The difficult is that which can be done immediately;
the impossible that which takes a little longer.
~ George Santayna

My fearless daughter, Kristy, is living her dream in spite of being physically challenged. Born without a right hand, she learned quickly how to do the difficult things; holding on to a swing, tying her shoes, and riding her bike.

In school, she was determined to keep up with the other kids. She wanted to play sports like her three sisters. We witnessed her do the impossible things. She was a pitcher on her softball team in sixth grade, in ninth grade she defied her soccer coach and played for four years, and in twelfth grade she scored 21 points in a basketball game. 

Kristy taught us all about being bold and dreaming big.

Today, she participates in marathons and triathlons and works at New Balance. 

Read on for tips that I learned from my daughter on how to live a bold and fearless life.

Resilience.  When Kristy was in kindergarten a bully knocked her down, jumped on her, and broke her leg. She bounced back and carried on. A high school soccer coach said it was impossible for her to play soccer. She tried out anyway. Kristy went on to play for two years at the University of Chicago as well. 

Patience. It may take you twice as long as someone else to do something. It's no reason to give up. Kristy used to show up at basketball practice 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes after everyone else left in order to get extra time with the coach. It added up over the years. She also played basketball for two years in college.

Persevere.  I watched as Kristy discovered how to persevere through difficulties, obstacles, and opposition with commitment, hard work, and determination. Even as her stub chafed and bled, she would carry on. She doesn't tolerate quitting or excuses.

Support. Kristy knew we had her back. She made it a point to connect with us when it was emotionally painful. Some kids teased her and others were mean. Some adults, today, continue to pull back and refuse to shake her stub during an introduction. It's one thing to have support, it takes a wise person to use it.

Love life. Kristy lives with enthusiasm, passion, and a zest for life. Her energy is contagious. She currently volunteers for Back On My Feet, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to creating independence and self-sufficiency within the homeless and other underserved populations by first engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength, and self-esteem.

Don't allow fear, doubt, or worry to hold you back. You can overcome anything in your way. If you need support, I'm here for you. I believe in you. 

Who inspires or amazes you? What have the people in your life taught you about being bold?

 photo credit: t3hWIT

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. ~William Allen White

This is a guest post from my good friend Paige Burkes of Simple Mindfulness.

Imagine this scenario:

After looking for a job for over nine months and getting down to the last few dollars of your savings, you finally find a “good job.”  Only it’s a two hour drive from your home and commuting is out of the question. So you reluctantly get an apartment close to the office. 

You can’t stand the thought of being away from your spouse and two small children all week but you see no alternatives.

Every Sunday night you leave home with tears in your eyes, saying good-bye to the family that you love.  Your marriage already had a few cracks and this situation is only adding stress and distance between you.

And, for good measure: You’re six months pregnant.

The job seems to be going well as you get positive feedback from your boss. 

Three months later you’re home with a brand new baby.  You’ve agreed on the standard three month maternity leave with your boss. 

There you are in bed with your new baby next to you and your laptop on your lap, working and stressing about how to keep things together while you’re not in the office.

One month into the maternity leave, your boss calls and says you must be back in the office in two weeks.  You’re shocked to have to cut your maternity leave in half but you reluctantly agree.

On Thursday of your first week back in the office, your boss calls you into his office and tells you that you’re no longer needed.  Your position has been eliminated.  There’s no severance.  You’re handed a check for your services through that day.  End of story.

What the ?&*%$#!  Shocked.  Bewildered.  What do I do now?!?!?!?

That was me two years ago.  Swimming in fear.

-   Scared that I wouldn’t be able to find another job.

-   Scared that we wouldn’t be able to pay the mortgage and would lose our home.

-   Scared that we wouldn’t be able to pay for food to feed our family.

-   Just plain scared.

Do Something – Anything

What did I do?

After taking a couple days to get over the shock and fully assess my current situation, I humbled myself and quickly got another job that paid about a third of what the previous one paid.  This was a job that my ego wouldn’t have allowed me to previously consider.  At this point, I didn’t have too many choices.  Something was better than nothing.

At first I was angry that I had to lower myself to this kind of job for which I was incredibly over-qualified.  I was angry at my previous boss.  I was angry about my financial situation.  I was an angry person.

Let Go To See the Beauty Around You

But one day I decided to let all the anger go.  I realized that it was ripping me up and it was ripping my family up and it wasn’t going to help anything.

