Own Your Power

This was forwarded to me today and I know you’ll love it, so wanted to share. Lack of time, feeling of overwhelmed and scattered are many issues my clients deal with.  Even though you may have a lot on their plate at times - this little reminder can help you find some balance.

Own Your Power!

Simone

’7 Ruinous Habits’ steal time, efficiency from day
By Ruth Wong
Habits — we all have them. Are yours friends or foes?

On Dr. Oz’s morning television show in January, he shared his “7 Deadly Sins” — things that take years off our lives without us even knowing it. Here are seven deadly sins he calls “Deadly Habits”:

1. Not stretching in the morning
2. Not eating breakfast
3. Running late
4. Mindless eating
5. Becoming a couch potato
6. Disconnecting from people
7. Not having a bedtime

As a takeoff from Dr. Oz’s “habits,” here are mine, which I call “7 Ruinous Habits” — things that steal our time, order and efficiency and can ruin a perfectly good day without us even knowing it:

1. Enduring morning madness. Are mornings at your house a frenzied flurry? Is it a daily battle getting the children ready to go off to school or just getting yourself out the door in time? My younger son was very disorganized as a child. Every morning when he should have been in the garage waiting for his car-pool ride, he’d be searching and yelling, “Mom, have you seen my backpack?”

When I replied that I hadn’t and that his mornings would be so much smoother if he’d prepare the night before, his answer was, “I like it this way. It adds excitement to my life!” That may be so, but going off to school without your backpack or homework can ruin your day.

» Alternate habit: Before going to bed at night, get ready for tomorrow. That means having clothes picked out, backpacks and things to take ready to go, lunches made, and breakfast planned and partially prepared.

2. Jumping into the day. Many people start their day without a plan or purpose. They get things done, but in a hit-or-miss fashion, or they end up reacting to the demands of others.

» Alternate habit: Take a few minutes to get yourself organized. Know what you need to do and when you will do it. Your daily action plan will guide you through the day.

3. Losing track of time. Allowing simple tasks to take longer than warranted or letting interruptions and chitchat go on longer than necessary can seriously erode your time.

» Alternate habit: Stay on purpose and on schedule by referring often to your daily action plan. Be aware when things take longer than they should.

4. Running out of time. Ending the day with important things unfinished happens to just about everyone.

» Alternate habit: If something is important, do it first. As organizer Marcia Ramsland says, “You always ….READ FULL STORY HERE!

Namaste’

I pray this day finds you feeling balanced and at peace.  The summer weather has been very intense, but every time I think to complain about the heat I remember the hours I spent shoveling snow during the winter months!  It’s been a little while since my last muse and wonderful things have been coming together during my short break.  Recently a friend and I had a long heart-to-heart about love and relationships.  Quite a few people around us were transitioning out of relationships due to unhappiness and some reported that their partner had not given or demonstrated the same level of love.

As a lover of all things to do with love I wondered if the issue was a lack of self-love.  My friend commented that his view of love has changed drastically over the years.  In past relationships he expected a certain level of love and respect and was disappointed often.  So instead of continuing on the path of broken relationships he began a self-study of sorts.  In time he realized that no one could ever live up to the standard of love that he required and that in order to have a sustaining relationship he had to fulfill all that he needed.  During his self-exploration he read The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz and insisted that I read it as well as it helped to change his views.

As I read the book I was amazed at the principles written by the author.  It helped to dispel many of the love myths that I held – about myself and others.  I thought back to my own trail of broken relationships and found the same common denominator – disappointment in not being shown the same love that I was displaying.  The reality was that if I showed myself that same love I was giving I would have been perfectly content.  In the chapter Healing the Emotional Body the author states:

“Love coming out of you is the only way to be happy.  Unconditional love for yourself.  Complete surrender to that love for yourself.  You no longer resist life.  You no longer reject yourself.  You no longer carry all that blame and guilt.  You just accept who you are, and accept everyone else the way he or she is.”

Do you have high standards for love and find yourself disappointed or lacking the love you seek?  Know that we can all be Masters of Love, but that love must be given and received by self.  We are all deserving of love, happiness, joy and peace in our lives…and we have the power to give it to ourselves.

May this day continue to find you blessed and mastering the art of self-love.
Om Shanti,
the Yoga Diva of spiritualessenceyoga.com

“Life is nothing but a dream, and if we are artists, then we can create our life with Love, and our dream becomes a masterpiece of art.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

This Own Your Power member has such a cool name, I just love saying it.  Allow me to introduce you to Lovely .

We met about a year ago where we were volunteers at a non-profit for teenage girls to uplift and inspire them. She’s an expert on etiquette and you know that’s something many  folks can use!

Her business, Etiquette Miami believes it’s important to learn how to blend contemporary manners with traditional etiquette!  Find out why Lovely, loves what she does!

Main service: Etiquette Miami is a consulting company that offers etiquette for children and adults in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

How long in business: May 2009

Etiquette Miami programs and services include:

Children Manners classes

Private Etiquette lessons for families

Business Etiquette presentations

Dating Etiquette

Dining Tutorials

Any interesting fact(s) you can share about your industry?

No longer does the word “etiquette” imply white gloves, finger bowls and children curtsying. Etiquette Miami classes discuss real world issues that are facing our youth today. Topics include: Social Networking Etiquette, Socially Correct Dining, Gossiping, and Conversation Skills.

