Willpower...

There is a sign that hangs in the Alumni building that reads

"I ate my Willpower." I am currently doing a cleanse and I'm on the second day of a 5-day fast!

Wikipedia defines Willpower in the following ways:

Willpower is the ability to exert one's will over one's actions.
Willpower manifests as inner firmness, decisiveness, determination, resolution and persistence.

You can call me crazy if you want to, but I did this cleanse about 6 months ago, and I seriously could not believe the crap that came out of me, and without eating!

I found an awesome article on "How to Boost Your Willpower" at this link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/how-to-boost-your-willpower/

As I read it I found something I really needed to hear:

"What researchers are finding is that willpower is essentially a mental muscle, and certain physical and mental forces can weaken or strengthen our self-control."

So many of the cravings I am having are because, yeah, I'm freakin' hungry, but a lot of it is all in my head. Remembering this and the fact of how much money the products used cost is what motivates me to keep going!

I also learned today there is someone, I'm sure more than one person, who's name is actually Will Power! Go figure...I wonder if he lives up to it?

October Practice...

Banishing Fear… how do you overcome a fear? It’s a struggle especially if it concerns financial worries or new situations. Best advice is to ground yourself. A great method to do so is a Tibetan practice that is used to activate the root chakra. This chakra is located at the base of your spine, and by inhaling, and then touching the roof of your mouth, sound the syllable “lang.” Continue to repeat this for 11 minutes. This chant will set up the vibrations that supposedly increases your inner strength and helps to eliminate insecurity.

October Monthly Project...

Unleash your Imagination…
let’s makeover our imaginations! Your new ideas will need some fresh air and space to grow. You may remember as a kid things like computer games which are diverting, so to free our creativity lets pick up a pencil and paper and …. DRAW, or maybe pick up that dusty instrument and …. PLAY, better yet make up your own DANCE routine. The point is follow your imagination, even if it’s simply picking up a children’s BOOK and indulging yourself in it!

October Affirmation...

I set my sights high and at the same time stay grounded. I make sure that my feet touch the earth every day.

Septmeber Motto of the Month

Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?-Mary Oliver

September...

OK ...so you are probably wondering why I'm posting about Septembers in October, when it's almost November right? Well I just learned about labels on posts and wanted to keep the September info for any of you-who's out there that may want them to refer to! So now on to October! I better hurry it's almost over!

Ambitions for September...

Personal:This month focus on setting a Lifetime Goal. Think of your life in overall perspective of things or something you may want to acheive in even 10 or 25 years form now. Think about differetn aspects you may want to include such as: Artistic, Attitude, Career, Education, Family, Financial, Physical, Pleasure, and Public Service. Brainstorm some idead then narrow them down focusing on what ones are significant to you.

Family:"If you really want to teach your kids something worthwhile that will help with every aspect of their lives as long as they live, teach them how to set goals. " Visit the following site where this info was found, and make a goal with your family. http://www.solveyourproblem.com/setting-goals/setting_family_goals.shtml

Couple: On of the secrets mapped out in the book "Married For Better, Not Worse," written by Gary and Joy Lundberg, invloves the idea of returning to the beginning of you r realtionship. This book includes the following:"You can rekindke the early romantic feelings you had for each other if you refocus your thoughts about your mate and start to change by doing the three simmple steps in this chapter:
1. Return to the beginning and remember those early feelings.
2. Take time to get better acquainted with each other.
3. Show each other common courtesy and respect." (p. 15)

Home:Pick up the book "Spiritual Housecleaning" by Kathryn L. Robyn, and begin with me theis journey of "Healing the Space Within By Beautifying the Space Around You."Visit the site http://www.flylady.net/ and start out withthe "Beginner Babysteps" link on the left column.

Service of Others: Visit this link and subscribe to the weekly newsletter http://www.helpothers.org/ideas.php

Earth Friendly Idea:Having plants at work not only makes your desk more attractive but, it can allow you to add some personality. Whether it be one or many, plants can be good for you, not only do they add oxygen to the air but certain types of plants can absorb toxins and harmful energy from different electronic devices, like computers. So consider spider plants or peace lillies, these are great indoor plants, and easy to maintain.

September Monthly Project...

Be Serious, Have Fun"Convinced you lack the time or strength for anything but work? Truth is, taking a break actually gives you more energy, and may even trigger ideas you can apply to your job. This month, devote time to something extracurricular, whether it biking, cooking, or playing soccer. Keep track of what you do for play and how it makes you feel. Write down any inspiration that strikes while you're having fun."One Spirit: Book of Days 2008...September

September Practice...

Being Playful "Even a routine task can be satisfying if approached in a spirit of play. Pick something you hate- cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry, preparing the monthly sales report- and challenge yourself to make it entertaining. Compose a song about swabbing the toilet, pretend you're Martha Stewart folding towels, write up the sales report as if it were a page-one news story."One Spirit: Book of Days 2008...September

Forgive me...

Please forgiv eme ...I know I haven't done much updating for October yet this month and it's going to be over before I know it! I'll get on ASAP! as well as with November...yeah!!!

Be the Change...

Find an opportunity for kindness today.

Daily Good...Suprise Helper!!

As I read the daily good in my inbox today, a lot of times I'll read but I won't click on the "more" to read the rest, today I did as I was wrapped in the story being told. Read on to find out who the stranger offering kindness was...

"Mary Menth Andersen had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988. At the airport she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness: "You'll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said." Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call. Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy. "I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do." What followed was an ordinary act of kindness from a stranger -- who as it turns out, would not remain anonymous... [ more ]

Resentment...

The following link will lead you to an exceptional article written on a blog that I love called http://thinksimplenow.com/~ The article is about over coming resentment~

http://thinksimplenow.com/happiness/how-to-overcome-resentment/

I'm sure anyone reading this has experienced resentment and some of us deal with it, and others (like myself) just aren't sure how to. I have needed to read this for quite sometime and I think it will come in handy. Bad stuff happens to everyone, the two key points of understanding and forgiving are mapped out in a step by step process that makes me feel like, "Wow! This is something I can do!' I won't need to harbor any bad feelings, and will grow from tough situations.

Let me know what you think!

Be The Change:

This site offers 10 tips to help reduce your own carbon footprint. [ more ]

Daily Good...

There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story. --Linda Hogan

Fact of the Day:Japan is planning to label consumer goods to show their carbon footprints in a bid to raise public awareness about global warming, an official said Tuesday. Under the plan, a select range of products from beverages to detergent will carry markings on the carbon footprint -- or how much gas responsible for global warming has been emitted through production and delivery. The ministry's research shows one example of carbon footprint using potato crisps. [ more ]

October Motto...

I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big success. I am for those tiny, invisible, loving, human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, which, if given time, will rend the hardest monuments of pride. --William James