Why I almost told a teacher to F**K off!!

This is a picture of the letter I received yesterday from Madison. She is nearly done with basic training and I am so excited to watch her graduate! Madison and I have been writing letters to one another every day since she left for Texas. There is nothing more sweet than receiving a letter from your "little girl" in which she tells you that you are her best friend and that she loves you! The most important thing I ever learned as a parent is that the relationship I have with my child outweighs any accomplishments or milestones that I may wish for them to achieve. (Keep in mind, "best friend" status shouldn't occur until after they have left home.)

When Madison was in high school, she hated it. It was like pulling teeth just to get her to go to school, never mind doing well while she was there. At one point, one of her teachers called me in to discuss her grades. He insinuated that I was not actively participating in her education because I was not "forcing" her to do her Global History project. I explained that I have provided Madison with every possible resource to be successful in school but it was up to her to actually utilize them and that I was not going to put a gun to her head and try to force her to learn. The teacher smirked at me and retorted, "Some parents are actually invested in their children's education!" At that moment, I think I could actually feel my blood boil inside my body and I wanted to lash out but I kept my cool and asked him if he had any children of his own. He said he didn't, then changed his answer to "Well, one on the way." I then offered him some advice. I merely said, "Some day, I hope you understand that the child is more than the grade. I am fully invested in my child and I love her enough to let her be responsible for her own consequences. That is the real education!"

The next day, this teacher apologized to me. Madison continued to struggle through school until she finally graduated. She was always smart enough to do the work, but like her mother, she didn't find as much value in the classroom as she did in real world experience. I have no doubt that she will continue to be successful! Oh and what is success in our house? Happiness.

In this letter that Madison sent, the first line says "Mom, I miss you so much, you are my best friend." I would say that my "investment" in my kid paid off! She is bright, loving, kind, and compassionate and I am very proud of her. Remember: while your children are growing up, the most important thing is to create a bond that will remain once they leave the home. Worry less about what other people think, don't listen to ignorant comments, hug your babies, and Live Inspired Now!

Turn worry into productivity!

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying.  It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep."  ~Dale Carnegie

This is a great tip from Dale Carnegie! Turn your worry into something productive, if your going to be up anyway. :) Have an INSPIRED day everyone!! 

Live Inspired Now! 
Heather Paris

You are NOT powerless.......

One of the biggest mistakes people make is to do nothing because they think they are powerless. The only time we are powerless is when we are dead. If you are still breathing, you have the power to make changes for yourself, your family, your community or even the world! You just have to be willing to follow your heart, take some chances, and disregard nay-sayers! Making even one change can make a huge impact because of the residual effects. Like dominoes, the smallest action of flicking one block down, impacts every other block connected to it.

Sometimes you don't even realize the impact you have on others. I often get people who say to me that one of my posts really helped them to think differently about something and it changed their life and I had no idea until they told me. Never underestimate the power of living in alignment with your beliefs and values because you are setting and example for others which is another form of power.

We don't always get feedback but make no mistake, you are not powerless! If nothing else, you have the power to change your own mind and thinking, to change how you react to things or people, and to change how you act in any situation!

Embrace your power, resist the urge to do nothing, and Live Inspired Now!

9 Tips To Successful Workplace Communication:

Lately it seems that many people have been asking me about communication. Any of my clients and readers know that I believe communication is the corner stone to success in almost everything we do. Usually I am talking about communication between couples, or parents. Today, I thought I would give you a few tips about effective workplace communication!

9 Tips To Successful Workplace Communication:

1 Build rapport with whomever you are communicating. Do this by matching their voice tones and body language. For example, If you go in to talk to your boss, and he is sitting completely upright, rigid, with little expression, and speaking to you with a soft voice, do not go in there and slouch back casually in the chair, with your legs thrown way out, leaned back, and start the conversation with a loud, booming voice. Matching body language makes the other person feel more secure around you.

2 Act professionally. React calmly; interact appropriately. Don't act in a way that will have co-workers thinking you were hired because you are the boss's brother. Don't react negatively or blow up every time something happens. Don't gossip, cause drama, hit on co-workers, or use any behavior that your mother or grandmother would not approve of. It's a workplace, be professional.

