Hugs! Ten a day for healthy and wellness

Touch is necessary to Choose Happy and Live Healthy. Are you getting your healthy touch?

Our culture is constantly teaching us to not touch each other. However, studies have shown that touch is a basic need. Our health and well-being, our sense of self is nurtured by healthy touch!

Healthy touch includes hugs, holding hands, kisses and smooches. But what about when we aren’t able to access intimacy?

The basis of massage is touch. All too often we are afraid to touch one another. However, research is increasingly proving the extraordinary effectiveness of touch. The warmth and security that touch engenders is necessary for survival.

The gentle touching of skin triggers hormonal  reactions:

Endorphins bring feelings of happiness, increase the willingness to perform, enhance the awareness of vital consciousness and intensity of our sensory perception.

Healthy touching induces feelings of tenderness, of warmth and closeness.

Surveys of people in hospital settings in the UK have shown the simple act of massage improved morale and hastened the rate of recovery.

Relax and be touched. Reflexology is a fabulous way to get some healthy touch into your life!

Massage however is not only physical.  Take for example, the skilled practitioner of Holistic Aromatherapy Massage or a Registered Reflexologist. The well-trained and practiced therapist learns to ‘understand’ the person under their hands. They have developed empathy and intuition.

Massage and reflexology contain much of psychology and the therapist develops a practice recognizing the importance of listening to the client and offering a ‘safe place’ for them as part of their healing journey. Remember, the therapist is there to help. In this way, the aromatherapy massage and reflexology can be as pleasant to give as it is to receive.

Essential oils are concentrated plant essences valued throughout history for their therapeutic properties. The Holistic Aromatherapist has studied these essences in great detail and uses their skill to make a blend personally for your massage. As well as the benefits of touch you will be absorbed in the aromas, including incredible feelings of well-being and relaxation.

Holistic Aromatherapy Massage may be stimulating or soothing, depending upon the speed and depth of the strokes used. Reflexology is a pressure technique used usually on the feet and is very appropriate as an introduction to touch therapies.

Accordingly, after your massage with a beautiful aromatic blend of oils specific to your requirements, or your wonderfully balancing foot reflexology session, you may leave feeling ready to take on the world, or leave feeling ready to climb into your bed and take a nap. It may relieve tension and relax tight muscles, soothing away aches and pains. The headache you arrived with may disappear; you may sleep well that night. The therapist is responsible for providing a context for you, the client, in which your induced sense of well-being offers a path to recovery. The pleasure of an aromatic massage has a therapeutic effect in itself.

Allow yourself to be pampered. Take time for Touch!

If you would like to experience the benefits of an Holistic Aromatherapy Massage or a Foot Reflexology session and you live in the Sno-Valley or Seattle area, call me for an appointment. 206-201-2764 You won’t be disappointed!

If you can’t make it to see me, find someone in your area.

If you would like to learn how to become an Holistic Aromatherapist in the Traditional UK trained style or wish to become a Reflexologist, please check out the School of Complementary Therapies site. We have on-line and distance programs, so wherever you are you can train with me. It may even be the next step in your career path. Or you may simply learn to treat family and friends.

Any questions? Just drop me a line and I’ll be happy to answer them for you.

How does this help us Choose Happy and Live Healthy?

New shoes always make me Happy!

For me, Spring’s arrival means opening the windows and ‘blowing the cobwebs’ out. I clean out the closets, putting away the winter woollies and with excitement I start to bring out my summer wardrobe. Maybe it’s time for me to head off to the mall and pick up a few new treats. (It’s always shoes for me!)

I even like to clear out the garage, give the house a good dusting and start work on the garden.

So, I was thinking, why not apply that same enthusiasm to my diet? (and by diet, I mean it in the old-fashioned sense of what I eat, not how to lose weight!):

I don’t need those heavy carbohydrates in my diet just like I don’t need the winter woollies, so I’ll start by putting them away!

Just as I’m drawn to wearing brighter colors, I can start eating them.

Here’s how I fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables:

I make a rainbow salad as part of one (or two) of my meals each day – red and yellow peppers, or my current favorite – orange peppers. They make me feel that I am eating sunshine. I use dark leafy greens and organic mixes, which include exciting flavors, like a little bitter dandelion and arugula or rocket, and the earthy taste of spinach. I’m also into those little grape or cherry tomatoes, green onions, and radishes. All organic, of course!

