These Joy of Connecting networking events are coming up in May.

Find one near you and start connecting!

In 1999, a friend gave me a gift – the following booklet on empowering one’s soul.  I recently came across it and thought you, too, would appreciate this simple wisdom..  Sometimes, even the basic lessons of life can have the most profound effect.  Consider beginning today to enhance and enrich your life and the lives of those you touch.

Ten Ways to Empower Your Soul by The Himalayan Institute

            One:  Simplify!  Simplify!  Overcome by clutter?  Overweight?  Mind and senses on overload?  Uncomplicate your life by remembering this simple adage:  “Less is more.”  Drop the unnecessary and nonessential.  Avoid gossip, useless clutter, overindulgence.  Cultivate cheerfulness, neatness and a positive attitude.  Dress simply, eat simply and practice simplicity in thought, speech and action.  Simplify, simplify as you seek a higher purpose in life.

TWO: Choose a Direction – Racing from one commitment to another, overscheduling, trying out one self-improvement method after another, can leave you tired, confused and unsure of what to do next.  It’s time to decide what’s important.  Slow down!  Let your mind become clear as you refocus your intentions.  Make conscious choices.  Always choose the best possible option.  Be unwavering as you choose a direction for your spiritual and worldly life and let life’s distractions pass you by.

THREE: Transcend the Ordinary. If your life lacks spontaneity and surprise, your zest for life has probably fizzled.  Unleash the power of your imagination!  Walk down a different street.  Transform frustration by cultivating patience and kindness.  Smile at a stranger.  Experience the world with a beginner’s mind.  Remember that life is a gift and enjoy each moment.

FOUR:  See the Light.  Do you feel like you’re existing rather than living?  On the brink of boredom?  Expand your inner and outer vision to look for beauty and delight in yourself and the world.  Choose to be cheerful.  Practice being positive.  Share your energy by reaching out to help others.  Respect and love yourself, your companions and your world.  Let your inner self shine and radiate light.

FIVE:  Meditate.  Mind full of scattered thoughts?  Feeling disconnected from your self?  Meditation is the answer.  Give yourself a few minutes each day to sit quietly.  Calm the body and mind.  Take notice as you become less affected by the turmoil of life.  Through meditation you can return again and again to the center of your being.  Meditation gives you the best of life.  Love your practice.  Doesn’t your spiritual life deserve a few minutes every day?

SIX:  Be Fearless.  When you’re full of anxiety and fear, be bold!   Watch your emotions and breathe deeply as you release tension, anxiety and fear and let them float away.  Without condemning yourself or others, correct your misstates and move on.  Life in the present moment rather than in past of future thoughts.  Avoid procrastination – do what needs to be done at the moment it needs to be done.  Become fearless and happy.

SEVEN:  Wake Up!  If you’re walking blindly through life and have tunnel vision, it’s time to wake up!  Our habits deplete or enhance vital, creative energy. Start now to cultivate good habits.  Practice breath awareness daily.  Take a brisk walk to invigorate body and mind.  Set aside time for relaxation.  Stretch.  Laugh with your loved ones.  Learn to see every moment as a chance for new and refreshing opportunities.

EIGHT:  Eat for Life.  We live in an overfed and under-exercised society.  A simple, balanced diet keeps us healthy.  Choose whole foods.  Prepare them with love.  Eat slowly. Chew food thoroughly.  Take time to taste the food you’re eating.  Whenever possible, eat your main meal at noon and a light meal for dinner.  Don’t eat between 7 pm and 7 am.  Give thanks for your food and your life.

NINE:  Keep Good Company.  Just as good food makes you healthy, good company makes you cheerful and uplifts your spirit.  The greatest blessing on the spiritual path is the company o fellow aspirants.  Cultivate the friendship of those you aspire to emulate.  Keep good company to become good company.

TEN:  Be Flexible.  Backaches, headaches and indigestion can be signs of being stressed out and uptight.  Don’t sweat little things.  Compromise when possible.  Exercise your body – consider yoga, dance, hiking, bike riding, swimming.  Exercise your mind – read, reflect, expand.  Watch your life change.

Want to learn how you can do life on your terms and conquer a condition threatening your success and well-being? Start here by reading Susan Brown’s article, where you will discover one SIMPLE habit that will help you better manage the overwhelming demands and pace of 21st century life.

….I was recently shocked when a client told me that she wanted 100 items on her DAILY To Do list in order to feel successful.  I felt overwhelmed and it wasn’t even my list.

Overwhelmed is a state of feeling upset, overpowered, engulfed, swamped and crushed and if it is left unchecked, it threatens your well-being and your success.   It is normal at times to feel that way given our current and unstable economy; rapid change; information overload and proliferation of choice in our world.  But it is dangerous to fall into the trap of thinking that this is just the way things are and continue to live your life in a state of unrest and anxiety.

You can do life on your terms.  You really can.  It will just take some adjustments and training.

[ CLICK here to Read More ]

Every now and then it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of those simple gestures that can change a relationship, bring hope and healing and make a difference.  I came across this posting in a local Atlanta publication:  Gary Hill Business Directory – and thought it worth the time to send out a gentle reminder.

10 Commandments of Human Relations –

Compliments of the Historical News

• Speak to people.  There is nothing so nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
• Smile at people.  It takes 72 muscles to frown – only 14 to smile.
• Call people by name.  the sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of his or her own name.
• Be friendly and helpful.  If you want friends, be friendly.
• Be cordial.  Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure.
• Be genuinely interested in people.  You can like anybody if you try.
• Be generous with praise and cautious with criticism.
• Be considerate with the feelings of others.  It will be appreciated.
• Be thoughtful of the opinions of others.  There are three sides to the controversy – yours, the other person’s and the right one.

Be alert to give service.  What counts most in life is what we do for others

by Joan Penfold

Setting goals? What do these 2 words mean to you? Do you cringe and run the other way? Do you think you can do it all and forget what intentions you set for yourself? It is easy to say you are going to set goals but most of us ignore them, beginning with your New Year’s resolutions!

So you say, where is it I fail? How do I keep these intentions I have set for myself or biz? What does goal setting mean to you?

Learn how to dump your mental sandbags that weigh you down in this informative article by Susan Brown.   Susan shows you why getting rid of your burdensome thoughts will not only make you feel instantly LIGHTER but increase your JOY and SUCCESS.

…When it comes to living an elevated life – one that feels free and light – how high are you flying most of the time?

I can guarantee that if you’re flying at low altitudes,  it’s because you’re most likely resisting the reality of your circumstances by thinking things like: if only s/he had…. or why me or s/he should not have … or you’re thinking about the future with fear by thinking what if……..

Before you know it, you’ve lost elevation as you spiral downwards.  The result will always be the same: you’ll feel physically terrible and you’ll typically not make the wisest decisions to regain your sense of well-being.

[ CLICK here to Read More ]