As I let the anger go, I started to feel so grateful for my current situation. 

I was grateful that my old boss had fired me and released me from the pain of being so far from my family 

I was grateful to have a job so close to home.

I was grateful that I had a low stress job that didn’t demand a lot of my time.

I was grateful that I now had time to consider what I really wanted to do with my life and actually do something about it. 

I was grateful that my husband stuck with me through all this and was working with me to improve our marriage. 

I was grateful to see my three beautiful children every day.

I was grateful to have choices.

This wasn’t the first time I had been through such a tough situation and I wouldn’t wish something like this on anyone.  But the more of them I experience, the stronger and more resilient I become. 

I know that the bad times will pass and great things lie just over the horizon. 

I have faith that everything will be OK. 

Paige Burkes writes at simple mindfulness where she inspires her readers to see the world in a new light and experience life mindfully, inviting in more happiness and joy. 

Check out these other interesting posts. My Happy Places, On Being Mediocre, A Digital Sabbatical

Please share your thoughts below!

Mary and Fiona each won a copy of The Intuition Principle by Angela Artemis. Thank you to everyone who participated!

There was no time for fear when I was growing up. My nine siblings and I, worked on our 80 acre produce farm, three seasons of every year, until we left home. We worked every evening, every day we weren't in school, and every weekend.

School work and time for study was secondary. Academically I slid by. I didn't fail but I could barely maintain above average grades. There was no discussion of college with this farm girl.

I was a teenage mom and the mother of four daughters in my early twenties. We took our family to church every Sunday because it gave Hubs and I a two hour break while the girls attended Sunday school.

Even though I never played a sport in my life, I joined the church softball team and felt a part of something outside of motherhood. Father Don, the priest, was young, hot, and helped coach the team.

He was also insightful and philosophical. The experience was fun and enlightening. It was my only social outlet.

Don, (as he liked to be called), suggested that I attend college part-time when the twins began kindergarten. I laughed because I didn't think I was smart enough. He insisted. I was terrified.

He decided to drive me to the campus and show me around. He helped me to sign up for two classes, "speed reading" and how to study. Smart man!

Nine and a half years later I graduated. I never took more than two or three classes a semester. I would go to class during the day and leave a list of chores for the girls to do when they arrived home from school on the bus. One of the chores was to get dinner start. It was a lot of responsibility for young children. I studied after they were in bed at night. 

I loved learning. You could say I was, "hungry."  I continued on for my master's degree in counseling psychology. 

I was blessed to have Hubs support, Don's faith in me, and the girls commitment to help out. 

As you know, life is full of uncertainty. You need to have more faith than fear, more persistence than doubt, and the help and support of family and friends to reach your goals. In the end, this is what makes for a colorful and meaningful life. 

Read on for 9 tips to live bold and fearless:

If we can let go of our own fear we can remove fear from the world. ~ Unknown

You are not your fear. It’s not even a part of you.  Fear is a story, an illusion, an emotion. Mentally see fear as separate from yourself. Don’t identify yourself with fear. Don’t label yourself a fearful person. Instead, examine the emotion, the story, the illusion. Upon examination, notice how it is separate from you and witness it lose it’s power.

 …without darkness nothing comes to birth, as without light nothing flowers. ~ May Sarton

Fear lies. Don’t believe your fear. When you know you’re not in any kind of danger, do the opposite of what fear tells you to do. If fear says, ”Don’t go to the party, nobody will notice you.” Go anyway. When fear says, “Don’t ask for help. The answer will probably be no.” Ask anyway. Do what fear doesn’t want you to do. You are good enough. You are smart enough. Begin where you are!

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. ~Les Brown

Talk to your fear.  Ask fear what it wants. Does it have something to teach you? Does it have a message for you? Next tell fear that you're in charge. You're the leader. Tell your fear to get in the backseat. Put yourself in the front seat. Lead with faith, not fear.

                    Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive —
                               the risk to be alive and express what we really are. ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Say yes to life.  Be open to possibility. Say yes to going with the flow.  Say yes to a new perspective. Say yes to responsibility. Say yes to the challenge. Say yes to risk.  Say yes to new and different. Say yes to your dreams. Yes to creating passion, and purpose. Say yes to new things, new people, and new places. Say yes to love!

Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is freedom. ~Mary Ferguson

Zigzag through life. The road to happiness and success isn’t a straight line. Things go wrong, plans change, stuff happens, people die. Anytime you are off track, take the time to regroup and get back in the saddle again.

Start a huge, foolish project like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.
~ Rumi

Relax out of fear.  Use guided meditation to relax your body. When your body is relaxed, your mind will relax as well. You cannot be totally relaxed and fearful at the same time. Learn to breathe properly. Breathe your way out of your fear.

Go back a little to leap further.  ~ John Clarke

Resist hesitancy. Make up your mind to change and take action. If you have a drinking problem, attend  A.A.  If you want to lose weight, join Weight Watchers.  If you want to become a professional speaker, join Toastmasters. Don’t hesitate. Some of the most kind and friendly people in the world are a part of these organizations. You have more power than you can ever imagine. Begin now. 

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. ~ E Hubbard

Let go of the end result. Learn to do your best and let the rest go. You can't know, see or do everything. Put your best effort into every area of your life. Do what needs to be done and surrender the rest. Let go of control. Breathe. Your Higher Power, God, or the Universe will take care of the rest.

"Fearless" is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. ~Taylor Swift

Surround yourself with the best. Look for wise mentors. Choose loving friends. Enroll in the best seminars. Read one book a week. Eat healthy food. Do yoga. Fear can't blossom in a positive environment.

Live out loud, live in color, now is your time, today is your day!

Source: rachels-art

Who was a positive influence in your life? What have you done that you didn't think possible?

Interview with Angela Artemis, an intuition coach, from Powered by Intuition on her new book, The Intuition Principle. Enjoy!

I love your new book The Intuition Principle, can you define intuition for us and how can we best detect it?

Intuition is defined as information that spontaneously appears in our awareness without any conscious effort on our part. Intuitive information comes into our awareness as a result of our brain searching all of our memory banks. Once it finds the answer it brings it up to our awareness very quickly which is why intuition often feels like an “aha” moment.
 

To become aware of your intuition take notice of those "aha" moments.

Make time each day to get quiet. You can meditate or even go for long walk. When you are calm and quiet you will notice "insights" coming to you. This is your intuition – intuition is your own inner wisdom and guidance. The more you create the intention to hear it the more frequently you will.

What are the best ways to develop our intuition?

The best way to develop your intuition is to "listen."

Create the intention that you wish to hear this inner guidance. In order to hear it you will need a relatively calm mind. Intuition is often a "whisper" that passes through the mind very quickly. This is why I'm such an advocate of meditation.

Learning to calm the mind and slow down the constant internal chatter allows you to hear your intuition more readily. As I stated earlier you can even take walks if you find that calming. Many people hear their intuitive voice when they are gardening, washing dishes, driving or taking a shower. 
 

Intuition is a very natural process. 

It is very subtle so don't expect to hear and booming voice directing you to do this or that or to see a burning bush. Your intuition is your internal voice. If you can recall a time when you did something and at the moment you did it your heard a little voice inside saying, "I shouldn't have done that!" You heard your intuition.

I love the first sentence of your book, “When you live an intuitively inspired life the world will come to you.” That’s exciting stuff! Tell us more about that.

When you follow your intuition you make wiser decisions according to who you really are at your core and what is truly right for you, rather than decisions based on what others think you should do or what society dictates. Listening to your intuition puts you in touch with the "authentic" you. 

For example, when you feel an aversion to doing something but, you do it anyway the aversion you feel is your inner guidance trying to communicate to you to examine your choice. When you follow your intuition and do the things that make you feel joyous, motivated and excited you live an "intuitively inspired life."

You feel "inspired" to do the things you do – and it is that joy and inspiration that brings "the world to you." When you are inspired and exude joy others will be drawn to your energy as will more opportunity for greater success in every area of your life. When you are "intuitively inspired" you become a dynamic and magnetic force in your own life!

How is prosperity and synchronicity related to intuition?

As I mentioned in my earlier answer about what it means to be living an "intuitively inspired" life, we are compelled to do the things that resonate with us at our core when we listen to our intuition. Doing the things that make our "heart sing" makes us feel joyous and this attitude is what makes you magnetic to others.

When you are dynamic and magnetic more opportunities to prosper arise in your life. Many of these opportunities will be synchronistic, meaning they will be "fortunate coincidences."

