Debra Moorhead . com

Laughter and the ability to remain light-hearted have been proven in many studies to be more successful at maintaining a healthy heart than mere diet and exercise.  Why?  Perhaps because maintaining a sense of humor frees us from stress and anxiety.  After all, you can’t be anxious about something and laughing at yourself at the same time. 

Here, then, are 5 ways to develop a more light-hearted attitude toward life.

1. Smile.  The physical act of smiling releases endorphins into your body and instantly improves your mood, making it easier to laugh at whatever situation has come along.  Try it.  If you don’t believe me, try this; Smile as big and wide as you can, and try to maintain a negative thought.  I’ll bet you can’t do it!  Go ahead; laugh at how simple this is!

2. Laugh at yourself.  We’re all human.  And so are you!  (Some people need to be reminded of that.)  Taking yourself too seriously puts undue pressure on your subconscious mind and keeps you further from whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish.  I’m guilty of this at times and I suppose everyone is.  Your most important relationship is the one you have with you.  Learn to forgive yourself and laugh at your mistakes, even the clumsiest of them.

3. Practice this mantra:  “This too shall pass.”  Isn’t that true?  You know that you can overcome any adversity.  Consider all the challenges you’ve already faced and have lived to tell about it.  Whatever the situation is, you’ll get past it.  Take a deep breath, say, “this too shall pass,” and face the crisis head-on.

4. Keep busy.  Remember, your thoughts control your feelings.  Og Mandino wrote, “Never will I labor to be happy; rather I will remain too busy to be sad.”  Engage your mind with positive thoughts and when you feel yourself veering to the negative, find something to do. Perhaps this is why gardeners tend to be very happy people; there’s always something to do when you have a garden.

5. Make someone else smile.  The best way to create something for yourself is to give it to someone else first.  Tell a joke to a friend. Tell a stranger she looks nice.   Surprise your spouse with a gift of some sort. 

Finally, strengthen your sense of humor by conditioning your mind to look for the bright side of every situation you encounter each day.  Before long, this will be your usual way of thinking, and happiness and success will be just around the corner.

We will talk more about the importance of developing a sense of humor at my Life Skills Retreat; I hope to see you there!

In the meantime, here are a couple of tools to help you get on the path to lasting peace and happiness:

Wake Up and Create the Life You Want:  A Guide to Self-Empowerment

Eliminate Clutter and Organize Your Life E-book

Until next time,

Live joyfully!

You can subscribe to this blog here.

Technorati Tags: Humor, Peace, Happiness, Attitude, Conscious Creation, Retreat, Coach, Success, Motivational Speaker, Retreat Leader, Motivation, Law of Attraction

I love a good meme!  Jennifer at Alaivani.com has tagged me with the challenge of sharing 5 ways to reduce the use of chemicals in our everyday lives.  Since this is a topic near and dear to my heart, I was very ready to bite.  Okay, Jen, here goes.

1. Microfiber cloths.  My mother-in-law got me hooked on these.  They clean everything from the daintiest jewelry to your car, and here’s the best part, with only water.  Tough, grimy gunk usually requires hot water, in my experience, but no chemicals.  They are the best at cleaning windows and mirrors, but I’ve also used them on furniture, floors, litter boxes, the cats, the cats’ ears, silver and brass, you name it.  I can hardly keep enough of them.

2. Organic gardening.  I did something today I’ve never done before in my life – almost 40 years now – I mowed the lawn – with a reel mower.  No gas, no oil, no heavy machinery, no back pain – and it worked beautifully!  Gardening and lawn care is one area I’ve been going chemical-free for quite some time now.  In the garden, the pesticides don’t work any better than the natural methods, so why bother (and waste your money)?  Until last year, my brother was buying a chemical trap to catch Japanese beetles in his garden.  Then I told him my little trick, which I happened upon by accident.  I was cleaning out my car one day when I felt the need for some soapy water.  For whatever reason, I put a few drops of Dawn dishwashing detergent into a mason jar and filled it about half-full of water.  On my way back outside, I noticed my neighbor’s dog running toward me.  Deciding to stop and play with him, I sat the jar down at the edge of the garden. When I went back to it, it was almost filled with Japanese beetles!  I had found a “natural” solution.  I did some research and found out that my trick was really nothing more than “insecticidal soap,” which has been used by organic gardeners for years.  The beetles that don’t make it into the jar are hand-picked off my garden by my neighbor.  He loves his roses and walks around the neighborhood collecting all the Japanese beetles he can find in the interest of protecting his own investment.  Which reminds me that we are all connected and need to watch out for and help one another.  But, back to this post!

