Enjoying an Intentional Holiday Season

There is no doubt the holidays are a magical season full of joy, beauty and giving. However, for many individuals, it can also cause grief, due to loss of a loved one, or anxiety due to get-togethers with family members that are not always easy to communicate with or the pressure to purchase an abundance of unnecessary gifts!

Here are a few of our favorite resources and guides for reducing stress and making the holidays merry and bright!

1.Civility & Compassion for the Holidays VIRTUAL class on 11/20 (if you can't attend the live virtual talk, a video recording will be emailed to you!)

Join Cathy Adams for a live virtual talk (via Zoom technology) where they discuss how to be civil and compassionate during the holidays and beyond. Respectful and reflective discourse is a practice, and the holidays are a great time to practice with the ones that we love most. Cathy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Parent Coach, Certified Elementary School Teacher, Certified Yoga Teacher, and she teaches in the Sociology Department at Dominican University and Elmhurst College. Click here to register! 

2.How we can Approach this Holiday Season from an Intentional Perspective.

Jess  Lively and Courtney Carver team up for this Podcast, This episode is perfect for anyone looking to reduce the holiday stress, increase holiday joy, put themselves first, and to prevent or manage a difficult health issue.

3. Gift Ideas for Minimalists and Their Kids

The holidays do not need to revolve around gifts and things, in fact they can be much more meaningful with the mantra, "Less is More." Allie Cassaza provides some excellent gift ideas for minimalists here. 

It is Not Too Late to Reach Your 2017 Goals

We are quickly approaching November and almost the end of 2017. Hard to believe isn't it? What may be even harder to believe is that those new year resolutions you had in mind in January are still absolutely obtainable. You still have over 60 days to change your life and with each new day, each new breath, a new opportunity! 

We talk a lot on our blog about being present and in the moment, and some of you may ask, "How can I achieve my future goals and set goals while remaining present?" Eckhart Tolle, author of A New Earth has some interesting answers for us. 

On page 301 of A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle writes, "Enthusiasm means there is a deep enjoyment in what you do plus the added element of a goal or vision that you work toward." Now, a reader named Kippy wants to know how we can have goals or visions for the future if we are always to remain in the present moment.

Looking for the Good, Acts of Kindness are all Around Us.

As Martin Luther King said, 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

This is one of our favorite quotes of the many that we share. In times like these especially, we need to be reminded that there is so much good in the world and around us. These small acts of kindness add up and compound to create so much light. 

The Ellen DeGeneres Show has partnered with Cheerios to spread Ellen’s message of being kind to one another. Ellen and Cheerios are encouraging people around the world to participate in one million acts of good.

To share their acts of good, viewers can submit photos and write-in stories at this link or use #GoodGoesRound on social media.

Below are a few examples of the acts of kindness shared. Remember, these acts are going on every day, all around us. Be a part of the good, and take part of acts of kindness at home, in your workplace and when you are out and about. 

Ellen has partnered with Cheerios to inspire One Million Acts of Good, which encourages people to engage in acts of kindness - big or small - all around the world. Ellen kicked it all off by doing good for her fans in the audience, and now you can join her in doing good for others.

The story of Kelly's generosity toward a homeless woman went viral, and Ellen had to meet her in person. Ellen also announced her new kindness campaign to inspire people to pay it forward! #BeKindToOneAnother Find out more about Shutterfly here: https://www.shutterfly.com/

Empathy is Critical We Need to Start Listening to Each Other.

Labels and words are extremely powerful and we often do not look past them, but it is essential in order to truly listen and hear each other. 

A recent study showed just by labeling an issue "Democratic" or "Republican" even when the actual issue details are completely unknown by the opposing party, 80% of that opposing party rejected it right off the bat. That is how powerful labels and one simple word can be. How often in your own life to you immediately place judgement on something or someone instantly due to a label? 

Times like these where so many tragedies are occurring simultaneously, it is more important than ever that we truly listen to each other before making an informed decision. Humans are more alike than different, and what can truly save the world in times of trauma and create healing, is being connected. We have seen this time and time again when a tragedy has happened. Individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds joining forces to save each other from the flood waters of hurricanes, or pulling one another to safety during the devastating shooting in Las Vegas.

This week, we encourage you to see past society's labels and see all of the goodness within each other. Remove the simple labels you place upon your family, your friends, your coworkers and even strangers. Truly listen to them and hear them and where they are coming from. 

A Few Good Things to Watch and Share!

Looking for some inspiration to guide you through your week or perhaps life? Look no further. Here are some wonderful things you should watch. So grab a beverage and get cozy! 

Gaga: Five Foot Two

Oprah's First 60 Minutes Story

Glennon Dole: Coffee & Revolution

5 Things to Give Up to Raise Your Vibration INSTANTLY

Meet Aaron Doughty, a dedicated individual helping people transform their lives through self-awareness and personal-empowerment teaching awareness, philosophy, spirituality, psychology, science and more. Aaron is a fantastic teacher and above shares 5 simple ways to transform your life and raise your vibration. 

Looking to transform your business and life and want to host a class for your associates? Contact us for a complimentary consultation. 

You do not Pay for items with Your Money You Pay for Items with Your Time

In a world where materialism can easily get the best of us. It is crucial to remember where our money comes from. It is hard earned, from your personal time.

Remember that the next time an impulse buy becomes tempting, or calculate just how long it would take to earn that shiny new car. Is the object truly worth all the hours you will put into earning it? Are there other experiences that are more worth your time that you would prefer to invest in?

If you are interested in keeping track of your finances a little better, here are some tips:

1. Schedule a family meeting each week to meet with your partner and/or family on upcoming expenditures for the week. This can be difficult to get in the habit in at first, but the impact can be incredible. Save notes on your computer or phone for each week to track your progress.

2. Utilize tools. There are many great money tracking apps out there. One of our favorites is Mint. It keeps track of all your income and expenditures in one place.

3. Educate your children. Check out http://famzoo.com, a hands-on educational system. The virtual family bank is a private family “banking” system designed to teach kids to earn, save, spend, and donate money wisely in a safe, friendly environment. Parents are the “bankers”. Kids are the “customers”.

The Power of Kindness Presented by Orly Wahba

Orly empowers the world with kindness and explains that without YOU the world is not complete.

She was a teacher for seven years and has taught thousands internationally the importance of each individual and their power to change the world. Orly has developed Life Vest Inside an organization dedicated in sweeping kindness all over the world. 

Are you an educator, parent or individual looking to inspire your children or students to spread kindness? Kindness Boomerang the book inspired by the touching short film above, empowers you to bring positivity into your everyday life and the lives of those around you. We highly recommend it! If you would like to see Orly live in person, she will be presenting at the Zen Parenting Conference next March! Information can be found here. 

Looking for a local speaker to teach the importance of kindness to your students or associates? Jeff Taylor is available for speaking engagements and creates custom content to help meet your goals! Contact us for a complimentary consultation! 

From Dream to Reality: Orly Wahba takes us on a personal journey; from the dream of a young child to change the world through the power of kindness, to the obstacles and challenges that helped her transform it into reality.