A synchronicity occurs when you run into someone out of the clear blue who has a solution you need, or an opportunity for you that is just the thing you need right now. Prosperity and synchronicity are related to intuition because following your intuition is what places you in the right place at the right time to be the recipient of synchronicity and ultimately prosperity.

What are some of the roadblocks to intuition and how can we overcome them?

The biggest roadblocks to intuition are being overly attached to an outcome and not trusting our intuition. 

When you're overly attached to an outcome you won't hear your intuition. Your ego, which speaks much louder than your intuition, will drown out the subtle whisper of your intuitive voice. You also create a lot of inner tension when you're overly attached to a specific outcome.

Tension also blocks your intuition. You need to relax and detach from the outcome and be willing to hear something other than what you want. Take long walks in nature. Meditate. Repeat affirmations such as, "I' now let go and release this situation to a higher power to solve."

Slowly allow yourself to detach. Wait until you feel no emotional attachment about the outcome. When you reach that point of "surrendering" and being okay with whatever happens the answer will arise on its own. 

Most people don't trust their intuition. They question whether they "made it up." In the beginning when you start to tune in and you hear the internal voice for the first few times you will feel as if you made it up. That's natural in the beginning. But, in order to trust this voice you have to get past that.

The only way to trust this voice is to have faith that you are correct by acting on the information you received. After you do this a few times with success you will begin to trust this inner voice. 

With so many books to choose from, what makes yours the best, what makes your stand out?

If you are looking for a roadmap to finding your true purpose, passion and path in life then "The Intuition Principle" is for you. It is a guidebook for uncovering your authentic self by following your intuition. Learning to navigate your life by intuition is the most direct way to finding the joyous life you've always dreamed of living. 

The Intuition Principle is different because it is a book about finding your true calling and then sharing your gifts with the world rather than just a book about developing your intuition.  

The "principle" itself is what makes the book stand out. “The Intuition Principle is a concept that within you exists an innate technology, your intuition, capable of both guiding you to and attracting to you the life and happiness you have always dreamed of.” P. 10 “The Intuition Principle.”

Activating the intuition principle will not only lead you to opportunities but, will place you in the right place at the right time when they occur – in essence "bringing the world to you."

Angela Artemis, an intuition coach, is on a mission to teach readers around the world to “speak intuition” so that they unlock all the brilliant potential that resides within and start successfully living the life of their dreams now – not later. She blogs at www.PoweredbyIntuition.com and is an Amazon best-selling author. Her newest book is, “The Intuition Principle: How to Attract the Life you Dream Of,” Readers are welcomed to download free bonus material here.

Angela is giving away two copies of her book. Please leave a comment below and you'll be included in the drawing to win.

Fear can feel heavy. It can be convincing, conniving, and gripping. It’ll lock you in a mental prison.  Fear can feel light. It can be nagging, boring or weightless like a shadow you can’t escape.

Fear is part of life.

Don’t allow fear to keep you from traveling to new places or meeting new people. Don’t all fear to steal your possible connections, opportunities, and happiness. You either give your fear your life energy or you don’t. You decide. 

Tips for the next time you’re in a scary place: 

Create an in spite of attitude. In spite of my fear, I will take my first step or make the first move. In spite of my fear I will create a plan, ask for support, and begin. 

Invest in yourself. Create a $100 Startup. Get Danielle LaPorte's, FIRE Starter Sessions. Enter Leo Babauta’s Sea Change program. Get my course "Take Your Fear and Shove It!" Don't sit there, do something! 

Bet on your success. You can only plan and prepare for a limited amount of time. Take action today. Don’t convince yourself that you’ll fail before you even begin. Bet on yourself. Own your talent and strength. Dig deep for courage and get started. Today! 

Praise your efforts. Encourage yourself. Take breaks. Breathe. Create positive self-talk. Rock your talent. Strut your stuff. 

Dedicate yourself to deep stillness. Sit in a quiet place and breathe through your fear. Learn to develop a quiet strength within. Live in the present moment. Stay out of  fear-induced pain of the past and uncertainty of the future. 

Write yourself a permission slip. Allow yourself to dare, to risk, and to fail shamelessly. Write another one to get back up and try again. Repeat.

Create distance from your fear. You are not your fear. Talk to your fear. Ask fear, “What message do you have for me today?” Decide if there is any validity to the message and take any necessary action. Next, inform it that you’ll be taking care of yourself today.

