2023 March

Less can be more when you take the time

Turn up NEW card decks to help customers begin their intuitive journey

THINGS TO MANIFEST IN 2023

Ideas & inspirations for small businesses

Learn how to move from wishing to achieving

B Y the editor

Time to ‘unleash’ your vision

Hi there! In this issue we’re going big on sharing and teaching you important principles and lessons on “manifesting what you want in life”. By deepening your knowledge of manifesting, you can recognize where to start and what to do to help achieve your goals. Don’t block your future! Learn how to move your aspirations from a place of thinking and wishing into a place of existence.

And let’s keep it simple this year… add more positive habits to your daily routine that can lead you to the lifestyle and goals you want, starting today!

In addition, get ideas on how, where, when and why customers ‘consume’ the information that helps them to make purchase decisions. Within the pages of this issue, you can also delve into how essential oils can be used to support spiritual healing or explore the world of divination to find new decks that can help customers begin their intuitive journey, and more!

Have an insightful reading!

Roberta G.

Editor-in-Chief

editorial

Retailing Insight Magazine is a bimonthly trade magazine specializing in the conscious living retail market. The magazine is published exclusively for qualified retailers and small independent businesses in the United States. Our mission is to share one on business advice, product reviews, advertisement from top sellers and makers in the industry, and exclusive topics to help business continue to thrive.

Editor-in-Chief

Roberta Gazzarolle

Copyeditor

Sean Ruck

Designer Marina Avila

Digital Media & Sales adsales@retailinginsight.com

Contributing Writers

Melinda Carver

Tracee Dunblazier

Dudley Evenson

Dyan Garris

Megy Karydes

Catherine Grace Landry

Hallie Marie

Leeza Robertson

Karen Stuth

©2022 New Way Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 2372-7977. Volume 38/MarchApril 2023. The magazine is published bimonthly/ six times a year (January, March, May, July, September, November) by New Way Publishing, LLC. 4117 Park Road, 12252, Charlotte, NC 28220. Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to Retailing Insight Magazine, P.O. Box 12252, Charlotte, NC 28220.

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Retailing Insight Magazine is published by New Way Publishing, LLC. P.O. Box 12252 Charlotte, NC 28220 circ@retailinginsight.com

CONTENTS Manifestation

In This Issue

20 The 4 Building Blocks of Manifestation

33 Marketing Strategies for Retailers

Read up on how, where, when, and why your customers “consume” the information that helps them to make purchase decisions

9 10 Ways to Boost Manifesting Through Aromatherapy

Discover how essential oils can be used to support spiritual healing

39 Seeds of Peace

A special collaboration with a Ukrainian-American artist & Soundings of the Planet records

26 Reflective Stories, No.2 Choice, freedom, power

42 Spiritually Travel to Thrilling Places

Turn up NEW card decks to help customers begin their intuitive journey

39

10 WAYS TO BOOST MANIFESTING THROUGH AROMATHERAPY

Manifesting benefits from you being open and willing to be vulnerable. It nudges you to ask hard questions about the life you want. It draws out your deepest desires, fears, and insecurities as you become more honest with yourself.

Essential oils can be a gentle tool that makes manifesting easier. Aromatherapy is known for filling your environment with peace and clarity. It’s thought to have the power to improve moods and emotions, as well as physical health.

One way aromatherapy works is by stimulating the olfactory system, which is linked to the limbic system in the brain, where emotions are regulated. This means that the aroma of essential oils can influence emotions in a positive way.

Essential oils can also be used to support spiritual healing. When used in conjunction with meditation and prayer, they

About the Author: Hallie Marie is the author of the Essential Oil Cards. She’s a writer, marketer and natural health enthusiast. She co-founded the company, Everything But Oils, LLC in 2016 to teach people how to effectively master the use of essential oils. Since then, her company has helped thousands through her fun and easily understandable aromatherapy essential oil flashcards. Hallie is a sought-after speaker on aromatherapy and emotional wellness. In her free time, she can often be found engaging in inventive pursuits: creating memories with her niece and nephews, traveling with friends, and painting.

can help to create a sacred space and foster connection with the universe. They help open the heart and release emotional blocks, to restore balance and harmony.

Essential oils and manifesting can be a powerful combination for creating a life of abundance and joy. When used in combination, the two can create clarity and focus to realize the life of your dreams. Frankincense can help you ground as you begin visualizing the life you want. Bergamot can give you courage to turn those dreams into action. Lavender will be there for you when you’re ready to relax and reflect on how far you’ve come.

Personally, learning about aromatherapy was overwhelming at first. I bought my first set of essential oils and they sat on the counter for weeks. The information was endless. I didn’t know where to start. Determined, I decided to memorize their benefits. I thought it would be easier to buy flashcards, but they didn’t exist. I considered others might have this same issue as me, and I was right. This motivated me to design modern, colorful cards that made learning about oils simple and easy. From that moment on, I’ve been developing fun products that have helped thousands of people heal and grow.

To this day, my favorite set of cards are designed to help with manifestation the most – the aromatherapy deck. Each card shares an emotion and the essential oils to support it. They’re soft and beautiful with a comforting affirmation. With each card I created, I tried to empathize with the emotion. I wanted the color and tone to match the emotion.

When the idea came for the essential oil cards, my heart fluttered. It was a whisper from the universe. I had deeply wanted to be an entrepreneur and this idea was a manifestation of my heart. It all started from having the courage to ask the universe for something and trust that it would happen. I continue to seek moments like these and appreciate them when they come. I hope you do the same.

LESSONS I’VE LEARNED THROUGH

MANIFESTING AND AROMATHERAPY

1. Start Small

Manifesting can start small. It could be a smile on the train. A coffee order that went wrong, but tasted better. An unexpected discount. A bird singing just for you.

Author/Book Cover Image Courtesy: Rockpool Publishing

These cherished moments make life more beautiful. They’re evidence that manifesting is possible and your dreams are possible. This evidence will build confidence and trust in yourself. Add a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser to create a calming and focused energy before beginning your manifestation practice.

Be In The Present Diffuser Blend:

4 Drops Frankincense

4 Drops Peppermint

3 Drops Lavender

3 Drops Grapefruit

3 Drops Rosemary

2. Be True to Yourself

Quiet the voices. Listen to your heart. What makes it flutter? Sit in the vulnerability. You don’t have to ask for what your neighbor wants. It doesn’t have to be a million dollars or a Maserati. It could be a donut. You can ask for whatever feels authentic to you. Remember, you are worth it.

