Articles

October 10, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Women Leaders – Use Your Powerful Voice

Women Leaders: Finding Your Strong and Powerful Voice

Before we get started, let’s ask some questions.

When you speak, do people stop and take notice?
Do they listen to you?
Do you have the ability to command the attention of a room?

If your answer is yes, then you understand what it means to have an executive presence. If not, then it’s time to find your powerful voice.

Executive Presence

The Center for Talent Innovation, a non-profit organization in New York that specializes in research, completed a study on leadership. The study determined that the perception of being leadership material is an essential aspect of gaining a promotion to a leadership position.

According to the 268 senior executives that took part in the survey, having an executive presence accounts for 26% of what it truly takes to get that coveted promotion.

Executive presence was defined as the ability to project confidence, to be poised under pressure, and display your decisiveness and gravitas. Those were seen as the core characteristics of executive presence to 66% of the senior executives who were surveyed.

Communication and appearance can also contribute to the perception of executive presence. When it comes to communication, this includes assertiveness, speaking skills, and the ability to read a situation and an audience.

Women who can communicate with a strong and powerful voice exude a magnetism, an X factor, a wow factor, and have the ability to influence others easily.

People who have an executive presence speak up, using clear and strong language, learning to communicate with energy and passion. Part of this is using a tone of authority, as well as displaying positive body language.

The Struggle

We hear all the time that there is still a gap in the percentage of women vs. men in the boardroom. Women (and racial minorities) struggle to get into the upper echelons of companies, theoretically because the corporate culture has historically been the stronghold of white men. According to Forbes, 81% of women in business cite that feedback is confusing and contradictory, making it difficult to determine appropriate action.

Harvard Business Review found that many high-powered women who are extremely effective in their positions stumble when it comes to meetings and the boardroom. These women are admired by their colleagues, and inspirational, yet they struggle when it comes to meetings because they don’t consistently use their voices to assert their opinion.

They often become defensive when challenged, which leads to the failure to effectively communicate. They are hard working women who arrive on time and leave when the meeting is done – sometimes to go home to take care of their family, sometimes to go back to their desk to work on those time-sensitive work projects – while the men arrive early to network, and hang back to finish off chats. Part of finding your voice is using your voice to network and become more comfortable with the colleagues you work with.

Find Your Voice

You can learn to enhance your executive presence. A large part of that is finding your strong and powerful voice. If you are willing to deal with situations that are unpredictable that are typical of the leadership responsibilities at an executive level, and at your baseline you are self-confident, then you can learn new behaviors.

You should start by asking people you trust to provide you with honest feedback. Don’t ask people that will softball you – you want to hear the down and dirty. You want to know how others perceive your presentation skills, because how can you hone that without knowing where you’re going wrong?

Public speaking is an important part of any business job, and if you want to grow within a company you need to be able to communicate effectively and powerfully.

To find your strong and powerful voice you must identify your personal communication assets, such as speaking and thinking on your feet, listening, and maintaining composure under pressure.

Final Thoughts

Yes, I’m a woman in business. I retired from a great career where I managed people and carried great responsibility. Now I’m responsible for myself, and I’m always concerned about the message I send out and the ‘voice’ I use to spread the word. I mentored women (and men) throughout my career, and I’m doing it now in this fantastic business we call holistic healing.

If you’re afraid to find or use your voice, there’s probably some emotional baggage you’ve been carrying around with you from your past. When you get tired enough and are ready to let it go, we can explore just what it will take for your body to release it so you can feel confident in yourself and SPEAK UP.

You have a story. Don’t be afraid to use your strong and powerful voice to tell the world.

October 10, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Focus on Success

10 Tips to Focus on Success

Courage. Heart. Acumen. Accountability. All incredibly valuable traits, and all necessary for the success mindset.

Whether you want to experience serious changes or you’re looking to fine tune your reality, here are 10 tips to focus on success.

1.Redefine Accountability

Life, and business, will often place us into circumstances that are beyond our control. Your success doesn’t rest in the hands of others. It depends on you taking responsibility for your actions, your plan, and your follow-through. Yes, sometimes you have outside constraints, but in those situations YOU decide what is possible, and what is right for you. Take charge of your circumstances, whatever those may be. And don’t hold yourself to a standard that is impossible to meet. You shouldn’t feel that being true to your goals, and yourself, is impossible. If that feels true for you, it might be time to make some changes in your life. You are human. Cut yourself some slack.