Thank your fear and put it in an imaginary box, lock it, and throw away the key. 

If you haven’t already, grab your copy of “Take Your Fear and Shove It.” I’ve extended the discount. I want to help you succeed. Bet on me. Bet on yourself!Click here. 

Image: Brave Girls Club

Let us know how you'll move beyond your fear today! Please share below.

Being a mother is the most difficult job on earth. ~ Oprah Winfrey

I was one of 10 children. My mom wrote me the above note 25 years ago when I was angry with her for breaking a promise. It reads, "To My Dearest Daughter Theresa, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. It's so hard to please all ten. I love you much. Mom." 

It meant the world to me. Reading it provided me with a light bulb moment. As a mother and daughter it was a defining moment. 

Being a mom is very difficult. I agree. There is no such thing as a perfect mom, perfect children or a perfect family. You only need to be 'good enough.' 

We know that and yet for some reasons we continue to have high expectations of each other.

As a mom you don't get a second chance at being a parent. You can't go back in time and change things. You can only begin again. 

Some mothers aren't capable of beginning again. Some can't. Some won't. It doesn't matter. If nothing else she gave you the gift of life. That's huge. This Mother's Day be grateful and celebrate it!

Kristy, Niki, Shelly, and Kara and their cousins on a porch swing.

Forgiveness

I made numerous mistakes as a teenage mom. With four daughters under four, my twenties were my most difficult years! I give myself credit for sticking it out. I so wanted to run. Disappear. Never come back. I was thin. Dark circles under my eyes. Depressed. I didn't run. I stayed and at 27 decided to get help. My commitment to therapy saved us.

Forgive your mom. She did the best she could do, with what she knew, at the time. When we know better, we do better.  Forgive your mom for the mistakes she made. Forgive yourself as well. Life is too short to live in the past.

A phone call

A child's voice, chatter, whisper, giggle, or laugh is music to a mother's ears. No matter what the age, we love to hear our children's voices. Go one step further than a text and call your mother on Sunday. Speak from your heart.

Make a card 

It doesn't have to be fancy. Homemade cards make a mother's heart sing. They have more meaning than a purchased gift. I don't know why. They just do. Write down three words, "I love you." Then sign it. 

Frame a photo

I love, love, love framed photographs. Some suggestions would be a photo of you and your mom when you were young, a photo of your family today, a photo of a special birthday party. My walls have always been filled with family photos. 

Write a poem

The haiku is composed of 17 sound units divided into three parts – one with 5 syllables, one with 7 syllables and another with 5 syllables.

It is meant to be a meditation of sorts, that conveys an image or feeling when you see or notice something that makes you want to say to others -"Hey, look at that!" (Wikipedia)  

My example:

A spring, sunny, day. 
Memories of you and me.
Warm hugs and kisses.

Bake cookies

What activity did you love to do together when you were young? Invite your mom to join you and do it again. My mom used to love to bake. I loved to help her. Time together will put her over the moon! Invite her over for a favorite TV show and a big bowl of popcorn.  

A favorite book or movie

Do you know your mom's favorite author or movie star? An offline shopping trip to a neighborhood bookstore is a double joy. Enjoy coffee or tea and a sweet treat. Keep your cell phone off and give her your undivided attention. Look at her with loving eyes and a heart filled with gratitude. She won't be around forever.

A weekend trip

Is there a bed and breakfast nearby? Is there a friend or relative that she would enjoy visiting overnight? Make the arrangements. Time together is priceless. Priceless!

My mom and her younger brother were very close. He moved from Indiana to Colorado Springs to be near his family when he retired. My mom was 80 years old when he became ill. I convinced her to fly from Michigan with me to visit him one last time. I have a beautiful photo of this precious weekend. 

Extend a helping hand

Notice what your mother's needs are. What small jobs could you help out with? Show up with your tools and supplies and offer to help. Do it with a smile. You'll never regret it. Never. Reflect on all the memories you have of her helping you.

Dinner out

Does she have a favorite restaurant? Before we moved to Arizona we would visit my mom on Sundays. We often made or picked up dinner on the way, when she wasn't able to get out anymore. I was blessed to live nearby. It's difficult to watch your parents age. Sometimes it's difficult to go. Go anyway. It's part of a life of no regrets.

Gather family together

This can be as simple as gathering family members together for a game night, family dinner, or family reunion. You don't have to wait until everyone can be together. Gather those who are willing and able.

