"Embrace The Pain"

Q: You've inspired allot of people to start running, what advice would you give the NEW runner on how to embrace the discomfort and not to dread it?

A: Dean Karnazes "It's a paradigm shift, first of all. We, I think, in Western society have kind-of got things backwards. We thought that in the total absence of pain, if we had every comfort and convenience available to us, we'd be happy. And I think that we found that in allot of ways we're so comfortable, we're miserable. There's no struggle. There's no pain left in our lives. We get in our air-conditioning cars. We drive to our air-conditioned office buildings. We get in a comfortable elevator. There's no suffering. And I tell people, 'embrace the suffering'. There's magic in misery - and I think that any runner can relate to that. Some of our fondest moments, our most lively moments, if you will, are when we're in great pain and we're struggling for high achievement. So I would say first and foremost, don't try to avoid the pain. Embrace the pain.

(During a recent interview with the awesome Marathon Training Academy podcast)

“If you want to find your passion, know your life’s purpose, meet your soul mate, or feel intensely alive, don’t look toward the fun things that fit logically into the flow of an easy life. Ask yourself, “What am I running away from?” Whatever that thing is, turn around. Walk toward it. Face it and conquer it, or die trying.”   Martha Beck

Feel Your Pain

‎"Whatever you do, don’t shut off your pain; accept your pain and remain vulnerable. However desperate you become, accept your pain as it is, because it is in fact trying to hand you a priceless gift: the chance of discovering, through spiritual practice, what lies behind sorrow.
'Grief,' Rumi wrote, 'can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom."

~ Sogyal Rinpoche
Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, chapter 19

Aspiring writer?

Why wait to "get published" when you can do it yourself!  We can self-publish on Amazon for free!  So much is possible these days.  Technology can be such an equalizing force.  We just need to use the tools and resources that are available to us!  

Check out this great advice from James Altucher;

"Write a book in the next three days. You can write a 30 page book about dieting (“100 ways to Lose 100 pounds”) and put it on sale on Amazon in one day. Why not? The traditional book industry is over. Write the book “100 things to do the day after you are fired”. Make it funny. Time to dominate the publishing industry while you are unemployed. Today make a list of all the possible 30 page books you can do. Then tomorrow start one of the books. I have one friend who just self-published a book. He was dead broke before that after being fired from his job. He made $100k in 90 days. No joke. This was about a month ago."

I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty darn inspiring.  I'm fired up!  

Ready, set, go write! https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin

We are all meant to shine

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

Obesity is An Opportunity for Total Life Transformation

When it comes to long-term weight-loss, dieting and counting calories can be so misleading. Sadly, we can do all of the right things, drop the pounds, but later somehow find ourselves back to where we started. Why is that? It is because if we are significantly overweight, then serious, long-term weightloss will require a commitment to serious, long-term LIFE change:  the way we think, act, believe. We have to take a hard look at ourselves and how we live our lives: our habits, our hobbies, our environment, our work, our relationships. It's all inextricably connected to the whole. 

Why do we eat more than we need?  When we're not hungry?  When there's not enough nutritional value present to even call what we are eating "food"? Why are are we not moving?  What would it take to integrate exercise and activity into our daily lives?  ~And not just for high-powered, motivated bursts, but for the rest of our lives.  And perhaps most importantly, what is it that's blocking us from being fully present and engaged in our own lives? These are the areas to consider if we're truly interested in lasting, lifelong transformation.

In this way, obesity is a gift.  It is a physical manifestation that gently reminds us that there is work yet to be done.  Room left to grow on our quest to fully experience life as it was meant to be enjoyed.

♥ ♥  ♥
annie

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Mantras & Motivation

How do you keep yourself going when you're feeling down?  

We are what we believe, and what we believe is what we repeatedly do and say to ourselves.   Are you aware of your own thoughts?  They are energy and intention.   What are the messages that you send to yourself on a daily basis?    If someone listed to your mind, what would they hear you saying to yourself?  Are you supportive, kind, encouraging, forgiving?   Punishing, relentless, mean?   How do we change the scripts in our minds, especially after histories of abuse or mistreatment?    Consciousness, and purpose.  We can  choose messages we want to hear, and then embed them.  

man·tra/ˈmantrə/

Noun:

A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. A statement that is frequently repeated; a characteristic formula or refrain.

Mantras can root us - ground us in who we CHOOSE to be - focus us on what where we want to go, and the reasons behind our journey.   Mantras are about manifesting our visions.     

