Conscious Life Expo

I was at an AWESOME business symposium yesterday in LA. Sounds so official and stuffy doesn't it --- but au contraire. It was a full day conference for peole like me, business folks, who seek out more spiritual solutions to business issues. It turned up only a small group of people in its 3rd very young year so I like to think we're the underdogs of conscious capitalism. ;-)

Speakers had titles like financial confidante (aka cpa) , web marketing therapist (aka SEO specialist) --- gotta love it! All the 5 speakers were incredible but one really stood out for me was Monique Guild, a business intuititve (aka business coach). She evaluates the person or business project and 'sees' your blocks to keeping you from achieving your goals. Pretty far out there from what I was taught in business school... maybe that's why I'm so fascinated by these subjects and that it resonates with me!

Well being the curious person I'm always seeking persepctives on ways to stay connected to the purpose of why I AM in business and not let the rigors of business life get to me -- you know, that overwhelmed feeling? It's funny because people expect me to always be de-stressed in my line of work (and for the most part it is) but there are days when when I get immoblized by all the stuff to do... though I know I will never get it ALL done. The goal is to minimize those overwhelming days and feel good when I rest my head at night at how the day went. So to help me stay focused I go to conferences like these with like-minded entrepreuneurs. It REALLY helps me to stay congruent with my values and therefore to serve my customers better.

I plan far in advance by signing up for workshops, tradeshows, retreats, classes, as soon as I hear about them. I plan meetings not to far ahead and lunches with friends but for the most part I like to think I have an organic schedule and it's been working for me. In my past corporate 9-5 days, I'd be so overscheduled and even loved it, or so I thought. Rather I was merely going through the motions of meetings and to do's that I didn't stop to question whether they were necessary or that it was taking me a step closer to my dreams. Although we should have some amount of order into our daily schedules, it seems more natural to do things which make us feel good about each day --- whether that's to finish a project, start one, make phone calls, meet a friend for lunch or even skip out for ice cream and go to the park. Though I don't recommend this for everyone, I remember back when I lived in Alexandria and worked at PBS.org, that a co-worker and I spontaneously stepped out and watched a movie in the middle of the day (oh what fond memories ;-). It was our little secret we and we were even more produtive that day and week! You get my drift. Let's have a little MORE organic white space in our calendar to be free of total commitments. That's my little secret from having funky to fabulous days... now I sneak out without the guilt!

stay well.

Maria
dreamer in residence and cso
(aka chief spiritual officer)

Love on a Leash

My sister, who lives 3,000 miles away, and I chat at least once a week. We got off topic - again - with the subject of Love. How could something so beautiful hurt so much! Seems a healthier approach to love is accepting there WILL be bumps and bruises along the way, on whatever path you take. But isn't it the idea to travel on the less bumpy path, the path of least hurts... and we're just talking about our furry children here!

But even when it comes to dog love, it hurts to leave my furry child home alone, watch her yelp at the vet's office, even to see her tail down sad because she can't have another treat. Love on a leash is such a gift though. The joy muse gives me and the inspiration she brings to my life is priceless. My husband and I rescued Sabrina at the shelter in Lompoc, CA 3 yrs ago. Seems more WE were rescued. We learned that letting go of expectations and desires, you limit yourself from the good stuff out there. We were on a mission for a beagle back then but what we got was something more than what we asked for! So all this brings me to the conclusion... Love the parts of your life that you didn't ask for.





















Top pic: Geroge Washington's home in Mt. Vernon, VA
Bottom pic: at home surfing dogster

Dog friendly home spa luxuries for the pampered pooch:
The Barkery
Caine and Able
Happy Tails Spa


Sabrina pages
Edhat dog of the week
Dogster page

Henry David Thoreau quote

One of the main reasons why I picked up the book French Women For All Seasons was because of my intrigue with this inspiring quote Mireille Guilliano chose for the introduction.

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines."

- Henry David Thoreau

French Women for all Seasons

Bonjour mesdames et messieurs!

As one of my 19 or so books (really, I lost count) laying around the kitchen, bathroom, office, bedroom, living room, floor, hallways, piano, just about anywhere I can read depending on my mood... yes, I have an awful book addiction.... there's one I just finished worth mentioning. It's called French Women For all Seasons, by the same author as French Women Don't Get Fat. The author Mireille Guilliano writes about how french women anticipates, takes full pleasure in and indulges in the full bounty of each season, what she eats and relates this concept to all areas of life.

