Nothing Short of Miraculous

Parenting is always a challenge, but when you and your child have completely different learning styles, it can be downright frustrating, and even maddening.

Such is the case with me and my daughter. My 8 year old daughter is a visual spatial learner (VSL). In other words, she lives in the right side of her brain--the side that is filled with music and pictures and emotion and creativity. As such, she struggles with things like time, organization, focus, and oral communication--those things that the left side of the brain excels in.

Unfortunately for the two of us, I live in the left side of the brain--a world where order and structure and time are the main focus. And unfortunately for her, this is also the side of the brain where the world--and school especially--primarily operates.

Getting through the day and accomplishing those things that she needs to get done is a constant battle--things as simple as combing her hair, ensuring that all her homework is in her backpack, and even getting her shoes on can be a challenge. The most common word you hear in our house is, "Focus!"

Well, yesterday I had had it. She is in a gifted and talented program at school and each month they work on a big project. She had worked hard on hers and over the weekend I asked her TWICE if she had packed it in her backpack. On Monday after school, however, she told me that she had left it at home. I was frustrated and told her she had better pack it right then. Yesterday morning I was angry to discover she had again left it on her desk.

So, I had had it, and I determined that when she got home from school we would sit down and figure out a plan to help her stay on top of what it is that she needs to do.

At the appointed time, we sat down with a piece of paper and brainstormed different ideas that we thought might help her. We came up with a plan to create a "pocket board"--pictures of things she needed to do with cards to flip after each thing was done. I told her I would make one for her and sent her off to bed.

Later, however, I realized that this was an "external" solution, and the challenge that VSL kids have is bridging the gap between the internal world that they live in and the external world that they need to function in. What I needed was an INTERNAL solution, not an external one.

What came to my mind was an exercise I learned a few weeks ago from brain scientist Dr. Joe Dispenza. He taught us something he calls "mental rehearsal," or thinking through things in your mind in precise detail before actually acting on them in the real world. Basically, it's a highly focussed form of visualization.

I decided that this is exactly what my daughter needed.

So this morning I went into her room and told her that I didn't think the pocket board would work and that we needed something that was inside her brain. We had done mental rehearsals for other things with some success, so I told her we were going to do it again.

I sat with her on the bed and together we talked and thought through exactly what she needed to do--down to the very smallest detail. "OK, so now you need to put on your shoes. Do you know what shoes you are going to wear? Do you know where they are? Should you comb your hair before or after putting on your shoes? OK, so what's next?"

When we were done, I told her to open her eyes and asked, "Now, can you make your real life match what you just saw in your head?"

What happened next was nothing short of miraculous--SHE DID IT!

There was no shouting, no arguing, no reminding, and no frustration. It was the smoothest, most efficient, most calm morning I can ever remember.

It was like magic.

I am convinced that this tool is going to have a profound effect on our family life and how my daughter connects to the outside world.

Thank you Dr. Joe!

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 6 - Final!)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

Wow. This lesson has been a remarkable journey for me--though there was nothing NEW that I learned, it reinforced what I have been learning from various sources over the past couple of months...especially what I learned in the Bahamas from Andy Andrews and Dr. Joe Dispenza. It all comes down to personal responsibility--is there something you want to change in your life? Don't complain about--change it! You know exactly what to do, so DO it! Here are my comments for the last two questions in this exercise.

5. How would you reprogram your mind to do it all differently?

I would program my mind to believe that how I feel about my body and my beauty determines both my behavior--how I take care of it, and how I act around others.

I would program my mind to believe that exercise is FUN and that eating healthy FEELS BETTER.

I would program my mind to believe that life is supposed to be FUN and that I don't have to be PERFECT (which is a good thing, because I never will be).

I would program my mind to believe that people like me and want to be around me--and I would constantly search for evidence that that is true.

I would program my mind to believe that making money is GOOD, and that you can have more of an impact on the world by having MONEY and spreading it around than you can by doing anything else.

I would program my mind to believe that life is EASY, FUN, and FREE-FLOWING.