Most popular problem you help people solve?

When teaching children manners I’m considered a “youthlologist,” which means that I can mostly likely get your child to clean his/her room and improve their table manners.

What year did you kiss Corporate America goodbye and why do you hope to never go back?

When I hired at my last job, I made a promise to myself that the job was going to be my last job where I worked on building someone’s dream. In August of 2009, I left that job to start focusing on and building my dream.

How do you stay motivated? Self talk … some laughter, but it’s a very important part of my day.

Biggest pet peeve in business? Not following up … when you say you will.

One thing that you would change if you could?

For the teens of today to stop killing and hurting each other.

What’s your favorite area on www.ownyourpower.ning.com?

The Success Stories. I like hearing how people are defying the odds and making their dreams come true.

You know the expression; ‘You can’t take it with you,” … well, if you could, what would ‘it’ be?

My MacBook with wireless access and a battery pack that never runs out.

Have you used Social Networking to gain new contacts/business? If so, what have been any results?

My Facebook Fan Page … This feature has helped me gain a following and has become an outlet to communicate and update others on anything having to do with my business.

If you could do it all over again, what is the biggest mistake you’d avoid next time around? Trying to be a jack-of-all-trades … I know now that I can’t do it all and it’s ok to ask for help.

Most exciting moment that you got your time to shine? Still waiting … My dream since I started dreaming about running my own empire has been to be on the cover of Black Enterprise or featured in an article.

What was your last barter and what was if for? Conducting a free class for a nationwide organization and having my business featured in their newsletter.

What’s in your CD player/iPod right now?

Kanye West College Drop Out and Syleena Johnson I AM Your Women.

If you could have superpowers, what would you want?

I would want to be able to clone myself. It seems like I need another person to tend to my personal life. I have the professional side of my life covered.

Add Lovely as a friend in our network here.

www.etiquettemiami.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Etiquette-Miami/155657526334?ref=search

Lovely Payoute
Etiquette Miami
Business Etiquette Children Manners Cotillions
786-385-1548
lpayoute@etiquettemiami.com

I know, you may have heard this before and I know I have. I came across this article  from a healthy living site: http://willtaft.com  and thought it would be a good reminder for you and if it’s news to you, then even better! I was told to get rid of the non-stick pots that start chipping but this article goes a bit deeper. ~Sigh~ Hey..knowledge is power, even if it will make your fried eggs clean up a little bit harder. LOL

Own Your Power!

Simone

Is Teflon and Non-Stick Cookware Dangerous? By Will

Between 1999 and 2003 there were a lot of news reports about studies showing that the chemicals known as PFO’s, PFOA’s and PFC’s were being released from cookware and getting into people’s bodies.

Many groups came out with warnings suggesting that non-stick cookware be replaced by regular stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans. I have known about this warning for quite some time, but I am not surprised that cookware coated with the chemical commonly known as Teflon is still the vast majority of cookware in use today. The chemical coatings are inexpensive so non-stick cookware is less costly than stainless steel. The non-stick properties of Teflon make cooking some types of food so much easier that it is unlikely that most people will ever go back to using traditional pots and pans.

One of the reasons Teflon is still in wide use in cookware is that has been difficult to determine what the real source of these chemicals in the people’s bodies is. In addition to non-stick cookware, the chemicals are found in many consumer products including shampoo, food grade paper products, carpets, lubricants, rug cleaners, garden tools, and even zippers. PFOA is released as water and air pollution during the manufacturing of carpets, clothing, and paper. These chemicals have been found in tested air, water, and food in every U.S. city where testing has been done. In addition, studies have found the chemicals are in 90 -95% of the blood of people living in the U.S.

DuPont, the main manufacturer and user of these chemicals claims that its non stick coatings are safe. Of course the company has a huge financial investment and interest in the continued use of Teflon. It is also true, however, that some experts have called for caution in sounding an alarm about the use of these chemicals in non-stick cookware. Because of the many different sources of PFO’s in the environment, these scientists say it is impossible to know exactly how the chemical gets into the blood of virtually every person in the developed world.

In addition, some studies have shown that if Teflon coated cookware is not used at high temperatures, very little of the chemical is actually released into your food. The problem I see with these studies is that they only measure the toxic fumes given off when the cookware is heated to temperatures over 500 degrees. This sounds like a high temperature, but I think the direct contact with your gas or electric burner can easily achieve these temperatures. Many frying pans also get scratched with use and particles of the chemicals get into your food.

READ FULL STORY HERE…

(DailyOm.com)

The Importance of Seeing the Good in All

It is important to see the good in all as there are blessings in every aspect of our reality, and the potential for grace exists in all beings. Our perception shapes the lives we lead because the universe adjusts itself almost instantly to our expectations. When we look for negativity, we are bound to come across it in abundance. Conversely, we create positive energy when we endeavor to see the goodness around us. As easy as it is to criticize the people and situations that frustrate or hurt us, we do ourselves a disservice in the process. It is important to see the good in all as there are blessings hiding in every aspect of our outer-world reality, and the potential for grace exists in all human beings.

When our lives are flooded with challenges, grief, and pain, we may be tempted to believe that some individuals or incidents are simply bad. But if we look for the good in all, good reveals itself to us, easing our doubts and reminding us that the universe is a place of balance.