MY Authentic Life Magazine May 2018 by Purposeful Living By Maria Rea

MAY 2018

Authentic Life

magazine

MOVE FROM EXHAUSTION TO EXCITEMENT UNABASHED JOY BLESSING OR SUFFERING? YOUR CHOICE! WHEN HEALTHY FOODS ARE JUST PLAIN WRONG

ERIC ZULEY

Living Life The eZWay

Enjoy the Journey

Changing Lives with a Life Changing CALLING ALL • Entrepreneurs • Foundations, Organizations, Non-Profits • Existing Publishers

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h g Magazine Our Mission is to create awareness by designing a customized magazine for local communities, organizations, or foundations through our publishing efforts. By highlighting true-to-life stories and articles that touch the hearts and minds of so many, we educate, empower and inspire readers. Making your publication a must have in any community, organization, foundation or non-profits.

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There is nothing as powerful as a

MOTHER’S LOVE

and nothing as healing as a

6 | MY Magazine

CHILD’S SOUL

Happy Mothers Day

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C O N T R I B U T E R S

Maria Rea As the founder of MY Authentic Life Magazine, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read our extraordinary publication. We aspire to empower and inspire you with articles written by our amazing writers. I believe we are all here for a reason greater than ourselves and to serve a divine purpose. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how we choose to react to what is placed before us that allows us to succeed.

Jennifer Knutson

Andrew Savoy

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Authentic Life

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MY Authentic Life magazine is a monthly publication that encourages others to live their best life. MY Media and Publishing Group makes every effort to provide accurate information in advertising, editorial content and placement: however, we do not make any claims as to the accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and will accept no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information or placement. No content can be duplicated without the permission of MY Media and Publishing Group. For inquiries e-mail maria.mymediagroup@gmail.com. 8 | MY Magazine

Liz Bull

Mella Barnes

writers

contributing

Kathryn Andries Patrick Andries The Dream Experts

Sharon Carne

Annabell Cohen

Wini Curley

Tamara Green

Dr. Nekeshia Hammond

Jackie Lapin

Judy Lipson

Lisa Marie Platske

Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFPÂŽ

Catherine Saykaly-Stevens

Kate Sholonski

Gary Stuart

Janette Stuart

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 9

from the publisher

Be The Exception Not The Rule

We live our lives in the hope of following our dreams. We start our journey by being driven by our goals and aspirations, but often times it dwindles as time goes by. Before you know it, you find yourself living a very common life. There are far too many people who continually lower their standards, who settle and compromise their integrity taking the easy way out and conforming to what’s around them. They become common, and therefore, they are the rule, not the exception. Learn to be uncommon, a person of excellence. When you make the decision to be unstoppable, you agree ‘not’ to conform to any one mold. When you do that, you begin to see uncommon things manifest in your life. You experience uncommon breakthroughs, uncommon opportunities show up and you encounter uncommon victories.

“If you knew who walks beside you on the path that you have chosen, fear would be impossible.”

Your strength is in your higher self, not your ego. Your ego will often times tell you, you shouldn’t, it will justify why you can’t, and it will listen to others rather than your inner knowing. You may be surrounded by naysayers, people who don’t believe in you, people who are jealous of your abilities or people who simply don’t want the best for you. But it is up to you to know that you are worth it and that you have the ability to stand out and do whatever is in your heart. When you decide to make the conscious choice to be uncommon that is when you become the exception, not the rule. So what is it you want to do with your life? Many years ago I started a publishing business when it wasn’t cool to do so. I started a lifestyle magazine in my local community at a time when everything was going online and print seemly was dissolving or was it? Today, after building a successful publishing company myself, I now help others to start their own successful publishing business by teaching them to become a leader in their community with my successfully proven training program, Magazine Wisdom – Create a Publishing Company that Rocks! This program includes one–on–one training, collaboration with other publishers and group trainings on how to be successful in the magazine world. I personally walk you through the process to ensure your success. Why wait years to make the income and have the success that you desire when you can begin to do it now. To find out more all you have to do is visit my-mediagroup.com/entrepreneur or e-mail me for a complimentary call to answer any of your questions. Isn’t it time to make your life work for you?

Maria Rea – Publisher maria.mymediagroup.com myauthenticlifemagazine.com 10 | MY Magazine

You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great.

MAGAZINE WISDOM Create a Publishing Company that Rocks!

For entrepreneurs who aspire to build their own successful magazine business in their local community. Combining hard copy magazines with an online presence proves to be the best of both worlds for it’s readers and supporters. In this 10-month program you will work with Maria to create a financially successful business by implementing her successfully proven techniques. by implementing our highly achieved training guidelines.

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IN THIS ISSUE may 2018

feature

page 12

Eric Zuley Living Life the eZWay

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Talk To Tamara The Relationship Whisperer

26 30

Discussing Mental Health Shouldn’t Be Abnormal One Introverts Experience at the March for Our Lives 3 Reasons Why Your Instagram Growth and Engagement May Be Stalled

44 48

7 Simple Ways to Save More Money Don’t Let Overwhelm Stop You Move from Exhaustion to Excitement

54 58

70 72

78 82

The Power in Your Voice Blessing or Suffering? Your Choice! The Dream Experts What Does Your Dream Mean What Can Crystals Do for Your Creativity? Visability

My Trust Manifesto When Healthy Foods are Just Plain Wrong

Honor Your Mom

Unabashed Joy myauthenticlifemagazine.com 13

LIVING LIFE THE

eZWay

14 | MY Magazine

ric Zuley is a successful entrepreneur, awardwinning marketing and media strategist, T.V. host actor and personality, keynote speaker, and philanthropist. He is the CEO of “eZWay” Network, which is a marketing and media firm that specializes in delivering world-class content via multiple digital platforms, with subsidiary brands including eZWay Broadcasting, Promotions, T.V., Magazine, and Mobile. Success does not escape this dynamic and influential leader who is known and respected all over the world. Eric has built a worldwide brand that most could only dream of. With his Social Media savvy and cutting-edge technology, Eric’s influential relationships put him in a league of his own.

CEO and Founder of WTV/WTV Network’s and eZWay Broadcasting is said to be paving the way for the transition of Media and Marketing in the digital age. Recently I sat with this media mogul to find out a bit about his life and what makes him who he is today. He shares what drives him to be not only the best at what he does but his desire to help others along the way.

Eric Zuley

Eric Zuley was born for greatness. Raised by his father, Eric continues to have a very close relationship with him to this day. At a young age Eric, like many boys, excelled in and loved sports mainly Baseball, Soccer, and Basketball. Dynamic in nature, Eric also loved magic and created magic shows as a kid, adopting the name EZ (his

initials) from his peers, later carried the EZ brand into his future businesses. At the age of 20, Eric created his first entrepreneurial business, ‘What U Need Productions’ by EZ studios and also persuaded his love of rap/ dancing, and became a rap performer. It was through rap and dancing that Eric learned the life lesson of, how you do anything is how you do everything. “I met the producer of a music group, Eric shares, who I worked with for a bit and created a group called M.C.ology. I was then asked by a friend of mine to perform at the Garden Grove Hyatt for an event he was doing to help kids of adversity stay away from gangs and drugs. I believe that the way you present your ambiance is the way you will create your future. So when I went to the event, I showed up in a SUV stretch limo with 14 attractive women wearing t-shirts with my business name ‘What U Need Productions’ on the front of them. I showed up like a rock star and knowing nothing about Hollywood, I knew this was a great way to stand out and be remembered.

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 15

Klohe Kardashian & Lamar Odom (TV Personality, Sports & Reality Star).

What happened was, a very well known publicist in Hollywood noticed the ambiance, watched my show, wanted to know who I was and later came to me and said, ‘I like your charisma, I like your style, here’s my card, call me.’ She noticed because I stood out.” That day changed Eric’s perspective and life forever. As a rap artist/dancer, Eric was asked to be a part of a dance documentary which exposed him to the whole new world of Lights, Camera, Action. Being a Marketing and Communication specialist, and now being introduced to the TV world, lit Eric up. He knew this would be something really cool to explore. “I was introduced to the producer and I asked him, ‘what do I need to do to do this?’ He told me that I needed to be a people person, and that is when I vowed to make that happen. So I collected everyone’s business cards, went back to the producer and said, ‘is this enough of a people person for you?’ Handing him a huge number of cards. That must have impressed him because two months later I was called to host a national trade show. As a kid, they called me EZ so it was very familiar to me when this producer gave me the hostname of EZ. At that point, he handed me the scripts 16 | MY Magazine

Howie Mandel (TV Judge, Host)

to memorize and I asked him if he had any objections to me just winging me it, doing it my way. He really didn’t want me to but said, hey this is your audition; if you want to blow it, go ahead. So I did it, and it was amazing. That is when eZWay was born.” Interviewing, talking to people with easy, connecting others, and making life happen is what Eric does, it’s what he loves to do. Having an opportunity to work with American Radio Network, Eric learned the in’s and out’s of radio creating his own show. After interviewing many on the Red Carpet, Eric’s life was going better than he had ever thought possible. He was living life with ease.

When you do the right things and you do them with joy, life conforms to your actions. After creating 5 YouTube channels; Zuley grew a youtube channel of 13 million+ viewers, a successful PR firm; eZWay Promotions, eZWay Accesses; a social media platform that brings an empire of people together to support one another, also known as the eZWay family, and then eZWay Network which encompasses all that he does under one umbrella. Knowing where digital media was transitioning Eric and his team created eZWaytube.com a similar platform that helps the independent get their content on mainstream tv and the elite to see it. With the help of Eric’s partners and affiliates, eZWay currently reaches over five hundred million people in 164 countries across all of his platforms. iLaunch Global, Voice America, Actors Reporter, Soul Central Magazine to name a few.

Believe in miracles for with God all things are possible Eric has always had a very close connection with his father, so you can imagine his devastation when he was informed that his Dad had been diagnosed with Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. “There is no question that before this happened I was a different person, hearing the diagnoses changed me. I am an only child; it’s always been pretty much just my dad and I. When I heard that he had one of the worst kinds of cancer and that he was likely to die, it can’t help but change a person and instead of getting angry, I began to pray.

WEEKLY BILLBOARD MAGAZINE HAS DUBBED ERIC ZULEY #7 OF THE ‘TOP TEN MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE ON TWITTER’ IN 2015. COLD HEAT NEWS PUBLISHED ERIC ZULEY AS THE “DIGITAL DICK CLARK. With all of the fame that comes along with what Eric is doing, he remains very humble in the work he does. “I have been very blessed in the path that I have chosen, I am able to help many. That is when you know that what you are doing is from a higher power.”

