Podcast Episode #34: BODY IMAGE TRUTH

SHOW NOTES:

Tony Robbins Recommended YouTube Video:

Living The Dream, Daniel Floyd 

Contest Alert:

It’s a race to get 100 5-star reviews for my show in iTunes! Review my show, send me a screen shot of your review via email at trish@trishblackwell.com, and be entered to win an awesome prize-pack from me once we hit the 100 mark!

Coaching Changes:

I now offer THREE exciting ways to increase your confidence.

->Option One: CONFIDENCE INSIDER.

This $47/month option gives you inside weekly access to me via group coaching emails as well as personalized emails.  Also included is a monthly open Q&A conference call, a book of the month and weekend workout challenges. Email me at trish@trishblackwell.com to sign up; room in this group is limited and filling up quickly.

->Option Two: CONFIDENCE COACHING 30-DAY PROGRAM.

This intense coaching program is based on neuro-linguistic programming techniques and has been proven to inspire major changes in one’s life and confidence.  The 30-Day Program is only for those who are very serious about change and very dedicated to making change happen, no matter how tough it gets.  To apply for this program (which is backed up with a 100% money-back guarantee), go to www.trishblackwell.com/confidencecoaching . THE NEXT 30-DAY SESSION BEGINS MAY 15th, 2013, apply now before spots fill!

->Option Three: QUICK CONFIDENCE CALLS.

If you want personalized, one-on-one coaching from me, this is the option for you.  Each Quick Confidence Call is 45 minutes long with email support pre and post call.  Typically, coaching clients choose to do two Quick Confidence Calls per month.  Each call is $75.  To set up your first appointment, email me at trish@trishblackwell.com.

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You matter.

Stop letting fears of what other people might think of you influence your actions because more often than not, they don’t really care about what you think they do.

People remember how you make them feel.

Focus on the things that really matter in life and stop giving authority to people who don’t really care.

SHOW NOTES:

Contest Alert:

It’s a race to get 100 5-star reviews for my show in iTunes! Review my show, send me a screen shot of your review via email at trish@trishblackwell.com, and be entered to win an awesome prize-pack from me once we hit the 100 mark!

Coaching Changes:

I now offer THREE exciting ways to increase your confidence.

Option One: CONFIDENCE INSIDER.

This $47/month option gives you inside weekly access to me via group coaching emails as well as personalized emails.  Also included is a monthly open Q&A conference call, a book of the month and weekend workout challenges. Email me at trish@trishblackwell.com to sign up; room in this group is limited and filling up quickly.

Option Two: CONFIDENCE COACHING 30-DAY PROGRAM.

This intense coaching program is based on neuro-linguistic programming techniques and has been proven to inspire major changes in one’s life and confidence.  The 30-Day Program is only for those who are very serious about change and very dedicated to making change happen, no matter how tough it gets.  To apply for this program (which is backed up with a 100% money-back guarantee), go to www.trishblackwell.com/confidencecoaching .

Option Three: QUICK CONFIDENCE CALLS.

If you want personalized, one-on-one coaching from me, this is the option for you.  Each Quick Confidence Call is 45 minutes long with email support pre and post call.  Typically, coaching clients choose to do two Quick Confidence Calls per month.  Each call is $75.  To set up your first appointment, email me at trish@trishblackwell.com.

The post #32: NOBODY CARES appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

Someone asked me this week why I always follow through on what I say I am going to do. Without hesitation, I answered, “because I know that it matters.” They continued, prying me for what drives me on a daily basis to always chase my goals, no matter what.  My answer surprised me only in the surprise it incurred in the asker.  ”I just know that every little step, every little decision, and every little bit of movement forwards matters; I have confidence in knowing that those small things are what will bring me whatever big thing I am pursuing.”

Confidence means “with faith”. If you want more insight to confidence and to increase your “circle of genius”, ask me about my Confidence INSIDER group.

 

I have always been like this.  I remember being 10-years-old, working myself silly in the pool at swim practice and putting the older kids, who were lazier and less motivated than me, to shame.  In an effort to bully me in the locker room after practice for making them look bad, they cornered me and told me to stop working so hard.  I looked them straight in the eyes and answered with confidence, “No thanks.”  Continuing, I added, “I work hard on every set that I do because at the end of the season, when I need to win by .01 of a second, I’ll have put the work in to guarantee that win because I know that no one else will have done what I do.  I’m going to keep on training with all my might because that is the training that will get me to the Olympics, and I expect that Olympic cut to be a difference of 0.01 seconds.”

I didn’t make the Olympics, but is the year that I broke the United States National Age Group Record in the 100-yard freestyle.  Those bullies didn’t like me very much, but they had to keep training with me because I helped push them to make them better.  Besides, the added bonus was that they all had a crush on my older brother, so they had to be nice to me.  I had confidence that my hard work — hours, weeks, months of it at a stretch — would pay off, even if only years later.  That confidence shined in the pool and it shined itself with results that no one could argue with.  I was gifted for sure, but that isn’t what made me the swimmer that I was.  Belief made me successful.  Belief gave me the confidence to vulnerably put my all, my heart and soul into everything I did.   Belief works.

The same vibrant faith drives everything that I do today.  It’s impossible for me to forget that every second matters, every day can change my life and every person has great potential lying dormant within them.  Unleash what has been sleeping within you.  Give yourself permission to believe that every little thing matters, because it really does.  

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I disconnected from the world yesterday, well, for the majority of the day anyway.   Yesterday, I celebrated my mom.

Sounds honorable of me, but really this was an extension of my Christmas present to her. Originally meant to be a beach weekend trip, the present morphed into a spa and shopping day, and it was simply awesome.   My mom isn’t technologically inclined, so I left my tech arsenal behind….on any given day my purse carries my iPhone5, iPad, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.  Sounds ridiculous, I know, but when I have a free hour and can perch myself somewhere (ie. a bar, Starbucks, etc) I want and need access to as many screens as possible to maximize my multi-tasking.  But yesterday I walked around with no purse.  Kept my keys in my pocket along with my credit card.  It felt so simple, so free, so perfect for a day for just me and my mom.

Me and my mom ROCKED T.J. Max and laughed our way through the store for hours.

There’s something to be said for simplicity.  Mom and I just chatted the day away, shopped to our heart’s content and tried on way more pair of sunglasses than I can count.  Disconnecting from the thousands of people, alerts and emails that beckon to me from my phone in order to connect with one of the most important people to me in the world was like a gift that she gave to me.  It is what living is all about.

I challenge you to turn your Facebook alerts off, to leave your phone in the car, and to just spend time doing nothing with someone you love.  Close the laptop and just live.

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Podcast Episode #31: STICKS AND STONES.

The words you say to yourself (and the names you call yourself) matter. They have a deep impact on the manifestation of your life.  Do you speak life-giving words or words of death?  Do you hold onto the negative words that you have heard in your past?  Listen in for tips on how to finally LET GO and think LIVE-GIVING THOUGHTS.

Words DO have power. Be careful with the ones that you let hang out in your head.