And, there are lots of wonderful organic salad dressings on the market, but I do like to make my own with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and herbs.

I’m into fresh fruit salad as a delicious and healthful alternative to high-fat desserts. Or have  one for breakfast. This week I am eating a selection of berries, including raspberry, blueberry and strawberries (all high in Vitamin C and anti-oxidants) with Greek yoghurt (good for the intestinal tract and a yummy way to get your calcium) each morning. Sometimes I add a banana too.

I am always careful of saturated fats by avoiding margerine, vegetable shortening, and foods containing palm oil. Instead, I like to use a heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil. Remember that butter is usually a better choice than margerine – the less processed the food and the more natural the better it is for you.

Live healthy ~ the less processed the food and the more natural the food, the better it is for you.

Some more tips for you to Choose Happy and Live Healthy:

Choose to eat whole grains instead of refined grains. The higher fiber content fills you up, and you will feel fuller. Vary your grain intake, use oats, corn, spelt and quinoa.

And quit going for fast food. Fast food is dead food. To find out more about dead food click here.

If you feel at anytime you would like some help with getting your diet back on track and are looking for someone with a balanced approach to assist you on a personal Wellness Program, just call me for an appointment. I’d love to help you with a Spring Cleaning Program that will lift your spirits, tune up your body and help you lose some of those winter pounds.

What if there was something that could help you Choose Happy and Healthy.

And that is:

• super simple

• non-scary-making

• and works!

Sound too good to be true? Well, you will have to put a little effort in…

You’ll have to find

• time, about 20 to 40 minutes a day

• somewhere comfy-womfy, where you can completely relax

• and…yeah, that’s about it really.

Want to learn more? You betcha!

Well, the secret is…(insert exciting music) Hypnotherapy. Now, don’t panic…honestly it isn’t woowoo or scary stuff. It’s actually a very simple process of getting relaxed and drifting into a relaxed mind and body. You then allowing yourself to be guided into a deeper state of relaxation by a professional who has trained to help you.

And you can do Hypnotherapy at Home

Hypnotherapy or Clinical Hypnosis can be used to  assist in an almost unlimited number of ways. It is especially useful in behavior modification: behavior modification is a big word way of saying ‘changing habits’. Yep, I told you, this stuff is easy and isn’t scary at all.

So how about: relaxing, relieving anxiety and depression, quitting smoking, changing eating habits, overcoming fears and phobias, improving memory and study habits and much more! If you’ve got a habit you don’t like, hypnotherapy can help you change it.

My studies in hypnotherapy have led me to believe it to be one of the simplest tools of change we can use. Currently,  I am working with clients who have anxiety, depression, phobias, weight issues and sleep problems. Each and every one is feeling better using hypnotherapy! (Yes, that’s every single one…)

Hypnotherapy at Home (or in my clinic with me) can allow you to escape from your typical patterns of response and behavior allowing you to achieve greater flexibility and choice.

How does it work? (I hear you ask. It’s okay, the voices in my head are terrifically friendly…teehee!)

It works by allowing you to relax deeply, so giving you the ability to choose new ways of doing, being and thinking, without being controlled by past experiences.

Try Hypnotherapy at Home (or in the office, or on the bus…)

Check out a little sample, right here and now:

Sit comfortably, with your feet on the floor and relax yourself. Take a few long slow deep breaths as you read the following

• Imagine what it would be like to achieve more of what you truly want
• Imagine what it would be like to balance the different areas of your life
• Imagine what your life would be like if you had higher self-confidence and self-worth
• Imagine what it would be like to enjoy better health
• Imagine what it would be like to have more energy
• Imagine what it would be like to achieve your goals

Imagine Your Life Fabulous!

Some kind of image will come to mind. You might be someone who sees a picture of yourself living the life you want, or you might get a feeling: a sense of being peaceful and in control. Some people even have scents and aromas that come to mind. There’s no wrong way of doing this.

Now close your eyes for a few moments and really get into the feeling and imagery. Take a mini time out to daydream and then come back.

Okay, so you just hypnotized yourself. Teehee! Yes, hypnosis is as simple as day dreaming. In fact, if you are a day dreamer, you are regularly sending yourself into a light hypnotic trance.