3 Learn to use better language and express what you mean without offending. The English language with all it's complexities can be quite confusing. The words you use may mean something entirely different to another person. For example, remember in the 1980's when all the kids were saying "That's bad!" which actually meant that's good? We offend people all the time with words they may not like or tones they think are snarky. You can't please everyone, but you can keep it neutral enough so as not to offend most.

4 Don't be a mind reader or expect others to be one either. You probably DON'T know exactly how another person feels so don't say you do. Additionally, don't expect other people to know what you want or need. Assuming that another person will finish up your project the way you like is setting you both up for failure. Communicate with words, not telepathy.

5 If you have an issue or challenge, communicate with the source directly. You can go home later and vent to your spouse, but don't vent to co-workers; this is really just gossiping. Go speak to whomever you are having the challenge with and work things out. Focus on the issues, not the personalities involved. You don't have to like everyone, but that doesn't mean you can't work effectively together.

6 Express gratitude. People like to help people who are grateful. Be sure to thank anyone who offers you help.

7 Avoid negative talk. You DON'T want to be the office's "Debbie Downer" or "Negative Nelly." People prefer to be around other people who are positive. People don't like to walk away from a conversation feeling drained or depressed.

8 Always be sincere and considerate. Nobody likes a sycophant, or someone who is only interested in personal gain. Zig Ziglar once said "If you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want." This is true on many levels. People like people who help others, not people who blow smoke. People also like people who are sincere and true to who they are. You don't have to be syrupy sweet all the time, but honor your own values, and think of other people.

9 Laugh. Be sure to use humor that won't offend. That means save the "Yo Mama" jokes for home but feel free to use appropriate humor at work. Appropriate humor for the workplace would be humor that would be OK for your children to hear. When in doubt, don't say it.

The workplace is a cacophony of personalities with an unlimited amount of perceptions. You may never orchestrate perfectly, but you can harmonize pretty well if you apply these successful communication tips. Start today with some great communication skills, enjoy your workplace, and Live Inspired Now!

Hypnotize YOURSELF!

Everyone has been hypnotized! Don't believe me? Have you ever sang along to a song in the car that you could never sing unless it were playing? Have you ever driven home and not remembered the actual drive because you were lost in thought? How about the times when you reacted to an old problem that wasn't a problem anymore just because you remembered it? We are ALL in a state of trance, more often than not! It is natural and normal and even a good thing, if you use it correctly! The best part is that we can TRAIN ourselves to create positive trances that will improve our lives and help us reach our goals.

Milton Erickson said "You can pretend anything and master it!" This is especially true with happiness! You learned to live the way you're currently living. You might have learned to be negative, or pessimistic, in the past.  In the same way, you can learn to be happy and positive simply by creating habits that empower you!

Create positive new outlooks by practicing meditation and relaxation; question any beliefs that harm you, and model others positive choices and behavior. Our perceptions create our behavior. That means, what we think about a situation determines how we act or react to it.... and we could be wrong! For example: you might react and get angry to a car that cuts you off, only to discover that the driver of the car was rushing their mother to the hospital because she wasn't breathing. You just never know whats going on... you can only use your perception to make an assumption. Is it time to change some of your common assumptions?

When you become aware, and create more positive patterns, you free yourself from the prison of anger, resentment, jealousy, pain, irritability, and overreacting to things beyond your control. It is time to create some healthy trance states so your unconscious reactions are beneficial and helpful to your life. Set yourself up for success, enjoy fulfillment and happiness, and Live Inspired Now!

***Please contact me if you are ready to create your own happiness. With new patterns of thought, you create new patterns of behavior that will enable your success! By working together with you, I will give you the tools you need to create the inspired life you have always dreamed of!***

Holiday Inn is INSPIRED too!

 

Even my hotel gets it!! Stay INSPIRED!! I am in Boston at a 4 day conference with my colleagues. We are learning wonderful new strategies to further help our clients overcome challenges! I am so inspired by the event. People coming together from all over the world with a common purpose to help heal others and a desire to learn. I can't wait to share all the inspiration I have gained from this exciting week. Not just from the conference, but from friends, watching transformations, meeting new people, connecting with virtual friends, visiting local landmarks, the road trip to and from, and missing my family. Yes, inspiration has even come to me from missing my family. 