Anthony Anderson (Actor)

Eddie Griffon (Actor)

Christopher Knight (Brady Bunch) myauthenticlifemagazine.com 17

Photo courtesy of Doug3D

iLaunch eZWay Alliance Announcement Eric Zuley’s eZWay Network and iLaunch Global Alliance have created a force to be reckoned with, especially in the TV/Media Industry, both domestic and internationally, reaching well over 100+ countries.

iLaunch Global Entertainment TV has become a marketing and channel distribution conglomerate that offers an array of services. iLaunch Global Entertainment TV (also known as “iLaunch” and/or “iLaunch Global”) is the Alliance Umbrella for eZWay TV Network, SHE-TV Network, Foods Denise Millett-Burkhardt (Co-Chariman iLaunch Global) of World-TV and of course, the My-Holyfield TV Network. iLaunch Global Entertainment TV is an OTT (Over the air I remember one night while I was asleep, I saw TV), Cable, Mobile, IPTV, Set-Top Box TV, TVmyself falling to my knees in front of this brilliantly Stick, &amp; Mainstream TV Network, owned bright white light. I felt truly present in knowing by Evander Holyfield’s Family. My-Holyfield TV that this was God and I knew that he would help Network does air locally in Los Angeles on KMRZ’s me. I remember saying, I will be your vessel, I Channel 6.1, reaching 3.8 viewers on Channel 6.1. promise, please just give me my dad back. It was almost immediately after that dream that people Recently SHE-TV has launched on channel 30 in Los started showing up to help my dad. People who Angeles. having realized that iLaunch airs positive could make a real difference, and it wasn’t long content, Eric was able to acquire his own TV network before we saw signs that he was beginning to heal. channel airing on all iLaunch Global Platforms. Today my Dad is cancer free. I have no doubt Services that are provided by that it is a result of the personal conversation and iLaunch/eZWay. promise I made to God that night. My faith is strong and the promise to be a vessel of love for Our advertising team will assist you with your product, him remains, and something I work on everyday.“ or brand, to reach a regional and/or worldwide audience. We are contracted with Smart TV Portal Eric’s creation of eZWay Access Device Providers that have deployed our Network App in over 6 million Thomson Smart TV’s in S. E. eZWay Access is a lot like Facebook, EricZuley1, Asia, Vietnam, India, Europe, and Russia. We have and it’s the eZWay’s official social network site. It imploded on the TV2GO mobile App that is now is surrounded by like-minded people, corporate downloaded in over 100 countries. One of the fastest entities, non-profits, doctors, and celebrities, who growing linear TV Network Mobile Apps; growing have all taken an interest in this social platform. from 24 countries to over 100 countries within 4 Although in it’s initial stage, it has already taken months. The TV2GO App brings us to Amazon Fire, form and promises to be fast growing. iPhone, iPads, Google Play, iTunes, Apple, Android and more. We continue Television Broadcast in major “In the next couple of months, we will be markets such as Los Angeles CA, Tyler TX, Decatur marketing & opening up our site to allow others AL all the way to Jackson MS. We are on various Roku to share as well. Currently, we are allowing people Channels, and Connected TV Boxes, COMCAST, to join if they go directly to ezwayaccess.com. “ VIACOM, as well as, a new IPTV European and US For now it is kind of invite only. 18 | MY Magazine

platform, M2Morrow. Our channels are available to all 21+Million Subscribers on Directv via the “MyTvChannels.info” ala carte’ package. Our goal is to bring the best entertainment possible; the audience will be able to watch what they want, when they want, where they want, and how they want to watch it! eZWay Networks media web and print distribution partners are Voice America, Actors Reporter, Hollywood Weekly Magazine, Soul Central Magazine (UK) FanTV Global Network. iLaunch eZWay has signed over 40 shows and through a mutual sponsor, there will be a 40-foot tour bus shooting a reality show via www.safesolutionsnow.com where baby boomers make a difference from community to community and technology doesn’t agree with them. “All of these things that I am so blessed to be doing are truly gifts from God. I was given the gift of Marketing and Branding and I plan to help as many people as I can.” What is it that excites you to get up every morning? “I like helping people. It’s that simple. Helping powerful influencers who are making a huge difference in the world excites me. I love waking up every day knowing that I will meet someone new that will lead me to something great. What am I meant to link up with for God? I’m in the position now to position other people in a really

big way. I like knowing that it can be done the eZWay, it doesn’t have to be hard.

Eric’s advice for living your best life. “Live to serve. It’s reciprocity - the more you serve others, the more others will serve you. I would encourage everyone to look at their lives and evaluate what they are doing. Is it for the right reasons? Is it truly to help others? I would also suggest you find likeminded people and surround yourself with a great team; your success is a direct reflection of the team or people you surround yourself with. I am a big believer in the power of appreciation. Appreciation is a big part of success as well, be grateful for those willing to help you. You will always have people who will judge you; it’s okay to not to let them in. Be the light and don’t allow the darkness in. Often times people will get angry when they don’t have access, they may try to pull things or people from you, but those honest and authentic people will stay. Always appreciate those around you because you can’t eat without the legs on your table. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate my eZWay Family who has stuck with me through thick and thin. Eric continues to work on work/ life balance, something we all have to do. I appreciate my Dad for supporting and investing in me. My Dad has been my rock and as of today, he continues to be my influence.

NEW SHOWS ON iLaunch eZWay EZ TALK LIVE WITH Eric Zuley & Dante Sears GET HAUTE with Jessica Surls Mindset Reset with Robert Clancy Talking with our Angels with Swami the Orange Cowboy The Book That Jesus Read Non-Profit Soldiers produced by Eric Zuley, Ian and Saski Glover Zone DL Pictures and Dante Sears Radio Boomers Live with James Zuley and Reatha Grey GAME CHANGERS produced by Eric Zuley and Dante Sears Holly and Pattie Show with Holly Fire Mead and Pattie Godfrey Sadler SMART TALK by Safe Solutions Now produced by Eric Zuley and Dante Sears ezwaynetwork.com ericzuley.com | ezway.tv Connect with Eric at www.itsmyurls.com/ ericzuley

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Loving MY Authentic Life

22 | MY Magazine

Talk to Tamara Tamara, the relationship whisperer, is like a walking instruction manual for all of your love, dating. and relationship questions. Ask her your burning questions and she’ll guide you in the direction that is right for you. by Tamara Green

Hi Tamara, I have been told by many people, including a therapist, that I’m a control freak. I admit that this is true. I don’t really understand why I feel this way and how to manage it. As a single woman trying to navigate online dating, I’m finding myself thoroughly frustrated and disappointed on a daily basis - it seems like nothing is within my control. Why do I have such a need to control everything in my life? How do you suggest I begin to release my controlling behaviors? Signed: Ms. Megalomaniac

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 23

Dearest Ms. Megalomaniac, Congratulations on being open for change! Before I answer your questions, let’s get more clear on what a ‘control freak’ really is. Since you’re open for change (which hard-core control freaks aren’t), I’m going to assume that you’re not a full-blown control freak, but do have some traits.

Set and expect high standards from themselves and others.

CONTROL FREAKS: Prefer to do things themselves because they don’t trust that others will do it right.

Your first question was about understanding why you have a need to control. In your childhood, did you feel helpless or did everything around you feel out of control? Or, maybe you thought you were smarter than everyone else. and felt you always had the right answers to everything. In both scenarios, you’re terrified of being unprepared (or having the answers), blindsided (feeling unsafe or vulnerable), or exposed (feeling powerless or abandoned).

Believe that they’re perfectionistic vs controlling. Tend to be workaholics. Can be critical of others, especially if someone is not doing it their way. Are impatient listeners and think they know what’s best for others.

I could go on and on, but you’re beginning to get the gist of how control freaks operate. Dearest reader, does any of this resonate with you?

Have you noticed that the more controlling you become, the more out of control things seem to be? Then, you blame others for how you feel, which makes things even worse. In needing to be in control, you’re unconsciously assuming that you have no control. This is not true because you control itself (a positive way of defining control - more on this later). However, the underlying fear of not having control rules your life. It’s like living in a box, confined to your negative judgments, which keeps you operating from a contracted rather than an expanded place. Simply put, you’re completely rejecting other possibilities because you’re not open or tuned in to them. Here’s an exciting truth - you are not wrong, nor weak, nor broken. In fact, quite the opposite. You are powerful and filled with awareness, and always have been. You’re not fully operating from intuition (or presence) because you’ve never been taught how to tap into it. This leads us to your second question of how to release your controlling behaviors. Below are some tools that will begin the process of releasing control to help you open up to the possibilities the universe has in store for you. It’s all about being present.

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of being the creator of YOUR experience. I Am Power - You are pure energy (an energetic being) that dances and plays with the energy of others and the world around you. When you repeat the mantra “I Am Power,” you claim yourself as the powerful energy that you are.

ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR THE ‘CONTROL FREAK’ IN YOU Lao Tzu wrote, “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” Presence is where you create from, where the universe gives to you, and where you actualize your visions. Saying “I Am,” puts you in the present moment - always! There are four “I Am” statements that are quite dynamic and effective. The following ideas came out of a wonderful little book titled How To Become Money Workbook available at www. accessconsciousness.com. I Am Creativity - What’s the vision you have for your life? What would like to experience? You activate the generative energy of this vision when you repeat the mantra “I Am Creativity” and take ownership

I Am Awareness - By claiming this, you acknowledge a knowing that the world will be as you perceive it. How you view the world equals the energy you’re creating from. For example, you see online dating as frustrating and disappointing, so you will continue to experience online dating as frustrating and disappointing until you have an internal shift - an awareness that you’re in the driver’s seat of your life and creating everything that you experience. It’s all based on where you’re placing your attention. Therefore, when you place your focus on the mantra “I Am Awareness” you are cocreating with the universe with ease, joy, and glory. I Am Control - By claiming this, you recognize that the world is your oyster. There is never a worry about how you get there, but rather an awareness that the universe will work with you to

create your vision. Saying “I Am Control” is being in allowance, knowing that the universe takes care of everything at the right time and place. The key is to maintain your vision, power, and awareness within your life, within every action, within every thought, feeling and emotion. Say these mantras every morning and night until you become creativity… until you become power… until you become awareness… until you become control. This is how you create a better version of yourself now. Elle Magazine dubs Tamara Green, LCSW “The Soulcentered Love Expert.” She is an author, speaker and trainer, helping thousands of people to navigate the waters of love, dating and relationships – all while falling madly in love with themselves in the process. Trained as a Love Mentor® by Dr. Diana Kirschner, Individual and Couples Psychotherapist, Meditation Practitioner and Hypnotherapist, Tamara’s coaching is highly effective as she combines her many years of professional training with her gifts as an energy healer, intuitive and seer. As a result, Tamara creates an exciting catalyst for deep emotional healing, giving her clients greater success in life and love. She has devoted her life to helping women rise out of pain and fear so they can finally experience the long lasting and loving relationship of their dreams. As well as working 1-on-1, Tamara offers free weekly meditation audios that take you on a journey of love with ease and joy. Please follow Tamara Green, LCSW at twitter.com/tamaragreen4u Join Tamara’s community at tamaragreen.me; facebook.com/TGreenLoveExpert; and youtube at: youtube.com/channel/ UC9MqTnZEJYNEpKnwrjsZ40A myauthenticlifemagazine.com 25

DISCUSSING MENTAL HEALTH SHOULDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BE ABNORMAL by Nekeshia Hammond, Psy.D.

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tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sad but true. Here we are in 2018, and the subject of mental health is still one many are ashamed or afraid of discussing. For as far as society has come in so many respects, we are still treating the topic of mental health as taboo, and one that should be kept behind closed doors. In the wake of countless school shootings, unending reports of bullying, and teen suicide, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to say we need to be talking about mental health now more than ever.

MENTAL HEALTH IS LIKE ANY OTHER ASPECT OF HEALTH General practitioners encourage annual physicals, and they check for things that could be problematic in our bodies. They look for diseases, ailments, cancers, disorders - the whole nine yards. But, when is the last time anyone gave you a mental health check-up? Odds are, unless something is visibly wrong, people rarely think of mental health. The trouble though lies in the fact that mental health disorders and diseases are, for lack of a better phrase, invisible. The person smiling at you on the bus could be constantly crying inside. The guy walking his dog seemingly without a care in the world might cut myauthenticlifemagazine.com 27

10 WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS 1. Withdrawing from social interactions, and/or a loss of interest in other people 2. Dramatic mood changes, and often without warning 3. Acting out, acting differently or simply doing things uncharacteristic of the “normal” you 4. Increased/decreased sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells or touch 5. No longer wanting to participate in things, or feeling disconnected to yourself or surroundings 6. Inability to think logically, and feeling less/more powerful or magical than you actually are 7. Paranoia, nervousness or feeling overly suspicious 8. Extreme changes in appetite, personal care or sleep patterns 9. Suddenly not doing well at work or in school. Tasks that once came easily aren’t anymore. 10. Impaired cognitive functions such as difficulty concentrating or remembering things

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himself at night. The girl you didn’t even notice struggling to put her books in her locker - perhaps she is contemplating hurting herself or someone else. And, because these people have always been taught to “get over it” or “keep it to themselves,” they are not seeking or getting the help they so desperately need.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH Naysayers may believe that the only reason mental health disorders are an issue now, is because there are more drugs and doctors than ever before. Perhaps the reality is that people are simply tired of suffering in silence. Because so many advancements are finally available in the mental health field, maybe what’s really happening is people are hoping if they speak up, they can get the help they need. Think about it - as recently as 50 years ago, a person who seemed off or different might be cast aside in a mental health ward. Then, they were pumped

full of meds to stay quiet, and live out the rest of their days too doped up to know any better. Others were taken to church in the hopes that religion would save them. And, others still were simply told it was a phase, and they would grow out of it. “Suck it up,” “be a man,” or “just be a good girl,” are common outdated phrases that come to mind. What happened as a result? People became too scared to talk about how they were really feeling. The fear of being shunned for being different or weird meant quietly suffering alone. Is it any wonder then, that in 2016 the New York Times reported that the U.S. suicide rate has surged to a 30 yearhigh? (source: /www.nytimes. com/2016/04/22/health/ussuicide-rate-surges-to-a-30-yearhigh.html) Or that bullying and violent outbursts towards others are also on the rise?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “One in six U.S. adults lives with a mental illness (44.7 million in 2016).” They also reported, that nearly 50 percent of people 13-18 had “any mental disorder.” (Source: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/ statistics/mental-illness.shtml) Too many people are living within prisons of their own making inside their minds, and they are afraid to ask for a way to escape.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS CHANGE? The first step is to stop being silent. If someone comes to you claiming they have a mental illness, feel excessively sad,

or just feel “funny,” don’t just brush them off. Parents and guardians should communicate with their children regularly. Ask them about their feelings, and what’s going on in their day to day lives. If anything comes up that gives you cause for concern, don’t dismiss it. Children and adults should also be taught what these warning signs for mental illness are, so that they make look for them in others. Then, encourage them to seek the guidance of a mental health professional.