When we study, we go into light trance. When we drive home on auto-pilot (yes, we all do that) we are in light trance.

What hypnotherapy does it take you deeper into this trance state and focuses your mind on some aspect of change. Regular repetition then reinforces the change…and easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy…you’ve got a new habit to replace your old one!

If you can do any of the above, you can begin to improve your life with hypnotherapy at home!

My aim is to help you help yourself. Hypnotherapy is not about one person controlling another person’s mind, but about a sensitive and caring relationship developed between therapist and client, in which a true understanding of each client’s goals, ideals and objectives are established. I am dedicated to helping each client achieve their objectives in the shortest possible time, in accord with their best interests.

Sessions are personalized and highly enjoyable experiences. And I’ve got a special offer for you!

For a short while this Spring, I’m going to offer you the opportunity to try a FREE HYPNOTHERAPY SESSION. Sign-up today for my absolutely fabulous Tea for Two and we’ll do a 15 minute guided visualization (that’s a form of hypnotherapy) session as a sample for absolutely free!

These are limited, so sign-up now to give it a whirl. I’d love to be able to help you get started on a new habit and become a wonderful spokesperson for Hypnotherapy!

Thank you for being ready to change. I look forward to helping you achieve your full potential! To make an appointment to try a hypnotherapy at home session or begin a series of life-changing sessions, please contact me.

Or, if you prefer to start with a CD…Click here for more info

Choose Happy my lovely, and make today Sparkle!

It’s also a fabulous Weight Loss Secret…

Fruits and Veggies are energy boosting and natural

What is blood sugar?

As defined in the dictionary, blood sugar is the glucose in blood that rises and falls depending upon what we eat. Glucose is a type of sugar. Check out the packages of food in your pantry…pretty much anything ending in ‘ose’ is a sugar.

Carbohydrates are turned to glucose in the body. They are used by the body as fuel for our brain and muscles. They are energy boosting.

So guess what? When we are feeling low on energy we often crave sugar or caffeine. Caffeine appears to release stored glucose. Instinctively we know that these substances will raise our energy (or sugar) level quickly.

So, what’s wrong with that?

The problem is that this high concentration overloads our body. It causes sugar levels in the blood to swing up above normal giving  us a lift, then fall rapidly to way below normal. Then we feel even more tired and crave more sugar or caffeine…so, we have another cup of coffee, glass of coke, energy drink or sugary snack…our energy swings up again and crashes down again…over and over!

Riding on the chemical roller coaster leads to irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion and fatigue.

It actually becomes an addiction cycle! We are not nurturing and taking care of ourselves when we are in this pattern.

Eating a rainbow helps your blood sugar levels…natural energy boosting…pick color!

Ideally we want a strong, steady level of energy all day long. We want to avoid the swings up and down by eating healthy food in healthy amounts. We need to avoid sugar and caffeine, and instead eat whole foods that are digested slowly. These are complex carbohydrates: fruits, vegetables, grains. These foods slowly release their energy into the body. As the Happiness Coach I am a Health Consultant and have been for 20 years this June! Woohoo!

I suggest most people need to eat three meals a day and two to three snacks, so your body is receiving quality energy all day.

• I suggest that you start by replacing sugar with fresh fruit. Whenever you crave something sweet try eating an apple. Apples are nature’s fast food-easy to carry with you and easy to eat! You may feel deprived at first, but you will adapt and eventually find those sugary snacks too sweet.

• Start kicking coffee by using good quality decaffeinated coffee. You will have the taste without the caffeine. If you are a heavy coffee user, wean yourself off by cutting the number of cups you drink daily. Caffeine withdrawal produces bad headaches and other side effects that may give you an excuse to give up. Go slowly, this is a process of loving yourself, not punishing. Try herbal teas. There are hundreds on the market, buy sample packs and find your favorites. Try coffee substitutes, you may find you like them.

• Dump the energy drinks. Honestly, just drink something else…anything. We don’t need them! They are full of icky chemicals that stress out and tire the body. They simply are not healthy choices.

Check out the video for quick tips on energy boosting…

• And drink water! At least six glasses daily. Don’t like water? Try fizzy spring water with ice and a slice of lemon in a beautiful glass. Put some pleasant tasting chlorophyll into the water. I personally like one that has a spearmint oil added.