Do you have your own mantra for healthy living?

This question was recently posed at Spark people, and there were allot of great responses.   Maybe they'll inspire you they way they inspired me.  

Top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard. 

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself 

to be made a victim.

Accept no one’s definition 

of your life, 

but define yourself.”   

–Harvey S. Firestone

What keeps you going when times get tough?

Reflection

1. What has been your largest struggle over the last year?  
2. What  healthy coping skills have you used to help?
3. What have been your greatest successes?

“Be who God meant you to be and set the world on fire”

St. Catherine of Siena

No act of kindness is ever wasted.

Live with passion, care about the things you do.  Aim to make the world a better place, and touch the lives of the people you meet.    Every time we offer goodness we are changing the world.   Contributing goodness offers you a peaceful heart and happy mind.  Giving enriches the quality of your own life tenfold.  What is "goodness?" Any and every action that is meant to support. Bring happiness. Relief from suffering. Joy. 

"Giving" comes in many forms. Big and "small", no act of kindness is ever wasted.

Who do you think you are?

Is there a little voice telling you that you are meant for something special?  Have something special to give?

Listen. 

Your intuition is never wrong.

Don't allow the naysayers to dictate your potential. Critics will never believe in you; until you succeed - then they become your biggest fans.

Scared. And Strong.

Scared.   Almost always.  I push down fear like a beach-ball in a pool that stubbornly refuses to stay submerged.  There's a tightness in my chest.   I have to consciously remember to unhinge my jaw.

Follow Your Dreams: Life lessons from Bonnie Matthews

Bonnie Matthews, who lost 130 lbs through mindfulness, love, courage, and hard work is now a trainer, coach, chef, illustrator and writer.  She inspires me just about every day through her daily motivational posts at Facebook and if you're on FB, I would highly recommend you connect with her.  Her post today resonated so deeply I wanted to share it again here with you.   From Bonnie:

"Follow your dreams and passions and don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something."  

She continues:  

Free Phone Service (Using an Internet Connection)

Read a helpful article by Ron Scheone today about apps that will help you make free (yes, FREE) calls using the internet. While most of these are new to me, and the concept itself still a bit mysterious, I am in full support of pursuing any alternatives to my out-of-sight ridiculouso infuriating highwayrobbery phone bill. (Every month that I pay AT&T, I feel a little piece of my soul die).

• Viber for Apple and Android cellphones. Requires both the caller and the recipient to be Viber users, but allows free calls & texts. 
• Fring for Apple and Android cellphones. Also offers group chatting. Uses the Internet for calling, texting, video chatting with up 4 people.
• Google Voice   

Blogging-Annie: Things To Learn. Preferably NOW!

Blogging-Annie: Things To Learn. Preferably NOW!: As I continue stumbling along in the dark, feeling around for clues and comprehension, I find myself generating as many questions as answers...

Brazilian Blowout: Formaldehyde risks Must Now Be Disclosed

By The Associated Press

The maker of a popular line of hair-straightening products has agreed to alert consumers that two of its formulations emit formaldehyde gas, a possible carcinogen, California's attorney general announced.

The labeling changes are designed to settle a lawsuit the state filed in November against the company that makes Brazilian Blowout products, which have been a boon for those who dislike their naturally curly tresses but a source of health concerns.

The products are applied during salon treatments and coupled with high heat to temporarily smooth the hair shaft.

Do Your Kids Know Their Vegetables?

Jamie Oliver visits a classroom in Huntington, West Virginia and asks the kids to identify some common fresh fruits and vegetables with startling results.

New Site: An Inspirational Quote a Day

Made a simple little site tonight.  Just for fun.  If folks want to, they can subscribe to the feed.   And each quote is labeled to be searchable in the topic cloud on the bottom, which i think is kinda cool, and handy.

To kick it off, I "pre-loaded" the site with a couple months of posts, and scheduled them to post one day at a time in the future!  I love that you can do that now here!

Also was thinking - wouldn't it be cool to use quotes from Twitter & Facebook friends too?   I think so!  Everyone loves the oldies and goodies, but we all have wisdom to share!    So why not spread the love!??!  <3    If you want to, please subscribe!  And send me quotes!!! :))  Xoxo

~annie

Win Some, Lose Some: Jillian Michaels Reflects on Her Company & What Comes Next

What does it take before we can truly believe in our success - trust that it is real?  How much do we need before we can finally relax and feel as though we're safe?  During a recent interview with Forbes, Jillian Michaels and her business partner pulled back the curtain and gave us a rare glimpse into the pressures and challenges of building their company, and the fears they've had to overcome along the way.