Use lemongrass with bergamot to bring happiness and harmony. Black pepper is another great way to release hidden emotions and reveal your authentic self. It provides feelings of self-confidence, increasing your inner strength.

Be True Diffuser Blend:

2 drops of Lemongrass

2 drops of Bergamot

1 drop of Lavender

1 drop of Sandalwood

1 drop of Frankincense

3. Be Ready

The chess game only starts after you make the first move. No one else can play for you. Accept where you are at this moment, and take a step into the direction you’d like to go. Trust, my friend.

Help boost your courage with this diffuser blend. If this is too complex, peppermint is a simple alternative that provides clarity, energy and focus.

Confidence Boost Blend:

2 drops Bergamot

3 drops Sandalwood

4 drops Cedarwood

5 drops Orange

1 drop Vetiver (optional)

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4. Let Calmness In

Take a deep breath. Release any fears or anxiety. Manifesting can seem daunting. Just remember that the doors will open in their own time. Be present and ready for the whispers.

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Create a calm environment by mediating, painting, watching the sunset or taking a hot shower. During these activities you can diff use lavender, frankincense or sandalwood to promote relaxation. These oils can help you feel more grounded and in touch with your inner feelings.

Pause Aromatherapy Blend:

4 Drops of Clary Sage

6 Drops of Roman Chamomile

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2 Drops of Sandalwood

5. Be Specific

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Being clear when manifesting allows you to create a roadmap so you know exactly what needs to be done in order to achieve your desired outcome. It will help you focus your energy and intention on a specific outcome rather than getting distracted with other possibilities.

An essential oil blend to help with the manifestation process could include a combination of orange, peppermint, and lavender essential oils. Orange essential oil is known to increase optimism and creativity, which can be helpful in manifesting. Peppermint essential oil is

known to increase energy and focus, which can also be helpful in manifestation. Finally, lavender essential oil can help to reduce stress, allowing you to remain open and relaxed while manifesting.

6. Surrender

At some point, you’ll want to let go. Trust in what’s to come. Resistance can be normal. Try meditating on the root cause of where it’s coming from. Create a safe place for yourself. Use essential oils to open your heart and surrender.

Surrender Diffuser Blend:

3 Drops Lavender

2 Drops Cyprus

2 Drops Ylang Ylang

2 Drops Wintergreen

7. Bet on Yourself

The most dangerous action I’ve taken was allowing others’ opinions to lead my decisions. I’ve learned the hard way that I will not lean on someone else for my happiness. This is your life and only you are responsible for making it great. You are powerful and capable to make it happen.

Create a satchel to carry with you for an extra boost of confidence:

5 drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

5 drops of Geranium Essential Oil

5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

1/4 cup of Sea Salt

1/4 cup of Dried Sage

Instructions:

Begin by filling a small cloth satchel with the salt and sage. Next, add the essential oils to the satchel. Gently mix all the

ingredients together to ensure they are completely blended. Place the satchel in a sunny spot and leave it for one hour to absorb the energy of the sun. Finally, carry the satchel with you as a reminder of your intention and use it as a tool for manifesting your goals and increasing your confidence.

8. Ask for Help

You are loved, and never alone. It’s okay to ask for help whether it be from the universe, family or friends. Vulnerability is a key to happiness and having a life you want. Take risks. Open up. Share. It will get easier and easier with time.

Fearless Diffuser Blend:

5 Drops of Orange

3 Drops of Juniper Berry

4 Drops of Cyprus

3 Drops of Lavender

9. Find Gratitude

Diffuse lavender and reflect on joyful moments from your day. Maybe make it fun and buy a new journal. By doing this, you are creating a positive mindset and vibration that will attract more of the same into your life. When your thoughts and feelings are aligned with gratitude, you are able to manifest more of the things that you desire.

Add a few drops of essential oil to your journal or to make it feel special:

Cedarwood is known to be a grounding oil, which can help to bring balance and clarity to the mind. This can help to promote feelings of gratitude by allowing you to focus on the positive aspects of life.

Frankincense is known to be a powerful aid in creating a sense of peace and relaxation. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety and promote feelings of contentment and satisfaction.

10. Celebrate

Reward yourself. It reinforces the belief that you can manifest what you desire. It helps create a positive feedback loop in your brain, which can motivate you to keep manifesting more things. Rewards also help to reinforce the behavior associated with manifesting and they can act as a reminder that you have the power to create the life you desire.

Beautiful Day Blend:

3 Drops Grapefruit

1 Drop Lemon

1 Drop Peppermint

Business & mar Ket ing

DEVELOP A Slow Ritual

Endless work to-do lists, family obligations, social responsibilities, it can all seem like a lot. And it is. But it doesn’t have to be that way. What if we could manifest a different type of life? One that is more focused on our health and well-being rather than managing emotional gymnastics on a daily basis?

DO LESS AND NOTICE MORE

When I was struggling with physical clutter in one of the rooms in my home, I actually couldn’t see the clutter. It became part of my view for so long that if something was removed, then I’d notice the change.

Our daily life is similar. We’re so used to cramming as much as possible in our day that we no longer see what really matters or what’s important. We create habits that don’t serve us. It can start innocently enough. We throw a sweater in the corner, meaning to put it where it belongs but we’re too tired. Then the mail begins to stack up because we don’t have time or energy to deal with it at the moment. Then the scissors you needed for just a minute stay there because you’re off doing something else that needs your attention. And then, before you know it, you have clutter than needs to be addressed or it continues to build.

About the Author: Megy Karydes is a Chicago-based writer. Her new book, 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress: Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health Using Your Five Senses, will be available this fall. To sign up for her free monthly newsletter to receive more self-care, go to www.megykarydes.com.

VISUALIZE WHAT YOU WANT AND NEED

When I was writing my book, 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress: Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health Using Your Five Senses, I interviewed a professional organizer because one of the tips in the book is to create an environment that serves your mental health and well-being.

In order to see your space with a fresh set of eyes, take a photo of your room. Then look at the photo, not your room. This simple action allows you the grace of really seeing the opportunity in your space rather than all the clutter. Take the time to visualize how you want the space to look. What do you want it to look like? What do you need it to look like? If it helps to sketch it out, get out a pen and paper and sketch it out.