SHOW NOTES:

Contest Alert:

It’s a race to get 100 5-star reviews for my show in iTunes! Review my show, send me a screen shot of your review via email at trish@trishblackwell.com, and be entered to win an awesome prize-pack from me once we hit the 100 mark!

Coaching Changes:

I now offer THREE exciting ways to increase your confidence.

Option One: CONFIDENCE INSIDER.

This $47/month option gives you inside weekly access to me via group coaching emails as well as personalized emails.  Also included is a monthly open Q&A conference call, a book of the month and weekend workout challenges. Email me at trish@trishblackwell.com to sign up; room in this group is limited and filling up quickly.

Option Two: CONFIDENCE COACHING 30-DAY PROGRAM.

This intense coaching program is based on neuro-linguistic programming techniques and has been proven to inspire major changes in one’s life and confidence.  The 30-Day Program is only for those who are very serious about change and very dedicated to making change happen, no matter how tough it gets.  To apply for this program (which is backed up with a 100% money-back guarantee), go to www.trishblackwell.com/confidencecoaching .

Option Three: QUICK CONFIDENCE CALLS.

If you want personalized, one-on-one coaching from me, this is the option for you.  Each Quick Confidence Call is 45 minutes long with email support pre and post call.  Typically, coaching clients choose to do two Quick Confidence Calls per month.  Each call is $75.  To set up your first appointment, email me at trish@trishblackwell.com.

Recommended Read:

If you’re looking for some empowerment, buy Christine Caine’s book Undaunted. I loved it, got super inspired and couldn’t put it down.

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You are a prophet. I don’t mean to be trite by making an overstatement, but really, you are a prophet. The thoughts you think are what you become.  You might not yet realize the power of your thoughts, but there is power there nonetheless, whether you acknowledge it or not.  Revelation happens in ones’ heart when you finally learn to harness your thoughts with the knowledge that they are prophesies for your life.

What is it that you call yourself? The names you use for yourself MATTER.

In light of prophesies, I’ve been thinking recently about the power of a name, as my name is about to change.  Currently, I am known legally at Trisha Christine Blackwell, and very soon I will become Trish Blackwell Synan.  Thinking about names is powerful. A name is a documented, spoken destiny attached to you.  Trisha means The Noble One, and ever since I learned that as a child I have held tightly to it.  I have tried to live up to the ideals of honesty and integrity that are wrapped up into the word “noble.”

What is it that you call yourself? The words that you speak give life within you, so do you speak words of life or words of death?  Things as basic as our very own names, and especially the names that we give ourselves in our own head, have an impact upon the outcome of our lives.  Give yourself names of confidence, potential and hope, and you will find an internal sense of empowerment that perhaps you never knew you already had.

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My future husband didn’t know that wedding favors are a thing.  We are two months and a handful of days away from our nuptials and discussions of favors, DJs and catering are morphing into quite entertaining conversations. Honestly, how can you not smile when he thought the sachet of personalized M&Ms or the personalized matchbook were thoughtless extras that he  happened to find on his table as a wedding guest?   Needless to say, it’s eye opening to see what men notice about a wedding versus the details that women see.

Man, I love LOVE.

It makes me wonder what I see in life that anyone else might not see, and vice versa.   Neurologically, we are programmed to see and notice the things that we most often think about.  If you are shopping for a Jeep, you will suddenly notice hundreds of Jeeps appear on the road that you could swear were never there before.  Likewise, if your mind is consumed with thoughts about how your body compares to others, you will find yourself obsessively thinking about weight, shape and size with each person and face you see throughout the day.   The thoughts we think directly form the person that we become.  You literally have control over your present and your future by the thoughts that you choose.

Choose to see differently.  Choose to train your mind to guard your thoughts, to kick out the negative, self-depricating ones, and above all things, to choose love.   Loving others starts by first loving yourself, and loving yourself starts with choosing loving thoughts.

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Episode #30: Facing Fear

Fear or faith, which do you feed the most?  Which one is winning in your life?  Live free, live in faith. Squash fear. Thanks for listening, if you love this show, please share it with others and spread the love!

New cover photo for the show!

Housekeeping notes:

CONTEST ALERT!

The next 48 reviews of the show in iTunes will be entered to win a chance to win a personalized & autographed copy of The Skinny, Sexy Mind: The Ultimate French Secret! All you need to do is go to the show in iTunes (subscribe to it while you are there!), leave your review, take a screen shot of it and email the screen shot to me at trish@trishblackwell.com!  Hurry and be in the first 48 to enter this contest!

SHOW NAME CHANGE COMING!

“From the Inside Out” is soon to be “Confidence on the Go” — > be prepared to see the new show name and please share the love.

JOIN THE CONFIDENCE INSIDER:

If you love my podcast shows, find yourself looking forward to the next episodes, or just want more coaching and inspiration, then you want to be an INSIDER.   The CONFIDENCE INSIDER is my “mastermind” group and the best way to get more personalized connection with me.  For only $47/month you will receive weekly email coaching, a weekly weekend workout challenge, and a monthly open Q&A live conference call with me.  If you’re looking for accountability, motivation and that extra edge on upping your inside game, then this is what you’ve been looking for.  Email me directly to snag your spot, I am keeping space limited to 25 “insiders”.

Resources mentioned in today’s show:

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At any given time, the thoughts that you think are investing in one of two belief systems.  One system is fear-based, and one is faith-based.  One pursues every what-if and lives in the darkness of comparisons and anxiety, while the other celebrates itself in freedom.  Which is stronger though, fear or faith?

Your thoughts are investing in one of two things at any given time: fear or faith. Which one holds more wealth in your world?

Imagine that you have two dogs chained in your backyard.  They know that they are enemies, that they must fight one another to death if unchained.  Which dog will win?  The dog that you feed will win.  Feed Fear and it will be the victor.   Feed Faith, and it will destroy Fear.  You have both dogs at your disposal, which are you going to feed this week?

The post TWO DOGS. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

The chances of 16 inches of snow in March, in Virginia, are slim to none, but today there were records broken.  The chances of me having a snowboarding trip planned the same day of a giant blizzard, are well, nonexistent.  Nonetheless, I found myself this morning on Interstate-64 West panicking as my friend Kim navigated back and forth across the snow and ice covered highway.

I-64, and this was a “good” section.

As I panicked (see picture below), she kept reminding me that adventure is the spice of life. ”If you don’t take risks, you waste your soul,” Drew Barrymore once said, and she was right.  Taking risks is scary, but today, thanks to the push of a friend, I took a risk and couldn’t be happier for it.   After seeing over 100 trees down on the road, we arrived at the base of Wintergreen mountain to find out that the power was out and the road up was impassable.  We grabbed a cold meal at a local diner without power and convinced a stranger to drive us up the mountain in his jeep.   The resort was buzzing with people cradling beers and bundled up, the only explainable thing to do in a blizzard on top of a mountain without power.

Me, terrified in the car as we were at a dead stop on the highway for over 65 minutes. I was worried that we would get stuck.

