Behind the Curtain

“Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they lead to actions.

Watch your actions, they create habits

Watch your habits, they build character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

-Upanishads

This is such a powerful quote, and so genuinely real. Everything is possible, including weight loss and excellent living – and it all starts with our thoughts.

This is why for the first time ever on June 28^th I’m taking you behind the curtain to reveal the world of PURE POSSIBILITY!  I’ll teach you simple and easy tools can open the door to the life you’ve been wishing for!

Sound too good to be true?  It’s not.

Just by shifting your perceptions you find out how to bridge the gap between your current reality and create the brilliant life you desire.

Learn to manifest joy, better health, peace and happiness! The process is simple! 

YOU HAVE THIS POWER INSIDE YOU ALREADY! 

All you have to do is learn to harness it!  The straightforward techniques I will teach you are SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE by reducing stress, creating excellent health and restoring balance.

No matter where you are your life, this class can take you to the next level of success! Come join me for this introductory seminar! 

Special price $20.00 (regular $85.00)

Seating is LIMITED, please RSVP to nancygmendell@verizon.net to reserve your spot!

Introductory Class  

Monday, June 28 –

5534 E. 7^th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804

6:30-8:30pm

Respond Don't React

“The possibilities are numerous once we decide to [respond] not react.” George Bernard Shaw

There is a huge difference between responding and reacting to a situation.  Being conscious of the distinction between the two can change your life for the better.

Responding gently tends to disarm a potentially volatile situation instead of escalating it, whereas reacting usually adds fuel to the fire. It is also exhausting.

We’ve all been in that situation … where we’ve reacted from anger in the moment … and seen the end results.  People’s feelings get hurt, and things get messy.

Next time instead of fighting fire with fire, try fighting it with water. Pause and take a beat to respond from a higher level-- intelligently, calmly and thoughtfully -- If you do this, the flames tend to subside.

A trick to calm yourself is to put you tongue to the roof of your mouth and breath through your nose. Inhale and exhale slowly while listening to the other person.  The roof of your mouth has a pressure point, which when activated allow you to relax so you can listen gracefully until you can remedy or remove yourself from the situation.

Differences of opinion are only natural. The goal when you encounter them is to come out clean. To do that keep these guidelines in mind: listen mindfully, speak your own truth and respond with integrity and kindness. Remember, essentially, both sides want the same thing – to be heard.

Next time you come across a volatile situation, think RESPOND instead of REACT. You’ll find your life will be calmer, happier and a lot less stressful.

Here are a few RESPONDING TIPS for kinder, gentler and more peaceful existence:

-Acknowledge the other person’s feelings and let them know you hear them by saying ‘You may be right.’

-Agree to disagree, and move on without belaboring the point.

-Excuse yourself to a get breath of fresh air, then ask your Higher Power for Ease and Grace.

Namaste, Nancy.

The Art of Connecting

“It was by chance that we met, and by choice that we became friends.” Unknown

Have you ever noticed that there’s time in your life when chance draws the most incredible people to you?  The other day I was thinking how LUCKY I am to have made so many fantastic new friends. 

 And since LUCK is really just an intersection of AWARENESS and PREPAREDNESS, meeting the MOST AMAZING PEOPLE hasn’t happened by accident. For me it’s all about being conscious of connecting authentically and from the heart.

First I had to get in touch with myself. I prepared by challenging my limiting beliefs and took action to change them. I really had to S-T-R-E-T-C-H out of my comfort zone and take a leap of faith. I decided that I would no longer be frightened of putting myself out there.

I let go of the paralyzing fear of imperfection and consciously chose a new path. I went to networking meetings in unfamiliar areas and took classes and attended seminars to improve my business and my life. The more I linked with others, the more I got IN TOUCH WITH MYSELF.

My BIG AHA was this -- Not everyone you meet is going to love you and want to be your best friend and vice versa. The important thing is to be your own best friend and go for quality relationships as opposed to quantity! I used to suffer from wanting everyone’s approval. Now I know you’re not always going to get it right, but you aren’t always going to get it wrong, either. There is ART in IMPERFECTION.

How do you get reacquainted with your Self? For me it’s by reading or listening to my favorite music. Another funny way I connect is to sit in a café. (My favorite is Nordstrom’s.) I’m a visual person, so I love to watch the shoppers go by. The energy fuels my creativity.

This week do something to really CONNECT to the CORE of who YOU are. Meditate, hike or do yoga.  Open your heart and do what it takes to create a state of free-flowing bliss.  Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and see how many new friends the Universe brings to you!

For more on how to connect further with yourself ... check out my Amazon suggests in the sidebar.  I love ALL of these picks, but am currently re-reading The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz

Also, for short and sweet daily inspiration, sign up for the one-minute meditations!  They're terrific!

The Art of Asking

“Listening to your heart is not simple … It takes a lot of courage to get to know who you are and [ask for] what you want.”  Sue Bender

Many people are afraid to ask for help for fear of being judged or laughed at. Others just have no idea that asking is an option.

Whatever your belief, speaking the truth FROM YOUR HEART is a way of honoring your individuality. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.

Just be sure to do it correctly. There is an ART to ASKING for what you want. Be conscious and mindful before you begin. Think to yourself, “Is my request heart-based?”  Really examine it and make sure it is not contaminated with hidden anger, annoyance or impatience. 

Then acknowledge the person your asking in a kind way, and be prepared for whatever the answer is, yes or no. Realize that not everyone is walking the same path.