TIP: Take a BIG SPORTS bottle OF WATER to work with you in the morning and promise yourself you’ll finish it by bedtime, then finish it by noon and feel pleased with yourself!

If you would like to learn more about ‘Eating Well to Choose Happy’ and getting into good eating habits into your life, give me a call or drop me a line and we’ll set you up with an appointment and get you started on a personalized wellness program.

Learning how you can be energy boosting will also help you gain or maintain a healthy weight.

Choose Happy and don’t forget to sign-up for our FREE Health and Happiness information.

I’ve hung out with a lot of different people over the years. Working with clients and students I’ve seen lots of stress, anxiety and depression.

(As well as some really amazingly fun times too!) However, for the past 20 years I have had a private practice working one-on-one with people in holistic health care. I’ve also been teaching wellness therapies in the classroom and on-line.

So something I’ve learned about people I’d like to share with you is how often I meet clients and /or students who have difficulty expressing their anger.

It’s an emotion that we so often end up holding in. We get busy bottling it up, pushing it down and pretending it doesn’t matter.

Sometimes, we think that’s Anger Management. However, I believe Anger Management can be putting your Angry Pants ON!

So, what could we be doing instead?

We could be letting it out in manageable ways.

Men are especially likely to bottle up their anger, but be sure it is not an exclusively male trait!

One way we might see ourselves as suppressing our anger is transferring unresolved anger onto situations that maybe do not warrant it. For example you may become overly upset when driving and start feeling that surging rush of adrenalin. Someone cuts in front of us, and we blow up! Yelling, shouting…and in its most extreme, it even has a name. Road Rage!

Or what about the tired dad who has a crappy day at work and comes home and yells at the kids for making too much noise.

These are examples of suppressed anger coming out inappropriately, not Anger Management!

Unfortunately, suppressing your anger can also lead to health issues. Studies have found that some people who do not express their anger transform it into physical ailments. These may include such symptoms as headaches and stomachaches.

Even serious illnesses have been indicated as being aggravated or possibly induced by suppressing our feelings.

So, what can we do about it?

Anger is emotion. Emotion is part of life. And anger can be safely released without doing damage to ourselves or others. Instead of bottling up your anger, learn how to let it out in non-aggressive ways.

Try the Following:

• Fix the Problem: Learn to recognize your own personal physical signs of anger, such as headaches or tense muscles. Once you realize you are angry, take some time to determine the cause of the anger and take steps toward resolving it.

• What Else are You Feeling? When you are angry, distinguish between the mildly annoying and the infuriating. Like the driving analogy mentioned above. Look at what else you may be feeling when you are most angry. Do you have a sense of lack of power? Do you feel guilty? Is there confusion or a sense of unfairness at the basis of the feeling? Recognizing your anger and identifying where it comes from may help with constructive expression.

• Move Your Body! Exercise is so useful in releasing angry and pent-up feelings, both immediate and long-term.  Good feeling hormones start to surge around your body. We all know that moving the body is important to our health and well-being, well here’s another reason to add some form of daily exercise to your wellness plan.

• Talk to a Friend: Try talking things over with a good friend. I don’t mean get into the habit of moaning and whining, I mean take the time to express your feelings and then let it go.

• 

  Getting out into nature can help life get back in balance

  Get Some Help! Consider using psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, or spiritual counseling to deal with your anger. Sometimes we just cannot do it all alone. And of course, do not forget to bring meditation and relaxation into your life. Take time for yourself to just sit and breathe quietly. I recommend ten long slow deep breaths at least once a day. This can help bring calmness throughout your body, mind, spirit and emotions. Meditation is easy to learn, start by finding a quiet spot and counting your breaths.

• Nurture Yourself: And remember to treat yourself to some type of healing therapy. I like aromatherapy massage, a foot reflexology session, some hypnotherapy or a reiki treatment once a month. Let someone else look after you!

Remember, anger is often a reminder that we need to take some time out to care for ourselves and put our needs first.

If you would like to learn more about how to Take Your Angry Pants off and Choose Happy, please drop me an email or call 206-201-2764 for an appointment.

Before you read on, take a moment to look around you.

My desk … before the Clutter Clearing!

How is your desk? Is it covered in piles of paper, unread articles, “to-do” piles, unpaid bills? Are you surrounded by unfinished projects?