3. Blue cat food.  This one may surprise you.  The vet told me that my cat probably had a flea on her somewhere that was causing her fur to fall out on her back.  I treated her for almost one year with a standard chemical.  I noticed that I had to keep using it more and more frequently in order to prevent the problem.  I decided to do some online research, and discovered that there could be additives in her food that she is intolerant to.  So I switched her to Blue and within 2 months her hair grew back in and I was able to stop the treatments completely.  My other cat now has fewer hairballs as well.  Go figure!

4. Open the windows.  My husband has slight asthma that can be triggered by intense odors.  Once the condition gets stirred up, he has a very difficult time getting over it.  A couple of years ago we had to eliminate most air fresheners because even the slightest whiff would bother him.  You know how the house gets stale smelling when it’s shut up for long periods of time?  I decided to open the windows and let in some fresh air, making sure no neighbors were mowing their lawns at the time, (since that would stir up a whole ‘nother set of problems!), and voila – fresh air, no chemicals.  Now I crack a window or two every day to let in fresh air.  It doesn’t take very long so I seriously doubt there’s much energy being wasted if you’re running the heat or A/C.  (Whenever possible though, I turn off such devices and open all the doors and windows.)

5. Now here’s one that will knock your socks off.  Ozonated water.  My husband has purchased a TherO₃Zone unit for his new dental office and I must say, it is very impressive!  This is like a microfiber cloth on steroids!  (Okay – maybe not the best analogy, please forgive!)  The research on this technology is remarkable and if it’s accurate, ozonated water could rid the world of many of our most troubling diseases, including cancer.  In the dental office, it has the potential to replace Lysol for disinfecting purposes.  It is currently being used to treat and eliminate bacteria in the water lines.  My husband has applied it topically to eliminate his minor adult acne.  There are many websites that provide results from clinical research, as well as products for consumer use, and more information – just do a Google search on “Ozonated water” and you’ll be busy the rest of the day.

I was recently challenged by the much-too-common-around-here redneck with the comment, “I’m not planning to live 500 years, why should I worry about the planet?  It’s not my problem.”

Well, my problem is:  This world might not be here tomorrow for all we know, but we now live in an age when it has been brought to our awareness that some of our habits and “conveniences” are destroying the natural resources of this planet that we enjoy now.  My spirit is wounded anytime I harm something that I now enjoy .  Why not do whatever we can to feel good about how we are treating our planet now?

Jennifer, I really enjoyed writing this post; thank you for the opportunity and for thinking of me.

I now tag:  Aaron Potts, Greenwoman, Albert Foong, Michael, Sharleyanne, and Jenny.

Get Inspired!  Come to the Wake Up and Create the Life You Want Retreat  May 30 - June 1 and learn the techniques for taking control of your life and achieving success, plus get free private coaching!  Click here for details.

What do you want to create? Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Guide to Self-Empowerment has helped hundreds of people create the life of their dreams.  You can read their stories here.  If you choose the downloadable version, it comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”

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How many things do you do on a regular basis that you “dread” doing?  How many “obligations” do you have?  How many “chores?”  If the answer is “a lot,” then you will benefit greatly by learning how to get in alignment.  (No chiropractor necessary!)

Did you know that natural law requires that your body, mind, and spirit be united in thought, word, and action in order for the process of creation to work?   What kind of life experience do you want to create?  One filled with dreaded chores or one full of happy tasks?  If you will take the time to get in alignment with even your simplest or most dreaded responsibilities, your entire life will flow more smoothly and you’ll experience greater peace and happiness.

I recently had an experience where I turned my entire outlook and day around by getting in alignment with one of my most-dreaded obligations.  Typically, when asked to perform this task, I moan and groan and think about all the things I’d rather be doing than this particular duty.