IT’S TIME TO SPEAK UP If some, many or all of the above symptoms resonate with you or someone you know, it may be time to seek help. If we don’t change anything, things

could get worse. Don’t suffer in silence and become a statistic. If help is available, why not seek it out? Mental health topics shouldn’t be abnormal to discuss anymore. It’s time to speak up and help ourselves, and the ones around us. It could save a life, maybe even your own. Nekeshia Hammond, Psy.D. is a psychologist, speaker, an author, and the owner of Hammond Psychology & Associates. Dr. Hammond has been featured on WFLA News Channel 8, Tampa Bay Times, Essence, Tampa Bay Parenting, CBS Boston, Ebony and other media outlets sharing her expertise on children and parenting. She is the TV show host of “Parenting Explained with Dr. Hammond” which is set to air on stations throughout the US in early 2018. To learn more about Dr. Hammond, visit: DrNekeshiaHammond.com. Twitter: @Dr_Hammond FB: Dr. Nekeshia Hammond Instagram: @practicalparenting myauthenticlifemagazine.com 29

ONE INTROVERT’S EXPERIENCE AT

THE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES by Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

t wasn’t long after the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that I heard about the March For Our Lives movement and its plan to hold a march in Washington DC on March 24, 2018. I immediately put it on my calendar to keep it on my radar. While I thought it sounded amazing, I had no plan, expectation or even a

30 | MY Magazine

desire to attend. My husband knew immediately that he needed to be in DC, though he could have attended one of several local marches. “But not me,” I told everyone. You see, I am an extroverted introvert. Or is it an introverted extrovert? I enjoy talking with and meeting

new people. To others, I appear as an outgoing individual. Sounds like the classic extrovert, right? But I’m actually an introvert. People think being an introvert means keeping to oneself and speaking sparingly to others. But being an introvert actually describes how one replenishes their energy. Like other introverts, I boost my

would I willingly be in a group, most likely standing in close proximity to many others, with no opportunity to move to a location by myself? Shortly after hearing about the march, I began to hear the passion in the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voices and in their messages. I listened to my student-clients and heard their passion and frustrations as well. Soon, the calling to be at the march in support of our youth was greater than the assumed discomfort of me being there. I recognized the call, and this knowledge helped give me strength. Thus the trip was planned.

energies best when I am by myself, and often in a space with minimal sensory input. In addition to being an introvert, I am also an empath. This means I sometimes knowingly, and sometimes unknowingly, pick up the energies and emotions of others. Being an empath can feel exhausting and

overwhelming for some, and it has felt that way for me for most of my life. For all these reasons I thought that being at a national march was a ridiculous idea for me. Why would I knowingly and willingly place myself in the middle of a huge group of people who are feeling sadness, anger, frustration and other strong emotions? Why

Even on the plane the day prior to the march, the shifts of collective energy was apparent. There was a reporter and her cameraman seated near us. Next to the reporter was coincidentally (or synchronistically) a 17-year-old teen whose familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s connecting flight took them through Detroit. This teen was one of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school students who was scheduled to speak. When it was time for everyone to leave the plane, there was no rushing or pushing. In fact, we who sat in the back of the plane, just relaxed in our seats until the rows in front had sufficiently cleared. The flight attendant said that in her 18 years of service she has never seen such a calm, polite, respectful group of passengers. We think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because so many on that flight were arriving in DC to represent the larger value of social myauthenticlifemagazine.com 31

responsibility and social consciousness. We arrived at the march 90 minutes before the event was due to begin. The number of people already there was, to no one’s surprise, huge. All of us began slowly making our way in the direction of the stage. Although there were smiles everywhere I briefly worried, “What was I thinking? This will be hard enough during the march itself when everyone is here and there are wall-to-wall people. There is still so much time for me to overwhelm before it even begins.” If you are also an empath/introvert/ Sensitive you may relate to those thoughts. However, I quickly put into practice for myself the suggestions that I offer to others: I returned to the present moment and stayed out of story, thereby keeping my thoughts to what was happening right then. Not surprisingly, I did not spin into worry. Instead, I enjoyed what I love best. I love people watching and many of the signs that the participants carried were creatively composed. It was great to see teens, families and little children, alongside the baby-boomers like myself. We were all together, all sharing a common purpose. I found that 32 | MY Magazine

so successful, I admit that it has been a fascinating journey. It has included a fearless look at my worries and my fears, learning what tools work best for me to help me to process my emotions and the emotions of others, energy modulation so my empathic skills work in moderation, keeping my heart open, and practicing grounding exercises.

walking with, and standing near like-minded individuals was exhilarating. The energy at the event was palpable. And this was before anyone even came to the podium. The speakers - our youth articulately and passionately shared their deepest desires along with their greatest fears. They encouraged us and rallied us with their strength and through their tears. And we responded in kind with cheers, tears, and a cascade of emotions that included hope, frustration, and strength. We were (reportedly) 800,000 yet we were one: one voice, one passion, one message that insisted that we find a way for our youth (everyone actually) to feel safe in schools and in their lives. If you are wondering how this Introvert (Sensitive/Empath) was

Or maybe it was the simple truth expressed in a sign that I saw right after I had found my own personal peace. I wish I had thought of this and carried it myself: SO BAD EVEN INTROVERTS ARE HERE May you each find the peace that you wish to go where you need so that you may continue to make a difference in the world. Judy Lipson is a licensed, professional counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield, MI. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties, work or school related anxiety, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@ spiralwisdom.net, and visit SpiralWisdom. net for more information.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

MAGAZINE WISDOM

create a publishing company that rocks!

“If you knew who walks beside you on the path that you have chosen, fear would be impossible.” For entrepreneurs who aspire to build their own successful magazine business in their local community. Combining hard copy magazines with an online presence proves to be the best of both worlds for it’s readers and supporters. This opportunity is for aspire entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers, and anyone who wants to take their life to the next level.

WHY WAIT to create the life that fits your lifestyle, your vision, your purpose. Bring your light into the world, SHARE what you know to be true. When you are in alignment with what you are here to do, the universe will rearrange your life to make it happen - BELIEVE that you can. For more information visit my-mediagroup.com/entrepreneur/ or e-mail Maria at maria.mymediagroup@gmail.com myauthenticlifemagazine.com 33

re you an Instagram user or considering jumping into this hot visual social

INSTAGRAM Instagram isn’t new and it’s still growing with about 1.5 billion users worldwide.

platform?

If you’re finding it frustrating to grow your Instagram account and see any real engagement, here are 3 reasons why your account may be stalled.

FACEBOOK’S COMPETITION BECAME THEIR ACQUISITION

3 REASONS WHY YOUR AND ENGAGEMENT

1.5 Billion Instagram Users: Grow Your Instag

by Catherine Sa

34 | MY Magazine

It wasn’t that long ago when Instagram was its own social network, growing wildly in users, mostly the under 30 crowd, before being acquired by Facebook in 2012. It didn’t take long for Facebook to introduce both Ads and Algorithms to the Instagram feed. By

2018, we’re seeing the chronological content in the newsfeed decrease to ‘selected’ user posts and our organic reach reduced. Still, there are some good organic strategies and engagement opportunities available to make Instagram work for you.

R INSTAGRAM GROWTH T MAY BE STALLED

gram Starting with Your Engaged Audience

aykaly-Stevens

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 35

Let’s look at 3 Instagram frustrations and how you can turn them around. • There are fake accounts There are fake people.

FAKE ACCOUNTS First, it is never a good idea to buy followers in any social platform, under any circumstances. Sure we all want more followers, but bought followers tend to be fake accounts. It’s unfortunate, but just as with every social media platform, fake accounts are dead with zero engagement, their only purpose is to make an account seem more important than it actually is. When these fake accounts find you as an active user and want to connect with your real

account, consider this: There is no engaging with fake. At first glance, it may look like the account is popular, but the engagement rate of the number of followers to the level of audience engagement will be extremely low. Eventually, it will work against you. You want your engagement rate as high as possible no matter the size of your audience.

FAKE PEOPLE I find this sadder than with fake accounts. Instagram makes it difficult to discover who follows you back. When following back the accounts that followed you first, why do your follower numbers keep diminishing? This is a particular growth strategy, where people will follow active

Instagram accounts, like yours, hoping that you will follow them back. Once you do, they unfollow you to keep their own follower numbers high and their follow numbers few. This kind of account growth strategy is completely without credibility or integrity. Viewing Instagram on an Android (cellphone) was once able to see if an account followed you back and there were many once many thirdparty Apps to ‘unfollow-yourunfollowers’, until last year when Instagram put a stop to it. Hope still exists. At the time of this publishing there are a couple of apps that still work such as “Unfollowers for Instagram”. • To get engagement you have to give engagement. When it comes to making new (real) friends on Instagram it’s not enough just follow each other. If you practice the “follow me and I’ll follow you and then we’ll ignore each other” paradigm, you create apathy in your accounts with little to no engagement. To grow your engagement rate, take the lead and engage first. Show them that you are an engager and are worth the time.

36 | MY Magazine

ENGAGEMENT IS MORE THAN A LIKE

don’t need to use them all).

Don’t just like someone’s post, comment. Commenting with emoji’s is common, but you’ll get responses commenting with words. Keep the conversation going.

In your post description, it’s best to tell a story about your image or video. Use hashtags where it works in the text, then post a string of hashtags to follow.

When people come into your accounts and comment, immediately like and comment back and continue the conversation too. Engagement is virtually the same for every other social platform. In Instagram, you can see results pretty fast. • You’re not using a Hashtag strategy One of the reasons that Instagram is so exciting is because of the hashtags. Hashtags allow you to leave a marker on your content. If someone searches for it, your content may come up in their search. Hashtags also allow you to discover content that you seek. The Instagram gift is that you may use a maximum of 30 hashtags in every post (no, you

Invent your own for amusement or if you wish to start a trend or movement. Otherwise, stick with the popular hashtags, but don’t forget to use some of the smaller ones that bring niche followers.

BONUS: INSTAGRAM STORIES Don’t expect Instagram’s organic reach to disappear altogether.

people at different times. In 24 hours, Stories disappear to not annoy your followers and only your regular posts remain.

AT THE END OF THE DAY It doesn’t matter if you’re a business, a nonprofit, a project, or just inviting people to join you for fun.

It may become more difficult, but it’s not going anywhere, especially with Instagram stories – think of it as Instagram’s interpretation of SnapChat.

When using Instagram with best practices you will get the most out of it and invite engagement into your account. Hey! I invite you to find and follow me on Instagram@CatherineNetWeb

Post as many times as you want all day long, catching different

Say hello and that you saw me here.

Catherine Saykaly-Stevens of TheNetworkingWeb.com is an author, speaker, and trainer – a social media Consultant who specializes in Audience Growth and Extraordinary Fan-Engagement. She mentors entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, and coaches on how to grow their fan-engagement deepening their connection to their community to ultimately lead to audience growth, influence building, and sales conversions. She does that with one-on-one consulting and the Social Media Quick Results Programs.

