I want to tap into your talent while spreading the word about you and/or your biz! I have written the Simply Fearless Manifesto and now I need someone to make it pretty.  Enter your name and email below to receive the:

1. Project specs
2. A draft of the Simply Fearless manifesto
3. My personal notes about the design

I am accepting submissions through Sunday, August 15, 2010 midnight Pacific.  It’s super easy to submit and the winner will receive:

1. Credit on the manifesto – your name and/or url will go out to everyone who signs the manifesto as long as I’m using your design – imagine the exposure!
2. Four 30-minute coaching sessions with me

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to play and win.  If you are in the slightest bit curious about this opportunity and would like to win the prizes, then please enter your name & email to receive all the information about the contest:

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And then I woke up and it all changed.

Why?

Photo by SkitterzPRO

Because I woke up grouchy.  Does that ever happen to you?  Yeah, I thought so, which is why I decided to blog about it.

So what did I do about it?  Well, for starters I gave myself permission to switch it up.  I reminded myself that if I forced myself to do everything as planned that:

1. I would most likely get grouchier, and
2. Anything I try to create from a grouchy state of being never turns out how I want it to.

So after I walked the dog I grabbed my journal and went to the coffee shop.  I decided that giving myself 20 minutes to nurture my Soul was well-worth my time, energy, and money.  Writing my blog post – the initial plan – could wait a couple of hours.

Next I put on my running shoes and exercised for 30 minutes.  I know that one of the best things to do for my mental/emotional state of being is to physically exercise.  I’m sure there’s some sort of scientific explanation about chemical releases, etc. but all I know is that when I exercise I feel better.  So I had a choice.  I could:

1. Exercise and feel better, or
2. Not exercise and feel grouchier.

I chose to exercise.  I didn’t necessarily feel like exercising, but I did want to feel better.

Next, I was off to take The Girl to her ortho appointment and drive her back home which is an hour away.  This was the part of my day that needed to stay the same regardless of my mood because she was depending on me.  So I grabbed some food {avoiding extreme hunger while grouchy is VERY important!} and off we went.

While I was at her appointment I gave myself permission to read a book I’m enjoying.  Every time I read this book I feel uplifted and enlightened.  This was the perfect thing to do while I waited.  I could have gotten grouchier if I had allowed myself to get caught up in what I “had” to do, but instead I used it as an opportunity to continue to take care of me.

On the drive with my daughter there were a couple of times when I found myself triggered by things she said and in those moments I gave myself permission to be quiet.  Sometimes being quiet is the best thing you can do for your loved ones when you are grouchy.  And you know what?  We ended up having an amazing heart-to-heart convo that I had been wanting to have for awhile.  I shared with her how I was feeling about our new living situation {she recently moved in with her dad full-time} and asked her what she needed from me.  We were able to really connect and I feel so much closer to her now.

In fact, I might still be a tad bit grouchy, but I feel so good about how I’m walking through it.  I’m taking care of me.  I’m doing what I need to do to feel better.  I’m making how I feel a top priority.  And no one is paying a price for my grouchiness.  Not even me!

Everyone benefits when you share:
What do you do to move out of grouchiness?

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I was so happy when I found this set of Wisdom Cards:

Sometimes I draw a card for my clients as an opening to our coaching calls. I love doing it and they love receiving it. In fact, I’ll draw one for you right now. I’m holding the deck in my hands with my eyes closed. I’m shuffling the cards and holding this blog post in my mind. I know that I will pick the perfect one to publish and it reads:

Front: I am at the Center of Peace
Back: It is safe for me to look within. Each time I look deeper into myself, I will find incredibly beautiful treasures within me.

Oh that’s awesome, isn’t it?! Thank you Louise Hay for that bit of inspirational wisdom.

I also purchased this tiny but might book:

And guess what? I’ve already read it! It’s a powerful story about personal transformation that everyone should read. Oh and it would be so much fun for parents to read it to their children since it’s crafted with such simple language.

I’m also excited to share that I finally added this book to my library:

I’ve been wanting this book for so long and now I have it. It has this really cool list of common physical problems like heartburn along with the probable cause and new thought pattern. I’ve had sinus congestion for months now. Here is what it says about it:

Problem: Sinus Problems (Sinusitis)

Probable Cause:  Irritation to one person, someone close

New Thought Pattern: I declare peace and harmony indwell me and surround me at all times.  All is well.

Interesting stuff!  I haven’t read the book yet, but it certainly does give an entirely new way of looking at problems in your body.  In fact, with such valuable information to give you it doesn’t seem like a “problem” at all does it?  It’s more like a blessing.  At the very least, a wake up call.

