Articles by true2you on ArticleSnatch.com

A New Mom's Guide to Thriving with her New Baby

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:55:40 -0500

It was 18 years ago when I brought home my first baby from the hospital. I'll never forget the day. It was July 2, 1991 and I slowly walked out of the hospital with no shoes because my ankles were so swollen. Feeling the pain of my episiotomy, I placed my son Kai in a car seat we borrowed from a friend. It wasn't an infant car seat like the ones we have today, so the huge car seat swallowed up all 6 pounds, 14 ounces of him. Looking at his tiny body all scrunched up, and thinking about how I had already failed him, I burst into tears. It could have been the hormones, or the unrealistic expectations I placed on myself to be a good mom. And the tears were no doubt a reaction to the fear I felt as I was about to embark on an unknown journey. A journey, that no doubt, was one I took very seriously. After all, I would be responsible for the care and development of a new life - my baby. Since then, I have raised my first son, and have eight years into my second boy. **End Summary** Topics: new mom]]> new moms]]> new baby]]> moms club]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach for moms and the founder of Momnificent! For a wealth of free resources for the modern mom, and to join her community of magnificent moms, visit www.momnificent.com.

Navigating Family Dynamics During the Holiday Season and Beyond

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:54:01 -0400

With the holiday season fast approaching, time spent with family increases. Add this increased time with the addition of aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and cousins, and you can have quite an interesting family dynamic. The more people you have involved in any one situation, the more effort it takes to manage the different personalities. Last year in our home was Christmas as usual. My mom, brother and his fiancé were in town and staying with us, so our normal family of four became a family of seven. My mom, being the lovely party planner that she is, prepared a delicious Christmas Eve meal complete with appetizers and a full course dinner. In an effort to make everything nice for everyone, my mother sometimes prepares a bit too much food. We all know this about my mom, but it can still be a family joke. My brother, in jest, made a comment about my mom overdoing it, and the rest of us (not including mom) chimed in with laughter and additional teasing. Well, it wasn’t funny to my mom. As a matter of fact, she felt hurt and unappreciated. **End Summary** Topics: harmonious family relationships]]> holiday season]]> emotional needs]]> differing perspectives]]> flexibility]]> sensitivity]]> emotions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach, inspirational speaker, and the author of The Momnificent! Life, an award winning finalist in USA News Best Books 2009 Awards. For more free tips, visit her website at www.momnificent.com

Ensuring Success for Your Child in a New School Year

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:51:38 -0400

It doesn't matter whether you are sending your child off to college for the first time, or your two year old is starting a two-day preschool program, a new school year is just around the corner. Some children love school, while others dread it. Growing up, I was one of those weird kids that loved school. Every year at about this time, my mother would take me school shopping for new clothes and school supplies. I don't know if it was the shopping I loved, or the anticipation of a new school year. In my own home growing up and in our family today, we take our education seriously. Although my boys are not quite as willing and excited as I was about school, I still work to instill good success habits. Here are some ideas you can use with your children to ensure a successful school year. Establish Solid Morning, After School and Bedtime Routines I first learned about the importance of solid routines when I was raising my oldest son Kai. In the third grade, Kai was diagnosed with ADHD. Keeping my son focused enough to get ready for school and do his homework required consistency and structure. **End Summary** Topics: school success]]> routines]]> good habits]]> setting goals with children]]> child stress]]> communication with teachers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is the author of The Momnificent Life - Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms and the founder of Momnificent! at www.momnificent.com. Visit her website or blog at www.themomcoach.com to grab your two free special reports for moms.