Catherine is also on the Social Media team of the Evolutionary Business Council (EBC) with a collective reach of 203 Million people and is the cohost of two online shows: ‘EBE-Live’ and ‘Social Buzz U’. She is also the Social Media Expert in residence for the Canadian Authors Association.

Catherine Offer

Catherine offers a FREE 21-Day Social Media Challenge: Are your social media accounts up-to-date and ready to impress? Take the FREE 21-Day Challenge! Don’t let Influencers, Media, and Potential Clients lose interest in your social media accounts before they’ve even read your content. https://theNetworkingWeb.com/21DayChallengeGetReady/ myauthenticlifemagazine.com 37

7SIMPLE

WAYS TO SAVE MORE MONEY

by Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFP®

ne of the impactful and painfully obvious ways to reach your longterm financial goals is to be a great saver. If you are waiting for me to tell you to skip the latte as a way to boost your savings you can breathe a sigh of relief. I hate that type of guilt-inducing advice. I’m also not going to tell you to stick to a strict budget. Why? Because budgets rarely work for people - budgets are restrictive and about as fun as eating celery at a pizza party. Instead, try these strategies to rock your savings and still enjoy your vanilla skinny extra foam latte. •

Set savings on auto pilot – Just about everyone is able to save more money when it happens automatically. You may already be doing this with a retirement plan at work. Money comes out of your check each pay period and it gets added to you 401k, 403b, or a similar type of retirement plan.

38 | MY Magazine

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 39

If you are self-employed, don’t have a retirement plan at work, or have another goal you are saving for, you can set up your own automatic savings plan. Contact your bank or investment company and they will be thrilled to set up a regular investment plan to have money come right from your checking account into a savings or investment account. Begin with an amount that you can comfortably save each month. Once you set this up it’s easy to increase, decrease, or if you need to, stop your regular investments. •

Have your employer save for you – If you have a retirement plan at work you might work for an employer who will match your contributions. This is extra money given to you by your employer for retirement. Don’t leave this money on the table! If possible I recommend that people maximize their retirement contributions. For example, the maximum 401k contribution for people under 50 in 2018 is $18,500 (if you are 50 or over you can add an additional $6,000 a year to your plan). If you can’t swing saving the maximum, at least contribute up to the maximum that your employer will match. For example, if they match 50% of the first 5% contributed, then make sure that you contribute at least to the 5% level.

40 | MY Magazine

Also, make sure that you understand how the matching is paid. Some employers match at the end of the year. Others match each pay period, and if you max out your contributions before the end of the year you might be missing out on some of your matching contributions. •

Sock away your raise – What if instead of increasing your spending when you get a raise you saved it? Some employers allow you to commit today to save more tomorrow. Instead of boosting your savings today, you commit to saving more (say 3% more) next year. This is based upon studies done by behavioral finance researchers Shlomo Benartzi and Richard Thaler. They found that people that committed to “saving more tomorrow” boosted their savings from an average of 3.5% to 13.6% in just 4 years.

•

Reframe savings in your mind - In a public opinion survey, half of the people surveyed were asked whether they thought they could save 20 percent of their income. Only half of this group said yes. When the other half of the people surveyed were asked whether they thought they could live on 80 percent of their income, almost 80 percent said yes. To save 20 percent of your income is exactly the same as living on 80 percent of it. So these results don’t make any logical sense. But it makes intuitive sense because of the way many of us view money. To redirect 20 percent of your cash flow into savings somehow feels as though you’re losing it. Living on 80 percent of your income may be an initial adjustment, but ultimately doesn’t seem so much like a loss—it’s simply what is available, and focuses on what you do have, not on what you don’t have. It’s all about how you look at it!

•

Take that tax refund and put it away – The average tax refund is $2,895. Now, I’m not a big fan of getting a big tax refund. This means that the government had your money to use all year and you missed out on earning on this money. Nor am I a big fan of owning the

government money and having penalties. Lots of people see their refund as forced savings. Okay, if that’s you, then make sure when you get the money back you actually save it. If you make IRA or Roth IRA contributions, consider making the contribution for the current year when you get your refund instead of waiting until you file your tax return next year. If you have any lingering credit card debt, use your refund to get rid of this. And, if your cash cushion needs a boost this is a great way to do that. •

Create a values-based spending plan – I said earlier that I don’t like budgets. That doesn’t mean I don’t think that knowing where you spend your money isn’t important. Most people are totally unconscious when it comes to their spending. They don’t know how much they spend and they spend without really considering if they are spending money on things they value. To set up a values-based spending plan start by summarizing where you’ve spent your money over that past 6 to 12 months. Next, go back and assess if each category of spending is an A, B, or C priority. “A” priorities are areas that you truly value. For me, for example, travel is an A. Next note the “B’s” and then the “C’s.” When you are looking at areas to trim and find more money to save start with the C’s.

•

Create a clear compelling goal to motivate you – Saving for “the future” is pretty vague for most people. To really boost your motivation, get in touch with what you most want in the future for yourself, your family, and your community. For example, if you want to start your own business within 5 years and know that you’ll need to build up

a cash reserve to make this happen, spend time picturing this future vision. Get in touch with the feeling of why you most want to do this. Who will benefit from this business? How will you feel when you are building and successful in this new endeavor? Next crunch the numbers on what you’ll need to have in reserves to get this business started and set up our automatic savings talked about in step one to move you forward in this goal. The more meaningful the goal the more motivated you’ll be. To explore your goals and keep them in front of you create a Prosperity Picture. You can learn more about how to do this here. Saving more money is easier than it might seem. There are more savings tips in this short video. Mull this over while drinking your latte – that is of course if lattes are “A” priorities for you!

Ellen Rogin, CPA and CFP®, is an Abundance Activist® and coauthor of the New York Times best seller: Picture Your Prosperity: Smart Money Moves to Turn Your Vision into Reality. Learn more about Ellen and her programs at. www.ellenrogin.com myauthenticlifemagazine.com 41

Self-Growth

42 | MY Magazine

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LET OVERWHELM

STOP YOU by Wini Curley, Ph.D.

44 | MY Magazine

ow do you escape the demoralizing feeling of being overwhelmed? Part of the pain of overwhelm is the constant perception of failure, and a focus on all the things that you are not getting done. Overwhelm is like eating the proverbial elephant. It has to be addressed one bite at a time. The mistake most of us make is that we ignore the progress we make in the face of what has yet to be done. Holly is an accomplished professional woman of 37. She is capable and responsible both in her life and at work. However, a circumstance beyond her apparent control has completely challenged her. Holly and her boss Alan are a two-person department that is understaffed and overloaded. They get along well and juggle priorities together to keep balls in the air as needed. Then the unthinkable happened. Alan became very ill and was absent from work on an extended medical leave. Here is part of what Holly shared with me. “No one asked me to, but I just took on Alan’s responsibilities. Someone needed to cover the projects, and I know more about it than anyone else. After three months of this, I am exhausted and constantly overwhelmed and frustrated. For example, today while I was on the phone solving one problem, I got 3 voice messages complaining about what I hadn’t gotten to yet. All three are all valid important things I used to be able to handle with no problem. Now I work as hard and as fast as I can, spend extra hours in the evening and on weekends, and it isn’t enough. Things are falling through the cracks that just shouldn’t. The only good thing about this is I don’t have much time to worry about what is happening with Alan. It feels like I am constantly letting someone down. I spend all day failing.”

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 45

Perhaps you have been in Holly’s shoes before. I can relate, and many of my clients and friends say they are overwhelmed by all the different tasks and decisions they deal with daily. Well, life can be complicated. Sometimes there are unexpected surprises and a lot of things to handle. The simple answer to relieving the stress of overwhelm is to say ‘No’ more often, and take time to implement better self-care so you are not as frazzled. However, Holly’s work situation offers complications on implementing that approach. After stepping up to take on the extra responsibilities, how does Holly say ‘No? She also needs ways she can engage in mental and emotional self-care that will sustain her efforts. Here are the three steps I shared with Holly to help manage being overwhelmed.

46 | MY Magazine

Sort and Prioritize Give the mess some structure. It is important to sort through what activities and decisions are on a time critical path and prioritize what absolutely has to get done by you. Your skills and knowledge may (or may not) cover all that is needed, so choose what you could delegate. Releasing some things frees you to handle what specifically requires your personal attention. The fact is that there are limits to your time and energy as an individual. Holly could not completely absorb Alan’s work without some things getting dropped. She made a list of what was urgent and time critical, and what she would likely not be able to handle in a timely manner. Then she identified

those ‘dropped balls’ that really needed attention from someone else while she kept things moving forward.

Ask For What You Need If you have said ‘Yes’ to some responsibilities, then there is someone to talk to about what you need to succeed. They may be in either a position of authority, like a boss, or part of your support team. Negotiations for your needs may include resetting priorities, additional time for a deadline, cooperation/people to help with the work, or budget allocation for resources. Holly went to her Vice President with both her problems and a possible solution. She shared her prioritized urgent and time-

critical list and asked for feedback. Holly identified what would likely fall through the cracks and the consequences of those unattended issues. She identified what could be handled by others and asked for either temporary or permanent support. She wasn’t exactly saying ‘No’, but she was setting clear expectations and boundaries. It took a while to process through the system, but a parttime hire was authorized to support Holly.

Make a ‘Yay Me’ List There are always positives and accomplishments to acknowledge when you look for them. For your mental and emotional wellbeing, give them some time and attention. At the end of your day, list what you did get done, progress toward solving problems, and/or disasters avoided. Give yourself a few moments to feel a sense of accomplishment. Review this list the next day along with your To-Do list for encouragement and a reminder that progress is possible. The good news in Holly’s story is that she was not paralyzed

by the sheer magnitude of the load. She still made progress. Her mistake was that she focused on the things that were not done yet and neglected to acknowledge and celebrate the things that she achieved. Making a ‘Yay Me’ list is important in this situation. It supports selfconfidence and provides relief from the heaviness of the endless ‘To –Do’ list. This is the antidote to that demoralizing feeling of failure when you are giving your all. Alan’s illness was not within Holly’s control. However, she was able to sort through the chaos, set some priorities, ask for what she needed, and nurture her well-being and confidence by focusing more on her ‘Yay Me’ list. The next time you feel overwhelmed, particularly if it is a continuous or recurring situation, you don’t have to continue

feeling demoralized. Use these three action steps to relieve your stress and frustration, and carve a path through the jungle of decisions and tasks ahead. Wini Curley, Ph.D. is a Resilience Expert, Speaker, and Executive Coach. She shows leaders and their organizations how to energize their next win - whether they are on a roll or in a hole. In 2002, Wini became an entrepreneur and left a 20-year corporate career cleaning up environmental hazardous waste sites. Now, she helps clients clean up toxic habits, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that contaminate their path to success. Clients say Wini’s keen intuition, judgement-free approach, and energy techniques all help free them to release frustrations and blocks and accelerate toward what they really want. Wini has coached successful leaders and entrepreneurs across 3 continents. Clean up the toxicities big or small at the leadership level, and watch the business and its people grow and flourish. Learn more about Wini and her programs at www.WiniCurley.com and www.GiftsFromWini.com

myauthenticlifemagazine.com 47

MOVE FROM EXHAUSTION TO

Excitement by Lisa Marie Platske

’ve discovered that if I review my notes after the event vs. waiting to create new curriculum several months before the next year’s event, the changes I want to make are clearer in my mind as I recall how something landed for myself and/or the audience.

accomplishing what you want.

On day #2, I speak on Pillar #4, Live Your Priorities, and why living your priorities is critical to

Yet, if you create your plan with your priorities in mind, you get a more rewarding and effective

48 | MY Magazine

The actions you take every day create an incredibly inspired life -- or one that is dull and not so exciting. Most people live the latter - a life that can be described as exhausting and boring.

workday that’s filled with ease and grace while creating a sense of adventure for yourself. Years ago, I got off track and looked at my life and how I had built habits and a mundane routine that didn’t allow for any fun in my day. As someone who is motivated by freedom, flexibility, and fun, this was a problem for me.