She's reminding us to maximize our pleasure factor. Less is more, less is better. For example, if having friends over for dinner, make a one course dinner, as opposed to an eight course meal, with a bottle of wine. Actually more pleasurable since now you are enjoying the art of getting together, with less stress on the host.

When I came across this book, I thought it would satisfy my appetite for things french which I've been craving. Success! and then some. Here's some quick tidbits of my thoughts from this book that gave me unexpected delights.

• thoughtfulness and mindfulness

• awareness that we're living for the moment

• finding a balance

• you are unique, fit these principles into your lifestyle (busy mother, wife, student, caretaker of aging parents, overworked single person, etc...)

• stop for enjoyment

• figure out what your priorities are and start working at them each day

• food and food traditions

• be comfortable in your own skin

• the best way you can de-stress is to BE YOURSELF

So this brings me to the conclusion that anyone is capable of writing their own life story in a picturesque way as Mireille. I'm off to think about which chapter my life is in right now. And you? Your life in chapters.

Also in the book are many delicious seasonal recipes scattered throughout your reading too. Pg 234 A week's menu for winter to help you get started enjoying winter's food bounty.

If you're in the all things french mood, check out this wonderful film, Un Coeur Hiver (1992, A Heart in Winter). Passion in a violin shop! It's available on Netflix.com.

You can view book pages or buy it on Amazon. Click on this link.
French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure


Maria
maria@destressessentials.com

reading to de-stress

Anyone who knows me knows I love BOOKS and reading. It really helps me to unwind and de-stress. For Christmas, hubby bought me a new luxe chair I earmark just for reading. It was inspired by the one I sit on at our local Border's where I used to hang out reading and day dreaming which now I can do comfortably and peacefully at home!

His name, yes my chair is named Bruno (manufacturer name so I kept it) and it gives me hours of delightful reading time. Bonus for me too that I get some great ideas sitting on this magical chair! Though maybe I should call her Bruna, Bruno sounding too tough for such a sweet chair. Ok so back to books.

Some of the best books I've read came to me from recommendations from strangers, a gift, casually browsing at bookstores and even airport terminals where fellow travelers were eager to suggest a book... am I that transparent in my hunger for a good read!?

Well, here's a book I just finished reading that's worth mentioning. I picked it up at Barnes & Noble Sept 06 while passing time to pick my mom up from her nearby work in VA-DC. There it was, it just appeared, a couple of months before I watched a life changing film called the Secret which a friend had given me as a birthday gift in July.

This book titled The Law of Attraction,also a life changing book for me, has a similar resonating theme as The Secret DVD!Without giving too much away, Abraham-Hicks say the Universe is based on 3 universal laws, happening whether we like it or know it or not. The Law of Attraction, the most powerful law says that which is like unto itself is drawn. "The more you think of what you want, the more the Law of Attraction will bring the evidence of it to you, until you will believe it."

Now I was thinking how I came upon this book that has greatly affected my life. It was through this law that I attracted it without effort because the law was at work for me. Just a tiny example of how it works and ok, very hard for me to explain but the book The Law of Attraction says it more eloquently. I highly highly recommend it whether you're on the path to spiritual growth or would like to invite some new thoughts and perspectives into your beautiful life.

This weekend is my annual time to retreat into my thoughts for a focused period of time. After years of refining this practice, I've come up with how time spent seems to work for me:

20% --- 2006 lessons learned and where I've been. what seemed to surface the most and was i happy with the outcomes?
30% --- 2007 dream sketching... making a personal and professional collage, for those more visually inclined, like me! amazing what great things i manifested this year. it works and it's fun!
40% --- 2007 mind mapping, charting out a course of intentions for the year; writing it down really helped clarify what i value most and it set a course to where i'd like to be. for me, i'm careful to not write or say "goals"... since things in our life change so should your course. so don't be hard on yourself when things don't go as you planned, that's why i call it charting a course, it's simply a guide to keep you on focus to where your happiness meter is leading you ;-)
10% --- refine my personal mission statement. if you don't have one, it's a great practice on helping you to get clear on where your internal guidance system is leading you to. write it down and get clear with yourself!

so change around your percentages that work for you, but don't spend too much time on the past... think of 2007 as a clear slate with thoughts of a more energized, balanced and healthier you.

