Earlier this week, my kids and I are chatting happily away when all of a sudden the stroller takes a turn. I nearly bump into a lamp post. The stroller has a bad wheel that is about to give out.

Anyway, as we nearly collide into the post, I notice a hand-made flyer.

Now this street gets plastered with flyers and thankfully someone does a good job removing them. Still this flyer has hung on.

So what makes this flyer stand out, why does it catch my attention?

The simple heading…

“Excellent Nanny.”

Most of the time you just see flyers that say your garden variety, boring old “Nanny Available” or “Housekeeper Available.”

But not this one. Which is why I privately think to myself, way to “go for it” nanny.

It does show a certain confidence of the individual, doesn’t it?

And isn’t it true that you would probably be more interested in someone who says she’s an excellent nanny than you would be in a regular nanny… I mean common, who wants “regular,” right?

So back to being confident… I’m going to assume that this nanny has a lot of self confidence (or at least a healthy does of it), or else, why did she chose to describe herself as an excellent one.

And guess what? Because of her display of self confidence, sometime sooner rather than later this nanny will get what she wants. And some family may discover a not just “excellent,” but a maybe even “extraordinary,” person who will not only help care for their children, but who also will become a part of their family. Not so, unfortunately, for some other nannies who might be too terrified to step out of their comfort zone this way.

Okay… So we both know this isn’t about nannies… it’s about confidence, as in self-confidence (not to be confused with self esteem, which is something totally different).

And let me ask you, how confident are you?

Yes, I know it’s a bit of a trick question. After all, confidence can be relative. Meaning that it is quite normal for us to be more confident in some of the 7 areas of life than in others.

Still, humor me for a moment, and just make a mental note of your answers to this question… how do you see yourself, confidence wise in general? Do you see yourself as a confident person?

Remember, I’m not asking you whether you are excellent or extraordinary, because however you may feel about this, I am here to tell you that you are extraordinary, and you are made of wonder. I’m just asking you about your confidence.

Why? Here are 3 observations from a guy who’s been insecure, been cool as a cucumber, and has seen the awesome effect as well as the destructive consequences that confidence can wield:

* When you improve your confidence, it shows up in all areas of your life,

* With more confidence, we can accomplish things we’ve been too afraid to even think or verbalize, never mind commit to paper, and finally

* Although confidence isn’t something tangible, having it sure can create tangible results in your life.

Sometimes all you need is a boost of it, because just a little more can make all the difference.

The confident nanny says she is excellent. Another one doesn’t and, the price she pays may be her job. What could not being confident enough be costing you?

So again how confident are you, and if it feels like it would help you to gain some more, what exactly would it take to do that?

Or let me know if you’d like to hear more on this and we can get into it further in an upcoming post.

Remember subliminal messages? Or rather, remember when you were told about subliminal advertising? Soft drink and candy companies would insert flashes of their products into the movies that were screening at theaters – too quick for your conscious mind to see, but that your subconscious mind latched onto, and sales soared.

This kind of advertising was quickly made illegal. Probably because the whole idea of how you can speak to your unconscious mind is pretty interesting, isn’t it? See, our unconscious mind is like the genius child who soaks up everything – and I do mean everything. The thing is your unconscious doesn’t have the skills to decide if something is good for you, or bad.

Now take a moment and think about how most of our behavior is because of our unconscious. And this means most of our ‘natural’ reactions aren’t so spontaneous. What I’m saying is these reactions are generally automatic responses generated by your unconscious. Let’s call them “learned” responses.

…What’s interesting is you usually don’t notice when, or how, you’ve learned these responses – like how you’re going to blink, right? You don’t plan to blink… it just happens.

Not only that, I’d say it’s also important to understand how, often without realizing it, we send messages to our subconscious that may or may not be serving us well.

Case in point: how you can set yourself up for success or failure with your self-talk, the dialog you speak silently within your head or out loud.

So when you say something like “I’m not good enough to do x, to have y, or to be z” you limit yourself.

That’s because your subconscious is on your side. After all, it is a part of you. And it wants to please you. And it does exactly as you tell it.

So it’s no surprise then, that when it hears your words “I’m not good enough to do x, to have y, or to be z” it goes right ahead and “helps” you, by making sure that you don’t do, have or become any of those things. And it makes no difference if your self talk doesn’t include “I’m not good enough” because there are plently of other limiting thoughts most of us have at one time or another.