I began researching the value of spaciousness, rest and time off - and naps - and see their value - and have benefitted from practical application. ((I’m a serious napper.)) So, how about you? Does your day look like this? •

You start your work day feeling as if you never left your work from the day before.

•

You get caught up in an urgent issue which pulls you away from what you had hoped you were going to accomplish during the day.

•

You sit at your desk at lunch and eat while working, hoping to find extra minutes to focus on pressing deadlines.

•

You get on your afternoon calls feeling tired and overwhelmed.

•

You get home late - and spend time in the evening wading through important emails that you never answered during the day.

Or, like this? Still, there were responsibilities that I had said “yes” to that needed to be carried out.

This enabled me to walk into each morning with excitement and enthusiasm.

I began to examine how I was doing my work as much as what I was doing - and discovered that it would pay big dividends if I did my work differently and re-structured my work week. One change I made was to time block and have one main focus each day.

Sometimes I work on Saturdays and Sundays - and I’m as excited about that as being in my office on a Tuesday. Sometimes I take off on a Tuesday and give myself a day of rest and relaxation for no particular reason other than it will be good for my soul.

•

You start your work day early, excited about the day ahead.

•

You spend time focused on what matters most, your #1 priority, and ensure that you’re intentional about each action.

•

You eat a healthy lunch away from your desk - and get outside for a few minutes of fresh air. myauthenticlifemagazine.com 49

•

You make a few important calls, and answer the last emails leaving your inbox with less than 5 messages which has you celebrating your productivity and effectiveness.

•

You close your computer promptly at 5 pm so you can spend quality time with your family because you got your most important work done - and now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Can you feel the difference? Now, you may be thinking, “But, Lisa Marie, you work for yourself so you get to create your day.” And, that’s true. However, this is something I did when I was working in the government, too. I structured my days and the work that I did based on what would bring me joy - and how I got work done. For example, I’m a morning person so I would schedule my most important work early in the morning and things that required less bandwidth in the afternoon. I take action on what will give me the greatest return on the investment of my time, ensuring I’m not just doing something

because it’s the next thing on my to-do list. • •

Effectiveness is a habit - and so is procrastination. You get the same 24 hours a day as your colleagues and competition.

•

The difference between excellence and average is often what happens within those 24 hours.

•

Great leaders understand that how you set up your day matters.

•

Choose to live your priorities and set your day up with ease and grace.

•

It is a gift that you will give to yourself and the people you love most.

•

And, when you look back at your contribution in the world, you’ll be grateful for the gift it’s given you in return.

•

I invite you to examine your work day.

•

What is one shift you can make - one small change that will make a big difference - and move you from exhaustion to excitement?

•

People follow the person first, then their great plan.

•

Be blessed, not stressed; focused, not frazzled.

•

The world needs you and your brilliance.

•

See Upside. Be Upside. Lead Upside.

Lisa Marie Platske left her action-packed life as a Federal law enforcement officer to become the CEO of international leadership company, Upside Thinking, Inc. An award-winning leadership expert and #1 best-selling international author of 4 books, she takes her law enforcement journey which began on the piers of New York and ended post 9/11 and shares what exceptional leaders do differently and how to be positioned as an expert in order to seize big opportunities. As a certified master coach, Lisa Marie coaches women in business around the globe. With experience working with clients in over 20 different industries, her proven 7-step formula has resulted in her clients being seen, heard, and recognized for their work without having to change who they are. The founder of Design Your Destiny LIVE (www.DesignYourDestinyLive), she lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her loving and supportive husband Jim and their two pet foxes. 50 | MY Magazine

Lynn Darmon PSYCHIC MEDIUM REIKI PRACTITIONER

Make 2018 Your Year! Most recently featured on

Lynn has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The Huffington Post, AOL, Yahoo News, The Oakland Press, The Detroit Jewish News, Eydis Magazine, MY Magazine, Body, Mind, Spirit Radio, the Lisa Bousson Show, and has been featured in the recently published book, “Everyday Oracles,” by Ann Bolinger-McQuade.

31224 Mulfordton • Ste. D • Farmington Hills • 248.860.1121 www.heavenswhisper.net • lynn@heavenswhisper.net Facebook: Medium Lynn Darmon SERVICES PROVIDED: In person • By phone • E-mail • Skype • myauthenticlifemagazine.com In home

Joy

UNABASHED by Kate Sholonski

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love to observe children in the art of being themselves. They are my favorite teachers on the subject of joy, by simply being authentically present in each moment…without embarrassment or holding back. Their natural propensity for unabashed joy always inspires me to be more present and to enjoy life more myself. A few years ago while watching a stage play at our local high school, a platinum blond 2 1/2-year-old little boy was sitting directly in front of me. I noticed some other folks in the vicinity change their seats and wondered if they feared the worst. I, however, was delighted and looked forward to taking in the play and whatever this little guy would be up to. I didn’t expect him to sit perfectly still and quiet the whole time. My prediction was correct. For the first fifteen minutes of the show, he was enthralled with the activity on stage. He bounced to the musical parts and would stage whisper his comments and questions to his mother. Soon, he lost interest in the performance on stage and decided to take in the attraction behind him, which happened to be me.

At intermission, the little showman’s mother turned to apologize. I reassured her sitting behind him increased the value of my ticket. In the last hour of the show, this little guy fell blissfully asleep in his mother’s arms. Once again, he was very content as he allowed himself to be loved, which is another great lesson for many adults. My hope for this little guy as he grows up is that he keeps his exuberance, his curiosity, and playfulness. I hope as he learns what actions serve best in the variety of situations he will face that he never loses his overall delight for life. I hope he never gives up his joy so he can better fit in with the societal norm or ever believes being anything but himself should be his goal. Observing episodes of unabashed joy, such as this one, remind me that even though I am now a grown-up that is a responsible citizen that votes, pays bills as well as takes part in other mature activities, there is still and will always be room for unabashed JOY.

First, we played peek-a-boo. Next, he reached out and took the program from my hand. After playing with it for a while, he faced me again and began the dance portion of his show. The more I giggled, the more enthusiastic he became.

Kate Sholonski transitioned from a 28 year nursing career to life coaching and as a personal fulfillment workshop leader in 2001. After many years of coaching people from all walks of life, she and her business partner repeatedly heard requests from their clients to combine joy and fulfillment with leadership principles.

I imagine we all started off this way as mini humans...naturally joy-filled and expressive. Somewhere along the line, it seems we are taught to hold back, to behave, conform and be quiet. How unfortunate in our learning to be respectful of others, we lost our natural tendency to be joyfully delighted with life and all that is around us.

It was that concept that led them to create their business, Triumph Leadership Group, where they focus on training teams from all sized businesses to build positive and productive cultures. Kate and her business partner, David Larson have co-authored two books, Wide Awake: Three Minutes a Day to an Inspired Life and Heartfelt Leadership: Creating a Culture of Connection. They believe when relationships don’t work, the business doesn’t work and that workers who share heartfelt connections will help business thrive on every level.

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THE POWER IN YOUR VOICE by Sharon Carne

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ne of the most powerful tools you have to navigate everyday life with is your voice. It is one of those things that, like air, is always there, but we pay little attention to it. It is your communication center. And it communicates both verbally and non-verbally. Your voice communicates from many different aspects of who you are.

In fact, the sound of your voice moves every particle of your being before the sound even leaves your mouth. Sound also has the ability to carry thought, emotion, and intention along its energy wave. Like an AM or FM radio, station frequency carries the music, news, and commercials.

TONE OF VOICE

There is Tone of voice. The tone of voice is related to the voice of your emotions. Emotion colors everything. Your body has a voice you use every day. Your mind has a voice. Your ego, or personality, has a voice. And your beautiful spirit has a voice.

The underlying emotional energy of your tone of voice massages every particle of your being as the sound of your voice leaves your mouth. When I learned this, it meant a huge leap of awareness for me in how I was using my voice on a daily basis.

Because the voice is a powerful energy you use to create your life, the more awareness you can gather around how you use your voice can shift your life in powerful ways.

Tone of voice is the underlying emotional tone of what you are saying. Human beings are masterful lie detectors and tone of voice detectors. As we pick up on an underlying emotional tone from ourselves or another person, it can create a response in our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gut feelings.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Sound is vibrational energy. It goes through you and as it goes through you it sets every particle of your being into a state of vibration. Sound goes through you faster than it goes through the air. Because sound goes through you, that makes it a deeply physical energy. Your voice is created inside of you. And your voice moves every atom of your being with every sound that you make. I call this a sonic massage.

Here are a couple of questions for you to contemplate. 1. What is the energy you are massaging your entire being with? 2. Who are you speaking with who is also receiving the energy, emotions, thoughts, and intentions layered on the sound of your voice? myauthenticlifemagazine.com 55

If the other person is experiencing similar emotions or thoughts underlying the tone of your voice, it can trigger the same response within them. This is the principle of resonance. This can also create difficulty with our communication with others. For example, if a parent used a particular tone of voice with you when you were young, someone in your world today can trigger the same emotional response in you with that same tone of voice. I encourage you to become aware of the tone of your voice.

THE BODY’S VOICE You use the natural voice of the body every day. Whenever you sigh, groan, say hmmmm or

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Oh!, laugh, giggle and so much more. These are sounds that come from your body naturally, without thinking about it. It is part of your body’s way of healing itself. Every one of these sounds stimulates your nervous system to release hormones that helps your body heal, manage pain, release stress or just feel wonderful. I encourage you to become aware of when these sounds show up in your everyday life. For example, a lot of big sighs in a short period of time can be a signal that some stress management practices would be helpful.

THE VOICE OF THE MIND The voice of the mind is like a double-edged sword. The mind

has a straightforward, logical voice that is great for teaching, and similar activities. The other edge of this sword is the critical voice of the ego. This voice is laced with fear. It speaks only from the level of the personality and is devoid of any understanding of the soul. This is the voice we usually give free reign to in our minds. This is the voice we attempt to silence during meditation. Why we give such a voice free reign is beyond comprehension. This voice can destroy self-esteem, relationships, confidence and everything that we hold dear. The mantra – know thyself – has been taught by most of the greatest teachers this planet has produced. Where this

learning starts is with knowing, understanding and silencing this critical voice of the ego.

THE SOUL’S VOICE The soul’s voice speaks when the critical voice is quiet. This voice has nothing to do with quick fixes. This voice has your long-term plan in mind - the one you made before you were born. Your soul wants you to grow, be happy and be in peace. The soul’s voice shows up in two ways: 1. One aspect of this voice shows up when you are engaged in something that you are passionate about. Passion connects this voice to your highest inspiration. This voice expresses itself through you in ways that show your brilliance and move other people’s hearts. Like music, art, gardening, crafts, sports, cooking and so many more! 2. Another aspect of the soul’s voice is the quiet inner voice of the soul. This voice speaks clearly and carries a deep ring of truth, even if it is a truth that you don’t want to hear. This voice is compassionate, patient and loving. This voice is best heard when you are quiet and the critical voice is silenced. The soul’s voice can change your life with a few quiet words that shake your entire being.

Many years ago when my husband and I were experiencing multiple challenges of a parent dying and loss of a job, I had a blast from the quiet voice of my soul that shook me to my core. I will never forget. One evening while I was preparing dinner in the kitchen, my mind was completely overtaken by the critical and fearful voice. I remember yelling out to the universe with my mind the question, “Why do we have to feel so much fear?!” In a microsecond, an answer appeared in my mind so loud that it drowned out the fearful diatribe. The answer was, “To learn not to be afraid.” This was not the voice of my ego. In a microsecond, it silenced that voice and I stood there in shock. Once I recovered from my shock, I sent a thank you to whatever part of me, angel, being or guide yelled that answer into my mind. It wasn’t

the answer I wanted to hear, but it was what I needed to know in that moment. And it gave me great courage. This quiet voice of the soul brings to us the solutions to many of the problems we face as a human family. As we all learn to listen and to tell the difference between the voice of the ego and the voice of the soul, we will find our way back to the brilliant beings that sit in the heart of every one of us.

