The workplace is a place where employed people spend a major part of their day. Over the last few years, with the many lay offs in almost every industry, many employees have found themselves working longer hours and doing the work of at least 2 or 3 other people. This becomes quite stressful day in and day out.

With others in the same “boat”, the environment can become quite toxic with tension, snide competitive remarks, conflicts among co-workers, as well as excess demands from managers and/or other high level executives. People start feeling like they are in a pressure cooker.

This is costly to both the employee and eventually the business.

Here are some ways work stress can affect the health of the worker and the well being of the business:

• Increase in blood pressure.
• Increase in heart rate
• Immunity decreases, susceptibility to colds and flus increases
• Mood and attitude of employees takes a nose dive
• Motivation for projects/work decreases
• Productivity decreases
• Management loses its support structure

So, what can you do? Are you destined to feeling stressed out day in and day out, increasing your health risks, or is there another approach that might work better, other than leaving your job?

The serenity prayer of Alcoholics Anonymous says that the key to serenity is accepting what you cannot change, changing what you can, and possessing the wisdom to know the difference. The prayer is a good model that covers a lot of ground, but how do you tell the difference between what you can and cannot change?  

Here are some things you do have control over.

By focusing your attention on these, you can bring more peace and serenity into your everyday work experience.

Your actions/Your behaviors: You can choose actions and behaviors that support your integrity. No one can “make” you do anything. You either allow it or you don’t. Create healthy boundaries If you’re unhappy with your behavior at work or at home, change it, make amends if necessary, chart a new course.

Your words: Spoken or written, the words you choose impact your life and the lives of others. Choose your words carefully with workmates, colleagues, bosses, and clients, and quickly acknowledge any harm.

Your beliefs: If you believe that others should take care of your needs, then you will be frustrated when they don’t. If you believe things must be a certain way, you’ll surely face disappointment.

Your values: What’s important to you is your choice. No one else should tell you what to value. Spend some time clarifying your values and then aligning your work and life with them.

Your work: No one else can contribute to the world in the same way as you. Do whatever it takes to find your work.

Your friends:Those you associate with say a lot about what you think about yourself. You can choose friends who support you or those who bring you down.

Your input: You can select your sources of news and entertainment. If you feel adversely affected, turn off the computer, the TV, and/or ignore advertising. Fill downtime from work with other activities, such as leisurely walks, gardening (weeding can be especially helpful in managing anxiety), and cooking or other creative pursuits.

Your time: Though it may not always feel this way, you do choose every day how to use its 24 hours. Fill those hours with more of what you truly want, and watch your contentment rise.

Your basic health: While you can’t control your genetic make-up, you can choose to exercise, sleep enough, eat healthy food, and utilize health care providers to support your well being. While you’re at it, don’t forget your mental health. Treat yourself a with kindness and compassion, and cultivate trust in the Universe that things will work out for you.  If you need professional help don’t let pride stop you from asking.

Your legacy: All that you choose while alive-your actions and words-will become the gift you leave when you die. What will be your legacy?

If you would like support in focusing in on any of the above areas and/or getting the stress relief you desire, don’t waste any more time feeling overworked, stressed and less than your best.

Register now for my FREE “Breakthrough the Challenge of Change” 

 Part of this article is licensed by Claire Communications

What choices are you making to bring more or less stress into your life? 

Now that tax season is over you can relax, right? Well for some that may be true, for others, the process of filing those tax returns likely brought up some financial issues. Money and finances and anything pertaining to the same subject, are major causes of stress for most people.

We live in a culture that encourages debt and denies the lost art of delaying gratification. And, like color that fades on a cheap paint job, the repercussions of this lifestyle are beginning to show.

For example, researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus have found that high levels of income-eating debt-especially big credit-card bills-may be related to high blood pressure, insomnia and even problems with physical mobility, vision and hearing. Additionally, a recent survey shows that the overall, number-one greatest source of stress is personal finances. And, what do couples and/or business partners report that they fight about most often? Money.

Money is a hot-button issue for the majority of people these days. Everybody, it seems, has money issues, whether it is concern about the lack of resources, or the fear of losing it.

Meanwhile, we are showered with seductive messages to Buy Now, Pay Later. Then we have to work harder to keep up with payments, which causes even more stress, for both men and women.

The language of money is complex and subject to misinterpretation.

Often it is the early messages we received about money that influence our current beliefs. So, one of the first steps in dealing with money issues is to check out old ideas that continue to color behavior and attitudes and choices.

