February is the month of valentines, red hearts and everything sweet and rosy!  Give yourself and a friend the gift love by signing up for Mind Master’s newest workshop: “Peas in a Pod! Great Relationships“.

Imagine emulating those merry little green vegetables nestled in a pod.  Imagine living and growing together in a healthy manner as they do.  Imagine all of your relationships, personal and professional, being positive, joyful and rewarding.  Does this sound too good to be true?  Is it possible?  Find out for yourself and attend 2 hours of scintillating discussion that will inspire you to create positive change!  Each participant will have an opportunity to create a personalized action plan they can apply to their life immediately.  What are you waiting for?  Cupid’s arrow is aimed directly at you!  Click here to register.

Note:  Following last Sunday’s Walk for Memories, I am pleased to announce that $30,000 was raised to support the Alzheimer’s Society and thousands of people affected by the disease.  Bravo!  A big thanks to everyone who brought sunshine to a cold, wet winter day!

The Alzheimer Society of BC is hosting  “Walk for Memories” at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, this coming Sunday, January 27, 2013 from 1 – 3 pm.  Join me in honoring Jim Boileau and over 70,000 other people affected by dementia.  Jim, this year’s honouree began volunteering at the age of 14 for the New Westminster fire department in 1945.  This led to his 42 year career at the Port Coquitlam Fire Department.   Wow!!

It is an honor for me to volunteer for this event and contribute to this very important cause that brings families, friends and community together at the beautiful Shoreline Trail.  Drop by to say hello and make some new friends along the way.  Each of us can make a difference and together, we can make a really BIG difference!

Register on-site or register on-line.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Resources are everywhere.  We just have to open our eyes to seeing them.  This means bringing awareness to your intentions.  Ask yourself the following 3 questions; “What do I have today that will help me achieve my goal?”  “What else do I need?”  “Where can I get what I am missing?”

Often there are more resources available than you realize.  Simple enquiries will lead you to missing pieces you seek.  Perhaps it will be a person, event or an organization that you were not previously aware of.  Connections reveal themselves in the most magical ways, once you start asking.

For example, if your goal is to eat healthier, you might ask friends and colleagues what resources they use.  Getting fresh ideas is always inspiring and the odds are that you will find an important piece of information that will ignite your process.  Maybe it will be a highly regarded cooking class or nutritionist who offers wonderful insights.  Be open to what comes your way and be prepared to try new things as you step closer to realizing your goal!

Take full responsibility for your goal.  This is your life and you have the power to create positive change for yourself.  Whether you aspire to travel across the world, eat healthier or simply have more time to relax; your commitment and focus is imperative for success.

Perseverance is the key.  Uphold a high degree of integrity for yourself.  Do what you say you are going to do.  Honor yourself and commit to fulfilling your goal.  When you do this, not only will you feel proud of your accomplishments, you will also be more confident when you set out to conquer your next goal!

Envision success!  Using your imagination, picture yourself having achieved your desired goal.  What are you doing? . . . What does it feel like? . . . What is in your surroundings? . . .  Is anyone with you?  Create a detailed image of what success looks like for you.

Now ‘cement’ your image.  Write it down on a piece of paper or index card and post it in a highly visible location.  If possible, collect photographs or images that support your vision.  For instance, if your goal is to do volunteer work in another country, you might create a collage with pictures from the host country and images of people doing the type of work you aspire to do.  Imagery is a very powerful tool that conditions your subconscious to bring ideas to reality!

Mind Master is pleased to announce its newest workshop for January: “Eat Play Love!”  Join delicious conversations that are sure to stimulate your senses and inspire you to make positive changes for 2013!  Experience a taste of psychology while exploring the what, why and how of eating and discover essential strategies for optimal wellness.  Although this workshop does not include nutritional advice, it does cover tips for healthy eating habits in today’s hectic world.  Practice a healthy sense of play as you engage your inner child to alleviate daily stresses.  Discover the keys to unconditional love and unlock the secrets behind effective journalling  and achieving inner peace.  Eat Play Love! may well be the catalyst for 2013 being your best year ever!

This workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013,  from 7 – 9 pm at the Coquitlam campus of Douglas College.  Register now as space is limited to 12 participants for maximum benefits!

With the holiday season behind us, we begin a new year with hopes for fresh beginnings and enhanced living. January brings a clean slate for us all to embrace positive change. What goal will you set for yourself this year?

Whether your goal is personal or professional, bringing it to reality can be one of the biggest challenges we face in life. This is because we are creatures of habit, hard-wired to stay within our comfort zones. Since goals involve change and change requires effort, we need to break away from our old familiar habits and routines to succeed with our goals.

The key to successful goals is establishing new habits. Focus, commitment and perseverance are the necessary ingredients and in the next few weeks, I will offer valuable tips to help you succeed with your goal. To start with, make room for positive growth today. Commit to one goal that is important to you and aligns with your value system. Step by step, you CAN make it a reality. Believe it!

As 2012 draws to an end, I reflect back on Mind Master’s first calendar year of operations. Since last April, I have written 67 blog posts, facilitated 3 highly successful workshops and raised $200 for seniors outreach! In addition, $20 was donated mid-year to a local participant who pedalled his heart out to raise money for the Ride to Conquer Cancer last spring. Combined, this brings the grand total charitable donations to $220 for 2012! Hurray!

Giving generously is definitely a win-win since the donor receives just as much as the recipient. Without a doubt, philanthropy benefits everyone involved. Donating does not necessarily have to involve money since we can all give generously in other ways. Random acts of kindness involving favours and thoughtful gestures that help another persons’ journey in life are always appreciated. The sky is the limit as you can donate things you no longer use, offer your services and talents to the community, or run your own canned food drive! Imagine how you good you will feel once your have completed your wonderful deed! I am sure there will be a big smile across your face and feelings of great satisfaction within!

Research reveals that regularly practicing random acts of kindness for others contributes to overall happiness and who can argue with experiencing more happiness in life? Not I! Having said that, I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and much good health for the coming year! Look for the next Mind Master blog post in early January and some changes to the Mind Master website, including a link to Testimonials!

With Christmas only two weeks away, the big countdown has begun. As with any event you prepare for, it is important to be mindful of your energy levels and emotional needs throughout. Beware of any signs of body tension and fatigue, negativity and anxious feelings from being overwhelmed. These are all cues that you have taken on too much and have over-extended yourself.

Pull back and schedule downtime exclusively for yourself. Make time to relax, chill out and recharge your energy. Taking frequent breaks can be a lifesaver as it allows you to stay the course and complete your goals with satisfaction. Assess your progress along the way and prepare to do away with non-essentials or delegate tasks that create unnecessary stress for you.

Mindful living is all about making wise choices that best suit your needs. Aim to celebrate with others by offering the very best of yourself. It is the best gift that you can ever give!

The final tip for increasing vitality during winter months is to treat yourself to something really special.  Indulge in the extra ordinary, beyond what you regularly do.  Splurge as you create a large window of time for yourself, embark on an activity you long to do, or both!  Find something that both inspires and excites to move into action.  Follow your imagination and allow your senses to be your guide!

Whether you choose something that costs money or not, know that nourishing yourself need not break the bank.  In fact, the most gratifying experiences are more affordable and accessible than you realize.  Think outside of the box when it comes to brainstorming ways of achieving your goal in a cost-effective manner.

For example, if you long for a tropical vacation, narrow down which activity it is that you specifically enjoy.  If you enjoy a warm climate, consider pampering yourself at a local spa or pool, using their sauna or hot tub.  If you enjoy the ocean environment, make plans to visit a tropical aquarium or local beach to engage your senses and feel the soft sand beneath your feet.  If you enjoy a party atmosphere, consider attending a community event or hosting a themed potluck with cultural foods from your country of choice.  The ideas are endless and the important thing to remember is to have fun.  Beat the winter doldrums by bringing your ‘ideal tropics’ home to you.  It is but a mere thought away!