Emotions & Physical Health...you are enough

Emotions.  Motion....you feel and it goes it motion.  Do you let it flow through you or find it getting stuck on your like tree sap?  We are more than our feelings.  Let me repeat that....we are more than our feelings.  

As humans on this planet, we are complex.  Our emotions are just one aspect of who we are, what our make up is and how we will thrive.  So many fall into the trap that their emotions call the shots when it is directly the opposite.  How you respond to all these events, items that trigger you, people that push your buttons is the real key.  

Am I perfect at this process.  NO WAY!  But I am committed to the process of improvement.  I oil up, I learn a bit each week and practice what I teach.  Do I get it right all the time.  NO.  I am human.  So are you, so don't expect to read a blog, read a book and viola' perfection.  It is a process of learning and growing.  

Give grace to you and others.  Apply a little Helichrysum to your forehead, maybe a little Douglas Fir to your heart, or a little Cypress where ever you feel stuck....just take a few deep breaths and you will know.

When you stop, listen and really calm the mind it is amazing how much you will start to notice within your own self.  It isn't everyone else.  Be the best you and the world will adapt.

Enjoy this video from 2017....so the specials aren't available but the message remains.  Allow the emotions to flow.  You are amazing.  You are totally worth it.

Move from Stick & Rudder to Autoland

Technology is a wonderful thing.  I have always been a huge proponent of technology helping humans have easier lives.  I just want to establish that first because the rest of this post will sound very much like I am someone who uses the phrase, "life was better back in the day."   That is a rare phrase coming from me.  Doing dishes by hand does not build character contrary to my grandmother's popular saying!  :)  Loading a dishwasher properly is a far better talent in my world.

I had the pleasure of listening to Annette, who is a shining Diamond in my up line, teaching about business building.  The discussion was wonderful and got my gears turning.  Much of my thought process was about the mistakes I have made in my doTERRA business and lessons I am learning each time I test out one of the "tried and true techniques".  I wanted to help my team not make my same mistakes.

As I many of you know I started my doTERRA journey in an area I was a relatively new resident.  I heavily relied on technology and social media.  I had a huge fear of talking about the oils I was just learning about to people I barely knew.  Even though I had heard, DON'T do mass emails to contact people, that is what I did.  My rate of return for contact was minimal.  When I did speak, I was made fun of by some.  It was very frustrating.

Fear was my enemy.  Don't make fear your enemy.

Maybe the daily dose of Cassia or Cinnamon

in my coffee has changed me or the training I have been given over the past few months or just life lessons, I will tell you I still email but I don't just rely on technology, emails and social media.

By the way...Cassia is the oil of Self Assurance!  Beat your fear with Cassia.

These days, I will  call, Skype, FaceTime, private message and have lots of one on one contact with people to give them a more personal touch.

It has truly made a huge difference in the response I get from people.  By taking a little time to really listen to their needs, offer support and sometimes solutions with the oils, I give them options but more importantly relationship.

We will call this personal contact the "stick and rudder" technique.  Sorry, sometimes the pilot in me just doesn't leave.  Without that stick and rudder skill to be able to listen to other humans and converse, life really can be hard.  This is not to say, you have to be a true extrovert vs an introvert.  You just have to be someone who cares and respects another person enough to give them your time.  It might be 5 minutes, it might 5 hours or longer.

The pastor at our church always stresses to us to "invest and invite".  This is so true to most of life's journey.  Invest in others and invite them along.  For fun, for healing, for coffee.  Invest first though....make sure that person knows they are special to you because you never know who on this planet has made sure to make them feel the opposite.

If you need an oil to help with connecting with others try Marjoram.  This is the oil of connection.  It helps soften, free those from life's harsh experiences and break the fear of rejection.  

So once you have those "stick and rudder" interpersonal skills you can move on to adding the technology.  A few tips of adding social media to your doTERRA business.  First and foremost, do a business page if you really want to build and talk nonstop about oils.  Nothing is more annoying than those who post about their current business on their personal page as if they suddenly became the product itself.  A post once in a while on your personal page is fine.  Just make sure it shows a great tip or something of real value to your friends.   Remember, your friends still want to be your friend.  Always keep in mind the "stick and rudder". 

Modern airliners have a great functionality called "AUTOLAND".  This function allows the pilots to program the autoflight system to fly the airplane completely through until landing.  It is really a wonderful feature when necessary but not utilized often.  Why?  Because most pilots have a desire to be part of the approach and landing.  The computers that do AUTOLAND have no real finesse. They know their parameters and can get you on the runway technically correct but probably not the smoothest, stylish landing.  Pilots truly take pride in their landings.  

How does this relate?  You are running your own business.  Take pride.  You can rely on technology to mass email, mass invite and show off you have a business but until you talk to people one on one or in smaller groups you will never show your true style and shine!  

Life 101 - Manage Stress or Suffer the Consequences

It has been a crazy couple of days around my house…..well I am sure it has but I wasn't here to witness.  I spent those days in the hospital.  This is truly not a post I really want to write but I am sure I am not alone in this little adventure we call life.

Last week it all started.  Well to be perfectly honest, this has all been building for some time now.  My stress level.  On top of my jobs as Mom and doTERRA Wellness Advocate, I also work full time.  Lately, that full time job has had an overwhelming schedule.  