Couples, or business partners, who may have grown up with different values about money, need to talk about their beliefs. Not who is right and who is wrong, but what the basic beliefs are. According to the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, by better understanding their attitudes and values toward money, individuals may be more able to gain control of money instead of it controlling them.

Many books on how to deal with financial issues are available, and advice from professionals such as banks, consumer financial agencies, financial planners and advisors, and accountants, is always a good idea.

But maybe the best place to start is with a healthy attitude toward money. Money is an exchange for something. It’s an exchange for the work you do, the service you provide, the food you eat, the gas you get to put in your car, etc. When you understand that one simple fact, it can lessen the “power” of money. It allows for more freedom of choice.

You get to choose how much of your resources you want to use for that piece of clothing, car, or vacation you want.  No judgements, no right or wrongs, just a place to assess for yourself the cost or exchange you are choosing to make.

Choice is very freeing.  Choice comes from a mindset that you are worthy of choosing for yourself, instead of just feeling helpless.  When we choose consciously, we are using our powerful greater minds instead of defaulting to the old primitive knee jerk fear based minds.

Here are 3 Quick tips for a more conscious, in choice and stress reduced relationship with money.

Use supportive language:

Instead of saying “I have to pay these bills”, say instead “I am choosing to pay these bills”.

It’s simple, yet it feels lighter and less of a burden.  It reduces those stressful feelings of “have to”.

Keep a gratitude list:  Always top of my list!

Gratitude is the key to being in choice!  When you are grateful for what you already have, you feel much less governed by all the money stories of the past, the “lack” mentality and/or the “have to’s”.  Appreciation and gratitude open us up to solutions and more possibilities.

Make a plan:

Planning, in general, leads to feeling in control and in charge of your life. Making plans for your financial future leads to having a more healthy relationship with money.  It reduces stress by not being in default or reactive mode. Planning means choosing.  Choosing feels good.  When you feel good about your plans and your choices, you continue choosing for your financial health in a conscious way.

These are just a few ways to have more choice, ease and less stress in your relationship with finances and money.

Your choices can free you up and allow more peace in your decisions in spending your money and your relationship with money.      

What choices are you going to make?   

I’m all ears, let me know how it goes!

Put your comments below!

To your stress relief choices,

Jackie

It’s feeling more and more like spring around here. The vegetation is getting more and more green and even though we don’t get really warm weather yet here in the Northwest, it’s definitely showing signs of warmer days to come. One of the surest sign out in the garden is the amount of weeds! Yup, there they are, showing their faces toward the warming days, lots of rain and so much more light, all the things those pesky things need.

Now, I’ve done “battle” with those weeds in the past, getting all upset by how many there are, how much work it requires and how it never seems to end. But over the years, I’ve changed (mostly) the way I respond to them. I know they will keep coming back, even when we’ve amended the soil, done the proper mulching and everything else shy of spraying chemicals. It’s a fact. They love our climate, they love our soil, they love being here, too.

So now instead of getting upset with their natural way of being, I decided to make peace with them. No, I still don’t like to see lots of weeds in my yard. I’d love to never have to see them again. Yet, I also know, if I only focus on them, I’ll miss out on all the beauty that my garden has to offer me. If I’m only focused on those weeds, I’ll completely miss out on how well everything is growing from that amending of the soil and the mulching we did. And, what I’d really miss is how good I feel when I look out and see our beautiful landscaping, our little “park” at our home. So, instead, whenever I want to start to complain about those darn weeds, I consciously chose instead to turn my attention to what really feels good, which is looking at the great shrubs, the blossoming flowers and the serenity it gives me and others.

As I move along in my year, I’m finding this to be a great reminder for me in so many other areas of my life, too: focus on what I like, focus on what feels good and what is in integrity with my authentic self. When I do, the other stuff, the “stuff” I don’t like, doesn’t get to drain my energy, or take me away from feeling my best. I feel connected to me, I feel “on purpose” and I feel more energized. I like that.

I’m certainly not at 100% in this arena of focusing, but I’d say I’m so much better than I ever used to be. It feels more natural these days to redirect my focus. It feels like I’m the one in charge, instead of that “primitive” fear based negative thinking brain. It’s a continuous blossoming for me and I’m grateful for the rich soil I get to grow in.

Ahhh…Springtime…it’s in the air, it’s all around us…it feels good and it feels inspiring.