The Stress Monster Will Upset Your Balance

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:07:16 -0400

Turn on the news and you'll likely be bombarded with traumatic events and updates on the gloomy economy. Call up a friend and she might tell you her husband just lost his job, or a loved one was just diagnosed with cancer. Even in your own home, you may be worried about your child, or feel burdened by the number of responsibilities you have to juggle. The stress monster is always lurking just waiting to rob us of our internal peace and balance. Stress in life is inevitable. In reality, some stress is actually good. We need that fight or flight reaction that occurs in our bodies when faced with emergency situations. Some amount of stress can motivate us to take action when we might otherwise drag our feet. Without a little bit of stress, life would probably be somewhat boring or unexciting. However, when stress is affecting our mood, our health, or the balance in our lives, it's time to do something about it. Use these tips to put the stress monster in his cage: Recognize Your Stress Just like balance, stress is different for everyone. I remember one of the first vacation trips I took with my husband. **End Summary** Topics: stress]]> balance]]> internal peace]]> stress management]]> relaxation]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is the author of The Momnificent Life - Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms. For more free tips on reducing mommy stress, visit her website at www.momnificent.com.

7 Good Reasons to Get Rid of Clutter

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Sometimes it seems the longer we live, the more clutter we accumulate. Life gets busy, our family grows, and so does the clutter. Some of us are good at stuffing it inside drawers, closets, basements and garages, making our homes look aesthetically organized. To our visitors, we have it all together, but the clutter still looms in the recesses of our minds. We know it's there. Some of us don't even try to contain our clutter because it's way more than we can handle. And so it sits on our countertops, tables, floors and desks. The clutter acts as a constant reminder of what is left undone in our lives. When I talk to moms about the significance of getting rid of clutter, very few would disagree that it's important and desirable. Not too many moms enjoy clutter, but many will give good reasons for why they still have it. There isn't enough time to declutter. The process is too overwhelming. The clutter doesn't belong to me. What should I do with the clutter? What's the point of getting rid of clutter when it's just going to accumulate again? **End Summary** Topics: clutter]]> get rid of clutter]]> moms]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach, inspirational speaker and author of The Momnificent! Life ~ Healthy and Balanced Life For Busy Moms. As a motherhood guru committed to helping moms live magnificent lives, see why moms are visiting www.momnificent.com for the free Momnificent! newsletter, a library of expert advice, and continuously updated blog of mom-worthy news and developments.

15 Quick Tips for Conquering Disorganization

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Moms have an almost Universal need to be and stay organized. With all the hats we wear, it is increasingly more important to stay on top of everything and maximize our efficiency. Without organization, we drop balls, forget about important activities, increase our tendency to feel stressed, and ultimately rob ourselves of mommy self-esteem. As moms, we are always looking for better ways to manage our time and create a more organized home or work environment for ourselves and our families. More often than not, it's the internal obstacles that sabotage our success with organization, but sometimes the issue can be addressed with quick external fixes. Thankfully, every mom has the ability to learn the skill of organization. Here are some quick tips to help you manage the internal and external war with disorganization and clutter. 1. Make sure items have a home. Sometimes we don't know what to do with things and so they sit around our home adding to the clutter. Create a home or get rid of it. 2. Get rid of excess. It's possible you have more stuff than storage space. Keep only what you need and what you have room for. 3. **End Summary** Topics: stay organized]]> organization]]> disorganization]]> conquer disorganization]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach and author of The Momnificent Life ~ Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms. Visit her website at www.momnificent.com for more free tips.

The Link between Fulfillment and Life Purpose

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Fifteen years into my business career, I began to feel unfulfilled. Deep in my soul, I had a desire to make a difference in the lives of other people. Some people would argue that I was making a difference. I contributed to the success of an organization; I managed people and helped them grow professionally. The fact is I was a successful businesswoman, but I wasn't happy. I was not making a difference in the world in a way that was meaningful to me. Each of us is uniquely made by God. We all have special strengths and talents, and we are all passionate about different things. We were gifted with these talents and passions for a reason - to use them to serve other people. When you discover what makes you special, and you tap into the desires of your heart, you are halfway to fulfilling your life purpose. When you begin using these gifts and passions to positively impact other people, then you are living a life of purpose. The reward for you is an indescribable feeling of fulfillment. It's not always easy discovering your life purpose. **End Summary** Topics: life purpose]]> personal strengths]]> passions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and professional speaker specializing in helping moms be effective leaders of their home and work lives. For more FREE personal development tips and the FREE special report "52 Positive Affirmations for Moms"Â, visit her website at www.momnificent.com