I will be back to blogging on Tuesday. So have a wonderful weekend everyone and in the words of a pretty smart hotel room key... Stay INSPIRED! ;)

15 Ways to promote Creativity!

cre·a·tiv·i·ty: [kree-ey-tiv-i-tee]

There are many benefits to being creative! The act of creating can be a stress reliever, and an amazing source of self expression. It is important to make time to be creative, to shut out the world and get in touch with your deeper self.

Do you have those moments or places where you always seem to have great ideas? For me, it is in the shower! I seem to do my best thinking in there and that is because  I am relaxed and allowing myself to be open to ideas and concepts. I even keep my phone near the shower so as soon as I can get out, I make a note of the ideas that I thought of. There are many ways to open the flood gates to creativity!

Check out this list and see what works for you to get your creative juices flowing!

Meditation (sit in silence)
Showers
Body movements; dance, skip, sway, exercise, yoga, move with music
Read; especially inspirational stories of accomplishment or perseverance
Talk long walks in nature
Listen to music
Try an art: painting, drawing, sculpting, crafting
Check out what others are doing...pinterest.com, etsy.com, craft shows, HGTV, craft magazines
Try something new; even if you don’t know how to do it
Sit someplace weird to get new perspective; lay on the floor, sit upside down on couch
Re-arrange your office/work/living space
Change your routine; drive a different way home from work
Create “crappy” works of art; just to get you started
Drop delusions of perfection
Hang out with creative people

Be sure to make time to be creative! It can be very therapeutic and is actually good for your health! Schedule some time for creativity, have fun, and Live Inspired Now!

3 Tips to Stay INSPIRED and kick fears ASS!

Inspiration is a force, influence, or idea that makes you want to do or create something. NEVER let your fears keep you from wanting to do, create, or experience something! Here are a few tips to stay inspired and keep your fears in check:

1. Keep people who inspire you close. Avoid negative people who don't want to believe in your dreams. Join groups of like-minded people and network to meet others like you. Surround yourself with others who are working toward similar goals, or at least people who are wildly motivated! Develop a support system of people who will cheer you on and encourage your progress. (Hire a coach to keep you on track and encouraged!)

2. Fill your mind with inspirational material. Read THIS blog DAILY! Read inspired books, articles, and personal stories that give you goosebumps. Watch inspirational movies, talks, or vlogs that will keep your spirits up. Fill yourself with stories about people winning, achieving, overcoming, and succeeding. Avoid all negative media, hype, and fear mongering.... in other words the "news."

3. Keep your dreams and ideas at the forefront of your thinking. Never become complacent about your dreams and desires. The moment you say "ehhh, it's no big deal, I don't really care if it happens" you have LOST your edge! Do not drop the ball on what you want to accomplish. Post pictures that represent your dream everywhere so you constantly see them. Leave notes with positive quotes and reminders everywhere. Talk, blog, text, facebook, tweet, and post about your goal/dream and let everyone know that you won't be derailed. 

If fear does get a hold of you, refer to these 3 tips. Call a supportive friend or coach, read your favorite inspirational book or blog posts, and look around at the many inspirational anchors you have hung or posted. The more inspiration you let in, the less room fear will have in your life. Stay positive, stay inspired, stay focused on your dreams and Live Inspired Now!

Stop whining and start living!

How many days of your life would have been way more awesome if you woke up in the morning and decided that it was going to be an amazingly fantastic day? People get into the habit of downplaying life, or settling for mediocrity. Today, when someone asks "How are you?" Instead of the automatic "fine" response, come up with something more compelling! Try responding with an "I am freakin' awesome!" See what type of response you get from that and notice how you start to feel when you use more passionate terms.