I can’t tell you how many people laugh or just nod when I say this. Then they get a blank stare – the kind that screams “Holy smoke.”

Remember how we’ve talked about the power of self-persuasion earlier? And the exciting news that we can communicate with ourselves in GOOD ways?

Well, what if you could get your willing and eager subconscious mind to bring about more of the changes you want?

With a little determination (this is the power of your conscious mind over your subconscious), today this is easier than ever…

Reshaping your unconscious mind is as simple as loading your MP3 or CD player with what I’ve named Podliminals – audio technology designed for you to have a convenient, elegant, and fun way to send new messages to your subconscious.

For some, the notion that you can communicate with your unconscious is hard to grasp and seems a little far fetched. So I typically answer by saying that when you use Podliminals, you’re making new use of the same tools you have been using your whole life.

I find it interesting how a lot of people will tell you they’re perfectly happy just the way things are. Dig a little deeper and you discover that sure, they could use more money, more love, more success, more respect, more time, more energy, … more sleep (sign me up). Everyone can use a little more of something, for their own benefit or someone else’s.

And that’s what each Podliminal is designed to do… zoom in where you want, work on something, and then let it happen. Your wonderful unconscious mind takes it in, and gets on with the job of creating the reality you want.

Podliminals will change your life. But rather than take my word for it, you’ll want to try them for yourself.

You probably know I’ve been looking forward to open the doors to the Podliminal of the Month Club. The good news is you can expect this to happen next week. (Did you notice the new Podliminals logo up in the right hand corner?)

I’ll be sending out a special offer for reading my blog. But you will only get it if you are on my mailing list. If you are not sure whether or not you are on the list, add yourself now by entering your name and email address in the sign up box on this blog, then click the “Sign Up” button. And don’t worry – if you’re already on this list, the system will not add you twice.

Ciao!

Taylor

Have you ever felt life dealt you a bad hand? Times when you wondered why it had to be so hard, times when you wished for it to get easier?

Reflecting on those times, it’s a lot clearer now why I felt that way. I was putting my body through a wringer and it was worn out. And actually my mind was too.

If you look back on such occasions, you too might realize why you were having a rough time, why things had a certain rhythm.

And it’s a lot easier now to understand that things would have indeed gotten easier if I had asked myself a better question, one like “How can I give myself the strength to get through this?”

Not surprisingly, the answer often boils down to energy, and finding ways to boost your energy level.

When your body is filled with vibrant energy, it becomes so much easier to breeze through adversity, realize your goals and master the key seven areas of your life.

In fact, your health IS one of the seven key areas of life. A well cared-for body is essential to becoming fulfilled in the other six. Your body really is your temple – it is the place you inhabit every minute of every day. You are worth a clean and well-cared-for environment, aren’t you?

And a healthy body is a powerful friend… It gives you feelings of courage, and physical strength to face challenges. It also gives you more choice, and a calm and positive outlook on situations.

As Lao Tzu said: “We do not see things the way they are. We see things the way we are.”

In other words, when you give your body the tools it needs to think clearly and be lighthearted, we can see being stuck in traffic as a wonderful chance for some ‘me time’ instead of a big hassle. Or the late notice on the phone bill will be seen as a chance to work on our fear of negotiating, instead of reason to panic and lose sleep.

At a certain level, emotions are chemicals that your body produces as responses to situations. These chemicals race through your body and make you feel emotions like joy, sadness or anger.

To me this spells good news because it means you can supply your body with the ingredients it needs to help you feel calmer, happier, more confident. And in most cases it is free, or just a few groceries away.

For example…

Milk contains casein, which is a mood-stabilizer. Did your Mom ever give you a glass of warm milk at bedtime? Without knowing it, she was being a good food scientist. The casein in milk slows the breathing and relaxes your muscles, inducing a sense of contentment – and helps us drift off to sleep. A small piece of cheese can have the same effect.

A twenty or thirty-minute walk, at a good pace, produces endorphins. Endorphins are like a body’s natural ‘joy chemical.’ They literally give you a sort of high, making you feel ten feet tall. One similar kind of natural chemical is phenylethylamine (also known as PEA), which is responsible for those kick-up-your-heels, feeling on-top-of-the-world sensations that love and attraction can bring. And wouldn’t you know PEA is found in chocolate? Goes a long way towards explaining those cravings, doesn’t it?

