Emma Stone - Her Little Anxiety Secret Worth Stealing

This is pretty creative.

Oscar-Winning actress, Emma Stone, opened up to Rolling Stone about her childhood anxiety. She used to believe her house was burning to the ground. She'd feel her chest get heavy... struggling to breathe... almost like the world was ending... Her anxiety was on -and-off like that for years!

Until one day she tried something new and different. She wrote a book called I Am Bigger Than My Anxiety. In it, she sketched a little green monster propped up on her shoulder. This little monster whispers lies in her ear. The more she listens to it, the bigger the monster gets.

If it gets too big, it smashes her.

Or she can ignore it. She can keep working on what she's doing. The more she ignores the lies, the more it shrinks... until POOF - it vanishes completely!

Boom! What a strategy!

Touche Emma Stone.

I've come across different shades of this powerful strategy over the years...

It's taking a feeling like anxiety and transforming it into something metaphorical. You see emotions can be very amorphous. It's tricky to grasp them. Let alone how to take control of them. So when you designate an image or metaphor to them, you're able to work with them a bit more. It makes them more concrete. The trick though is finding an image that empowers you.

Years ago, someone told me, their anxiety felt like a wrecking ball that was smashing and destroying their life. Yeesh! I can't blame them. But this was not a very empowering metaphor. And it was making them feel like they didn't have control over their current challenges. So you want to be careful with the metaphors you use. You want to grab ahold of metaphors that support you.

It doesn't mean you ignore the feeling. Or pretend it's not there. It simply means using the feeling in a different way like Emma Stone discovered.

Whether that's a little green monster perched on your shoulder... turning off the radio of mental chatter... Or watching your thoughts fly by like cars on the high-way... And there are endless ways to do so.

One of my favorites comes from the Buddhist tradition.

Here's one that they use:

Imagine your mind is a waterfall. The water constantly crashing over the edge is your thoughts and emotions. Instead of being the cold current of water, you want to become the calm space behind the waterfall (they would call that mindfulness). Simply observe the constant torrent of thoughts flowing. Watching your thoughts from that distance. But keep that separation.

That's just one simple way. There are boatloads of them out there. You may stumble across others or create even better ones than these. So let your creativity swim wild with this one.

Experiment with it.

Make it your own.

And find the one that works for you.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Emma-Stone---Her-Little-Anxiety-Secret-Worth-Stealing&id=9930814

Channeling Your Inner Meggin (By Gini Cunningham)

Everyone needs a mentor, someone who supports and guides to self-discovery and understanding. While family plays a valuable role in helping, a mentor offers gifts that come in no other way. A mentor is a coach, a counselor, a teacher, and an advisor who observes with fresh eyes and no preconceived notions or past history and no worry about being too honest. My mentor is Meggin.

Meggin was my instructor and advisor in my masters program at the university. An excellent teacher and presenter, she inspired me with her genuineness and enthusiasm, her honesty and openness. I worked to model my behaviors and attitudes to reflect the positivity she exemplified. She taught me much about reading instruction and literacy, but she taught me even more about myself. When I hesitate, she reinforces, when I stumble she provides a boost, when I meander off my designated, self-designed path she assists me with realignment. She never accomplishes this by being pushy or overbearing. Rather she asks the questions that lead me to my inner-most being. Everything Meggin does empowers the "me" held within my heart and soul.

In high school I had the confidence of the world and feared nothing and no one. During my years at the university, I slowly became lost in nervous anxiety. While I could fake it pretty well most of the time with outward bravado, inside I shivered when I met new people or encountered odd situations. I was fine on my own - I spent a year studying in Europe and primarily traveling alone, glad to be able to see and learn in my unique method. When I returned I became teacher. Although first day jitters often consumed me, once I got rolling, poise and self-reliance soared. In front of my eager students and at their side, I had unlimited sureness which stimulated more of the same for them.

By 30 I felt better about myself in most situations. My roles then included wife, mother, teacher, and coach. As I broadened my base I extended my talents and capabilities. Born with a love of learning every class encouraged more reflection and learning and so I added more teaching certifications to my repertoire and more thoughts and ideas to my brain. This permitted me to teach K-12 through college in a variety of subjects and in multiple schools. All of this enhanced my positive outlook and outward reach, but I still held some quivering within.

