Creative Cardio

My goodness it was a long winter here on the west coast of Canada... snowfall after snowfall... SO unusual for this region. I feel as though I am just NOW coming out of hibernation, like a big old grouchy bear hungry for spring.

Five perfectly sunny days in a row over this past week has perked me right up and I suddenly feel awake again! I don't know about you but the lack of light and the cold weather really affects me. Signs of spring are emerging slowly again and I am EXCITED! To think that Daylight Savings is but a mere month away gets me squeeling at the elongated daylight and the possibilities it presents to stretching each day's activities.

One of the immediate motivations that has increased for me this last while is my interest in fitness. Waking up with the early morning sunrise, I am again out for daily power walks and am sometimes even following it with a 20-minute core strength video session, to tighten up my abs and back mucles. By my 50th birthday this June I intend on being as buff as possible.

How are you doing with your fitness goals?

It can be quite easy to insert cardio exercises into the day, even if going to the gym is not your thing. There are a variety of ways to get a decent cardio workout without getting bored or having to go far from home. Here are four ideas to help you get started;

1. Seek out and use stairs wherever you can find them. Avoid using elevators and you'll add great heart-pumping exercise to your day.


2. Park at the furthest end of the parking lot and get in a little walk to the entrance of where you're going.
   
3. Thirty minutes of walking at a moderate pace can burn calories and help tone and strengthen your muscles. Walking outdoors give you time in nature and breathing (hopefully) fresh air.


4. Jump rope (or even imagine you're jumping a rope)... it's fun! Do you know that jumping rope can burn about 200 calories in 15 minutes (which is as many or more calories one burns while running).
   
   
5. Dance, either at home to some hot music or with a partner. Sign up for dance classes! Ballroom dancing can be great fun and a great workout too. There are many different dance styles to experiment with.

Go on, muster your willingness to get up off the sofa and get moving in some small ways. As you infuse your week with two or three (even) small movement sessions, you'll notice how great it feels and soon you'll notice the many benefits to your body and mind.

I'll be routing for you!

Warmly, Carolyn

www.innerfitness.ca

Our "BEST YOU Possible" eBook is available at www.life-balance-success.com

Completing Undesirable Projects

So, it is so three weeks later and we are FINALLY free from the serious snowfalls we had! Did you see the snow photo in my last blog entry? What an AMAZING unusual winter we're having! As of yesterday, after almost a month, our steep driveway can FINALLY be used again and now I am counting the weeks to spring's arrival. I swear I'm going to find a way to spend winter away from now on... and I live on the WEST coast... heavens, I can't even imagine what it would be like to live back east.

I suppose if there is a good thing to being snowed in, it's that it's given me additional time to reflect on the successes and shortfalls of last year... and to consider what I'd like to make fresh for this new year.

I don't know about you, but I love being tidy, having things in their right place and excess "stuff" GONE! A serious incompletion from last year that has been pulling at my attention has been the condition of my office desk and files. Papers have piled up that need filing, accounting needing finishing and submissions made to our accountant... afterall, it is coming up tax time soon. What a drag of negative energy I'd pulled forward into my New Year!

So, I piled in, finished, sorted, filed... yes, I also grumbled and groaned... then did even more sorting, filing and finishing. The result? I am caught up on some otherwise butt-dragging projects that were eating energy and pulling at me, even when I wasn't aware they were!

Do you have any unfinished projects like mine that are pulling at you? Likely you do! These unfinished projects do not promote Work and Life Balance.

Well, I highly recommend that you "bite the bullet" and dive into the very center of your chaos... for the sake of moving ahead with clean, clear, fresh momentum. Get caught up so you can be free.

I personally feel more liberated with my paperwork projects completed. Of course, there will always be other projects to divert my attention to next, but at least I've made progress with the undesirable ones so I can now also move on to the GREAT projects too, such as sorting and framing my favourite photographs.

To help you, here's my list of necessary ingredients to accomplish "that" unfinished task...

1. a delicious pot of tea (or coffee)


2. an internal parent plunking you down into that chair, telling you to "stay there until you're done" ... (joke, smile, tease)


3. little nibbly foods to munch on as you work, preferably health ones such as an apple or almonds


4. a stretch break every 30 minutes


5. a pat on the back or a hug every hour, either from yourself or from a loved one congratulating you for a good job being done


6. a reward at the end of the day, such as a long walk in nature, or a bubble bath

Completing old and unfinished projects will open space to create something new for this New Year. Don't just read this, try it out for yourself... you'll experience first hand how great it will feel!

