Banish the Bad Mood Momma!

My wonderful and talented friend and fellow HypnoBirthing teacher was kind enough to write a series of  guest blogs for me as am way to busy having fun in the sun to write anything.

Thanks Sharon..I love you!

Sharon is also helping develop the Banish the Bad Mood Mama concept to the next level.Keep an eye on this hot mama! She is going places!!!!!

Magical Momma and Banish the Bad Mood Principals

ü      Creative Expression…..Art, Journal, Sing, Indulge in Outside Interests Banish the Bad Mood

ü      Have personal dreams and goals ~ Magical Mommas

I collect quotes on various subjects.  You will find in my blogging I normally include a quote or two.  I love the website www.gaia.com.  They have an awesome quote collection.  I was looking for quotes to inspire me the other day and was drawn to this one written by Laura Teresa Marquez “No matter the goal you have set — if you have not quit, you have not failed.” 

Recently I scheduled a free HypnoBirthing® Informational Seminar in an outlying community near where I live.  I was so excited to give this presentation and looking forward to working with the women in this community.  I prepared, advertised, and worked with my partner business getting ready for the big day.  Finally the day had arrived and…………no one showed up.  I felt like such a failure in that moment.  And then I found this quote and it made me realize that I need to keep trying.

Being a Magical Momma we all have personal dreams and goals, right? 

 My question to you is have you written your goals or dreams down somewhere?  The key to manifesting our desires is to express them.  In doing some research for this blog I found an awesome article on journaling called “Finding Yourself through Journaling” ~ http://hubpages.com /hub/A_Guide_to_the_Many_Ways_To_Find_Yourself.   The word “journaling” evokes images in my mind of fifth grade childish visions, writing in a diary with hearts and locks.  But after reading this article my image of what a journal is changed.  You aren’t confined to just writing but expressing yourself through art, collage, writing, and including poems or even music lyrics you enjoy.  The examples the author Toni Cyanbrock gave of her journal were so inspiring.  She took the cover of her journal and used an ‘old photo of herself, some tissue paper, news print, and ink to remind her, “Don’t Settle” because her journal is about self-discovery and personal growth”.  Journals help us to discover who we are.  And after having a child its hard to know who this new person truly is. 

 “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new”. ~Rajneesh 

 Even after having more than one child!

The challenge is to meet this new woman and what better way than through creative expression.  A recent challenge I gave to my HypnoBirthing® mothers was to develop their “dream of motherhood” on a dream board (aka…vision board, dream map).  A dream board is a powerful tool to help clarify what your goals are and help you reinforce and achieve them.  The Law of Attraction truly explains how this tool can help.  Specifically, this Universal Law demonstrates how we create the things, events, and people that come into our lives. Our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions produce energies which, in turn, attract like energies. Negative energies attract negative energies and positive energies attract positive energies.  By clarifying  exactly what you desire you are able to envision your positive image and by focusing on it each day it helps you to bring it into reality.

Creating a dream board is not a difficult project.  There is no right or wrong way to do this.

ü      First you should get a poster board, bulletin board, painters canvas or even a poster board frame as your base of the dream board.

ü      Collect images that inspire or motivate you.  You can have a specific theme for your dream board OR it can be a collection or grouping of goals.

ü      Some places you can find these images are:

a.       Print Publications – Magazines, Newspapers, Old Books, & Advertisements.  You will want Magazines covering different subjects:  money/wealth, career, sport, adventure, health, cooking, spirituality/philosophy, fitness, fashion, travel etc

b.      Try the following websites for images:  http://www.images.google.com, http://photobucket.com/.

ü      You may want to purchase other decorative elements like ribbons, sparkles/glitters, material, special papers, and even stickers.

ü      Make sure you have good glue.  You can use Elmer’s glue but I normally use Modge Podge Decoupage Medium.  It seals in the picture so it doesn’t fall off of the canvas.

ü      Cut out your images and then use your creative abilities to design your board.

