Energetic "Re-Firement" Beyond Self Doubt

April weather seems filled with doubts about itself. Sometimes it's spring... sometimes it's winter...sunshine and blooming flowers get covered with dustings of snow... often chill winds blow... and then, suddenly it's hot.

A steady sense of inner self-confidence is needed to exceed the vagaries of self-doubt we may absorb from the weather, the world around us, or negativity in people we encounter. For many, it is difficult to hold a steady inner compass amidst all the distractions and pulls on our energies and time.

The new field of energy psychology supports and addresses taking personal responsibility for our health and moods. Better than that, it gives us specific tools for steering through the waters of uncertainty with healthy, life-enhancing affirmations. To celebrate and encourage self-esteem in all layers of the personality, these affirmations and techniques are carefully anchored to the body and its energy system while stimulating changes in feeling, thinking, and actions.

Here's a sampling of specific things you can do to chase the clouds of self-doubt. To connect with the unlimited supply of energy that is available, you need two ready internal resources-your willingness and your intention.

· Listen to your inner dialogue that may hold twinges of self-doubt. For example, " I can't decide," "I'm too old (or too young, or whatever) for this" "I'm helpless," "There's nothing I can do," " The world is a mess," "I'm not smart/good/strong enough to cause change," "It's in the hands of others."

· Select one of these very present self-doubting thoughts with the intention and willingness to update it and make it something refreshing and upbeat. Research demonstrates that our neurons refire and multiply when we stretch our minds to new ideas.

· Treat the phrase by incorporating it into a more positive, hopeful adage. Examples: "Even though I know the world is a mess, I still deeply and profoundly accept myself and choose to make at least one positive contribution every day." "Even though I feel helpless in this situation, I deeply and profoundly honor who I am and am finding a healing path."

· Embed the new statement into the body by gently massaging the heart area. Let it resonate with each cell by repeating it as often as needed.

· Assert your right to "refire" self-doubts or old beliefs by turning negative phrases into positive ones, and trusting your energy system to integrate the new information so it can be available when you need it.

Often, I'm asked questions on the spot. Recently, a number of journalists asked me how the new healthcare bill will affect personal health when goes into effect over the next several years. I answered, after releasing fear and self-doubt about making public statements, "No amount of insurance, even when it becomes available, will guarantee good health or adequate care--taking personal responsibility for one's health is still the key. It begins with the mind: each person must ask themselves, 'Am I willing to help prevent illness in my body? Am I willing to eat nutritious foods and drop junk foods? Am I willing to exercise regularly and get 8 hours of sleep? Am I willing to affirm that I am the key to my health and stop depending on someone to do it for me?' Personal health is just that---personal, since each body is unique in its needs. When we learn to listen to the body and pay attention to what makes good sense, we can have better health."

I was quite amazed at how easily I said all that. Speaking up is an essential skill we all must practice after abandoning the ill winds self-doubt. You can refire your old patterns at any stage of the human life cycle. Empower yourself, release self-doubt, and live more fully!

Dr. Dorothea Hover-Kramer is a leading "re-firement coach" and the author of seven books about energy therapies including Second Chance at Your Dream.

Dorothea Hover-Kramer, Ed.D., RN, D.CEP
http://www.secondchancedream.com

Baby Boomers Need Help Finding Personal Meaning

Some Second-Half Seekers sometimes find it difficult to capture the full measure of meaning from their lives. In former years most of our personal meaning came from the outside, but as we mature, as we approach and move into and through middle age, and especially as we approach maturing life, personal meaning comes more from within.

At every other stage of life our culture provided us with rather clear expectations and responsibilities, both of which offered us some sense of personal meaning. Such is not the case in the years leading up to and after our first midlife transition. There are few, if any clear-cut directions that give focus to zestful mature living. This can be either a good or a bad thing; it's a bad thing for those who can't think for themselves, and a good thing for those who can.

As we gradually uncover our personal purpose, we keep our eye on the transcendent goal of life. We have faith in something bigger than ourselves; we can better shoulder the ambiguities of living our life to the fullest. Finding personal meaning through life purpose is a universal human need. A need is defined as something we must have at some level; it's a requirement of the organism. If we don't find meaning we get sick. This is a stark statement that points up the necessity for our search of personal purpose. The esteemed philosopher, Viktor Frankl believed that when, and if we fail in our attempts to find purpose, we suffer a neurosis characterized by boredom, depression, hopelessness, and loss of the will to live fully.

