“A Year On Your Path to Grow: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect With Your Soul,” by Keri Nola

Posted on by Tammy

The importance of a daily spiritual practice to connect us with our higher self and a higher power can’t be stressed enough. Whether its meditation, prayer, chanting, yoga or journaling, a daily spiritual practice can ground, center and strengthen us to tackle anything that comes our way.

One way to begin is to read something inspirational every morning to start the day on a positive note, and “A Year On Your Path to Grow: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect With Your Soul,” by Keri Nola is the perfect fit! Founder of Path to Growth LLC, a Central Florida-based integrative healing center that blends traditional and holistic techniques for journeys to peace, Nola offers 365 inspirational thoughts starting January 1 and ending December 31.

Each chapter is a new month and a new theme, such as February’s topic “Wrap Yourself in Love,” or April’s topic “Intention and Manifestation.” As a licensed mental health counselor, Nola offers thought-provoking and inspiring passages to awaken the soul within to the divine guidance available to us all. It’s like having your own personal life coach offering you advice and inspiration every day!

For example, the April 9 entry reads:

“What you think about, you bring about. When we spend our time and energy thinking about what’s “wrong” and “bad” in our lives, we miss the opportunity to spend our time and energy creating what feels “right” and “good.” Today, when you notice your mind visiting the “what if’s” and the potential catastrophes, acknowledge the fear and then balance it with something you’re grateful for…notice the shift.”

And the August 18 passage is as follows:

“Remember that there are no experts outside of us on the inner journey. Give yourself permission to get quiet and go within today to strengthen your relationship with your wise, intuitive self…after all, this is your most powerful resource!”

Whether you start at the beginning, turn to the day’s actual date, or just let the universe guide you as you open to a random page, this book can serve as an invaluable tool to those on the path to reconnect with spirit!

For more information on Keri Nola, visit www.pathtogrowth.com, connect with her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter @pathtogrowth.

ADAMA Minerals All-Natural, Plant-Derived Shampoo & Conditioner

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Zion Health offers a line of all-natural, plant-derived personal care products with vegan-friendly ingredients, and the newest products are its line of ADAMA Minerals hair products, including paraben-free shampoo and conditioner with jojoba and coconut oil, available online at www.kanwaminerals.com.

Adama Minerals hair products are known to nourish hair follicles, reduce dandruff, minimize the effects of psoriasis and balance scalp pH with anti-bacterial Kanwa (montmorillonite) clay – derived from rich volcanic ash. Kanwa clay provides more than 60 essential trace minerals that can improve scalp health and help prevent follicle waste build-up, according to the company.

For more information, visit www.zionhealth.net.

The Top 5 Grocery Store Tricks to Avoid

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By Lindsey Smith

Since America has turned onto a health kick recently, retailers and grocery stores alike are trying to keep up by adding new “healthy” items geared towards consumers’ wants and needs. However, when grocery shopping, it is very easy to get confused on what is actually healthy. After all, most foods on the shelf are all in the mind of the marketer. Advertisers know the tricks to make you think you are buying the healthier option, when in reality, you may not be.

Here are the 5 most common health claims to watch out for:

1.) Lightly Sweetened: This simply means sugar is either being replaced by a substitute or the serving size is smaller. For example, sugar will be replaced with High Fructose Corn Syrup, or the serving size will drop to one cup rather than one and a half cups. This can trick a consumer into thinking the item contains less sugar when it fact, it does not.

2.) “Good source of:” This statement simply implies the food contains a serving of a certain grain. However, they fail to mention you would have to eat an entire box of cereal to get the recommended serving of the “whole grain.”

3.) Reduced Fat/Sodium: In products such as microwavable meals, you will often find “reduced fat” or “reduced sodium” on the label. However, these products fail to tell you the fat is actually switched out for sodium and sugar. Or the sodium is switched out for fat and sugar. Depending on your dietary needs, this could be very important.

4.) Natural: This is a HUGE misconception in today’s grocery store. As more and more people are choosing organic, advertisers are putting the word “natural” into the mix. “Natural” has no standard in federal guidelines. In fact, many processed and refined foods can be considered natural because one ingredient came from the Earth. Always look for the USDA organic labels to ensure quality.

