Archive for the ‘Health, Travel & Lifestyle’ Category

My favorite topic these days is finding the confidence and
courage to live your best life.  Well, at the Amazing Woman’s Day Toronto
(www.amazingwomansdaytoronto.com)
event this past weekend, I had the opportunity to put my ‘money where my
mouth is’ or, actually, …….my feet!

At the Celebration Dinner on the Saturday evening, there was
some great entertainment.  Imagine my surprise when I saw Bette Midler entering
the room – one of my favorite entertainers of all time.  (She, was really
a he, and singing up a storm!)  “She” was very adept at getting
people up on the dance floor and engaged with the action.  Not me, though!  No
sirrreeeee…..I was quite content to sit and watch!  And it was
entertaining.  However, once Bette finished her segment, out came “Shania
Twain” – same routine – lots of singing and getting people
out on the dance floor.  By this time, I was telling myself that I was going to
get up and
get in the game!  How many times have we (and I include
myself in this) passed up an opportunity because ____________________ (fill in
the blanks)?  For me, with Bette, I was just content to sit back and watch.  I know many people
go through life that way!  I decided, in the “Shania
moment”, that, instead, I would get up and get going.  Who cares if I
didn’t know how to dance very well or, in particular, line dance?  Really
– who cares?  And that’s the attitude I invite YOU to take in this
journey called life. 

So, up and out of my chair……and on to the dance
floor…….and you know what?  I had an incredibly fun time!  Now,
typically, you can find me heading to bed at about 9:30-ish most nights.  Well,
here it was, well past 10:00 p.m., I am sure (I didn’t stop to check my
watch) and I really was having more fun than I’ve had in years.  So,
check out the video clip and you’ll see me (in red, of course), my friend
Jan Marie Dore and…….yes…….Shania Twain – ‘having
a party’!

What about you?  What does life look like and feel like for
you these days?  Are you ‘having a party”?  Or, are you sitting in
the bleachers, just watching, and letting everyone else get out in the field
and play?  Inquiring minds would like to know.  Please leave your comments
below………hey, if I can do it, you can do it!

Read more here:
Amazing Women – Pat, Jan and Shania Twain – ‘having a party!”

Read more here:
Intro of Marsh Engle for radio show

Read more here:
Amazing Womans Day Toronto

“I really admire those Olympic athletes, but I could never do
anything like that!” These are some of the comments I've heard over the
past few weeks from people with whom I have been discussing the Olympic
games. Typically, you would not find me in front of a TV for hours, let
alone watching sports. No way! However, it was with a great sense of
pride, and interest, that I did watch a lot of the games on TV. I did so
with purpose and intent – and for the entertainment, of course.

I have always been very goal-oriented and I am happy to share my
goals with people who can help me and support me.

“If you don't know what your passion is, realize that one
reason for your existence is to find it.

All of us need a vision for our lives, and even as we
work to achieve the vision, we must surrender it to the power that is
greater than we know. It's one of the defining principles of my life
that I love to share: God can dream a bigger dream for you than you
could ever dream for yourself……..the key is not to worry about being
successful but to instead work toward being significant – and the
success will naturally follow.” – Oprah Winfrey

How do you know whether you're on the right path, with the right
person, or in the right job? The
same way you know when you're not: You Feel It!

When I was on my trip around the world, I had many
questions about my own life and what I was going to do – thus my book,
“Who Am I Now?” (You can get your copy of the e-book today by clicking this link.)

I did try the luge (see photo of my friend Tom,
getting ready) in Dubai and asked many questions

(here I am with an
English teacher in his village in Africa!). A great way to learn more
about yourself is to travel, try new things and ask lots of questions.
(If you would like to join me on the next world tour in the fall, call
my friend, Ben, President of Travel Guild: 1.800.268.4284 for
information.) 

Your life is speaking to you every day, all the time – and your job
is to listen up and find the clues. Pay attention to what makes you feel
energized, connected, stimulated – what gives you joy.

Then, begin with baby steps. If goal-setting has not been a normal,
and usual, part of your daily living, it can feel overwhelming knowing
where to begin. I always tell my clients to begin with baby steps.

