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Dear Bj,
Gung hay fat choy!
Yesterday was, of course, the Chinese New Year and
this greeting means "May you become prosperous."
My
wish for you in 2004! I want you to become prosperous
in all ways and the Chinese New Year adds a little extra
freshness to the proceedings.
A good friend suggested that I tape coins over all my
doorways in celebration. I really like the idea because,
separate from the New Year, every time I look up as I
walk around this place I love so much, I am reminded
that good fortune dwells here. Not a bad thought to
focus on, eh?
In the last two weeks, we've talked about promises &
paper clutter, and how broken things = broken thoughts.
Today, we'll chat about trading away long-term
misery
with short-term courage and how to support yourself
during heavy lifting-inside and out.
And remember, you've got until the end of January, 8
days (eek!) to take advantage of the 50/50
deal--details
below. And come out for the last 3 Tuesdays of the
You Choose! class. You will be glad you did!
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Losing Weight...Metaphorically |
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If you'd like to catch up on the first two parts of this
series on clearing up and out, find them here, under Ezine Archive.
If you've been following along, you have already gotten
rid of a lot of stuff you don't need, which means you are
down to the nitty and the gritty-the stuff that
is not so
obvious as a promise to yourself or as easy to toss as a
toaster.
You know what I'm talking about, right? The sticky,
icky aches and pains we collect over time. Some
people call them grudges, resentments, something "stuck
in your craw" or just plain fears you don't know how to
let go.
Now, we could spend a lot of time talking about WHY we
all have these toxic thoughts and who is to blame for
them, but that is something I can help you with off-line.
For now, the really important thing is looking at how
they
impact your everyday life and what you'd like to do
about it.
A universal truth about these old aches and pains is that
they create a baseline misery and weigh a TON.
- They reduce productivity and creativity.
- They
limit the good in your life and, tragically,
- They
can have a serious impact on your health and
relationships.
Why would anyone choose to drag stuff like that around?
That isn't a rhetorical question. I'm serious. Can concrete
in your shoes made up of frustration, anger, guilt,
resentment or fear make you feel light, capable and
free?
Didn't think so.
So, tell me. What keeps you from kicking off those
leaden loafers and skipping unencumbered down
the road
of life?
People often answer that question by saying that facing
their issue is too hard-or it might get worse. And I have
to counter with, "Worse than WHAT?"
Let's look at the law of physics on this one. Imagine
picking up a 10lb. weight. For most of us, that isn't so
much, right? Now tie it to your ankle and get on with
things. How long will it take before walking gets
difficult?
You are unlikely to be moving forward smoothly and
you
sure aren't going to be going very fast.
Now how will it feel after a week? How about 20 YEARS?
Oh, and by the way, you've picked up a bunch MORE
weights in those 20 years.
Is it really a surprise that we sometimes feel like we are
grinding to a halt?
So, what do you
want to do about it?
How about trading a few of those weights for something
that really works for you? Because, believe this Bj-ism
when I say:
Fear
weighs
more than love.
Whether you carry it in your shoes, on your hips, in your
arteries or on your head, you just don't need to drag
that stuff around any more.
There are two steps involved in trading a long-term drag
for relief and contentment.
1) Develop a strategy.
I can help you put together a practical and realistic plan
to face whatever you choose to let go of. The plan can
include figuring out what really happened, choosing how
you want to feel about it, and specific exercises for
releasing
the pent up negative feeling and replacing it with
enriching habits of thought and behavior.
2) Focus on relief rather than regret.
Remember: It doesn't matter how long it has been. It
doesn't matter whose fault it is. It doesn't matter what
you've tried before. It doesn't matter what 'everybody'
says.
What matters is: You can be free.
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Hernia or Help? It's up to you! |
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All this head and heart work can seem like heavy
lifting
sometimes, but getting through it makes everything else
feel better.
Another way to ensure a pain-free life is to
avoid one of
the most common causes of long-term physical pain:
Haphazard heavy lifting.
Do you suffer from back pain? I did, for 30 year! That is,
until I learned how to lift with my knees and how to sleep
like a 4. (I'll explain that last one on another day).
No matter how tough you are, if you don't respect the
mechanics of lifting, you are courting trouble.
Let's take Bartleby's 40 lb. kibble sack. It's two thirds my
height and floppy. How would you lift it?
First, go down on one knee, and shift the sack
onto
the bent knee for leverage, then straighten
your back leg
to 'ratchet up' the weight high enough to get it into the
shopping cart.
ALWAYS lift from the knees. Think of it like this,
your
bones can bear more weight than your muscles, right?
It's like propping something up on wood rather than on a
steak!
And speaking of food, when carrying your groceries
home, always distribute the weight evenly and take
your
time. That extra 5 minutes it will take to make a
second
trip is a fair trade for the months or years you can
spend
recuperating from a preventable strain. If you've
ever
had a herniated disk, you know what I mean!
When gardening, always use a wheelbarrow to move
heavy stuff. If you don't have one, you can use a
wheeled office chair in a pinch, or even a plank of wood
on a roller skate. In any case, use a tool rather than
torquing your back.
Whether it's lifting a heavy object, or getting something
heavy off your heart, it makes sense to get help!
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Get Your Bj-ism Cards |
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I've designed some nifty little 3 by 5 cards featuring four
of my favorite Bj-isms, along with two special offers.
They are suitable for framing. Okay, not really. But they
are suitable for posting on bulletin boards in
your employee lounge, at the coffee house or at your
next group meeting.
And since my services include e-therapy and phone
coaching, these cards fit the decor anywhere.
If you've got a spot, I'll be happy to send you a few. And
whomever you give them to (including yourself) will enjoy
redeeming the 50 minutes for $50 dollar deal, or
15%
off your first service package!
Send me your snailmail address and I'll send them to you
right away. And thanks!
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You Choose! Class Going Great |
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Don't miss the chance to learn great stuff about
eliminating your fears and creating what you really
want...not to mention seeing me gesticulating from a
stage! It's lots of low-cost, high impact fun.
You Choose! 5 Powerful Strategies
for Reducing Fear and Increasing Happiness is
happening for three more Tuesdays at Unity of
Washington DC, the corner of 7th and A Streets NE,
Washington DC.
If you could not make the first two nights, never
fear, we'll do a recap to catch
you up.
Email me if
you'd like directions or materials. Or just show
up at Unity of
Washington DC, 7th and A Streets NE. 6:30-8:30pm.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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Refer Me! |
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If you're thinking, "I know someone who could really use
Bj!" please let them know about www.bjcounsels.com
and my services.
It's quick and easy.
Click How to refer Bj below and you will be taken
to my
referral page that has all the information you need, plus,
a handy, downloadable tipsheet that features more
detailed information about the people and issues I like to
work with best.
Thank you very, very much.
How to refer Bj... »
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See You Next Week |
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Lay it down now, or carry it always.
Which do you choose? Warmly,
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