Recently a job opportunity came my direction. It was one for which I basically wrote the description and determined the salary. Writing the outline was fairly easy as it was for a mentoring position with teachers, something I enjoy and to which I am dedicated. In this case the project included new teachers as well as experienced teachers who needed assistance, a group of individuals for whom I hold great passion. As the requirements of the profession become ever greater it is essential to support and assist new teachers as they get their feet on the ground and navigate the ins and outs of the classroom. My salary request was another story.

I recognized that the district wanted me but I was nervous about asking for money. How do you apply for something you love, a job that you have been doing for free for eight years, and then ask for money? Hmmm. I wiggled the hours, the days, the amount of time each new hire might need. Then I fiddled and faddled and pulled a number out of the air. It seemed outrageous (again, I have been supplying expertise at no cost) and then I added some more. When I felt semi-confident, I emailed my proposal to Meggin. Immediately I had a response.

"You are not an hourly worker!" she exclaimed, "And while you are offering a tremendous service you are not requesting adequate funding. It's time to channel your Meggin."

Channeling my Meggin was a wonderful, passionate experience. I took Meggin at her word and jotted down all of the talents and abilities I possess, dug deep into my soul for how I could help every teacher reach excellence or at least an version of excellence, and I shook out my fear. Channeling Meggin entailed reigniting belief in myself and what I have to offer, applauding attitudes and qualities that I alone possess. After settling on these good feelings and aptitudes, I headed out the door for a jog to let all of this gloriousness settle.

Wow-ee-yay! My self-assurance buoyed and then elevated my spirit as I eyed the sky for inspiration and self-belief. I danced a jig and sang a happy song, then returned to my computer, revamped my proposal, and requested a competitive wage tied to my integrity and not an hour by hour grind. Everybody needs a Channeling Meggin. Do you have yours?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Channeling-Your-Inner-Meggin&id=9124209

5 Ways to Operate From a Place of Service (By Chris Atley)

I enjoyed some time this week with my fellow sisters in business. It's so important to be around people who lift us up and see our own greatness, even when we can't sometimes. The conversation was heartfelt, uplifting and meaningful.

One topic that came up was around service. Our fellow millionaire mascara Mom - that's right she created a million dollar business selling mascara and now empowers over 140 000 women in her down line - shared some key tidbits about being in service. She said something important, and I want you to really hear this.

When you can focus on service your business will completely take off.

When you can focus on service your business will completely take off.

I've been saying this for a long time, and so this is near and dear to my heart, but sometimes we have to hear it over and over, from multiple sources right?! Coming from a place of service in all areas of our lives is what creates abundance and love in all areas of our lives.

Today I share 5 ways that will help you operate from a place of service, including our millionaire mascara guru's top tip, and how to move through what is blocking you from doing this.

1. Ask the universe to guide you. We have an unlimited resource at our fingertips and most of us don't believe in it. Well we do to some extent, but we still try so hard to control the "how" we're going to make things happen ourselves. Ask for guidance and then pay attention to what you're shown. I almost said listen, but for me it's not a voice I hear and I do believe this is different for everyone. For me, it's a knowing. It starts as a quiet thought that becomes repetitive if I don't take action on it. I just "know" deep down inside it's the right action for me to take, and once I decide to do it it's easy and effortless to carry it out. AND when I take action from this place there is always a great, miraculous outcome:-) Imagine that?

Tune in and see what this is for you. When you have known deep down something was true and you took action on it, where did you feel it in your body? Were any sounds important? Were any physical feelings important? Contrast this to a time when you talked yourself into something instead and it wasn't the best decision. Where did you feel it in your body? Were any sounds important? Were any physical feelings important? Knowing when you are in sync with this guidance will help you make decisions from this place and strengthen your connection to it.

2. Standing in this place and making decisions from here, involves a huge element of letting go. Letting go of control the "how", essentially means letting go of fear. The fear of the unknown. The fear of what if it doesn't happen or workout. The fear, the doubt and the worry. It involves an element of trust. Knowing there is something bigger you are connected to that is guiding you. That always has your back. The universe is literally here to guide us not only in our actions and next steps, but through every single thought! It is there to guide our thoughts from a loving place instead of a fear based place. Practice asking for guidance often.

3. Ask questions. When you are spending time with a potential client to serve, ask a ton of questions. It's not about you, it's about them. How you can serve and help them in that moment? You won't know unless you ask questions and focus on them. You might discover that it's not your product or service that will help them or make the most sense at that time. That's okay and you have to be willing to let them go. This is where standing in faith that you are always going to be guided to be shown more people to help is imperative. You are taken care of, if you let yourself be.

