Destressifying

July 30, 2018  
 

Kudos to davidji on his book “destressifying: The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind,” published in 2015 by Hay House. I believe this is an excellent read for people who want to learn more about the science and research into the effects of stress and discover additional tools to manage stress – “destressifying.” davidji is an internationally recognized stress-management expert, meditation master, author and former Chopra Center COO and lead educator.  Early on in his career, he was in finance and M&A on Wall Street. I knew there was something about his journey that deeply resonated with me!  Just FYI, davidji is into lower case because he feels it is more graceful and flowing. 

As many of you know, I am an avid researcher and reader. I have been all my life -- since I was a little girl in school, continuing through my career as head of...

Take Back Control: How to Escape the Flight/Fright Response

July 16, 2018

When I worked in the high-powered, hard-charging world of Wall Street as a Managing Director at a top-tier Investment Bank, I used to say I was earning an advanced degree in stress management.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was simply stressed – and the physical, mental and emotional consequences were significant.  

There are several chapters in Be Happy NOW!: From Wall Street Ambition and the Illusion of Success, My Path to Happiness that deal with how I learned to let go and take control. Learning how to let go is a very deep topic – one I will leave for future Blogs.

As an “INFJ” (Personality Type “The Persistent Counselor”), I now turn all my strategic and analytical skills honed over 30 years in corporate and investment banking to working with clients to understand the pernicious and pervasive health effects of stress and how to reduce their everyday...

Your Invitation to a Party: Laughter Meditation

July 3, 2018 

Let’s have some fun! It is a popular misconception that meditation is a serious undertaking, with many rules. I am inviting you to a party – a Laughter Meditation on a beach. Please watch this video for at least 60 seconds and join the party! If the spirit calls, watch it for the full 5 minutes. 

How do you feel now? Are you present in this moment? Are you feeling lighter? Did you connect with your inner child? Did you have fun? I sure did!

Thank you, Corrinne Cosseron at www.laughterscool.org for the laughter meditation.

Because Laughter Meditation is unique, some background and warm-up exercises may be helpful. I found the structure and coaching in this short 3 minute video a very good introduction.  Essentially, the steps are:

1. Warm-up by stretching your body, making some funny faces and practicing animal noises.
2. Laugh for 5 minutes – fake it until you make it!
3. Relax and breathe

...

Managing Your Stress: One Size Does Not Fit All    

June 18, 2018

Coming back from New York City and a wonderful event at BookExpo 2018, exhibiting “Be Happy NOW!”, I am reflecting on a what I used to say when people ask me if I was stressed: “Oh, I am fine, thank you. I have an advanced degree in stress. I worked on Wall Street for almost 10 years as a Managing Director.”

Now, I have advanced certifications in stress management, big difference! My perspective and understanding of the physiological and psychological effects of stress has significantly expanded since I became a Certified Stress Reduction Specialist and an affiliate of From Stressed to Best^™ as well as an MBTI^® Certified Practitioner in 2013.

As an “INFJ” (Personality Type “The Persistent Counselor”), I now turn all my strategic and analytical skills honed over 30 years in corporate and investment banking to working with clients to...

June 3, 2018
 

My coauthor, David Prudhomme, and I just returned from an amazing 4 days as an Exhibitor for Be Happy NOW! at the combined event, BOOKExpo/BookCon 2018 at the Javits Center in NYC.  We are happy to report the world of books --- publishers, publicists, librarians, authors and readers – is vibrant and HUGE. We came away with some great new connections with an award-winning transformational author and publicist, a host of a nationally ranked radio show, hundreds of avid readers and new friends and fellow authors.

Going to NYC, aka “The City”, brought back many memories and some new discoveries.  

• The first night we found a great Asian fusion restaurant in the area known as Hell’s Kitchen. My Grandma raised her family of 7, including my mother Eileen, in a tenement in Hell’s Kitchen before they moved out to Bayside, LI. Grandma worked in the men’s shirt department at Macy’s, Aunt Mary, the oldest, oversaw the crew...

May 21, 2018

In the last 2 issues, we jumped into the deep end and discussed questions many of us often do not take the time to ask ourselves, such as: What is My Purpose? Who Am I? Who Are You?

In this issue, let’s take a broader perspective on the process – the key steps - in personal transformation. In “Be Happy NOW!” I share my list of the Six Steps to Happiness. A word of caution and it may sound counter-intuitive – this list is NOT a check list.  

Rather, the Six Steps to Happiness reflect an experiential learning process. Paulo Coelho, world famous author of “The Alchemist,” puts it this way:

                  “Is it possible to avoid Pain? 
                     Yes, but you'll never learn anything. 
                      Is it possible to know...

Let's Get Clarity: Who Am I? Who Are You?   May 7, 2018

When was the last time you asked yourself the question: Who am I? 

What if I suggested it was important to answer that question without reference to your name, title, family, your business, your past, your particular circumstances? 

Let us take a deep breath and pause for a minute before we dive into these questions. Consider the instruction from Lao Tzu in Verse 15 from The Tao Te Ching, as translated by Stephen Mitchell:

"Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear? 
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises from itself?"

This verse is a gentle instruction to be still a moment and let your mind clear of thoughts and distractions. Just breathe. Be still. Let your intuition guide you to the core of who you really are – and your actions will speak your truth. 

I know these are deep questions.  

So, let’s get tactical. One of the...

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I will be sending a bi-weekly email providing valuable insights and tips about managing stress, the habits of high performers and the story of my personal journey as told in “Be Happy NOW!”

We all want to live a happier, stress-less life and find more success, meaning and purpose.  I will also occasionally send you valuable opportunities for your enrichment.

Eight years ago I started my journey inward – and I did not even know it at the time. I thought I was just going to try a new approach to weight loss and stress management.  Little did I know about the amazing discoveries and experiential learnings of a journey that makes the time to look inside ourselves at deeper and deeper levels of awareness.

My journey started with Wall Street ambition and the illusion of success, as I thought that happiness was found in making big bucks, owning a...