HELLO I AM DR. SUGAR, YOUR INTERNET DOCTOR, HERE TO GIVE YOU YOUR DOSE OF MEDICAL INPIRATION FOR THE DAY. OUR TOPIC IS The Importance of Daily Steps Towards Goals and Intentions - - SO LETS GET STARTED SHALL WE…
Give some thought to the title of this article – the important of daily steps towards goals and intentions. What I am saying is that you don't have to go after something whole hog and gangbusters, bite off more than you can chew, or take a look at a goal and promptly feel totally overwhelmed.
The whole secret to accomplishing something that you want to be proud of, striving to hit a goal that you have dreamed of since – well forever – is to take the total big picture and break it down systematically into small achievable steps. Sounds easy right? That's because it IS easy. You take portions of the larger final goal and figure out what part's you can easily reach, and you do something towards achieving your goal every day.
It could be something as little as finding a good book on what you want to achieve and starting to read it. It could even be making a phone call to someone who has information you need about reaching your ultimate goal. The point is, taking a small step every day towards what you want to achieve will redefine your parameters in a manner that allows you to build confidently and precisely towards the final crowning achievement.
If you rush at your goal in a fit of enthusiasm and a flutter of activity that isn't particularly focused, what do you think is going to happen? Right! You may run into a roadblock, realize that trying to do the "whole enchilada" at once was a monumentally bad idea and get discouraged. In getting discouraged you may even defer trying to attain your goal because it's too frustrating and disheartening.
Take it from me that if you want to get where you are going, you must approach your goal attainment with a plan in mind, the patience to implement it, the will and courage to do things one thing at a time to build a solid foundation, and the innate self-confidence to keep going even in the face of adversity.
Now what I think works best is if you look at the whole picture first. Yes, it takes energy, time, smarts, and maybe even money to achieve your goals. However, if you take small steps towards that goal daily, you will, over time, build up a remarkable thing – patience, self savvy, an understanding of how to tackle large problems and a serenity that tells you that you can so achieve anything you set your heart on. It's just that simple, or just that complex, depending on your point of view. And you know I absolutely believe that it is EASIER DONE THAN SAID – and I will take that one step farther – It is just as easy to have and achieve BIG DREAMS as it is small dreams and it is just as easy to have and achieve BIG GOALS as it is small goals - - especially when you get really good at this skill of setting your INTENTION and taking DAILY STEPS in the direction of your dream.
Well, no matter how you view reaching that final goal, if you break it down into daily steps and build a solid foundation to achieving what you want, nothing, repeat, nothing will get in your way ever again. You will have learned that thinking incrementally and setting DAILY INTENTIONS is the smartest way to get the prize when you're done. Bravo!
I am Dr. Sugar – Thanks for checking in and I look forward to sharing more with you about: * The secrets to feeling strong and confident, * How to develop your innate talents and listen to your intuition, * The inner promptings of your subconscious mind and that certain "knowing" - without really knowing - why. * I am excited to assist in expanding your horizons and discovering that the woman inside of you is someone you really want to unleash and get to know better. It all starts with YOU and YOU get to choose everyday how to live your life.
Thank you for your interest in Total Wellness. Simply click on my picture and go to my profile to see the latest medical blogs on a wide variety of topics. I’ll see you there.
The information contained in this blog is not medical advice. Please consult your medical doctor before making any decisions or taking any actions on your health or the health of your family.
Self Esteem is the Basis of True Health Hello, I am Doctor Sugar, your Internet doctor bringing you your dose of MEDICAL INSPIRATION for the day. I wanted to have a little heart to heart talk with you today about the subject of self esteem so lets get started shall we…
Not everyone realizes that self-esteem is the true core, the true barometer of how you act physically and mentally but I have seen it over and over again in my years as a physician and I feel strongly that self-esteem is the very FOUNDATION of True Health. Now when I say true health, you know I don’t just mean your physical well being but I am also talking about mental, spiritual and emotional health as well. If that self-esteem is so low you don't even recognize it any longer for what it is, then your health can certainly be drastically affected.
One of the most recognizable symptoms of low self-esteem is that one begins feeling like they have no energy or even the desire to do anything. Often this is called depression, but it directly relates to your own personal view of WHO you are and what you are – in other words how you view your "self." What usually happens in situations like this is that the lack of self-esteem causes you to do less, and the less you do, the less you feel like doing. A vicious cycle that needs to be broken or it can have damaging effects on your health.
A depressed mind causes negative feedback and negative feedback causes our bodies to respond to the negative side of our thoughts in a manner that promotes illness. You probably all have had experiences with this at one time or another. The best example of how powerful our mind, body and spirit connection happens to be is if we lose a loved one.
