It is February 2010 and I am guessing that by now some of your New Year’s resolutions are already starting to look shaky. We had a most interesting guest on our blog talk radio show last week, her name is Doris Helge, nicknamed the “Joy Coach”. She gave us some great insights about New Year’s resolutions. Here they are:

• the word “resolution” implies that there is a problem
• in an attempt to solve the problem we focus on the problem
• intention and focus are pure power
• what we focus on we perceive
• by focusing on the problem we magnify it
• we attract more of what we focus on – in this case more of the problem

The answer to this dilemma is NOT to just give up. Instead of looking for a “resolution” the way to go is to set a positive intention. One example might be the positive intention of getting fitter. Then start asking yourself a number of questions:

• How can I have fun accomplishing this goal?
• How can I enjoy getting to where I want to be?
• How can I enjoy doing what I do?
• Is this a stepping stone? (useful question when problems arise of obstacles start to appear)
• What is the smallest step I can take right now to improve my situation and lead me to my goal?
• What is the tiniest thing I can do to turn this around?
• Say to yourself: I am starting right now to….and take some action, however tiny it might be

The questions above might seem really simple or even trivial, but they will lead to some great insights and solutions. The power is (as always) in applying this knowledge and taking action. It is fun to look at the theory but only by doing can we grow, learn and gain experience. The key is to take tiny steps, not to set so huge a goal that you are doomed to fail before you even start.

If you want more guidance from Doris, go and download her free ebooks from:

http://www.freejoyonthejobebooks.com

Doris’ own supply of joy springs from her own personal growth, so she’s a natural at assisting her clients as they transform emotional pain into peace and personal power. They discover happiness at work and relish the rich rewarding relationships they’ve been craving. They learn how to use chaos, uncertainty and “mistakes” to their advantage. Doris also provides unique Mastermind Groups that empower her clients

Listen to the full interview here:

Till next time,

Connie,

Your Yoga Partner

from

http://www.yogainahurry.com

When I first came across the word “techno stress” during our conversation with Doris Helge my mind conjured up images of tight bodies, sore necks and shoulders, overload from loud music and simply having too much stimulation and being inundated by technology in general.

I also thought about the frustration that  a non-tech person experiences when technical matters go wrong, the computer plays up and the feeling of powerlessness that goes with that experience.

After our discussion with Doris I came to see ”Techno Stress”  in quite a different light. See for yourself whether you fit into some of the categories! Has your behaviour changed from being exposed to too much technology?

 Watch out for:

• being a personality type that is ambitious, high achieving, competitive
• taking on far too much responsibility because that is just the way you are
• mental fatigue
• eyestrain, neck pain, shoulder pains, wrist problems, back problems
• always expecting “yes-no” responses from people
• becoming impatient when people elaborate or weigh up different points of view
• becoming intolerant to long winded information or even stories
• expecting everything to be instant
• expecting others to perform on command (like a computer)
• forgetting that others can see things that we can’t see and that reality is not black and white
• expecting everyone to perform like a computer (usually without you even realising it)

I am sure the list could go on. One of the big “aha” moments for me was that technology and computers affect our behaviours and the way we interact with each other.

I suspect in the future, as more people spend more and more time staring at computer screens and interacting with them all day long, some of these behaviours might become acceptable or “mainstream”.  I already can see the beginning of  a chasm opening up between people who live in the cyberworld most of the time and those who don’t….

I have friends who are 6-15 years older than I am and all this technology is just too much for them. They have no computer and no internet and the only way we can communicate is by phone or meeting up in person. A phone call takes a lot longer than sending an email and so I am guilty of putting these phone calls off for a long time….

How to stay happy and joyful despite spending a lot of time in the cyberworld? How can you combat “Techno Stress”?

Consider the following points and take action!

• nurture your inner needs
• when irritated and abrupt create a buffer between computer time and  interacting with a human “Mirror” (remember – what we dislike in others is something we need to work on ourselves within our own personality)
• bond with others
• look after your “real life” friends
• spend quality time with others
• take real breaks from the “screen” – even it is only 30 seconds at a time
• limit the total time you spend with your computer
• stretch and yawn
• get out into nature

Make a start and implement at least one idea. Do you want to know more and get some of Doris’ free ebooks? Please go to:

free ebooks about happiness at work

 Doris also provides unique Mastermind Groups that empower her clients

To listen to the full interview during which Charly and I discuss many other things with Doris, click on the player below:

Till next time,

Connie,

Your Yoga Partner

from

http://www.yogainahurry.com

Creating abundance – it is something everybody wants to do but lots of us somehow never quite get there. Charly and I talked to Iyabo Asani from www.coachiyabo.com who has some very interesting things to say about money, wealth and abundance.

Iyabo has been practising law for over 20 year and ran her own busy law firm. Outwardly she was successful at every level but deep down she knew that there was something missing. She described it as having too much and yet not enough at the same time.

This finally got her searching for her own inner truth and happiness. With the help of a life coach she discovered her inner genius and was able to become true to her own heart. A lot of what she said really resonated with me and is in total alignment with many yoga principles.

Here is what Iyabo had to say about discovering your own inner genius and creating wealth and abundance:

• Listen to the cry of your soul, stop hiding what you really want and need (in other words become authentic)
• Become true to your heart
• Once you are true to your heart, others will either move out of your way because they no longer resonate with your or they will join youon your path
• Unleash your creativity in whichever way you can (remember creativity is vast – in can incorporate every aspect of your being)
• Work on synergising and balancing your right and left brain, your chakra system and get connected with your higher self, spirituality or God (what better way to achieve this than to practise different aspects of yoga!)