Honoring You in All Your Relationships

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

It's no secret that it takes two to create and maintain a healthy relationship. Although I would agree with this statement, I also know there is a lot one person can do to change the dynamics of any relationship. And since none of us have the power to change another person, it only makes sense that the best place to start in our relationships is with ourselves. At our local Super Walmart, there is a gentleman there by the name of George. George stands at the front door and enthusiastically greets everyone who walks into Walmart. He smiles at the guests and with a jubilant tone, he asks people how they're doing. When he's not talking to someone, he is singing and enjoying life wholeheartedly. George has the ability to change me and my mood, simply by being who he is. By honoring what is important to him - joy - he brings out the best in his Walmart relationships. Our lives are touched by many relationships. While most of us define a relationship as existing between two people, there are other types of relationships as well. The one component of your relationships that remains constant, however, is you. **End Summary** Topics: relationship]]> relationship with self]]> relationship with God]]> relationship with spouse]]> relationship with children]]> relationship with money]]> friendship]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and professional speaker specializing in helping moms be effective leaders of their home and work lives. For the Free Report "155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children", visit www.momnificent.com

P.R.E.P. Yourself for Success

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

"You've got to be tough to do the big things in life like taking risks, admitting mistakes, and changing bad habits. You've got to be tough to do the little things like biting your tongue, waiting your turn and putting up with fools. Self-reliance and self-confidence will demand your toughness. Then, you must temper toughness with kindness, realizing that many times it will be tough to be kind." --Bill Fitzpatrick Little Tyler stood about 45 inches tall, dressed in his white do-bok with a light blue belt. Tyler was testing for his dark blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. At the age of 6, he had already successfully earned his yellow, orange, green, purple and light blue belts. In addition to the rigorous endurance training and complicated forms he had to demonstrate, Tyler had to break a board using a back kick. As he spun around, his little foot met the board with a small amount of impact. Unfortunately, not enough impact to break the board. After trying four times, Master Lee asked him to sit down while the rest of the testing class broke their boards. **End Summary** Topics: success]]> goals]]> goal setting]]> perseverance]]> resilience]]> positive thinking]]> energy]]> determined]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach and the author of the popular online class, Goal Setting: Making Your Vision a Reality. To learn more about this goal setting course and other personal development tips, visit us at www.momnificent.com

Quick Fixes to the 3 Big Energy Zappers

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Moms today are running on empty. In the morning, we fill up on a quarter tank of coffee (or our equivalent gasoline), and then try and engage in activities that require a full tank. What happens when our fuel runs out? We get tired, irritable and just plain unproductive, due to our lack of energy. While some moms have learned to operate on adrenaline, the long term effects on our health are detrimental. I know from talking to many moms that it's not what moms want. We want to be full of energy, happy and productive. That's how most moms define a good day. The good news is we can experience many days like this if we know how to manage our energy. The energy equation formula is simple: Energizers - Energy Drains = JOY! As you can see from this formula, you need far more energizers in your life than energy drains. Although life as a mom comes with its fair share of energy drains, it is entirely possible to minimize those things that zap our energy. In addition, adding a big dose of energizers to our lives goes a long way for maintaining our energy supply. **End Summary** Topics: energy drains]]> negative thoughts]]> self-care]]> clutter]]> disorganization]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach, inspirational speaker and the author of the popular Energy Equation eCourse. To find out more about Lori, and receive more FREE personal development tips, visit her website at http://www.momnificent.com