If you are asking another person to change a behavior, do not blame them for the current circumstances. Begin with something positive, then say “it would really help me if … “ or “I need your support with …” Some people are open to this, others are not.  This doesn’t mean you needs will not be met.


In fact, by simply looking into your heart and asking for help you are honoring your AUTHENTIC SELF.  By doing so you are giving yourself the POWER to take care of yourself. This is the magic of the journey of the heart.

This week take the time to be grateful for individuality. Honor WHO YOU REALLY are by listening to your heart, reaching out to others, asking for help when you need it and observing how this makes a difference in your everyday life.

“There is an Indian saying that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room each day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.”



I am compelled to write about love even though it is the month of May. But I know that this is also the month that we celebrate Mothers Day and so it really isn’t too far off to talk about love.

Relationships with ones Mother can be very complex.  I have a much respect, love and admiration for my mother, and she for me but sometimes our communication doesn’t necessarily portrait that. I am a mother of two beautiful teenage children and I know that at times we experience our own rough patches. For me being mother has been an opportunity to learn and grow and expand in ways I would have never imagined. My children have taught me that I shouldn’t ever get stuck on the small stuff if I want us to hang out and have some fun  and laughs together. They taught me that there are many ways to do one thing and that my way isn’t always the best! In other words "give up the control".  They taught me how to hug and kiss them with reckless abandon.  My advice should only be given when asked for, and I am only here to guide and encourage them to be their best and biggest self. One of the biggest lesson by far is that I can’t prevent them from making their own mistakes. You can’t gain experience and wisdom in life if you don’t make mistakes. It’s an unwritten law somewhere I’m sure. Even though mistakes can cause disappointment we don't automatically stop loving the people we care about because they made a mistake.
We are all  a work in progress and let's face it we didn't learn to walk without falling quite a few times.

So what do you do when you know you've made a mistake or failed at something you've attempted?  Do you hide under the covers?  Do you blame other people? Do you give up?  Why not try walking into one of those other rooms in your house to see if you can't get a new perspective.   Love yourself the way you would love a friend or a loved one who needs some extra encouragement and support?  Look at all the different ways you could try again.  You owe it to yourself to try a new game plan if the one you have been using isn't getting you the happiness you deserve!  There is a big world out there just waiting for you, go ahead crack open the door!

Intuition

“Intuition is a spiritual faculty, and does not explain, but simply points the way.” Florence Scovel Shinn

One of my favorite excerpts is from Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book Simple Abundance. In it she talks about intuition. Anthropologist Margaret Mead calls it “the age-long training in human relations.”

Webster’s dictionary defines it as instinctive knowledge or an unexplained perception. It is also known as the sixth sense.

While some will debate the existence of intuition, I know that it exists. I use mine all the time. Do you use yours? Have you learned how to tune in to your inner instinct - that undefined part of you that’s constantly transmitting signals?

Some people call them hits, others tell me fairies whisper in their ear … Breathnach says it’s the subliminal sense of Spirit that allows us to maneuver safely through life.

Are you tuned in to your guiding Spirit? If not, try this … think of yourself as a radio … set your dial to the intuitive station and listen. Are you picking up the signal clearly or are you just getting static? One way to know is to follow your ‘gut.’ Pay attention and you will find that frequently your body will have a physical reaction to a situation. Tune in to this … let it lead you and your life will transform.

Intuitive knowing has been around for a while. In 1946 Katharine Butler Hathaway, a feminist author notoriously guided by her Spirit, wrote this just before she died, “It is only by following your deepest instinct that you can lead a rich life. If you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct then your life will be SAFE, EXPEDIENT and THIN.”

Conversely, following your instincts, or your inner knowledge, can help your arrive at the right place at the right time. When you tap in to your intuition, you tap into the flow of the Universe allowing miraculous synchronicity to happen.

Starting today go within and seek guidance from your authentic Self. Follow your gut on a regular basis and eventually this sixth sense will enhance your life just a richly as the other five senses do.

Setbacks are Part of the Game

“Winners Never Quit, Quitters Never Win”

Success at the weight loss game requires a three-sided approach.  To loose the weight once and for all, you have to be willing to change your mind, body and spirit.  It’s easy to avoid doing this when you begin a regime – when the weight is falling off quickly and you’re energized by your success.  But what happens when setbacks kick in?  Or when the eventual slowing of the process or plateau happens?  Or when things become routine and boring … then what?

You have two choices – GIVE UP or DIG DEEPER.  Ask yourself, ‘what am I supposed to learn here?  What can I do better?  Is my behavior in alignment with my weight loss goals?’  Be really honest … are you really working your program?  Maybe you think that latte or splurge meal once a week is ok, but is it? Give yourself a quiet moment and let your subconscious reveal your next steps. 

Perhaps there’s a piece of the puzzle you’re neglecting … or there’s something you’re not aware holding you back.  This setback is actually a huge opportunity – one to discover your own truth. YOU are the one responsible for the success of your health and wellness journey.  YOU have the answers inside you.  The question is, are you really ready? Or are you just paying lip service to your dream? 

Success means acting in accord with your own fruition … ask yourself, how bad do I want it?  And be willing to take the time to work the challenge. Even if it means sitting quietly to just listen. This isn’t always easy, but then who says it’s supposed to be.  Sure there are quick fixes out there, but really, how many of them actually last?  To make sustainable change, approach your weight loss from a higher place.   Show up, be present, be aware, be honest … integrity is key.  Only then will you receive what you really want.

This week, take the time to recognize that weight loss setbacks  are part of the journey!  Will you let them stop you?  Or will you keep your eye on the ball and engage your mind, body and spirit for the answers that live within?