I would program my mind to believe that I am successful whatever I do.

I would program my mind to believe that my example is all that is necessary to change lives.

6. If your life was a blank canvas, what is the first object you would paint?

It would be a picture of me--thin, healthy, and beautiful--smiling/laughing with my kids and my husband, out in nature, appreciating, loving, and enjoying every second of our lives.

Wow. Let me at it. :o)

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Wow. I am just so grateful for my life...I am bursting! Thank you for a great sleep last night. Thank you for a great mental rehearsal this morning. Thank you for my wonderful husband that I get to wake up next to every morning. Thank you for my beautiful, incredible kids--and thank you that they both got up on their own this morning! Thank you that we got to the bus on time and everything was relatively smooth. Thank you for Lyn's reminder bracelet--as well as all of the other inspiration and tools that help me be a better mom to her. Thank you for my talkcast last night! Thank you for vision, wisdom, clarity, and understanding. Thank you for my new sanctuary! Thank you for all of the wonderful, amazing things that are popping up all around me--just what I always wanted!!!! It is so beautiful and wonderful. Thank you for my GREAT bike ride this morning--the new places I discovered, the beautiful falling leaves, and still getting back on time! Thank you for Tony and Wendy--wow...thank you for Wendy. That was incredible! Thank you for Sue, and for all the lessons learned that make me a better and better person every day.

Talkcast 11/4: Stress & The Body

Notes from tonight's Stress Solutions talkcast. Did you miss the show? Listen the recording online or download the mp3 here: www.StressFreeRevolution.com/talkcast

Additional links & resources:

Dr. Joe Dispenza's website: www.DrJoeDispenza.com

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's website: www.DrJillTaylor.com

Dr. Jill on Oprah's Soul Series: Click here.

Dr. Frank Lawlis' book The Stress Answer on Amazon.com.

The Lawlis & Peavey Center: www.LawlisPeavey.com

Stressed Out to the Max on the Dr. Phil Show.

Stress: Portrait of a Killer on PBS: www.PBS.org/stress

What are some ways you can jolt your synaptic connections apart?

• Stand on furniture
• Do things with the opposite hand
• Go to a new town, new restaurant, new country!
• Move furniture
• Get rid of your "stuff"
• Take alternate transportation
• Smell fresh cut flowers
• Start dancing

Add your ideas in the comments!

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 5)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

Over the last few days I have really been working through this lesson. This is why Beyond Freedom is considered a 90-day program even though there are actually only 29 lessons. Sometimes you just need time to work through stuff!

Yesterday I answered the question, "What are the top three things you would like to change about yourself?"

You can read the entire post here, but basically I chose:
1. My physical appearance
2. My social standing
3. My perfectionism

Today's question is...

3. What are the habits you have established to enable those undesirable behaviors to flourish?

Wow. Placing the responsibility smack on my shoulders!!!!

In fact, yesterday I wrote about those very habits. I know I could be thinner and have a better body--but I just don't do it.

I know I could have more friends if I put in the effort--but I just don't do it.

Now, the perfectionism thing...that's a little harder. I think it's because with losing weight and gaining friends are things I can DO, whereas with perfectionism, it's things I should NOT do.

But thinking about it now, perhaps the answer is to find things that specifically break my perfectionism habit--like leave a (gasp!) typo in this post?! :o)

The point is, and what this lesson brings out so clearly, is that everything we want to change about ourselves is just a choice--choosing to walk toward what we want or walk away from what we want.

So I think I have time to answer one more question in this exercise:

4. Can you forgive yourself and accept who you are? (Write the answer in a complete sentence.)

Yes, I can forgive myself and accept who I am.

It's interesting. I got back from the Bahamas a few weeks ago, where I had the opportunity to spend time with Andy Andrews, author of The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success. One of the decisions is "The Responsible Decision." Andy explained that taking responsibility for something does not mean taking the blame for how you got there, but rather, taking responsibility for your future. He quotes Harry S. Truman, "The buck stops here," and says that we must decide that, "I will not let my history control my destiny."