5.) Whole Wheat: Many companies put “whole wheat” on their labels. This is most often seen on products such as breads, crackers and chips. However, if you look at the ingredient list, the first ingredient is typically called “enriched wheat flour.” This is just a fancy term for white flour. So even though you think you are eating “whole wheat,” you are actually eating white flour. Look for products that say, “100% whole grain” to ensure quality.

Lindsey Smith, known as the “food mood girl” works with people who have a habit of looking to food for all the wrong nutrients: comfort, reward, fun and acceptance. Through speaking and coaching she motivates, equips and inspires people to sort out their relationships with food so they can live a healthy, balanced life. She is also the author of “Junk Foods & Junk Moods: Stop Craving and Start Living!” Connect with Smith via her Web site, www.FoodMoodGirl.com, on Facebook and Twitter @LindseySmithHHC.

How to Stay Positive Around Negative People

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By Jennifer Garza

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Human beings, by nature, are empathic. We intuitively pick up on vibes, including negative ones. If we’re not careful, we absorb them and send them back into the Universe. Not only is this unhealthy, it’s just no fun!

Below are tips on how to disconnect from negative people in your life.

Limit contact
Did you ever notice how dealing with certain people leaves you feeling drained? Limiting contact with toxic people can keep you from being mired down in negativity. If you must have contact with the person in question – say a co-worker or ex-spouse – focus on ways to limit contact and diffuse potential negative interactions without sacrificing your voice or power.

For instance, avoid a co-worker’s penchant for gossip by taking your lunch breaks in a different area. Or exchange custody of your children via a third party.

TIP: Do a cost/benefit analysis. If the cost outweighs the benefit, then distance yourself from that person.

Avoid reacting
During conflict with a negative person, avoid reacting or engaging. If you take the bait, you will get hooked. Taking the high road doesn’t have to mean not standing up for yourself. Simply state your stance without making reference to the person’s negative opinion, belief or attitude.

TIP: When faced with a person’s negativity, remind yourself it has little to do with you and is mostly due to their thoughts or feelings. Separate the negativity or attack from the issue or problem. Once the issue is identified, concentrate on discussing a solution, leaving out any counter-attacks of your own.

Establish boundaries
Boundaries are key when dealing with negative people. It may be a hard conversation, but if handled with finesse, can be liberating.

Suppose you have a sister who becomes verbally abusive on the phone when you disagree with her point of view. Let her know that you are no longer willing to be the brunt of her abuse. Convey your feelings about her behavior in a non-confrontational manner.

Say something like, “When you call me names, it hurts my feelings. It’s not fair to me, and from now on when this happens, I’ll be hanging up the phone.” Either your sister will change the way she interacts with you, or your phone calls will become very short. Either way, you’re teaching her to treat you with respect.

TIP: Look up “I statements” on the Web and study how to use them in conversations.

Jennifer Garza, M.S., has a master of science in counseling and psychology. She is a former therapist and has taught life enhancement classes at venues including college campuses, state conferences and prisons. She is the author of the inspiration journal “365 Days to Happiness: Use Your Strengths, Thoughts, and Dreams to Manifest a New Life.” Garza has been featured in Natural Health magazine, AOL, BusinessInsider.com, Young Entrepreneur.com, and on FTNS radio. Visit her website at www.authorjennifergarza.com or connect with her on Facebook.

Mindfulness Yoga Reduces Depression & Anxiety in Pregnant Women

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Researchers believe they found a link between mindfulness yoga and reducing depression in pregnant women, according a recent report published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

Women who were between 12 an 26 weeks pregnant, and showed signs of depression, participated in 10 weeks of 90-minute mindfulness yoga sessions focused on poses for the pregnant body, as well as support in the awareness of how their bodies were changing to help their babies grow, according to a report by Counselheal.com.

Researches discovered a mentionable reduction in depressive symptoms and a stronger attachment to their babies in the womb for those who participated in the study.

During pregnancy, hormones causing depression and anxiety can become a serious health concern, and if left untreated can lead to health risks for both the mother and baby such as poor weight gain, preeclampsia, premature labor and trouble bonding with the new baby, the report stated. Lead author Maria Muzik said developing feasible alternatives for treatment is critical.

