That’s right FEAR. Bet you thought I was going somewhere else with that, huh? Hehehe.

As I approach a surgery two weeks from today, I find myself being fearful and worriesome. Asking a ton of questions that I have no clue what the answer will be and neither does anyone else. So that brings me to the discussion of fear. The fears that many of us have and worry a great deal over, are absolutely not necessary. Don’t get me wrong fear can be healthy, right? It is certainly important that children fear running into the street for their own safety. However, as we advance in to adulthood, many of us carry fears that we don’t have to.

Fear = False Evidence Appearing Real 

Often times we let worries spin out of control. We are unsuccessful in finding balance in our lives and we worry about money, bills, the future, etc. Fearing what might happen is also called the fear of the unknown and most of our fears fall into this category. Don’t we spend so much time worrying about the “what ifs”? That is exactly what I have found myself doing lately.

Worrying about how I will react to surgery? Will I recover fast? Will the kids be OK while I am in the hospital again? And on, and on, and on…

Then I was reminded that this overwhelming fear of the future, of what to come, isn’t real. What will come to pass over time, will still happen whether I worry about it or not. It is simply something I have no control over and I have no evidence that reinforces any of my fears about my surgery.  

I am sure that wherever you are in your life, you experience some kind of fear of the future and maybe even spend a great deal of time mulling it over. My advice to you is to take a moment and look at the fear. Conquer it head on. Is there evidence that you should be fearing this particular item? While you examine your fears it may be helpful to…

To Kick fear to the curb!

 1. Take time to be grateful- Having an Attitude of Gratitude makes it very difficult for fear to creep in. When we focus on the things that really matter and how blessed we are in this day, it is almost impossible to worry about tomorrow. Take some time to be thankful each day!

2. Take inventory of the fear- Are you able to control the outcome? If so step up and knock it out. For example: You are worried the phone bill won’t get paid in time. Instead of worrying about the due date, why not be proactive and look for solutions. What could you sell on craigslist or to the local consignment store that would help you pay that bill? Find ways to problem solve, where possible it will help to relieve you of the fear and increase your ability to critically think through issues.

3. Have a positive attitude- This is really easy… Just be optimistic!  It is sometimes easier said than done, but when you take the time to intentionally place positive thoughts into your thinking. They eventually become the norm and you may find yourself having far fewer negative thoughts that fear once brought to mind.

Ultimately, to conquer the fear of the unknown, that so many of us struggle with, we must simply Let go of Fear! Therefore…

This Tuesday’s”To-do”odle: Don’t let fear take root in your life!

Our lives have been designed so that we don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, or next year. And when we spend our time worrying about the future, what is to come, then we miss out on life. Don’t sit on the sidelines in the Game of Life, get out there and play and leave fear behind!

From my Adventures,

All of us know that Facebook, Twitter and like sites have taken over the Internet and the key to being part of this social phenomenon is to be Authentic.  It is an absolute must that  anyone who has a product or service to offer take part in this Social Media Maze. However, it certainly can seem overwhelming and one may ask where to start their journey. My suggestion is that no matter where you begin, be sure to move forward in a genuine and Authentic way. The following example is why I feel that being Authentic must be your very first and continual mission with regard to Social Media…

The NOT so Authentic Car Salesmen:

I am sure you have all been car shopping. But have you been car shopping and some salesmen comes out of the store with his slicked back hair and a funky gallop in his step heading straight for you? As he approaches, he starts his over the top theatrical presentation of how much he knows you would look just fabulous in this car. You feel a small twinge of repulsion, but after all you would look great in that car, right? So you entertain it for a moment, but then he keeps laying it on thicker and thicker. Until he is promising you that this car can perform super fantastic tricks like something out of Herbie.

By then the red flags are a going up all over the place and all you can do is slowly back away, thank him for his time and get the heck out of there! Your flight or fight response was activated and you chose to RUN!!!

This is the exact thing that happens when we present ourselves in a manner that is not our Authentic self.  People will have the same response to us and turn the other way to run. No one wants to do business with someone who is fake. Therefore, we must strive in every interaction online to be our real, true and Authentic self. You certainly do not want to be the goofy car salesmen, right?

The Bottom line: Being anything but the ‘Authentic Real Deal’ You turns

people off.