This exercise isn’t limited to physical rooms. It can be how you want to feel in your body or in your mind. If you’re

constantly being bombarded with negative news or distractions, remove the notifications from your phone.

BE PATIENT AND STAY CONSISTENT

Manifesting what you want isn’t simply putting it out in the universe and hoping it transpires. It does require action, whether it’s removing obstacles holding your back, being open to possibilities or taking the time to consider what you want and need and put things in place to help you get there.

If you want more calm in your life, for example, what can you do daily that brings more calm? Perhaps it’s not looking at your phone first thing in the morning. Or maybe it’s going for a 30-minute walk outside every day. If you want your body to feel healthier, could you

“Some days or weeks will be better than others. Rather than be frustrated that you didn’t get to do something when you were hoping to, just start it up again when you can.”

look for a new recipe to try once a week? The idea isn’t to add more things on your overflowing to do list. It’s to engage in activities that help you get closer to the type of life you want to live. And in order for something to become a regular part of your life, it needs to become a habit or routine.

Some days or weeks will be better than others. Rather than be frustrated that you didn’t get to do something when you were hoping to, just start it up again when you can. Be willing to be flexible and realize life throws us curve balls all the time.

Positive habits and routines don’t happen overnight, but they can take hold when we’re patient and consistent. Once we start feeling the positive effects of our actions, soon we’ll find ourselves honoring and prioritizing that time because it’s important to us.

THE 4 BUILDING BLOCKS OF MANIFESTATION

FEATURES

“ Manifesting, in its purest form, is a neuro hacking process to move your brain and body towards something you truly want.”

Manifesting is a topic I love speaking on, mainly because so many people are often confused by the process itself. For the most part, the art of manifesting is taught and practiced like you are making an online purchase. See something you want, declare it will be yours and then get upset when it does not land on your doorstep like your Amazon prime package.

You see, to truly understand the energy of manifestation you have to move out of the place of wishing and shift into doing. More specifically, doing the small stuff, which in turn magically creates the big stuff. In other words, the process, the path and all the boring pieces no one wants to talk about.

Yet this is the scientifically backed way to manifest anything in your life. Well not anything, there are limits, universal and karmic laws that need to be obeyed and not everyone starts from the same space of cultural or societal privilege, but there are some things in our life we do have some control over.

To get started you need to know the four building blocks to the manifesting process. The ones backed by science that are proven to work again and again. What is even more cool about these four building blocks is that this is exactly how the Angels taught me to manifest. I love when the divine and science align, it makes everything a little more magical!

First, let’s talk about what manifesting actually is. Because this is not about wish fulfillment or spending hours meditating and staring at your navel and hoping for the best. Manifesting, in its purest form, is a neuro hacking process to move your brain and body towards something you truly want. This, in turn, creates an environment so that you can take the necessary action to obtain what you desire with as little resistance as possible.

Humans, by design, are manifesting machines. Yet not everyone is operating on the program they want. Most of us — and I do include myself in this — spend the bulk of our time manifesting things we do not want. Why do we do this? It will become clearer as we move through the four building blocks. So, what are the building blocks for manifesting?

The four building blocks of manifesting are:

1. Be honest

About the Author: Leeza Robertson is a best-selling author for Llewellyn worldwide. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter and read more of her ramblings on the Word Salad Blog over on sub stack.

2. Visualize the steps

3. Feel it in your body

4. Do it, you must take action.

These four building blocks are all very simple when you fi rst look at them. But let’s break them down and drill into them to see how we do them, what mistakes to avoid and how you can start right now working with these four very simple steps to manifestation.

1. Be Honest

It is very easy to list the ‘stuff ’ we want. I am sure you have a list inside your head right now and while I will encourage you to get that list out of your mind and onto paper, this is not what the key to this block is. When you think about the ‘stuff ’ there is an underlying emotion, one you think this ‘stuff ’ is going to help with. So, let’s write it down. What

is it that you really truly want to feel? Most of us want to feel safe, loved, needed, appreciated, connected and secure. Your underlying emotion might be something different. But you need to be honest about what it is.

It seems we are always able to emotionally communicate about the things we do not want. We can talk about how we don’t want to feel all the time, which in turn creates situations we do not want. All we are doing here is fl ipping the script and saying how we want to feel. Now, this is not about toxic positivity, which is painting on a smile and only talking about positive things. This is about you being 100 percent honest with your emotions.

Grab a piece of paper and on it write: “I want (the thing you wish to manifest) … so I can feel… because…” fi ll in the blanks. This is important as it gives a ‘why’ to your desire. Without a real solid ‘why’ there is no emotional anchor to your manifesting which it needs in order to come from the field of vibrational energy into the plane of physical existence.

2. Visualize the Steps

Research from UCLA says that when you visualize yourself taking an action, it is the same as physically taking that

action. In neuroscience this is called hacking into procedural memory, a form of long-term memory. In other words, when we constantly see ourselves taking a specific action, it gets added to our long term memory and before you know it, doing it in real life becomes a habit — not something new.

very different from just seeing the end result. This building block connects you to the real life work associated with the manifestation process. Because the price you pay for the things you want is the work it takes to get it.

As you consider the map you created in the last step, see yourself physically doing it. Imagine your body moving in sequence to the steps on your map. Feel each step, conversation and action as if you are doing it right here right now. Doing this two minutes a day will add to your procedural, long-term and muscle memory, building your manifestation in real time.

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So why are so many manifestors focused on the end result instead? Because that is what most people tell you to do. But the evidence is clear, focusing on the end result alone disconnects us mentally and emotionally from the very thing we are trying to manifest. The connective part happens by immersing ourselves in the small steps and creating a vortex of completion.

What are the steps you would need to take to manifest your goal? On the piece of paper, you wrote your ‘why’ on, write out every single step. Make sure it is small and bite-sized. Anything too big will create a barrier of resistance. Once you have all the steps mapped out, visualize yourself following your map.

3. Feel it in your Body

4. Do It

Now it is time to put it all together. You have practiced this in your mind’s eye, felt it in your body and set up all the neurological pathways in your memory. It is time to bring it into the world outside of your mind and let the vibrations become physical. This one step is the most overlooked in modern teachings of manifesting. But at some point you will need to get up off that meditation cushion and start doing all the little things you have been practicing in your head.