Kim and I played in the 16 inches of snow, snow so high that I can barely move…and just as we settled in for the afternoon with books and resignation that we would have a chilly night of living without power, the power kicked on.  Cheers from throughout the lodges reverberated through every wall as the light and heat flickered back on.

J.K. Rowling once wrote,“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure,” and that is exactly what I did today.  Everyone needs adventure in their life.  Everyone.  It’s okay to be scared, it’s okay to be nervous, but whatever you do, just make sure that you pursue stepping outside of your comfort zone.

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Episode #29: Mailbox Call! 

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions!

Basal Metabolic Calculator: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

The Skinny, Sexy Mind: The Ultimate French Secret

Building A Better Body Image, Kindle Version

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Esto perpetua.

Those two words sing in my head, with an echo followed by “spirit of light” — they were words that shaped my high school experience, and words that called back to me this past weekend during my visit to the campus of Chatham Hall.   “Let it be perpetual,” the words speak, and that it is, the spirit of Chatham Hall.

Chatham, with its sprawling campus, challenging academics, endless opportunities, and traditions that tie alumnae together since 1894, is more than just a place I lived from 14-18, it’s where the leader within me was nurtured and given the freedom to shine.  It’s where I learned how big the world was and how, in turn, I could unleash the spirit within me to pursue and change the world.

I spent this past weekend on campus for the first time in twelve years, and it was like a small rebirth of my spirit.  As a guest speaker for the girls’ Wellness Weekend, I was able to experience first hand the perpetual spirit of “the Chatham Hall girl.”  Much has changed about the school (new buildings, renovated space, and an educational system that has converted to iPad based learning), yet the core of Chatham is still the same.  The spirit of integrity and leadership that is instilled in the girls still lives on; the innocent enthusiasm and confident authenticity of the girls was inspiring.  These are girls who are going to impact the world.  These are girls who abide by the same principles of honor and integrity that I do.  These are girls with whom I am proud to share a heritage.

Whatever you value the most, cling tightly to it.  Perhaps you carry a legacy from your high school or college that resonates with you as Chatham Hall does with me, or maybe your core values inspire the beat of your heart and the words that come out of your mouth, but whatever you hold to dearly, never let go.  Let the calling of your heart — that is, that thing that makes you come alive and makes you you — never be silenced.  You have a gift to share with the world, so live out your life with authenticity that rings with echoes of esto perpetua.

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I am an achiever.  Always have been, probably always will be; and while that’s not a bad thing, like anything taken to excess, it can be detrimental.   Where my achievement mentality steers me wrong is when it takes over my weeks.  It’s Wednesday and I have found myself doing three weeks worth of work in one week.  The problem is that I did this to myself last week and have scheduled next week to look the same.  As I would tell my clients, it’s not acceptable.  So, today I’m taking ownership.

I don’t have anything ground breaking to share today other than sharing with you that I am focusing on simplicity. There’s something so very beautiful about simplicity, it’s the kind of beauty that can evade you if you’re not paying attention.  I haven’t paid attention much recently, and in turn I have suffered.  I haven’t gotten to write as often as I like, I haven’t felt well, and I have found myself looking forward to the end of the day instead of relishing in the joy of living.

It stops now. I take ownership and living IN the day starts again for me right now.

Pay attention.  Take ownership.  Slow down.  Simplify.

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Podcast episode #28!  Geocaching YOU.

Thanks, as always, for listening in!  Listen, subscribe on iTunes, leave a review, share with others, and be proud of yourself for INVESTING IN YOU today!

Be better today than you were yesterday.

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 To celebrate the weekend, I’m giving away two copies of my e-book, Building a Better Body Image: 50-Day to Loving Yourself from the Inside Out.  As a teaser, here’s Day One of the book. Read on and share on.  To participate in the contest, share this post on your Facebook wall and you’ll be among those selected to win.

Here’s what Kris, one of the most recent readers of Building a Better Body Image has to say:

THE WORLD NEEDS YOU

-DAY  ONE-

I feel compelled to be bold about my vulnerability to share a string of experiences that don’t get talked about, that silently destroy people’s vitality, and that would be easier for me to cover up through honed perfectionism and extroverted professionalism.  The truth is, though, that the world needs my voice, and I don’t say this in a pretentious manner because the truth is that the world needs everyone’s voice.

Many are quick to assume that I’ve always had it easy, or that I’m naturally comfortable in my skin — I am the epitome of the “all-American girl,” but the truth couldn’t be any further.  I know anorexia, I know bulimia, I know compulsive exercise, I know binge eating disorder, I know body dysmorphia, I know a fear of food, I know athletic disappointment, I know rape, I know relationship abuse, I know loneliness, and I know what it feels like to be a prisoner in my own body.  I know all these things, but I also know freedom from them, healing from them, and, in turn, great joy, personal growth and triumph through them. Without being honest about and sharing my past, my present message doesn’t resonate as powerfully, and, well, the world needs to know that there is hope.

Get your own copy and change your body image for $4.99!

The world needs you, but it is up to you to figure out in what capacity that will be.  Be bold and humble so that you can share your experiences — your failures and your triumphs — with others in a way that will encourage and transform them. Your voice is needed as much as mine.  Your story can change lives if you let it.  Your passions have a purpose if you spend some time in introspection to find exactly where and how to combine what brings you joy, what you are good at, and what the world needs you to share.

Be thankful for your past, for it is a story that can and will change lives if only you let it.

 Challenge of the Day:

Share with someone something from your past that you don’t typically share with others.  Open up your story, because it is in your story that your greatness lies, and that greatness needs to be shared with the world.

Want it now?

Purchase your own copy of Building a Better Body Image and receive instant access to it for only $4.99.  Click here to download!

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Your time isn’t your most valuable resource…your ENERGY is!

Listen to the show and find out to manage your energy allocation more successfully so that you can be the you that you want to be! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE in iTunes so that you don’t miss an episode! Also, SHARE the show with others!

Spend your energy correctly and you CAN break up with stress.

Resources mentioned in today’s episode:

Confidence Coaching March Session: Click HERE to apply!

The Power of Full Engagement:

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Fear has come up in my world more frequently than usual this week.  Some of it has been my own, and some of it has been expressed by others; all of it though, is an opportunity to grow.  As my mentor Todd Durkin has taught me, “if you’re not playing scared, then you’re not playing in the right stratosphere.”  He has shared the secret of fear with me, and that is, embrace it.

My fears this week involved public speaking and a commercial shoot.  Now, on the surface, I was super excited about both of these opportunities. I get to be on a TV commercial and I got to speak about confidence to a great group of high school girls, both are things that are exactly what I should and want to be doing.  Deep inside however, my insecurities of the past started screaming out at me.   Fear started telling me lies and they echoed loud enough for me to believe them.

Fear expressed itself differently at the gym among some members that I was helping.  These members are on a journey towards health and weight loss, but from where they stand the journey looks so long, so treacherous and difficult and so uncertain, that the fear of their own ability to succeed and prevail the entire way has practically paralyzed them in self-doubt.   Fear is the sign that you’re onto something great. Pushing past fear strengthens your mind to push past your ungrounded insecurities, and every time that you face fear and look it in the eyes with courage you are on your way to becoming the you that you were always meant to be.