A death in the family is a gut wrenching experience and often severely impacts those left behind. The questions about what you could have done differently, about the lost time you never made up with your loved one, or about what else you could have done to prevent their illness or death. The "what if's" are killers, and those thoughts are set in a negative loop in our minds until sometimes we no longer recognize who we are or what we are doing – and what we are doing is running our immune system into the ground with stress.
I remember when my mom passed away after a 10-year battle with cancer. It was a devastating experience for me not only as a daughter but possibly more so as a doctor. Was there anything I could have done differently, what if we would have tried this chemo, or started that treatment sooner and why didn’t I consider the cancer had spread to her lungs when she got that nagging little cough that wouldn’t go away, what if I had figured it out a few weeks sooner, and why was I so busy maybe we should have seen one more specialist… Oh believe me when I tell you, I know what the mind can do. I was very fortunate to have had a many years to get used to the idea that my mom had a terminal illness and also fortunate that during that time we were very close - - but the mind can still ask so many questions and this coupled with the loss of the loved one can often lead to intense feelings of sadness and grief (called situational or bereavement depression) and all of this may literally cause a person to get sick. That mind-body-spirit connection is powerful indeed.
This is just an example but I think a very powerful example of the mind body connection and the powerful affects the mind can have on the body. So take this a step back and forget the loss of a loved one for a minute and now what if there is no reason for the mind to be asking all these questions and doubting every move you make – what if you are in this vicious cycle of negative feedback – how can you get out – what can you do?
I am Doctor Sugar and I want you to take a few minutes right now to think about your own sense of self worth – self confidence – self esteem … who are you? – who are you really? – and is the person on the outside the same as the one on the inside.
I will leave you with that thought for tonight but will be back very soon with much more information on this topic of Self Esteem as the Foundation of True Health. Thanks for checking in and when you have a medical question, simply click on my picture and check out my blogs and videos, which are available on a wide variety of topics. Thanks for your interest in Total Wellness. I’ll see you soon!
The information contained in this blog is not medical advice. Please consult your medical doctor before making any decisions or taking any actions on your health or the health of your family.
Hello, I am Doctor Sugar, your Internet doctor bringing you your dose of MEDICAL INSPIRATION for the day. I wanted to continue our little heart to heart talk about Self Esteem being the foundation of True Health so lets get started shall we…
Low self-esteem often results in withdrawing from your friends and others to avoid facing responsibilities. By not sharing your grief, doubts or anger, you are doubling the load on yourself and not providing any way to release these negative emotions. No wonder people who are under such a burden get sick. It's inevitable. Sure, you could turn to drugs (yes of course I am talking prescription here ladies) to get a short-term fix for the depression, but this doesn't deal with the root cause, which is the loss of self-esteem. Unfortunately, a temporary fix won't help you face yourself later.
Any time a person withdraws from the world around them, they are shutting themselves off from crucial support. This just encourages that little nagging voice inside your head to keep saying things that make you feel worse. It's hard to turn that little voice off without help, which in turn makes you more anxious, promotes panic and anxiety, and leaves you being unable to make a rational decision that would promote recovery.
So what can we do about this? Well first and foremost – let me let you in on a little secret. You DON’T have to believe everything that you THINK. Your mind doesn’t know everything and it is not always right.
The average person thinks an average of 60,000 thoughts each day. 95% of those thoughts are the same thoughts we had yesterday and the day before and 80% of those thoughts are negative. So understand that just because your have a thought it doesn’t mean it is true – REALIZE that it is JUST a thought. Acknowledge it, release it, let it go, and do not dwell upon it.
May I share with you the most habit robbing thought that I have heard…. “I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH or I AM NOT ENOUGH or I DON”T HAVE ENOUGH” … the not enough attitude will zap your self esteem quickly.
Two of the most powerful words in your vocabulary are “I AM” These 2 words are very powerful to your subconscious mind. So when they leave your mouth make sure they are ALWAYS followed by self-empowering thoughts, feelings, and words. I am enough I am positive and optimistic. I am confident and charismatic. I have enough and I am incredibly grateful for all that I have.
It is your thoughts and your attitudes about yourself that will determine your self esteem – and by extension your inner happiness and your state of health. Because as I have said - "Self esteem is the Foundation of True Health."
Be proud of who you are!
I am so incredibly grateful to be a part of this BraveHeart Women Global Community where we can come together to inspire each other and become inspired. Where we can encourage each other and be encouraged. Where we can share our dreams and know that our BraveHeart Sisters are out there saying – go for it – you can do this – FLY YOU ARE THE BEST AT IT! – A place where we can share our passion and our purpose and know that we can develop this and mastermind with a group of purposeful like-minded women who choose to live every day as inspiration in action. From this day forward – there is no more withdrawing from the world around you – no more withdrawing from crucial support – we come together because together we can have more, do more and be more - TOGETHER WE CAN!