And, it’s a choice to re-focus and choose my thoughts.  Check out the feature article on being in choice (or not) regarding money issues.

How is the springtime of your life going?

Warm regards,

Jackie

Speaking of renewal, Mother Nature, beauty, and inspiration, I’m gushing with excitement to tell you all about my personal experience in renewal. I just came back from a 4 day spa vacation with my friend who I’ve known since we were 3 years old and 2 other friends I went to school with. We had decided last year we’d take this special time to celebrate our entry into our 6^th decade by doing a spa vacation. I have always wanted to do something like this and I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have fulfilled on this dream.

I feel completely renewed, re-energized and totally inspired by my experience. I got to spend lots of time in Mother Nature in the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. Even though I’ve been to Sedona before, this experience was completely different and awakened me to new levels of my being.

As many of you know, since the beginning of the year, I’ve re-directed the focus of the work I do to being a Stress Relief Specialist. This addresses so many of the issues people want to change in their lives, as most issues, i.e., weight release, smoking cessation, having an easy comfortable birthing experience as well as dental anxiety, all stem from the stressful thoughts and beliefs we hold in our minds.

This experience I had in Sedona, confirmed to me that I am on the right path. I understand at a whole new level how releasing tension, stressful thoughts and stressful feelings allow for a deep renewal of body, mind and spirit. It’s essential work, if we want to truly connect to our innate joy, our creativity and our unlimited potential and be our best feeling selves. I feel truly blessed and so appreciate the work I get to do in helping others get the support they need in order to feel renewed, inspired and connected to their innate joy.

What inspires you? How do you find renewal? What do you appreciate in your life?

Please share so you, too can feel even more inspired and inspire others, too. It’s catching!

In appreciation,

Jackie

It’s April already, which means 1/3 of the year is already behind us.  I’m always amazed at how fast time flies, it seems like a long time ago that we were celebrating the New Year, doesn’t it?

Besides for being the beginning of a new quarter, April has the lovely distinction of being  the “tax month”.  My husband and I just completed our tax returns and I have to tell you, it’s always a relief when they are done.

Although, taxes are not my idea of fun, this year I decided I wasn’t going to get bogged down by doing them the way I have at times in the past.  When I’ve allowed myself to get disgruntled, it only keeps me in a state of distress and it’s a state I’m no longer interested in hanging out in for any length of time, if at all!

So, I declared I was going to find some way of making the process fun.  I turned on some good music and kept reminding myself as I was scouring through data, that I wasn’t going to let doing taxes get to me! And, to make it even sweeter, I also enlisted my husband to work on my business taxes this year.  He gladly accepted the job, which further eased the stress for me and allowed me to participate from a more comfortable place.

How’s your tax season going?  Need some incentive to support you in feeling more calm and restored in your busy life?

Check out the tax relief special under events to allow for more ease in your daily life this month!    Expires April 18th!

And, while you are at it, do be sure to register for my next free teleseminar coming up on April 25th.  It will bring you the peace of mind I know we all want in 3 easy steps.

Lastly, this issue’s feature article will give you a great head start to getting untaxed by those must do taxes!

I have more to share about a recent restful and restorative experience I just came from…so keep reading on….

Warm regards,

Jackie

Simply saying the word “taxes” sends many normally calm people into a downward spiral of negative thoughts and upset feelings. Start talking about April 15^th, the deadline (usually) for filing those dreaded tax returns here in the US, and now the tension really starts creeping up, looming over like some dark clouds ready to burst. Deadlines tend to add more pressure, which adds more stress and angst for most people.

Are you one of those people?

Are you feeling the tax deadline pressure?

Are you overwhelmed by all the tax season details?

Although, this is a common reaction to this time of the year, it doesn’t have to be this way. With some awareness on how this tax season is affecting you and planning for success and ease, you can take back control of those downward spiraling thoughts and start feeling better now instead of waiting until you press the send button on your tax return.

6 Things you can do right now to get some relief from those taxing taxes!

Enlist Help!

If you’re reading this and still haven’t started on your taxes yet, it’s probably wise to either hire a tax preparer, chat with an online IRS rep, or at least get someone to help you sort through the paperwork. Giving yourself permission to ask for help and taking that action, relieves some of the pressure right away. Thinking you have to do it all alone adds more pressure and more distressful feelings.