So, how do you accomplish this gargantuan task? Certainly everyone is different, indeed, as we mature we become more the person we're intended to be, more individual and authentic. As a consequence, we appear to become more different from everyone else. Nonetheless, when we search for the vital spark of personal purpose, when we investigate deeply into our interior, we need clean-cut concepts and techniques that find surprising commonality among all "life purpose seekers."

Career Coaches can provide baby boomers with the powerful ideas, insight, wisdom, and most of all the motivation to pursue what they've always wanted but always found blocked by one "necessity" after another. Now is the time to move assertively, capture the essence of the dream that stirred you so long ago, and decide to follow it with new purpose and new determination.

The process of finding new employment (or self-employment) represents much more than a set of skills and functions; fundamentally it's your personal response to your call; it's your investment in re-starting your life. This process determines much of the environment, both physical, social and spiritual, in which you live; it selects out those special traits that you utilize most frequently, the ones that strengthen you most comprehensively. Welcome to the adventure of your lifetime!

You can read more about Dr. Richard Johnsson and ReCareer Inc., here: https://www.recareerinc.com/certification/dr-richard-p-johnson.aspx or you may call his offices directly at 636.458.0813

Research Finds Boomers Seek Deeper Career Relevancy

A fundamental shift in our perception of second-half of life living is currently reshaping our thinking about the maturation, personal effectiveness, worthwhile endeavors, and deep soul meaning of this new more mature stage of life. All of our former assumptions about life's second half are fading into obsolescence as a new day dawns on what it means to be living optimally. The worn-out search for redundant relaxation in the maturing years is being eclipsed by search for deepened relevancy. We now know that idle busyness is deadly, that endless rest is deforming not transforming, and that play can only be truly enjoyed if it's balanced by something worthwhile to live for. The goals of working over the lifespan have changed indeed.

Maturing life is no longer viewed as a forced march toward becoming "over the hill" with its baggage of creeping diminishments; no, we're on a new growth path toward capturing our genuine personhood like we've never been able to before, with an accent on gaining new wisdom, finding new arenas for purposeful action, and discovering new personal significance beyond anything experienced previously.

Researchers who study adult development have asserted for some time now that maturing adults want much more than simply surviving as they contemplate the rest of their lives. They want to thrive. This means defining health and happiness away from words like contentment and adjustment, submission and resignation, and toward goals like 'completive aliveness' and 'eagerness of spirit.' This kind of proactive health demands that we engage in the great life adventure of expressing the soul purpose that's emerging in us now. While the adventure is lifelong, its pace quickens as we move beyond our former careers and enter into new arenas of growth.

Our former jobs paid the mortgage, put the kids through school, and provided a financial foundation for daily living; indeed some of us are still there. All of this was necessary of course in those former times and stages of life, but for lots of reasons we're now looking for something more, something that scratches that deep-down itch for achievement of a different sort, something that feeds our very being.

It's hard to even put these needs into words, but needs they are nonetheless; they're requirements of our real self that push us, sometimes only softly, and at other times with a roar, but always with a surprising persistence - they don't want to go away! We can try to push them away, but when and if we do... we always pay a price. These new urges from within, these psychological wellsprings of motivation, urge and beckon us to use our personalities in new ways so we can translate these life urges and desires into a new reality.

This new adventure in living needs power, a vital energy that propels us, feeds us, and stimulates our internal "juices." We need something to "fire" us. The primary way of accessing this internal power is by identifying a goal, dream, life cause, or "life purpose" that stirs our soul.

More on Dr. Richard Johnson can be found on his ReCareer Inc founder page: https://www.recareerinc.com/certification/dr-richard-p-johnson.aspx

Network Marketing For Baby Boomers

Sociologists define those born between 1946 and 1964, or those who are currently 46-64 years of age, as "Baby Boomers".

Today, the baby boomers make up 28% of the US population.

What is one of the most impending issues with baby boomers today? Retirement. Baby boomers, on the older end, are retirement age. On the younger end, they are day dreaming about retirement. In the middle of this range are many baby boomers who are facing the reality that they are not ready.

While they may or may not be ready psychologically, we are going to discuss a financial aspect of retirement and leave the psychology to another article.

The financial aspects of retirement are huge. Just some of what someone approaching retirement needs to consider include health care expenses, living expenses in relation to lifestyle changes, children, and grandchildren. Many approach retirement before their kids are on their own. With today's economic troubles, many children are not leaving home as young as they were even 10 years ago. And, of course, baby boomers have been hearing for quite some time now that they can not rely on social security.