The best years of your life are NOW if you let them be. Someone recently told me that they were just trying to make it through the next 4 years until they could retire. You don't have to "wait" to enjoy life! Even if you are working a job you don't like, or some other aspect of your life is not perfect, that doesn't mean the rest of your life has to suck too! Get out there and live! Take a risk. Do something fun. Enjoy the little things. Be grateful for what you already have! How unfortunate would it be to "get through" those 4 years, only to retire and realize that you miss what you were doing. Or to still feel underwhelmed? Nobody ever has to wait for happiness, they just have to choose it!

Stop blaming your circumstances for what YOU are not accomplishing. Go out there and get what you want! Stop whining, start living, start using more passionate language and Live Inspired Now!

Your light gives way for others....

Let your inner light be so bright that not only does it guide you, but it illuminates the way for others as well! One of our greatest gifts is to share our light, love, and passion with the world. Share your passion, light the way for others, and Live Inspired Now!

Use BETTER words and improve YOUR life!

When babies are small they cry and whine to get what they want. As they grow older and begin to speak, we teach them to "use their words" to get what they want. Crying, whining, or hitting and kicking are obviously discouraged and they are reminded to use their words. This "use their words" milestone usually occurs between the ages of 1-5 depending upon the child's progression.

After they have learned to "use their words," most kids never receive further instruction. They are rarely encouraged, after that first milestone, to develop further by being taught to "use appropriate words." They are never told to use "kind words, feeling words" or other types of deeper, more meaningful communication.

It never ceases to amaze me how many adult couples tell me that they called one another mean and hurtful names in the middle of a fight because they never learned to effectively communicate. How many relationships would have been saved had they learned to say "I am very angry right now and I need to talk about how I am feeling" as opposed to saying "You're a jerk, I hate you, and you never listen to me!"

Learn to use your words effectively and let your actions back them up! Then, teach your children to speak effectively too. After they have learned to use their works, teach them to use BETTER words! Teach them to speak kindly to others. Teach them to use feeling words such as; "I feel angry, I feel confused, I feel sad." Then take it a step further to teach them to use words that express their desires such as; "I would like to talk to you, I think I need to take a walk, I would love to share with you."

One of the best gifts you could ever give your child is to teach them to communicate well. It will help them in school, at work, in their relationships, and it will give them confidence because they will be able to self advocate! We all need to be able to express our feelings, thoughts, needs, desires, wishes, hopes, emotions, and our dreams! "Using your words" is just not enough if you are over the age of 5. Learn to use BETTER words, improve your life and Live Inspired Now!

Why Aren't American Schools More Like Dog Training School?

I took my toy poodle, Lucy, to puppy kindergarten many years ago when she was a curious young puppy. The trainer worked with each of us "Dog Mommies" and taught us to focus on our pup's strengths, not to compare our dog's abilities to other dogs, and to continuously praise their efforts! She also let us know that not all the pups were destined for distinction at the fancy dog shows and that was OK. Some dogs would make great farm helpers, some would be wonderful service animals, and some would just be really sweet companions!

The tennis balls the instructor provided during the course were larger than Lucy's tiny little head.  As you can imagine, this made learning how to "fetch" rather difficult. Instead of insisting that she learn how to retrieve the ball, we focused on her incredible "dancing" skills; Lucy had a natural inclination to walk on her hind legs. The instructor showed me how to turn this seemingly useless behavior into a "dance" that she could perform on command.  Her dancing often earned her treats or an affectionate pat on the head.

Unfortunately, I was scheduled to be out of town on business and couldn't make it to the very last class, which was graduation day. I stopped in before I left for my trip to explain the situation to our instructor. I expressed how much I loved the class and how well little Lucy was doing. I thanked them for teaching ME how to teach my dog. Then, I said "I don't actually think dog training school is for dogs at all, I think it is for the parents!" At that moment, the instructor smiled knowingly and said "You have graduated, let me get you a certificate!"

Today, as I passed a local dog training school, I recalled this great experience of training Lucy all those years ago. Those thoughts led me into thoughts of the training model that the American school system has used for decades. Why aren't our schools more like dog training schools?