Accountability is your gift to yourself. It is a mindset that you create and accept voluntarily – and it’s a way to help ensure your success.

2. Plan Your Success

You need to actually sit down regularly and work out the strategy you will require to achieve that success. Consider every detail, every step that will lead you to success.

Those plans may need to change from time to time, or be altered to adjust to current realities. Course correction is a necessary part of any journey, and being prepared by reviewing your project often can be a smart strategy to reach your goals.

With every dream, must come a plan. If you desire success, understand that it won’t just happen.

3. Believe in Your Success

If you don’t believe that you can attain success, how will you stay motivated?

Having giant dreams is tremendous, and your dream of success may seem as though it is beyond what you are capable of, but you must believe in the dream. Heart is key for true success.

4. Set Realistic Dreams

The goals of success and working towards a dream must be set in some basis of reality. Ask yourself, is the success truly achievable? Can it be done? This goes beyond believing, it goes to reality. If your dream is to prove that the sky is green and that grass is blue, how realistic is that?

Here’s an excellent example – A person without any education beyond high school has a dream that he can build a multi-million-dollar company. That’s a huge dream, but it’s believable – it’s happened before.

Now, here’s a terrible example – A 95-year-old man who suffers from arthritis and asthma decides to run a marathon tomorrow without his walker – and he hasn’t run in 25 years. That’s an immense dream, but also an impossible one!

5. Be Patient

Instant gratification is rarely an element of real success. Real success takes time, effort, and patience. When a seed is planted in the ground it needs water, sunlight, and the right environment to sprout, flourish, and bear fruit.

Yes, someone wins the lottery every day. But how many people bought a ticket? Winning is a slight possibility, but buying a ticket isn’t really a plan with a high chance of success.

6. Don’t Allow Circumstances to Control You

Life can throw all sorts of circumstances at us. We can sometimes fall victim to being left powerless, believing we don’t have the strength to change our reality without someone swooping in to fix things for us. Taking on the victim mindset leads to blaming the world for all our failures and our current circumstances. It can also lead to people living below their potential.

We look to others for help when we need a hand, but to let our circumstances define us – what we do, or who we are – is to willingly give away our own personal power. And then we are stuck living a life of weakness. Don’t fall into the trap. Take responsibility for your actions (and lack of action). It’s amazing what taking that first step can do for your self-esteem.

7. Ask for and Accept Feedback

Asking for the advice (and criticism) of others is a wonderful way to create and instill accountability. An important aspect of feedback is convincing people that you need honest feedback. Whether you’re asking your friend, significant other, mentor, or a colleague, give them the space to be honest in their opinion.

Anonymous feedback is better, because people are more inclined to be honest when they don’t have to worry about hurting your feelings. You’ll eventually learn what type of feedback is helpful and what you should disregard. No matter what you hear, process it non-judgmentally and decide how best to apply it.

8. Courage

Taking risks requires courage, and courage is needed to achieve success. Be brave, be bold, and reach for success as if your life depended on it.

9. Work for It

Those who achieve success work for it, and they work towards that success every single day. Are you working for your success? Do you focus on taking at least one single action every day no matter what?

You’re certainly not going to succeed by sitting on the couch watching Netflix, so the only way you’re going to succeed is by taking action. Now you have to decide what action to take next.

10. Perfect Your Decision Making Skills

The ability to make quality decisions is key to success. You are the master of your own life and your dreams, and the decisions you make move you toward your goals, successes, and dreams.

Spend some time regularly evaluating your decisions. Are they moving you toward your goal, or away? Maybe you need to make some new decisions. Set yourself up for success.

October 9, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Dehydration

The Health Consequences Of Dehydration

Water is considered a panacea for sustaining life as well as promoting health. You should drink at least eight glasses each day to replenish your body’s reserves and to prevent dehydration.

Dehydration can lead to a series of health issues. These complications occur as toxins and pollutants collect in the body when they aren’t appropriately “flushed” out of the system.