Oh and one of those silly but very important reminder to... Breathe and breathe deeply throughout the day, aaahhhhh.

happy winter solstice

As i slip in to my winter solstice ritual pretty soon, i wanted to leave these thoughts from Mother Teresa. Gratitude to YOU for making this first year in business an elightening one! ~ Maria

• People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

• If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

• If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

• If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

• What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

• If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

• The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

• Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

• You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa

winter solstice rituals

winter solstice which is tomorrow marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year. so for me as the sun goes down this means an annual ritual of remembering and appreciating the year that is ending, letting go of the not so good stuff in the year and then setting an intention for the new year ahead.

how will you observe or celebrate winter solstice? some ideas... sharing a candlelight dinner with friends or simply observing the sunrise and sunet, turning off the lights after sunset and lighting candles or fireplace to truly experience this longer night.

so instead of resisting this day, accept (reflect) and celebrate (the direction) of your new year ahead!

New partnership with Spiritual Cinema Circle!

Today is a great day. I'm very excited to let you know that we've just partnered with Spirtual Cinema Circle to do our little part to help raise the vibration of the planet!

If you haven't seen the film, The Secret, I highly recommend it! AND would love to hear your thoughts on how it has improved your life. Send me a message at maria@destressessentials.com



Spritual Cinema Circle is offering a free month of membership to get you started receiving those hard to find films. Click here to be taken to their website.

maintaining your youthful spirit

each time muse takes me on a walk i'm reminded how important it is to maintain my youthful spirit. every morning she wakes up with a freshness about her; she sees the world like it was the first time.

i feel joy watching her roll in the grass, playing chase with the birds, smelling the flowers... even the spring in her step, it's all with such freshness! bright eyed and happy tailed muse definitely inspires MY youthful spirit!

maintain your youthfulness by practicing seeing things as if it was your first time.

merriest of holidays!

celebrating oneness

feeling fresh from a joyful day at a celebration of oneness event held this past weekend in pasadena, ca. i left the center feeling lifted, in the spiritual sense... that all things are possible and within our reach.

in between the elevate film and music festivals, i got a chance to participate in such empowering workshops, all very inspiring but one stood out the most. after the arianna huffington workshop, i stayed for her sister's (Agapi's) workshop on fearlessness. my brain mind was telling me to turn back to elevate where it seemed so much easier to sit and listen to be uplifted by music or a film, but my wonderful heart mind told me to stay, take that chance and grow. thankfully again my heart mind led me in the feel good direction.

we started the workshop dancing around the room, arms flailing in all directions, shoes off. free, i felt so free! then we were asked to freeze and look to the person near us. from that point on we were asked to share our fears with this person and other intimate information to help us through our fears. I shared mine with Sandra and vice versa. was very scary to tell a person I just met my fears. that fear on top of my existing fears was enough to make me grab my shoes and run! But, immediatley i felt comfortable with her; her calmness and lightness about her inspired me to share and talk from my heart. Sandra and I had made a deep connection sitting on that stage. Still gives me chills, the good kind. If you're reading this Sandra, thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I know we have exchanged emails but where ever our journey leads us, i can bet we were in that workshop for a reason. Bless you.

A Celebration of Oneness

I truly believe that events take place in our lives for a reason and that people we meet touch our life for a reason, whether it be the person sitting next to you on the bus, the waitress serving you or the guy at the ticket counter handing you the stub. our lives are filled with these little connections. for yourself today, try making the conscious effort to think about, as you go through your day, the people you come in contact with. has this interaction affected or changed you? how? if anything, this contact might just make you more aware that these people, the little contacts throughout the day, are no different than you... that we are all ONE in our hearts, minds and bodies. blessings to you.

In celebration of Bodhi Day

Today we celebrate Bodhi Day... Buddha's Awakening, by offering 10% off Buddha Nose!

When placing your order you must put BodhiDay06 in the comments section to receive a 10% refund on your total Buddha Nose order. Good for one week only, through December 15.

Bodhi Day background: Buddha's Enlightenment. "Among Buddhists, this holiday celebrates Buddha's attaining understanding of the truth of existence, freeing himself from all human suffering, and finding perfect happiness."

Like the Buddha, we should be reminded to find time to calm our hearts and minds and allow ourselves to clearly reflect the true nature of (our) life.