Money is the tangible result of your inner genius. Apart from unleashing the inner genius it is essential to take good care of yourself, look after yourself and love yourself. Loving yourself is not selfish, it is all about valueing yourself. By placing value on ourselves money will flow towards us to add more value. We need to heal our relationship with money and to do this we need to heal the relationship with ourselves.

In spiritual circles money is often considered “evil” or not desirable as the real riches lie elsewhere. This might be so, but plenty of money enables us to do a lot of good, to make the world a better place. How can we be of service if money worries eat away at our very substance, our health, our wellbeing?

 Some more important points that Iyabo mentioned:

• Reclaim your power over yourself – don’t let things or other people have power over you
• Set appropriate boundaries
• Reward yourself in little ways
• Learn to say no
• Get yourself a coach or mentor or enrol in a self development course to help you reach your goals faster

Listen to full interview here:

 

Are you interested in joining a 365 day course with Iyabo where you get daily emails, some audios, a group call once a week, access to a private forum and more? Click this link to find out more:

 http://stretchyourmindandbody.com/blog/coachiyabo

Till next time,

Connie

Your Yoga Partner

from

www.yogainahurry.com

Today Charly and I talked to Jacqueline Wales from http://www.thefearlessfactor.com
Jacqueline has an amazing history and achieved many things in her life that she would have never dreamt of. She is an inspiration to listen to.

The “Fearless Factor” is all about going beyond fear. Fear is based in our imagination (unless it is a real life threatening situation). Our imagination goes into overdrive and into a very negative mode. Our only reality is here and now (which is also one of the very basic yoga principles). We have no idea what will happen, we can’t possibly know.

We can project into the future in a positive way by saying to ourselves something like: “If I have it my way, this will happen…” This way, we have much more chance of achieving a  positive outcome. We can incorporate positive statements into our meditations and visualisations. We can specifically create a meditation for ourselves that helps us overcome our fears. Including simple sentences like “I am safe”, “I am ok”, ”I am protected”, “Mother Earth is supporting me” will go a long way to calm our mind and put our fears into perspective.

We need to question all our beliefs once we are adults because all of us live with somebody else’s beliefs and fears in our minds. How many fears were instilled in you when you were little?

Fear is like an abyss, we need to work out how to get to the other side and the only way is to jump – it is not as far as you think it is. Fear can also be defined as the “inability to trust”. This could be not trusting ourselves or others. On the other side of fear is love, especially loving yourself, and the firm belief that anything is possible.

Being fearless is not the absence of fear but the ability to get to the “other side”. How to overcome fear? Start acting “as if” or like some of my mentors have put it: “Fake it till you make it”.

Fear has 5 elements:
• Loss
• Abandonment
• Rejection
• Humiliation
• Failure or success

When we have fear one or many of these 5 elements above are activated. All these elements interrelate. To manage the fear of failure just redefine failure as something that “didn’t work”. You simply did not have enough information or you did not have the right information. Whoever or whatever caused this to be so is irrelevant. Don’t dwell on it, just move on to the next thing. “Next” is one of Jacquelines favourite words. During relaxation practice letting go of thoughts, fellings, fears – just see them dissipate into the distance, dissolve, disappear. The fear returns, just exhale it again and watch it dissolve in the distance.

One practical hint from Jacqueline on how to overcome your fears:
Carry palm cards with you whereever you go and write down any negative thought or fear that comes to mind as soon as it does. Then turn the card around and write the opposite thought on the back.
This is a great tool as it graphically reminds you every time you have self sabotaging thoughts and you have an opportunity to turn them around.

To listen to the full interview, click here:

Jacqueline left us with one parting thought: “Remember that fear is an option”.

Till next time,

Connie

Your Yoga Partner

from

http://www.yogainahurry.com

Last week Charly and I discussed “Giveaways” on our radio show. Giveaways are events on the internet which you can take part in. Usually giveaways have a theme or a directed at a specific interest group. A lot of them have gifts that are of interest to internet marketers and people who run internet businesses. We understand that these gifts would be of little interest to most of you. So Charly Leetham and Lenore Miller have done something special.

But let me start at the beginning: When somebody decides to organise a giveaway (a mammoth task by the way!) they first of all need contributors or JV partners who are willing to give a product (usually downloadable) or a service free of charge.  Charly and Lenore Miller from Outrageously Healthy have organised the “Outrageous Health Giveaway” for anybody interested in Health and Wellbeing. They organised some fabulous contributors who have made available some great gifts for you.

Check them out here:

http://stretchyourmindandbody.com/blog/mowb 

As a “member” you can then visit the giveaway as often as you like and download as many of the products as you want free of charge in return for giving your name and email address to the person who contributed the gift.

In case you have a gift you want to contribute it may not be too late, talk to Charly and Lenore here:

http://stretchyourmindandbody.com/blog/mowb-jv

To learn more about giveaways, here is the link to our show:

There are really some great gifts in there, have a look and check them out. I started downloading them but haven’t finished yet. A number of contributors have never taken part in a giveaway before and this is a great way to get to know them and what they have to offer.

http://stretchyourmindandbody.com/blog/mowb

Connie,

Your Yoga Partner

from

http://www.yogainahurry.com