I am Doctor Sugar and I will be back very soon with much more information on this topic of self esteem as the Foundation of True Health. Thanks for checking in and when you have a medical question, simply click on my picture and check out my blogs and videos, which are available on a wide variety of topics. Thanks for your interest in Total Wellness. I’ll see you soon! Giving You Your Dose of MEDICAL INSPIRATION, Dr. Sugar TO YOUR TOTAL WELLNESS!!
The information contained in this blog is not medical advice. Please consult your medical doctor before making any decisions or taking any actions on your health or the health of your family.
To establish true self-esteem we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives. Dennis Waitley
Hello, I am Doctor Sugar, your Internet doctor bringing you your dose of MEDICAL INSPIRATION for the day. Here to continue our little heart to heart talk about Self Esteem being the foundation of True Health so lets get started shall we…
Life has become overwhelming for many and in the process maybe some have developed stomach problems, upper respiratory issues, panic attacks, bowel problems, headaches, skin rashes or even joint aches and pains. The mind is a very powerful organ and if you continue to think negative thoughts about yourself, your health can deteriorate. In other words, you have lost control of daily life and what it means to have self-confidence and self-esteem.
As this blog series continues, in addition to talking about self-esteem as the Foundation of True health, I intend to start adding in action steps that we can all begin taking to improve our self-esteem.
So given how powerful our mind is and the fact that - over time, negative thoughts may cause a deterioration in our health, what can a woman do to stop the pattern? What can a woman do to stop the negative thoughts?
One of the best analogies I have ever heard is that the mind has a negativity bias that could be compared like Velcro to Teflon. Negative events and negative thoughts have a tendency to stick to us like Velcro. Women tend to perseverate and think about these events over and over again. On the other hand positive events and positive thoughts tend to slide off of us like Teflon. Women tend to quickly forget or even brush off positive events, thoughts, or even comments that are said to them. It would be great if we could work on reversing this pattern. So – lets begin with action steps:
#1 We don’t have to believe everything our mind says - - when we have a negative thought, we must understand that just because there is a thought present in your mind, that doesn’t mean it is true – We can realize that it is JUST a thought.
#2 Acknowledge the thought, release it, let it go, and do not dwell upon it.
#3 When negative things happen or we make a mistake, we can learn the lesson, and move on. We don’t have to let that event be recast in our mind over and over and over again.
#4 When a positive event, episode, or thought occurs – we can, instead of brushing it off, learn to celebrate the positives and take them on and say “YES, I did that!” or “YES, I am that!” Allow this event to really stick to us and stay with us. And when I say celebrate positive events – I mean really CELEBRATE!
#5 Get really good at accepting and receiving compliments – register and take them on. How many times have you gotten a compliment – for example – Hey you look great today – I love that shirt……. And you think for a minute, brush off the compliment, and say, “what this old thing, I bought it years ago off the clearance rack at Wal Mart.” Why do we do that?
#6 Say THANK YOU - - - There is great power in receiving praise and taking it in, taking it on and accepting and receiving the praise and the complements that come.
Your self-esteem is the greatest asset you own. I am Doctor Sugar and I will be back very soon with much more information on this topic of self esteem as the Foundation of True Health and I will offer simple Action Steps that we can all take to improve self esteem. Thanks for checking in and when you have a medical question, simply click on my picture and check out my blogs and videos, which are available on a wide variety of topics. Thanks for your interest in Total Wellness. I’ll see you soon!
Giving You Your Dose of MEDICAL INSPIRATION,
Dr. Sugar
TO YOUR TOTAL WELLNESS!!
The information contained in this blog is not medical advice.
Please consult your medical doctor before making any decisions
Hello, I am Doctor Sugar, your internet Doctor. I have been very busy with sick patients recently and the whole swine flu frenzy has caused us to remain quite busy. As I was preparing to go home from another busy day in clinic I began thinking of how exhausted I was and thought - "oh -no another day with no time to check in on my BraveHeart Sisters.."... and as I started to pack up my laptop and leave... I thought to myself "NO - I am going to log in just for a second"... and as soon as I did - I realized I must BLOG about NURTURING YOUR SPIRIT.
Where are you? Not right now as you are reading this, but inside, away from the bright lights and the cares and woes of the day – where are you? Where is the you that you really are, the one whose core essence thrives and grows, gives and loves and shares and cares. The very inner You!
