[Inspired Wisdom] Confessions of a “Stress Junkie”

September 1, 2009

Volume 1, Issue 1

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Feature Article
Confessions of a “Stress Junkie”

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In This Issue

Summer is nearly over, and before you know it, the “season” will be open us and lots of stress to go with it. I need to stay in my practice to stay in my “zone”, so I’ve shared a couple quick tips with you in the feature article to start you on your way. My favorite “get started” reading list is here, too and an introduction to my friend, Stacey Joiner with her Monday meditations. And the Women’s Wellness Society monthly gathering is coming up, too!
Remember, you chose how you will live your life today. Take a minute to quiet your inner critic and give yourself the gift of self-care. Let me know how it goes!

Note from Nanette

I can’t begin to tell you how long this newsletter has been “in the making”, and I am so relieved to finally have the first issue out for all to see. What an exhilirating challenge.
There is so much I want to share, and I am looking forward to hearing from you, too.  If I’ve experienced nothing else this year, it is that in this “ever changing world in which we live in”…some things change, and yet, many, many stay the same.
And, we are not connected by chance.
I believe we are drawn to each other, connected by a thread of energy that weaves through our daily existence even without our conscious awareness. It is that energy and that connection that I have embraced and it is at the heart of the journey I am sharing with you.
Come along with me, in love. With love and faith we will inspire hope.
In the spirit of wisdom, wellness and prosperity–
Nanette Saylor

Upcoming Events

  • You Deserve The Royal Treatment Yoga Workshop & Book Signing

    Date: Sep 11, 2009 – Time: 07:00 PM to 09:00 PM

    Come join Stacey & Edwin Joiner for this delicious Restorative Yoga workshop. This night has been specially designed to help tap into your true worthiness and support a life of peace, ease and royalty. You will be completely nurtured and feel like you were on vacation. Based on the teachings in Stacey’s book. For more information visit http://www.staceyjoiner.com

  • YOU Mastery Weekend featuring the NEW MastHERmindMap Success System!

    Join Kellie Kuecha, creator of MastHERmind, for the first annual YOU Mastery Weekend on September 11-13 in sunny Boca Raton, Florida. This weekend long event is unlike any other women’s event you have ever attended. 2 week limited time offer is $1297.00 and only available until July 31st. Regular price is $1497.00 and payments plans are only available for the full price. MastHERmind Alumni pay only $1197.00 until August 15th. THERE ARE ONLY 4 SPACES LEFT!! Click here for more information.

  • Wellness Wednesday’s at The Maui Spa

    Acupuncturist, Dr. Ray, and The Maui Spa have decided to bring back their  ”Wellness Wednesday Lectures”.  Every Wednesday they will offer a lecture on different Holistic topics to educate people on how to improve their health and wellness for better everyday living. These lectures will be held  at the Maui Spa in Boca Raton starting August 12th, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. All lectures will be complimentary and open to the public. To learn about The Maui Spa, click here.

  • Women’s Wellness Society Monthly Gathering – September 9, 2009

    To celebrate and announce the return of Wellness Wednesday’s to The Maui Spa, the Boca Chapter of the Women’s Wellness Society will be meeting on Wednesday 9/09 instead of Tuesday 9/08, in September. This event begins at 5:30pm and will not include dinner. This month, there is no charge for the event. For more information on Women’s Wellness Society – Boca Raton and chapters in other parts of the country, visit http://www.womenswellnesssociety.com.

Feature Article

Confessions of a “Stress Junkie”

In the week that I was preparing this first newsletter, I was inspired by my  mastermind group, hearing in the voices of some of my group members the same anxious and stressed tone that had become such a familiar pattern.
I am a recovering “stress and adrenaline junkie”.

Here’s what “I know for sure” (if Oprah were to ever ask me…):

That my energy and natural ability to handle and “control” large projects, multi-layered strategies, emergency situations, and rapidly changing environments was a complete cover-up for a deep, deep wound I call a “hole in my heart”.

