Back in the day, Oriental doctors were only paid when their patients were well. Individuals would come to the doctor on a regular schedule to receive acupuncture and herbs to help them maintain their health. If they fell ill, the doctor would then work for free until the patient was well again. What a different concept from our Western allopathic medicine that focuses only on illness. Many of us believe that we only see a doctor when we are ill. Our current paradigm has trained us to seek help o...
Mar 15, 2014•30 min
“From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.” - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring For those who know me, they know my story of a physically illness being the catalyst to my path to personal and professional growth. Hitting my low point allowed me to take action and to make the changes in my life that were needed. It was difficult and I don’t wish it on anyone, but I wouldn’t be th...
Mar 14, 2014•30 min
On The Empowerment Show I like to keep the stories positive and helpful. But life is not always positive. Many of us have suffered amazing amounts of pain, suffering and abuse. That is unfortunately Stacey Giovanni’s story. Stacey is the survivor of childhood abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. At a tender age of 15 Stacey left an alcoholic home. She then lived on the streets and battled to stay alive trying to make her way in the world. However her story is not one of heartbreak, but ...
Mar 14, 2014•30 min
This week I had the honor of working with a local networking group. Together we uncovered the group’s personal brand. There are so many networking groups out there, this group wanted to stand out. They wanted to really promote what made them special. The key to finding what made them special was getting to the heart of the group. We did this by identifying Who, What, How, and Why. Who do they serve? Not everyone, but those people they truly relate to; their tribe if you will. What do they provid...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
Women are known for taking care of others. Our biology is based on bringing others into the world and nurturing them. There is such a blessing to that experience. Whether it is our own children or raising a child for another, it is an amazing experience and responsibility to care for another. However the frequent downfall is that women are so often caring for others that we have forgotten to care of ourselves. As a life coach, I see this again and again. The women I work with are so often focuse...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
My first conscious memory that we had a responsibility to the environment was in the form of two public service announcements. The first was a Native American crying by the side of the highway telling me not to litter. The other was Smokey the Bear telling me that, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Obviously a lot has changed since then. The importance of education has not. Awareness is one of the first tools I teach my clients. Without awareness, there is no change. Without change, our curre...
Mar 10, 2014•31 min
“There are roughly the same number of Americans who are obese as those who don’t know where their next meal will come from.” Kimberly Burnham said that and it blew my mind. Obesity is the result of a wealthy culture who can indulge in opulent meals. But the United States’ obesity problem is also the result of the quality of food available at prices the less fortunate can afford. With dollar menus on every corner, those pinching pennies are more likely to choose a fast food high fructose corn syr...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
One of the first times I remember recognizing my body’s capabilities was when I learned about broken bones. When someone breaks an arm, I assumed they went to the doctor and the physician fixed them. In fact, what happens is the doctor simply sets the arm and keeps it immobilized so the bone can grow back in the right place and in the right way. The doctor only aids in the body’s own ability to heal itself. Over the years, I have been afflicted by different health issues. At one point of my life...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
Communication can be difficult. Misunderstandings, misconceptions, and assumptions abound. We hear what we want to hear and not what is said. We react with our past emotions and memories versus reacting to the truth of the moment. We misinterpret and we get hurt. We feel fearful of speaking our truth and being ridiculed or abandoned. Talking to one another is something we do every day. Whether we do it in person, over the phone, online or via text, we are in constant communication with each othe...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
My guest on The Empowerment Show in June was Danielle Girdano. One of her many accomplishments is that the Dallas Business Journal named her in the 40 Under 40 Business Professionals for 2013. I am very happy for her and she deserves the distinction. When I heard she was recognized I thought, “Wow, I would love that designation.” But then I remembered I would not be eligible. I am over 40. For a split second I felt sad that this was not an accomplishment I could earn. Then I got over it. Unfortu...
Mar 10, 2014•48 min
I love the title of this new book by Tara Truax because so many aspiring entrepreneurs have probably felt that way one time or another. Who the Hell Am I to Start a Business could refer to the fear first time entrepreneurs feel. Perhaps someone has a great idea but is not sure they can make it a reality. Someone else may be ready to branch off on their own but is terrified to take the first step. There is a lot of fear attached to starting a new business. There are the personal doubts of our own...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
After the loss of his unborn child, John Bader himself was lost. As he writes in his book, The Responsive Universe : "Like the wind causing chaos on the ocean before my eyes, my mind was in an uncontrollable tailspin. Just days ago, I had witnessed my wife give birth to my lifeless son. A small strand of amniotic flesh had wrapped around his umbilical cord and had suffocated him to death. The doctors told us the chances that amniotic band syndrome could affect a healthy unborn baby was one in th...
Mar 10, 2014•30 min
Is there something you are afraid of? Is there something you are afraid to face? Dale Spencer had to face his fears, in order to recreate his life. Dale was leading the life of an average college student when at the age of 20 an unforeseen injury changed his life forever. Left paralyzed, Dale had to adapt to new ways of doing everyday tasks, getting around, interacting with people, finishing college and entering the workforce. He shares of he needed to come to terms with his dependence on others...