So you get the message loud and clear, but still are nervous about maintaining an online prescence? Here are few tips for learning how to project yourself out there…

Putting your best self forward by being Authentic:

1. Believe in yourself. Remember that what you have to offer is of value and that is it worth sharing with others!

2. Focus on your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Are you Loyal and Dependable? Or, maybe you’re super Patient  and kind? Spend your energy sharing from those strong areas you possess and continue to learn and grow in the not so strong ones. We are all human and we have flaws. It’s okay. In fact, it is just better that way. Individuals find it very hard to connect with the “perfect” person. Your weaknesses make you REAL!

3. Be Transparent. This simply means that you can not hide who you are.

People are looking to connect these days. They want to form relationships and get to know you and that will never be possible if you hide behind a mask. Go on share your story, lay it all out there (ok maybe not all of it, depending on the story, but you get the gist)!

So forge forward in your business endeavors and the changing face of the Internet, but always remember to do so by being your Authentic self!

Click the link that follows to learn more about how the Internet is being changed by Social Media and how businesses must now move toward Attraction Marketing thru Social Media.

From my Adventures,

25 Fun Facts about Heather

1. I love vibrant colors like reds, oranges and yellows. Clearly I like pink as well.

2. I am adopted.

3. My favorite two movies are 8 seconds and Almost Famous. 

4. When I grew up I wanted to be a doctor (like my Grandpa) and a Pop star.

5. My first Car was a Lavender Ford Probe (I wrecked said car inside of a week).

6. I struggled for years with what to even put on this list… A sense of self is so empowering!

7. I bite my nails, but I paint my toes.

8. I have a nose piercing.

9. I love Salty, Sweet and Crunchy snacks all equally.

10. I am a hopeless romantic… Rom-Com’s are the best date night films!

11. I am awe inspired by many types of music. Music has this amazingly transcendent quality to it.

 12. My favorite flowers are Roses and Lilies.

13. I am super patriotic. The national anthem gives me goose bumps.

14. I prefer white gold jewelry. With diamonds of course. Hehe!

15.  I have the most strong, loving, and generous Mother and Grandmother.

16. "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John is one of my all time favorite songs.

17. I love, love, love to dance, dance, dance!

19. I never feel more free than when I am driving down the interstate, dancing and singing… looking like a fool, but loving life!

20. I am learning how to play the guitar.

 21. I didn’t have a cavity until I was 25 years old.

22. I have one brother and one sister (I am the oldest).

23. I have a college degree- BA in History.

24. I sang in the Ft. Wayne, Indiana Children’s Choir.  

25. I like lists.

From my Adventures,

Having Posture = More Success

I recently teamed up with an amazing business partner of mine, Micki Lessard, and we did a great training for our team on Posture. This training was inspired from tips that we had received at a recent convention and Posture is certainly very relevant with regard to business and your personal endeavors. I think it is because no matter what you have going on day to day or what you are trying to achieve the ten ingredients to Posture can benefit anyone. And just so you understand… I am not talking about sitting up straight, shoulders back, etc. This is more about how you carry yourself as a whole… personal Posture.

10 ingredients to Posture:

1. A Strong “Why”-  Developing Posture requires that you ask yourself… What do I want out of life? Where do you see yourself in a year from now or 2 years, or five? We all have thoughts about this and the only way to move yourself or your family in any direction is by having a strong reason to be doing it… a why.

2. Trust- Obviously we have support systems and people on whom or things of which we rely, but in order to obtain personal Posture you must trust in your decisions. When you trust your choices, ultimately people will trust you!

3. Conviction- In anything you do act with conviction, this is having a strong belief in what you are doing. People who have Posture, act with conviction and have their own compass.

They use it to direct them where they want to go in life. It really shows an individual’s strength and character.

4. Belief- This is just about believing in yourself. Believe that your goals are obtainable, believe in your capability to achieve them and believe in your dreams. This belief will help you to stand tall and proud in who you are and what you are trying to do. Which is huge key to radiating Posture!

5. Confidence- Have confidence in accompaniment with that belief. Do not use phrases like “I can’t” or ” I could never”. Instead make a conscious effort to say “How can I do that” or ” I might need help, but I can and I will”. Changing the words you use can very quickly increase your confidence and Posture.

6. Certainty- When your Posture includes belief in yourself you are actually in a state of certainty. This simply means you have no doubt in what you are doing, being certain you are in the right place at the right time.