With refreshing candor, they admitted to making mistakes - one of which was Jillian's recent stint on the Doctors.  Although grateful for the opportunity, they said that they were rushed into the contract without being given adequate time to flesh out the details - such as what exactly Jillian would be expected to do.  And clearly, what came to pass was not what she and GC had anticipated.

She wasn't doing the segments that she wanted to do; like talking about the substandard quality of food being fed to children in schools.  I can imagine her frustration.  After-all, she repeatedly expressed in interviews that her whole reason for trading in the Biggest Loser for The Doctors in the first place was to gain a platform to speak directly to the people about things that really matter.  So when she began to realize that she wasn't being given an opportunity to have a voice after-all, it had to sting.

And what a shame. What a wasted opportunity!  Because clearly both shows could benefit from an injection of some substantive, meaningful content delivered by the Jillian that was increasingly left on the cutting room floor of the Biggest Loser, and who was never allowed to emerge on the set of the Doctors.   Instead she was relegated to either reading stiff prompts taking the show out to commercials, or reaction shots of her squirming at medical stuff and sex talk.  The very few openings for her to actually speak in any sort of real way was swiftly shut down or anesthetized via editing.  My question is - if they couldn't handle her style, why did they invite her to join them in the first place?

"When we got there, they wanted me to do segments that worked for their audience, like segments on cankles, or segments on communicable diseases for dogs....I didn't want to do those type of segments." 

Lesson learned.  Revealing that they had felt "bullied" by partners and networks in the past, they're now entering into "phase two" of their enterprise - one in which they're prepared to decline projects that don't serve their best interests; like a recent Kinect deal that wasn't quite what they were looking for. From now on, they said that they plan to take the time that they need to make the decisions, and pick the projects that are right for them.  They'll no longer be willing to "succumb".

"It used to be a matter of fear... 'If we let this go will we get another one'?"
 
Looks like Jillian and GC are ready to take the reigns, and have the confidence to ask for their fair share of creative control. I hope that the the stunning trajectory of their enterprise has finally allowed the two of them to recognize their own success and believe that it's not going to go away anytime soon.

Thanks for reading!   I welcome your feedback & would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.   The Forbes video interview can be viewed here.  

.

What's My Niche?

Podcasting, blogging, social media, community building - let's do it!  I'm sold!  But what's my niche?  Originally, I saw this blog as a space to connect with people while we journeyed towards our mental and physical health.   But immediately my rebellious nature kicked in and I began to feel confined.  First it was the meta: (If I'm writing, surely its ok to write about writing, right?  If we're on social media, it's fair game to post about posting - right?)  But this loose-goosey free-for-all mentality is a slippery, albeit intriguing  slope(sediment! Cool.).   I can't stay "on topic" for beans (black beans are lowest in fat). Everything interests me. (Did u know it's impossible to lick your elbows?!)   What don't I want to talk about? (i dont know. Nothing!...Country music?)   It would be far easier to define that, then attempt to describe what I do want to talk about. (∞)

But will traversing from treadmills to teradactyls to tonka trucks turn off my 30 existing buddies (Hamasasya 'subscribers")?  I've read about it, thought about it, prayed about (ok, slight exaggeration), and then thought - I'll just tinker.  And  threw up a bunch of subject-centric blogs where I could direct all my future divergent affairs.  At first it was exciting. And then a little daunting.  And then considerably schizophrenic  And now I'm right back to where I started - stumped.   Sure I can create content, subdivide into multiple forums, and simultaneously develop segregated (but equal) relationships.  But sustaining quality content is a completely separate issue.

Oh me, oh my - this is such the reflection of my life.  Neve satisfied with just being a nerd.  Had to be a drama kid.  A hippie.  A wannabe athlete.  A jokester.  Had to be friends with the band kids. The stoners.  The budding republicans.  The anarchists.  Even a few people budding on the peripheral of cool.

wtf.

My identity crisis clearly started at birth.

So, the question is - how many topics CAN we discuss in one place before alienating everybody?  Should i redefine this space and allow folks to self-select?  Should I keep this space and add a secondary misc. catch-all forum and discuss a wide cross-section of topics and indulge my every whim?  Or, at the end of the day will this leave me alone in a room talking to myself.   How do you balance your own personal interests with the desire to create and nurture a community - one where people feel comfortable, want to contribute, and feel like they belong? 