This inner you is the bright spark that needs nurturing, replenishing, revamping now and then and revitalizing. You'll recognize this inner you, because it is "she" who speaks to you now and then in encouragement when facing a tough dilemma; the voice of a woman of inspiration in action. While you may have days where the last thing you consider yourself to be is a woman in action, the deep inner you will still prompt you to have the inspiration to move forward.
This is the voice inside that drives you to reach out to yourself when you're in a tough spot, because that voice knows you are tough, resilient and capable of handling anything. It's the inner you, the inspiring spirit of your being that needs a break now and then to recharge her batteries. After all, we can't go gung ho all day, every day and not pay for that kind of energy expenditure.
Ask yourself what empowers you, gives you courage and the inner strength to carry on? If you stop and listen to the answers your inner self gives you, you will be on the right track. So often however, we don't listen, and over ride what intuition tells us and go with the "logic" of it all, only to regret that choice later.
What you need to do is connect with the inner you, not deny "she" is in there hollering for attention. Once she has your attention, you will instinctively "know" what you need to do to revive the "you" that is so vital; this is what that intuition is all about, remember?
And if you don't remember, then one of the things you need to do is connect with gratitude for the things you have in your life. Indulge in prayers of gratitude for all that you have, including your own unique gifts, as you start and end each day. What a peaceful way to begin your daily journey.
Make it a point to learn how to meditate, even if it is only for five minutes. Mediation will ground your spirit and keep you centered and balanced. Understand that there is a solution to every problem and that those pesky problems need to be viewed as lessons to be learned for the future. Know that when you stop to count your blessings, there will always be more than abundant gifts to share with others.
Appreciate the beauty of nature. This isn't to throw out the cliché "Stop and smell the roses," but the point is similar. Appreciating the wild and vital core of Mother Nature and all the things she is capable of, will focus your mind on your own abilities and capabilities to achieve great things.
End each day by telling those whom you love that you love them. It is something that should never go unsaid for there may come a time when you are no longer able to say it to them. Treasure their uniqueness, as irritating as they may be at times, for they are the "other" voices that support and cheer you on. Nurturing the inner you is the best "time out" you could ever take to invest in yourself. ☺
I am Doctor Sugar and I want to wish you the Best Day ever! Take Time to Nurture Your Spirit.
"A person's worth in this world is estimated according to the value they put on themselves." Jean De La Bruyere
Hello I am Dr. Sugar, your internet Doctor. Checking in with all my BraveHeart Sisters today about How You Value Yourself. Self Value is certainly an important part of self esteem and self confidence so my dear ones - - How do You Value You?
Now you might be thinking – "Of course I value myself, who doesn't?" The real question though is how do you value yourself? Is your value low, high or somewhere in between? How are you valuing yourself? How you view yourself is the key to this whole issue.
Sadly, in this day and age, a great many people do not value themselves for what they are truly worth. What a shame that this Great Spirit has been lost, buried under lessons that we need to be kind, thoughtful, caring, worthy and attentive to everyone else but ourselves. Sound familiar? How many of you catch yourself giving in to the negative talk that rattles around in your head more often than it should? I bet there are more than just a few hands that shot up when you read that question.
How did this cycle of devaluing ourselves begin in the first place? It usually starts when we are little and demand whatever we want, when we want it. We, of course, were asking for what we needed (as children) at the time. Our parents however, taught us that demanding what "we" needed was not a good thing, and that we had to think of others. That was the start of how we viewed our own personal value, and it taught us that other things come before us.
As we grew up, others who understood we lacked value for ourselves, began to ask us to do things we didn't really want to do, because we didn't want to be perceived as selfish or indifferent. Instead, we did those things, and then found out that we resented doing them, but we didn't say a word. This, of course, caught up with us in later life when it dawned on us that we had given up our power to others.
We gave our power up to those who demanded it and then took advantage of how we felt about ourselves. Little by little, we became even more disconnected from who we really are, more indecisive and definitely not valued. Why did it take so long to finally recognize that we were losing something that we desperately needed to be a whole person? It took so long, because the little negative jabs that kept coming, turned into a flood and we realized we didn't know who we were any longer. Being human is not the easiest thing on planet Earth.
The major struggle we face daily, is how to live a life that fulfills our requirements/needs, and yet still be kind and thoughtful about the needs/requirements of others? Since we have to live with ourselves, we need to come to some sort of compromise on who we are and what we do. Here is the secret that will unlock the mystery to this conundrum: how you value yourself is not in the eye of the beholder, it is how YOU see yourself. In other words, you are the only source of how significant you feel and how good you make yourself feel.