7. Passion- Having passion is just about enthusiasm and excitement for what you do. Every one’s passion lies in different places, but I encourage you to find yours because it will not only increase your Posture, but also your happiness.

8. Sincerity- OK y’all this is really simple… wait for it…. you ready??? BE REAL!!! Just be real. Present yourself authentically in every situation and be genuine. Something I have learned over the years is that if you act with Posture and integrity, you can’t go wrong! That is- be who you say you are and do what you say you are going to do. And remember intergrity is a key Character Trait and Character is what you do when no one is watching.

9. Knowledge- Just continue to learn and to grow. If your passion is cooking, learn new recipes, if it is parenting keep soaking up info, etc. When you keep learning and gaining knowledge it helps you to grow and your passion to increase.

10. Honesty- OK so it seems simple to some of you reading this, but it is not so simple to others. Be truthful with others, but more importantly be truthful with you. What can you improve on? What can you do better? These honest inventory type questions can only lead to growth. And like the CEO of the company I work for always says “The Truth is Good Enough”. So, let it be good enough for you!

Missing a “Posture” Ingredient?

Keep in mind that all the ingredients are essential. Just like baking a cake, if you leave one ingredient out, sure the cake might taste OK, but it will not taste as good as it could have if you had all the ingredients. So I encourage you to be honest with yourself, which ingredient/s are you missing and go get it.

Have Posture and start being the you that you deserve and attaining the things you have dreamed! After all Posture leads to your decisions and ”Your Decisions = Your Destiny” (Hyrum Smith).

From my Adventures,

April 2011

As I talk with friends, family, business partners I am finding that everyone out there is always in the midst of seeking some way to improve themselves or their situation. Just look at your Facebook News Feed you will see your friends celebrating weight loss, taking college classes to better their education, trying to find new ways to bring in income, etc. It is everywhere! We are all trying to become more spiritually, physically, emotionally, or financially fit, aren’t we?

So as things tend to do, it got my wheels turning and I began thumbing through lots of papers that I have vigorously written notes on I came across a training I attended through my quest for self betterment.  I thought might help all of us to start any self improvement journey. And that is just the thing… all improvement starts with the relationship we have with ourselves.

  Tips to Improve how you get along with yourself:

1. Self-awareness… You must know who you are. Know what your convictions are, what is important to you.

2. Know that if you are not comfy with yourself you cannot be comfy with anyone else or anything else.

3. Be self-honest… You have to be yourself in your own way. Don’t try to pretend you are someone else. You have wonderful gifts to offer individuals and your world. Do not short change yourself by being dishonest about who you are.

4. Self-improvement… The first person you can and must change is YOU.

5. Self-Responsibility… Stop the blame game and take ownership of your life and your choices. You cannot be responsible with your affairs if you cannot be responsible with yourself.

Questions to ask to ask yourself during your process:

 Which habits are doing me more harm than good that could hold me back from a good relationship with myself and others?

What do I expect the future to hold for me?

How has the past colored my perspective of myself? Of others?

What are my strengths?

What are my weaknesses?

What area do I need to grow the most in?

What kind of people am I attracting and surrounding myself with? You are the product of the environment you chose.

And remember this… You get what you expect, so even if you succeed in achieving your goal, if you think negatively of yourself eventually it will bring you down. For example you may lose 50 lbs, but if you still have a negative self image you will gain every pound back.

 Here is to you and whatever your goals are! Make it a beautiful day!

From my Adventures,

April 2011

In true Tuesday “To-do”odle fashion, I have a topic that has been on my mind and want to share with you as well as challenge everyone a bit… my thoughts are on “control”. Now anyone who knows me well, heck you don’t even have to know me that well, “control freak” just radiates out of my pores!

Now in my defense it used to be ALOT worse before my total number of children was four, but I still like things the way I like them and have a hard time with them being any other way. I am sure that none of you have this same flaw, but nonetheless I felt a confession was a fabulous to begin.

Now keeping in mind that I have this issue, I was hospitalized for two weeks this last month after I experienced complications from outpatient surgery (Never fear, I am on my way to well). During this time I had to let other people do my daily activities… temporarily rear my children, keep my home clean, cook meals and I had to step away from my everyday business and school responsibilities. Which got me thinking about all the things I can not control, but more importantly all the things I can!