So, why the title of this article? Why would I make a suggestion that Network Marketing should be considered by baby boomers? Well, it just makes good sense that someone approaching retirement have some kind of business of their own that brings in additional income. This helps as you prepare for retirement and also to offset some of the expenses of lifestyle changes that you make.

Why a network marketing business instead of maybe a Mom & Pop store or a bed & breakfast?

First of all, with a network marketing business, you can work as little or much as you want. Of course, your income will reflect that, especially as you are building your business, but you can decide to take off a month to go on a cruise if you choose. With a traditional business, this is not always possible. If your network marketing business is a relatively mature one, you may even make money while you are on your cruise. This is definitely not possible with a traditional business unless you have employees.

Second, usually a network marketing business can be willed to your kids. A business such as this can be a legacy that continues to grow. And, really, isn't that a great legacy to leave your kids?

Third, it's portable... You know that cruise I just mentioned? Well, if you want to bring your laptop and cell phone, you can work your business while you are on "vacation". Oh, and, yes, when you visit your grandchildren, you can do a little work there too. If you want to, that is.

Fourth, it's international. Do your retirement plans include international traveling? Many network marketing companies have offices internationally. This means that you can include some international travel into your business planning and have a growing organization in another country. Need to visit that team of yours in the south of France? That may become a legitimate tax deduction.

Fifth, there are no territories with a network marketing business. If you want to move closer to your kids, but have a growing organization in your home town...no problem. You do not lose that organization and you can start a new one in your new home town.

Those are just a few reasons why baby boomers nearing retirement may want to consider a network marketing business as part of their wealth building plan.

Reaching 60 and Improving Your Lifestyle

It's a fact that some of us have to accept we are part of an aging population, quite a few people struggle with that mentally but unfortunately looking into a mirror reinforces the truth. So what comes next? It would be nice in a perfect world to think we have worked hard, brought up our families, have a nice comfortable pension arriving each fortnight, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect to settle down with our lifelong partner relax and enjoy a few of the good things in life. That all sounds nice and stress less doesn't it? But unfortunately for a lot of seniors that scenario is just a fairly tale.

The picture I have painted above is one that would have been considered a normal expectation particularly for those born in the 1930's and 1940's. But of course as we all know life changes and doesn't always work out the way we had hoped or expected. In the working era of this age group superannuation for example was hardly thought about and certainly wasn't a requirement for many, consequently not a lot of provision was made for retirement years except by the very practical and foresighted.

So how do you cope when you get into your sixties and you finally acknowledge the fact that you have limited income, maybe just a government pension, your health perhaps isn't as good as it was, and you are certainly slower at getting through your daily tasks? If you have a partner who has gone through life's up's and down's the problems might not seem so bad after all you have gone through a lot together and the support of someone close in your life can make a lot of difference in how you tackle problems that are facing you. The big one here is that you are not on your own and there is an element of truth in saying a problem shared is a problem halved.

But what happens to those who reach their sixties and for whatever reasons are on their own? No support group, no partner and limited income. It would be easy to panic and worry about what was going to happen in the remaining future. But the thing to remember is that there are choices you can make as to how you want to live the rest of your life.

You can choose to worry and get depressed, which will probably make you ill in the long term, and generally doesn't attract new friends, because you tend to become focused on how unfair life is and end up being very negative, which is a draining trait at the best of times. Or the alternative is you can look at what options are available to improve your life to a point where it is enjoyable for you.

I will start with improving finances because if they are limited it tends to dominate your thoughts. I am not going to talk about budgets etc one because personally I am not good at them, so it would be a bit hypocritical to tell you to follow one, and two they don't really change the situation much just moderate it. Whatever your former occupation or even if you were a housewife and mother you will have acquired some knowledge or skills during your lifetime. Jot down on a piece of paper the things you are good at, then in a column next to that write down where you think that skill could be used.

If you like talking to people for example consider a volunteer job at a local hospital, some provide financial recompense and you get to meet new people and make new friends, possibly other avenues can open up for you.

If you aren't a people person or don't feel active enough to be going to a daily job a life saver for many has been the advent of the computer and Internet. The fact that you are reading this indicates that you are looking at options and have access to these resources. Don't be deterred by thinking you are not an expert, it's not that hard to write articles sharing your life's experience and knowledge and why not get paid for doing that? There are a number of article directories that are willing to pay for informative and helpful articles.