Side Effects Associated With Mild to Moderate Dehydration

When water is not regularly consumed, contaminants build up. These contaminants can cause illness or heath issues. People may complain of fatigue, digestive disturbances, headaches, pimples, dry skin, dry hair, or insomnia.

Severe Side Effects

While thirst, tiredness, dry mouth, dry skin, constipation, or lightheadedness may make up moderate symptoms, severe dehydration symptoms can include:

Rapid heartbeat
Shriveled inelastic skin
Dry mouth and mucous membranes
Extreme irritability
Confusion
Low blood pressure
Little or no urination
Sunken eyes
Rapid breathing
Fever

Check The Color Of The Urine

Thirst is not an accurate or reliable gauge if the body needs water. You can tell if you require more water by observing your urine’s color. While light-colored or clear urine means you are taking in enough water, urine that is dark yellow is a signal that you are not consuming enough H20. If you are observant, you can check your skin. If you can muscle test, you can immediately determine your hydration level.

Emergency Measures

If you are suffering mild to moderate hydration, increase your fluid intake by consuming Powerade or Gatorade besides water. These sports drinks contain electrolytes that can replenish what dehydration has taken away.

Immediate medical care is advised if you are suffering extreme thirst or feel dizzy or confused. If an older adult or child cannot keep fluids down, is disoriented, or has diarrhea, fever, or vomiting, either go the nearest emergency room or dial 911.

A “Nutrient” That Cannot Be Ignored

Both children and adults should drink plenty of water before and after exercise, or consume sports drinks like Gatorade that replace lost electrolytes. Water is a “nutrient” that cannot be ignored when it comes to good health. This is especially important when exercising because sweating removes water from our bodies and at this time, hydration is of utmost importance. Oral rehydration solutions can be given in the form of Pedialyte to ensure that dehydration does not become severe.

Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Water

In order to ensure you are getting enough water, also make it a practice to consume foods such as citrus, watermelon, tomatoes, and cantaloupe. Vegetables that help hydration include celery, greens, and lettuce.

Foods That Lead To Dehydration

While vomiting and diarrhea are the main causes of dehydration in people suffering from the flu or other illness, certain everyday foods can lead to dehydration too. If you are already mildly dehydrated, avoid the following foods:

French fries
Cured meats
Coffee (a natural diuretic)
Soy Sauce
Bouillon cubes
Soft drinks
Alcohol

Any sugary drink can lead to dehydration. So even if you think you are replenishing your system with that sugary cola, you are probably doing more harm than good.

Balancing Out Your Electrolytes

While consuming a small amount of soy sauce will not cause you undue problems, consuming an excess quantity can result in an electrolyte imbalance known as hypernatremia.

In fact, replacing one’s electrolytes can improve any health problems that stem from dehydration. That’s why sports drinks such as Gatorade are sometimes recommended for someone suffering from early dehydration symptoms.

Stay Adequately Hydrated Throughout The Day

Make it a point to get enough water each day. You can’t count that daily Starbucks in your liquid count, nor can you include that sugary soft drink you got out of the vending machine during your lunch break. H20 is still the best source for your hydration needs.

Healthy Substitutes

If you don’t like to drink plain water, choose a flavored water instead. Or find a good herbal tea with no caffeine (the caffeine acts as a diuretic and can contribute to dehydration). Juice, such as apple juice, cran-apple juice, or V8 are also healthy substitutes.

Be careful of additives, though. Steer clear of anything containing aspartame and other manufactured sugar substitutes, as they are foreign to the human body and have been shown to cause extreme health issues. Stick with natural sweeteners such as stevia, truvia, mung fruit, etc.

Vitamin water and various flavored water products have recently hit the market and can be a good alternative for those who really don’t like to drink plain water. However, keep in mind that some contain added sugars, so check the labels.

Read the label, and if you can’t pronounce the ingredients you should look for a cleaner, more natural alternative that will not introduce other toxins that can create new problems your body will have to process and handle. The fewer ingredients, the better. You want to drink water, not chemicals.

Final Thoughts

Make sure you are drinking enough water every day. Keep a container of H20 with you so you have it when you need it. Muscle test your hydration level or check the color of your urine regularly to make sure you are rehydrating properly. If you don’t know how to muscle test or don’t trust your muscle testing, we should talk.