To put this concept another way, since we are responsible for how we feel etc, we are responsible for either our great or our lousy opinion of ourselves (yes, even if someone else makes very complimentary or very nasty comments to us, because we don't have to accept them) and thus, we are also responsible for making the effort to create a positive self-image – increase our value in our eyes.
One of my mentors Pat Mesiti says - If someone spits in your face, Does it make you Mad? Most of you may be saying YES. But in fact the answer is NO it makes you WET - you then CHOOSE to get mad.! Nothing Nothing has meaning except for the meaning you CHOOSE to give to it. It is how you and I choose to think about things that determines how we feel about what happened - and that my dear ones - - is entirely in OUR POWER!
How do you create self worth? Try some of the following ideas and see how they make you feel, but remember this, that in order to make changes for the better, you must understand yourself.
1)Find out what you value the most.
2)Do you live a life that reflects what you value the most?
3)If your life doesn't show who you are, what are you going to do about it?
4)Are you honestly living by YOUR values, and not someone else's?
5)If you are living by someone else's values, what are you going to do about it?
6)Is the baggage you carry full of negative values like fear, shame and guilt or positive ones, like joy and happiness?
7)Do you know what your values are and do you live up to them?
8)If you don't know what your values are or if you do live up to them, what are you going to do about it?
Needless to say that in order to really "feel" the value of who you are, you must work to be number ONE internally and externally. Now some people might think that this is hard work but you and I both know that it is EASIER DONE THAN SAID! You CAN Do It and You Are Worth IT!
Thanks for checking in and when you have a medical question, simply click on my picture and check out my blogs and videos, which are available on a wide variety of topics. Thanks for your interest in Total Wellness. I’ll see you soon!
My BraveHeart Sisters - I am Doctor Sugar, your community doctor and I would like to take a minute to share with you my feelings about depression and antidepressants.
According to a government study done by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. Of the 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in Doctors visits in 2005, 118 million of those prescriptions were for antidepressants. They're prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches.
This is an astounding increase in these drugs that affect brain chemistry. The statistics show that between 1995 and 2002 the use of these drugs rose by 48%. Are we really that depressed in this country? I have to ask the question – why are we prescribing so many drugs that affect brain chemistry? Are Americans really that depressed? Are we medicating unhappiness? Are we looking for the quick fix to feel good? Is it faster for a doctor to write a prescription than talk to their patients? Are physicians taking the time to get to the root of the problem? Are patients willing to take the time to look at their life and seek answers or is it easier to pop a pill?
There are no easy answers to these questions, so I will put forth some answers that come from my bold and brave heart – as a woman, as a mother, as a medical doctor, as a healer who is willing to ask the hard questions even when the answers may be hard to swallow – because as your community doctor – that is what you require from me – my BRAVEHEART VIEW.
There are certainly many people who have chemical imbalances and certainly many people who will require psychotropic drugs to assist with this. However, I personally find the numbers of antidepressants that are being prescribed to be shocking! For so many people, particularly women, I sincerely doubt that this is the right answer. In my opinion, this is not the solution – this is not what the future is about. This is a short-term quick fix that will, in many cases make you feel better. But what about the long term my sisters? What about next week, next month, next year?
The antidepressants most commonly prescribed in this country are called serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These drugs block the reuptake of the "feel good" neurotransmitter, SEROTONIN. When you have more serotonin in your synapses, you feel better. These drugs do work. The problem is that YOU never get to the root core of what it is in your life or in your past that is causing you mental, emotional, or spiritual pain. What is causing you to feel depressed? What are you doing to heal the pain? For so many, it is just about blocking, covering up and stuffing this pain and looking for an easier way to deal with it than look at it – an easier answer than to do the work required to heal the pain.
So lets say – a woman has started on an antidepressant – she now has more serotonin in her synapses - thanks to the drugs – and she feels better. The world is perfect - right? Wrong! – this feeling will not last because with this flooding of serotonin - that comes from the drugs – our body says, “what is all of this doing here?” Our body comes in, over time, and down regulates the number of receptors, which accept the serotonin. And over time you go back to feeling the way you did before you started the antidepressant in the first place. That is why anti depressants stop working and why your doctor will occasionally have to put you on a different antidepressant.
My sisters, from my braveheart view, I ask you to take a look at your life, to take a look at your past, to take a look at what has caused you to feel shame, guilt, abandonment, pain, and fear and be willing to take the time and do the work to heal these memories. Have an open mind to believe that everything you have been through has been ok – not right or wrong or good or bad – just ok and to know that our biggest challenges and painful times in life may have been our greatest teachers in becoming the BraveHeart Women that we are.