I have successfully used dreams boards to help inspire me to loose weight, achieve a sales quota in order to win a trip to the Bahamas, & to be able to maintain a positive pregnancy.

Les Brown said “Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.” 

So what are your goals for motherhood, becoming a better you, and your future? 

The time is now to start visualizing, actualizing, planning, creating, and achieving YOUR DREAMS! 

 What is stopping you? 

Nothing

You my fellow Magical Momma are unstoppable so go now and cut, glue, and journal your way into your dreams!

Much love and light,

Sharon Gourlay C.Ht, HBCE, BA, RMT

www.SacredBeginnings.com

Conversation/Suggestion:  Why not get your girlfriends together and have a dream board party?  Spend the evening with a glass of wine, friends, and being creative.  What better way to dream than among the stars who are your friends!

And I am hellva busy!!!

So the blog is going to once a month posting while the kids are on break and we become river rats, hanging at the river eating juicy watermelon and catalop. If your in the area give me a call and join us!!!

I am hopeing my the next post I can report on my new foster child. We have just begun the process and I am ready for another kid…i think its a sickness!!! Thanks goodness we have limited rooms or I would want more! My poor hubby!

Even though I wont be posting often I will still be over at the magical mommas e-group and I love to hear from you!

Until then have a great summer!!!!

Blessing

Brandy

Come check out my websites!

www.BanishtheBadMoodMama.com
Stress Reduction Audio program for busy moms to relax and renew

www.CaliforniaHypnoBirthing.com
The Amazing HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education program available in Amador and Calaveras Counties in Northern California. Private classes , Doula care, Breastfeeding assistance

www.NorthernCaliforniaHypnosis.com
Private Hypnosis sessions with respected Clinical Hypnotherapist, Brandy Astwood in Sutter Creek, California. Stop Smoking, Lose Weight, Manage Pain and more!

www.MotherlodeHolistic.com
Online directory of the BEST holistic living resources in Amador and Calaveras Counties and companion holistic business network.

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Say Yes…..to HELP…PAMPERING… to DREAMS

Just as powerful and magical as saying NO, saying YES opens doors and hearts.

To often as moms we say yes to others but not ourselves.

Somewhere along the line we agreed that saying yes to ourselves was selfish.

Where did that come from?

Why did we agree as women to give up ourselves when we became mothers?

In line with saying NO, saying yes frees up time, nourishes our mind and sooths our souls so we can be joyful, magical mamas.

When we say yes to help, we open ourselves up to be cared for, to deepen friendships, to be part of a flow that heals the world.

Heal the world????

Yep heal the world.

When we as individuals are worn out, tired and resentful we send that same worn our, resentful energy into our home, our community, our world.

Even if we have a smile on our face and forget for awhile how worn out we are, our soul knows and our heart is broken more each day in lil ways as we ignore the need to say YES 

And that creates and directs energy in way we do not intend.

When we begin to say yes to help, self care and our own unique dreams, we begin to heal and that in turns sends out a vibrant energy that helps others heal. Our world needs strong, independent mothers to send their magic out into the world.

If your marriage is in trouble, your children distant, you lack meaningful friendships, your job sucks,you can change that by taking care of YOU.

Doesn’t make sense does it? At least not a first glance, however I challenge you to think about it.

How does careing for yourself create harmony in your life?

How does saying yes to your dreams bring you closer to friends and family?

Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say.

Answer the questions

Share your story of discovering the magic of saying yes

Or how refusing to say yes to yourself has created an imbalance in your life

Until sometime next week…

Blessing

Say No……to projects that you are not passionate about. No to SHOULD. No to GUILT

How many times have you found yourself say yes to projects when inside you say “NO NO NO” ?

Or had the wisdom to say no only to feel guilty about it after?

How many time have you said I should do this, I shoud have said that?

It takes great stength, grace and wisdom to say no to people we love and respect.