“The biggest human temptation is not to want too much,
but to settle for too little.” – Thomas Merton

I attribute my ‘success' to these 7 basic steps:

1. Identify what you want (start with planning supper for
   tonight!).

2. Be clear and concise, and write it down.
3. Control your self-talk to be positive, up-lifting and
   forward thinking.

4. Take risks.
5. Ask for what you want.
6. You must eliminate toxic people from your life.
7. If you aren't happy with who you are and what you do, then change
   it!

So, not everyone aspires to be an Olympic athlete – nor an Olympic
coach! What we do want is to live our best life. What one thing are you
prepared to do, today, to work toward becoming significant?

“If it's to be, it's up to me!” – Lou Tice

Assignment

1. Pick one of the steps listed above and apply it to your life,
   beginning today.

2. Ask yourself the questions: So what? Who Cares? What
   Difference Does this Make in My Life Today?

Do some of these exercises and I guarantee that you will start to
live your best life. When you try new things, you are developing the
confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly
want to live.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg – now that you've handled
the question, how exactly do
you live your life fully, 97-98% of the time? I've outlined
every secret in detail, and it's all in my “Steps2Happiness Home Study
System”, so you can start using it all right away to get meaningful
results. In addition to the exact techniques that have worked for me,
the System includes everything you need to know to prioritize what to
work on first, clear the decks, and set up simple, solid systems to
organize your life. It's all step-by-step, not a big mishmash of
things. So, you do step one of the system, and when you're done with
that, you move on to step two, and so on. That's why my clients have
gotten such great results from it. All the tools, scripts, templates,
and examples are handed to you on a silver platter. So easy. You can get
yours at www.
confidenceandcourage.com

Read more here:
Setting Goals – How to Get Started!

Read more here:
Confidence Tip for the Week – Find a Hero

I continue to enjoy watching the Olympic games on TV – winter sports
are a favorite of mine. Not only do I get much personal pleasure
watching the x-country skiing, the figure skating and the
snow-boarding, to name a few of the sports, but I really love listening
to the athletes as they are being interviewed. These young people are
in a class of their own. I aspire to that level of excellence, both in my personal life and in my business.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962

These
athletes did not achieve this level of excellence on their own. Aside
from great equipment, a lot of practice, big dreams, etc. – it also takes an inspiring mentor – a hero
– someone they look up to and respect – and whose characteristics,
habits, attitudes and expectations cause them to want to succeed.

I've
had great mentors in my life and one of my heroes is Colin Powell
(that's me in the photo with him, and Lou and Diane Tice, quite a few
years ago). This was a life-changing moment in my career to have had
the invitation to meet him personally. Sometimes a hero, or mentor, is
someone closer to home – like the woman who has encouraged, supported
and mentored me for over 20 years now – JoLove Beach (seen in this
photo with me) – this is a woman who, at 85 years of age, still hikes,
x-country skis, travels, participates in a regular TV show and much
more.

These are 2 very different individuals and yet many of their qualities and characteristics are the same:

• they had a dream
• they have vision
• they have made courageous decisions in their lives
• they are strong
• they take risks
• they are compassionate
• they listen
• they persevere
• they are focused
• they are continuous learners

and I could go on and on. You get the message

“Set your sights high, the higher the
better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future
but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely
nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way.”
–
Eileen Caddy

Whether we are talking about training for the Olympic games, or talking about living your best life, we all need heroes and mentors.
One thing I know for sure is that without a Colin Powell or a JoLove
Beach in my life, it would not be as easy to become the best person I
can be.

We should all be grateful for the gift of life and strive to live our best life.

Who are the heroes in your life and what have you learned from them? I'd love to know. And for whom are you a hero?

Assignment

1. Make a list of people who are the heroes in your life.
2. Make a list of their qualities, traits and characteristics that you admire.
3. Choose one of the items you listed and work to 'become like' that in your life, and in your work.
4. Become a hero to a young person – we all need mentors.