Slowing Down When Everyone Else is Speeding Up

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Extreme busyness is a chronic disease that afflicts many moms today. As a matter of fact, I was just listening to the One Month to Live DVD by Kerry and Chris Shook. They identified three passion busters. I'm not talking about sexual passion, although I'm sure your husband would love that. The three factors that kill our passion for life are bitterness, burnout and busyness. I'm only going to focus on busyness right now because it is a huge source for not only zapping our passion, but also our energy. Look around you. Talk to your mom friends. Would any of them tell you they are bored with very little to do? What I hear all the time is "I'm so busy". Raising a family is typically busy. The more children you have, the busier you are. The less help you have, the harder it is. Although extreme busyness is the "norm" in many families, there are other ways to live. If you want to regain your passion and energy for life, try doing life a little bit differently. **End Summary** Topics: time management]]> extracurricular activities]]> balancing life]]> relaxation]]> commitments]]> simple moments]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE report "155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children", visit her website at www.momnificent.com

Protection from the Stressors in Life

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The other day I was reading a blog post from a mom who had just returned home from a relaxing vacation. She felt refreshed and refueled for about one week. She was telling her readers that she needed a break, but felt guilty because she just had a vacation break. In her words, this mom couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. Personally, I didn't think anything was wrong with her. It doesn't take long for life to start chipping away at our energy and joy. It's not always the big, stressful events that knock us off guard. It is the combination of one little thing after another. When a woodworker uses a chisel to carve a piece of wood, he chisels away small pieces at a time. That's what normal life can do to us. We start our week with great intentions to be joyful and productive. Monday morning starts out okay, but by evening, for some unexplainable reason, the kids are tired and irritable, and we are challenged to remain patient. On Tuesday, we might wake up with a headache. On Wednesday, our boss throws a last minute project on our desk, with a deadline of ASAP. **End Summary** Topics: peaceful life]]> eliminate stress]]> happiness]]> peace]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter and the special report "155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children", go to http://www.momnificent.com

5 Ways to Develop More Patience with Children

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Which of the following situations send you over the edge? You ask your child to do something three times and he is still not listening. Your four year old is having a complete melt down over something you see as insignificant. You've had a long day and your teenager won't stop arguing with you. As moms, we all have a patience meter. The gauge goes up and down depending on our mood, our personality, and our triggers. If there is one thing that moms wish they had more of, its patience (and time, of course). Just like there are time management skills you can learn, there are also patience management skills. Examine Your Expectations I know I am stating the obvious, but children are not adults. They don't think like adults, act like adults or even have the same brain development as adults. As a matter of fact, their brains are not fully developed until about the age of 23. The last part of the brain to develop is the part that is involved in rational decision making. So it makes sense that the expectations we have of our children needs to be age appropriate and situation appropriate. **End Summary** Topics: patience]]> patience with children]]> discipline]]> timeout]]> parenting style]]> child behavior]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and professional speaker for moms. To receive her 2 FREE reports 5 Tips for Maximizing Your Time"Â and 155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children"Â, visit her website at www.momnificent.com

Modeling Life for Your Children

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Fast forward 20 years; your children might be 20, 25 or maybe even 35. It doesn't really matter how old they are. What matters is whether or not they will learn the important family values that you wish to impart. Now I understand that, as mothers, we don't have complete control over the choices our children will make in their adult years. They won't always choose our values, and that's okay. However, when they are still at home, we have more influence than you might imagine. By simply "being" who we are in our own lives powerfully communicates what's most important to us. My sixteen year old is taking an Adult Living class right now in school. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading a paper he wrote on his expectations for his adult life. It was amazing and intriguing to see how I have influenced some of the dreams he has for his life. Here are a few ideas he shared in his paper (ignore the grammar - he's still learning). " I want to have lots of community involvement because I think that it's very important to have community involvement and it helps you as a person. **End Summary** Topics: children]]> family]]> values]]> relationship]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter, and the FREE special report 155 Things Moms Can Do To Raise Great Children"Â, go to http://www.momnificent.com