October 3, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Your Body was Created to Heal

Has your body forgotten how to heal?

Do you seem to pick up every virus out there?

Is your immune system keeping you healthy, or does it seem like it has deserted you?

Do you have neck, shoulder, back, knee, or foot pain that you just can’t get rid of?

Your body was designed to heal. The cells of your body are being replaced with new cells as old ones naturally die off. That means that you have the opportunity to have a completely different body, without the aches and pains that are keeping you stuck and holding you captive.

When you get ready to shake them off, take action. If you’ve never tried energy healing, you just may be surprised at what can happen with your first session.

Can’t hurt to give it a shot. Get help now.

September 27, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Oregano Oil

Natural Healing With Oil of Oregano

As people become more wary of prescription drugs with their numerous side effects, and because of the limited existence of treatment modalities that look to more natural methods, people are looking for a more wholesome approach to health care.

In recent decades, holistic health care has seen a huge increase in popularity, though holism has been around for hundreds of years. In holistic care, natural alternative treatments can either accompany conventional medical care or simply be used on their own to elevate people’s overall health, wellness and wellbeing.

When most people think of oregano, they imagine some sort of delicious pizza, pasta, or salad dish accompanied with the unique tasting herb. While this is certainly one use of oregano, the truth is that oil of oregano actually has some remarkable healing properties that promote one’s overall health and wellness.

This unexpected oil also has a number of other qualities that make it worth looking into. Oil of oregano is inexpensive, has plenty of uses, and is wrought with health benefits for the mind and body.

What is Oregano Oil?

This aromatic herb is taken from the flowers and leaves of the oregano plant. This plant is a perennial herb that often grows as a bush and belongs to the mint family. A native of Europe, oregano actually grows and thrives in many places around the world, which means you can even grow some in your own garden.

The first known people to utilize the oregano plant were the ancient Greeks and Romans who, thanks to their immense appreciation of the herb, used it mainly for medicinal uses. The name “oregano” itself comes from the Greek words “oros” and “ganos” which mean mountain and joy respectively. It then translates to “joy of the mountain” literally, which is fitting considering its array of useful properties and qualities.

There are actually more than 40 species of the oregano plant out in the world but the one that is most beneficial and useful for natural healing is the oil from the wild oregano, also known as Origanum Vulgare.

This oregano species hails from the Mediterranean, and while it is easy to find and usually inexpensive, most oregano oils found in the grocery are not made from this species and therefore have little to no healing properties. The best species to choose from are the already mentioned Origanum Vulgare and the Thymus Capitatus native to Spain.

Oregano Oil’s Natural Healing Properties

Most households should add this essential oil to their first aid kits due to its wide range of healing uses. Oil of oregano is a natural and powerful antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial that can fight infections and other germs and disease. Here are a few uses for this amazing essential oil.

Soothing Colds and Sinus Infections: When inhaled, oregano oil can open the sinus passages and soothe pressure and discomfort associated with colds. Simply add a few drops of the oil to a pot of steaming water and then inhale the steam for the best results.
Treating Fungal Infections: Oil of oregano is ideal for treating foot and nail fungus. By simply adding a few teaspoons of the oil to a basin or tub of water and soaking your feet in it, you can combat the harmful and uncomfortable effects of fungal infections. The oil can also be diluted by adding a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil to it. Once this is done, it can be added directly onto nails and skin to fight fungus.
Kill Parasites and Infections: After diluting the oil with a drop of coconut or other carrier oil, place a small amount under your tongue. Hold the oil there for just a few minutes and then rinse. This process should be repeated at least four times a day for best results.

Health Benefits

By adding oil of oregano to your pantry and first aid kit, you and your family can enjoy varying benefits. Since oregano oil has so many uses, it can be the go-to tool for plenty of health and wellness problems.

Viruses, various infections, pains, parasites, skin problems, and more are no match for this essential oil. Buy it, make it, store it and eat it to enjoy the healing effects of oil of oregano.

Nutritional Needs

Do you know which oils, spices, herbs, foods, and vitamins your body craves? Or which ones it can’t tolerate or process efficiently? Talk to someone who can translate what your body is telling you. Schedule your next session and get your questions answered.