So yes, I can forgive myself and accept who I am, but I will also take responsibility for my future. If I want these things to change, then I must be responsible for taking the action to make it happen.

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Wow. I am just so grateful to be an American. I left the voting booth this morning in tears...so grateful to live in a country where I am not arrested, beaten, or killed just for expressing my opinion. I am grateful for inspiration--a few days ago I received personal direction to vote for a candidate that I had decided against. I don't know what it means, but I followed the inspiration and felt good about it--part of why I think I was so emotional. Anyway, on to today's gratitude list...

Thank you for this incredible, beautiful, wonderful day. Thank you for living in this nation and all the opportunities and freedoms it affords. Thank you for my husband. He is just so great--what else can I say? Thank you for bringing us together. Thank you for keeping us together. Thank you that we get along so very well. Thank you for his beautiful, clean, spacious home--and thank you for all the wonderful plans to improve it! It's so exciting! Thank you for modern technology. Thank you for this incredible, wonderful, amazing, awesome business. Thank you for finally "getting" just how simple it is. Thank you for Sue. Thank you for Elisa. Thank you for Susan. Thank you for sooo many blessings I can hardly count them. Oh, thank you for Amy, too, and all the kind people who have responded to my emails. Thank you for the wisdom that making changes in my own life allows me to set the example for others. Thank you for getting that. Thank you for Shannon's enthusiasm this morning. She's so funny. Thank you for all the support and wonderful, positive, enthusiastic people I have surrounding me, encouraging me, uplifting me, sharing with me. I am so very blessed. What could be more wonderful?

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 4)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

In previous posts, I discussed my thoughts on this lesson, and last time I began working on the 6 part exercise--I only got through part 1 before my time was up! Let's see how well I do today... ;o)

2. Name the top three things you would like to change about yourself.

Wow. This is interesting. First, it says the "top" three things--that implies that most people have more than three!!!! Hahaha.

Second, it doesn't mention any category--it could be anything about yourself.

It's interesting that the first thing that popped into my head was how I look--I wish I was thinner, had a better body, had better hair, was prettier. I have always been obsessed with how I look--comparing myself to everyone I see and always coming up short. If there is one thing that I would say has held me back from achieving all I wanted to in my life, it is the fact that I have always believed I'm not pretty. As I would look at other women and what they have achieved in life, the first thing that pops into my mind is "Well, I can't do that...I'm not pretty enough." It really has plagued me as long as I can remember.

Of course, a good deal of what I don't like about myself in this area I can change--if I put in the effort.

The second thing that popped into my head as I thought about this question is, "I wish more people liked me." Again, I have always been plagued by the fact that I don't have a lot of friends, didn't get invited to parties, didn't go on a lot of dates, etc. I have thought over the years that people rarely have lukewarm feelings about me--they either love me or they hate me. I doubt that is true, but that was my perception.

And of course, if I really wanted to, this is an area I could change, too--if I put in the effort.

I learned how to be a good friend from my friend Elisa. Elisa would call me regularly just to chat, invited me to parties, or out to see things. We ended up having babies around the same time, and so it was fun to talk about our new motherhood or child rearing. Our friendship stayed alive for many years because Elisa knew instinctively how to make and keep a friend--she knew that it required effort. Because of Elisa, I realized that all those years that I complained about not having friends, not being invited places--all those years I never made the effort to be a friend to anyone else.

Now when I think about friends, I realize that it is my fault that I don't have more of them, and that if I ever wanted to have more, I know exactly what I need to do.

The third area that I would like to change is my difficulty "letting go"--I am often wound up tight...a rule follower, not a rule breaker, trying to be perfect all the time. This is what led to my near heart attack at just 37--holding everything in and taking on too much. And, of course, this has led to my difficulty making friends as well. People want to be around those who make them feel good about themselves, and I think I make people uncomfortable.

The good news is that I am already working on these three areas. Perhaps that's why they came to my mind so easily as I started this exercise.

Wow. Time's up again already. More next time.