During my morning Self MEI (Motivation, Education, and Inspiration) time, I decided that since I have to do this, there is no one else who can do this for me, I might as well get in alignment with it and enjoy the day.  (It was an all-day job.)  So I began to focus on all the things I appreciate about the other person involved.  (My mother.)  Like how much she sacrificed for me when I was growing up, all the nice things she continues to do for me, etc.  I began feeling much better.  Then I decided to focus on how lucky I am that I can do this, like, not being tied down by a “regular” job where someone else dictates my schedule, etc.  Before long, and I’m talking about maybe 5 minutes at the most, I was feeling good about my day and ready to get started. 

The result?  A wonderful day with my mother, despite the circumstances.  (Doctor’s appointment.) 

Today my challenge to you is to get in alignment with all those things you say you don’t want to do.  If you’re doing them, there has to be a reason, right?  Otherwise, you wouldn’t do them.  If there is something about your job you don’t like, perhaps you could focus on the positive aspects of your job that you do like.  Sometimes, if it weren’t for those not-so-pleasant chores, we might not appreciate the good stuff.

Until next time,

Live joyfully!

You can subscribe to this blog here.

Get Inspired!  Come to the Wake Up and Create the Life You Want Retreat  May 30 - June 1 and learn the techniques for taking control of your life and achieving success, plus get free private coaching!  Click here for details.

What do you want to create? Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Guide to Self-Empowerment has helped hundreds of people create the life of their dreams.  You can read their stories here.  If you choose the downloadable version, it comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”

***Please Note:  All transactions are processed through PayPal, but you can use Visa, MC, AMEX, or Discover.

Technorati Tags: Personal Development Retreat, Conscious Creation, Coach, Success, Quit Smoking, Motivational Speaker, Retreat Leader, Motivation, Organize, Law of Attraction, Dental Practice Management, Consultant, Motivational Book, Self Help

If you have a blog or website you can help me help others, and make money for yourself. 

I know that most of you are familiar with affiliate programs.  If not, it simply means that I pay my affiliates a commission for every sale they make on one of my products or services.  In this instance, the only affiliate program I have so far is for my Wake Up and Create the Life You Want Retreat.

The commission rate is 10%, so you would make $39.50 to $54.90 per enrollee, which is much better than Adsense, Amazon, or even similar affiliate programs.  If you haven’t used an affiliate program before, this is your chance; I’d love for you to participate.

If you’re concerned that I am allowing only 20 people into this first retreat, don’t worry.  My intention is to give these retreats on a regular, on-going basis.  My new dream for my 40’s – turning 40 on April 11 of this year – is to build a retreat center.  I’d like to be helping people recreate their lives through this retreat and hosting it about every other week.  The facility would be available also as a bed and breakfast, and for other retreat leaders – like Christine Kane. 

The reason I am letting other bloggers/website owners in on this is simple – I want a larger market.  My seminar has had great success locally and state-wide, but I am ready for an inter/national audience like I have with this blog, and with my coaching services.

For your readers, the advantages of this retreat are many and profound.  I can help people lose weight, quit smoking, make more money, eliminate any unwanted habit, develop good habits, establish a success mindset, direct their thoughts, connect to their higher self, become a deliberate, effective creator, and much more - all while they relax and enjoy peaceful, beautiful surroundings.  (If you’ve ever been to Kentucky in the Spring, you know what I’m talking about!)

I know in my heart that this retreat will be as life-transforming, and probably more so, than my one-day seminars.  People who take that seminar report drastic and positive changes in their mindset, attitude, and connection to spirit.  Most importantly, they leave with enthusiasm for life and a rejuvenated spirit.

The best part is that this is a retreat where you get to work on you – you pick the topic, then relax and learn how to let your spirit guide you to the best possible outcome.  Doesn’t that sound fantastic?  It is – believe me.  I’ve been developing this retreat for over a year now and I am so excited that the next logical step is its manifestation.

Why is a retreat setting so important?  Many documented studies have shown that people learn best when they’re relaxed.  If you can relax, you can learn.  If you can learn, you can consciously change your life.  Change your life, and you’ve just taken control of your future.  If the only difference between those who have what they want and those who don’t is conscious control over their habits and thought patterns, then doesn’t it make sense to take the time to establish that control and channel it in the direction that will serve you best?  However, it is next to impossible to change thought without time and space to do it, and that’s where the retreat comes into play.   