Building block three of manifesting is very much intertwined with block number two. Because you don’t just sit and visualize your steps, you have to feel them. This is exactly what Olympic athletes are trained to do, to see every step of the race in their mind’s eye and feel that race in their body. The more you can get into the feeling aspect of the process the easier the fourth and fi nal building block is going to be.

In this step we are adding muscle memory to our long-term memory. This in turn keeps the neuro hacking energy running as we slowly, but surely, embed this manifestation into our minds, bodies and emotions. Feeling yourself taking the actions is so

The key to this is to move slowly, intentionally, and strategically. Do not make the mistake of thinking you have to do everything right now. Take one small step at a time and then pause. This pause allows you to see what the effects are of your action. Moving too fast can be just as bad as not moving at all because you can miss short cuts or other incredible opportunities that the path to your manifestation can unfold. Moving slowly also allows you to stay on track, focus and keep good emotional and mental boundaries in place.

Grab your calendar and a black marker. Add the fi rst three steps of your manifestation journey onto your calendar. By making sure

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“Take one small step at a time and then pause. This pause allows you to see what the effects are of your action.”

you have them on your schedule you are more likely to actually do them. For example, if you are manifesting a new car, step one might very well be to take yourself to a dealership and test drive the car on your list. Or maybe step one is to check your credit score and then take the steps to raise it to where it needs to be. Or maybe step one is to open a savings account just for that new car and make a deposit into it!

These are real tangible steps that move energy towards your goal. You have been practicing this in your head, so it will be much easier to do now as you are working with procedural, long-term and muscle memory. And there you have it, the four building blocks to manifesting that goal, dream or thing your heart desires – short and simple but not always easy. To get the most out of this article do the steps one at a time, do the exercises, and take action!

“If there is one thing I believe we can all agree on, it is that our current reality is not the best for most of humanity.”

Limited Stories

NO. 2 CHOICE, FREEDOM, POWER

Imagine a world where we teach our children a new golden rule. Rather than the rule of obedience based upon fear of consequence, we teach them the rule of empathy-sympathy-compassionmercy from the youngest days of their lives. Imagine if we lived our life following this golden principle – because we truly wanted to! That it is such a part of us that we could not fathom living any other way. Imagine how this might change the foundations of our families, communities, and governments.

Empathy is a mental discipline. One in which we choose to intellectually understand ourselves in the place of the other — their suffering,

their emotions, their actions. As an example, we can temporarily visualize ourselves starving even if we have never lived this, and therefore imagine how that might affect us.

Sympathy is an expression of empathy through words that speak our understanding of the other’s experience.

Compassion is an action resulting from empathy. It is the action of reaching out. After we have made the intellectual decision to empathize, compassion is the decision to actively assist in some physical way.

Mercy is the result of all these. It is a granting of the micro-nuances of grace. It says, “I am one with you.

What you are, I am also. For there, as you stand before me in whatever state you are, there also do I stand. What is in you is in me. How I respond to you enters you and returns to me. Therefore, what is in me is in you.” It is a circle carrying frequencies: projections of emotions, thoughts, and intentions that intermingle and mesh together.

I wonder what would happen if we applied these concepts in forms that could take us to a newer, better reality than the one we are currently living within. If there is one thing I believe we can all agree on, it is that our current reality is not the best for most of humanity.

Over the long history of humankind, there have been countless extraordinary experiences and creations. Despite these, there is still a core of conflict, domination, and aggression. We have over history seen whole populations wiped out with entire

About the Author: Catherine Grace Landry is the award-winning author of The Way Series, which includes The Way of the Simple Soul , The Way of the Lightkeeper, and The Way of the Grace-filled Heart, published by Satiama Publishing.

new societies built with the opportunity for a clean slate, so to speak. Yet the aggression cycle simply builds and repeats. What an exhausting repetitive cycle when you stop to think about it! Why? The rule of fear-based obedience does not teach us to rise above fear or to cause no harm because we ourselves do not want to cause harm, not because we have a fear of reprisal.

It is sad that so much of what is good and great over our long evolution is so often suppressed beneath the outcomes of aggressive actions. The societal structure has become a complex interwoven tapestry that appears impossible to untangle. It is understandable that many just give up the attempt.

The truth is that the unraveling of such entrenched systems can only be done one person at a time. History has shown us that a single person has considerably more influence on those around them than they can perceive. Over time, a critical mass can build, and the see-saw can shift under its own weight.

I have found it fascinating to note the reactions to the recent outbreak of aggression in eastern Europe. Notwithstanding the emotions expressed at the horrors of destruction and innocent suffering, there has followed an outpouring of supreme irritation.

Why irritation? At the purest levels of ourselves, both as individuals and as a collective, we know we are way past

Aggression, conflict, and war are part of systems and behaviors that humans have been exploring and exercising for thousands of years.

this conflict-dominance-aggression type of response in our evolutionary journey. Due to the clarity of this still somewhat subconscious understanding, we look at this situation and think, “I thought we had evolved past this.”In truth, we have. Aggression, conflict, and war are part of systems and behaviors that humans have been exploring and exercising for thousands of years. They have been explored to their fullest, experienced in their worst outpourings of abomination, and are no longer necessary to the evolution of our species to experiment or explore this any further. This is known at a subconscious level by most and at the conscious

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level by many. Therefore, it is supremely irritating to see it being activated once again.

The exploration of experiences is what we humans do. We are essentially creative, imaginative beings. We are crafted from a tiny spark of the essence of our creator. That essence provides the ability to imagine beyond the boundaries of our human existence and through intention gives us the ability to create whatever we wish to create within the boundaries of this three-dimensional world. That is what we do. That is why we’re here in human form. That is why all of creation continues to exist. From the desire to experience something. When an experience has been explored to its fullest potential, both positive and negative, it is time to move on to another.

As we explore on an individual level and experience things on an individual level our explorations are experiences that rub shoulders and overlap with others doing the same thing and ultimately over thousands and thousands and tens of thousands of years of existence, these explorations in these experiences can harden themselves into systems and structures and beliefs that served a purpose at one time, but no longer. What worked 5,000 years ago does not work now. What worked for our grandparents does not necessarily work for us. Likewise, these familiar response systems of aggression have achieved very few positives except to allow us to experience the full spectrum of effects.