Bodhi Balm directions: use as often as needed. And like the Buddha, find a tree to sit under and... peace out!

living in balance

Ahhhh balance. So my un-typical week went like this... de-stress essenials TLC, boutique show, ladies who launch meeting, connecting with a friend and her baby, more meetings, visited a lavender farm, secured new products, attended Linked Foundation opening reception, played the piano, hiked to the beach with muse, read some, wrote some, cleaned office, practiced yoga, and took holiday decorations out of storage. Whew... now, that is my idea of a successful week of balance, things that filled my spirit. Success this week. Now, working on a balanced upcoming week.

Here are my 5 keys to balance:

1. Being in touch with my feelings, with my inner wisdom.
   
2. Play
   
3. Simplify
   
4. Nurture body
   
5. Restful sleep
   

Think of each day as a journey through life that defines exactly who we are. To create a life of balance prioritize what is important to you. Decide what you want and ahhhh release the rest!
(photo by Fern Carbonell. Photo is of me at the Green Festival in Washington, DC in October showcasing a book on BALANCE!)

when life gets hectic

with all this talk about sales and shopping i wanted to make sure we're also feeding our souls (myself included!).

when life gets hectic... be sure to create that spiritual space for yourself. just as flowers and plants need space to grow and flourish, so do we. nothing soothes my spirit more than sitting outside taking in the natural beauty. i'm grateful for being able to do that year-round living in santa barbara. a quick jaunt to the beach with muse gives me tons of tranquility for the week. the sound of the water never fails to carry my troubles away. even living on the east coast during the winter months meandering along the serene potomac gave me a sense of peace.

find your spiritual space and reflect on all that you have to be grateful for. share if you'd like too. wishing you safe travels and many many more blissful moments. thank you for coming into my space today.

truly grateful for you,
maria

laugh your way to wellness

I'm always seeking out interesting articles on wellness. My sister knows this so she sends me articles and links on things she comes across. She sent a fun one last night about balance... laughing your way to wellness. It's a type of yoga called Okido. The purpose is to help you regain the connection to your life-force and create the basis for better health and spiritual happiness. I gave it a try this morning with muse. She can always make me laugh. She does this drop roll thing on me most mornings to play and wake me up to feed her. She seems to have the Okido practice mastered. So I giggled myself to bliss. Really lightened me up, ready for whatever comes my way today.

So time to open our minds and take a journey to find the inner child in you and laugh your way through the day. What a natural way to feel good!

If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.
- Jimmy Buffett

Fall into your bliss

Fall in Virginia is spectacular this time of year. Just came back from a hike with muse in historical Bull Run. What music to my ears to hear the beautiful sounds of the rustling of crisp leaves under my feet... and her paws. As muse was prancing about on the trail, I experienced a brief magical moment standing beneath the trees. I was being showered by falling golden leaves! I'm sure it was a gentle (and beautiful) reminder of the importance of bliss in my life.

Fall is a perfect time of year to renew your spirit and find your bliss. Take some time this month to think about what stirs you up inside.

This thing called beauty

Seems every time I turn around, another article is written about beauty and anti-aging. Even Natural Health Magazine, which I really love, has pages and pages of beauty products and articles on looking younger. We're a society obsessed with looking young. I admit that I can get a little overboard with my moisturizers and lipsticks too. I'm here to remind you (and me!) that beauty is an inside-out job.

It's no coincidence that when I feel most beautiful is when I've learned something new, ate healthy, lent a helping hand, was less self-absorbed, read a great book, got active, laughed with a friend, or spent some time in nature.

I challenge you today to nourish your spirit. Do things that inspire you to feel beautiful. Get empowered. Get educated. Get healthy. Get active. I'm pretty sure you'll see less of a slavish dependence on glamour and gloss and more on that thing called inner beauty.

Ok so rapelling from a mountain might be a stretch. Learn something new this month, another language perhaps?... oui oui.

De-Stress tip: Retreats

Go on a retreat.

Whether it be a spa retreat, health retreat, or spiritual retreat the idea is to tuck yourself away into silence. I'm sure if you do a google search for retreats plenty of choices near your home will spring up.

This week I went on a spiritual retreat to a beautiful serene place surrounded by trees tucked away at the foot of the mountains in California. Came back recharged with a more purposeful attitude to life. Appreciation. Gratitude.

I love what Thomas Merton said, "Solitude as necessity, a way to compassion." One of his strongest convictions was his insistence that solitude is "not a luxury but a necessity."

Even if you find that place under the tree, in your park, a special place to you, retreat there. The experience will lead you toward a calmer place.

I go in to come out.
Anais Nin

De-Stress :: Retreat :: Solitude :: Compassion