Or is it neat and tidy, with everything in its place?

Look up and check out the rest of the room, the rest of your personal space?

How does it make you feel?

Did you know that the state of our physical environment actually contributes in quite a large way to our energy levels?

It also affects our clarity of thought and our ability to be resilient. This, in turn, affects our health and well-being.

When we are surrounded by clutter, including reminders of failed relationships and things we are just hanging onto out of a sense of -guilt or obligation we feel physically more tired. Our motivation and our energy are lowered and we can literally feel “stuck”. And sadly, we are actually preventing what we really want from coming into our lives!

Don’t despair! Keep reading.

This isn’t about judgment and I’m really not trying to make you feel worse. I want you to know that you can create a space that makes you feel good and supports your health and well-being. And you can start right now!

I decided to Choose Happy and clean up my desk ~ the after photo! Woohoo!

Here’s how:

1. Get yourself and pen and paper and get up and walk through the area you are ready to tackle. You pick where you would like to begin, whether at home or at work.
2. Begin writing two lists:
   • The cluttered areas that are causing you the most grief (be honest with yourself-no one else has to see this)
   • A “to-do” list of actions that will make you feel better.

   Breaking the task into manageable portions will go a long way to getting you started in your clutter-clearing.

Tip: Don’t take on your whole house or apartment in one go—you’ll feel overwhelmed and quit. When deciding where to start pick a small project that is manageable and also watch out for the emotional attachment trap. For example, you could start with an underwear drawer—throw out the old ones, and create space for the new, or a kitchen counter-top is a good neutral place to begin. As you feel good about clearing clutter you will be ready to tackle projects with greater emotional attachment.

• Set yourself up for success! Plan a time to begin, whether it’s right now or book an appointment with yourself.

Gather some boxes and label them as follows:

• Donate
• Sell
• Garbage
• Recycle
• Return to rightful owner (oops!)

The idea is to sort directly into these boxes, so that you do not end up with just more piles of stuff on the floor or worse still, all over the bed!

Tip: Make the task more palatable by playing your favourite CD, or my personal favorite, the reward system. I book myself a time to work and then I allow myself time afterwards to do something fun!

Allow yourself to have your feelings! Sometimes clearing clutter can be like a trip down memory lane. Take time to journal or pick up the phone and chat with a friend and then let go and let the good stuff come in.

• Clearing clutter and getting the energy flowing back in our lives makes us feel absolutely fabulous!

The more you do, the more you will want to do, as it feels so good to let the energy flow around us again. Feel great about taking a box of stuff you no longer use to the local thrift store and imagine how it will help someone else’s life. Enjoy the recycling process. Letting go of clutter is an energizing experience!

Tip: Remember, the clutter didn’t all arrive overnight, so be gentle and caring with yourself and allow yourself time to take on these projects. Your energy will increase and you will actually find yourself looking forward to your next clutter-clearing appointment.

• And the final step is maintenance. Begin to establish routines in your life that support being organized.

Simple steps might be to always do the dishes before you go to bed. We feel much better when we start the day walking into a clean kitchen, and your day will begin on a positive note.

Fabulous book with tons of tips and explains how simple Feng Shui makes sense in your life.

Well, I am feeling inspired to tackle my desk! I’ve been procrastinating, and as I look at it now, it will take me maybe half an hour tops to get it back on track.

If you would like help getting started, please call me for an appointment at 206 201 2764 and we can personalize the above process, looking at your habits and general mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. We can then take a serious step to your feeling more energy and being healthy.

I can also connect you to some dedicated clutter-clearing professionals—just e-mail me.

And finally for today, here’s a book I recommend: Karen Kingston’s Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui.

Choose Happy and get your life back on track.

Born to be beautiful!

Have you ever seen an ugly baby? Or an ugly bride?

Not really…maybe a baby pulling a face or a jokey photo on the internet of a strange looking bride.

But seriously, all babies are beautiful. We are genetically programmed to find those chubby cheeks and big innocent eyes endearing. Babies are beautiful!

On her wedding day a bride gets to be the center of the show, princess for the day. And she’s glowing with the attention and the culmination of love. This day she gets to be the princess and she claims her prince charming. That glow of love and self-confidence is beautiful, whatever the bride’s physical features are like!