There will always be moments when we are called upon to step up with courage and take action, moments that call upon our inner crusader to spotlight an injustice, to encourage, or inspire. We have good minds, so we must use them: we calibrate the information we have, we engage actively in life and relationships, we state our case, and act to right a wrong. We express a wide range of emotions, we critique, speak our truth, and answer honestly. If help is required, we give it without judgment. If a critique is required, we give it without debasement or shame. If concerns must be highlighted, we supply them without emotion. If encouragement is called for, we supply it with enthusiasm.

I wonder though…Do the rights of one country’s government supersede the harm to the global collective of countries? Do the rights of humans supersede the rights of all living creatures and the planet? Do the rights of my liver supersede those of my lungs or stomach or spleen? Where will such imbalance ultimately lead?

Flourishing in life is not about simply eating and exercising correctly, having a home and family, or retiring to a comfy rocking chair on the porch. Are we not way past that point on our evolutionary journey? Is it now about how we manage our imagination and our intentions?

The tiny spark of the creator that powers us is a bit like the light saber of the force in Star Wars. Our imagination is limitless. Our intention supported by our heart and our will has the power of a magnitude that has a massive impact on the world around us. This is our personal nuclear weapon

we can use to lift us out of the stale systems that no longer (and in some cases never did) serve our highest good.

What comes next? The wisdom learned from thousands of years of exploring and experiencing tells us this: We need to soften the stories we have built from the layers of belief that have become our manifesto of personal rights. That wisdom tells us our personal needs can be upheld within the embrace of a loving responsibility to all.

Within the inner plane of our heart-mind axis, there is an infinite universe of pathways. They have been called many

Within the inner plane of our heart-mind axis, there is an infinite universe of pathways.

things: the way of peace, the way of light, the way of the holy ones, the way of love, and the way of source, among others. These inner planes exist as radio-bandlike frequencies emitting infi nite combinations of energy waves. We choose, whether consciously or subconsciously, which we tune to. We simply need to tune into the right station! Within these bands, the frequencies flow without limits, borders or boundaries like a vast unending river delta. We just need to fi nd the right frequency. Tune into it and ride it. And when we fi nd ourselves slipping and we notice we’re slipping, we remind ourselves to get back up there and ride that frequency.

Is ignorance a viable excuse? Are we truly able to say “well…I did not know”? Broad access to information exists in our current world, where it did not even as recently as fewer than a hundred years ago. It may not be complete or always truthful information, yet I would suggest there is enough information available to search out, question, and understand the broader concepts of consciousness, energy, and the interdependent structure of our animal body with our mind-heart consciousness. In this consciousness, we can understand the fuller applications of a spectrum such as empathy-sympathy-compassion-mercy, beyond a primitive fear-based response. Where would there be, then, any excuse to create harm in any form?

In the end, at the end of our lives, at the end of all things, at the end of the full experience of this creation that is planet Earth, we will look back and think how did I do? Did I fall short? Was I curious? Did I explore all that was presented to me? Did I ignore what my heart was telling me to do?

Can we truthfully say to ourselves that we did not know? Can we create a new golden rule to free us from the cage of our exhausted experiences?

“ We just need to find the right frequency.”

We can choose to keep an open heart, no matter what. We can choose to invoke understanding of that other person. We can choose to respond on the spectrum of empathy-sympathy-compassion-mercy acceptance, no matter how difficult the circumstance. One person at a time.

Let us apply ourselves to fi nding that frequency in the inner planes of our hearts that enfold us in the spectrum of empathy-sympathy-compassion-mercy. Let’s ride it to create a reality that is different from what we have known so far. Something new and uncharted that we can explore and experience that is full of gifts for ourselves and for the collectives around us.

Let’s step over our personal divides and apply our infi nite imaginations to the endless possibilities that we can conjure and create to make the next explorations of our humanity one that we can all experience with joy.

Awakening & Healing

This book is a collection of guided imageries to help awaken your heart and mind to exciting and fulfilling levels of higher consciousness. It will help you reach your highest spiritual potential.

“A collection of rich opportunities.” - Stephen Levine

The meditations in this book will help you develop your own inner healing powers to overcome pain, disease, emotional distress and other obstacles to leading a fulfilling life. A treasure chest of guided meditations to cover every area of your life.

"Anyone who uses this book is deeply blessed." - Louise Hay

FEATURES

MARKETING STRATEGIES for RETAILERS

Each new year in business brings fresh challenges and opportunities. Those fluctuations derive from the changing economy and changes in customer preferences and habits… No matter if your business is brick-and-mortar, has an e-commerce model, or is a business you are planning to launch this year, you need effective marketing strategies — whether you are seeking to grow or just to ‘keep the lights on.’

Read on to learn some of the hows, wheres, whens, and whys your customers “consume” the information that helps them to make purchase decisions in today’s marketplace.

About the Author: Karen Stuth is the founder and owner of Satiama Publishing, a service mark of Satiama, LLC. She is also the award-winning author of A Speckled Stone, The Wisdom of Tula Card Deck , a co-author and co-developer of the highly awarded board game Quintangled , and an author-contributor to Life Wisdom Word Search: Yoga for the Brain . She also provides business and marketing consulting to a variety of businesses and to self-published authors, To know more, visit www.satiamapublishing.com

How Well Do You Relate To

Your Customers?

This is not about knowing each of your customers by name. It’s about understanding how your customer base is composed of segments, each with its own set of interests and needs. These interests and needs likely overlap, but in some way defi ne the segments of your customer base. Each of your segments could be defi ned by demographics, purchase history, or even whether they are loyalists or ‘tire kickers’ off the street. This information can most often be gleaned from your sales data along with any database you might have of your customers, such as a newsletter list or customer loyalty program. If you have databases or sales information, consider spending some time ‘data mining’ the rich information these information sources can provide.

If you don’t have access to this type of information, you can gather it through a customer survey, a sign-up for your store newsletter, or through anecdotal or observational information from your employees. Consider gathering key pieces of information, such as major areas of interest, age, favorite authors, and even direct questions regarding their feelings about your business. Ask them what they love best and least about your business. Ask them how they would best describe your business to a good friend.