I also decided to buy one fiction book and imagined myself reading before going to bed at night.  I picked a book from the Pulitzer Prize winner rack:

I love my new books and I’m so glad I took the time to take care of me today. What are you doing to take care of you? Do you have to earn self-care time? Remember that you are the heart and soul of your business and the more you take care of you, the more you take care of your business.

Rock it out, Peeps ~
Cassandra

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If you look up the word “gift” in the dictionary, it reads, “A thing given willingly to someone without payment.” Example: a birthday gift.

But what if someone gives you something you weren’t expecting and don’t really want. What are you supposed to do with it? It is a rare person who will be honest enough to say they don’t like or want the gift, and then give it back. So it can become all too common for our lives to become cluttered with things we never use and yet, we can’t let go of.

I think that when this happens guilt becomes the payment and then a gift stops becoming a gift.

Emotional attachment to things is natural. But it can also be the quicksand for the goal to lead an organized life. Especially when the volume of sentimental belongings in blocking our ability to live a functional and happy life. It can also just take a few items to weigh us down. The statue that your aunt gave you but you think it is so ugly you just stuck it in your guest room, but now you don’t like going into that room at all.

The key question to ask yourself is: What was your aunt’s intention for giving you that statue? Was it her intention that you never use a room in your home again? I say, most absolutely not.

This is a true story from my own life. Two years ago my mom passed away. Before she passed she gave my husband Andrew and I a very powerful, very large food processor because she knew he makes pumpkin pies from scratch. We used it the first year but then after we got married (after she had passed) we were given a red colored Kitchen-Aid processor to match our set of appliances.

We liked and used the Kitchen-aid much more, yet I couldn’t bear to get rid of the one my mom had given us, even though I knew we would never use it. Well, finally a month ago, when going through our overflowing storage unit in the garage, I had to ask myself the same question I posed above: What was my mom’s intention for giving us that processor? Her intention was love. And we loved when we used it but we loved her most of all. And I know she knew that. Keeping that appliance in her memory wasn’t doing any more to feel that love for her, in fact, it was making me feel guilty. And I know my mom wouldn’t have wanted that.

At the end of the day belongings don’t replace people. The real gift of life is life itself and the experiences we share with others. Getting organized and ridding yourself of clutter is the best gift you can give yourself. Live happy, not guilty. Anyone who truly loves you will say the same thing. Even your aunt who gave you the ugly statue.

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March 14th was my 6 month anniversary, & while I can’t bill myself as some Big Authority when it comes to making a marriage work, I have no doubt that my husband will be The One forever. Why? Because:

• We have the same foundation. This means our values and priorities are similar – we both value family above all else, but also hold our artistic endeavors, financial stability, and our friendships with high regard.
• Our “timing” was right. We found each other when we were both about a year out of long-term, live-in relationships without a “serious” relationship in between. I think we were both equally cautious about starting something serious again, while also both wanting a lasting relationship.
• We treat each other with respect. There was a time when I was uncomfortable with the fact that my husband & I have never had a fight (we’ve been together for 3 years), but that didn’t last for long. If a relationship feels like a struggle or a battle every day, it’s not The One for you.
• His friends & my friends have become Our Friends, and the same goes for our families. This wasn’t some sacrifice either – I genuienly believe that if I met His Friends first, they would have been My Friends. And I know that even when The Girls invade our apartment Luke doesn’t retreat because he likes the conversation (at least he does before the “What do guys really want in a girl?” and “Do guys really talk about their sex lives to each other?” questions start shooting in his direction).
• We respect our time together & we respect our time apart. This might boil down to trust, but I’m wary of couples that do EVERYTHING together as well as those that do NOTHING together. My hubby and I respect each other’s Girls Nights Out and Boys Nights Out, but always invite each other to every other social occasion.

I think that if you have to boil it down to a feeling besides “love”, it’s “luck”. Luck that you found this spectacular person, luck that he fell for you (of all people!), luck that you get to spend the rest of your life with him…..I feel lucky each and every day that I have with Luke.

If you don’t have that special someone yet – one that you can give an “l” word to (love, luck, or lust!) – then use this time to honor yourself for not being in a relationship that “wastes the pretty.” It takes strength to not get caught in a romance (or marriage!) where you don’t feel lucky each and every day (although you might feel comfortable, or content, or another “c” word – like crazy?). Use this time to celebrate your strength!*

*Or drink cosmopolitans with your girlfriends & flirt. A lot. Either way…..fun!

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So I went in, asked for help, got measured, and set up in the dressing room with 20 bras to try on. I went through the first couple that were okay. And then…I put on the Very Sexy Secret Embrace Push Up Bra and oh my heaven! I was transformed in a younger, perkier woman! Could this be me? Could those be my breasts?