Sharon Carne is an author, speaker, musician, recording artist, sound healer, Reiki master and consultant. Sharon is the founder of Sound Wellness and the Sound Wellness Institute. Through the Sound Wellness Institute, holistic health practitioners receive the highest level of competency training in using sound and music to support their practice. Sound Wellness programs are at the forefront of education in how sound and music can be easily applied to your everyday life - to reduce stress, help you concentrate, energize you, inspire you and support your health. www.soundwellness.com

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BLESSING OR SUFFERING?

YOUR CHOICE! by Gary Stuart

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s spring awakens and summer beckons means it’s time to plant the new seeds that you wish to harvest later on this year. The mulch of your past experiences allows the fertile desires to grow. It’s as easy as setting an intention for whatever we desire to manifest by the close of 2018. Few people understand or recognize that life’s relentless negatives often act as a dynamic catalyst that propels us into the positive. “All CHANGE is created by an adversarial force of opposition that inspires transformation” In nature, daily changes in weather can be seen as a negative or positive catalyst. All life forms from plants, animal’s, insects and humans must adjust to hot, cold, wet or dry. Should nature herself NOT exist because changing conditions aren’t optimal or consistent? Ultimately, there is no strength in stagnation. Humans must weather the storm just like all other living things that are forced to endure. “LIFE” itself seems to demand it, stress equals growth and change. Ironically, CHALLENGES create other attributes that serve all living things in a deeply positive way. These adversarial

challenges stimulate VITALITY not to mention a personal resolve to stick around. What does adversity create? TENACITY, RESILIENCE, STAMINA, COURAGE, and RESOLVE. Remember survival and procreation is the name of the game. If it’s not procreation then it’s a lasting legacy in the arts, inventions or anything that seems to outlive us during our short time here. These admirable attributes are universally supported for positive action to emerge gloriously as 1 thing, SURVIVAL! When positive strength is attained from adversarial stimuli everyone and everything wins. If we stay in judgment of the belief that NEGATIVE = BAD we’ll lose our opportunity and the rocket fuel “CHI” that propels us to manifest the blessings we so desire. Imagine everything that’s negative is the catalyst for future blessings! What seems like negative circumstances now is really the fertile mulch for YOUR future blessings. I urge you to embrace the uncomfortable challenges as stepping stones to your forthcoming greatness. Stop for a minute and breathe, as you relax into finding an equitable empowering solution. myauthenticlifemagazine.com 59

You are unintentionally being guided towards a more positive outcome emanating from the hidden magic of negative stimuli. These dynamics of life are the yin to yang as yang is too yin. The wheel of life turns and evolves from the necessary friction of opposing forces. Just as darkness feeds on light and light feeds on darkness thus the energy contained within the circle or movement of life is complete.

We have many phrases in our language that help us build confidence during troubled times, “this too shall pass” “tomorrow is a better day”, “you’ll weather the storm.” Let’s insert some new ones, “the negative propels the positive”, “all negatives contain a hidden blessing”, “never judge the negatives as they provide unintended positive consequences.”

you face. You’ll start to notice the future positive outcomes taking shape form the unseen manifested situations. As you fully evolve in a new and deep way finding the hidden BLESSINGS that emanate from SUFFERING. Then you are personally empowered plus free to choose powerfully from your place of wisdom with hope and faith. You’ll be fully aware how perceived negative situations support the future positives yet unseen.

When you stop and think about the dynamics of “Cause and Effect” on a greater scale you’ll get a broader taste of objectivity and observation. When you slow down or stop your knee-jerk reaction to take a breath. Your perception of negative stimuli will help you see the silver lining inside the challenges that

“Remember, SUFFERING is OPTIONAL and a CHOICE!”

CHOOSE WISELY! “EVERYTHING IS A BLESSING” “TODAYS CURSE becomes TOMORROWS REWARD” “FIND THE BLESSING IN ANY AND ALL CHALLENGES”

“Choose blessings, have faith and hope that obstacles are guiding you towards a positive destination.” Blessings as you learn of the path of manifestation. Gary Stuart 2018

Gary Stuart Speaker, Author, Constellation Facilitator, Teacher has been documenting his healing experiences over the past several decades. As a young student of Primal Therapy and Shamanism, his insightful writings provide a unique perspective on the correlation between the micro and macro-cosmos, between our inner and outer worlds. His first book on Constellations Many Hearts, One Soul set the stage for his latest book Master Your Universe: How to Direct & Star in Your Own Life on Kindle or paperback at www.Amazon.com He Speaks and leads healing workshops and training nationally and internationally and resides in Southern California. His Distance, Family or Organizational Constellations are his healing specialty! His FREE Consultation: www.testyourhappiness.com and www.GaryStuartPRessKit.com Contact Info: Gary@Chifield.com Office (888) 369-9980 Cell (310) 758-2052

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WHEN YOU ALIGN YOUR SELF WITH YOUR PURPOSE, THE UNIVERSE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Have Maria speak at your next event. For her full speaker bio visit my-mediagroup.com/maria-rea-speaker

SIMPLY Spiritual

THE DREAM EXPERTS What Does Your Dream Mean? by Kathryn and Patrick Andries

Dear Dream Expert,

Dear Wedding Helper,

I dreamed that I was helping at a wedding. I was in a room and my job was to take care of the flowers. There were all kinds of beautiful flowers. I had to make various displays. I was enjoying myself. There was some question as to whether or not I was invited to the actual wedding – I was.

A wedding is recognition of a commitment to yourself. Keep in mind that the people in the wedding represent parts of yourself. Flowers represent beauty and thoughts about being receptive in your life.

Then I was at my mother’s house. My father was in the den watching television. I was in the kitchen helping my mother get dinner ready. I brought a plate of dinner out for my father and put it on a television tray for him. Another part of the dream I am with my mother and she needs to get back home because she is having a dinner party. When we get home the people had already arrived and there were tables full of people eating. At some point, I wanted to get ready and put on some make-up, so I looked in the mirror and saw some black hairs. I remembered that in my waking life I had already been to electrolysis recently and I was bummed that she didn’t get those hairs. Sincerely, Wedding Helper 64 | MY Magazine

Your mother and father are aspects of your inner authority. Television indicates that you are using your inner communication. This could be using your intuition or telepathy with another person. The meal represents that you are learning (taking in knowledge). The dinner party indicates that the part of you that has authority is sharing the knowledge with other parts of yourself. This can be likened to taking something that you have learned, like discipline, and applying it to many parts of your life. However, you are not fully satisfied with how you are expressing your identity, as shown by the black hairs that had been missed.

Dear Dream Expert,

I dreamed that I walked into this very posh store, like a clothing store. This pretty lady was there. She had an accent, so I asked her if she was French and she said: “no, Berlin.”

I had a dream that my mom was lying in bed. She was either ill or not feeling well. My dad was there too. My cousin called to be picked up from somewhere, so they tell me to go and get him.

There was this huge book that I was looking through about islands and Polynesia. They had beautiful pictures of the water and islands. There were headings and descriptions about them. There was a picture of a man in the water with a huge black snake coiled next to him. The article said, “Even the large snakes in those areas don’t scare people away from these areas.”

I had a procedure done at a hospital. Now I have this small hard silver ball lodged in my belly button. This one person tells me that I need to get the ball out because it is toxic. It is the toxins produced by something.

Sincerely, Big Shopper

There are lots of people around and I am taking pictures of my husband. He is holding up a box of cookies that everyone says are good. I take the picture and then he holds up a little kitten. I take another picture. Sincerely, Toxic

Dear Big Shopper, A store is a place where you invest your value. A clothing store has many different options for how you might want to express yourself. You are making choices about how you want to express yourself. The lady is a part of yourself that is foreign to you. The book represents using your memory. The islands are a place within yourself where you are involved in your emotional experiences. You considered these experiences to be very positive. The snake is some habitual way that you think or act. Even with this fairly large habit, you are not scared by these emotions.

Dear Toxic, Your mother and father represent authoritative parts of yourself. The receptive part of you has some issues. Another part of you, symbolized by the cousin, wants your attention, which you deliver. The hospital is a place in your mind where healing occurs. You are focusing on healing and are aware of toxins in your body. There is a need for cleansing. Pictures are using the memory. Your husband is a commitment to using the whole mind. Cookies are knowledge that does not have very much productive value but is enjoyable in the short-term. The kitten is a habit that does not seem very harmful of significant.

Kathryn and Patrick Andries are the dream experts. They are the authors of the recently released book from Ozark Mountain Publishing, Naked in Public: Dream Symbols Revealed, and The Dream Doctor. If you would like a dream interpreted, please send it in the body of an e-mail to: intuitiveschool@sbcglobal.net. Learn more about their books at www.ozarkmt.com. myauthenticlifemagazine.com 65

WHAT CAN CRYSTALS DO FOR

Your Creativity? by Mella Barnes

’ve heard about crystal therapy and crystal healing for several years now. I was mildly curious, but also skeptical. What, exactly, could a fancy rock ‘heal’? Sure, they looked pretty, and I bought a couple over the years simply because I liked having them around. I didn’t really understand the hype. None of the ones I bought made me feel any different. I wasn’t more enlightened, wealthy, or happy. 66 | MY Magazine

I’ve been on a quest lately to find alternative therapies for vocal health. I’m a full-time session singer, so vocal health is very important to me. I also love researching and investigating new ideas. Last year, I tried cupping massage therapy for vocal health. My skepticism evaporated as soon as I tried it. It’s a controversial therapy, but I loved how my face, throat, and chest felt after one use. I now use it regularly and recommend it to others.

While taking Reiki courses, I noticed that my teacher was enthusiastic about crystals. I decided to ask her a few questions about them. Her responses thrust me into a new project: crystal therapy for vocal health. My main area of skepticism was *how* crystals actually did anything. How can owning a rock make you wealthy? How can placing a stone on your

throat make you sing better? My teacher explained their correlations to chakras, and how it was up to the user to decide how best to use the crystals. I took her advice for working with the stones and bought four. My test was to try each one for a week to see if I noticed any improvement. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in the third week of crystal work now. I am keeping a log of each day with each crystal and myauthenticlifemagazine.com 67

stone, its origins, and its religious use throughout history. For example, Turquoise is a common spiritual stone in Native American cultures in the United States. It has also been used in Egyptian, Turkish and Chinese cultures. Knowing how historical cultures revered these crystals has helped me by simply increasing my knowledge about them.

IT MAY BE A PLACEBO, BUT IF IT WORKS, WHO CARES?

writing a recap and review at the end of the week. If you’re curious about the vocal aspect of it, you can find it on my blog at MellaMusic.com. I want to share something different with you here. I want to show you small things I’ve discovered that may provide insight if you’re a crystal skeptic like me.

MEDITATION IS A MUST I felt the most difference while meditating with my selected crystals. There are even meditations on YouTube that are specific to individual crystals. Those helped me focus and guide my intentions toward my goals. I worked with one crystal and did not meditate on it at all. That one I felt least connected to, and I’ve noticed a strong correlation between how often I meditate and how connected to the crystal I feel.

SKEPTICISM IS OKAY It annoys me when people tell us to ‘remove all doubt.’ Our doubts are what keep us safe and protect us from harm or ill-will. Doubting things makes you put in extra effort to learn more, which is never a bad thing. You may want to approach it with an open mind, but if you’re having concerns, know that it’s okay to pause before you proceed.

DO YOUR RESEARCH Another thing I did that helped me with my crystals was research. I learned about each

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I tried to keep my emotions in check during my studies. Just because I felt happier one day, did not mean it was because I was wearing a crystal. However, would it be such a bad thing if that was the reason? Would my day have been ruined if my happiness came from something specific? If it had been a different object that made me happy, would it have been more or less authentic? These questions and their answers don’t matter. It’s a positive result from a small item or task, so I recommend just enjoying the result without looking too much into it. Overall, if crystals make YOU happy, that’s all you need. You don’t need to explain yourself or feel bad about it. The same applies for any other alternative therapy that people judge, such as reflexology, essential oils, or whatever you like to use. I do want to mention, though, that alternative therapies should not replace traditional medicine. I would never advocate that. If you choose to use alternative therapies, please use them in addition to, not in place of, your doctor-prescribed medications. Mella is a session singer, songwriter and producer living in Nashville, Tennessee. Also an animal lover, she has three dogs, a rabbit, and any number of foster animals in various shapes and sizes. She is the author of Way Less Cowbell, a book on communicating with session musicians. If you would like more information or to hire her onto your project, please visit www. mellamusic.com

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V I S A B I L I T Y The Key to Attracting New Clients and Changing More Lives by Jackie Lapin

of being your own best advocate, you’ll enjoy a steady stream of appearances that will invite you back time after time!