However your fears play out in your mind, accept them.  Fear is a part of life.  It’s up to you to decide how you want the fear to steer you, from fear to faith or from fear to paralysis. Have faith that everything worthwhile in this life has some element of risk and fear attached, and that fear, when properly embraced, can catapult us to greatness.

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I boo-booed last week.  Well, actually it was an accumulation of weeks that got me to where I was.   I hit overload and took on too much at one time.  I know that I preach balance, and I do because so often I’m preaching it to myself as well.  Thankfully, when my balance gets out of whack, my body will sound the alarm, and that is just what happened.

Usually, I get sick and my body feels run down, but this time it’s more than that. This time I forgot to pay a bill, and it was a bill that really mattered.  In the midst of all of my coming and going, I forgot to pay my Apple Developer annual fees.  There’s no better way to learn a lesson than to be hit financially and physically, and right now I got hit with both. Apple doesn’t mess around; they immediately pulled my apps (all seven of them!) from the App Store.  Not only that, but now that my apps are finally available again, they erased all of my ratings and reviews, which pulls my ranking and visibility down.

I know one thing for sure: I will never forget to pay Apple.

The next time that you make a mistake and it has some consequences, be thankful, for it is the consequences that will transform the lesson into a lesson well learned.  If you feel like you’re learning the same lesson over and over again, remember that a lesson will repeat itself until properly learned.  Open your mind to learning, no matter how inconvenient, frustrating, or exhausting the learning experience may be.

Oh, and on that note, if you are an app user of mine and you love me (shameless self-promotion here), please, please, please, please, please consider writing a review in the app store for me under your app or apps that you use!  I’m desperate to get my reviews back and I will love you forever if you help me!

As for me, I’m slowing down and spending my day bundled up with a book.

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Podcast Episode #26:

LOVING YOURSELF NAKED

Happy Valentine’s Day to YOU. Love yourself today! 

Resources:

SpaWorld USA: www.spaworldusa.com

The Skinny Sexy Mind:

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Facing your fears isn’t for the light of heart … it’s for those who want to make the most out of themselves and their lives.  If you want to live a life and leave a legacy that lasts, chances are, you will need to get used to looking fear in the eye.  Fear is the chain that holds make many people from living their dreams because instead of living in their dreams they spend their time living in their fears.

Fear is never going to disappear from your life, so choose to practice facing it.  As with every type of training, as you continue to train, you will gain strength.  And the strength you gain from facing fear comes in the form of boldness and confidence.  Set your intentions on seeking out your fear instead of cowering from it, for you are in fact stronger than you think you are. Fear gains a foothold on you when it is allowed to stay unacknowledged, so stand up to that lingering giant that haunts you and start proving to yourself that it was never quite the giant that it seemed to be.

Your fears won’t disappear unless you have the courage to face them.   Practice with your small fears on a daily basis so that you will have the boldness to conquer the giant fears that are keeping you from living your dream.

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Podcast Episode #25 

Gardening Your Mind and Your Body

Thanks as always for listening and tuning in! Make sure you share this episode and don’t miss out on opting into Trish’s email newsletter (you can just email Trish at trish@trishblackwell.com to do so!).

Love yourself this month.

Invest in yourself!

Start investing in your own garden that matters…the garden of the soul.

Go rock your day!

Love,

Trish

Resources:

Confidence Coaching Application: CLICK HERE! 

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Everyone wants a magic pill.  The multi-billion dollar diet industry proves that point in and of itself, but if there was a magic weight loss pill out there everyone would be taking it and we would no longer have an overweight nation.   Real success doesn’t happen overnight.  Anything worthy something takes time and investment.

Take the right path, every time; it will pay off.

I’ve been thinking about shortcuts a lot in the past few days.  There are some people in my life who are seeking the answers to their problems through their own connived versions of a shortcut.   But the truth is that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

We are all on a journey towards a goal of some sort right now.  Take joy in the process and in the journey, for your reward in walking the right path over the long term will be well worth it.  If you feel frustrated at the length of your journey, take heart and turn your eye to the temptations of shortcuts that come your way.   Your perseverance will pay off beyond what you can measure, so keep on keeping on my friend.

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…Our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds, and, by means with which no man is familiar, these “magnets” attract to us the forces, the people, the circumstances of life which harmonize with the nature of our dominating thoughts.” -Napoleon Hill

I love Mondays and I believe that everyone can learn to love them too.  Monday is a power day.  It’s a day that sets the tone for the rest of your week, and while many people struggle on Mondays, I don’t blame it on the Monday, I blame it on their lack of preparation from the day before.   I blame it on a bad attitude upon waking and an attitude of entitlement.   My challenge to you today is to see Mondays as a day full of opportunities instead of obligations.

My Monday is my opportunity to blaze my week with success and accomplishment.  What I do today significantly influences how fluidly the rest of my week goes.  Most importantly, the thoughts that I think, even from the first minute of waking, on a Monday, significantly affect the outcome of my day.   As Napoleon Hill wrote in his book Think and Grow Rich, “our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds…these “magnets” attract to us the forces, the people, the circumstances of life which harmonize with the nature of our dominating thoughts.”   You, and only you, have full control over the thoughts you think, and you especially have control over what thoughts dominate your brain (and thereby your life).

Take ownership of your Monday thoughts today and own the day.  

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Episode #24: The Facebook Effect

(Self-Esteem, Self-Abuse & Confidence)

As promised, mentioned in today’s show, here are the resources you are going to want to read, watch or look up!

The Empower House: http://www.rcdv.com/

TED Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/leslie_morgan_steiner_why_domestic_violence_victims_don_t_leave.html

My book on Amazon (Kindle and paperback): The Skinny, Sexy Mind

My e-book for instant download: Building A Better Body Image: 50-Days to Loving Yourself from the Inside Out

Confidence Coaching: Apply by clicking here!

Thanks for listening and for sharing this show with others!

Remember, we are a byproducts of the thoughts we think, so think yourself to a day of love and confidence today.

Much love,

Trish

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I’m an introvert turned extrovert, so sometimes I have to remind myself of something very simple, and that is: who cares who’s watching.  It’s a question for me and a question for you this morning.

Seriously, who cares?

Whether you’re timid and hesitant to step out towards your dreams when others are watching, or the opposite spectrum and so craving for attention that you need an audience for everything you do, this message is for you.  Who cares who’s watching.  Go live your life and your dreams for you, not for others.   You don’t need anyone else’s approval but your own, so take it and run with it. 

The post WHO CARES. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

When I started in the personal training business eight years ago I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.  I spent my days at the gym, and my nights researching training strategies, the psychology of motivation, and body movement periodization.  The biggest hurdle for me however was the fact that I was still battling myself.  I didn’t feel like I was fit enough, pretty enough, outgoing enough or confident enough to be a successful trainer.  I was afraid to be myself, afraid that I wouldn’t measure up, and worse than anything, afraid that my clients would figure out that I was a fraud.