Journaling - A Self-Care Practice

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

When many of us think of self-care, we immediately think about all the things we should be doing for ourselves but aren't. We remind ourselves we should exercise or start eating healthy. We might even think about getting out to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend. Some moms express a desire to spend more time with God. If we're really fantasizing about self-care, we might even dream about getting a massage, taking a nap, or going away to a spa for the weekend. But the reality is moms struggle to practice self-care. It's not that they don't want to; it's just that there is a belief that everything else has to get done first. The problem with that belief is that everything else never gets done; moms always have something more to do. I'm not going to preach to you about why you should practice self-care, or give you the many benefits of regular self-care. You know all these things already. I do want to talk to you about a simple self-care practice that you can do everyday for five to ten minutes. Anyone, no matter how busy, can create five to ten minutes for themselves. **End Summary** Topics: journaling]]> self-care]]> spiritual renewal]]> release emotions]]> creativity]]> self-discovery]]> relaxation]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter and the special report "155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children", go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

The Seven Types of Boundaries

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The call came at 8:10 in the morning. "Mom, I forgot my baseball stuff in the car. Can you please bring it to me now?" My teenager had spent the night with his friend and inadvertently forgot to prepare himself for the baseball summer camp he was helping with in the morning. His baseball glove, shoes, and camp T-shirt were left at home and camp started in five minutes. Initially, I was irritated because I knew he wanted me to drop everything I was doing and bail him out of his predicament. That irritation prompted the lecture he received about responsibility. But then I realized I had a choice, and I had the power. I needed to decide what my boundaries were. I was not going to get upset and allow him to disrupt my morning. I was not going to drop everything I was doing so he wouldn't be late for baseball camp. I would drop off his stuff because it was on my way to my other son's day camp, but I would drop it off on my time and my terms. **End Summary** Topics: boundaries]]> limits]]> self-esteem]]> health]]> energy]]> time]]> space]]> time]]> money]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her free newsletter and the special report â155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Childrenâ, visit her website at http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

The Dreadful Word: NO

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Many moms have a hard time learning the essential art of saying no. It is such a struggle that Mary M. Byers has devoted an entire book, "How to Say No and Live to Tell About It", and has branded herself as "The No Queen". Sometime between the age of two, when no was our only vocabulary, and becoming an adult woman, we have forgotten the importance of saying no. Perhaps the words of our parents, "You don't tell me NO", has stuck with us and the shame and guilt we feel from asserting our needs and independence lingers on. Sometimes it is important to say no. Saying no is the equivalent to setting a boundary in your life or telling the truth about who you are. Look at the following examples and reflect on how saying no is essential to fully loving yourself and other people. " I'm going to say no to that invitation because I have too many other things going on this week. " No, you may not speak to me that way. Now, please go to your room. " No, I'm sorry, but I'm not in the mood for sex tonight. **End Summary** Topics: say no]]> no]]> saying no]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC â certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter, and the FREE special report â155 Things Moms Can Do To Raise Great Childrenâ, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

Taming the Scatter Brain

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Do you ever feel like you are going in a hundred different directions but not really going anywhere? Maybe you run upstairs to do something, only to forget what you were going to do. You start doing something else, and then abandon that project when you think of something else that needs to be done. Perhaps you're busy all day but have nothing to show for your busyness. This is what I call "The Scatter Brain Syndrome", or in layman's terms, lack of focus. The Scatter Brain Syndrome happens to all of us, but fortunately there are some quick fixes to this challenge. Have a Specific Plan for Each Day Before you begin your day, know exactly what you want to accomplish and what's on your agenda. Pretend your day is over and ask yourself what you need to feel like you had a productive and focused day. What is most important to you for this particular day only? Pick 3 or 4 Tasks/Activities from your "To Do" List Many of us have a huge ongoing "to do" list we work from. We add tasks to it at a much faster rate than we delete them. **End Summary** Topics: scatter brain]]> brain]]> tasks]]> focus]]> stress]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and professional speaker specializing in helping women be effective leaders of their home and work lives. For more FREE personal development tips and the FREE special report â5 Tips for Maximizing your Timeâ, visit her website at http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