Plan ahead

Set up mini goals of what you’ll accomplish each day. You will feel much more in control by setting up achievable goals for the remainder of the time you have to get this done, instead of just gritting your teeth and pushing through 10-12 hours at a time.

Reward yourself

After completing a mini goal, reward yourself. Take a nice hot bath, go to the movies, or watch one at home, read a novel, do a puzzle, play with your children or your furry children. Have some “cuddle” time with your honey. Do something that rewards you for your success. This will keep you motivated by knowing something special is awaiting you when you’re finished for the day.

Move your body

It’s true, moving your body relieves stress. Instead of grumbling about how awful the process is, get out and take a walk, go to the gym, if you are so inclined or put on some music and dance those tax blues away! You’ll feel refreshed, renewed and ready for the next mini goal you’ve set for yourself.

Journal

Write down your successes, not only in the arena of the tax work you’ve done, but in all areas of your life. This keeps you focusing in on success. When we focus on our successes, we feel good, we feel accomplished and we promote more feel good feelings. It takes away the “I haven’t done enough” stress thoughts by focusing your thoughts on what you have done.

Keep a gratitude journal. I love to do this. It immediately opens the heart to being present to all the great things you already have in your life. This naturally brings feelings of contentment, satisfaction and well being. These feelings will promote healthier thoughts and keep the positive thought feeling cycle going.

Breathe!

The simple act of taking some good deep breaths is so renewing. It really helps to change your attitude. You get “above” the situation that is causing stress when you stop and breathe deep into your abdomen. It stops those runaway negative thoughts in their tracks. Spend a few minutes with your eyes closed and breathe.

It’s a mini retreat, connecting you to you. You’ll feel so much better and have more energy to continue on.

Use these tips to keep you focused and on purpose during these next few weeks and you will be amazed at how much better you will feel and how you may even begin to cultivate a new paradigm for tax season!

I’m all ears, let me know how it goes!

Leave your comments below.

Jackie

Today, in the United States, most women with children are “working moms” who have either full or part time jobs, or own their own businesses, in addition to their full time jobs on the home front. Studies show, even though there may be a fair amount of help from “dad”, the “mom” is still the main manager of keeping the family unit functioning with all its detailed operations.

This requires a tremendous amount of physical, mental and emotional energy, which can drive even the most well intended mom bonkers.  Articles abound in women’s magazines, for these notoriously busy women, on how to “balance” it all out, indicating how really big this problem is.

Yet, in spite of all this information, women are still feeling like they are ready to go bonkers and wondering why it has to be that way. This is an issue causing lots of stress for working moms, and is a common theme many of my women clients seek hypnotherapy for: they want more balance in their lives, to feel good about themselves and get relief from the stress of being a working mom.

They are ready for a “make-over” and have real balance, instead of being on the brink of tipping over.

Do you need of a “make-over” in your balancing act?

 Are you:

• Feeling overwhelmed with so much to do?

• Finding yourself unproductive at work or at home?

• Feeling guilty because you take time away from your family to work?

• Consistently saying “there isn’t enough time”

• Having tension and/or pain in your neck and shoulders?

• Feeling inadequate with thoughts such as “why can’t I do it all?”

• Feeling resentful of not having alone time?

• Missing your “women” get-together times

• Always tired?

• Too tired to get any activity in?

• Wondering “is this it”?

Tips to get started on your balanced life “make-over”!

Take care of yourself!

You have to start here. Yes, you are very busy and if you don’t take care of yourself first, you will not have the energy and focus required to be your best for your work and your children. Take as good care of yourself as you would your children: get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, and get in some activity. Activity releases stress easily and so does fun, so combine the two, maybe even with children. Do something active and fun and you’ll feel so much better.

Set healthy boundaries!

The desire to do their best in their many roles as mother, worker and partner, can leave many women feeling they can never say no. This is exhausting and dilutes the engagement and enjoyment of all of these roles. Instead, create healthy boundaries. Exercise the “NO” muscle to requests that aren’t vital to your family and success. Say “YES” only to those things that are in alignment with self care, family and work priorities.

Stay Connected!

Staying connected to your children is as vital as setting healthy boundaries. Staying strongly connected to your children keeps the stress levels down, as it feels good emotionally for moms, kids and partners alike. For example, instead of running in from work to immediately start cooking dinner, take time to stop, talk to your children, and find out how their day was. It will provide a break from rushing about and give everyone a chance to connect to one another. Doesn’t that feel better?