Stop thinking about all of your fears of not measuring up and start living like you do in fact measure up!

Then one day, my boss pulled me aside and gave me perhaps the best piece of advice that I’ve ever received.  He started the conversation by negating all of my fears of falling short, and then he qualified my pursuit of confidence by advising me to fake it till I made it. And so I did.

Literally, within just a few months, my confidence, both professionally and personally transformed.  I became the confident person that I had always wanted to be.

The thoughts we think about ourselves have the power to be self-fulfilling prophesies, so lend your inner ear to uplifting thoughts of how you want to be.  Pursue the “confident you” that deserves to be free from doubt and fear, and fake it till you make it.  Stop thinking about what might happen if you don’t measure up, and start believing that you will not only measure up, but instead will exceed expectations.   If your self-belief isn’t up to par yet, don’t worry, just fake it until it is.

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A call from London woke me up this morning at 8:00am.  I turned over as I heard the buzzing of my phone, hesitant to pick it up before my alarm on a Sunday morning.  Sleepily, I squinted at the caller ID, ready to ignore the call.  Surprisingly, it was an international number, with the Facebook profile picture of my dear friend Caroline flashing across the screen.  I bounded out of bed with joy, eager to hear the voice of my foreign friend.

Our conversation wasn’t very profound, especially given that I was still half-asleep and Caroline’s British accent is oftentimes difficult for me to interpret, but the words exchanged weren’t what really mattered.  It was the communion of our voices that brought joy to my heart.  There is power in the familiarity of a friend’s voice, and it’s called love.   We are often surrounded with sources of love in our lives that go unnoticed; slow down and notice them though, for they are true treasures that we have at hand.

Um, so true!

Your voice matters. Even if you aren’t sure if you have the right words to say, sometimes it doesn’t even matter.  What matters more is that you share your voice.  Share it generously with those you love, share it with the causes that need to be spoken about, and share it with yourself.  Trust that what you have to say in this world really does have an impact and that your voice, even if it’s just in a simple phone call with a distant friend, matters.

Call someone you love today and reach out to a friend that is far away.  Your time, even though it isn’t in person, is a true gift that will pour love in that person’s day.  Be generous with your voice, the world needs it.

The post RICH VOICES. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

Podcast Episode #23 Show Notes:

LEGGO MY EGO, with special guest Angi Purinton, creator of MyMa. 

The body is a shared element of your mind, so what is your mind influencing your body to do or not to do? How do you really LET GO of the EGO?

Topics in today’s podcast include:

• How and when to really LET GO of the EGO.
• How to make your mind aware of what your body is doing.
• Yin-deficieny and yang balance.
• Understanding your own personal constitution.
• How Zumba and acupuncture work well together.
• How to make decisions outside of the ego, or false self
• Body awareness and body maintenance tips for optimal self-car

Happy listening! Don’t forget to like the MyMa Facebook Like Page by clicking here!

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I love eating, but I don’t always love or feel like eating in the morning.  Parched from the night, I usually down 32 ounces of ice cold water and then top that off with a freshly brewed cup of coffee from my Keurig.  The point is, I don’t usually want to eat breakfast, but I always do.

Not eating breakfast is not an option. No matter how much you don’t feel like it, no matter how many ounces of liquid you might have had, and no matter how rushed you might be to get out of your house in the morning, you must eat breakfast.  Fit people (read: healthy) eat breakfast.  Everyday.  No excuses.

Sample portion sizes of protein choices.

Not only does eating breakfast rev your metabolism for the day, it puts fuel in your body, equipping you with physical energy and mental clarity.  There is no amount of caffeine that can replace what good food does.   Moreover, there is absolutely no excuse to not be educated on what you should and shouldn’t be putting in your body.  You have full ownership over what is put in your body and what isn’t, so accept ownership and make wise choices.

How do I motivate myself to eat breakfast when I don’t feel like it, you may ask?  I recite a phrase borrowed from Tim Ferriss’ ‘The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman
(which I highly, highly recommend), “30 in 30″.    My body thrives (and stays lean) when I eat 30 grams of protein within the first 30 minutes of waking up.  I didn’t want to eat this morning, but “30 in 30″ echoed in my ears and called me to action.

Remember, if you want change, you need to change what you’ve always done.  Change your breakfast eating habit and let “30 in 30″ rev your metabolism, lose body fat and boost your energy for the day.

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This morning is the first day of a new habit for me.  I’ve reintroduced an old habit that I highly value, or least that I’ve said that I do.  Unfortunately for me, there has been incongruence between my behavior (habit) and what I have said that my priority (or belief) really is…until today.  That’s the funny thing about what we think we believe and what we actually believe: we often fools of our own justifications for when our beliefs are not in line with our behaviors.  The justifications only work so long, and over time, the justifications can even alter our belief system because our belief will always drive our behavior.

Belief drives behavior.   If your behavior doesn’t line up with what you say your belief (or goal) is, then it’s not a question of behavior or habit, but rather a question of belief.  My challenge to you today is a challenge of reflection.  Do you really believe what you say you believe and if you do, are you actually living it out?

Do you behaviors speak of your real beliefs?

In order to take ownership of your behavior, you have to understand what exactly is driving that behavior in the first place.  Understanding your belief, that is, your view of the world and your view of yourself, is something that demands time and reflection.  Your behavior and your habits will never change until you take ownership of them.  (If you missed last week’s podcast on the concept of ownership and how to incorporate it more into your life, click here to listen to a great 25 minute message!)   Take ownership first of your belief, and then take ownership of your behavior.

As for me, I have realigned my belief this morning, or at least have started the process of rebuilding it.  I put God first in my day for the first time in a long time. It sounds like a simple habit, but it’s one that I’ve struggled with and justified myself out of a million times. The simple habit of opening my Bible before I rush out of the door for the day seems trite, but it is about more than just the habit, for me it is a matter of where my heart is or isn’t.  Believe me, the wrestling match of the heart that happens when you challenge your beliefs and behaviors is not an easy match.  It’s exhausting, but, if your true belief wins out, the behavioral rewards that you will reap will make you feel whole.

If your behavior isn’t lining up with what you really believe (whether that is in terms of a weight loss goal, a business related growth habit you’ve been trying to develop, or simply the belief system that drives your soul), then I challenge you to take a very raw and honest look at what your behavior is saying that you believe.  And, as Mahatma Gandi famously said, “your behavior becomes your habits [...] your habits become your values [... and ] your values become your destiny.”

Never underestimate the power of a small habit.

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Purchasing a wedding dress is an experience beyond what I imagined or expected. There’s something about that just feels so, well, right and exciting.  No one had really told me that it would be a big deal — I mean, aside from the dozen TV shows on networks like TLC — so I really hadn’t put much thought into the act of wedding dress shopping.

Do something unexpected and make some noise about it!

Life surprised me though yesterday.  I found myself with purchased dress in hand, a little wedding bell to ring and a giant smile on my face.   The hostess at the bridal shop sent me on my way, only after handing me a bell, telling me to make a wish and then cheering for my good fortune.  Who knew that wedding dress shopping could be so fresh, so fun, and so stress-free?  I was in and out of the store, my very first shopping attempt, within 45 minutes.