Mentally prepare yourself before you go. Set an intention of love. Don't bring up old issues or discuss problems. Make it light and have fun! Learn to enjoy each other's company.

Accept your mother 

If you are an adult, speak well of your mother or say nothing at all. Heal your pain. Heal your past. You can't change it. You can 0nly change your perception. Learn to choose love over fear.

If you can't be with her. Love her from a distance. If you choose to be with her, do so out of unconditional love.

Live in the moment. Be in the moment. Be the love you wished you had received. Commit today that you will never say another unloving word again. Stop complaining. It's bad karma. Deal with it and move on.

Do a happy dance

 If your mother is deceased, send out a prayer, sing a song, or do a happy dance in her memory. It's worth repeating, celebrate life itself and remember how blessed you are.

In honor of Mother's Day I'm offering my Course "Take Your Fear and Shove It" at a discount. You don't have to be a mom to purchase it! Be bold, Stay happy! This offer is good through Sunday!

(Source: twogirlsheretohelp, via the-starring-role)

Fear is a wellspring for growth. If the thought of quitting a job, meeting new people, or speaking in public makes you shake in your shoes, you have found a treasure trove. 

These bold living activities are opportunities to change your life and expand your comfort zone. When you do the things you fear to do, you send a message to the world that says, “I’m ready!” 

When you act, the universe responds and matches your actions with support, opportunity and serendipity. Your life will transform as you activate your personal power and share your talents, gifts, and unique self with others. 

The decision to take action becomes a turning point. Turning points are the moments you decide to make change happen. It’s the moment you quit your job, join A.A., end a relationship, get married, move to a new location, or get a degree. 

One of the biggest turning points in my life was when I decided to get counseling. I was 27 years old. I was miserable. I was failing as a wife and mother. I was tired of being miserable. I knew there had to be a better way. 

At the time, I didn’t know that one choice would lead to my own master’s degree in counseling psychology and a private practice. 

At the time, I didn’t realize that the personal growth I committed to would change my life in every way imaginable. I only new I was ready. 

What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  

Don’t allow fear to hold you back from the life that you deserve. Don’t allow fear to rob you of your happiness, passion, and purpose. 

You become fearless by facing your fears. Look fear in the eye and tell it to back off. Say it with power and conviction. Don’t fall for its false messages. Build your courage muscles with persistent and consistent action. 

Don’t fear failure. You’ll live through it. Never back down. Never quit. If you mess up you can try again. If you lose your house you can get an apartment. If you lose your money, you can earn more. If you lose your friend, you can make another. It’s never the end of the world!

We have resources. We have each other. Remember that you are brilliant, talented, and worthy. Remember your purpose and your commitment. Remember that you are strong and capable. 

We are not on this earth to accumulate victories, things, and experiences, but to be whittled and sandpapered until what’s left is who we truly are. This is the only journey that can get us to fearlessness.  ~ Arianna Huffington 

Keep moving in the direction of your best life. Go after it with all of the gusto you can muster. Believe you can do anything and watch what happens. I’ll be cheering for you!

Today my interview is with Farnoosh Brock from Prolific Living.

Introduce yourself and briefly tell my readers about Prolific Living.

Hello Tess and the lovely readers here at The Bold Life. I am so honored to be invited here. So in a nutshell, exactly a year ago, I left a long-standing lucrative corporate career after 12 years to dedicate myself fully to blogging, and that little blog is now a company and a thriving business, Prolific Living Inc.

I started simply by sharing  my self-improvement journey and my yearning for doing something meaningful in my life and I have now created programs and systems and books to teach and inspire and help others live life on their own terms.

You are one of the most passionate, enthusiastic, and energetic bloggers that I know. How has this attitude and style of life benefitted you?

That's a huge compliment, Tess, thank you so so much! This attitude has been a work in progress, believe me, I was not born this way and neither was I always this way. It started out with slow shifts in mindset and thought patterns and the impact of those was so huge in my own state of being and happiness that I kept playing with them and exploring further.

Now, it has completely changed my entire perspective on life, on happiness and on what I really want. It has also shown me that the best and most rewarding way to put this attitude to work is to show others how to create it in their own life.

I’m very interested in your green juicing clinic. I bought a new juicer and can’t wait to begin using some of your recipes. My fear is juicing will become a chore. How do I prevent this?