Do some of these exercises and I guarantee that you will start to live your best life.
When you try new things, you are developing the confidence and courage
to move forward and invent the life you truly want to live.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg – now that you've handled the question, how exactly do you live your life fully, 97-98% of the time? I've
outlined every secret in detail, and it's all in my “Steps2Happiness
Home Study System”, so you can start using it all right away to get
meaningful results. In addition to the exact techniques that have
worked for me, the System includes everything you need to know to
prioritize what to work on first, clear the decks, and set up simple, solid systems to organize your life.
It's all step-by-step, not a big mishmash of things. So, you do step
one of the system, and when you're done with that, you move on to step
two, and so on. That's why my clients have gotten such great results
from it. All the tools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to
you on a silver platter.

So easy.You can get yours at www.
confidenceandcourage.com

Read more here:
"Heroes Who Instill Confidence and Courage!"

Read more here:
Success Habits

I am so very proud to call myself a Canadian this week as we host
the Olympic Games in Vancouver. I was spell-bound as I watched the
Opening Ceremonies and jumped out of my chair with great joy when
Alexandre Bilodeau won the first Gold medal for Canada!

“If you only care enough for a result, you will almost certainly attain it.”
– William James

We know that the Canadian athletes are feeling tremendous pressure
to perform. They have already put in the time and effort, and have
goal-set to 'get to' the Olympics – now it's all about the mindset to 'win at' the Olympic games. The athletes have developed the success habits to go for gold.

What about you?

What is it in your life that you want so bad you can hardly stand it?

What habits have you developed to get you where you want to go, to grow?

“The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.” – Napoleon Hill

Habits are routines of behaviour that are repeated regularly and
tend to occur subconsciously, without directly thinking consciously about them. Habits are necessary in life. They help us maintain routine and order. Habits are not necessarily good or bad
– it depends on the goal that you have set. It is then, and only then,
that you can identify whether or not your habits are moving you towards
your goal or away from your goal.

When
I was on my trip around the world, one of my goals was to maintain my
exercise regime – no matter what. We were on a private plane, staying
in 5-star hotels and experiencing the most amazing food in every
country. I set the goal and developed the habit of exercising when and
where I could. While in Africa, the 'offerings' were very primitive –
check it out in the photo (2 cans filled with cement on the end of each
pole, for weight lifting! – hey, you do what works!) (If you would like
to join me on the next world tour in the fall, call my friend, Ben,
President of Travel Guild: 1.800.268.4284 for information.)

Here are some examples of habits that would not necessarily lead you to a positive outcome:

• Being late for appointments
• Allowing paperwork to pile up on the dining room table
• Answering your cell phone/blackberry when you are having lunch with your spouse or friend
• Working long hours and then making poor food choices
• Keeping a running overdraft in your bank account

The behavior you choose creates the life you are living.

Research shows that it takes anywhere from 21 days or 3-4 weeks to
change a habit. The thing is that unless you have a goal or a dream
that you really, really want to achieve, the likelihood of changing any of your habits is very small – if at all.

Are you living your best life? You have the power. What are you waiting for?

Assignment

1. What is the one thing you want to have happen in your life that is not happening now? (what is the goal – the dream?)
2. What are 5 activities that you perform on a daily basis to achieve that goal?
3. What is one habit that you could change today to get you closer to 'gold'?
4. What difference would that make in your life, right now?

Answer these questions, change some habits and I guarantee that you
will take control of your life. When you try new things, you are
developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the
life you truly want to live.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg – now that you've handled the question, how exactly do you live your life fully, 97-98% of the time?
I've outlined every secret in detail, and it's all in my
“Steps2Happiness Home Study System”, so you can start using it all
right away to get meaningful results. In addition to the exact
techniques that have worked for me, the System includes everything you
need to know to prioritize what to work on first, clear the decks, and set up simple, solid systems to organize your life.
It's all step-by-step, not a big mishmash of things. So, you do step
one of the system, and when you're done with that, you move on to step
two, and so on. That's why my clients have gotten such great results
from it. All the tools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to
you on a silver platter. So easy. You can get yours at www.
confidenceandcourage.com

Read more here:
"Go for the Gold – Habits to Build Your Confidence and Courage!"

Read more here:
The power of a mastermind

Read more here:
The power of a mastermind