It was all unexpected, all so fun, and all so perfect for a Friday afternoon.

Do something unexpected and make some noise about it.  Find your own bell, ring it and make a wish.

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Podcast Episode #22

Ownership, Dreams and Loss Aversion

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson, from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Don’t leave out OWNERSHIP; it’s an essential part of the path to SUCCESS.

Thanks, as always for listening! Take OWNERSHIP of your circumstances, your passions and your tomorrow.  It’s time to stop blaming others or circumstances for why you aren’t where you want to be.  Listen in to learn exactly HOW to make this happen.  Check out the referenced reads of the episode below …. all three books are highly recommended!

Marianne Williamson’s beautiful book:

Daniel H. Pink’s book Drive:

Gary Vaynerchuk’s awesome book:

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Today I have a simple question for you.  It’s so simple that I’m starting off the blog post with it, which usually isn’t my style.  So, here it is: What role in your life does Facebook play?

There are many answers to this question, just be honest with yours to yourself.  Please don’t get me wrong, I like Facebook. It’s essential to my ability to stay in touch with old friends and it’s a way for me to connect with my community of app users and podcast listeners.  However, there is a balance that must be achieved in one’s relationship with Facebook.  Yes, I said relationship with Facebook; we all have one .

Are you living life or just watching other’s?

Many of us spend more time on Facebook per day than we spend on investing in ourselves or in really connecting with others, and that is not only a shame, it is absolutely tragic.  Do not throw away your potential and your future for an easy distraction and filler.   Yes, Facebook is a great societal connector.  But if it is something that is integral to every aspect of your day, that is another story. Ask yourself today if you are living life to the fullest or are you just watching other’s lives instead?

Stop looking at life from the outside in and start living it from the inside out.  Maybe this means changing how you use Facebook (accessing my blog via Facebook is NOT a valid excuse, you can always access it via the direct URL of http://www.beautifulbodybistro.com), or perhaps it means that you need to stop thinking about taking action and actually take action in your life.

Take ownership of where you are.  Accept wherever you have gotten yourself today and make a decision to what you are going to do to make your life the life that you were meant to live.

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There are days when I think I am superwoman, or at least I try to be.  These are the days that I fail miserably.  Many of us know this feeling.  It’s the feeling you get when you take on too much, put taking care of yourself last, and then find yourself exhausted at the end of the day with the feeling that you’ll ever measure up or be good enough.   Yesterday was one such day for me, even though I know better, I still fall into the trap of perfectionism.

I beat myself up when I fall short to these unattainable superhero expectations and it’s not a pretty sight.  The real question to ask though is when is good enough enough?  If you are constantly dissatisfied, or can never live up to your superhero expectations, it’s a question that you must ask yourself.  Be honest with the answer too, because if you’re not, you’ll find yourself in a cyclone of anxiety and fear that will knock your breath away .

You are good enough.  If you are working towards a goal, keep working towards it and remind yourself that nothing happens overnight.  ”Overnight successes” take weeks, months, years.  Give yourself permission to live a balanced life.  Over-committed and unrealistic expectations are not conducive to making you the best version of you possible, in fact, they do just the opposite.  Live in the balance and with the certainty that working smarter (and not harder) towards the life, body, career of your dreams is more than good enough.  

The post FAILED SUPERHEROES. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

Most everyone who knows me knows that I’m driven by structure.  I thrive on to-do lists, goals and achievements.  I am a task-oriented person.  I’m in a new season of my fitness however, one that is needed, one that is a major change for me.  I’m taking a break from structure and just letting myself listen to my body for its daily needs.  Don’t get me wrong, I am still working out and running, I can’t go more than a day without exercise, as it’s my drug and therapy of choice.   Instead of following my usual regimented workout program, I am doing whatever my body feels like doing.  This is completely foreign to me.  I am slowing down and focusing on the joy of movement.  I swam this week, and for the first time in my life (note: count that to be 25+ years of competitive swimming), I didn’t calculate my yardage.  I simply swam and didn’t stop.  I didn’t count, I didn’t measure, I didn’t do any sets.  I just swam.

Enjoy your season right now.

My running has been a similar experience recently.  I lace up my shoes, step outside and just go until I don’t feel like it anymore.  Sometimes this is four miles, sometimes it is eight, and it doesn’t matter really because the end goal is to celebrate the joy of movement.  I’m not running because I have to, I’m running because I want to.  Other seasons of my fitness life are driven by specific mileage and pace goals, so the freedom to just run and be me is a true taste of freedom indeed.   I don’t know how long this aimless season of my fitness will be, but as I was advised yesterday, we are given seasons to live in them, not to worry about when they will end.  Seasons are meant to change, so enjoy them while they are here.

Be happy in the season of life you are in right now, savor it and don’t let thoughts of your future seasons steal from the season that you are currently in.

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Show notes for From the Inside Out Podcast Episode #21!

“OVERCOMING OBSTACLES”

Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one’s liberty. -Henri Frederick Amiel

Having a strong desire or being successful does not mean that you are going to feel great all the time. No matter how enlightened I become, I will not be positive all the time. You have to understand the swing of the pendulum. It must swing back and forth. The only other alternative is to sit still in neutral, which is precisely what most people do.   -Thomas D. Whillhite

Unleash your warrior within, FACE your obstacles.

Special guest Ved Miletic imparts wisdom in this episode on how to CHOOSE the right attitude in life.  Topics include concentration camp, stuttering, spelling bees and seeing life for the true gift that it is!

Thanks for listening in, please subscribe to the show by clicking this link and hitting “subscribe” in iTunes.  Also, don’t forget, if you enjoy listening, please take a minute to write a review in iTunes for me!

Rock your weekend!

Trish

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I’ve spent my first two weeks of January in individual laser coaching sessions with my staff and with my clients; we’ve dissected our weaknesses, strategized our strengths and shared our BHAGS of 2013, that is, our “big, hairy, audacious goal”  Of these fifty something discussions, there was one resounding statement applicable to everyone when talking about how to overcome certain hurdles or fears associated with the pursuit of any specific goal, and that is: DO IT ANYWAY.

Face your excuses (which are simply fears disguised), and do it anyway.

It only takes 20 seconds of insane courage to make mountains in your life move.  Whatever your excuse, whatever your fears, whatever your obstacles may be, change your mantra for 2013.  Pursue your goals, your dreams, your passions wholeheartedly, and, when you stumble across doubt and fear, hold to your mantra and do it anyway.

The post DO IT ANYWAY. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

Something happens in my brain when I don’t write – a brain wink I call it –  and it’s like living just a half-bit “off” from my normal self.  I woke up this morning at 3:30am, wide awake.  I am somewhat of a sleep princess, getting an average of nine hours of sleep per night, preferably ten when possible, so waking up after only five hours wasn’t just abnormal, it told me that something deeper within me is “off.”  The first week of January in the fitness industry is our busiest week of the year, and my first seven days of January have been overbooked, high-energy and emotionally exhausting, yet invigorating all the while. I simply didn’t make time to write, and if you follow my blog posts, you’ll notice that I have missed a few days.