Be open to the idea that perhaps everything that has ever happened to you has been absolutely perfect and had to happen to you in order for you to learn the valuable lessons that have shaped your own BraveHeart View. Be willing to look at your past and heal the wounds and when those wounds have been healed, be willing to look deeper and see what was at the root of that pain and heal that as well and when those wounds have been healed, be willing to look deeper. It is a journey that is very rewarding if you are only willing to take the time to look and do the real work.
And for those of you who are on antidepressants – know that there is no shame in this. This is the answer that was right at the time. The choice you made at that time was the absolute perfect choice for you.... – it may not be the answer that will continue to be right for you.
I honor each and every one of you and I honor Ellie Drake and the ladies of the BraveHeart View for being willing to ask the hard questions and allow us to take the time to look deeper than perhaps is always comfortable. Thank you my friends and sisters!
Being a medical doctor - I find that I sometimes have a challenge with living in my head/mind or left brain a great deal. I set an intention many months ago to allow myself to begin opening up my right brain, to tap into the Creativity and Intuition that I had been too busy to listen to over the last few years.
This weekend I had an opportunity to Dance with the Energy of my Soul for hours and hours and hours and the Gifts that I received with that experience are absolutely Priceless.
If there are any logical, over achieving, perfectionists reading this blog - put away the day timer, turn your cell phone off, call your secretary and tell her to hold your appointments... Breathe Ground Yourself Turn on the music (I recommend INTUITION by JEWEL) Crank it up and DANCE... then Listen... and Feel your Soul will speak to you and it has so much to tell you...
Loving this Journey! Dancing with the Energy of my Soul, Dr. Sugar
I was at my father’s place yesterday evening. We were having a nice visit when suddenly my 2-year-old daughter picked up a plate of salad that my 6 year old was eating and dumped it all over the floor. I gently told the girls that it was ok and asked them to clean it up as best as they could. AS they tried to please me, they of course proceeded to make an even bigger mess despite their best efforts. At this point the floor was a sticky mess thanks to the salad dressing. I had to laugh and simply said “thank you so much for helping” to my babies and bent over to clean the rest of the salad up.
My father said - "Sugar - you don't have to clean that - one of my assistants/secretaries can come by tomorrow and clean up." I continued cleaning it up and then mopped the floor since the dressing had made everything so sticky.
I then turned to my girls and said..."Girls - whenever you make a mess or a mistake - you must always tell the truth and acknowledge that you made a mess and then YOU must clean up the mess you made. This is called being responsible."
In life, you will find that you will make many mistakes or messes and that is ok – we all make messes sometimes - - just make sure you are always honest about the mistakes and take responsibility for cleaning up the mess - -
I put my girls in the car after they kissed their Papa good night and then I went back in and in private said – “Dad – I love you but PLEASE do not ever teach my children that they don’t have to be responsible for their own actions.”
I know in his heart he meant well by telling me not to clean and mop (what can I say – I am a princess – who has many other talents besides domestic engineering) but when I realized the implication and what my babies were watching – I realized that this was a valuable opportunity to teach a lesson – so mop away I did because children will learn what they watch.
We must all lead by example.
So... did they get it? When I got to the car I said to Mariah - - did you learn anything after the salad spilled? And she said - "yes Mommy - I learned that we have to be responsible and honest and always clean up our messes"... and little Malaya pipes in "Yah mommy - messes"
I am Doctor Sugar and when you have a medical question simply click on my picture and go to my profile to see a variety of blogs and videos on many wellness & self-esteem topics. Have a great day BraveHeart Sisters!
Having You in My life is one of the Best things that has ever Happened to Me!
In this fast-paced, impersonal, sometimes unfriendly World, I know that I'm really fortunate that you are here, too. You make me feel not so alone. Thank You for all that you are to me.
I hope we will be there for each other during all the season of our lives, no matter where the road takes us. I can't imagine a circumstance that I would not be around for you or a place in time that I would not want you there with me.
Having you in my life is like the best present anyone could ever give me. I have grown to trust you and care about you and I love sharing the time we spend together. Knowing you lifts me up. You fill an empty space in my heart, and I hope you will stay in my life forever!.
~Donna Fargo
You are an Angel in my Life and I am so Grateful for YOU!
To my Soul-Sisters... Ellie, Crystal, Lisa, Lana & Deborah and to all of my BraveHeart Sisters in this community joining together HERE from all over the world.... to make a difference.... to BE the change we want to see in the World....
Dear Ones - - After my last retreat ended, I received this wonderful poem in a card from one of the most amazing, beautiful, inspirational women I have ever met. After reading it like 50 times over the last 3 days (with tears I might add) I decided it must be posted and shared with this global community of beautiful amazing inspirational women - - - so... this is for all of my BraveHeart Sisters everywhere - - along with a beautiful song for each and every one of you!