Warmly, Carolyn

P.S. This is a super time to get your copy of our "BEST YOU' eBook... an inspiring toolkit FULL of ideas for you remaking yourself! More on decluttering, too.
http://www.life-balance-success.com/

Carolyn's Update

Hope all’s well for you and you’ve enjoyed the summer. Mine has been fast and furiously full… and I am happily pooped.

In addition to my continued involvement with our counselling business, I have re-incarnated my earlier profession as a furniture refinisher. I always love the hands-on transformational aspect of working with wood, so I’ve been growing a little home-based business over the last few months and am enjoying working on people’s antique pieces of furniture. I've set up a little blog at www.furniturerejuvenation.blogspot.com ... come and see the before and after photos of my work.

Also…
As a means to replenish my “social batteries” after so long at the computer writing my "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook, www.life-balance-success.com I accepted a job last May as an auxiliary worker for the Government Liquor Store (of all places!) to last through the busy tourist-laden summer here on the coast. It is seriously hard work lifting and uncasing boxes, stocking shelves and cashiering. For now, it is absolutely perfect, meeting my criteria of getting out of my head and working actively with my strong body, being a part of an upbeat team and interacting with my community members. Goodness, I’ve never done so many squats in all of my life.

So, THESE are the reasons you have not heard from me in a LONG while! I've never been so busy... and now the summer has wound down. This is my time to reach out and say, "Yes, I AM still here" and to refocus on MY work and life balance.

P.S. I had a wonderful Watsu water therapy experience recently and I look forward to sharing it with you... tomorrow... please tune in again.

Warmly, Carolyn

How to Put a Little Play Back in Your Day

Ask yourself the following questions...

"Do I make any time in my average day for play?"

Am I trying to juggle too much in life and work?

Chances are you are like most others... you're moving through each day in a "responsible" way , taking care of those "shoulds" of life before allowing yourself ease and fun. It seems this is the typical North American way of life today.

Thanks to ARAcontent of Life Informed for the good little article posted, entitled "How to Put Play Back in Your Day"... it speaks to an important life focus these days.

Here's a paragraph taken from the article... have a read...

"Finding ways to put a little play in your day can increase the levels of satisfaction experienced at work. Yet despite these benefits, the Nestle survey found that at 42 percent, almost half of Americans think their workday contains no play whatsoever, and only 39 percent felt their's was a fun or playful workplace."

Click on the link below for the complete story... then do something to infuse your world with a new way of being.

http://www.liveinformed.com/Story_5738_How_to_Put_a_Little_Play_Back_in_Your_Day.aspx

Turning seriousness into a happy blend of responsibility AND playtime!

Warmly, Carolyn

Get your BEST YOU Possible eBook... all about Work and Life Balance! It contains many suggestions for infusing your life (and work) with new ways of being. $27

http://www.life-balance-success.com/

How's Your Spontaneity?

NEVER before have I ever been SO spontaneous!

I know, I know... I keep going off and not talking to you for periods of time.

But, tell me...

If you had an opportunity to pack a suitcase and be on an airplane one hour later heading to a beautiful island for two weeks, wouldn't you do it too? Well, OF COURSE you would!

That's precisely what happened to me over the Easter weekend. An email came with a last minute invitation, I thought about it for about an hour, took the following hour to race around the house and throw necessities into a suitcase and away I went to board my float plane. Synchronicity had it that I got the remaining seat on the plane and the last available room at the retreat center... was I meant to go, or what!

Never before have I ever been so spontaneous... and I loved it!

I've always thought of myself as very adaptable, able to change with the seasons and places, able to travel in style and also rough it in the jungle, too. NOW I can also say that I am able to make prompt and decisive choices for myself and be free-spirited like the wind. How I like these characteristics!

So where was I, you might be asking? Here...

For the THIRD time since September, I got to go to the Haven Institute to attend a powerful personal growth seminar, Phase Two. This time was especially exciting as I got to meet up with approximately eight friends that had been in my earlier programs. And, believe me, when we spend two weeks together as intensely as we do at Haven, friendships become very deep, very fast!

I even got to have my very first experience of kayaking, which was wonderful!

I am ever grateful to Richard for supporting me to go and do this life-changing work on myself at this time in my life. Having spent many months at Esalen (a famous growth center on the California coastline) years ago, and knowing the transformation possible, Richard has urged me to gift myself with this experience for a long time... and I'm doing so now. I've come home feeling so rich in so many ways.