If you feel like the glass is half empty – drink it. Dehydration can be responsible for feelings of failure, your bad moods, sleepiness, lack of concentration and headaches. Keep in mind that when you take a headache pill, often it’s the water you wash it down with that acts faster than the drug. So why not go ahead and keep a large water bottle near you at all times during the day and make sure it is empty by the afternoon. Little and often is the key.

The “little and often” principle applies to food too. Regular, small intakes of a variety of foods will help you keep your blood sugar stable, which also keeps your moods stable.

And remember variety is important. Thankfully as a child all I knew was a Mediterranean diet. Heaping salads, olive oil, fish, not too much red meat, and loads of fresh vegetables. I’m grateful for these early lessons in healthy eating habits. Today I love other foods too, and I have a deep understanding of how important variety is.

Food science is not as advanced as we think it is. Different foods work together in ways that we know about, but often don’t really understand. We do know that it is good for your body (and your spirit) to regularly try new flavors and experiment with new foods. Isn’t there a saying, “Variety is the spice of life”?

And although the idea of eating healthy and nutrition  is now firmly planted in my psyche, it’s easy to get out of whack. This is where being aware of the signals (see earlier post on warning signs) is helpful, because if you’re feeling sluggish, tired, moody and unmotivated, then maybe it’s time for you to go back to energy basics…

When you feel like the world is ending, it is amazing how something as simple as a quiet space, a good meal, a stretch and a nap can completely alter your perception.

A stretch? Yep, a stretch…

Stretching lets blood flow into cramped muscles, and with blood comes oxygen, sugars, minerals and nutrients. A two-minute stretch of your neck, arms and a couple of leg muscles can be as invigorating as a half hour nap.

Also, remember to breathe. Sounds silly, I know, but think for a minute about how shallow your breathing probably is right now, and how a slumped posture cramps your lungs. A full inhale and exhale should take 10 seconds and push your belly way out. Try it now. Feels better already, doesn’t it?

Energy is the source of life, and fuel for your dreams. So next time you wish for things to get easier, just say “Hold it! How can I give myself the strength to get through this?”

Boost your energy and you give yourself the gift of unlimited potential.

Ciao!

Taylor

What would it be like to get away from it all, now?

Let me explain…

We recently returned from a vacation.

There was a time when a vacation used to be a luxury. Today though for many it has become a necessity.

Have you ever come back from vacation feeling you already need another one? You’re not alone.

It’s been shown in several studies that a respite from work decreases burnout and improves your mood and physical well-being. No surprise here. But what is interesting is the same studies show the healthful effects don’t last long – sometimes just a few weeks, if that long.

…that’s why it’s so nice to get away every few months!

Okay, back to the day-to-day again… I am reminded of the power of a good vacation and I figured why not let’s dig into the subject a bit.

Vacations can change your life-if not literally save it altogether, as you’ll find out here later-and give you the tools you need to bring about the rebirth we’ve talked about which you now know as your Personal Renaissance.

So there I am at a cafe… A woman next to me ordering a cappuccino tells me she’s enjoying part of a mandatory (read: legally required) six-week-long vacation. And she also gets double pay while on vacation to counter the extra spending that vacations involve.

Forced leisure. Reminds me of a while back…

… at the time, I was burning the candle at both ends. Everyone except me knew I needed a break. And finally the company’s CEO came right out and told me “You really need a vacation! Take a week off and go somewhere.”

You can probably imagine the look on my face. I made a fuss. Some bet that I would find a way to not go on vacation. Nonetheless, I researched some travel deals.

It was last minute travel so I figured I might have to pay through the nose. But I lucked out and found a nice get away vacation package. So the following week, my bags packed, off to the tropics I went.

At first all I could think of was work. And I resisted the idea that I would enjoy a bit of relax.

A little voice in my head kept wondering “Why couldn’t I just stay and work some more?”

A couple of days later, things changed…

After obviously not being at the office, I was away not only in the body, but now also in the mind.

I didn’t take any work with me. I didn’t allow people to contact me.

I restricted myself to restorative, out-of-cellphone-range pursuits.