 Hell its even hard to say no to people we dont like all that much because we feel like we should be able to do it all, or that  we are showing weakness when we say no.

I myself have had to cultivate the response, “Let me check my schedule and I will get back to you”

 Saying no upfront is hard for me,one because its flattering to be asks but  mostly because at  the time I think I can do what is asked only to discover I am wrong! Then to back out leaves me feeling like an undependable flake…and I hate flakes!

I use my stock response even when I want to say yes because I like to help and to be in the mix but sometime projects are not in line with my goals at the time. And I need that space to time for clarity to appear.

Everytime I say NO I have the freedom to say yes to committments that are aligned with my life intentions.

It seems that everytime I turn down a project, something better ,something in line with my life and work goals come along and I can joyful and ethusaticly get to SAY YES and jump in Mind, Body and Soul with no regreats or guilt

Utilizing the Magic of No frees up my time and energy to live a life of my creation

Is there something or someone you need to say no to?

What is holding you back?

What would be different if you used the magic of no in your life?

Is there something you have missed out on because you were committed else where?

Comments are encouraged!

Discussion on the weekly topic available at :http://groups.yahoo.com/group/magicalmommas/

You deserve alone time, you NEED alone time,even if it means turning on the TV for the kids and locking yourself in the bathroom for a few minutes each day or handing the kids to Dad and going for a 10 minute walk. Trade with another mom. FIND THE TIME

To often I hear moms who are stressed to the max because they never take a time out. A few minutes alone each day would shift their whole perspective.

I used to have a hard time being alone. First because I became a mom so young(2 by 16, yeah thats another story) that everything I did from school to work I had companions in my boys. They were like a security blanket. I was so shy and self condos that having they boys as a distraction and an excuse worked well for me. I didn’t have to deal with allot of stuff because I was always busy caring for my children.

Being alone was uncomfortable. I didnt know what to do with myself. My thoughts were chaotic. I didnt like myself much. So I was quick to find something to do, someone to be with.

Then as I begin my healing journey, I met a woman who said “be with yourself, listen to yourself and you will heal in leaps and bounds” I have to say I rolled my eyes and went on with my life, seeking healing treatments that did make a difference but still I hated to be alone.

Then my husband and I had a weekend together planned and farmed out the kids ( 4 at the time)  but he was called into work and I was left alone.

 I cleaned the house.

I organized my desk.

I called all my friends.

 I read.

I paced.

I was bored and antsy.

I didnt know what to do with myself.

I turned on the radio to drown out the thoughts in my head.

I tried to watch tv but with poor reception and only 3 station, that distraction didnt work. Thank Goodness too because I think if I had access to all the channels available to me now I would have distracted myself into never knowing ME.

After the first night I had exhausted all distractions.

The next morning I woke and I felt a resolve to JUST BE.’

Just be myself, not as a mom, a caregive  a wife, a daughter, a sister.

In silence my thoughts started to come together.

Feeling came to the surface. Memories flowed

I spent the day listening to myself. Was I hungry? Tired?

Not following a schedule set to be effective with a family of 6. Liberating!

 I had no one but myself to care for. What a new thought!

In that day I discover I was good company. That I  felt satisfaction caring for myself.

I was renewed and re-energized.

When my husband and kids returned I was blissful. I promised myself I would take time for myself everyday.

It wasnt easy, My husband worked out of town , leaving Sunday night, returning Friday.

Kids were 7,9,2,1.

Three were adopted and has some not so fun issues,liking hoarding food, holes in the walls and hitting.

My girl Ana was less then a year and cried ALL the time and rarely slept..

I lived on five ac. far from a town and had a car that wasn’t so dependable.

So I had lots of excuses WHY I didnt have the time or resources for alone time.

But after that weekend alone, my time and resources seemed to magically appeared.

I cant say I was 100 % alone since my children where always close by. But going outside and soaking up the sun or moon is so refreshing. Sitting alone under a tree. Taking a cat nap. Writing out thoughts and ideas down. Allowed my to learn who I am.