If people don’t know about you, they can’t become your raving fans and enthusiastic ever-buying clients.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

f you are looking at your bank account or your thinning client list and wondering where it all went, it’s because you don’t have enough visibility.

The Field of Dreams ‘build-it-andthey-will-come” ethos is the curse of the entrepreneur. Much as we love what we have created and what we offer, people must discover us in order to have a thriving business and continuing revenue. And that takes going where they are, not waiting for them to come to us. Today, the fastest and most effective way to create the massive visibility that drives a heart-based transformational business is through speaking, radio shows/podcasts, and virtual summits. If you offer people processes, steps, products or resources that improve their personal and/or professional enrichment, then you need to be in these places where people can connect with you and your message. Finding them and getting booked are among the things that leaders often dislike, resist or don’t find the time for. But once you develop some simple steps and get into the swing

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Here are some suggestions to get you started.

The first step in this process is to actually commit time to locating opportunities and pitching the bookers. Block at least three hours each week on your calendar just for this purpose. If you can’t do the time, you can’t earn the dime! Identify at least three different topics on which you can speak. They could be derivations of the same one for different audiences or three entirely different subjects that all lead to what you are marketing. This gives bookers flexibility and you more chances to get a “yes.” If you are concerned about your presentation skills, you have three paths...start testing your primary signature talk locally on small audiences, working to perfect it. Join a local Toastmasters chapter where you can safely learn and grow into a speaker within a welcoming community, or lastly, get connected with one of the brilliant speaker trainings around. This may be a little more costly, but it’s the quickest path to proficiency.

RADIO SHOWS AND PODCASTS Today, there is a vast array of audio possibilities. With the advent of internet radio and more recently, the explosion of podcasts, there’s almost an infinite number. And the latter two options bring highly targeted audiences interested in the hosts’ subject matter so you can zero in with impact, where with most broadcast, you may not know on whom your message will land. So first, you will want to put together a great 1 to 1.5 page pitch letter, which makes you sound irresistible! You’ll want to tell the host or producer exactly how you will impact the audience—what solution you bring: how it will help them change, heal or move forward in life more successfully. VIRTUAL SUMMITS Virtual summits are one of the most successful ways to build your optin list, get new clients, drive people into a specific program and develop joint venture partnerships. These events, of course, encompass both telesummits on the phone and video summits presented online. They are usually produced by a host who assembles a group of experts on a related subject matter so enticing that people will immediately submit their name and email to gain access to the interviews. Every guest

www.SpeakerTunityRadio.com

The SpeakerTunity Concierge will:

To get on the “summit circuit,” you need to find aligned summit hosts for whom your topic resonates; you will often need a great free online leadgeneration offer; you must be willing to co-promote.

SpeakerTunity Summits™-- Each month, you are updated on which virtual summit hosts are looking for or are open to new guest presenters... and you’re provided their direct contact information as well. www.SpeakerTunitySummits.com

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Meet with you to identify the types of events that match your business goals and client demographic profile.

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Create a professional looking Speaker One-Sheet for you, if you do not already have one.

THE EASY WAY TO FIND YOUR BOOKING OPPORTUNITIES

Or go to www.SpeakerTunity.com for one—or the whole SpeakerTunity Suite

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If you have a passion to present, there is an easy way to find ALL OF THESE. It’s called www.SpeakerTunity.com

$35/month for each. $85/month for all.

SPEAKERTUNITY™ TIP SHEETS

How confident are you that you can write the materials that will actually get you booked for speaking engagements, radio shows/podcasts, and virtual summits?

Research the right opportunities from our SpeakerTunity™ database and other sources. These will primarily be speak-toenroll engagements (no Speaker fee paid) -- an opportunity to engage the audience to either sell your product or enroll them in a free strategy session or another free offering.

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Propose you as a speaker to those selected.

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Commit to contacting a minimum of 15 and maximum of 30 in any given month, depending on the time commitment required to research and locate the right decision makers. Two or three of these could be conferences if so agreed.

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Make an introduction between you and the booker once the booking is secured, so you can provide needed materials and continue solidifying your relationship with the booker prior to engagement.

presenter involved co-promotes to his or her list and social media.

SpeakerTunity™ Transformational Speaker Leads Tip Sheets -Speakertunity™ gives you the exclusive, inside scoop on direct contacts to book your own transformational speaking opportunities. The hard work is done for you so that you’ll focus on what you do best -- speaking and working with your new tribe. Twice every month, you’ll receive the most up-todate information about venues, events, and organizations that are looking for speakers like you! This includes ALL of the hot regions in both the U.S. and Canada; top book tour promotion sites; local chapters of national organizations; local business and networking meetings, upcoming multispeaker events and expos; leading Unity and Centers for Spiritual Living; wellness events and presentation locations, yoga centers, women’s organizations, health and wellness support groups, national conferences and conventions ; civic, fraternal, and health organizations; resort and retreat centers, TEDx events and many more. You get more than 120 leads per month! Plus a private Facebook Group with HOT! timely new leads, too! www.SpeakerTunityLeads.com SpeakerTunity Radio Insider™ —Provides you with 25 + transformational radio shows each month complete with contact information for the host or producer. This covers broadcast, satellite, podcast, and internet radio shows.

THE SPEAKERTUNITY™ GET BOOKED TRAINING PROGRAM

Now there’s a fast way to learn how to write sensational, successful materials–and it is the SpeakerTunity™ Get Booked Training Program. When you’ve wrapped up this training program you’ll have: •

An Irresistible Stellar Speaker One-Sheet”

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Go to www.GetBookedTraining.com to get started now! SPEAKERTUNITY™ CONCIERGE SERVICE If you just can’t find the time or don’t want to represent yourself, SpeakerTunity has created a service to identify up to 30 meetings and selected conferences per month -and propose you as a speaker.

For more information, visit www.SpeakerTunityConcierge.com Jackie Lapin the founder of SpeakerTunity™ providing direct contacts for transformational leaders, authors, and experts to book themselves on stages, radio shows, podcasts and virtual summits across North America. SpeakerTunity’s affordable solution takes all the research headaches out of locating opportunities. You can also access her free ebook at www.10SpeakerSecrets.com myauthenticlifemagazine.com 71

MY TRUST MANIFESTO

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by Janette Stuart

have selected a word of the year for the past three years. This focus word helps guide, inform and steer me in the direction I have chosen to go. In 2016, the word was JOY. In 2017, it was DELIGHT. In 2018, it is TRUST. I was hesitant to select TRUST as my word of the year. Initially, it felt like I was calling forth something scary to occur that I would need trust to navigate through. Trust didn’t feel as exhilarating to me as Joy or Delight did. I don’t believe I fully understood what trust was intending for me. Trust began whispering to me in August 2017 following an auto collision I was involved in. Shortly before the collision, I was feeling that perhaps I should give up doing the work of my soul. It didn’t feel like my efforts were making a difference. I felt I may have been needlessly spinning my wheels. Trust provided the answers to my feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty. I began to lean into trust as the days passed. By the end of the year, I knew I would select trust as my word of the year for 2018. Trust felt exhilarating; it felt like faith, like walking my walk and talking my talk and shining my big, beautiful light. Trust felt like my purpose. Trust felt delicious. The angels also whispered a motto for the year to me for the first time. The motto is: Trust the best is yet to come. I loved it. It felt so exciting to receive such a promise at the age of 57 when some are feeling their best days have passed them by. myauthenticlifemagazine.com 73

I created this trust manifesto so that I could better realize what trust wanted me to know. What did trust want me to know? What did trust want me to embody? What did trust want me to exude? Here is a list of answers that came forth and may it bless you with so much love. •

I trust in the Divine goodness and grace that comes to me this year.

•

I trust in my Divinity – I am a beloved Child of God.

•

I trust in my gifts, my intuition, which are divine gifts from God.

•

I trust in the Divine guidance that flows to me.

•

I release the desire to hide behind others, for their accolades, acceptance or to play it safe. I rest in God and the knowing that all is well.

•

I listen in trust.

•

I create in trust.

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I receive in trust.

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I give with trust.

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I love with trust.

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I shine with trust.

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I speak with trust.

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I write, filled with trust.

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I take advantage of opportunities that fill my soul and move me forward in trust.

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I trust in the gentle whispers.

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I trust in the joyous “Yes” that rings in my heart.

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I trust in the many ways abundance shows up in my life this year.

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I trust in the creative genius that flows to and through me.

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I trust that my work matters.

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I trust my wisdom, which is a divine gift.

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I trust in my angels, guides, and teacher of light that uplift, inspire, love and support me at every turn.

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I trust that my loved ones, friends, and acquaintances are supported cared for and protected by God and the angels.

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I allow with trust.

My dear friend, Kim Flatland of Love Your Soul-Self, wrote this beautiful affirmation for me and I share it here so that it may bless you, also. “I trust all I desire is arriving in divine timing. I trust my intuition. I am trusting God has a perfect plan for me. As I trust, others trust me. As I trust, I am deeply and joyously connected to myself. I see evidence of all I trust in. I trust I am led to opportunities to spread my gifts to a wider audience.” And so it is. This year, I have stepped forward in faith, in trust, and have done many things for the first time. These first-time experiences so far include participating in an online summit, creating a six-week class on joy, hosting an in-person retreat, doing a talk about connecting with the angels and conducting public angel card readings at an expo. I have a free upcoming class called Living in Joy scheduled with The Wellness Universe on May 3. Visit here https:// wellnessuniverse.learnitlive.com/ class/12003/Living-in-Joy, and I trust you can join in on the fun.

I’m Janette Stuart, Founder of Angel Angles which is my labor of love. I have wanted to express my soul’s work in a more visible way and am now devoting more time to Angel Angles since my retirement in 2015. Angel Angles exists to spread more love, joy and peace into the world. I have always loved to write, I write every day. I write longhand in several different journals as well as type electronically. I have always loved handwriting, the sending of cards and notes, the keeping of a journal or diary. My first book, “On a Path of Joy” will be available in September. I am thrilled. My hope is that the book will help the reader develop or enhance their relationship with their Creator. I am a grateful member of and core blogger for The Wellness Universe. The Wellness Universe is an evolutionary community of members who are positively impacting the world in one or more of the 7 areas of wellness. As a lifelong empath, I have experienced people’s feelings deeply. I have a deep compassion for my fellow man and love deeply. I choose to live a joy filled life each day and hope to help others do the same. Joy is my focus word for 2016. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband of 33 years, Mark, and our rescue boxer dog, Spike. We have a grown son, Max, who is happily serving in the Coast Guard. I am a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor as well as an angelic practitioner. Besides writing, I am a lifelong learner, who reads daily, I also enjoy walking in nature, sky watching, cooking, RVing along the California Coast and visiting with friends and family. Some of my most requested recipes are Asian Chicken Salad and Sticky Toffee Pudding. 74 | MY Magazine

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

MAGAZINE WISDOM

Create a Publishing Company that Rocks! my-mediagroup.com/entrepreneur

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Healthy Living

WHEN HEALTHY FOODS ARE JUST

PLAIN WRONG People often ask me why they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t losing weight even when they are eating healthy. by Liz Bull

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ell, most times, it’s simply because they are choosing the WRONG foods.