And surely enough I came to experience the positive effects a holiday can have on your health and well-being.

When a staff member at the resort asked me how I was enjoying my stay, I confessed “I’m starting to feel like a new me!”

Long nature walks with my girlfriend (yes, I whisked her away too) and deep breaths of fresh air renovated my being.

A few trips to the spa and afternoon swims revitalized my body and lifted my spirits.

Light and flavorful meals satisfied my taste buds and nourished me more than I’d done for myself the past year or so having breakfast, lunch and dinner …at McDonalds of all places (it was, after all, right next door to my office).

I remember thinking the business would struggle without me, and that I was indispensable. Another part of me worried someone else down the hall would learn how to do my job.

But you probably already guessed the truth… the business survived without me and all ended well.

For sure, there were several work-related lessons. Including that even though it was hard to relinquish control, on some level I demonstrated that I controlled my work instead of the other way around.

The vacation – in this case a beach vacation – gave me needed balance. It also gave me the opportunity to remember there is more to life than work, and I used that chance to make some important decisions affecting other areas of my life.

When I got back to work, I got a warm welcome. My newfound energy was contagious. I got back into the swing of things with more fire and gusto. Asked how my vacation was, I piped that “If vacation can have this kind of effect, bring them on!”

We probably both know lots of people who can’t seem to get themselves to break away from the office.

All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy they say. It also makes you unsuccessful. The fact is that a good vacation can do wonders for every area of your life.

Now before we move on to Part 2, I would looove to read your comments and find out how you feel about what we talked about here in Part 1.

Ciao!

Taylor

Did you know that from the moment sharks are born, they never stop swimming, even when they are asleep?

Okay, sharks may not be the first thing you think of when you are asked about role models. Let’s face it though; sharks have been around much longer than man or any other mammal, maybe as much as 400 million years. To me this says they’re doing something right.

And they never stop moving forward. I think it’s a good metaphor for life: even if you’re only moving forward slowly, it’s vital to always keep moving.

Change doesn’t need to be hard: In fact, it’s better if it’s easy, and pleasurable, don’t you think?

Let’s say you want to lose 100 lbs (I like round numbers!)…

A hundred pounds, phew that’s a lot of hard work. It’s probably going to make you feel miserable for a long time, and I’m guessing you will only feel good about it you’ve lost it all, right?

Wrong!

Put aside the one hundred pounds for a minute…

And let’s dig into something that will help you get there (remember, this is just an example)…

Why not pick up a new recipe – perhaps one that uses ingredients low in saturated fats and is as fast to prepare as ordering takeout? Or maybe ask the person at the deli counter how they make that delicious Tuscan bean salad.

Prepare it, enjoy it, and then CELEBRATE!

…Buy yourself something that you absolutely love, like a brand-new book by your favorite author. Some new clothes. Call your friends and invite them over for drinks. Go completely over the top about how you celebrate achieving this first goal. I’m serious.

Make the change pleasurable.

Reward the good changes that you make.

This reminds me of a while back…

One of my mentors pointed out something to me that was so obvious and yet not so obvious…

What he told me is that if one day you’re making $10 and the next day you make $20, you’ve just doubled how much you make (or if you like percentages, that’s a two hundred percent increase). And no matter how small the amount might seem, you should celebrate.

That kind of got my attention. And even though in his example he used money, you can easily apply this to weight loss, relationships, your career and so on. I wonder if it will make you smile?

…Now back to reaching your goal, “rinse and repeat”… do it again… make another small improvement.

What I’ve just described pretty much sums up “AGAI” – one of my personal philosophies – Always Grow and Improve in the seven key areas of life. Do this and you will get the most juice out of life.

See, a tree doesn’t become 50 feet tall overnight. It works slowly at unfurling the seedling, throwing out some new shoots, beginning to make branches.

And all the while, it is aiming towards the light. It hardly sabotages itself by thinking “I’m too small, weak or dumb to become a tree from only this tiny seed.”

A tree just naturally strives to be as tall and strong as it is meant to be. A tree is always growing growing.

And so must you to live an extraordinary life.

Now I can almost hear you say it is sometimes necessary to take time out for reflection and understanding. And you’re right. The key is after that begin to pick up the pieces and go on with our lives, avoiding letting a pause turn into complacency or defeat.

