Teavana-Heaven on Earth

Grateful for Social Media

I thought I would keep today’s post a little light (well, sort of) and short.

As you’ve heard me mention, I stumbled upon the world of social media a little less than a year ago.  I started simply with Facebook, to catch up with old friends and maybe meet some new ones.  Several months after that I began to realize what an impact social media can have on my business.  I am now active  on Twitter, Savor the Success, and Twittermoms.

I love social media for so many reasons!  Personally, especially with Facebook, I have re-connected with long lost friends–from grammar school, high school, and college.  Honestly, people I probably never would have had the opportunity to see again.  What I am amazed at is how much I am re-learning about these people.  I am so excited for the “new” relationships with them that I am creating.  It is honestly fascinating and incredibly heartwarming.  My heart is full of gratitude when I think about it!

From my business perspective, social networking is invaluable! I am meeting people and learning from them each and everyday.  Not to discount traditional networking, but I have to be honest it has been a piece of cake to find like-minded people virtually.   Of course, that doesn’t take away importance of “P2P” (person-to-person & traditional networking) as my friend MJ of Positive Impact Consulting says, but what a great tool to add to your marketing toolbox!

There are so many social networks out there.  I encourage you to spend sometime online to find the one that’s right for you!  You will be amazed at who you find or who finds you.

To all of my friends new and old on all of my networks–I thank you, cherish you, and look forward to being on a journey with you.

In gratitude,

Creating a Healthy Mindset

Do you feel you could use a healthier attitude toward life?  Would you like to approach things in a different way?  Is a healthier lifestyle attainable?

The stress of modern life can sometimes make it difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle.  However, you can start living healthy, today, by adopting a healthy mindset.

Even if you find yourself leaning toward a pessimistic attitude, you can still achieve a healthy mindset.  You just need to go about it in the right way.

How You Can Have a Healthier Mindset

Many people sit back, look at their lives, and wish they could view things in a more positive manner. Then they beat themselves up for being negative or not having the attitude and responses they wish they had.  This typical response doesn’t do anybody any good.

Instead of feeling angry with yourself for responding to life the way you normally do, think positively about your desire to have a healthier mindset.

Building a Healthy and Safe Support Network

One of the most effective paths to a healthier mindset is to find ways to deal with the stress in your life.  For some people, this is as simple as writing in a journal or blog every day.  Other people find that talking with friends or joining a support group is a rewarding experience.

It’s important to give voice to your thoughts and emotions. How you do this is up to you.

Eating Healthy = Feeling Healthy

Another way to achieve a healthier mindset is to eat the right foods and get enough rest.  When you feed your body healthy, nutritious foods and get the rest you need, you feel better all over.  Your attitude, as well as your body, feels refreshed.

Food and rest will not change the way you respond to things if you tend to respond negatively, but it will be a great start.  You don’t have to give up all junk food and your late night activities, but try swapping carrot sticks for French fries and an hour of sleep for Leno.

You’ll find that you’ll be able to acquire a healthier mindset when you take active steps to deal with your stress and treat your body with the tender loving care it deserves.  Suddenly the world becomes a much more positive place when you pair these things with positive thinking.

Positive thinking begins when you affirm the positives in your life. You can use the power of positive affirmations to reprogram your mind so you can think in a healthier and more positive way.

For example, each morning you could say, “I make positive choices for the best of my body, mind, and soul.” You can use positive affirmations in moments of weakness when you are tempted to fill up on junk food, respond negatively to something, or trade sleep for something less important.

When you create a healthy mindset by making good choices about food, rest, and positive thinking, you’ll enjoy the new ways you think, feel, and live.  You’ll discover that your happier, healthier lifestyle has arrived!

Tips for Better Life

Coping with Financial Stress

Coping with financial stress in these tough economic times can be quite challenging.   It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t been affected by the economy.  As a family of small business owners, I can assure you that it’s tough to be in business for yourself these days, but on the other side it’s equally as tough to worry whether you will have a job from day-to-day when you work for someone.

I have been very blessed to have immersed myself over the past six months into the world of social networking.  I have networked and met some unbelievable people.  It’s quite exciting to connect with all of these like minded people. It’s truly inspiring.

Having said that, I wanted to share with you a blog post from one of my social networking friends.  Here is a little about her from her blog:

Dr. Carolyn Clansy Miller possesses a passion for service that goes far beyond the pursuit of professional accolades. As a psychologist, speaker and life coach, Dr. Miller skillfully employs psychological, inspirational and strategic approaches to her mission of personal empowerment.

For nearly 20 years, Dr. Carolyn has provided consultation both nationally and internationally in her work with businesses, government, non-profits, churches, and universities. Her dynamic yet relevant and relational manner has propelled her to the national stage as a featured guest on syndicated radio and television programs such as Fox News, Texas Justice, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and The Doctor’s In.