When your brain winks at ya or wrinkles up waking you up at 3:30am, it’s time to do something different. Make sure that you are putting what YOU need into your daily life, because the little things affect everything!

Perhaps one of the best perks about knowing yourself and your needs well, is that, in the process you learn how to listen intently to what you really need.  Our bodies and brains speak to us all the time, the challenge is in learning how to decipher the messages and when and how to take action.  When I am not living the passions of my heart, or consistently doing the things that I need to that make my life work best and make me feel alive, my brain feels wrinkled.

Your brain rocks.  Never stop learning, never stop self-reflecting, and never stop growing.  Your brain and your body will speak to you, if you listen well enough, just make sure you’re listening and open to adjustments.  Embrace the small habits (like my need for writing and for words) that make your life work best and that make you feel alive…these habits aren’t small and unimportant, but rather they make up the very core of who we are and how we live.  The little things affect everything, so make sure that you are nurturing the little things that matter.

The post BRAIN WINKS. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

This podcast episode is dedicated to answering YOUR questions! Listen in and look forward to more mailbox episodes down the road. If you have your own mailbox question that you want answered (about anything!) email Trish at trish@trishblackwell.com with the subject line “Mailbox Question”.

Your questions answered!

As always, thanks for listening and if you enjoy the From the Inside Out podcast, please share it with others!

Mucho love,

Trish

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I do a lot of things that scare me, and while they might not be blatantly obvious or even typical, I battle my scaredy cat syndrome every single day.  My desire to be bold, courageous and to make a difference so outweighs my fears that it drives me to make small decisions every day to beat fear.  I battle fear every day on a small scale so that I’ll be ready for the big scale stuff when it comes my way.  This fear comes in all sorts of packages, inconspicuous ones even: posting a blog post, contacting someone that doesn’t know me, having the courage to pursue and talk about my dreams…

…and being scared feels good.  It makes me feel alive, makes my heart thump and reminds me that life is full of excitement and unpredictability. Fighting fear is like training a muscle, the more you do it, the stronger you get.

Do something that scares you today, be it something small or something big. Just do it and let your heart thump away.

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I wasn’t allowed to go to many New Year’s Eve parties when I was young; actually, I don’t know if it was that I wasn’t allowed or that I didn’t have many invitations.  (Side note: I attended a boarding school that was four hours away from home, so at holiday breaks I always found myself hundreds of miles away from my school friends, and thereby possible celebration invitations…). Instead, I relished in the fact that I could say “See you next year!” to anyone and everyone that I saw on December 31st…just thinking about the change that a new year brings fascinated me.  Even last night as I walked out of the gym, I giggled to myself when I wished my friends adieu with the token “see you next year!”

Celebrate 2013 EVERY DAY this year with me!

It is a new year and there is no better time than now to become the person that you have the potential to be.  Take 2013 seriously and go live life to the fullest.  Do something adventurous, take a chance on a dream, and explore what it means to be you!

Every day that you wake up is worthy of being celebrated; keep that truth at the forefront of your mind in 2013 and you will have the year of your life.

The post HOW TO HAVE THE YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. appeared first on BEAUTIFUL BODY BISTRO.

Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people. -John D. Rockefeller

I am by no means a football expert — nor am I really qualified to be blogging about the stats of last night’s NFC East Championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins — but I come from a family that bleeds burgundy and gold.  The Redskins have been an integral part of my childhood, and well, my life.   My grandparents lived in D.C., my dad was born in the city itself, my uncle played in the ‘Skins marching band, and my other uncle tailgates all home games in a pimped out, Redskin-colored party RV.  Add to that the die-hard fan status of both my brother and my fiancé, and you’ll understand why I am ecstatic about our victory on the field last night.

Leadership and belief changes everything.

Starting the season off at 3-6, we weren’t a team that anyone expected to make the play-offs. We hadn’t been what you really call a “winning team,” and our last play-off appearance was in 1999.   Led by our rookies, it was difficult to know how we would do under pressure as the season progressed, but slowly and surely we racked up win after win.  And as the wins piled upon each other, a new sense of team confidence was built; average people were transformed into superior champions.

Great leadership changes everything, and watching the practically tangible leadership of rookie Robert Griffin III is proof of the difference that just one person can make.   Never underestimate the power of your small decisions, your consistency of character and your example, for you may be inspiring more people than you could possibly imagine.  One person can make a difference, one person can inspire and awaken greatness in others, and that is just what RGIII has done for the city of Washington D.C.

Hail to the Redskins!

Go be the leader that YOU are meant to be!

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I like to think about how I have become the person I am.  You can run your mind in circles trying to understand the melodic dance of connection between nature and nurture, and sometimes I do just that.  However, there is one thing that I know for sure and that is that everything starts in the mind…and, we have full control over what thoughts we allow ourselves to think.  The thoughts you think are your fuel for life.  They dictate your belief system, your willpower, and your vision of the world.  Your thoughts form you, so choose your thoughts wisely.

What you think will determine what you believe; what you believe will determine how you act, and how you act will determine the outcome of your life.  As Christopher Robin said, “you are stronger than you seem, braver than you believe, and smarter than you think you are,” so think yourself to living the life that you dream.

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PODCAST EPISODE #19 SHOW NOTES:

DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO

It’s resolution time, and today, in celebration of my own completion of my 2012 resolution (run 2012 miles in the year 2012), we’re podcasting about HOW to complete a resolution.  Tune in and learn how to always do what you say you’re going to do!

Do what you say you are going to do and you will find happiness.

Recommended links mentioned in today’s show:

Matt Cutts: Try Something New for 30 Days

http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

Confidence Coaching 30-Day Program

http://www.trishblackwell.com/confidencecoaching

The 4-Hour Body, Tim Ferriss

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As we are encroaching upon the coming of a new year, the idea of change is surely playing ping-pong in your mind.  You may not know what your New Year Resolution is going to be, and perhaps you’re not someone who typically sets resolutions, but I urge you to think differently in 2013.  I urge you to change.  I urge you to embrace the change that you, and only you, can make active in your life.

Change is good and sometimes needed change demands ACTION, so take it.

Change is hard, but it is not only necessary, it’s inevitable.  The more adept we become at managing and accepting change, the more opportunity we will give ourselves to flourish with the tides of life that come our way.

If you aren’t happy with yourself or your life right now, change something.   Life has no remote control or fast-forward, so to make change happen you have to get up and do it yourself.  Let 2013 be the year you embrace change and you take possession of your personal responsibility to this world to seek your full potential.

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I am the girl who dances in my kitchen to Christmas music starting December 1st.  I like seeing gifts wrapped under my tree for weeks before Christmas, and I hawk-eye pretty gift bags everywhere I go just thinking of reasons why I need to purchase them. The funny thing is that it wasn’t until two days ago that I finally felt like Christmas was here.   Perhaps it was the arrival of my brother and his wife from Greece or the eggnog that has been passed around at family gatherings over the weekend, but the holidays are officially here and my heart knows it.