The French Quarter Inn is luxurious and calm, set right on the river, with a Jacuzzi in every room.  All meals are being prepared by the hotel staff and will be very elegant; they are well-known for their fine cuisine.  Each participant will get a form to complete to indicate preferences and special needs prior to the event.  Maysville is rich in history and there will be plenty to capture the participants’ interests.

But I’m getting into retreat details now and those have already been outlined on the retreat page, so go there for a complete listing of amenities.

You can read my story and how all of this got started in the first place here.

Back to this post, if you’d like to become an affiliate, here are the links you will need:

Join my Affiliate Program – Earn 10% on each Registration!

Login to your Affiliate Account

Affiliate Resources and Instructions Page

I hope you will join me in this exciting new endeavor, and I hope to see some of you at the retreat!

Until next time,

Live Joyfully!

You can subscribe to this blog here.

Sign up for Retreat Information

What do you want to create? Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Guide to Self-Empowerment has helped hundreds of people create the life of their dreams.  You can read their stories here.  If you choose the downloadable version, it comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”

Even better, come to the Wake Up and Create the Life You Want Retreat May 30 - June 1 and learn the techniques for taking control of your life and get free private coaching! 

***Please Note:  All transactions are processed through PayPal, but you can use Visa, MC, AMEX, or Discover.

Technorati Tags: Personal Development Retreat, Quit Smoking, Motivational Speaker, Retreat Leader, Motivation, Organize, Success, Law of Attraction, Dental Practice Management, Coach, Consultant, Motivational Book, Self Help

Would you like to:

Identify your mission in life?

Find your passion(s)?

Increase the connection to your higher self?

Develop self-discipline once and for all?

Define your governing values?

Determine what action to take and when?

Learn the process of re-creating your life the way you want it?

Experience increased motivation and inspiration?

Develop your intuition?

Lose weight?

Make more money?

Achieve all your goals?

Get real about “Life Balance?”  Better yet . . .

Love life and feel in control of the direction you’re headed?

If you want it, you can create it and you can learn how in a relaxing setting where you’ll not only feel wonderful, but have the time to think, plan and take charge of your life once and for all.  Interested in learning more?  Read on . . .

I am so excited to finally announce that my personal development retreat, Wake Up and Create the Life You Want, is scheduled and ready for enrollment!  The details have already been e-mailed to those who signed up for more information, but here’s the skinny for all of you.

The retreat will take place May 30 – June 1, at the French Quarter Inn in Maysville, Kentucky.  This retreat is for women only, sorry guys, but I’ll have something for both genders in a few months.

Our focus will be on harnessing the creation process to create the life of your dreams.  It doesn’t matter where you are, or where you want to be, or how far it seems in between; you can get there from here!  I’m not kidding here – I’ve helped hundreds of people do this now and I am enthusiastically ready to help those who attend this retreat.

We’ll of course be discussing the Law of Attraction and “The Secret behind ‘The Secret.’”  I’ll even have videos available of, “The Secret,” “The Secret Behind ‘The Secret,’” and Louise Hay’s “You Can Heal Your Life - The Movie,” in case you haven’t had a chance to view one or more of them.  But it gets better . . .

The best part is, not only will you get the benefit of my experiences in re-creating my life and the stories I’ll share about others who have been through my classes, but I’m expecting women from all walks of life to be in attendance, and we’ll get to share with each other, learn from one another, and help each other by sharing your own unique gifts and experiences, as you feel led to, as well. 

I am basically bringing all of the material from my “Wake Up and Create the Life You Want” seminar, which has been held locally with much success, and developing it into a more relaxed yet intense process where you will have time to think, rest, get connected to Spirit, and have that personal time you need to make it happen.  I will also be covering the material from my “Managing a Mid-Life Career Change” seminar, so if you’re a baby-boomer getting ready to retire, but not ready to quit contributing to society, you’ll love this retreat!  But it gets even better . . .

We will be in a very “posh” setting, but the mood will be casual and relaxed.  Wear your yoga pants or whatever is comfortable for you.  Anything goes . . . ‘cept naked!  (That’s a-whole-nother retreat!)

There will be enough down time that you will be able to think and reflect on what you’ve learned or discovered about yourself.  At the same time, there will be plenty of activities to keep you occupied.  You can take a nature walk, go for a bike ride, or even a nice long drive along the Ohio River.  The pool will be open, so bring your bathing suit.