So, I'm back... gradually catching up on life and reaching out again.

I hope you've been really well and that you might consider crazy spontaneity in your life, too. Talk about affirming!

Yes, I'll talk to you again soon, Carolyn...

no more travel until mid-May now, when we will go off to Atlanta, Georgia.

Go to www.life-balance-success.com for your copy of our BEST YOU Possible eBook with it's numerous great bonuses AND Relaxation MP3.

$27... that's all.

How to Have the Best Marraige Ever!

Richard and I have been asked to teach a seminar to a group of real estate agents and mortgage brokers this May, entitled, "How to Have the Best Marraige Ever." Realtors and brokers are often so focussed on building financial success that their personal lives and relationships become stressed.

What a privelege for us to be invited to meet with these business people and offer our wisdom on how to re-build their marraiges! Twenty seven years strong in our own relationship, we have some definite smarts to share.

I asked Richard last night what he thought was "Thee #1 Necessary Ingredient" for a couple to have a healthy marraige is, but before I tell you what his answer was, take a guess as to what he said. (Remember, Richard's a Transpersonal Counsellor and has been helping individuals and relationships for over 30 years... so he's got some insight in this regard.)

Do you think he said? ...

"Couple's need their individual alone time."

"Brutal honesty is key."

"Couples need to have a good fight now and then."

None of the above statements were his answer. Richard's answer first surprised me but then didn't surprise me, after considering our own marraige commitment.

He believes that "Thee #1 Necessary Ingredient" for couples to have a good marraige is...

... that each of the individuals exercise a strong commitment to lifelong personal growth!

You see, without each of the individuals growing, evolving and becoming more actualized in their potential and within themselves, they stagnate as a person which ultimately diminishes the quality and depth of their partnering, as well.

We highly suggest that if you are suffering a poor marraige, step back and first take a serious look at yourself. Ask yourself these questions...

• Are I living as fully as I can as an individual?
  
• Or, have I become a slouch of a person, uninterested in life and being less than the best person I can be?

Two highly actualized individuals have much more to relate about about than two who are stuck and feeling poorly about themselves. Our recommendations for creating a good marraige include...

... instead of making your partner the problem, first consider that you are contributing to the marraige not being as good as it can be

... commit to becoming a more interesting, life-filled individual

... buy yourself a copy of our "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook and do the prescribed work it offers

... attend a personal growth workshop or two (our eBook makes various recommendations in this regard).

This would be a really good starting place! That's not to say that work IN the marraige doesn't need support, too, I'm simply suggesting that YOU are the starting point.

To get Get your copy of the BEST YOU book right here, right now...
www.life-balance-success.com You'll have the book and its bonuses within moments, to get started right away.

P.S. There are "7 (other) Key Commitments" (the secret ingredients of our marraige success) listed in our eBook... to have the healthiest marraige ever!!! $27 will get you the tools to make yours more successful.

Warmly, Carolyn

Share Your Goodness

I have always felt that it is an easy and rewarding experience to help make other people's lives better by sharing some of my positivity, care and attention. I get to feel uplifted by sharing my greatness, AND get to watch how my attention literally transforms another person's day. And, you know what...

... WE ALL have that ability!

I love the following quotation, for it really expresses what I personally aspire to in my own life.

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier."

Quote by Mother Teresa (1910-1997) Missionary and Nobel Peace Prize winner

(What a great photo of her, hey!)

Those in business ought to really understand this principle, for it can be the difference between their business succeeding or failing. Good customer care professionals are like diamonds... they make everything around them glitter and uplift feelings.

It's as simple as aligning in attitude and extending a little kindness to others... a gesture of help, a non-intrusive conversation, a helping hand, a compliment, whatever! Offered with sincerity, it certainly will be noticed!

In this season of giving, offer your authentic Self, for it is the kindest gift. Go on... make a difference!

Warmly, Carolyn

P.S. If you are hunting for a perfect gift for a friend, co-worker or relative needing increased Work and Life Balance, the "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook and companion bonuses and Relaxation meditation MP3 is it!

$27... go to www.life-balance-success.com

Evoking Spirituality

Richard and I spent the past weekend facilitating a most wonderful and blissful Personal Retreat Program for two close friends wanting to expand their spirituality. What a special opportunity for us to be able to share our knowledge and to provide the space to evoke spirit!

How to find stillness in such a busy world? Life, with all of its typical hustle and bustle of activities can make it more challenging to make spirituality a priority.

