Life Success Strategies for Soulpreneurs®

Love is always the answer - a story...

After a long hiatus from this blog, I'm back at it again. Most of my time is spent growing and marketing the residential construction business, owned by my husband, my son, and myself. It's a full time job and then some...

Today, however, I read a story in the July 2011 Science of Mind magazine that I had to share. Giving Joanne McFadden, Science of Mind Minister, and Science of Mind Magazine full credit, here's the story.

"Australian mother Kate Ogg was devasted when doctors tried unsuccessfully to resusitate one of her twins after his premature birth. Nurses placed her son on her bare chest, so that she could say goodbye. Ogg told reporters that she and her husband wanted the baby to know that they loved him.

After five minutes, he began to move. The doctors dismissed the movements as reflexes, telling the couple that their son was most certainly not alive. Ogg continued to hold him for two more hours, after which he opened his eyes and then began grabbing at his parents' fingers. They asked the nurse to bring the doctor, who refused to come, holding steadfastly to the belief that the baby was not alive.

The couple used a ruse to finally lure the doctor back to the room, where he was able to hear the baby's heartbeat. "I don't believe it," he responded."

After reading this story, my first thought was "love is always the answer". No matter what you're going through right now, and many of us business owners are going through some rough times, keeping the faith and creating relationships built on love and respect is the answer. If you can hang in there and keep your focus on loving where you are, and where you're going, eventually you'll get there.

As we say in Science of Mind - "And so it is..."

Finding peace in a chaotic world

I found this wonderful "poem" recently in Unity's Daily Word.  Hope you can use it in your life.

I Understand - by Jay Woods

When I understand    
I stand under

When I stand under  
I support

When I support   
I lift up

When I lift up  
I raise

When I raise
I praise

When I praise
I encourage

When I encourage
I strengthen

When I strengthen
I empower

When I empower
I release

When I release
I let go

When I let go
I let God

When I let God
I understand...

The Secret of a Prosperous Economy - a Little Willingness

 

I read a description of how bees stay warm on cold, dark nights in Daily Guideposts.  When it gets cold, the colony of bees bunch together closely in their hive.  As they stay in close contact with each other and vibrate their abdominal muscles in unison, the rhythm stirs the air inside the hive and keeps them warmer. 

This reminds me of how much easier it is for us to withstand the cold and impersonal economic conditions we're all facing right now, if we do it together.  Instead of feeling like we're each alone in our fears and worries, if we band together and support each other in our lives and businesses we will feel stronger and better able to face this temporary situation.

What if we gave up criticizing and complaining and instead started looking for ways we could help each other?  What if we started asking ourselves how we can make someone's life better today through being kind, helpful; and even financially when we can?  I have a hunch that the more we look outside of ourselves for ways to serve the well being of other people, the better all our lives will become. 

If we want to change the outlook of the world, it has to begin one person at a time.  I'm willing - are you?

Surviving Your Small Business Startup – 3 Stress Relief Tips

When I worked for a large corporation, I worked long hours at times.  I thought it was necessary to maintain a level of respect from my peers and my managers.  It also didn’t hurt when it came time for evaluations…

Now that I’m, thankfully, self-employed I sometimes work even longer hours – but not to impress others – it’s for me and my family and to maintain the blessed freedom I so love.

For many years, being newly self-employed, we didn’t take vacations, only long weekends occasionally.  But that kind of hard work and dedication is not usually best for anyone in it for the long haul.  Everyone needs to give themselves time off for rest and relaxation.

A couple of years ago we bought a time share week in Palm Desert, California.  We took advantage of a free three-day getaway and fell in love with the area.  Now we take 2 – 3 weeks of time off every year, and come back rested and refreshed, and with a new perspective on our businesses.

If you’re a new business owner and feel that you can’t take time off yet, here are three tips for you to survive without feeling like a workaholic.

1.       Stop frequently throughout the day and take a rest and refresh break.  Go for a walk in the middle of the day and empty your mind of all thoughts that have to do with work.  Be fully present in your nature walk and let it rejuvenate your mind and spirit. 

2.      Take a 5 – 20 minute rest after your lunch break.  Sit back in your most comfortable chair, close your eyes and do nothing.  Sit there until you feel the stress draining from your body.  When you feel ready go back to work, you’ll be amazed at what a difference this quick mid-day rest break can make in your attitude and ability to think clearly.

3.      Get up from your desk at least once every hour and take a stretch break.  Get your adrenaline pumping by doing arm circles, touch your toes, roll your shoulders backwards and forwards, or do desk Yoga.  I have a wonderful CD-ROM of Yoga postures you can do at your desk.  It’s called 15 Minute Office Yoga.  You can get this and other wonderful Yoga videos at this website http://bodywisdommedia.com/yoga_main.php .

If you still feel like you can’t take the time to give yourself a break, I’ll leave you with this wonderful quote from C.J. Hayden’s book Get Clients Now! ™ - “You are the biggest asset your business has.  Taking care of yourself is taking care of business.”

© 2008   Sandy Reed - All rights reserved

Want to use my articles in your ezine or website?

You're welcome to, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

"Sandy Reed is the President and Founder of the International Association of Women in Family Enterprises (IAWIFE).  She is a professional business coach, writer, and co-owns her own successful family business.  If you're ready to take your family business to the next level of success; receive support, education, and connect with like-minded women, join her members at www.iawife.com.  Sandy's business building articles have been published in True Wealth and Simply Home magazines."