All of this can lead to identifying customer segments that you can individually market to, demonstrating a strong relationship between their needs and wants, and what you have to offer. Develop a segmentation plan that you can truly make use of through segment campaigns. Relationship marketing is not a new concept, but one that has stood the test of time and proves to your customers that you are listening and responding

to what they most want to experience or consume from your business.

What Is The Experience Your Customers Have With Your Brand, Store, Or Company?

While customers desire a brand experience that speaks directly to their needs, customers and potential customers don’t generally interact with your brand through a single method or channel, such as only through social media, your website, your newsletter, mainstream advertising, events, email campaigns, or through shopping at your store. It is more

“There is no way around it – in 2023, video and live streams are crucial for consumer and customer engagement.”

likely that they are experiencing your brand through one or more of those, at minimum. Can you articulate in a few phrases what is the desired experience you want your customers to have through ‘touching’ your brand across each channel? Is your marketing offering consistent messaging through each of them? Take some time to evaluate the places and ways in which you are messaging your brand to assure you offer consistency in language, images, tone, and style to provide your customers with the experience you want your brand and business to offer.

Are Your Pictures (And Videos) Worth A Thousand Words?

There is no way around it – in 2023, video and live streams are crucial

for consumer and customer engagement. According to a report on wix. com, “in 2021, it’s estimated that consumers spent around 548 billion hours1 streaming through mobile devices.” Video-based content is not just for younger generations but is now consumed widely by members of every generation, whether through social media channels like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other up-and-coming platforms. Facebook and other ‘live stream” media are powering what some call the creator economy, with an estimated earning potential of $78 billion through 2025. While many retailers still reject social media as a valid marketing opportunity, many others are now including product and author videos, store tours, and even videos with employees as they present their “favorite” lists from your store inventory. Videos need not be expensive or even high-end. They don’t need to be long – a good

1 https://www.data.ai/en/insights/market-data/evolution-of-social-media-report/

product video should not exceed 90 seconds and could be even shorter, depending on your subject matter. A smartphone can generally record a credible video and give you new content for every marketing channel your business is using, including your own website. Commit to creating more video content and have fun doing it!

Are You Ignoring Social Commerce

To Your Detriment?

Many industry writers consider social commerce to be the most important trend of the last several years, with this important trend continuing forward.

Most marketers today understand that social commerce is a marketing

It can be the crucial difference between succeeding and remaining in stasis until your brand and business no longer feel relevant to consumers.

opportunity in which consumers research products and complete transactions through social media and content creation platforms, all within a social media app. According to projections by the firm McKinsey & Company 2 ,  social commerce is

2 https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growthmarketing-and-sales/our-insights/social-commercethe-future-of-how-consumers-interact-with-brands

expected to grow rapidly in the U.S., reaching nearly $80 billion, or 5% of total U.S. e-commerce by 2025.

What does this mean for brickand-mortar retailers? While many instituted an online store during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, this means more than simply driving traffic to your online store. This an opportunity to catch consumers ‘where they live,’ meaning offering them one-stop shopping on other platforms, where they are most likely to make an ‘in the moment’ purchase, rather than asking them to leave the site they are on to visit a brand new one. “For example, leading brands are working with platforms such as TikTok to forge new relationships with consumers, shifting from traditional advertising strategies to fun, engaging content that is less overtly promotional,” wrote McKinsey.

If you don’t know how to set up social commerce opportunities, consider hiring a short-term consultant to help you get started. Carefully match your product offerings to the demographics for each social media or other types of platform, and rotate your offerings often to keep your brand relevant and interest in what you provide fresh and active.

Choose one marketing strategy to start with, and make a resolution to incorporate an additional one each quarter to the end of the year. Keeping pace with how, when, where, and why people purchase your products or services is the key to a healthy and robust business. It can be the crucial difference between succeeding and remaining in stasis until your brand and business no longer feel relevant to consumers.

Take a leap of faith! It will be worth it.

Sharing Peace Through Music

by Soundings of the Planet

SEEDS OF PEACE

A special collaboration with a Ukrainian-American artist

Dean Evenson met Ukrainian jazz virtuoso Volodymyr Solianyk back in the late ‘80s during a visit to Kyiv as part of a citizen diplomacy artist tour to the former Soviet Union. When Volodymyr came to the United States a few years ago, he and Dean rekindled their musical friendship laying down piano and flute tracks in the Soundings of the Planet studio. Since the war in Ukraine, they have reconnected again and are now releasing their collaborative album Seeds of Peace. Here’s the story of how they met.

Dean and I had organized a group of artists to travel to the Soviet Union as citizen diplomats with the express purpose of meeting musicians and dancers and collaborating with them. This foray into the camp of our cold war enemy was a perfect complement to our mission of sharing peace through music. Our artist ambassadors group included

About the Authors: Dudley and her husband Dean Evenson are sound healing pioneers. They founded their record label Soundings of the Planet in 1979 with a mission of sharing Peace Through Music. Learn more at www.soundings.com

musicians, dancers, singers, actors, a video artist, a poet, and even a skateboard artist.

The premise of being a citizen diplomat was to go with an open mind and refrain from making judgments and comparisons of our way and someone else’s way, thus avoiding the us and them syndrome. In fact, we went with completely positive projections and recognized that this attitude might have had something to do with the incredibly positive experience we encountered. We were very eager to connect with Soviet musicians and dancers and allow the international language of the arts to be our communication and carry our message of peace and friendship.

From the day of our arrival in Kyiv, barely recovering from jet lag and lack of sleep after three days of intercontinental travel, we experienced the first miracles of connection that were to become a pattern for the entire trip. At the time, no one knew much about Kyiv, the capital and major city in Ukraine, which is only a short distance from Chernobyl, site of the previous year’s tragic nuclear accident. Then, however, things, were returning to normal, and on that first evening, our Soundings of the Planet musicians were scheduled to open for a Russian rock concert at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. As the auditorium was not quite filled by the starting time, the concert was delayed for 15 minutes to wait for more students to arrive.

During that time, a local pianist began to play in a rather free-form, improvisational style. Standing in the wings, we looked at each other and realized that this Ukrainian man was playing our style of peaceful music. Our mics were already set up so without ever having met him, Dean and Jonathan Kramer, our cellist, walked out onto the stage just as a Soviet drummer and bass player set up and we had an instant band. The music flowed forth as if rehearsed. I joined with my

hand harp, and we had our spontaneous debut in the USSR. The crowd went wild with bravos and foot stomping. The high point for us was getting to know Volodymyr Solianyk, the pianist, and to begin the first of several performances and recordings with him.