I have missed so many of my kids events, dinners with my family, weekends, good sleep, convsersations with my husband, time with my friends etc etc.  This is nothing new for a typical working family but I have not been handling it well.  

Back to the events leading to the hospital…..I laid down to go to bed after telling my husband I was exhausted.  Major right side body cramp from ear to ankle.  It hurt but I was too tired and not really willing to deal with the issue.  I fell asleep.  Next night…..a slightly lighter repeat only this time I asked my husband for some help.

Then I worked over the weekend…yes on Easter I went to work.  Like I said, crazy schedule.  Finally, Tuesday night my sister came to visit and said I didn't look right and she thought I needed to go to the ER.  My right eye looked droopy or puffy in her opinion.

If you don't know the signs of a stroke…you should!  This is a big one!

So off I go to the ER….extremely scared, with a massive headache and arm weakness.  Not a good combo if you ask me.

The doctors were quite mad at me for waiting so long to get checked out.  If you suspect stroke, you need to be in the ER in less than 4 hours they told me.  Test after test showed I was normal which made the doctors very happy but complicated the diagnosis.  One of the doctors finally said, I think this is a complex migraine.  A term I have never heard.  After, looking into this term I remember the news reporter who everyone thought was having a stroke on live tv. Actually, she was having a complex migraine.  Dr. Oz references her here.  

Luckily, the neurologist thinks this is what I had but just a really intense migraine brought on by stress.  He is suggesting more Physical Therapy than drugs.  I like a doctor who thinks like that, especially if this type of Physical Therapy includes more a massage type thing.  

Now, here is the time where my loyal blog readers will tell me…..you did a blog on stress…don't you listen to your own advice.  To which I humbly say, apparently not very well.  

Although, I have faithfully used my oils to help keep all things in check, I obviously was not doing the other things to relieve stress….good exercise, good diet and good sleep.  My Fitbit does not lie!  Also, a balancing of my thyroid is very much in needed so hopefully my doctor will help me a bit more in this area.

Some things I have learned from this little thing….

1.  The drugs in the hospital helped relieve the pain but at a price of intense sweating and extreme drowsiness.  It is no way to live.  I prefer my oil recipes over their choices any day.

2.  My own bed and pillows are the best thing on the planet!

3.  I am not a superhero who can do it all.  I am human and I have to call "Uncle" before I break.  AND not feel guilty afterwards.  More Cassia for the courage to say no.  More Bergamot to keep guilt out of the picture.  And a whole lotta Balance!!! 

Keep in mind there are many options and everyone will react differently to the oils.  If you are in need of some Mood Management there are great blends….Elevation and Serenity will become more prominent in my life as well.

Here is to a happier, more balanced life!  

The Taste of Fall...naturally!

I love Fall!  The leaves changing, the smells and mostly the pumpkin flavored things.  Pumpkin pie...Yum!  Pumpkin beer...Yes please!  So when a big national food chain advertised Pumpkin Spice Lattes I thought...Oh yeah! I really want one!  

Today, I didn't have time for a healthier breakfast option so I ended up there and decided today was the day.  Pumpkin Spice Latte, please and thank you!  I anticipated the first drink would just scream "I LOVE FALL!" but instead all I really tasted was fake pumpkin with an aftertaste of chemicals.  Bummer.  I was seriously disappointed.

About an hour later, I felt awful.  Headache, stomach ache and generally yuck.  Some of it could have been that my breakfast choice in general but the chemical aftertaste would not leave my taste buds.  It got me thinking...

For the past few months, my family has tried to really eat clean.  Natural flavors, whole fruits and veggies, real food.  My husband started the Candida Cleanse and we have just stuck with the diet.  It has been a great, filling choice for us.

Part of the doTERRA Wellness model is to reduce toxic load.  We have not been perfect by any stretch of the imagination but we have been well behaved.  I knew we were feeling better but I didn't think it had really transformed us.  Today, I knew differently. My taste buds definitely knew the difference!

Artificial flavorings are in so many things it is hard to avoid if you are eating anything processed.  For us, the switch to produce section and the spice rack has really helped to keep us away from the artificial flavorings, dyes and sweeteners.

Many people have issues with artificial flavorings, sweeteners and dyes.  This article from SavannahNow.com talks about the science of sweeteners in particular.  

"Aspartame is a combination of aspartic acid, which excites brain cells, methanol, a wood alcohol, and phenylalanine which concentrates in the brain, is dangerous for certain persons and the cumulative effect becomes toxic to the point of being lethal.

Aspartame acts as a neurotransmitter, which causes damage to the neurological system. Evidence shows that damage to more than three quarters of an area’s brain cells can occur before any signs of clinical illness can be detected. "

That last line is pretty scary if you ask me!  

So you want the taste of fall but you want it natural.  What to do?

There are many oils offered by doTERRA that will be great flavor enhancers.  Cinnamon, Cassia, Wild Orange, just to name a few.

Holiday Wassail is delicious!

Need pumpkin?!  doTERRA Pumpkin Smoothie

As for my morning coffee...I am going to stick with 1 drop of Cassia with a honey in my coffee!  The Cassia helps with stomach issues, has a great cinnamon taste without being overpowering.  Honey is just a great natural sweetener.

I didn't know how much my body liked natural until I went back to artificial.  Reduce your toxic load!  Your body will thank you.  

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