10 minutes every day to myself has created HOURS of a calm, effective mom that can manage a dozen kids with a smile. Ok I have worked it to 30 minutes during the day. Sometimes I get interrupted but for the most part all my kids understand that mom taking a time out means a calm mom, full of hugs and kisses that is way better then the bad mood momma ,who is impatient and focused on getting it all done.

I have discovered an amazing best friend who is always looking out for my higher good. The ability to be on my own has released amazing ideas and solutions in my life.

It has also taught me to allow my kids private alone time. Which used to be a huge challenge in a 2 bedroom house with 6 kids. Now it a lil easier with 3 bedrooms and only 5 kids. lol

I challenage you to committe 10 minutes everyday to YOURSELF.

Listen to my free guided relaxation ( www.BanishtheBadMoodMomma.com ) , as a way to start.

I’m betting you will uncover a dynamic, energetic woman who knows how to live her life for her highest good in home, work, and world.

Tell me about your need for alone time, or fear of being alone.What things do you do to create alone time for yourself? Or avoid it?

 OH Brandy, 
Your Blog makes me want to try and move again.  When I do take a walk or try and do yoga in my living room………all I see is my large mass of tummy flubber!  I have had 3 C-sections in 4 years and they had to cut vertically through all of my tummy muscles.  Needless to say I have alot of flubber since I was plus size to begin with.  Previous to getting pregnant with the first baby I was a comfortable size 14 or 16.  I looked good at that size.  NOW……..OMG………I must be a size 26 now. 

• Food
• Health
• Marriage
• Environmental toxins
• The government  ( shhh..don’t tell anyone but our government needs a Mean Momma(not talking Hillery here) to bring some common sense to the system, sorry for the tangent, my honey is watching the news and it is pitiful! )

• walking alone in silence
• journaling
• dream interptation (and not from a book that says this is what such and such means, more on that in a later post)
• massage,
• reading and paying attention to my thoughts to the words and concepts of the book 
•  working with a hypnotherapist when I pinpoint thoughts, habit and behaviors that no longer serve me.

We all know we need to exercise but between kids, work,friends and housekeeping it falls to the bottom of our to do list

Plus exercise is no fun…..Images of gym class come to mind for me when I hear the word exercise.. lol

However, if we shift our consciousness from the work of exercise to the joy of movement then the door to possibility is swung wide open.

No longer is it about making time for the gym and being self conscious about our jiggly arms and rounded mama bellies when surrounded by firm, flat bellied women who live at the gym.

• Movement is about communicating with our bodies.
• Movement releases stress and anger
• Movement moves energy though our bodies and world
• Movement builds strength and vitality
• Movement clears out the cobwebs of our mind and allows new ideas to manifest
• Movements allows us to spend time with our selves or with other without the distraction of modern life
• Daily movement improves our mood and health, a recent study showed that a daily walk was more effective then Prozac or paxil for depression

So what is your daily movement?

• Does it consist of getting up from your desk or couch and going to the bathroom or getting something to eat?
• Or maybe your a mama with lil ones and feel like you move all day but still feel low energy and overwhelmed
• Perhaps your a mama who forced herself to the gym or class every week but hate it
• Maybe your dealing with chronic pain and low energy and hardly move at all as the pain gets worse

Wherever you are, I challenge you to intentionally move your body EVERY day for at least five minutes (if your a beginner) doing something you enjoy.

Focus your attention on how your body feels, the thoughts you have

Don’t know what you enjoy? Explore!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Strech and Breathe..listen to your body, going just as far as your body comfortably wants to go
• Turn on the radio and dance with your kids or honey
• Go for a walk in your neighborhood and wave with a smile to everyone you see
• As you watch your favorite show on tv…stand up and move your body instinitivly in slow measured movements (think tai chi)Better if you do it with nice music or in silence but hey if you just can’t miss ER or LOST then its better to do it while your mind is occupied then not at all
• Set up a date with your honey of best girlfriend and check out a yoga class or beginning karate
• Go outside and play kickball with the kids
• If weather permits swim as many laps as you can comfortabley do

The idea is to start where your body and mind are and work from there.