Have you guessed where I’m going with this?

You were born beautiful.

You were born to be beautiful!

When you glow with love and self-confidence, whether male or female you are beautiful.

Yes, you are beautiful!

Don’t believe me? Not sure? Let me help you to see your beauty.

We so often tell ourselves negative messages. Are you guilty of any of these?

•  My bum is too big (or any other part of your body you are not in love with)

• I need to drop 15 lbs (or 10lb, or 20lb, 50lb, 75lb…pick a number)

• I’ve got too many wrinkles (stretch-marks, spots, scars, zits, your choice)

Guess what?

That type of self-talk is because you have been unrealistically comparing yourself with the media, your friends, fashion magazines, movie stars. We have set ourselves a whole heap of unrealistic expectations and (what’s worse!) bought the story. Argh!!!

So, what’s the answer? Another crazy diet, some bo-tox, a little lift and tuck surgery. No!

What we need to do is trash these old stories and start telling new ones.

As mentioned above, you were born to be beautiful. You were born beautiful. You grew up beautiful. You are beautiful. If you are not feeling beautiful it’s because you have allowed yourself to believe a bunch of lies about you.

So, how are we going to do this together?

These are my Choose Happy ~ Feeling Absolutely Fabulous ~  4 Steps to Beauty:

1. LOOK!

Look in the mirror. Take a good look. And instead of sucking in your tummy, or wincing at whatever part of you that makes you unhappy, focus on something loveable and beautiful. Look at something about you that you like.

Perhaps your hair is strong and healthy, frames your face beautifully. Perhaps it’s your eyes…wide and trusting, or your strong arms, powerful legs, happy feet.

Find something you like and spend some time admiring your beauty, and allow it to spread to other parts of you. Replace any negative idea that comes into your head with one of appreciation instead.

Now you’ve stopped and looked for something to appreciate…

Showing off my fab legs…not bad for 55!

2. Step it up. What’s FABULOUS about you?

If you have great legs wear a short skirt.

If you have gorgeous eyes wear a color that makes them noticeable. For me it’s green. I have green eyes and when I wear a green dress or sweater, they pop.

If it’s your lips or your smile wear a fabulous lipstick color.

Great breasts? Makes sure you wear a good bra and fitted clothes.

Lovely shoulders? How about a boat neck sweater or blouse?

Get the idea? Whatever part of you that you are appreciating, make sure you wear what suits you and that it fits well. Big and baggy clothes make you look bigger, whatever your size. If you are a size 20, then wear clothes that fit that size 20 beautiful body. Same if you are a size 2!

And as you accentuate the things about you that you love and appreciate, the other parts that you aren’t so keen on will fade to the background. Reverse the programming of the media.

3. STOP!

Whenever you find yourself comparing you to a celebrity, just stop it! Even celebs don’t look like celebs…LOL! Photoshop has forever changed how people look in pictures. Statistics indicate that women start to feel bad about themselves within 20 seconds of looking at a fashion magazine. Wow!

Born to be Beautiful ~ we all are!

4. And…

wear things, your clothing, your shoes, your handbag, your make-up that makes you feel absolutely fabulous.

Don’t settle for the okay stuff that’s on sale. If it doesn’t make you feel fabulous get rid of it. Remember I began this article by reminding you that a bride is beautiful because she feels like a princess and she glows with love. Wear clothes that make you feel wonderful. And love yourself for all you are worth!

Forget about fashion ~ Choose Style! Wear what makes you feel good.

Radiate love and you’ll not only look fabulous but you will feel fabulous too! Radiate confidence and you’ll feel beautiful. It’s not just how you look its how you feel and that is where true beauty comes from. You were born beautiful. You were born to be beautiful. You are beautiful!

Need help believing? Like this and want more? Then contact me for an appointment and we’ll work together in a safe, supportive environment and make gentle change that leads to permanent results.

Looking Good, Feeling Great-Being Beautiful

You are beautiful!

You were born to be beautiful!!!

There, I said it. Good enough works very well, thank you very much.

We all begin a journey by taking a single step. That step may be big or small, but we can’t begin a journey without looking at where we are starting from.

The first step is Acceptance. Choose today to Accept yourself exactly as you are, right here, right now. To begin to make changes in our lives we have to get honest and look in the mirror. We accept the way things are, and from there we begin to see what we need to do to make our lives full of self-confidence and joy. So, each day we Choose Happy, whatever the circumstances.

