creative way.<br />
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4. <em>Go with the Flow</em> – The more we trust ourselves and others and believe that things will work out, the more likely we are to let things roll off our backs and manifest with ease.<br />
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5. <em>Get Support and Feedback from Others</em> –We can learn from others who are more flexible than we are. We can also give people permission to remind us when we start taking ourselves too seriously.<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/05/be-flexible/">Robbins’ entire blog post here</a>.</p> Your Horoscope for 2010http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/06/01.atom2010-06-01T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>It is likely that your life will not be the same by the fall of 2010. That's according to evolutionary astrologer, Maurice Fernandez. "We are in the beginning of a very unique time in history that will redefine the foundations of our lives," suggests Fernandez. "The alignment [of the planets] is so strong and dramatic that everyone's life can be considerably affected."<br />
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During this rare astrological configuration, we can expect redefinition in different fields of our lives, such as vocation, relationships, location and mindset. New people may move into our lives, or current ones may leave. Jobs may be lost, while new ideas and projects may develop and inspire us.<br />
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Ultimately, whether this change is bad or good depends on how we deal with the events. The best approach, says Fernandez, is to remain conscious and flexible. "Don't resist the adventure," he urges. Allow change to "take you to a completely new and perhaps higher level of what you are about."<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/05/time-of-radical-shift-a-look-into-the-next-cycle-of-2010">the entire blog post here</a>.</p> What's Really Running Your Life?http://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/31.atom2010-05-31T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>You may think that your actions and reactions are controlled by a unique and complicated set of wants and desires. But, as I explained to Shifra Hendrie in her recent teleseminar series, <em>From Darkness to Light</em>, for the most part, there are three basic programs that run all of our lives:<br />
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1. The need for love and approval<br />
2. The need for staying and being in control<br />
3. The need for safety and security<br />
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When you have a bad day or you feel stuck in a dark place, it's usually because one of these programs is being triggered: Either you don't feel safe; you're feeling out of control; or, you aren't getting enough love and approval from yourself or from the world.<br />
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Becoming unstuck starts with becoming aware of these needs as they arise. Then you can say, "A-ha, all I'm really looking for right now is the desire to feel safe. What else can make me feel safe?" And the healing can begin. <br />
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Listen to <a href="http://www.davidhendrie.com/20100223.mp3">my entire interview with Shifra Hendrie</a>.</p> Embarrass Your Negative Voicehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/30.atom2010-05-30T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Battling depression starts on the inside with the mind. I suggested to life coach, Sallie Felton, on her radio show, <em>A Fresh Start</em>, that very often depression takes over the mind and feeds us things that we have decided are true. Emerging from this tunnel of negativity starts with taking a close look at what we're telling ourselves over and over.<br />
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What is the worst thing you tell yourself? When you look in the mirror, what is it you focus on? Write these statements down or tell them to someone else. More than likely, they aren't true at all! Throughout your day, become more aware of the disapproving voice in your head and try to catch yourself every time you disapprove of something you do, say, eat, wear and so on.<br />
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When you shine a light on it, your disapproving voice actually starts to be a little embarrassed. Stick with it, and slowly but surely, that negativity will begin to have less of an influence over your life.<br />
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Of course, if you or anyone you know is suffering from severe depression, consult a professional.<br />
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Listen to <a href="mms://contacttalkradio.soundwaves2000.com/ctr/salliefelton051910.mp3">my entire interview on </a><em><a href="mms://contacttalkradio.soundwaves2000.com/ctr/salliefelton051910.mp3">A Fresh Start</a>.</em></p> Too Much on Your Platehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/29.atom2010-05-29T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Do you have so much on your plate that your world feels out of control? In a recent Oprah.com article, I shared six ways to strengthen your plate and feel powerful no matter what:<br />
<em><br />
Remember that sometimes you need to take things off your plate, not add to it.</em> What do you need to let go of? What is your biggest distraction? It takes courage to start something. It can take even more to let it go.<br />
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<em>Strengthen your relationship with your Higher Self, your Creator, or whatever term you may use for it, in whatever way suits you best.</em> Meditate, pray, focus on being loving to everything and everyone, go to places of worship, fast, read books of higher wisdom, give back or simply be with nature.<br />