• No sore muscels
• No talking yourself into going to a class because you should

Its about having fun and hearing what your body has to say

Movement has the power to heal your mind and body

Some usefull mantras/affirmations are

• I savor the movement of my body
• Everyday my body is getting stonger
• Movement brings peace to my mind and energy to my body
• I am calmer the more I move intentionally

Please share your ideas and thoughts.

Until next week….

blessings

The nuclear weapon to send Bad Mood Momma back to Bitchland

Slow,deep breaths that fill the belly with air.More information on how to do that correctly.

The first defense against unhealthy responses to stress is not Tylenol or Motrin, but  deep breathing. 

 In response to stress, our breathing is immediately affected as it becomes shallow and focused in  upper chest

Three basic mistakes in breathing are made: 

• We’re so consumed with our appearance…looking thin that we learn to hold in our stomachs or wear clothing (tight fitting clothes or undergarments) or belts to do so which limits our breathing to the upper chest. Forget the Mama belly and BREATHE!

Read the following statements.

Do they fit you? Do you need to work on some of the concepts?

Do you agree witht hem? Disagree?

What do YOU think makes a magical mama?

In my opinion, A Magical Momma……

1.Values her intuition over others opinions in raising her children and running her home
2. KISS….Keeps it Simple, Sister!
3. Allows her kids to be safely independent
4. Kills and Bury the Super Mom Complex in the back yard
5. Pamper  herself in little ways everyday
6. Have a schedule that fits her life and allows freedom
7.  Have outside interests
8. Respectfully say NO
9.  Forgive herself
10. Sees the humor in everyday life
11. Lives happily within her means
12. Plays everyday with her kids and has fun doing it
13. Nourish her bodies with whole food and fresh water
14. Asks for help
15. Has  an orderly home yet ignores the dust bunnies
16. Sets her intention in trying situations
17. Knows she is a sexy goddess
18. Intentially moves her body everyday(otherwise know as exercise)
19.Has personal dreams and goals
20. Has a support network she can lean on when needed

Stay tuned over the next year as we explore what these key concepts mean and how you can incorprate them into your life to live calmer and more effectively.

Next week we will begin a deeper exploration of the key concepts on how to Banish the Bad Mood Mama. Please leave comments, share your stories…..

If your ready right now to discover the Calm, Effective Magical Momma within right now, please visit www.BanishtheBadMoodMama.com and sign up for my monthly audio program for only $2.95 per month. Each month you will recieive access  to the members only part of Banish the Bad Mood Mama! and receive a Mp3 download to help you in transforming the thoughts, habits and behaviors that keep you stuck in the Bad Mood Mama mode and far away from living life as a joyful energitic Magical Mama.

These are the basic concepts learned in the Banish the Bad Mood Momma Stress Reduction program (www.BanishtheBadMoodMomma.com)

To learn more about how to apply the basic concepts of Banish the Bad Mood Momma, visit www.BaniohtheBadMoodMomma.com and sign up for the monthly audio programe subscribe to this blog and join my Magical Mommas egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/magicalmommas/ for support and encouragement on your journey to banish the bad mood momma and rediscover the calm, effective , magical momma within.

In the following weeks I will be expanding on these concepts and how you can incorporate then in your life.

Breathe

Movement

Alone time

Say No

Say Yes

Couple Time

Creative Expression

Be grateful

See the positive

Relax

Sleep

Spirit

Mindfulness

Nourish your body

     BE YOURSELF!     
 YOUR AMAZING!!

Accept yourself as Perfect, Whole and Complete
Perfect in you Imperfections

NEXT WEEK: Guidelines to living the life of a Magical Momma