One of my favorite teachers, Stuart Wilde says ‘The way things are is the way things are. I accept that. In doing so it sets me free.’ I have it on a magnet on my fridge as a reminder. My brother read it one day and saw in it ‘defeatism’. He saw it as the way things are is the way they are and therefore life is futile! Wow…we had to sit down and have a chat about that.

Acceptance doesn’t mean we just resign ourselves to whatever is happening. It means that we get honest and acknowledge it.

For example, currently I’ve been accepting that I’m heavier than I like to be. I’ve been through some stresses and I admit to a bit of comfort eating!

So the first thing is my clothes get a bit tight, so some clothes seem to drift to the back of the closet and I find myself wearing the same clothes each day. I was in the denial phase. I avoided the mirror (sound familiar?) And as I walked my pup each day I noticed the up-hill part of our daily routine was getting a bit harder and I was puffing a bit more.

Finally, I decided to get real with me. I stood in front of the mirror in an outfit that I love, but the outfit was just too tight. Okay? That’s when Acceptance began.

I said to myself ‘Self (teehee) you have put on some weight and your clothes don’t fit. Does that make you feel good about you?’

Obviously the answer was NO!

I Choose Happy not perfect. I Accept the way things are and set myself free to be Happy!

I was uncomfortable and I wasn’t happy with me. So, the first things I did was: I went out and bought some new clothes that fit nicely. Wearing clothes that are too tight makes me feel bad about me. To feel good again I just bought a few things a size up, that looked lovely, fitted nicely and guess what? I started to Accept me again. I feel good about me again. (Starting of course with some new bras!!!)

Not perfection…Acceptance. This is how I am right now and I’m looking after and taking care of me. I Choose Happy!

This led to…going out and getting some really good running shoes. Now when I walk the dog I have good support. Which led to someone coming into my life who suggested I start running. She even gave me a running regime to follow. And…I’ve started following it.

I’m not avoiding the mirror, because my clothes fit and I look good…just a bit heavier. I’m in Acceptance.

And from here comes the change…

I’m exercising more, which is leading to being more careful about what I eat. Which in turn is leading to my feeling better. As we exercise, feel good hormones are generated in our fabulous bodies. So, I am feeling better…so I’m not comfort eating.

Get it?

Acceptance is getting real. And that’s the first step on the Choose Happy program.

So today, let’s accept that ‘good enough is perfect for me’ and let the rest go. By being kind to ourselves, we allow better to flow to us.

Now, what’s step two? I’ll tell you next time.

In the meantime, I’d love to help you get started to Choose Happy. Go here to find out how you can start your journey to Happiness and Choose Happy now.

I opened the pantry door and looked at the tea shelf. You must be there!

I sorted through my accumulated boxes and there it was. A red box, with a splendid Lion on it. I’d found the elixir that my body, mind and spirit craved. African Rooibos flavored with Madagascar Vanilla. Yes!!!

I rushed to the kettle and filled it with fresh well water. Opened the red box and breathed deeply. I pulled out my favorite teacup (big enough to hold half a pint of deliciousness). A china tea cup, with a saucer. No mere porcelain mug for this craving.

The kettle boiled and I poured the water over the teabag, breathing deeply and savoring the heady aromas as the hot water released them.

Patience now Jacqueline, patience. I popped the timer on. Four minutes should do it.

Using a teaspoon, out came the teabag. And the finished product was at last in my hands.

I took my teacup and saucer, filled with the delicious nectar. Sat by the window. Finally, I sipped my tea!

No need for honey or sugar. No need for milk in any form. The aromatic tantalizing mixture of the earthy Rooibos and the deep floral notes of the finest Vanilla made me feel warm and comforted. The delicate taste calmed my cravings.

Choose Happy Tea!

Oh yes, I had. And as I sat there, sipping, sampling, enjoying; I had a thought. I need to share this experience with you. The simplicity of taking a moment out of our daily life to just enjoy being. For me, tea time has that effect.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to Choose Happy. You don’t have to have the perfect life to Choose Happy. You do have to stop every now and again to simply enjoy the simple things in life.

So, this is one way I Choose Happy ~ I stop and enjoy a cuppa tea.