“Unfortunately, few women suffering from perinatal health disorders receive treatment, exposing them and their child to the negative impact of psychiatric illness during one of the most vulnerable times,” Muzik said.

Mindfulness yoga – which combines meditative focus with physical poses – has proven to be a powerful method to fight stress and boost energy, the report stated.

Are you a Heartrepreneur?

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I remember coming out of the heartrepreneur closet several years ago when a mentor of mine at the time kept insisting that I needed a business plan full of charts and graphs with elaborate formulas to analyze this and that. My head immediately started hurting, and I became all flustered at the thought.

I then heard the voice of my inner wise woman say, “No, you don’t need those. That isn’t you.” For the first time, I allowed myself to take a breath and acknowledge (out loud—eeek!) that while business plans with charts, graphs and formulas may work well for others, they just aren’t the tools that resonate for me to use in my business building strategy.

After acknowledging this reality, I transitioned away from trying to stuff my circle self into a square hole and began moving with the flow of my inner pilot, saying “yes” to opportunities, people and places that connected with me and “no, thank you” to those that didn’t. I surprisingly and gratefully watched as my business expanded in tremendously satisfying directions.

To me, Heartrepreneurs are entrepreneurs that lead with their heart — when in doubt, we come back to our heart center, get quiet and listen for our inner wisdom’s guidance on how to move forward. We are courageous souls, men and women alike, and conscious leaders, invested in mindfully constructing businesses and organizations that resonate with our deep desire to contribute our unique gifts and skills in ways that make our planet a better place to live, work and play on. We have learned to set healthy boundaries, trust our instincts, and not be swayed away from our inner compass when the noise of the mainstream gets loud.

Qualities of a Heartrepreneur:

Has the courage to discover and ignite the flame within and let it guide your soul purpose.
Heartrepreneurs have the courage to acknowledge when fear may be getting in the way of following their soul’s purpose, and they have a practice that allows them to move through the fear and come back to their heart center before moving forward. Heartrepreneurs know that ideas without passion behind them often flounder, and they trust their instincts to move away from what doesn’t resonate with them, whether this be an idea, a partnership, or an opportunity. Heartrepreneurs align with their vision and purpose and respond accordingly. Does this sound familiar?

Engages authentically
Heartrepreneurs know authentic engagement is one of the keys to successful business building, and they are conscious about being authentic in their interactions as they navigate transactions with customers, clients, colleagues, staff, mentors, etc.

Accepts your limitless worth and value
Heartrepreneurs know in order to welcome abundance, they must be aligned with the truth that they are worthy of experiencing abundance. When we realize and accept ourselves as worthy and valuable human beings, our businesses expand in deeper and more meaningful ways.

Cultivates Relationships
Heartrepreneurs understand the value of relationships and know that along with engaging authentically, cultivating relationships is at the heart of successful business practice. Consciously working to develop meaningful relationships on a daily basis, heartrepreneurs maintain connections regularly rather than simply calling on people when they “need” something. Relationships are truly at the heart of our businesses and heartrepreneurs appreciate and share gratitude for the ways various people support their business and also reciprocate support by helping others in ways that resonate with them to do so.

Think less and Feel more.
Don’t get me wrong here, obviously Heartrepreneurs think. They are actually some of the most successful thought leaders in the world! The thing I believe Heartrepreneurs understand, however, is that their ability to feel their way through situations, allowing their heart to lead the way, keeps them centered on their greater vision and purpose so each decision can align with this purpose and thus the business can flourish accordingly.

Regardless of the businesses we are in, here’s to remembering the value of leading from a heart-felt place, a place that is conscious, authentic and honest, It is this place that welcomes a vibration of meaningful success!

Keri Nola is author of “A Year on Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect with Your Soul,” and founder of Path to Growth LLC, a Central Florida-based integrative healing center that blends traditional and holistic techniques for journeys to peace. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nola provides psychotherapy and facilitates therapeutic retreats for those seeking to reconnect with their inner wisdom, particularly after trauma or loss. She also offers heart-inspired business consultations for healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.pathtogrowth.com, on Facebook and Twitter @pathtogrowth.

NOTE: Picture of Keri Nola by Monica Alfonso