The next day we visited one of the oldest music colleges in Ukraine, Glière Academy. It turned out, we were the first Americans to ever visit, and it also happened that Volodymyr was a teacher there. Dean and I played our music and answered many questions. Then they thrilled us with a women’s choir singing deeply moving and harmonious Ukrainian folk songs. The next day, on a magical autumn afternoon with the sunlight streaming through tall windows, we first recorded with Volodymyr.

The next night, we had our debut at the Kyiv Jazz Club. Mykola Chepovetsky, writer for ‘News from the Ukraine’ and spokesman for the group, expressed their understanding that we had come, not only as musicians, but as envoys of goodwill, friendship, and peace. He told us “Since you play such an important genre of music which is encouraged by the natural resources of the earth, the importance of your visit here is doubled, because for us, the preservation of this planet is a primary responsibility.”

Our recordings and performances in Ukraine and Russia continued and the following year we released the album Music Makes the Snow Melt Down featuring Soundings and Soviet musicians. Many years later we were delighted when Volodymyr was able to visit us and continue the piano and flute collaborations which have now become the album Seeds of Peace. With the war in Ukraine, Volodymyr has relocated to Norway seeking refuge. This means a lot to Dean with his strong Norwegian roots, knowing that his family’s homeland would welcome asylum seekers fleeing the ravages of war.

Carddecks

JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD

Spiritually Travel to Thrilling Places

Spring is a time of rebirth and exciting possibilities. After being stuck inside, people desire a change of location. They want to joyfully explore what our world offers. Showcase these new decks to your customers so they may begin their dazzling intuitive journeys.

About the Author: Melinda Carver is a spiritual business expert and an award-winning author, psychic medium and speaker. She is the president of the Church of Radiant Lights located in Cleveland, Ohio. To know more, visit www.PsychicMelinda.webs.com

LORENZI TAROT

By Irene Lorenzi, author & artist

Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

ISBN: 9781646711109

78 cards + 100 page book

Price: $31.95

Lorenzi’s potent dualism art merges nature and technology, plus ancestral and modern worlds among the human and animal images in this stunning deck. Profound and predictive insights leap from each card in layouts. Tarot lovers and collectors of all ages will crave this intense deck!

THE AMAZONIAN ANGEL ORACLE

By Howard G. Charing

Illustrated by Pablo Amaringo

Publisher: Destiny Books

ISBN: 9781644114261

33 cards + 192 page book

Price: $30

Shaman Amaringo’s primal and bold artwork guides you fully into the mysterious spiritual world of the Amazon. Charing examines the angels, devas and nature sprits and provides insights to wisdom and healing for seekers within the jungle. Shamanic students, nature enthusiasts and angel followers will journey forward with this deck!

By Sasha Graham

Illustrated by Abigail Larson

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications

ISBN: 9780738759302

78 cards + 304 page book

Price: $31.99

Larson’s beautifully gothic handdrawn artwork lures you into the dark wood filled with humans, fairies and magical beasts. Once deep within this shadowy realm, explore your dreams, heal emotional blocks and gain intuitive insights of your future. Witches, Pagans and Fairy devotees will be enchanted while using this deck!

DARK WOOD TAROT

F ine P rint

A CURATED SELECTION OF TITLES IN BODY-MIND-SPIRIT

By the editor

THE KARMA OF SUCCESS: SPIRITUAL STRATEGIES TO FREE YOUR INNER GENIUS

By Liz Tran

Published by Penguin Publishing

ISBN: 9780593542446

Pages: 256 $28

Fulfill your innermost dreams and ambitions by turning up the volume on your intuition and re-connecting with your inner genius. Informed by ancient sources of wisdom like Zen, Reiki, astrology, and Stoicism, The Karma of Success invites you to validate the unique goals and ambitions you set for yourself and ultimately, are destined to achieve. You’ll learn the Four Pillars of Spiritual Strategy — inquiring inward, manifesting mindfully, enriching your energy, and becoming brilliant — and be guided by the stories of people who have looked inward to find meaning and success. Whether you’re trying to start your own business, heal your inner child, or just figure out how to get through the next Mercury in retrograde, The Karma of Success will help you find your way.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHANNELING: PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES TO CONNECT WITH YOUR SPIRIT GUIDES

by Amy Sikarskie

Published by Fair Winds Press

ISBN: 9780760371770

Pages: 192

$26.99

Channeling is the ability to communicate with angels, spirit guides, ascended masters, and beings in spiritual realms— the apex of intuitive development. The Ultimate Guide to Channeling provides a safe, structured, step-by-step approach for awakening your abilities. Learn how to develop this advanced intuitive skill with precision and safety. Accompanied by illustrations, expert author and Spirit School founder, Amy Sikarskie, will guide you through the different styles of channeling and teach you how to connect with your personal group of guardian angels and spirit guides, the different chakras and Clair senses, how to use your natural intuitive abilities to perceive spiritual messages with accuracy, how to integrate other divinatory tools such as oracle cards and sound into your channeling practice. You will also find valuable tools and techniques for energetic hygiene so that channeling can be done safely and accurately. Learn how to discern rogue and imposter spirits and clear energy after a channeling session.

SYMBOLS OF YOU: A SELF-DISCOVERY REFERENCE GUIDE

By Linda Mackenzie

Published by Creative Health & Spirit Publishing

ISBN: 9798986717906

Pages: 150

$24.95

Linda combines knowledge of Ancient Wisdom and modern day teachings to provide the reader a personal journey through hundreds of symbols on 42 topics. When exploring these symbols, from Acupressure to Western Elements, the reader’s connection to consciousness becomes “up close and personal.” The book provides fun discovery exercises and easy-to-read charts that are designed to help people identify their own symbols and find a deeper meaning of themselves, their family and friends.

A YEAR OF ANGEL GUIDANCE AN INTRODUCTION TO TWELVE NEW GUARDIANS

By Leeza Robertson

Published by Llewellyn

ISBN: 9780738770314

Pages: 288

$19.99

Connect with 12 new guardian angels using this month-bymonth guide. Each guardian is the focus of a full calendar month, bringing you daily guidance based on that angel’s theme. Leeza Robertson provides messages received from the angels to help you navigate the human experience. This year-long devotional introduces you to lesser-known angels who want to assist with everyday concerns and show you the path to peace and abundance. In addition to daily messages, you’ll enjoy a prayer of connection and a closing ceremony for each month that helps you deepen your angelic practice. From Jana, the angel of doorways, to Sylvania, the angel of transitions, these divine guardians will be with you all 365 days of the year.