And I’d like you to enjoy the pleasures of Tea Time too. So, I’m going to start sharing with you my most favorite teas.

Today’s Special Tea (get it … special tea, specialty!)

African Rooibos Madagascar Vanilla

The people of South Africa have enjoyed Rooibos (or ‘red bush’) tea for centuries. It was first introduced to me by a client. She took a visit to her home and came back with bags of Rooibos for friends. I was hooked instantly.

The plant has needle-like leaves which contain potent antioxidants.

(What are antioxidants? Have you ever seen those bottom-feeder fish in a fish-tank, sucking up all the grime and gunk? Now if your body was a fish-tank, then antioxidants would be the scavenger fish  in your body. they suck up icky ‘free radicals’. Free radicals are molecules that get into our cells and make them unhealthy, even cancerous. So antioxidants are good for us.)

And even more exciting, as if that wasn’t enough…Rooibos is caffeine-free! So we can drink it anytime.

Rooibos is rich in calcium, so it’s good for our bones and teeth. It’s also high in zinc, so Rooibos tea is a good choice when we have a cold or a sore throat.

And what about the Vanilla? Apart from being absolutely scrumptious, Vanilla, which is the pod of a tropical, climbing orchid. Well Vanilla, has a whole heap of trace minerals that are good for us and has some B Vitamins. Upping our B vits is good when we are stressed, as they help our bodies’ nervous system stay healthy. (And psst…many cultures consider Vanilla a natural aphrodisiac.

What the Tea Blend Master has to say…

Rooibos is naturally sweet with a slightly nutty flavor with hints of cherry and toffee. Vanilla is rich, sweet and creamy.

So, there we have it. I Choose Happy with a Tea Break and my tea of choice this week is African Rooibos with Madagascar Vanilla. What’s in your cup?

And don’t forget that I have a few openings each month for a Free 15 minute consultation with me. My Tea For Two mini-consultation is absolutely free and is one way to sample how I can help you to find the greatness within yourself and live a life of joy! Apply now.

In the words of Dr Phil ‘How’s it working for you?’

Not so good? I thought as much.

So, let’s have a look at why we get the need to slow-down. (Oh yes, it is a need!) And then, let’s see what we can do to make this work for us.

Or as I like to say ‘It’s time to slow-down to Choose Happy!’

I love the Goddess cards and this phase of the year is represented by Maeve. Maeve is a kick-bum Celtic goddess who took no truck with those who pushed her when she wasn’t in the mood. She often represents women’s moon cycles, but I’m looking to the bigger picture today. Maeve represents all our cycles and rhythms.

For those of us in the Western world, January is when nature is dormant. Or, at least she appears dormant.

I lived for many years in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada. Here winter brings a blanket of snow to cover the earth. The temperatures drop to dangerously cold levels and it requires planning just to get to work and do your daily routines and chores. Now, I live in the Pacific Northwest, where the cold is often accompanied by rain and gray, dark days.

All these lead us to want to hunker down and rest. For me, it’s sip tea and look out of the window. My knitting beckons. I tend to drift to bed early and rise slowly. I’m in tune with nature. Are you taking time to allow this for you?

Our culture pushes us to continue as if nothing has changed. We feel guilty if we aren’t going…busy with new projects, getting the sales, achieving constantly. STOP! Slow down and listen to your natural rhythms.

But what good is that?

By taking time to rest, repair and be still we actually allow our creative juices to get going. While Mother Nature may look as if she is sleeping, under the surface there is tons of activity. The roots of the trees and plants are gathering nourishment from deep in the earth.

Think of it this way. If I didn’t put my bulbs into the dark, they wouldn’t grow in the Spring. My amaryllis gets tucked into

We can only blossom fully when we take time out to restore our energies.

the cupboard for 3 months of the year, so that it can gain energy to blossom into full beauty. This is what we need too.

So, allow yourself to honor the cycles of your body, energy levels and emotions.

Rest when you are tired.

Take time to play. Take time to sip tea, look out the window and contemplate your life.

And know absolutely that you are not wasting time. You are nurturing those deep roots within. You are cultivating your creative beauty.

And just as surely know that you are going to blossom in the Spring.

Choose Happy and enjoy the Winter. Spring is coming faster than you realize. Get ready to blossom.