I need thoughts! Help!

Chris Brogan on Growing Your Business in 2012

The more I learn about best-selling author Chris Brogan, the more I want to learn from him.  About a week ago he gave an interesting keynote presentation at the 2012 Entrepreneur Growth Conference.  For my own purposes, I took notes on his main points, and include them below in case anyone else finds them useful....  His full presentation is here:

• This is the year of growth. 
• It's a great time to be in business.  Investors are looking.
• Transactional or Relational?  Do you care enough to be a sustainable relational business?
• Relational: it's hard & time consuming
• Transactional: like buying a burger, the biz is unconcerned with customers personally
• Channel development:
• Regular/Standard digital channel: Like a website. 
• If it's unclear what a website wants of you, it's broken. If there's more than 1 choice, its broken.  (Rand Fishkin, Danny Sullivan, Upshot (?) are the experts here.)
• Human digital channel: Context. Use context on Google/FB/Googleplus
• Understand the context of Twitter.  Why are ppl there?
• Not to buy products/services
• For entertainment, information, to understand whats next for them, to belong, to socialize

Inspiring Book Recommendations

It's a new year and I'm on the hunt for some new inspiring, motivational, empowering, life-changing books!  So of course I asked for a little help from my friends, and this is what they recommended.....

Many thanks & happy reading!!




From: Bob Kuhn @gontodro
No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life
It's just so inspirational... What this young man accomplished with his disabilities.  A model for all...  Check it out, you'll be impressed!

Born without arms or legs below his elbows and knees, Kyle Maynard excels as a champion athlete, inspirational speaker, college student, and male model. "No Excuses" is his inspirational autobiography.



From: Cory Katherine  @ResonantHealth
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn has changed my life each of the 10 times I've read it.  :)
The narrator of this extraordinary tale is a man  in search for truth. He answers an ad in a local  newspaper from a teacher looking for serious  pupils, only to find himself alone in an abandoned  office with a full-grown gorilla who is nibbling  delicately on a slender branch. "You are the  teacher?" he asks incredulously. "I am  the teacher," the gorilla replies. Ishmael is  a creature of immense wisdom and he has a story  to tell, one that no other human being has ever  heard. It is a story that extends backward and  forward over the lifespan of the earth from the birth  of time to a future there is still time save.  Like all great teachers, Ishmael refuses to make the  lesson easy; he demands the final illumination to  come from within ourselves. Is it man's destiny  to rule the world? Or is it a higher destiny  possible for him-- one more wonderful than he has ever  imagined?

From:  chris.gatten@facebook.com

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom is an amazing book, and one I like to revisit frequently. When I'm in ANY horrible mood, it's very easy to just realize which agreement I'm breaking and get myself on track. Recommend it to EVERYONE! 

Also,  The Happiness Project, by Gretchin Rubin.  Good book following her attempts
over the course of a year to discover the ingredients to happiness...

From: Kim Marie @MountainQueen

Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation
and Personal Power Through Awareness: A Guidebook for Sensitive People ,
both by Sanaya Roman.  They're about living in the moment, planting seeds, breathing and focusing on what you want instead of what you don't.

From: Pinda @PindaBully

 Read the 5 people. You'll be inspired!!!
"Part melodrama and part parable, Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven. weaves together three stories, all told about the same man: 83-year-old Eddie, the head maintenance person at Ruby Point Amusement Park. Through them Eddie understands the meaning of his own life even as his arrival brings closure to theirs."

From: andrietta @mzlunatx

Chalene Johnson's new book.  It's called PUSH: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, a Bangin' Body, and the Life You Deserve!  She helps you find your bangin' body and life how they are connected!  I'm going to her camp in July.

From:Andrea Holzinger @holzinger3

Just read Mindy Kaling's book. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)  Very funny!

From: Tamyr @tamyronline

Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You're Going Through by Iyanla Vazant.
Basically, she learns to deal with the mistakes she's made and uses it for the better.  Of course God or whatever spiritual path stands central in the book.  She has had a couple of online classes aired on http://Oprah.com .. Insightful! :)





Huge thanks to Bob Kuhn, Cory Katherine, Chris Gatten, 
Kim Marie, Andrietta, Pindabully, Andrea Holzinger,  
and Tamyr for the wonderful recommendations!!!   I can not wait to read them! 

Would you like to share your favorite transformative, inspirational book too?   I would be so grateful for your comment, email, or Tweet and I'll share your book(s) here too! 

Warmest wishes,

annie