4. Honour and love yourself enough to receive. The best way to do this is to make time for self-care. Self-care is really about appreciating yourself enough to do the things you love that bring you peace. What is that for you? Schedule it in every day. It also enables you the space to hear / listen / receive the guidance that is there for you. Take the time to tune in.

5. Be willing to let people go. Whether it's in a sales conversation or with existing clients. Allow people to be where they are and avoid trying to convince, shame or guilt them into to enrolling / or staying. Yes, your service is amazing, and there are also a lot of other services that are amazing. If yours isn't a fit for them, it's okay. When we can't let this stuff go, it usually reverts back to a bigger fear of not hitting our numbers. Again, back to #1 & 2. If we can stand in trust that we will always be shown more people to help AND that our number one goal is to be of service and to help, then it's okay to let them go. You will also find that the more you stand in service, the more your business will grow anyway because you will have let go of fear (the need to get), and have raised your vibration to love and service. When you feel good enough to receive it back, that's when everything takes off exponentially. Just focus on others and you won't need to worry about your business.

My millionaire mascara Mom's favourite is number 1. She will ask for guidance ALL of the time regarding who she can help. It might even be someone in the Starbucks line;-) It might not always be convenient, but we need to listen to it.

I have found that asking how I can be of service in the morning brings about the most amazing an unexpected ways throughout the day! I can also say it's not always about business. What's interesting though, is when you're in service in a non-related business area, things sure do flow "out of the blue" business wise. It's pretty magical, and this to me is living in true abundance, where we're giving and receiving love and connection.

http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Ways-to-Operate-From-a-Place-of-Service&id=9641946

What People Falsely Believe About Destiny

I'm tired of hearing people going on about how they were "meant" for something, and about how something was "meant" to be.

Because...

"Meant" by who or what? And when? And why? Is everyone and everything "meant" for something? Or is it only certain situations? Are the resulting actions thereof also "meant" for something? And the resulting consequences of those actions? Etc.

How many couples head over heels in love with each other would say they're "meant" for each other? How many times have you heard someone say this about their current infatuation?

(Hell, maybe you've even been in a relationship like that.)

... And then a couple of years later they break up after months of deteriorating sex and bickering over mundane problems.

Oops.

It seems it's one of those sayings that doesn't hold up to the simplest of scrutiny or logic. Try doing some basic, reasoned questioning the next time someone talks about someone being "meant" for something.

They're not gonna be able to provide satisfactory answers.

Why do we still seem to entertain the notion that anyone or anything can somehow be "meant" for something?

While I don't know, I'm fairly certain the answer has a couple of components to it...

• It's one of those things that people say without giving it any thought. Such sayings permeate our language. (No one is being literal when they tell someone to "get bent", either.)
• For thousands of years, our ancestors have believed in magic and the idea of an omnipotent creator of everything, often one who made a "divine plan" for us. -- Simply because they didn't know any better.
• It's a deceitfully easy way of looking at the world. Because ultimately it supports the idea that we're not in charge of our lives, and that we don't have responsibility for our actions.

While there are interesting aspects to every point, we can potentially learn the most from the last one. Because it tells us about how we tend to shun responsibility in even the tiniest of ways.

"But that's not what I meant at all!" No, of course not. But from a purely semantic standpoint, it's actually pretty much what you're getting at. Albeit unintentionally.

"But God gave us free will!" Sure. And Apollo could predict the future, and Thor had a magic hammer, and Noah was 950 years old when he died.

Look. If something is predestined for anything beyond the scope of human will and control, it is, by definition, not subject to human influence. However we act towards it becomes futile and meaningless. All considerations about the source of "destiny" aside, if everything is "destiny", it means we're not in charge of our lives.

While I do believe that there's no inherent meaning to anything other than what makes sense to the beholder at any given time, what truly empowers us is the very appointing of said meaning. Acknowledging that there is no meaning but what we appoint to things when we make a decision, take a stand and choose a path for ourselves.

And then, of course, we need to do it. We need to realize that there's no sensible reason to believe that anything beyond our own, inherent human traits and nature somehow "destines" anyone for anything.

We need to realize that we have the ability to be proactive and creative in building our lives; that challenges can always be overcome, and that we need not settle for anything or take anything for granted.

And that very insight is true liberation.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-People-Falsely-Believe-About-Destiny&id=9684501