Have a Brave Heart Day!
Love Can Build a Bridge!!!!!!!!!
Don't you think it's Time?
With Unconditional Love, Total Wellness, & Deep Compassion
This is a good question isn't it? Do you have any idea of what YOUR assets are? Have you stopped to think about that lately, or at all? Are you aware of how valuable your assets are and what they can do for you on your journey to success? How do your assets Inspire you? How do your assets lead you in the direction of your Purpose? More good questions that perhaps we should all take the time to ponder.
I believe that one of the main reasons many women don't reach their goals and fulfill their dreams is because they are not only "not" aware of their assets, but don't even know how to catalogue them or implement them in achieving their goals. Knowing your assets has a great deal to do with the presence of self-confidence and self-worth in your makeup, or at the very least, in being able to connect with those assets through training.
One of the best ways to truly understand what your assets are is to 1.)Sit down 2.)Take 5 Deep Breaths 3.)Begin to Connect with your Body 4.)Now close your eyes and focus on the BEST of You 5.)Take out a piece of blank paper or a special journal 6.)What do you Value about YOU? 7.)Now get out your PEN and start writing….
and write all of your assets down on a piece of paper. While this might sound a bit like tooting your own horn, how else are you going to see, in black and white, how talented, smart, creative, caring etc. (you get the idea) you are? Sure, you could discuss this with a friend, but when talking about your assets, things get forgotten, side tracked and second-guessed.
What you require is a fixed list that you can look at, refer back to, and add to on a regular basis. A list that shows you, at a glance, what your assets are. Once you have the list you will notice that some of the assets on the list you truly embody in every sense of the word - - while others you may feel you are just beginning to connect with and could really use some work on. So from here you can begin to use these qualities in your personal affirmations to boost your self-esteem.
Self-esteem and your assets go hand in hand, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Your assets often dictate your level of self-esteem and your perceived ability to reach for your goals.
Notice I said perceived ability in the foregoing sentence. Perception plays a huge part in our assessment of ourselves, and if we come up short somewhere, it often inhibits achievement. Perceptions speak to what we feel is "right" about us, what our assets are, or are not and there in lies the problem. Our mind seizes on the negatives far more often than the positives, thus making it difficult to sustain a positive, upbeat approach to itemizing our assets.
It's at this point that we have to search for the off switch inside our busy mind and sometimes just kindly say “thanks for sharing – I choose this belief…” and then replace that negativity as you contemplate the delightful assets that WILL make you a success. This is the "key" to success, the powerful belief that you WILL succeed because you DO have the assets to be a monumentally powerful force to be reckoned with every day.
Now when I say that I don't mean to be reckoned with by other people, although that may be a part of the overall equation. I am talking about a force to be reckoned with – period. You KNOW within yourself that you have the assets, the power, the skills, the intuition, the dedication and innate talents to make something of your life. There was never really any doubt was there?
It doesn't matter what your previous circumstances may be, or what they are now. If you have the unshakeable belief that you WILL succeed in life using your assets to their best advantage, then there is no doubt you WILL.
I am Doctor Sugar and when you have a medical question, simply click on my picture and go to my profile to view a wide variety of blogs and videos about wellness, self-esteem and medical inspiration. I’ll see you there and I sure hope to see many of you at RISE…. our upcoming live event in Los Angeles on October 2,3 & 4th. Take Inspired Action today and join us at an event that is sure to be life-changing!
Are you GROWING or DYING? There is a Universal Law that we see exhibited in Nature every day that says...You are either GROWING or DYING.... We see this in the flowers that sprout in the Spring, Bloom in the Summer and then Die with the first Frost of Winter. Growing....Growing.....Growing.....then Dying.
We see this in high speed when we go into our beautiful flower garden and decide to cut a flower from it's plant and bring it to our dining room table to add beauty to the room. As soon as we cut the stem, we hasten the dying process even though the beautiful flower will still look vibrant for a few more days....it has already begun to die.
So I wonder..... What about people???....I look around at women everywhere and have to wonder.... are we growing or are we dying. We begin life and learn to walk and talk and read and write and then we grow up and learn how to fall in love, we get married, we have kids, we learn how to be a mom, we go to college and get a job or career.... Growing....Growing....Growing
And then something seems to happen at around the age of 22 or 23 in my experience/observation .... Women fall into the ROLES of life. "Mom" "Wife" "Doctor or Nurse or Real Estate Agent or Banker or Cosmetologist" and they lose sight of WHO THEY ARE.... They hop on the hamster wheel of life and stop growing.... Go to work from 8-5, cook dinner, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, go to the grocery store, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, take kids to soccer, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, clean the house, watch tv, go to sleep.... Go to work from 8-5, do the laundry, watch tv, go to sleep.....