Focus on Stress Relief

Working moms need to be proactive in managing their stresses. They need a toolbox of stress relief methods to quickly access, as well as ones to use consistently and build up, what I call, the “calm fund”. Whether it’s for a child’s meltdown or a disagreeable co-worker, having and using stress relievers regularly will condition the mind and body to respond in more healthy ways.

Quick stress relievers:

Use your breath. Take 2-3 deep breaths. Allows release of tension quickly and to rise above the knee jerk reactive mode.

Reframe the situation-finding another way of thinking about it that feels better. Use the breath first, then ascend the thought ladder, working up to better and better thoughts.

Move your body:stretch, walk away for a few minutes when appropriate.

Walk at lunchtime to release the negative conversations jumping around in your head.

Long term stress relievers-to invest in your inner calm reserve:

Do a daily mediation or self hypnosis practice.

Exercise

Keep a gratitude journal-allows you to be present to what is great and positive in your life

Keep a success journal-focusing on your successes feels good.

Get regular massages.

Commit to using these tips for the next 3 weeks and watch the working mom stress melt away. Isn’t it time?

Which of these tips resonates most with you?

Do you have any special rituals for relieving stress after a busy day at the office?

I’d like to invite you to post your comments below!

Who knows, you may be helping out another stressed out working mom from going bonkers!

Welcome to Spring, one of my favorite times of the year!

The energy this time of the year is so fresh and vibrant.   The days keep getting longer and there’s more and more life unfolding in Mother Nature’s gardens.

This fresh energy lends itself to feelings of renewal, like fresh starts. Just as those new growths of green are showing up, so too, can this time of the year be a time for letting go of the old and bringing on the new.

I’ve been finding myself spontaneously getting rid of things that no longer work for me as I go around my home and view the many little things I’ve managed to gather over the years.  It feels freeing to do so and I feel it opens up more space for new energy to flow in my home and my life in general.

Spring is a very interesting time of the year weather wise here in the Northwest.  Just this week, we’ve had rain and snow showers making us wondering what’s up with Mother Nature’s timing or is she having a little fun with us?!

Although it was pretty to see the snow falling from the sky and coating our yards with white, most of us are definitely looking for a bit more warmth and even some glimmer of sunshine right about now.

I always have to think, perhaps Mother Nature’s lesson for us here in this area of the world is to keep being flexible.  Spring can have an array of looks and feels, so we might as well let go of what it is we think it “should” be and simply go with the flow.

Going with the flow certainly makes it much more pleasant than griping about what you can’t control and getting upset about it.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Which brings me to the subject of stress or stress relief!

In the beginning of this year, I wrote how I am now focusing each of my e-zines’ articles on a different aspect of how stress affects so many of us. Some of the areas I am focusing on include stress in relationships, working moms’ stresses, stress in the workplace, financial stresses, stress around our bodies, stress & labor, to name a few.

I would love to have your feedback on what you think so far and any suggestions, as well as what type of stress triggers you need the most support with. Please email me, call me or post on my website blog. It’s possible you’ll see a survey from me in the near future, too, but for now, I’d love to have your input via any of the above ways.

These articles are created to support you in having the life you desire and love. Having less stress in your life brings you more in alignment to a fulfilled life. And, I love supporting you in using your powerful inner resources to access what you need to have your best life.

I want to be sure I’m giving you the best assistance possible through these articles, links, teleseminars and other resources, so please let me know how I can better serve you.

My plan is to keep Spring’s spirit of renewal fresh and alive in my ezines as we move forward in this year.

Be sure to check out the article “Is the Balancing Act Driving You Bonkers”

In appreciation,

Jackie

As a practitioner of HypnoBirthing®, the Mongan Method childbirth education, the biggest issue for most parents-to-be is stress. They have busy lives, stressful jobs, they’re preparing for a new member of their family and they are worried about the birthing experience. Not a good mix for wanting an easy comfortable birthing experience.

This is no surprise to me, as the messages concerning pregnancy and especially childbirth are abundant with negative expectations for a miserable, uncomfortable, and painful experience. Gee, if that was what we had to look forward to for 9 months, we’d all be pretty stressed, too

I’d like to reiterate what I wrote in What is Stress, an article I wrote in January of this year, “We create stress through our thinking.” It’s not about what is happening around us or being done to us, which causes stress. It’s what is happening in our minds and our thoughts that is the true culprit of stress. What we are telling ourselves and what negative scenarios we are remunerating over and over again in our imaginations, is the true source of the stresses we feel.