You know we can’t control when adversity will hit. It happens in so many different ways. You may become ill or experience a loss. You may have trouble at work or problems at home. Whatever the case may be, adversity is sometimes like a big tornado that you have absolutely no control over. So in the midst of my tornado I was searching for the things I have control over and I found a few….

1.  My thoughts and attitude. I could control how I viewed the situation and what attitude I shared with the individuals around me. They were mostly nurses and X-ray techs, I might add, but I made some great friends while there!

2. My ability to let go. This was a tough one. I could control whether or not I freaked out about if the kids were on schedule, if the floor had been mopped to my standards, etc. I had to acknowledge that sometimes being in control means letting go.

3. In the end the biggest lesson I learned was that the only thing we truly have control over is ourselves and our choices. And that is it! Tornadoes will come and so will the rainbows after the storms, neither of which we can control.

This Tuesday afternoon, I challenge you to examine, what are you trying to control that is a losing battle?  What can you do different that would help ease your mind? Change your attitude about something? Let go where letting go is necessary? Or simply remember that often times things are beyond our control and all we really can do is make choices for ourselves?

From my Adventures,

March 2011

The other night as I was doing my little tidy up around my house before bed, I was humming a song and it kept playing over in my head. I have not heard it in a long time and it got me to thinking why do songs just pop into our head and what does it mean? Additionally, what affect do they have on our attitude?

As a disclaimer: If you are reading this and think I am nuts and you never have songs pop into you head… please do not read on.

So back to my story and my thoughts… As I analyzed this early 90′s song that was playing in my head, it dawned on me there has been a lot of change in my life lately and this song reflected that aspect. A particular time, as I knew it, is over and my song was reflective of that. In this instance the song was just a little tune that reminded me to be ok with the change.

Sometimes though, we have songs in our head or certain thoughts that recur over and over. Often we think, I just can’t get this song out of my head?!? Why is it that it just sticks with us or pops up out of what seems like nowhere?

What I want to encourage you “to-do” this week is to take some time and recognize what song or “tape” per se you have playing in your head. Is it Negative? Positive? Slow? Romantic? Energetic? Motivating?

These tapes we play for ourselves can be validating, as mine was the other day. Or they can remind us of pleasant memories, but also we must be careful not to let the “stinkin thinkin” come in through these tapes.

If you find that your song is often more negative then positive try making a conscious change to pick a new tune.

Adjusting your tune may be the first step in adjusting your attitude and a positive attitude always makes for a better day!

Think about what song is playing on your station… do you need to scan other channels???

From my Adventures,

March 2011

Have you ever felt like your safety net has been pulled out from under you? Or maybe that your comfort zone has been attacked? Your bubble has been compromised? Any of these metaphors seem familiar?

If so, you are completely normal…. I know that is a relief, huh?  Seriously though, we all go through times where we literally feel like the rug has been pulled out from under us and we are not sure how to over come it or get through it.

Sometimes, it is just about holding on for the ride and letting the rough patch pass you by. And if it is one of those times, be sure to cut your self some slack and be ok with just doing your best to get by. It is not a place you want to stay in forever, but certainly some instances just call for survival mode and that is the best you can do!

 Other times we need to push through and do one of two things, either take the opportunity and start a new beginning or figure out how to make the uncomfortable part of the situation, no longer uncomfortable. Often times, when adversity knocks on our door, it is really just a new opportunity making itself available and we need to have the courage to take that oppourtunity for what it is and try something new. On the flip side, if it is not a “change directions” kind of dicomfort then we need to work on it. How does one do that? Here are my suggestions…

 1. Do not spin your wheels… doing the same things over and over again are not going to make the task or situation less uncomfortable.

2. Do take action. For example if it is a particular action that is uncomfortable, on a small scale do it everyday. Even a small portion of time spent on this activity will lessen the discomfort of the activity.

3. Do not make things more difficult than they have to be. Sometimes we think that if we share it and get every one of our friend’s advice as to how we should proceed, then we will find the answers to our adversity. Dramatizing events this way has a down side. First, most people will try to figure out human behavior and most people will be wrong. Thus their advice to you may only make the situation worse.

Second, when you blow things out of propotion you fuel the fire, creating more discomfort for yourself.

4. Do share with a close friend or mentor and allow them to be a sounding board and a place in which you can feel lifted up.

5. And sometimes… you just need to “Suck it up ButterCup!” Often with things that are uncomfortable we just need to do them anyway. Don’t make excuses just suck it up and git ‘er done! Ultimately they will be less uncomfortable as time passes.