4 Keys to Increased Confidence

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It takes hard work to be a confident woman, but the rewards are well worth the effort it takes. Imagine being able to go through your day feeling good about who you are and the decisions you make. Picture yourself laughing at your mistakes instead of beating yourself up. When someone offers constructive feedback or "criticism" you accept it gracefully, fully able to own what belongs to you and discard the rest. A confident woman is not afraid to take risks. She is strong and knows she can handle whatever life throws her way. A confident woman speaks with self-assurance and carries herself with dignity. She respects and loves other people because she has learned to love herself. Most of us, as women, have amazing moments of confidence followed by instances of self-doubt. Fortunately, you are not stuck with your current level of confidence. Confidence can be increased by growing in the following four ways. Know Your Worth What makes you a valuable mom, wife, employee, or friend? Too often we focus on our shortcomings and we're blinded to the worth we have to offer this world. What makes you special? Are you funny, organized, reliable, honest, or intelligent? **End Summary** Topics: confidence]]> self-confidence]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC â certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter, and the FREE special report â155 Things Moms Can Do To Raise Great Childrenâ, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

Boosting Your Personal Productivity

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

With so many tasks fighting for our attention, it's no wonder we struggle with feeling productive. For most women, it's important to us that we feel productive, and we usually measure our productivity by our output - how much do we get done in a given day? If we get a lot done, then we feel happy, but if at the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves what we did all day, irritability sinks in. If you have a business deadline, a family and home that need attention, and a volunteer project that begs to be completed, how will you pull together the resources and energy you need to successfully manage these commitments without compromising yourself? Boosting our personal productivity is possible if we know how to do it. Productivity involves three components: getting things done, the ability to make the right decisions quickly, and being able to create innovative solutions to our perceived challenges. Getting Things Done Getting things done requires both external and internal resources. Externally, it involves using people, time and money to achieve the results you want. **End Summary** Topics: productive]]> productivity]]> time management]]> decision making]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun is a certified life coach and professional speaker specializing in helping women be leaders of their home and work life. To receive FREE personal development tips and the special report â5 Tips for Maximizing Your Timeâ, visit her website at http://www.loriradun.com

5 Ways to Attract the Relationships You Want

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

There has been a time in my life when relationships were a source of great discontentment in my life. I worked around negative people. I didn't have a lot of the kinds of friends I wanted. I was in a marriage that was lonely and filled with conflict. Although today all my relationships are not perfect, I feel blessed with the quality of people in my life. Much has changed and I've learned a lot about how to attract the relationships I want in life. When you think about relationships, our lives are filled with so many. You may have a spouse whom you share your life with. You probably have children who you interact with on a regular basis. No doubt you have a few friends or maybe many friends. You might be a daughter to a mom and dad, a niece to an aunt or uncle, or a sister to one or more siblings. It's possible that you work or volunteer with people everyday. Are your relationships everything you want them to be? Do they nurture you and fill you up or do they drain your energy, leaving you feeling depleted? **End Summary** Topics: relationship]]> relationships]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter, and the FREE special report 155 Things Moms Can Do To Raise Great Children"Â, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

Everyone is a Leader, So How Will You Lead?

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

For as long as I can remember, people have asked the question "Are you a leader or a follower?" There was an attempt to categorize or label people based on their ability to lead other people. What if I were to tell you that everyone is a leader, either by choice or default? Would it change your perception of who you are, or would you continue to think of yourself as a follower because that is what you've believed all your life? If you are a parent, then you are definitely a leader. You are a leader of a very important organization - your family. Leadership is what helps us move people into action, including ourselves. So the question is not whether or not you are a leader because you are. The question we have to answer for ourselves is how well do we lead? How effective are you in motivating and inspiring yourself and other people in your life? According to Bruce Schneider at iPEC Coaching, "our leadership ability determines whether or not our children do their homework, and how well they do it; how well we negotiate the purchase of a new car or home; **End Summary** Topics: leader]]> leadership]]> energy]]> success]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified energy leadership coach specializing in helping women be effective leaders in their work, home and life. To receive the FREE report 5 Tips for Maximizing Your Time"Â and to learn more about Lori, visit her website at http://www.loriradun.com