I’d love for you to head on over to her blog, “Getting Good at Life“ and enjoy her blog post, “Coping with Financial Stress.”

Make it a great day!

How to Surround Yourself with Positive People

One of the best ways to achieve your goals is to surround yourself with positive people. I am a big proponent of this and practice this in my daily life.  It’s so important!

Positive people can help you stay on track and energize you toward your own goals.  Many times these successful people share the same goals you have and are happy to pass on their wisdom and their techniques.  After all, I always say that energy is contagious.  Why not catch some positive energy?

So how do you find these positive, like-minded people?

Here are 5 tips to help you find them, network with them, and glean valuable information and advice:

1.  Smile. Although it may sound silly, smiling puts forth an image that instantly draws people towards you, especially other positive people.  Having and showcasing a good perspective of life’s ups and downs makes other people want to be around you-it’s almost magnetic.  Being positive is often a difficult frame of mind to sustain all the time, so something as simple as smiling is a quick trigger to catch yourself before you spiral the other way.

* Staying positive is one of the building blocks to achieving your successes, as its opposite is futile.  Smile and you’ll attract other positive people!

2.  Communicate Positively. Although we all have rough days when nothing seems to be going right, the last thing you want do is complain and whine.  No one likes a complainer, right?

For example, if someone were to ask you in a friendly manner, “how are you today?” don’t shoot back that “life stinks” or that you’re just “alive” or something to that effect.  What a downer, huh? Instead, take a moment – and a breath – and then reply with an optimistic attitude, even if you’re having a tough day.  The practice takes some conditioning, but will help your energy in the long run.  Fake it till you make it right? After some practice it won’t seem as hard.

* Even if you’re not feeling all that positive, by remaining optimistic in your outlook you’ll still attract positive people to you.

3. Think Positively. Keeping a level head in your quest toward success is one key to obtaining your objectives. Thinking positively – even through disappointment – will enable you to find the good in every situation and attract the positive people who share this vision.

* Even if you don’t really subscribe to these positive thoughts at first, or you find positive thinking difficult, sooner or later making yourself think positively will create a pattern of positive thoughts in your brain.

We’ve all got energy within us and we have the choice to use it constructively or destructively.  You’ll soon notice that these type of people try to be upbeat and optimistic, even during difficult times.  After all we are all human, right? We are going to have good days and bad days-it is all in how you approach it with your attitude.

4.  Act Positively. It isn’t enough to smile, communicate, and think positively when pursuing your goal. You must also put forth actions to substantiate this positivism.

For example, perhaps you thought you could get a promotion in the past, but then sat idly by while someone else snatched it up. This time, transform those positive thoughts into action!

* Showing your boss and employees that you are proactive and positive will set you up for more successes.

5.  Reach Out. Lastly, reach out to people at your work, in your circle of friends, or even to people on the street who seem to exemplify a positive attitude.  Ask them what it is that makes them continue to be positive and reach their objectives.

* Seeking out positive people will not only give you valuable information to help you reach your goals, but you will also become a successful person with your own network of positive friends and role models.

Being positive and having a positive attitude attracts others. After all the law of attraction is simple, like attracts like.

People enjoy being around others with similar attitudes and, by maintaining a positive mindset, you’ll surely lead yourself to those successful people you seek.

Thankful Thursdays

Happy New Year!

We’re getting back into the swing of things here at the Gratitude Circle.  What a great holiday we had!  It was a great time of rest, relaxation, entertaining, family and all that good stuff!  It felt so great to have an abundance of downtime to rest and re-charge.

I actually became addicted to a series of books during the break. I am what I call a “wanna” be reader.  I intend to read, try, and seem to lose interest or fall asleep-mostly because I read really slow.  My sister-in-law is an avid reader.  She could read a book in an hour and I was always envious of this.  Well, until now–I discovered Twilight right before Christmas and am now on the fourth book in the series.  I’ve been to the movie several times and have had so much fun with it.  I am truly grateful for finding these books and being able to really enjoy them.

I am very excited for the new year ahead and all of it’s promise.

Today I am most grateful for:

• the opportunity of a fresh, new year
• a garage to put my car in so that I don’t have to chisel ice off of it! 
• a growing daughter
• great friends
• perspective
• a manicure and pedicure
• a great pilates workout

Make sure to journal your gratitude daily!  It truly does make a difference.  A few months back I found a wonderful program called the Gratitude Tracker.  It’s basically a digital Gratitude Journal and the best thing is that it’s completely FREE!  A note pops up each day when you boot up your computer for you to log your gratitude.  It pops up just like a sticky note.  Click on the above link and download your free copy.  Let us know what you think, too!