One way I think of it… is if you are not growing, well, there’s really no other way to say it, you’re dieing. Now I’m not saying get out there and climb the highest mountain or swim the deepest ocean. Perhaps you can take it one step at a time, like biting small chunks out of one area of life each and every day. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

So maybe one day you can work on your breathing when find your temper boils up. Perhaps you can give a dirty bathroom a good cleaning every Saturday instead of putting it off until what you really need is a Hazmat team. And smile more often throughout the day saying goodbye to a frown (your mood follows your body). Or stick to the issue in an argument, instead of trying to score points dragging in other problems. And practice saying “no” more often if you are taken advantage of.

Small improvements… yes. And yet you can see how they add up, can’t you?

Imagine 365 improvements at the end of the year across the seven key areas of your life:

Three hundred and sixty five ways that you are growing, becoming even more interesting, and experiencing life at a new level.

Always Grow and Improve.

Ciao!

Taylor

You may have heard of the 7 Areas of Life?

If you’re new to the concept (welcome, by the way) the 7 Areas of Life are:

Money, Time, Relationships, Health, Emotions, Work or Career, and Greater Contribution.

Each of these 7 Areas are like pillars that support your happiness and well-being. When one is weak and crumbles, your well-being caves in.

If you sit back and think about it, you might agree that most of us work on one, two, or at best, three of these pillars, right?

Some pour their heart and soul into their jobs. Ever found yourself concentrating on your career …identifying yourself with your job title or how much you earn, only feeling fulfilled when your work life is going well? …I know I have.

Others focus predominantly on their relationships. For these people, family and friends are the most important of the seven Areas, and they do not feel like a whole person if they’re not always focused putting others first.

By now maybe you can see how you favor one or two Areas the most. And likewise you might just as easily have clear in your mind the Areas you neglect… say maybe your health (when you eat out a lot to save time and energy), your money (when you spend money on things you know you don’t really need) or maybe your relationships (if you get caught up in a rat race of life bound with responsibilities)?

Don’t feel bad about the Areas you neglect, because we all do it. Just promise me you’ll avoid making the mistake of assuming that two or three strong “pillars” will make up for the rest. Because if you do, sooner or later the roof of your inner house will cave in, there is no doubt (I’ve been there and got the t-shirt).

And maybe it already has caved in… Perhaps right now you as you read what I’m saying there’s an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of your stomach – the one that signals now is time to change some things in your life…

…time for your Personal Renaissance.

Remember the Renaissance? It was the complete social and cultural change that took place in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century. The Renaissance was a time of great leaps forward in politics, art and culture. It was also the  time when the Renaissance Man (or Person!) was first recognized as a role model for us all.

Renaissance literally means “rebirth” and a Renaissance Person is someone who is balanced. An “all-rounder” of a person, who is equally devoted to work and relaxation, art and science, discovering and creating, giving and receiving, the outer and inner world.

I bring this up because when you pay more attention to the 7 Areas of Life, you can experience a similar rebirth, as a more complete and happy person – your own 21st Century Personal Renaissance.

And the beauty of it is that you can kick off this process in just seven days.

Really.

Here’s how…

First I’m going to list the 7 Areas in order of importance…

Actually, that’s not quite right. One Area is no more important than another. And to tell you the truth, even that’s not totally accurate. But they do have a logical sequence…

For instance, there’s no point developing your higher mind if you are lethargic and depressed from bad food and lack of exercise.

Okay, so here is your 7 day plan, in sequence…

And by the way, Day 1 is today. Right here, right now, or rather… when you finish reading the exercise.

All right, let’s do this!…

Day 1 – The Physical Self

Your body is your temple. All of the other elements of your life are related, and this includes our physical selves. You only get one body, so let’s give a little something back to it…

Step 1: Drink a glass of water. Most headaches are dehydration, and so are the “afternoon blues.”

Step 2: Stretch your arms above your head and breathe deeply.

Step 3: Walk around the room, taking long strides.

Day 2 – Emotions and Meaning

Everyday we have emotional responses to one thing or another. Some responses are good for us, others are harmful and disruptive. Because there’s a crucial link between your state of mind and your state of health, the key here is to become a master of your emotions…

Step 1: Tell yourself you want to recognize the next time you experience a heightened emotional response (e.g. anger) so that you can identify it.