Creating Un-Spoiled Children

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever wondered if your children are spoiled? I know I have. I was so curious one day that I looked up the definition of a spoiled child on the internet. According to B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of \"Your Child\'s Health\", he says \"a spoiled child is undisciplined, manipulative, and unpleasant to be with much of the time. He behaves in many of the following ways by the time he is two or three years old: \" Doesn\'t follow rules or cooperate with suggestions \" Doesn\'t respond to \"no\", \"stop\", or other commands \" Protests everything \" Doesn\'t know the difference between his needs and his wishes \" Insists on having his own way \" Makes unfair or excessive demands on others \" Doesn\'t respect other people\'s rights \" Tries to control people \" Has a low tolerance for frustration \" Frequently whines or throws tantrums \" Constantly complains about being bored When I looked at this list, I couldn\'t help but notice that my kids sometimes display some of these behaviors. Admittedly, I was embarrassed that my children were spoiled. Spoiling our children isn\'t hard to do and can happen almost accidentally. **End Summary** Topics: spoiled children]]> spoiled]]> children]]> attitude]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC certified life coach and inspirational speaker for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter, and the FREE special report 155 Things Moms Can Do To Raise Great Children"Â, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

The Assumption Trap

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0400

A few months ago I was contacted to speak to a local women's association group. In the context of our communications, I was asked if I had a book, and if so, would I offer a discount? I assumed the client wanted a discount off my speaking services if some of their audience members purchased my book. So I informed them I could offer a $10 discount for every book purchased. If 6 people bought my book, I would give a $60 discount off my speaking fee. Boy was I surprised when my client placed an order for 60 books. I was trapped. She didn't want a discount off my speaking services; she wanted a discount off my book. The cost of my assumption was the difference between $600 and $60. Thankfully, I was dealing with a kind hearted client and she understood my mistake. I was able to save our relationship and my bank account. How many times have you made a decision based on an assumption? When was the last time you assumed what someone was thinking or feeling? It is not uncommon for us to think differently, and many times wrongly, based upon our collective past experiences. **End Summary** Topics: assumption]]> thoughts]]> limiting beliefs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and professional speaker specializing in personal development for women. To receive more personal development tips and her FREE report â5 Tips for Maximizing Your Timeâ, visit her website at http://www.loriradun.com

Vision and Belief are like Cookies and (Chocolate) Milk

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Maybe you would disagree, but to me, cookies and milk is a match made in heaven. They just go together. Can you enjoy cookies without milk? Sure, as long as they are Oreos or homemade chocolate chip cookies. Is a glass of milk refreshing by itself? Personally, I can't drink plain white milk, so it must be chocolate milk. Cookies and milk are good by themselves, but put them together, and you have a perfect recipe for a satisfying dessert or snack. A little sugar, a little chocolate, some protein, and added calcium for our bones. Can't beat it! Vision and belief is another perfect match in life. Without a vision, you don't know where you are going. Even if you believe in yourself, you will still wander around with no direction. Likewise, if you have a vision, but don't believe you can get there, you won't move very far. You need both vision and belief. What is your vision? Vision is your ability to clearly see what you want in your life. Getting clear happens when we focus on what is important to us, and tap into who we are, with all our dreams and passions. **End Summary** Topics: vision]]> belief]]> believe]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Lori Radun, CEC is a certified life coach and professional speaker specializing in personal development for women. To receive more personal development tips and her FREE report â5 Tips for Maximizing Your Timeâ, visit her website at http://www.loriradun.com