I see women on the hamster wheel of life and I wonder.....if they are asleep to who they are, if they have become only their roles, if they are no longer GROWING....... have they begun the long slow painful process of dying for the next 50 or 60 years????
I was pondering this idea preparing to go on stage in the Pacific Northwest a few days ago when one of my clients called to mastermind.... I tossed the idea out to her and posted below (with her permission) is a most eloquent reply Thank you to my dear colleague and BraveHeart Sister LISA BUCKALEW
Hi Dr Sugar. ~~~~Thank you for the great conversation today. ~~~~ I trust you will embody the essence of life and the choice to LIVE! in your speech tonight. ~~~~~ Love, light and many healing hugs shared by all. ~~~~Awesome! ~~~~With love,~~~~Lisa Buckalew ~~~~Healing is in Art - http://www.lisasbotanicals.com
I have been sitting outside feeling myself as the flower in the vase on the table. I am a flower. Someone has picked me, severed me from my mother the earth and my days are short and numbered. Facts of life, earth cycles and death.. I was going to die, to sleep for a while in seed form in the fall anyway. This selection for the vase has simply accelerated the process. Knowing that these next few days are my last I want to make them my best.
My purpose. To embody the essence of my life thus far, my time in the meadow, my time in the rain and my time in the sun. To truly BE the beautiful and healing flower I was born to be ...
I use all of my energy to pull water from the vase up through my stem and then using the last of my transformative powers I push that water through my internal parts and out into my petals. I blossom to the fullest degree that I am able and allow the peace of the meadow and the rain and the sun to be displayed in full, beautiful, healing color through that which I am. A flower.
When faced with the inevitability of death and then accepting it, I chose to live out the remainder of my days to the fullest.
My message to the other flowers still in the field ...
Do not count the days until autumn, make the days count. What if you too are severed from the earth before you expected and have only a few short days left. You will want to know what it felt like to really live. Wake up! Live! Feel the sway in the breeze, feel the rain on your skin. Feel the sun on your face. BE who you are! LIVE!!!
7 days of workshops, keynote speakers, live music, arts & culture, green marketplace, networking & special traditional ceremonies presented by Cree Nation, Peru and Brazil and so much more!
Sisters of Avalon,
Sending bountiful blessings from Grail Springs on this exquisite night of perfection of the Summer Solstice. If you have received this meditation invitation it is because I know that you consciously carry the essence of the legacy of women past, women of Avalon perhaps. As many of you have already expressed to me your strong connection or feelings for the legends of Avalon, I ask that you connect with the spirit of the divine feminine tonight. This evening I will do a Peace Ceremony on this land in preparation for our gathering. Thank you to Satya for your vision and calling out to me with your message…
In your mind’s eye, for a few minutes if you can, please cross with me through mists of Avalon tonight, (one of us is actually in Glastonbury this night) holding the image of us joining hands in a large circle surrounding the sacred labyrinth which is at the heart of Grail Springs. And in amongst our feet are gathered all creatures of the forest that we have beckoned to come and join us, and all creatures of the sky, and the creatures of the surrounding lake. Let us also invite the first Nations who walked these lands before us, the women, the men, their children, and let us invite the settlers who forged a new life, let us invite all those who have walked these land before us to hold this space with us tonight and throughout the faire… Let us all stand together in this circle of oneness and hold the essence of ‘Gracious Peace’ in our hearts and our minds. Let all past battles be complete. Let the necessary healing ignite and be allowed to come to peace and wholeness. The land, the people, the creatures, our planet, let us all be joined in the realization that we are indeed One and need each other to each play our part in the magnificent orchestra of life (for all you musicians out there!)
Ladies - the dates of the Grail Lady Faire falls between the most potent time of the year – specifically – the cosmic energies are set up for major world transformation. We are bookended by a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse. Imagine…
I am counting the nights…. to be One with you All…. Much love and Light, Madeleine
"In your light I learn how to love In your beauty how to make poems You dance inside my chest where no one sees you But sometimes, I do And that sight becomes this art."
I received this AWAKENING article and as I read it I thought perhaps it speaks to many so I will share it here with my BraveHeart Sisters.
THE AWAKENING(Author Unknown)
A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the real [perceptual] world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of 'happily ever after' must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with ... and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a 'consumer' looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. And you learn that being alone does not mean being lonely. You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want ... and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life youwant to live as best you can.
Del.icio.us
Digg
and little Malaya pipes in "Yah mommy - messes" 