We are constantly pushing kids through a one-size-fits-all educational system that doesn't recognize student strengths and try's to convince every single student and parent that college (the fancy dog show) is the only option for success. Schools don't accommodate different learning styles nor do they encourage independence. There is no curriculum that promotes entrepreneurship, nor are there any courses that teach character development skills, which have been proven to be far more useful in the "real world" than educational knowledge alone.

What if your child is a "golden retriever" but is never encouraged to go fetch things? Maybe your child is an "English Bulldog" being dressed in pink sweaters and forced to perform at the dog show. Or maybe your child is like my Lucy who was too small to fetch the tennis ball but loved to dance as a young puppy (she now prefers to herd the goats on our tiny farm). If we had insisted on teaching her to fetch, we may never have discovered her many other talents.

I think it is time we start teaching to our children's strengths and abilities. I think we should encourage them to discover areas in which they excel and praise their efforts and accomplishments. We should set them up for success by realizing that not every student is right for college. We should also support trade jobs, life skills, and entrepreneurship as valid options.

Most of all, I think we should expect parents to be involved so the teachers can teach instead of doing double duty as a disciplinarian or social worker. Strong parenting skills are just as important to a child's educational success as they are to a puppy's training success.  For example, parents should learn that when their child makes a mistake, "rubbing their nose in it" isn't the most effective course of action. Positive reinforcements are far more effective than emphasizing on your child's mistakes.

Dog training was amazing for Lucy, for myself, and for my kids, who also attended. It taught us a great deal... much more than it taught Lucy. Lucy never went to the Eukanuba Dog Show, she never did learn to fetch, and she gave up dancing for herding goats but, she is productive, healthy, and happy. Isn't that really all we want for our children?

Live Inspired Now,
Heather Paris
Inspired Life Coach | Author | Speaker

25 Ways To De-Stress:

A few quick ways to de-stress:

Live in the present moment...Focus on today, not yesterday
Listen to relaxing music
Drink healthy, aromatic teas; chamomile, green, mint, lemon, etc
Eat healthy food; raw, greens, veggies, healthy supplements, and plenty of water
Laugh; watch funny movies, go to a comedy show, or recall funny memories
Try something new; even if it's just a new route home, change your routine
Exercise; start with a walk and see where it leads, move your body
Get enough sleep; 6-8 hours is usually sufficient
Focus on positive thoughts; distract yourself if you start to think negatively
Surround yourself with positive people
Take a hot bath and relax
Light candles and create a relaxing setting
Help others; volunteer, mentor or encourage
Journal your thoughts, feelings, and ideas
Take deep breaths
Make peace with difficult tasks and get them over with
Acknowledge and accept your feelings as valid
Meditate
Play with a pet
Have physical contact; hugs, hold hands, or snuggle, etc
Focus on doing one thing at a time; skip the multitasking
Dance
Hold a baby
Use positive, uplifting self talk
Read something uplifting daily; www.liveinspirednow.com

MAKE time to de-stress! Rushing through life will only prevent you from enjoying it. Take time for yourself, stop trying to be everything for everyone. Stress leads to disease and unhappiness so de-stress for your sanity and your health and Live Inspired Now!

Death is Inevitable; Living is Optional....

Death is inevitable, but living is optional! It's true.... everybody dies, but not everybody lives. Many people just exist, or observe life rather than engaging in it. People sit idly by "waiting for the right time" or "wishing for things to be different" instead of doing, trying, or changing their own circumstances. How many times in your life have you said.... "someday I will get to try that," or "I wish I had time to do something like that."

What are you waiting for? The only difference between you and the people living their dreams are the priorities that you have set. The most passionate people I know are out there trying things and taking risks. Most of them prioritize the things they want. If you want a passionate, loving, exceptional relationship, turn off the soap operas, take a relationship workshop, and make it happen! If you want a better job, stop complaining about the one you have, spruce up the resume, and fill out the application! If you want to take a vacation, don't talk badly about your friend who takes vacations all the time, put in for vacation time and make it happen! If you want to write a book, stop wishing for more time, get off of Facebook, and start writing.

Everything is well within our reach but all too often people want to blame others or circumstances for what they don't have. Guess what, if you want it, prioritize it! You are living the life that YOU created! Don't like it? Change it! Only YOU have the power to go out and live with passion, live with purpose and Live Inspired Now!