Santa lives! He can give you happiness, in fact, you already have access to it, you just have to open it and choose it.

I don’t have kids, so I’m not waiting at the chimney with baited breath for Santa Claus, but I do believe that the holidays are magical and have the potential to be transformational.  I’m not sure what you put on your Christmas Wish List this year, but I am adding something to it: happiness.

Happiness is a choice, not a destination.  I know that it is a gift that Santa will in fact bring you this year, because it is a gift that is available to everyone.  Happiness starts from within and it is maintainable because it’s not a product of circumstances, it’s a choice of the soul.  Decide to be the happiest person you know and go spread some holiday cheer.

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#18 PODCAST: CLEAN DOESN’T HAVE TO BE CAVEMAN, NUTRITION 101

SHOW NOTES

Nutrition guru Alex Kelly-Maartens of Pitaiyo guest stars on today’s show, sharing her top on-the-go nutrition tips for a happy, healthy, lean family.   Listen in for some AMAZING tips and to learn about how to make salads like sexy lingerie!

Listen below and don’t forget to subscribe in iTunes so that you don’t miss an episode!

Now go eat something that will make your body happy.

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There is one thing about my life that I sometimes take for granted and that is the speed at which I typically pick things up.  Call me a natural athlete or an attentive learner, what I set my mind to I usually pick up with some ease.  This adaptability is so engrained in my expectations of life that when it doesn’t play out the way it typically does, I go into a mini state of shock.  I am brought to my knees in humility each time that I remember what it’s like to struggle, especially when I struggle with something in which I wish to excel.  In this case: Excel itself.

For some blasted reason, my mind hates financial registrars, reconciling funds and creating spreadsheets. Actually, that’s not fully accurate.  I love looking at such things and making sense of them however, my mind is not adept at the skill of actually creating and managing them myself.   Unfortunately for me, an entrepreneur with a business plan and a big dream, I don’t just need to master Excel and QuickBooks, I have to.  Even after extensive tutorship (ie. about eight hours of one-on-one) from one of my mentors, I closed the laptop on my spreadsheet today.  Frustrated and battling feelings of inadequacy, I let impatience win, but only for a short moment because I don’t have a choice, I have to open my chart of accounts and face the beast that makes me want to give up.  The Coldplay  song said it best: Nobody said it was easy, so why would I expect anything less.

I refuse to be the type of person who only wants what is easy in life. It is in the hard stuff  that the real us is given opportunity to shine.  I may cringe every time I open QuickBooks or Excel, but they will not get the best of me or permit any doubt to linger in my head.  Doubt may enter for a moment, but it is not invited to stay.  It’s good to be forced to practice perseverance in the midst of data that doesn’t quite make sense, because in reality, the world itself doesn’t always make sense. Train your mind and your heart to carry on towards greatness and, when self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy sneak their way into your brain, kick them out.

Pursuing anything of great worth is never easy, and is always, always worth it.

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PRIORITIZATION: THE MAGIC PILL OF LIFE, PODCAST EPISODE #17 SHOW NOTES

Thanks for listening, to go right to the show, scroll down to the bottom of this screen and press play OR search “Trish Blackwell Podcast” in iTunes and you’ll find all episodes of this podcast series.  Oh, and there’s a blooper at the start…I thought I was on episode #16, but it’s actually #17!

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People are always looking for a short-cut in life, a magic diet pill or an easy way to “have it all,” but if anything in life sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  There is one magic pill in life that does work: it’s called “PRIORITIZATION.”

To change your life, you have to change your priorities. 

Prioritization is the simplest way to organize your life, minimize your rants of excuse-making and end up feeling good about the “points” in life you are scoring.

No one is too “busy” ever, their priorities just don’t align with their excuses.

Use today’s podcast for self-analysis of where you need to improve your focus of prioritization and make a list of your top three priorities in the following categories:

Relationships / Family

Work / Business

Legacy / Dreams

Fitness / Health

SLEEP:

In a self-reported sleep study from 2005-2008, adults over 20 reported the following:

23.2% (49.2 million) with difficulty concentrating on things

18.2% (38.8 million) with difficulty remembering things

13.3% (28.2 million) with difficulty working on hobbies

11.3% (24.0 million) with difficulty driving

8.6% (18.3 million) with difficulty performing employeed work

Children (5-10 years old) need 10-11 hours

Teens (10-17 years old) need 8.5-9.5 hours

Adults need 7-9 hours

There is a reported 30% of American adults that sleep an average of 6 hours or less per day.

Why you should care?

• Adequate quality sleep affects your metabolism (ghrelin and leptin regulation)

Ghrelin is the “go” hormone that tells you when to eat and when you are sleep deprived, you have more ghrelin.  More ghrelin and less leptin equals weight gain.

• The sleep-diet connection

Sleep tips: (Sleep Hygiene)

Avoid large meals pre-bedtime

Avoid caffeine / alcohol close to bedtime

Avoid nicotine

Go to bed at the same time every night

NEXT: “IT’S THE HOLIDAYS….”

As we get close to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, ask yourself, WHAT exactly are your priorities.  It’s hard to know where you are going, or to stay on course once you start going somewhere if you don’t know what matters to you. What are your priorities? What are the things that you value in life?

Keep your priorities in focus and you’ll never risk being disappointed or regretful about “holiday” decisions that you might make.

SELF-CRITICISM:

We often judge ourselves on standards that don’t even matter.

Keeping score in life, or against yourself / your body, does NOTHING.

Find the right scoreboard and you will find it easier and more gratifying to score points.

HOUSEKEEPING NOTES:

Confidence Coaching is launched! Go to http://www.trishblackwell.com/confidencecoaching

Limited time only 50% off! My 30 Day Program is 100% money back guaranteed…you have nothing to lose! 

48 five-star ratings! THANK YOU! If you enjoy the show, please make sure to subscribe and to leave a rating…more importantly, share the show with someone else!

We have a guest host for episode #18, look for it later this week!

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Two years ago to this day I drove to downtown Fredericksburg for a blind date at Capital Ale House.  Seated at table 43, that dinner changed my entire life.   It’s crazy that one small table can hold a place in my heart — and it does —  it clings to my memory as a place of transformation and of love.  My table reminds me that life happens in the little details, that great things arrive in unexpected circumstances, and that love can blossom anywhere, especially when you don’t expect it.

My flowers and anniversary card; love, what a beautiful thing.

Last night I walked into Capital Ale House for another date.  This time it wasn’t blind, and instead he was waiting for me at the door with a giant bouquet of pink lilies, but the table stayed the same.   Table 43.  Our table.

I like to think of December 17, 2010 not just as an anniversary of when I met Brandon, but rather as the-best-day-that-ever-happened-to-me, because after that date, everything changed.   Celebrate the people you love for they are the ones who really change your life.  And, never underestimate the power and potential in meeting someone new that is brought across your path; everyone has a gift to give, so give thanks and love on.

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