All rooms have a hot tub, except for the wheelchair accessible rooms. The Inn has a bar that is open nightly from 6 PM to Midnight. 

The food will be light, but abundant and all meals, from Friday night to Sunday breakfast are included in the price of the retreat.  I’m planning healthy dishes with a little decadence to illustrate how I maintain my size 4 figure.  For those who are interested, I will discuss in detail How I Lost 25 Pounds in One Month.  Even better . . .

I am limiting this first retreat to 20 participants.  That will make it easy for me to customize the material on demand.  So whatever it is you want to learn to create or change about your life, we will spend time on that.  You’ll be surprised at how many others share your same desire, even if it seems like no one around you where you live understands you at all.  That’s the amazing thing about events like this – birds of a feather flock together; the universe will bring the right people together to make it an amazing experience for everyone! 

A massage therapist will be available and I will send more information about this once you register for the retreat.  A hair stylist and manicurist/pedicurist are also available by appointment.  These professionals will come to the hotel; we will just need to arrange the schedule once we know how many are interested. 

Who Should Attend?

Anyone interested in personal development will benefit from attending this retreat and I think you can see that.  To be more specific so that you know what to expect, the schedule for the retreat will perfectly accommodate a Type A personality, since that is my personality type.  For those of you who may be unfamiliar with that description, a Type A personality likes to relax, but she likes to do it in fifteen minutes!  However, if I’m with a friend who’s a Type B and she wants to relax for a couple of hours, that’s okay too, and I’m allowing for that in the schedule knowing that not everyone is like me. (Nor would I ever want that!)  So you can come and go as you please and each section will be compartmentalized so that you don’t feel like you’ve missed out on something if you choose to go for a nature walk instead of creating a vision board.  And you can always create your vision board later, either at the retreat on your own time, or even when you get back home – it’s all up to you.  I plan to work with people individually, providing my coaching services as requested and I’ll be happy to cover anything you miss but are curious about.

My vision is that you’ll leave on Sunday with renewed passion and enthusiasm for LIFE!

Fees:

If you register on or before April 30, 2008:

$549 includes your private room for Friday and Saturday nights, all meals during the retreat as mentioned above, and all seminars. 

$495 includes your room shared with one other female, all meals during the retreat as mentioned above, and all seminars.  

$395 is for those who live locally and desire to stay at home but still attend the retreat.  This price includes all meals as mentioned above and all planned retreat activities.

If you register on or after May 1, 2008:

The fees go up because we will lose our group rate on April 30^th.  So . . .

$599 includes your private room for Friday and Saturday nights, all meals during the retreat as mentioned above, and all seminars.

$520 includes your room shared with one other female, all meals during the retreat as mentioned above, and all seminars.

$395 remains the same since no room is involved. This price includes all meals as mentioned above and all planned retreat activities.

Transportation

If you’re flying in for this event, you’ll want to fly into the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).  You will not likely need vehicular transportation once you arrive at the retreat center, so if you’re interested in splitting a rental car with another attendee to get from the airport to Maysville, I’ll be happy to coordinate that.  I’ll be sending a form to all attendees closer to the event date, and on an as-needed basis to indicate your specific preferences on all of these mentioned variables. 

We will begin at 4 PM on Friday and end at 11 AM on Sunday.  These times should accommodate everyone’s travel arrangements, but if they do not, we will make adjustments as necessary, just let me know what you need.

Any glitch can be overcome; the most important factor, is that you leave this retreat TRANSFORMED!

Questions?

E-mail me at Debra_M@alltel.net with any questions and I promise to get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.

In the meantime,

Live Joyfully!

You can subscribe to this blog here.

CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT NOW When you’re ready to take control of your life, you’ll want to purchase my latest book to get started on the right path. You’ll learn my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the Law of Attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams. Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Guide to Self-Empowerment is helping many others do exactly the same.  You can read their stories here.  If you choose the downloadable version, it comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.” Don’t miss out on this very special offer!

***Please Note:  All transactions are processed through PayPal, but you can use Visa, MC, AMEX, or Discover.

Technorati Tags: Personal Development Retreat, Motivational Speaker, Motivation, Success, Law of Attraction, Dental Practice Management, Coach, Consultant, Motivational Book