PS: Need a cheering section to inspire you? Contact me TODAY... not tomorrow... TODAY!

PPS: This is post number 800!!! I am off to celebrate! Thank YOU for helping me make my blog a success!! -Heather :)

The first step to self appreciation....

It is difficult to love people that don't love themselves. What does your self-talk sound like? Is it mean, judgmental, or hateful? Or, are you kind, loving, and forgiving of yourself? We have to be our own best advocates in life. It is up to us, and no one else to be responsible for who we are, what we do, what we say, or what we think. It is important to love yourself, to be kind to yourself, and to be OK with who you truly are. You don't have to try to please others or be anyone that you are not. People will like you just for being you!

So today, start being kind to yourself by writing yourself a love letter. If you suffer from a lack of self worth, just start with one single sentence. Then, after a few weeks, build up to writing several sentences, and then maybe a full paragraph, until you can write an entire page of kind words to yourself. Point out the qualities that you are proud of, the things you like about your appearance, and compliment yourself on jobs well done. The goal is to start using kind and compassionate self-talk and learn to love yourself. Write your love letters to yourself, appreciate the beautiful soul that you are, and Live Inspired Now!

Are YOU the jerk?

Hmmm.... makes you think doesn't it? Think about the people you meet each day. What are the characteristics of the majority of people you come in contact with? Is it really other people that are like that? Remember that more often than not, other people reflect back what WE are expressing.

Today, start to take notice of the people you are meeting. Start to notice how they act and then take a deep look at how people might be perceiving YOU. Self awareness is a gift! Become self aware by observing how people interact with you and Live Inspired Now!

The BEST way to change someone....

Passion is contagious! So often people make the mistake of trying to "change" others by convincing them they are wrong, shaming them, using guilt, blaming, or even with physical force. You can not "change" another person, but you can INSPIRE them! Just like the saying "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." You can tell people what to believe, you can show people how to do things differently, but you can never make them take action to change if they don't want to.

I find "inspiration" is much more effective! People want to be part of things when they see it causing joy or excitement for other people. They want to learn about things when they see how far you have gone. They get excited when they see you smile, laugh, and show your enthusiasm for what you are passionate about. Change occurs naturally, you don't have to force it. Allow passion to inspire change. If you are truly living your passion, people will not only notice, but they will want to get involved too!

Today, forget about trying to change anyone, live your passion, share your total excitement and Live Inspired Now!

Killing The Soccer Mom; Creating The Goddess!

"Almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." -Steve Jobs 

Join me for: 

Killing The Soccer Mom; Creating The Goddess: 

6 week journey, Every Thursday at 7pm, starting September 12th through October 17th.
Presented by: Heather Paris and Jodi Brichta-Coyne (Three Goddesses)

• Look and feel fabulous
• Find and live your Goddess Purpose
• Create healthy boundaries and learn to say NO
• Feel vibrant, energetic & awesome
• Remember what you love/loved to do
• Learn how to nourish your body, mind & spirit
• Remove obstacles and own the happiness that is within you
• Re-connect and have unshakable relationships
• Be a part the amazing, supportive, powerful, brilliant secret Facebook community of Goddesses around the world
• Be Inspired, Empowered, & Laugh a lot for ONLY $49.00!!
  
  REGISTER ON THIS PAGE IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN! USE THE SECURE BUY IT NOW BUTTON!

Got struggles? GOOD!

If you can look at challenges and hardships as stepping stones or building blocks, then you will never feel like you are suffering through your circumstances. All challenges help us learn, create new opportunities, and remind us to appreciate the smooth times. Don't hate your challenges, appreciate them! They are gifts of knowledge and will bring great wisdom if you will allow yourself to learn. Even if you don't think you can muster a sense of appreciation for the challenge or struggle you are facing, at least adopt an attitude of faith that all things will work out.... eventually. They always do! So today, be grateful for your challenges, learn from your struggles, share your wisdom with others and Live Inspired Now!

