StrEsS !?!

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all..."How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a  smile.
 
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
 
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "and  that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly  heavy, we won't be able to carry on."
 
"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can,  put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night.... pick them up tomorrow.
 
Whatever burdens you're carrying now, put them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

                                       *Save  the earth -- It's the only planet with chocolate!*
 

 I don't know who the original author is of this anecdote, but I thought it well worth sharing.

Oily Fish Make Babies “Brainier”

Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children's future brain power and social skills, research suggests.

A study of 9,000 mothers and children in Avon, England suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQs. These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in the Economist said.

'Frightening data'

Looking at the effects of Omega-3 intake on 9,000 mothers and their children, the team found mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average.

While those with the highest consumption of mackerel and sardines and other sources of Omega-3 had children, at age three-and-a-half, with the best measures of fine-motor performance, researchers said.

Low intake of the crucial fatty acid also appeared to lead to more problems of social interactions - such as an inability to make friends. Research leader, Dr Joseph Hibbeln, said "frightening data" showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mother had eaten small quantities of Omega -3 during pregnancy demonstrated this sort of behavior. This compared with 8% of those born to the group with the highest intake, he said.

Dr Hibbeln said, "The findings of poor social development and poor motor control in children indicate that these children may be on a developmental trajectory towards lifelong disruptive and poorly-socialized behavior as they grow up."

Professor Jean Golding of Bristol University set up the original research, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, 15 years ago to look at predisposition to disease. She told the BBC: "The baby's brain needs Omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn't create its own fatty acids so it needs to be something that the mother will eat."

The new research also builds on earlier work in the US, which suggests pregnant mothers will develop children with better language and communication skills if they regularly consume oily fish.

Nutritional expert Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Centre, said Omega-3 was key to children's intelligence because the brain is formed of 60% fat - 30% of which are essential fats. Successive studies have shown clear links between intelligence and consumption of this essential fatty acid, he added.

"It's absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3 "- Patrick Holford, Nutritional expert

 

Ed. Note: We’ve known for quite awhile about Omega-3’s positive effect on hearth health, but more and more now we’re learning about how beneficial it is for moods and depression, autoimmune diseases and now brain development. Our recommended fish oil supplement uses triple molecular distillation and purification and provides a full spectrum of seven natural omega-3 fatty acids. For more information or to order it online CLICK HERE

Article excerpt from BBC News. For the complete story CLICK HERE

Marketing TalkStory: Make Excuses or Make Money?

If you are running your business the same way you did five years ago, then you may be traveling on the unfortunate path to going out of business.

Business evolve or perish.

Still with the  new year right around the corner, now is a great time to look at goals. Where do you want your business to be? Let's focus on the short term for now.

Where do you want your business to be in 12 months? Once you know where you want to go, then you can tailor and create a framework for marketing and advertising for your business. Now that your “wheels” are turning, let's keep them moving by looking at these 5 points:

1. What do you want your customers to know about you?
2. What motivates YOU to buy?
3. Think about how YOU are reached (e-newsletters that you signed up for, Facebook, radio commercials, newspaper ads, coupons)
4. How will you get your message to your market in the next 12 months?
5. What will work for you and your budget (print, radio, etc.)?

This is just something to help you get your "wheels" turning.  If you are feeling stuck, I highly recommend checking out http://inflowceo.com/ .  Stephanie helped me to clarify and gain insight on what I was looking to achieve......and a better understanding on achieving it.

Have a blessed day!
Marie-anne

Get ready for a Fantastic 2012 by not doing these........... top 10!!!!!

So, I had actually shared this about a year ago and thought it would be a good idea to take a look back and recap things for myself......

Happy New Year

Get ready for a Fantastic 2012 by not doing these........... top 10!!!!!

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. 
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. 
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last ones.
6. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success.  You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
7. Stop beating yourself up over old mistakes. – No matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
8. Stop trying to buy happiness. – The things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
9. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready for anything. Great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
10. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.

Kids hooked on drugs!

This is totally nuts.......why are parents drugging their children? I was just reading reported statistics from 2009 in The Wall Street Journal and the numbers are simply mind boggling. Did you know that many of the prescription drugs dispensed to children and teens were for conditions not traditionally associated with children. But with the changes in lifestyle and diet, kids now are being prescribed more and more drugs for adhd, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleeping disorders, etc. I'm sure that the number of prescriptions also increased over the last 4 years. Here's a glimpse at those astronomical numbers from 2009!

• ADHD = 24.357 million
• Asthma = 45.388 million
• Antidepressants = 9.614 million
• Sleeping Aids = 307,000
• Antipsychotics = 6.547 million
• Antihypertensive (for high blood pressure!) = 5.224 million
• Statins (for high cholesterol!) = 94,000
• Type 2 diabetes = 424,000

Yes, there is a time and place for prescription drugs but too many doctors and parents are turning to prescriptions as their first solution or option for everything. Besides it being a problem, in the first place, prescribing drugs to kids instead of looking at the cause can have other ramifications. One of the huge problems with prescribing drugs to kids is the safety factor. In many cases, there hasn't even been enough research (or available data) and the kids end up being used as guinea pigs to find out if a particular drug works or not.

It's up to the parents to be proactive. It's okay to ask the doctors for alternative solutions. It's okay to make lifestyle modifications such as including exercise, nutrition, weight loss, stress reductions......all simple changes that will in many cases eliminate the need for drugs.

About the writter:

Marie-anne is Home Business Consultant and Wellness Advisor. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Holistic Nutrition. Visit her websites http://www.LaunchYourDestiny.com and at http://www.MomIsTheBest.com

“4 letter” words......in business? In life? Think about it!

The English vocabulary is full of fantastic words. When it comes to business and personal relationships, the words we choose to use can make a drastic difference in building or tearing down people and business.

Do you ever stop and listen to people?

I would like to encourage you to stop routinely and listen in.....yes, eavesdrop on people's conversation.

Listen to how people talk to each other in business meetings. Listen to how people talk to each other when eating lunch.....or maybe they are talking on their cellular phone. Listen and watch how they react to words being said. Listen and watch people from all walks of life. What do you think influences their choice of words? How do those words touch their own lives?

Have you noticed how many people use four letter words? What are those words they are using?

Are you using “4 letter” words in your business and daily life? I sure HOPE you do!

Here are 4 great “4 letter” words that you may already be using, and if you aren't.....why not start now:

Great

Love

Hope

Best

And there are plenty more.

How would your business associate (or family member) feel if you said: “That is a GREAT idea! I think it's your BEST idea yet. I HOPE we get to work more together as I LOVE being on your team!”

Four letters can seem so small, and yet, their effect can be massive! Think about it!

TOP 10 REASONS TO SMILE

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive
We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood
Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious
When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress
Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System
Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin
Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger
The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful
Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive
Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

Source: Mark Stibich, Ph.D., longevity.about.com