And YES, these include fruits and vegetables! If you’re eating ANY of these WRONG foods, it could be the difference between losing 20 lbs quickly... or staring at your scale in frustration. When you think about it that way, you’ll want to be sure you are not eating ANY of these foods. Just what ARE they? Read on. “Healthy food” can be a confusing topic. Foods which are grown organically are considered to be more healthy than those subjected to pesticides. Grass-fed beef is healthier than grain-fed beef. Wild-caught fish is healthier than many farm-raised fish. Fresh vegetables are healthier than ones that have been sitting around. Food that is free of additives is healthier. However, there is more to “healthy” than that. A food that is “HEALTHY” can still be “WRONG.” Take milk, for example. Many diets rely on yogurt, cottage cheese and skim milk. “Jane” came from a family of dairy farmers, so she drank milk. Yet, she suffered from sinus headaches, acne, and a chronic post-nasal drip. No one made the connection to a dairy sensitivity. And she could not lose weight! Eliminating dairy from her diet allowed “Jane” to lose the weight AND eliminated her runny nose and chronic sinus headaches. Like milk, there are other “healthy” foods that may be holding your health hostage. In short, while they may be “healthy” for some people, they may be WRONG for you. Many years ago, I discovered a wonderful book called It’s Not Your Fault You’re Fat by the Mandells. In following

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their rigorous elimination diet, I discovered that mushrooms made me ravenous! I wanted to eat everything in sight. I discovered that salad dressings upset my stomach, as did kosher dill pickles. No wonder I felt so awful eating salads! Mushrooms and vinegar were WRONG for me. Food sensitivities are related to blood type. Read Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s Eat Right 4 Your Type. Type O’s do not do well with vinegar (another so-called “healthy” food). Type O’s do best on simple Paleo-type diets of red meats and dark greens. Their systems don’t digest the beans and legumes that are the staple of most vegetarian diets. They do not tolerate grains either. Like Ron... Ron, thought he was eating “healthy” with his breakfast of orange juice, Great Grains cereal and skim milk. He was always in agony. He lived on Zantac to deal with the burning in his stomach. When he switched to having eggs for breakfast and stopped drinking

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orange juice, the agony ended. So did his achy joints.

hungry. As your cells are starving, you keep eating!

On the other hand, “Kathy” had no idea that she had a sensitivity to eggs. When she cut them from her diet, she lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks without even trying. When she later tried some scrambled eggs, she became so sleepy she nearly passed out.

WRONG foods are toxic to your body. This means that your body cannot process that particular food and usually has an adverse reaction to it. WRONG foods can provoke hunger!

“Cindi”, a Type A, thrived as a vegetarian. While you might think that this meant she could eat all kinds of vegetables, she found that nightshades, corn, avocado, and cabbage were WRONG for her. She could not stand the smell or taste of bananas! They were WRONG for her. When you choose a WRONG food, your body cannot digest it. This sets up a starvation response provoking a vicious cycle. Acne can be a sign of poor digestion, by the way. Many of us are over-fed and starving at the same time. You must have the right USABLE nutrients or your body stays

Some other effects of WRONG food: 1. Stuffy nose, bloating, rashes, post-nasal drip, sneezing, achy joints, water retention, hunger, excess ear wax and sleepiness. 2. Sometimes the reaction is more severe, like chronic indigestion, heartburn or even life-threatening anaphylactic shock. 3. Insulin resistance and weight gain. Here’s a list of foods which can be WRONG for many people: 1. Grains- not just Gluten: inflammation 2. Soy: inflammation by messing with hormones and thyroid

a comprehensive Food Panel that is based on a blood sample. Consult your doctor or go online to get this test.

3. Dairy: inflammation, congestion 4. Eggs: inflammation, gas, bloating 5. Corn: inflammation, highglycemic, spikes blood sugar levels 6. Peanuts: legendary for causing bad reactions. 7. Nightshade Family Vegetables: inflammation in joints, hives 8. Citrus Fruits: can cause mouth sores and indigestion 9. Many herbs, spices, and condiments: sneezing, burning sensation, indigestion, thirst I would add to this list MSG (monosodium glutamate) and free glutamates. These things show up in 80% of processed food, producing an invisible prison of addiction. MSG

excites the brain’s fat production program. In lab rats, it is well documented that MSG induces obesity! MSG is WRONG for everybody! The results of eliminating WRONG foods can be astonishing and miraculous. Like “Bill”, a Type A, who had been struggling to lose weight. He lost 17 pounds in a few weeks when he switched from his usual gin cocktail to red wine. How can you tell when a “healthy” food is WRONG for you? Have a closer look at the list of symptoms. If you are suffering from any of them, chances are that you are eating a WRONG food. To find out which foods may be WRONG for your body, check out Dr. D’Adamo’s book or, get an ALCAT test. This is

Better yet, learn to use kinesiology (muscle testing) to test foods and condiments on the spot. You can learn about kinesiology when you book a Diet Freedom Discovery Session at www.lizbull.com. The next time you see a headline about a MIRACLE FOOD or DIET, take it with a grain of salt! With her innovative signature program she works with her clients to release their limiting beliefs, doubts, and fears, and helps them tap into their natural abilities and their bodies’ wisdom, making weight loss easy and safe. A Medical Intuitive, Master Theta Healer and Certified Virtual Gastric Band Practitioner , Liz has long been fascinated by the important role mind, body, and beliefs play in our lives. Her other studies and certifications include EFT, Psych-K, Matrix Energetics, Access Consciousness, QiGong, NLP and Transcendental Meditation. She has transferred her successful healing/mind-set work with businesswomen to the arena of weight loss because she has experienced firsthand the havoc and misery that obesity creates not only for the sufferer but for their families. www.lizbull.com

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82 | MY Magazine

Honor Your

MOM by Annabel Cohen

he ads are everywhere. Television commercials are practically counting down the days. Even the cooking shows are teasing upcoming episodes suggesting what’s the best way to cook for these extremely special albeit commercial holidays. Yes, we shouldn’t need a special day to honor people, but don’t even think of ignoring Mother’s Day if you know what’s good for you. Write this down: Sunday, May 13 is Mother’s Day. If you’re going out, expect to brave the crowds for one meal today, someone else to do the cooking if it’s usually your duty. If you’re honoring a mom, you may be looking for ways to pamper her without fighting the crowds at restaurants or clubs. If you’re feeling ambitious, try some of the recipes below for a delicious brunch or lunch. With Mother’s Day around the corner (or for no reason at all), preparing a simple, yet elegant and sumptuous morning meal is often the best way to celebrate … anything. But why must we all jump through a few hoops on Mother’s Day? Because I’m a mother and I said so.

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Baby Spinach Salad with Sweet and Tangy Dressing Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil (not extra-virgin) 2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 2 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. red pepper sauce Pinch of pepper

Place ingredients in a jar, cover and shake. This dressing may be served warm. Microwave in a microwavesafe bowl for 30 seconds on high before serving. Salad: 10 ounces baby spinach (often available pre-bagged), cleaned, large stems removed. Baby spinach does not need to be torn or cut 1/4 cup (or more if desired) chopped walnuts 4 green onions (scallions) chopped (green and white parts) 8 ounces sliced mushrooms (optional) 1 can 11-ounces, mandarin oranges, drained Toss all ingredients together just before serving. Toss with dressing and serve. Serves 6-8 as a side dish.

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Gravlax Gravlax is salmon that’s cured in sugar and salt, which causes a chemical reaction that “cooks” the fish. It’s very, very easy to make, but needs to cure for a couple of days. It’s a fresh alternative to lox. 2-3 lb. Fresh, boneless salmon fillet (without skin) 1/2 cup kosher or coarse sea salt 1 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. coarse ground black pepper (not powder) 2 cups fresh chopped dill or 3 Tbsp. dried dill

Place salmon fillet in a large glass or ceramic baking dish skin side down (you may need to cut the salmon into large pieces (the larger the better). Sprinkle the salt over the salmon. Sprinkle the sugar over the salt. Sprinkle the pepper over the sugar. Place a plastic sandwich bag or disposable glove over your hand and press and rub the salt, sugar, and pepper into the fish. Sprinkle the salmon with the chopped dill.

Turn the seasoned fish over so that the salt/sugar/ pepper/dill side is now upside down. Cover the salmon with plastic wrap (lay the wrap directly on the flesh of the fish – not the pan). Place another dish (another baking dish or a piece of wood that’s smaller than the original dish), over the fish. Place several large filled cans or a brick wrapped in foil in the pan or over the wood (the object is to “weight” the dish so that it presses down on the fish – this is an important step). Chill for 24 hours. Turn the fish pieces over (spoon the mixture over the unseasoned side) and repeat with the plastic wrap and weight the fish. Chill for another 24 hours. The gravlax will be ready, but you can continue to “cure” the salmon for another day or so (I make it over 4 days and have made it up to a week in advance of serving). Place the salmon on a clean cutting board and slice it against the grain, into thin diagonal slices. Arrange the gravlax on a platter and garnish with capers, thin lemon slices, and fresh dill sprigs. Makes 14-16 servings, or more if served as an appetizer.

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Gruyere Baked Eggs 2 Tbsp. butter, melted 8 ounces grated Gruyere cheese 12 large eggs Salt and black pepper to taste 1/3 cup fresh minced parsley, plus extra for garnish 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves 1 Tbsp. fresh tarragon leaves 1 cup half and half Preheat oven to 350ยบF. Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish or equivalent with melted butter. Sprinkle half the cheese over the bottom of the dish. Break the eggs into the dish, being careful not to break the yolks. Season the eggs lightly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the parsley, thyme, and tarragon over the eggs and top with remaining cheese. Transfer the eggs carefully to the oven being careful not to tip the pan, Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the egg whites are nearly set. Serve immediately.

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Country Tomato Chevre Tarte 1 package (17 ounces) frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed 1/2 cup thin sliced mild onion 4 garlic cloves, minced

1 red bell pepper, halved, seeded and cut vertically into very thin slices

8 plum tomatoes, sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds Kosher salt and pepper to taste 16 fresh sage leaves

3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

10 ounces Chevre (or other soft goat cheese), crumbled 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425Â°F. Place the sheets of puff pasty on a baking sheet with sides and press together and up the sides of the pan to create one large sheet of pasty. Arrange the onion, garlic, bell pepper and tomato slices over the pastry. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper and arrange the sage leaves overall. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle the Chevre and Parmesan cheeses over. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. Remove from oven and cut into large squares and serve. Makes varied appetizer servings or 6-9 lunch sized servings. myauthenticlifemagazine.com 87

Lemon Poppyseed Pound Cake 3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 1/4 cups sugar

4 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 tsp. lemon extract

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 cup sour cream

1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest 1/3 cup poppyseeds

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a Bundt pan or other tube pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and stir together with a fork until well mixed. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat together butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition, then add the lemon extract and lemon juice. Reduce the speed to low and add 1 cup of the flour mixture. Add 1/2 cup of sour cream, another cup of flour mixture, the other 1/2 cup of sour cream and the remaining flour mixture. Mix until just incorporated. Add the lemon zest and poppyseed and beat until just incorporated. Transfer the batter into the prepared band and bake until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool for 10 minutes on a rack (I just put it on a cold stove grate). Invert the pan onto a serving plate and cool. Remove the cake from the pan, sprinkle with powdered sugar when cool. Makes 16 servings. Annabel is a foodie. She’s a writer. A cooking instructor. An explorer. She’s a aesthete. She knows how to cook. Until fairly recently, Annabel only cooked for people she knows. Her catering, articles, blogs and ANNABEL COHEN COOKS DETROIT Facebook page have earned not just kudos, but awards as well. She was chosen as a Crain’s Detroit Business Magazine “Most Passionate Cooks” and has been profiled in: The Paper, HOUR Detroit, The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, The Big Idea, Oakland Press, Royal Oak Tribune, The Detroit Jewish News, Style Magazine, “LIVE in the D,” among others. She won “Best Caterer” in 2015 in The Detroit Jewish News, and in 2014 in HOUR Detroit

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magazine. She was voted “Best Brazilian Food” by Detroit Monthly magazine. Among countless television and radio appearances, Annabel was the deciding judge on the Travel Channel’s “Food Wars” for a Detroit episode pitting rivals Lafayette Coney Island against American Coney Island. Annabel is an author. She co-authored “Eating for Acid Reflux” in 2003 and in 2013 created all the recipes for 2014’s “Fast Diets for Dummies.” As a stylist, Annabel has assisted in countless photo shoots and tested and styled recipes for ads, articles and even a few books she didn’t write. She’s also a cooking instructor and writer/columnist with articles that focus on her favorite things — food, travel and lifestyle.

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Be the you want to see

“Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.”

–Les Brown