How did those thoughts get there in the first place?

It starts with our observations. Observations can include, but are not limited to: what we see, what we listen to, what we read, what someone says, what the media shows us, or what the culture is doing. From there, we either consciously or unconsciously accept it as “real” or “the truth”.   It then becomes a belief.

Negative stories about pregnancy and labor get passed down through families, get negatively portrayed in movies and novels, and as well as most of the medical system which has taken to treating pregnancy and birth as a disease to be managed because there’s so much “wrong” with it.

Naturally, when moms-to-be and their birth partners have been observing all these types of expectations, they will be thinking fearful and stressful thoughts about their upcoming birthing experience.

Those fearful stressful thoughts, governed by the primitive/reptilian brain from ancestral times, help us to survive via the “fight or flight” system, and can overtake the thinking of the greater mind, which is housed in the more evolved brain. Our greater mind, knows how to assess data in a more calm and appropriate manner.

It’s important to remember:

The fearful, stressed out thinking mind is not always telling the truth.

In fact, we could say, most of the time, it is not.

We do not have to believe the stressed out and fearful mind. It leads to tension which leads to pain.

We have a choice how to think and what to believe. We have a “greater mind” which can choose more healthy and empowering thoughts, and not be victim to the fearful and stressful thoughts that cause distress.

Relaxing and focusing on positive thoughts and images of a healthy birthing experience shifts the fear-tension-pain syndrome. Those calming thoughts produce endorphins, the feel good hormones, and more ease. More ease allows a laboring mom to let go and do what her birthing body knows how to do. Birthing muscles work in harmony instead of distress! This results in a more comfortable, calm and empowering birthing experience for mom, baby and birthing partner.

Now that’s a good mix!

Expectant moms, birthing partners, as well as anyone wanting to have a positive outcome in life, follow these tips to obtain the best mix possible!

• Keep your focus on the goal of having an easy comfortable birthing experience. (Or whatever your goal is.)

• Focus on how well your body knows how to birth (heal, restore, repair, etc)

• Use your imagination to engage in the scenarios you want to experience (not on what you don’t want to experience-huge difference).

• Tune into how good it will feel when you have your baby in your arms.(or other goal realized).

• Whenever the fearful, stressful primitive mind starts talking, remember: it may not be telling the “truth”.

• Take 5 minutes for focused breathing. Slowly inhale and slowly exhale.

• Use relaxation to build more and more inner calm, the place where solutions are found.

• Write out positive affirmations to keep your focus on the thoughts that you want to have.

• Enroll in a HypnoBirthing®, class or any class and/or a support system that focuses on positive expectations for birth (or other goal), instead of one that induces more stress!

Whether you are preparing to birth your baby or birth a dream, keep your focus on your goal and how good it feels to have that goal and you’ll find the best mix for your best results.

Check out some great stories about birthing and learn more about HypnoBirthing®  here.

Spring is the time for blossoming; a time of birth and renewal and I love watching how Mother Nature shows us what that looks like. I see spring bulbs starting to sprout their green stems up from the ground where they were safely gathering their energy during the long winter. I’m now noticing how some of the trees are beginning to display their lovely new green colored leaves, as they get ready to show their full beauty, and I hear the sound of the birds singing their songs as if they are celebrating the arrival of new life.

I find it interesting how it all happens so gradually and seemingly with ease, yet at the same time, so much had been going on “behind the scenes” before Mother Nature was ready to reveal the beauty we now get to appreciate.

I guess that’s what I love about Spring. It shows us beauty and gives us hope. It helps us quickly forget what had seemed dreary and dormant. It brings focus to the energy of renewal and we can’t help but feel the excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead.

And, even though it may still be too cool and wet here in the Northwest to get out there and work in the garden, the urge to start tending the yard is kicking in. You know the saying, “hope springs eternal!”, well that’s me as I look out the window, excited by what is yet to come!

What are you anticipating or excited about as we slip into this season of renewal?

Would love to hear your thoughts on what spring means to you.

Please comment below.

Speaking of renewal, birthing, anticipation of things to come, check out the article on

Stress & labor: Not a Good mix!

Even if you are not expecting a baby, you’ll find you can apply the principles of this article to your everyday life. And who knows…maybe you know someone who is pregnant and could definitely benefit by learning these calming tools.

Pay it forward! Someone will be glad you did