I attached my value to the fact that I was able to handle stress with grace and
ease. I was proud to say I had worked in organizations that no one else would
put up with, or for difficult people, or in a 24/7 industry during very stressful times. That was my strength, my special skill– it was how I defined who I was. And I craved those environments to feel good about myself. When I wasn’t “crazy busy”, my ego mind would push me into creating more chaos.
When my “down on my knees” moment came, I was overcome with a true knowing that there is a power greater than me. In a moment, I surrendered my will and my life over to the care of that power (and I wasn’t even sure who/what that was!).
So I started to give up some of the “doings”. That meant I was giving up the
thing that I had gathered all my value from. And, with no “doings” and
“controllings” to cover up the hole in my heart, what was in there started
bubbling up.
And when it did, my ego mind would try to drag me back into more “doings” so I
could generate some more false self-worth and cover up the hole.
Sometimes ego still wins. But mostly, the hole is exposed now…
And I like it that way.
That’s where the value of “inner work” really shows itself to me. My wellness
practices support healing that hole in my heart.
From that place I’ve learned that it’s OK to just be me,
that I am worthy just as I am, today, “warts and all”.
Only from that place, can I share my true, authentic self with the world, see
and hear divine guidance, take inspired action and step into being
considerably HUGE!
So what do I mean by “inner work”?
For me, “inner work” is the practice of connecting to my spirit, my soul, my self in whatever way works for me.  My wellness practices gently lead me through my inner work that is slowly healing my heart.
Ellen Meredith, author of Listening In: Dialogues with the Wiser Self, confirms that many of us have a tendency to get cut off from spiritual nurturing, and to obscure that “small still voice” within which can guide us. “There is no reason why your spiritual “practice” needs to be separate from the rest of your life”, she says.
“There is no rule that says you must sit apart in pious reflection and prayer for several hours a day. In fact, the more you find ways to let the activities you do naturally resonate for you, the more likely you are to have a dynamic spiritual practice.”
My practice, or the method by which I complete my “inner work”, includes these four principle components:
  1. Wisdom Walks
  2. Affirmative Reading
  3. Daily Journaling
  4. Support from a mentor/coach/group
These simple practices are integrated now into my every day existence. They don’t take a huge amount of time or specialty equipment and they can be done without a lot of expense.
Wisdom Walks: Most spiritual guides incorporate some form of physical exercise into their plans for enlightenment. In addition to the health benefits, Wisdom Walks provide a time for me to connect with the power of nature and a reminder that I am grounded in source energy. Long before I grew comfortable writing in a journal, I began walking by myself on the beach, sharing my thoughts with the God of my choosing and asking for guidance.
“By the power of the wind, the waves and the sea, “ I called. “God, please grant me clarity”.
I gathered treasures…symbols of my search for self and gifts from a God I was desperate to know.
And as I gained strength in the quiet of my aloneness, I began to hear and feel guidance.
Find a place to walk where you can engage all of your senses. Walk alone. Talk to your God. Gather treasures. Ask for guidance. Listen, and you will receive.
“Like an ability or a muscle, hearing your inner wisdom is strengthened by doing it.”  — Robbie Gass
Recommended frequency: Daily. 15 – 30 minutes.
Affirmative Reading:

For years now, I have begun my day with a simple reading. These readings come from daily meditation books like “The Language of Letting Go” and “Journey to the Heart”, by Melody Beattie, “Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much”, by Anne Wilson Schaef, and “Living Juicy- Daily Morsels for your Creative Soul”, by SARK, or from affirmation cards like Louise Hay’s “Power Thought Cards”.

Borrow one from a friend. See if it feels right for you, and then diligently read it each and every day. Over and over.
Buried under all of the negative messaging you have learned to believe is a quiet voice wanting to be heard. It is just waiting for you to re-discover the language of self love you knew as a child.
In the beginning, affirmations were my primer for re-learning this new language. Now, in a world full of negative messaging, affirmations serve to remind me to live in love first.
Journaling:

As I became more comfortable with my new voice, I learned to write it down. Most call it journaling. Sandy Grason, in her book of the same name, called it a “Journalution”. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, recommends writing “Morning Pages”, and Heather Dominick, EnergyRich Success Coach, describes “Scripting” her days.

In the beginning, I couldn’t write my thoughts— it made me feel too vulnerable and that was too scary.  Now I know that this is the only way I found myself again.
Putting my voice on paper made it real and personal. Putting my voice on paper gave it power. Putting my voice on paper helped me to clarify the thoughts that became my guide to inspired action. Putting my voice on paper gave me the confidence to reach out to you.
And, most importantly, putting my thoughts on paper continues to help me to move through fear, doubt and negativity, when they show up.
Julia Cameron says she writes Morning Pages to “get to the other side: the other side of fear, of our negativity, of our moods. Above all, they get us beyond our Censor.”
Find a book and a pen or pencil that feels good. Keep it in a safe place. Reach for it often, and begin without judgment. Just write. Even if you write “I don’t know what to write today”, begin the practice, and you will find comfort.
Recommended frequency:  Daily. 15 minutes – 45 minutes.
Support from a coach/mentor/support group:

As my thoughts became clearer, and that “small, still voice” within began to speak louder, having a coach/mentor or support group nearby provided me a filter that led me toward greater and faster clarity. I learned I was not alone.

