Little Steps

I read with amusement this article at MSN.com, about how Starbucks is increasing prices on their drinks to reflect the amount of steps each barista needs to put in when creating the beverage.  I was amused because every so often an article on saving money pops up with advice like “cutting out a premium beverage a day will save you x amount of dollars over the course of a year.”  The first thing that popped into my mind was “Wow, now I can save even more every year!”

Of course I’d have to buy that premium drink to save that money. 

This principle is also brought up when someone is writing about diet and lifestyle changes.  “Eliminate a pat of butter a day and you’ll save 30,000 calories during the course of a year” (exaggeration purely mine, I do not have time to do the math for you; here are the numbers to use if you’re so inclined:  pat of butter = 100 calories x 1 year/365 days).  Great idea, wonderful plan.  But what if you don’t eat butter at all?  Shouldn’t you already be that much thinner? I wish it worked that way. :)

The key is to analyze what you do eat, and to gradually introduce little changes that lead to big results.  I learned this during my weight loss journey. 

Instead of white bread, I started buying whole wheat breads. 

Instead of white flour, I began using white whole wheat flour.

Instead of pasta or rice as a base for sauces, I began using a large bowl of salad.  This is also a great way to increase your fruit/vegetable count, and there are a variety of greens out there to choose from.  Right now I have been enjoying kale greens as my base.  Adding the filler of the salad also satisfies my need to chew, and fills my tummy.  I don’t feel deprived when eating this way, and I am getting needed fiber and vitamins so my body will be healthy.

I didn’t make all of these changes overnight, but unlike all of the other times I would start a diet at the beginning of the week , beginning of the year, beginning of the day, they became habit, and the pounds came off and stayed off. 

And just think of all the art supplies new clothes you can buy with the money you save on the premium drinks! 

This Says It Better Than I Ever Could

Yesterday took more time than I thought it would, even though it was the same 24 hours as any other day. This newsletter came to my inbox today and it says a lot about the things I have been dealing with in my personal life. I realized I am in need of finding some joy (more about that tomorrow), and hope that this piece helps you as much as it's helping me.


A setback can lead us to a better place — if we just let it.” -- Anne Wilson Schaef

Are you in the midst of a perceived failure? Perhaps you’ve been laid off from your job, you’re on the brink of bankruptcy, or you’re going through an acrimonious divorce. While you may wish otherwise, these situations are painful and difficult. They require that we face our deepest fears of inadequacy, lack and failure. It’s often during these difficult times that we turn to God and deepen our faith and spiritual connection. Author Paul Brunton states it this way: “When every situation which life can offer is turned to the profit of spiritual growth, no situation can really be a bad one.”

Our intuition is connected to a wiser part of us that sees the larger picture of our lives and knows what we need to learn in order to move ahead on our journey in this life. Patience, trust and faith are required after life hands us an unexpected blow. You were not sent here to fail. It may be hard to trust that the Universe knows what it’s doing and yet that may be the path of least resistance. You need to go with the flow and know that there is a new and wonderful life for you just waiting to be born.

Tough times never last. When you are experiencing a setback you fear you’ll be in it forever. However, generally speaking, most of life’s painful disappointments are relatively short-lived. It’s important to remember that we all experience failure at one time or another in our lives. As actor Mickey Rooney put it, “You always pass failure on your way to success.” Remember also that failure is an event or situation you find yourself in. You’re only in danger when you begin describing yourself as the failure.

What are some steps you can take when life has handed you lemons and you haven’t yet figured out how to make lemonade?

BE PATIENT. This is a time of change and things need to happen of their own accord. There is little to be gained by trying to speed up the process. If it takes you longer to get where you want to go, there might be a reason for it. It is often hard to figure out the big question, “Why is this happening to me?!” when you’re in the middle of the crisis. Allow for Divine wisdom to play a role in your life.

HAVE FUN. When you’re out of work, broke and down on your luck, having fun may be at the bottom of your priority list. Nudge it up closer to the top. Come up with a list of inexpensive things you could do to enjoy yourself. There is no virtue in suffering needlessly while you’re going through a difficult time.

ASK FOR HELP AND GUIDANCE. If you open up and talk about what you’re experiencing, you may be surprised by how many friends you have who want to help. You don’t have to go through this alone. But if times are really tough or you feel you may be getting seriously depressed, be sure to talk with a counselor.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Now is not the time to beat yourself up for any perceived mistakes, or to wallow in “what I should have done.” One of the biggest challenges most experience in the face of failure is knowing how to love ourselves through the process. Keep your heart and mind open. You’ll find that insight and wisdom will come through when you most need them to guide you in the right direction.

PRACTICE POSITIVE SELF-TALK. If you're a pessimist, you're likely to spend a lot of time with negative self-talk. "I can't do this." "Nothing works out for me." Or, "I have terrible luck," are all common examples. Whether you're facing an upcoming interview or giving a speech, pay attention to what you're telling yourself! It will make a dramatic difference in how you feel. Make a conscious attempt to shift the focus on any pessimistic thoughts. Try saying things to yourself like, "I know I'll get through this." "What could I do today to stay relaxed?" "There are many things I do well and today I'll stay focused on those."

I’ll end with a quote from Richard Carlson who wrote the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” series of books. “Let go of fear. The universe has an infinite supply of opportunity. There is plenty to go around. You may be surprised to see that something is coming your way right now!”

Some of my Favorite Things I’m really fond of the meditations at OrinDaben.com
They have one on creating abundance and another on finding inner peace which are two of my favorites. Best of all they’re fr*ee!

Fellow National Speakers Association member Sam Horn gave a great speech on what she calls "Serendestiny." I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

I often get emails from newsletter readers asking where I find my inspirational quotes. Here's a favorite site that's full of quotes on the topic of prosperity and abundance.

I just discovered Renee Stephens and her "Inside Out Weight Loss." She’s a coach, hypnotherapist and NLP trainer. Her podcasts are incredibly inspiring and very intuitive!

Closing My e-mail: Lynn@LynnRobinson.com
My Website: http://www.LynnRobinson.com
Archives of this newsletter are available at:
http://www.LynnRobinson.com/newsletter.html

Copyright (c) 2010, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this newsletter as long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached.

The author of this newsletter is Lynn A. Robinson, M.Ed. Lynn is one of the nation's leading experts on the topic of intuition. Her most recent books include:

LISTEN: Trusting Your Inner Voice in Times of Crisis (GPP Life 2010)
TRUST YOUR GUT: How the Power of Intuition Can Grow Your Business (Kaplan 2007)
DIVINE INTUITION: Your Guide to Creating a Life You Love (DK Books 1999)

Lynn’s free monthly "Intuition Newsletter" is available at her website, http://www.LynnRobinson.com.