6 Steps to Create an AWESOME life!

So many people have fallen into the habit of mediocrity and forgotten that life exists beyond the television. They have forgotten to take part rather than just observe. People sit around eating junk food and watching other people live amazing lives on television and never pursue awesomeness for themselves. People create these unhealthy, sedentary, passionless daily routines without ever even realizing they are bad habits that need to be broken.

Staying positive, living inspired, and being happy are all healthy habits that anyone can achieve! People often ask how I stay so positive and happy, especially in a world so full of tragedy. I always say the same thing.... "yes, the world has bad things, but it also has amazing things that happen every single moment, and those are the things I choose to focus on!" I have not always been this way, but I decided long ago to start creating habits that were healthier and happier than what I had been doing.
 Many years ago, I lived on nothing but diet soda and junk food, had fallen into the routine of watching other peoples lives on TV, I gained weight, was always tired, and my own marriage (with my "EX") had fallen apart. I wanted more and decided to make it happen for myself! Now my life is happy, healthy, full of adventure and passion, and Thad and I have created a fairytale relationship!

Life does not provide magic wands, it is up to each one of us to create magic on our own! Here are some tips to do just that.

1 Determine what you want your life to look like. Actually write it out too! Write down all the things you want, the way you want to look, the job you want to have, the relationships you want to keep or get rid of, the way you want to feel, the adventures you want to take, and the things you want to provide for yourself or your family. Don't leave anything out.... it is more likely to become real if you write it down. This gives your brain something tangible to hold yourself accountable to. Keep this in a prominent place so you see it daily.

2 Figure out what needs to stop. It is highly likely that you have picked up some bad habits that need to stop; make yourself very aware of them. A life of excellence is not spent on the couch for hours and hours each day watching television. Do you need to throw the TV out of a window? Maybe you need to get rid of all junk food in your house? Need to quit smoking, drinking, gossiping, or obsessing on medical conditions? Or maybe you need to stop calling the "EX" who treated you badly? Write the list of things that have to GO! Ask close family or friends what they think might need to go from your life if you think you are too entrenched to even recognize your own bad habits.

3 Make a plan. Create a real plan with actual steps; don't settle for something vague. For example, don't just say "I will lose some weight." Make a real plan instead such as: 1. Throw out all junk food 2. Purchase all the healthy food you need 3. Put together convenient healthy snacks to grab when in a hurry 4. Create something else to do instead of eating. Some examples are: call a friend, focus on work, meet new people, etc... Be sure that your plan is in a prominent place for your to see. Habits are created by doing them daily, consistency is key!

4 Set yourself up for success. This is important to making your new habits stick! There are many ways to set yourself up to be successful. Surround yourself with others who have healthy habits. Limit (if not abolish) all contact with negative, unhappy, or unhealthy people. Post reminders everywhere (I like brightly colored post it notes) that will trigger the new healthier habits. Recite mantras... "Clear and consistent focus and action will get me to my goal!" or "I am healthy, happy, and a source of good in this world!" Put healthy and positive things into your mind every single day: self help books, uplifting poetry, fun or inspiring music, Ted.com talks, or anything that promotes the healthy habits you are trying to attain.

5 Don't focus or obsess about set backs. We all have slips, don't let it completely drag you down. If you have a day that you forget your mantras, or you let yourself wallow in self pity, recognize it as quickly as you can and then get back on the wagon! We all have bad days, don't turn it into a bad week, month, year, or life. Allow yourself to be human and move on!

6 Forget the mediocrity of old and focus on the amazing new life! Once you realize how freakin' awesome life is, don't sit and focus on how much you missed out on. Focus on your amazing new life, your positive new attitude, and all the good you will do as a result. Don't forget to focus on what you can give back too. Giving and helping others is one of the best ways to keep you on track with your healthy new habits and lifestyle.

Stop living a mediocre existence, watching other people do great things and wishing your life were different. Take action, create healthy habits that lead to a passion filled life that will have others looking at YOU and saying.... "Wow! Her life is amazing!" Excellence is nothing more than healthy habits, create excellence for your life and Live Inspired Now!

PS: Feel free to contact me if you need support... life and relationship coaching are a great tool to help you get where you want to be in life! I look forward to hearing from you!