Great question and my entire theme for the 21-Day Green Juicing Intensive Clinic is to make green juicing FUN. If a habit or a routine in your life is not fun, why bother?

If it becomes a chore, it will soon be forgotten and not done. Well, I have specific daily lessons on how to address this in the clinic in detail but to put it briefly, I would say that you have to create systems and processes – yes, even for juicing – that work for you, and are FUN to do.

This is simple stuff like the routines of getting your produce – don't think of it as just going grocery shopping, think of it as going on an adventure to get your ingredients for another exciting green juice and always try new recipes and new vegetables and fruits – there is no end in those combinations!

Also, look at the way you organize and store your fruits, vegetables and even juices in your fridge – does it look enticing and appetizing and so good that by just thinking about it, you want to run out and juice? I do!

I'll give you an example. I LOVE these tight-lid Italian glass containers that I finally splurged and bought on Amazon. I used to store my left-over juice – for a short period, say 24 hours or less – in cheap plastic containers and they would get so grungy and stained and also not keep my juice fresh by letting air in.

So I decided to buy these gorgeous glass containers and make my juices look so delicious and so beautiful when I open the fridge that I can't wait to make them the next time around just so I use the containers again. So find ways to make it FUN and you can do the same!

What has been one of your greatest fears either personally or professionally?

Fears!! This is your favorite topic, and one of mine too, Tess. Well, it has evolved for me. I used to fear not making enough money in my business and then I changed my attitude and my approach and the money started to come in.

I used to worry that I sound silly and "out there" with what I am doing when my old peers and colleagues and friends see it, and then I decided to not care about that because I am happy now that I am finally being true to myself.

I think right now, my greatest fear is that I will be so wildly successful that I won't be able to handle it, and I think that many of us – whether we realize it or not – fear massive success even more than failure. But I worry less and less about that one since my husband assured me that he will make sure I stay put and grounded and not do anything that is not my true self even when I am at the height of success.

Plus, I think it's good to live with a little bit of fear. It keeps the adrenalin high and the momentum going strong and so long as we strike a balance to where we don't let fear cripple us into inaction and so long as we keep moving forward, a little fear goes a long way and can be good for you!

What are your most effective tools or resources that help you embrace fear and navigate through it?

Confidence. Tapping into my deep self-confidence – something that I believe all of us already have and just need to awaken – and believing in myself with a conviction so strong that nothing can dissuade me. And constantly remembering that I need to do this, I have to travel this path, I need to fulfill this destiny or it will eat away at me for the rest of my life, so I push through the fear because the weight of regret from not doing it would be too great to bear.

I know you’re a prolific reader. What is on your Kindle or nightstand?

Right now, I am reading Michael Port's "Book Yourself Solid", because his values and belief system in terms of growing your coaching business with integrity really resonates with me and I am also reading "The Barefoot Executive" by Carrie Wilkerson on my Kindle. She is a firecracker!

And I am still hoping to finish "The Lord of the Rings" – 100 more pages to go, but it went on a hiatus the minute I left New Zealand, which was the only perfect setting for reading that masterpiece.

I just finished reading Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life" a few weeks ago, I am a third of the way through "The Autobiography of a Yogi" which was a book that Steve Jobs apparently read every single year and I've wanted to read for a long time, and I am also planning on picking up Eckart Tolle's "The Power of Now". That's it for now, Tess!!!

You know, I keep telling myself that I should really just focus on growing my business and only read books that help me with that but I've realized that ALL books help me with growing myself and my business.

Spirituality and good health and the right mindset is just as important as the tactics of establishing a successful coaching program. This even goes for (good!) fiction!

I am taking a holistic approach to becoming the savviest business person I can become by paying attention to every aspect of my life, and it is working out brilliantly so far, so I recommend you spice up your reading. It can benefit you in unexpected ways.

Besides, to all bloggers and writers out there, if you are not reading, you are missing out on some of the best writing and creativity that can flow out of you from reading, so pick up a BOOK and start reading now.

Bio below:

Farnoosh Brock left a 12-year career at a Fortune 100 company for her pursuits in writing, coaching, blogging and building her company Prolific Living Inc. She talks about smart habits for rich living with a focus on helping people awaken their inner confidence and live life on their own terms.

Please share your thoughts below!