Napolean Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich” first introduced us to the power of the “mastermind” group, where individuals gathered to support each other, and the strength of the group could be counted on to “up level” each of the participants. It is here that you can find the strength and support to turn inspiration into action.
Coaches of all specialties are available in every location and even remotely via teleclass and webinar. And low or no cost support groups, facilitated by volunteers, are available through most community centers and hospitals.
Find a friend who attends a regular 12 step meeting and go with her. Many of them are available for “clean” addictions (non drug or alcohol related), like CoDa, which focuses on relationships and self-love. A small donation, $1 or $2, if you are able, is all that is expected here.
Even if one-on- one coaching may seem out of your budget today, you can begin to experience the support in groups that usually have minimal expense. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you hear a message that resonates with you. Borrow books, go to the library.
Trust that when you find a message that resonates with you, that is the message you are supposed to hear. Stop searching and allow yourself to become immersed in the support that the message will bring.
For a long time, I continued to be so frightened by the awareness that I was gaining from the support of my chosen mentors that I kept running from group to group, keeping myself busy and distracted. As a result, my journey has been much longer than it needed to be.
Do the work without judgment. Be conscious of choosing friends who will encourage you to do the work, not just talk about it–  over time, you will begin to know the difference very clearly.
Recommended frequency:  Weekly at a minimum.
And in all of these practices, there is one constant– simply, I’ve learned to pay attention with an open mind. I’ve learned to believe. Set skepticism aside and allow these simple practices to connect you to your inner guidance. Nurture your soul by paying attention to the beauty of all that surrounds you.
Slow down. Get off the treadmill. Make the choice to discard everything that distracts you from paying attention to your true voice.
In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron writes:
“The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight. The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.
The reward for attention is always healing.”

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Nanette Saylor is the publisher of The Wise Well Woman’s Way, a collection of revelations concerning the journey of life, the road less travelled and other inpirations. Nanette helps women to rediscover themselves by tapping into their own creative awareness so that they will begin to realize their dreams. Founder of Wise Well Women, Inc., Nanette is gratefully gathering and sharing the wisdom of amazing women who’s teachings she is following along the way. To subscribe to her newsletter, Inspirations for Wise Well Women, please visit www.wisewellwomen.com.
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?

See Nanette’s blog – The Wise Well Woman’s Way – at wisewellwomen.com/blog

Wit and Wisdom

From Melody Beattie, author of Journey to the Heart:
“But even when we don’t know what the lesson is, we can know one thing: it’s a lesson of love.
Courage. Faith. Patience.
Loving ourselves when it looks and feels like nobody else cares. Starting over again one more time, when we think we’ve already started over again more times than we should have had to.
Forgiveness. Compassion. Gentleness. Joy. Each one is a lesson of love.
Go through your moments of darkness and confusion, and trust that the light will come. Through it all, rest in one thought: you’re on track. You’re on your path.
You’re connected to love. You’re connected to God.
And the lessons you’re learning are lessons of love.”
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“A wise, well woman is one who bravely presents her authentic self to the world and encourages others to do the same. She shares her truth with courage, living life on life’s terms. She extends love to all and guided by deep faith, carries a message of hope to all those in need.”
~Nanette Saylor

About Nanette

As a 25 year veteran of a true workaholic’s hospitality management career, Nanette Saylor knew all too well what it felt like to have an out of control “to do list”, out of control inbox, and an out of control life. After multiple crises turned her world upside down, she was forced to begin to detox from her exhausting patterns to survive. Distracting herself from her realities by creating chaos had resulted in a nearly complete breakdown.  Nanette’s evolution toward wellness began slowly, almost 10 years ago, as she sought to repair her body and her broken heart, to re-connect to her lost faith, and to regain her sense of self and her confidence.  Along the way she was enlightened by strong, caring, women whose writings, teachings and experiences continue to uplift her today, and make up the foundation of her daily wellness practice.
Founder of Wise Well Women, Inc. and creator of The Wise Well Woman’s Wayâ„¢,  Nanette has made it her mission to deliver the Inspirations from Wise Well Womenâ„¢ to all women who are looking to attract more love, faith and hope into their lives. To support this Inspired Wisdom community, contact Nanette at inspired@wisewellwomen.com.

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Recommendations for Wise Well Women

Author, Stacey Joiner, encourages us all to live royally, by first centering ourselves with a weekly mediation.
You Deserve The Royal TreatmentStacey offers a F*ree 10 Minute Guided Meditation via phone.
Every Monday 12:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Just call: Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-0080

Participant Access Code: 865879#

Consider it your Royal Duty to yourself! You Deserve it! And just in case you can’t make the Monday call, click here to register to receive a special guided mediation you can go to anytime.

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“Rock Star Author”, Sandy Grason, is an International Speaker, the Founder & Author of the best-selling book JOURNALUTION: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life & Manifest Your Dreams, a complete step-by-step guide to transforming your life through journaling.
Sandy also offers audio classes, workshops, one-on- one consulting and other resources to help you express yourself creatively in the world and make more money doing what you love.
Learn more now at www.SandyGrason.com.

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Heather Dominick, EnergyRICH® Entrepreneur Success and Master Coach, is the creator of the EnergyRICH® Entrepreneur Success System and EnergyRICHcoach.com a company devoted to teaching healers, coaches and heart-centered entrepreneurs around the world how to partner Universal Energetic Principles with practical step-by-step “How-To’s” to joyfully make more money in your business so you can better serve the world.

Through her EnergyRICH® Business Boot Camp, Private Mentor Coaching Programs, and products, Heather shows her students how to transcend lower level energies like fear and doubt to be able to build their business from a place of serving, joy and abundance. Click here now and receive your free EnergyRICH® Entrepreneur Success Kit and begin your transformational journey right away.

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