Mar 09, 2014•28 min
After a being misdiagnosed by thirty (30) doctors and experiencing side effects from the fourteen (14) medications, Dr. Archana Lal-Tabak took back her health and completely healed naturally. Today she now helps others return to health using modern and ancient techniques. We do not need to be a victim of our genes. We are not powerless in changing our experience of life and health. We have innate knowledge as to own healing capabilities. Dr. Archana Lal-Tabak Dr. Archana Lal-Tabak Modern medicin...
Mar 05, 2014•35 min
In 1968 a film came out with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda about two widows with eight and ten children respectively coming together and making a large merged family. It was a box-office success. And it was based on a real family, but it wasn’t the real story. True North by Tom NorthTom North, child number eleven of twenty in the Beardsley family, tells the full story in his book, True North – The Shocking Truth about “Yours, Mine and Ours.” The loving family portrayed in the film differed dramat...
Mar 05, 2014•29 min
Imagine leaving the United States for a grand adventure. Then learning what you really signed up for was more like a prison sentence where all your rights were revoked. This is what happened to Sheila Flaherty, a psychologist, who lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a year when her husband was transferred there. Coming from a land of privilege and a profession of distinction, Sheila found herself now treated as powerless chattel. But fate intervened as she began to counsel women in secret. ...
Mar 01, 2014•30 min
The other day a client of mine told me about a Facebook page, Delicious Dames Community Group, where she had been lurking for a few months. She finally had the courage to share her personal story about her eating disorder and weight loss. It was a big risk for her as she assumed there would be judgment, ridicule and attack. Instead she received a series of supportive comments on her courage and also a slew of others who said her story had strengthened their own resolve to talk and take action to...
Mar 01, 2014•30 min
“I was 29 and wheezing going up stairs!” Danielle Girdano was morbidly obese, smoking two packs of cigarettes a day and getting almost no physical activity. When Danielle realized that the XXL shirts and shorts were becoming too tight on her 5’4” frame she realized she needed to make a life change for her self-esteem and her health. “You have to make a commitment to yourself; nobody can make the decision for you. When you are honest with yourself and realize you only wear elastic shorts in the d...
Mar 01, 2014•31 min
I watched a wonderful film the other day, Opening Our Eyes: Global Stores about the Power of One. The movie shows individuals all across the world and close to home who are making a difference. Whether they are opening orphanages and schools in Nepal, providing clean water in Peru, or helping the teen homeless population in Australia these average people are having a major impact in the lives of others. Although their stories are amazing I often find them to be so far away from what I feel I am ...
Mar 01, 2014•30 min
Social Enterprise has much been on my mind lately. The concept is so foreign to the Wall Street “Greed is Good” I grew up with in the 1980’s. Social Enterprise is where for-profit business is blended with a non-profit giving back element. Sometimes it takes the form of a non-profit which creates a for-profit arm to self-sustain its mission. Sometimes it is a for-profit business that adds in a generous focus on heart and humanity. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Some Social Enterprises are like Tropical S...
Mar 01, 2014•30 min
After taking a class in stage combat, the women were patronizingly told they would never have a chance to use their new skills. In most theatre, the only time a woman is involved in stage combat is when they are attacked. But these women wanted to use their new talent. What to do? Well start their own theatre company of course. Listen to this amazing episode with Kathrynne Wolf and Leigh Barrett from the Babes with Blades Theatre Company as we discuss the roles, opportunities, and portrayal of w...
Mar 01, 2014•30 min
A few weeks ago I was invited to the Women’s Exchange in Winnetka to hear a talk by two documentary filmmakers. When I arrived I was surprised to find two young women, Sarah Moshman and Dana Michelle Cook, with a purpose. The goal of “The Empowerment Project” is to create positive content for women by shining a light on inspirational, powerful, and strong women in many career fields across the US. That evening there was terrific discussion about what made a woman extraordinary. One theme that ca...
Mar 01, 2014•30 min
A few years back, yoga was not very well known in the United States. Now yoga is appearing on many popular movies and shows. Yoga studios are popping up in most towns and often two or three in the same area. And most of the population nowadays knows what downward facing dog looks like. But do we really know what yoga is? Melissa Heisler, Empowerment Coach Melissa Heisler, Empowerment Coach For some, yoga is the latest exercise trend. Like aerobics in the 1980’s and the recent emergence of Zumba,...
Mar 01, 2014•31 min
Buddha’s Brain by Dr. Rick Hanson is one of the books that changed my life. In this book Dr. Hanson provided concrete scientific proof that we can improve our experiences by retraining our brain. The concept of neuroplasticity was instrumental in changing my life and the lives of my clients. Buddha's BrainIn Buddha’s Brain, Dr. Hanson explores the plasticity of the brain and how religious, spiritual and ancient practices of meditation and pray affect how the brain factions. His new book, Hardwir...
Feb 28, 2014•33 min
Starting out in your career? Want to make the most of your position? Want to find the ideal job? Listen to this lively discussion about finding an authentic and appropriate job even in this difficult economy. Then, once you have landed a new job how do you make the most of the position you are in, especially if it is less than idea. How do you move up in a company? How do you find the right mentor? What are the important ins and outs of making the most of your career? Ayesha R. Patterson shares ...
Feb 28, 2014•32 min