Step 2: When you recognize you’re having strong emotions and feelings, decide if it is a positive or negative feeling. Your body responds to the way you think and feel. So if you are having a negative emotion, this can have a negative effect on your body.

Step 3: If you are experiencing a negative emotion, give yourself permission to let that feeling go.

Step 4: And now think of something that makes you feel happy or peaceful. There is research that having a positive outlook can improve your quality of life and boost your health.

Day 3 – Relationships

Relationships are made up of a thousand small moments of shared history. They are the things that help us identify our place in our family, our community and our world.

Step 1: Give your partner, spouse, or your best friend a seven-second hug.

Step 2: If you have kids, smile at them every time they walk in the room today.

Step 3: Smile at a stranger, and say good morning if you are feeling really brave!

Day 4 – Time

This is a difficult one for a lot of people, even more challenging than Emotions and Meaning, because we live in a world of “time poor” people and time is now a precious commodity, divided into tenths of seconds, rather than the movement of the sun across the sky.

Step 1: Tell yourself that doing “nothing” is valuable use of your time.

Step 2: Find somewhere quiet and let yourself daydream for a bit. Remember when you were a kid and you would stare happily at the ceiling for hours at a time? During this time, your brain displays some very interesting wave patterns, and it has been shown that kids who are allowed to daydream have higher IQs, are better able to concentrate and have less behavioral problems.

Day 5 – Career/Work

I’m not going to ask you to spend more time at the office! Instead I’m going to ask you to think carefully about whether your job (this extends to homemakers too) is bringing you all the rewards and joy you deserve.

Step 1: Make a small change to your working environment. Sit near a window, or take a 15 minute walk in your lunch break. Say good morning to someone you see all the time but never speak to.

Step 2: Let go of the stress. Breathe deeply and remember that fretting over things that haven’t happened yet will not help you achieve anything more quickly.

Day 6 – Finances

Lots of people are worried about money, especially now.

Money means freedom, and control over your life. Here’s the real rub with this definition of money… we can limit our options if we feel we have to make more more money to have that control, because you can have control over your financial life without needing to earn more – you simply need to look honestly at exactly what you have and what you do now.

Step 1: If you don’t have a budget, or if you don’t stick to one, begin today. Keep a financial diary and jot down everything you spend in a single day.

Step 2: Create a budget that works for YOU. One person I know loves to treat her friends. She can’t help it, she is always picking up the tab for after-work drinks. Yet her budget works! How? She is honest about her habits, and budgets a certain amount of money each week for treating other people. Once she reaches that limit, her weekly generosity is cut off. Simple.

Step 3: Take control of the small expenses: Walk to work, make birthday and holiday cards with your kids, turn off the heat in rooms you aren’t using. It’s not just the money you save that will help here, it’s the return of personal power – you can control your money.

Day 7 – Greater Contribution and Spirituality

This doesn’t necessarily mean religion, although that’s certainly part of it if you go to a place of worship. This is the area of your life that is about enjoying the spiritual rewards of your Personal Renaissance. This is the day when you stop to smell the flowers, to be grateful for the good things in your life, and to celebrate in whatever way is meaningful for you.

Step 1: Before you jump out of bed as soon as you wake up, take five minutes to stretch, wriggle your toes and smile. Even if you need to fake a smile, that’s fine. Endorphins (the feel-good chemicals in the brain) are released every time you smile, even if it is forced. Your body really does want you to be happy!

Step 2: Begin the day thinking about the people closest to you. Really thinking about them: How they feel, how they look, how their life might be right now.

Step 3: No matter how you spend your day, try to collect ten things you appreciate: Mental snapshots of gratitude – like the smell of coffee at your favorite cafe or of flowers in your garden,  a warm shower … or the garbage bin not needing to be emptied! Review these tonight as you go to sleep – instead of worrying about the bad things.

And that’s it.

Seven days and Seven Vital Pillars of Life that bring you closer to your Personal Renaissance. You have the power to be happy and paying attention to all seven pillars of a whole and balanced life will make you happier than you thought possible.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this…

Ciao!

Taylor

P. S. A post or two ago you may have noticed I hinted I’ve got something in store for you. Well, I’m now putting finishing touches on it. So leave the best comment and you’ll get a copy.