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<em>Be gentle with yourself and others.</em> Stop the disapproving inner dialog and treat others with kindness. Care about something other than your plate and your goals. You feel your best when you stay in connection and in harmony with others.<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.oprah.com/spirit/How-to-Live-a-Well-Balanced-Life">three more ways to strengthen your plate here</a>.</p> Life's Most Important Lesson: My Change Nation Interview with Gerald Levinhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/28.atom2010-05-28T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Making peace with change becomes easier when you realize the impermanence of everything around you. That's the advice of former CEO of Time Warner, Gerald Levin, "I had it all with respect to the normal indices of success and happiness," remembers Levin. "And then, in an instant, with one phone call, it's all gone." His son, who had decided to become a teacher in a very tough part of New York City, had been murdered.<br />
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In response to this and other life-changing events, Levin made a dramatic career shift and now runs Moonview Sanctuary, a safe haven for people looking for inner peace. The most important thing we can do, he advises, is to understand that everything we're experiencing, even something we feel is a lifelong undertaking, is going to have an end point. "Wherever you are…it's going to transition into something else," he reiterates, so "enjoy the experience of the moment."<br />
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Equally important, says Levin, is not to go to bed at night with something unresolved or unsaid, assuming that there's always tomorrow. "Fortunately…I told my son every day how important he was," he adds.<br />
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Listen to <a href="http://www.first30days.com/making-change-easier/audio/change-nation-gerald-levin-092608.html">my entire Change Nation interview with Gerald Levin</a>.</p> Meditation Mistake? It's Possiblehttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/27.atom2010-05-27T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>When it comes to meditating, one of the biggest mistakes people make is to give up before reaping the benefits. "Meditation doesn't bring immediate gratification" like people think it will, admits meditation teacher, Stephan Bodian, author of <em>Meditation for Dummies</em>. "Like running a marathon, you need to build muscle by practicing." He offers these three tips to anyone beginning meditation: <br />
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1. Remember that the point of meditation is not to stop the mind. The point of meditation is to be present, to cultivate awareness.<br />
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2. Stop looking for results. Let go of the judging mind and just do it.<br />
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3. Stick with it. Keep going, even if it's not fun or seems boring. If you miss a day, don't be discouraged. Also, don't dabble or jump from technique to technique. Once you've chosen an approach, stick with it for a couple of months before you consider changing.<br />
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"Accept, allow, relax, let be and welcome," says Bodian. "These are the words that describe the attitude of meditation."<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Meditating, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/meditating/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.<br />
</p> A Smile a Day, Paved the Wayhttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/26.atom2010-05-26T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>Changing your life requires you to change your actions along with your thoughts. Joanna Boccard used this strategy to face her shyness head on, knowing that she would never be able to fulfill her dreams if she was too afraid to look beyond her own two feet.<br />
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She reasoned that if her father could wave and smiled at everyone, so could she. "I decided to put myself into a situation in which I was surrounded by strangers, a busy downtown street," explains Boccard. "I walked among these strangers holding my head high and looking into their eyes."<br />
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Once she practiced a bit and the earth-shattering part faded. It became easy, natural and fun. She even added on a smile. "By taking control of this area of my life I knew I could do anything I wanted," says Boccard, proudly.<br />
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What area of your life would you like to take control of? Whom would you like to emulate?<br />
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Read <a href="http://www.first30days.com/blog/main/2010/05/a-smile-a-day-paved-the-way/">Boccard’s entire blog post here</a>.</p> The Best Exercise Investmenthttp://www.first30days.com/change-secrets/2010/05/25.atom2010-05-25T00:00:00ZFirst 30 Daysinfo@first30days.com
<p>The best investment you can make for a healthy and appropriate exercise program is a few sessions with a certified personal trainer. That's according to the national director of group fitness programming for Equinox Fitness Clubs, Carol Espel. "People often fail because they don’t have a plan," explains Espel. "A trainer can give you a safe, manageable, personalized routine that fits into your lifestyle, goals and preferences."<br />
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Many people associate trainers with the rich and famous, but this isn't about hiring someone to work with you poolside, like in the movies. It's about getting expert, personalized advice on the best exercise plan for you, just as you might enlist the help of a financial planner to establish a get-out-of-debt plan. A few visits, and you're on your way.<br />
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"You can then continue to work out on your own with periodic checkups to ensure proper technique and form, as well as to adjust the amount of weight and number of reps and sets you do," Espel suggests. A trainer can also "provide fresh ideas to update your existing routine."<br />
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To receive 30 FREE daily tips on Living Healthier, <a href="http://www.first30days.com/living-healthier/tips">click here</a> and then click the Yes button.</p>