If you are a bit more adventurous you can look at internet marketing which doesn't have any age boundaries at all, just be careful not to get caught up in all the hype telling you about millions made in a few days as that's a good way to lose the few dollars you already have left. There is lots of information freely available as to how to get started in this arena of enterprise.

You can join forums and exchange ideas with others while you test the waters as to what might be beneficial or enjoyable for you to do. There are options here to keep the brain stimulated and make new friends and don't be fooled into thinking it's all a youngsters game there are many of the older generation out there improving their circumstances by having changed direction.

You could find you have a whole new lease of life and actually wake up looking forward to the new possibilities in front of you and what you might achieve in your day, and that has to be better than worrying about how you are going to drag yourself through each day. At the end of the day the choices are all in your hands.

Just Because You May Soon Be a Senior Citizen Does Not Mean You Must Sound Like One!

When I first started my business in 1989, one of the comments I would make as a guest speaker was that, although I wish I could still look 20, I was glad I didn't sound that age! 21 years later, it is difficult to say I wish I could still look 20 when I would be thrilled to still look 40! But what is fascinating about the physical aging of the body (which becomes most noticeable after 40) is that nothing is getting better with age. We wrinkle; we sag; our eyes go bad; and, we don't heal or bounce back as quickly we did in our younger days.

What is happening in my case, however, is that the sound of my speaking voice is continuing to improve even though nothing else on my body is. When I am 85, I may look it, but my voice will never give away my age. Because I have taken the pressure off my vocal folds and throat by using my chest cavity as my primary sounding board, I will never sound old. Anyone who has had good voice training knows what I am talking about. Voices like that of Lauren Bacall and Joanne Woodward do not sound 'elderly.' Both women, who are well over 70, sound fantastic because of the training they had in their early years in acting.

You do not have to be an actor to improve that part of the image you project however. If you are fighting the ravages of getting older, you can easily stop the aging to your vocal folds if you change the placement of your voice. In doing so, you will discover a richer, warmer, deeper, resonant sound that is ageless - not too old - not too young. If you were to phone me and you hadn't seen my picture, you would not be able to place an age on me. I could be 25 or 75.

What is fascinating about the voice that has had training is that it continues to improve as you age, much like a bottle of fine red wine!

You don't have to be a senior citizen, however, to sound old. While premature aging of the voice is more common among women than men, I have met many, many people who sound much older than their years and that shouldn't be. If your voice wobbles, shakes, quivers, or cracks, learn to power your sound from your chest and your voice will suddenly sound ageless, no matter how old you are or aren't!

The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit Voice Dynamic or watch Nancy in a brief video as she describes The Power of Your Voice.

Baby Boomers Find True Value With Fire Pits

Are you a baby boomer? If so, your parents most likely somehow assisted in moving America toward victory in World War II. This victory led to the greatest baby and economic booms in history. Think about that statement for a moment. Do you think it's a coincidence? It's not. The reason the American economy boomed from the early 80s to the late 90s was because of demographics. 70% of the economy is the consumer, and baby boomers produced and consumed beyond anything ever seen in the past.

In recent years, things have changed. Baby boomers are retiring. And based on stock market fluctuations, they're choosing to save their money rather than invest or spend it. With baby boomers on the sidelines, this will lead to a much weaker economy than we're used to. But is it all a blessing in disguise?

Look at it this way. If the economy continued to boom, what would baby boomers be doing with their money? They would be buying fancy toys, looking for the next big investment, spending time at fancy restaurants, and trying to maintain their status. Are all these things really what's important in life? Of course not. Family and friends are what's important. One benefit of an economic downturn is that it pulls people together.

Instead of spending money on a fishing boat or fancy car, many boomers have been investing in fire pits. Did that come as a surprise to you? It shouldn't. Baby boomers are beginning to realize that time spent with significant others and family members cannot be matched by any discretionary purchase. A fire pit is not a discretionary purchase, but more of a family investment. Many baby boomers are now skipping their favorite television shows, internet sessions, and whatever hobbies they might have delved into in the past and spending time by the fire pit with loved ones.

What makes fire pits so valuable is that you can use them at any time. If it's the summertime, you build a small fire in the evening to provide some warmth. In the wintertime, you can build a large fire, which will produce more than enough heat. Most baby boomers now enjoy spending time around the fire pit, reminiscing about old times. And not times that pertain to business, speedboats, shopping sprees, or their status in the community, but about family.

Fire pits do seem to have some type of nostalgic power about them, which is another reason their popularity has been exploding.