So this week’s “To-do”…. Make your uncomfortable…well… less uncomfortable!

From my Adventures,

January 2011

First and foremost…Happy New Year to each and every one of you!

So as we delve into a new decade, it is so clear to me that most everyone has not just their “to-do” odles for today on their minds, but their yearly “to-do’s” too! If you are like most people, then you have your New Year’s resolutions in mind and maybe even a plan of how to accomplish them. The sad truth is, that many people will fail to reach their goals by this time next year. We all have great intentions, but often without the proper action and discipline we fail to actualize our plans.

I am one of those people! In the past I have always written a laundry list of resolutions and very rarely would I see many of them actualize. So this year I am approaching things a bit different. My one and most prominent goal is simply… To become the best version of me there is to be!

I have decided this because for many years, I spent time trying to change things that were out of my control OR change things that were inherently part of who I am (i.e. things that can not be changed) and that contributed to many of my failures.

Now, I must redirect my focus to the things I can control and change and move toward the best version of myself.

So my first 2011 “To-do” odle is to create my Vision. My vision has two parts:

1) Written Form- I will write a story of where I see myself in one year. I will write in present tense as if I had already actualized everything it took to get to that place and I will be extremely detailed.

2) Vision Board- I will get a poster board and begin affixing pictures and other inspirational material that represents the accomplishments in my vision.

Now, you may be thinking this is a bit odd or that I haven’t stated how I am to become the best version of myself.  My reply, well, at first I found it a bit strange, too. In fact I was introduced to this concept a few months ago and still had not completed the task, because it seemed like a good idea, but just got pushed aside. It felt a bit uncomfy, something I had never thought of before. I have a feeling though, that becoming the best version of me is going to take me through a lot of uncomfy spots. I have certainly learned that with any change their is going to be discomfort. And as for how I am to become my best version… to be honest, still working out the details on that, but I will keep you posted. However, what I do know is uncomfortable or not, this week’s “To-do” odle = Complete my VISION!

You don’t have to go about it the way I am, but vision is so important. How many times have you had that feeling of being stuck, or wanting something different, but didn’t know how to get there? Or daydreamed of how wonderful it would be if just… x,y,z would happen! Creating a Vision is the first step to Close the Gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Well, just… (input your x,y, z) can be this year! Take your daydreams and plans and write them down! There is power in writing things down, pen to paper can transform ideas into reality!

Remember, when you write your vision, don’t write “if’s” and “when’s”, write it as if it were!

Cheers to you and your New Year! And Cheer to us, becoming the best version of ourselves possible!

From my Adventures,

January 2011

So, last week my “to-do” and challenge to you was to create a vision and to write it down.

I hope that you all at least got something down on paper. I wrote an extremely detailed vision and expanded it beyond this year into the future 5 years. I really didn’t know what to expect from the activity, but it proved to be quite an uplifting exercise.  If you have not done it yet, I strongly encourage you to at least give it a go. There is certainly something to be said for dreaming things into reality!

Speaking of dreams, some people feel that dreaming is pointless and we get what we get and that is it. I just think that is absurd, because there are far too many examples of everyday individuals who endured many hardships through the cards they were dealt, but through that adversity became great individuals who accomplished their dreams! So it got me thinking as to why people settle for less than what they dream for, and the bottom line is settling is easier.

Last night I attended a call and a friend of mine, Donna, shared a quote that really stuck with me. She stated “The Enemy of Great is Good”. It took me off guard a bit and made me think… often times we are content, not fantastically wonderful, but content where we are and that contentedness keeps us from moving out of our comfort zone and on to be the best version of ourselves. We settle, as mentioned before, or get lost in the comfort and then many times years down the road wonder what is missing??? We are created to be the greatest version of ourselves possible. So when we settle for content, it creates that feeling of emptiness or the feeling that something is missing.

I would argue that getting out of a state of ”good” is more difficult than getting out of something that is terrible for us. When things are terrible, we can many times recognize the need for change and look to becoming a better us, but when things are good and we are comfortable, we stop the search, the growth and ultimately put ourselves at a disadvantage. So, this week’s “to-do” is a challenge for you and I to examine what we might be settling on, or what is keeping us from the greatness that is the best version of ourselves!

What could you do that would help to propel you past “good” and on to GREAT?

From my Adventures,