Are you bold enough to begin, to ask for help, and to live life on your terms? Susan Ortbals of Fitskitz is a new blogger. She emailed me and asked for help, advice, a bit of mentoring. Please check out her new blog and introduce yourself. I love it! 

The following is my message to anyone that wants to follow their dreams. It may seem simple. Don't let it fool you. Simple is not easy!

Life is complicated. It's tempting to become overwhelmed and lose focus.

It's tempting to give up. 

Instead allow joy to flow into what you are doing.

Make the present your focal point. Befriend the now and

magic happens, others are helpful, life works. 

That one decision will change your whole reality.

Grab life. Just begin.

Go after your dreams in an adventurous and fun way.

Invite, don't force.

Flow, don't block. 

Stand out. Don't compare or imitate.

Tap into your imagination. 

Name and claim your wildest ideas and greatest desires.

Tap into motivation. Start small and gather momentum.

Allow your passion to trump your fear.

Indulge in the best thoughts, the best words, and the best actions.

Make your business and life delicious. Meaningful.

Begin today. Take a first step. Take another. 

Bring passion along for the ride. 

Put out your best effort and work hard. 

Be radically uncommon.

Original. Authentic.

Grow. Invest in education.

Learn more. Set the bar a bit higher. 

Fail shamelessly.

Invite the lesson.

Acknowledge the good.

Find support. Receive help. 

Connect.

Grow more.

Breathe.

Let go. Be bold. Unfold.

Shine Bright.

Give Back.

Grab life. Fall in love with it all.

Image Pixtawan

Take it in. Give yourself a break. Comments are closed today.

Rueben Bailey is the winner of The ReAwakening Meditation System!

Today's Interview and Giveaway:

Christopher Foster has been a blogger for three years and is author of an inspirational novel entitled “The Raven Who Spoke with God” which has just been published as a Kindle book at Amazon. Chris writes about happiness and shares his life lessons at The Happy Seeker blog.  

Tell us a bit about yourself

I was born in London in 1932. My dad was a reporter on London daily newspapers and my mother was a teacher. I was an only child in a traditional middle-class British family but as I got into my teens I became very unhappy. I longed to find the meaning of life and writing and truth have been my passions ever since.

Tell us about your book, what’s it about?

Joshua is a brave but sensitive young raven who learns to listen to his own heart and follow his dream no matter what challenges life brings. He experiences many difficulties and traumas but his own integrity will not let him give up his mission to restore the true honor of the raven.

The message of the book is really this: Trust life. Trust your own unconquerable spirit. And if you do you will find the freedom and happiness for which we all long.

How would my readers benefit from reading this book?

Instead of just presenting dry ideas and principles the book invites the reader to experience for themselves first-hand what happens when we do trust life and open our heart to the timeless qualities of our own true character. We are not the limited creatures we sometimes imagine ourselves to be.

Greatness is in every one of us. Joshua is a metaphor for the longing in every one of us to experience greater happiness and purpose in our lives.

When did you first realize you were destined to be a writer?

When I was 8 years old during the early days of the Blitz in WW2. I lived with my Mum on the 5^th floor of an apartment building in Central London for a few months before I was evacuated to the country.

Sometimes bombs fell very close to where we were living. I had an old scrapbook and for some reason just began writing a story. I still remember how much I loved writing this story and I didn’t want to stop. Dad was away, serving as a war correspondent overseas during the war.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I was an only child. Saying goodbye to my parents when I was young – just like Joshua did – to go to British Columbia was one of the hardest and most difficult things I have ever done. And yet it was also truly exhilarating because this voice in my heart was telling me I would find freedom and truth and a new life in British Columbia — and so I did.

If I had not followed that inner nudge my life would not have unfolded as it has. I am so grateful to be in a place in myself where I am more and more aware of the timeless peace of my own true nature.  

I am also so thankful for the magic we call synchronicity that I believe helped me get started on my book in the first place.

About 15 years ago I came down to Denver from BC to marry my wife, JoAnn. She noticed how I loved to visit the coffee shop each afternoon. So she said to me one day, "Since you're going to the coffee shop anyway why not start writing a new book while you're there?"

And that's exactly how my raven story was born.

How can someone purchase your book?

The Raven Who Spoke with God costs $3.99. Please click the link below for more info on the book and to visit my author page at Amazon.

If you want an opportunity to win a free copy of Christopher's book leave us a comment below!