THE MAGIC IN YOUR MIND

By U. S. Andersen, Foreword Eckhart Tolle

Published by New World Library

ISBN: 9781608688456

Pages: 320

$18.95

In clear, crisp, invigorating language, Andersen offers a liberating message for anyone seeking to change, improve and understand their life. He shows readers how to free their secret self, experience self-mastery, use mental imagery, understand the concept of “mind over matter,” fully employ their power of choice, and overcome opposition with tools such as the innate sixth sense.

LUMINOUS

Michele McLaughlin, Michele McLaughlin Music

www.michelemclaughlin.com

Michele is a multi-award-winning contemporary solo pianist and composer. Twenty-two albums and over a billion spins on streaming platforms, she’s doing something right. Her music is radiant, as is she. There is something so genuine, so unpretentious and authentic about Michele and her music, one can’t help but be captivated. Her latest album, “Luminous,” is 10 tracks of just gorgeous solo piano music through and through. Relaxing, uplifting, and flowing, with nothing forced or disingenuous, there’s a genuine sensitivity, gentleness, focus, grace, and refinement here that are just some of the qualities that make this album quite special. Luminous, indeed.

Playlist

REVIEWS OF GREAT MUSIC TO SELL & ENJOY

TALE OF THE OAKENWISH

Christopher Caouette, Christopher Caouette Music

www.christophercaouette.com

Christopher has been creating his unique fantasy/storytelling style of “New Age” music since 1986. This 10-track cinematic/soundtrack style album is a blend of Celtic, world, electronic, and classical. The story is about an elf, Kisyra Cedarsong, whose people live under the oppression of evil rulers. The “story” is about an ancient bow created by the Fae: Possessing the bow brings about one’s heart’s desire. However, such will come at great cost. Through the discovery of a hidden box, Kisyra is led to travel to the Forest of the Mist. The album is the story of that journey. Breathtaking music and engaging journey.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Joseph L Young, Independent Artist

www.josephlyoung.com

The 6th album from this talented multi-instrumentalist is 11 tracks, 55 minutes of “music without boundaries,” offering everyone a universal sound to be enjoyed. The compositions are a little out of the norm for the kind of music Joseph usually creates, and not traditionally “New Age,” so it’s a “journey into the unknown” for him as an artist. Here, Joseph performs on flutes, sax, keyboards, duduk, udu, and Vietnamese mouth harp. There is one track, “Remembrance of Time,” co-written by and featuring pianist Lynn Tredeau. The combination of instrumentation and stellar production gives the album an exciting, exotic, yet relaxing feel.

About the Author: Dyan Garris is an award-winning New Age recording artist, award-winning author, and music reviewer, who has recorded and produced 14 albums. Garris’ recordings include a series of independently tested music and meditation CDs that earned The National Health & Wellness Stamp of Approval. Her music is found on Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, SiriusXM, Muzak, Music Choice, airlines, website, and more. Visit www.dyangarrismusic.com to know more.

TaKeFive

FIVE THINGS TO MANIFEST IN 2023: IDEAS

& INSPIRATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Idon’t know about you, but I am a goal setter and a list maker. These processes help me to become clear on what to do for my business to go to the next level. Part of that is being honest with myself about what is working to enhance my business and what is not. As a small business owner, it seems to be a continual conversation. For instance, I find that the methods of marketing or bookkeeping that are least efficient are the ones I don’t enjoy doing. I need to be cognizant of them, or my work as a whole may suffer.

Spring is the perfect time to take an inventory of your business and how you wish to accomplish your goals. Give yourself permission to make the changes that will reinvigorate you, your employees, and the spirit of your business. Here are a few things to contemplate to restore your love of what you do.

About the Author: Tracee Dunblazier GC-C, is a Los Angeles-based empath, shaman, and 22-time award-winning author with two new book releases: Your Crystal Allies by GTP, and Transformative Grief published by RED Feather. To view her latest work, visit www.beaslayer.com or contact Tracee at www.traceedunblazier.com

1

Reimagine Your Mission:

Often times, the reason we start a business seems to fall away as the mundane patterns of doing business begin to take over. Maybe you just opened a small business and the experience—or result—isn’t matching your expectation. Or perhaps you’ve been in business so long, you don’t feel inspired any longer in regard to what drew you to your business in the first place. Do not hesitate to examine what has become the purpose of your work and reimagine the business to match what keeps you in business today.

2

Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot:

Do you have a brick-and-mortar store or a new product you were sure would have an impact, but it just hasn’t worked out that way? Forty-two percent of small businesses fail because of the lack of demand for their product. If you find your business isn’t what you thought it was or isn’t working the way you need it to, don’t be afraid to pivot. With a little reflection and innovation there are hundreds of ways to

shift your business, your investment, and your daily activities to match what brings you joy and to provide what your customers need.

3

Create New Habits:

Instead of setting more goals, think about it as creating new habits. You’ll find this restores your inspiration for performing the details of your work and allows for new creative thoughts to flow. For example: Start getting up one hour earlier or later than usual. This small shift will realign you with an inventiveness that stimulates you with new ideas and energy for your business.

4

Learn Something New:

Learning something new keeps your heart and brain functioning with refreshed curiosity about life. This can only strengthen your confidence and perseverance as a small business owner and give you the creativity to change your offerings to match your customers’ needs.

5

Adopt A New Marketing

Strategy: It really is all about the marketing. Your business can have a very powerful voice in your community, but your milieu wants to hear from you in the ways they are most comfortable. Adjusting your marketing method to the options most supported by your customer base is the way to go—even if it is not in your comfort zone. Your customers don’t mind if you’re not great at social media

posts, ads, or videos; they are happy to laugh with you at your attempts and more likely to remember your store or brand because of it.

Doing business in today’s climate can be overwhelming. It is mandatory for small business owners to remain fluid and flexible in listening to the needs of the communities they serve and to continue their love relationship with the business they invested in with so much of their financial and sweat equity.

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