Yes! It is me and those are my breasts. This is what I look like with adequate support. With this bra on I stood taller, smiled bigger (is that even possible?!), and embraced my femininity. I floated through that store like the models you see in their commercials with big, beautiful wings.

Photo courtesy of Victoria’s Secret

And then it hit me: having a deep spiritual connection is the same as wearing an amazing bra! I mean, think about it. A good bra supports, protects, and encourages you to shine in your beautiful self. You don’t need to go on a diet, lose 10 pounds, or change who you are to look and feel good right now.

This is exactly what is happening to me as I deepen my relationship with Life (aka God, Spirit, the Universe, etc). And here’s what I really want you to know: my relationship with God comes through the quiet depths of my heart, mind, and body. To me, spirituality is the place where all aspects of my being intersect. It is the absolute center. And as I process life, delve deeper into my heart, mind, and body, and discover my purpose I become closer to God.

Let’s just say that now my physical and spiritual bras are an awesome reflection of one another! I encourage you to think about your own spiritual bra…

It should make you:

• feel beautiful,
• stand tall, and
• embrace yourself exactly how you are.

It should:

• lift you up,
• protect you (even from yourself), and
• add joy to your life.

If it doesn’t, then maybe it’s time to trade in the hand-me-downs and get a new spiritual undergarment.

If you don’t have any spiritual undergarments on at all, then maybe it’s time to make it a priority and invest in some.

This topic is near and dear to my heart. I invite you to leave your comments, email me your insightful feedback, and even to schedule a complimentary coaching session.

Here’s to all of us beautiful women sporting amazing bras, both physically and spiritually!

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Oprah and Dr. Berman suggest you try kissing your partner 10 seconds a day and don’t make it always end in sex…but that would be nice! LOL. Just try it. See how much more connected you feel. See what it does for your sex drive. Your husband or boyfriend will be amazed by how much more responsive your body is when they kiss you for 10 seconds or more. Kissing helps women to…

Read the entire article here

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#1 Talking to and meeting as many peeps as possible
I belong to multiple in-person networking groups where I am consistently asked, “What do you do?” Just having someone standing in front of me, looking me in the eyes, and listening to me has been incredibly valuable. Each time I share I learn more about where I am and where I’d like to go. {Note: be selective about the groups you join to make sure they are in alignment with your personal and professional goals – I sense another article coming on!}

#2 Blogging every day
I am committed to sharing my personal and professional process on my blog and not only do I receive value by doing so, but I’m also creating an on-line community of people who support me and my efforts. Now, I don’t mean that they are all hiring me. I do mean that they listen, provide valuable feedback, and some subscribe to my blog and newsletters. Oh yeah, and of course my SEO is growing up in the process :~)

#3 Offering a FREE eCourse as a subscription bonus
I am so excited about this because not only does the eCourse provide an incentive for people to sign up, but I am honoring my wisdom and knowledge by sharing it. How cool is that?!

#4 Twittering
Twitter is one of the fastest and easiest ways I’ve grown my on-line community. It is short, sweet, and to the point. I love connecting with others and you don’t have to sift through a ton of content because people are only allowed to post within 140 characters – which is really short! By far, Twitter has been one of the biggest impacts on my blog traffic and new subscribers.

#5 Continuing to grow personally
I believe that as long as I grow personally that my business will also grow so I take classes and join groups for my own personal development. Currently I am taking a teleseminar series called Know Your Purpose that is helping me both personally and professionally because I am exposed to how another coach/trainer is structuring his program. What a phenomenal experience!

#6 Learning from others who already have what I want
It is so important to learn from others who have already been where you are AND successfully moved forward. There are certain coaches who I follow because I admire their work (all of them have helped me personally) and I want to learn from their business development process how I can move forward in mine. I look at what they did to get to where they are and I adopt bits and pieces that resonate with who I am. The key is to always incorporate it into your personal values and offerings because the all-time best thing you can do to grow your business is…

#7 Just be yourself!
That’s right, folks. The most important thing I have done to grow my business is to be willing to share with people who I am, where I’m at, and what I stand for even when I don’t have it all figured out. As challenging as it is to put my real and authentic self out there for all to see, it is also the most rewarding. The bottom line is people hire me because they like me. {Wow! People like me? Really?} Yes, people like me and they are willing to pay me to help them. I really am that good!

As you know, it’s important not to boast and brag about yourself just for personal flattery. However, it is important to stand tall and proud in who you are right now in this moment. Now, I know you are awesome. And I know you have valuable information to share with others. So get out there, blog, publish newsletters, meet people, continue to learn, and most importantly just be yourself. The world is waiting for you! Success is yours for the taking.

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