This quotation speaks to the question, "How do I invite Spirit into my life?"...

“Are you doing something each day to restore and renew your spiritual energy so you can take that light with you into your world? It can make a huge difference when you energize your life by means of the spiritual practices you do…and most significantly, the useless activities you DON'T do!” Quote by Greg Barrette

What are spiritual practices? In our "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook, we devote an entire chapter to Spiritual Wellness. Here are the chapter headings that we write about;

* Nature’s Rebalancing Ways
* Rituals For Your Life
* The Value Of Meditation
* A Simple “Mindfulness Meditation”
* Clean Out the Clutter
* Create A Sanctuary
* Cleanse Your Home “Energy”
* Care For the Living
* Extend Loving Kindness

Also taken from our eBook, consider our list of potential Spiritual / Creativity activities to infuse your life with more meaning;

· read a “book of meaning”
· attend a sacred dance workshop
· mindfully walk a labyrinth
· attend a sacred festival
· attend a church service of your choice
· attend a sacred-type workshop
· attend a woman or men’s circle
· attend a Vipassana meditation session
· relieve a burdened mom for an hour, allowing her breathing space for herself
· take an elderly friend for a drive, tea or coffee and meaningful conversation
· become a Big Sister or Big Brother
· plant a special container garden and watch your labor of love grow
· or adopt a precious pet and treat it like gold…

…the rewards will be mutually great!!!

There you have it, numerous suggestions to bring a sense of sacred and spiritual meaning into your daily life. Easy and powerful practices can make a deep difference to the depth of tranquility and purpose of who you are, and how you experience peace. Attend to this calling and your life will become more enriched.

To get your "Becoming the BEST YOU Possible" eBook and bonuses click on this link and make your secure purchase...

www.life-balance-success.com

This eBook loaded with innumerable Work and Life Balance tips makes an AWESOME Christmas gift!!! $27

There is a wellspring, deep within each of us, of a spiritual energy and power that most of us can barely imagine. As we make daily time to visit tranquility and focus on our inner essence or source, Spirit's presence renews us, Spirit's energy infills us, Spirit's light restores us.

Become refreshed, invigorated and healed!

Namaste,

Carolyn

Hello again!

I've been totally away from the world attending the 12-day Phase One personal development program in awareness at The Haven on Gabriola Island, B.C. Good to be home, I feel like a changed person.

(C)2007 Copyright, photo by Carolyn Clarke, all rights reserved.

How to share all that I have just experienced!?!?

Through incredible process exercises and being mirrored by some 30 wonderful participants, I have been opened into a much more communicative, authentic person with a sense of purpose now. I feel still inside, which is new for me, instead of my usual hyper, "doing-style" of personality.

The following quotation speaks to the quest for personal change. The stirring that is referreed to is what propelled me to go to The Haven... and for my sense of life courage and desire to grow and change, I am grateful.

"Eckhart Tolle says that the first step in awakening is realizing that you are not awake. For many there seems to be something, an urge, a persistent presence--that is arising from the very core of humanity that is stirring and nudging us to come awake. This awakening is not a next step to take but a profoundly different way of being. Are you ready to be awake?"
Quotation by Ric Beattie

(C)2007 Copyright, photo by Carolyn Clarke, all rights reserved.

If you are at a stale or inquiring point in your life, I highly recommend that you make a visit to The Haven. There you will meet many, mighty special like-minded people on a similar quest... and I am also certain you will reaquaint with a very dear friend again, yourself.

(C)2007 Copyright, photo by Carolyn Clarke, all rights reserved.

Set your Self free to fly in life!! I see the beauty of life with "new eyes" now... you can, too.

(C)2007 Copyright, photo by Carolyn Clarke, all rights reserved.

Warmly, Carolyn

For your copy of the Work and Life Balance BEST YOU eBook, go to

www.life-balance-success.com ... $27, that's it!

Your Last Minute Back-to-School Special

This is your final reminder... time is running out to get your copy of the "BEST YOU Possible" eBook and companion Relaxation meditation!

The Back-to-School Sale price of $19.97 is still available, but only until midnight Thursday, September 6th.

With nearly 170 pages of awesome Work and Balance tips and tools, you'd be silly to not gift yourself with a copy. It is LOADED with helpful hints...

... that will support your life to be more aligned with what you want for yourself.

48 hours to act quickly... so, go here now... http://www.life-balance-success.com/

Warmly, Carolyn and Richard Clarke

Inner Fitness(R) Program Facilitators