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Thank you thank you thank you for an incredible morning and an incredible life. Everything is so amazing! Thank you for vision and clarity and understand and "getting" it--finally getting it. Thank you for the pennies from heaven! Thank you for my health--for my wonderful bike ride, for my soothing yoga, for my relaxing shower. Thank you for my husband, my beautiful home, my wonderful children. Thank you for a day off of school! Thank you for the pumpkin party. Oh, thank you thank you thank you for such a different life than before. Thank you for Amber. Thank you for technology. Thank you for the amazing human mind--so much creation before us! Thank you for the many wonderful men as examples for my son. Thank you for such an amazing relationship with my children. Thank you for the beautiful fall colors and the cool (but not too cold!) weather. Thank you for friends and loved ones. Thank you for my new kitchen! Thank you for the money that is circulating all around me and showering down on me! Thank you for the Bahamas. Thank you for my talk cast. Thank you for Aisza and Sue and Linea and Coleen and Anthony. And thank you for getting it. Oh, thank you for getting it.

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 3)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

I've already shared some thoughts on the text of this lesson, now it's time to get down to the exercise.

1. What would you like to put in your past and keep there?

Wow. As I started writing this, something very powerful just came up for me in a way it never has before.

My whole life I have been trying to be perfect. In fact, I have often said that the purpose of my life is to avoid criticism--in every aspect of my life. Criticism absolutely cripples me--at least that's the way it used to be. My mother, in her loving guidance, corrected me in everything I did and said. After all, that's what mother's do--train their children up to be the best that they can be. I loved my mother (still do!), and so I did everything I could do to be perfect in every way. But no matter how hard I tried, she would always find another area where I could improve. I was never good enough. My brother eventually gave up trying to please her, but I never ever stopped trying.

To many, I did seem perfect. Adults loved me--I was a good kid. But kids thought I was a goody two-shoes--they didn't relate to me, and consequently I had few friends. That extended to adulthood, and it pained me deeply to continue to try and try and try to be perfect, and still not be invited to parties, happy hour after work, etc. People loved me at work--I was committed, I got stuff done, I constantly tried to improve. But after work, it was a different story. It's like I couldn't let my hair down, and so they didn't want to be around me. They couldn't relate.

People love people with faults--they can relate to them and don't feel guilty about their own lives when they are around them. I had been trying so hard to correct my faults, because I thought that's what I needed to do to be accepted. Actually, it was the other way around.

So, I guess if I could put one thing in my past and keep it there, it would have to be this need for perfection and this drive to avoid criticism.

I am working on letting my hair down, relaxing, and letting go. After all, my inability to do so has been a major factor in my stress!

---

Wow. My time is up already, and there are still 5 more parts to this exercise! This is why Beyond Freedom takes around 90 days to complete, even though there are only 29 Lessons. :o)

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Thank you so much for Sue! Thank you so much for this community, the support, the encouragement, the people I've met, the life I've been able to create. I am just so blessed and thankful for the powerful decisions I have made in my life. Thank you for John's Halloween costume! It turned out so great. Thank you for Dan, for his love, his support, and his listening ear! He takes such good care of me. Thank you for this beautiful home--for my new furniture, for the remodeling, for recognizing the importance of my environment. Thank you giving me the answer to how to help Lyn with her homework. (More inspiration like that, please!) Thank you for all the amazing, wonderful, fantastic things that are happening in my business--I get it, I get it, I get it!!! :o) Thank you for the fall, the beautiful colors--oh, and thank you for reminding me about John's leaf collection! Thank you for John's 4 days in a row. He is soooo excited. Thank you for this wonderful season and the opportunity to focus on abundance and prosperty. Oh, and thank you for the Pumpkin Party!!!! Thank you for this great country we will in, our freedoms, and the ability to make our voices and opinions heard. Thank you for so many people that have been such a blessing in my life. Thank you thank you thank you. Life Rocks!

Do you get caught on the phone?

This morning I spent 45 minutes on the phone with a friend of mine. We had a great conversation. I love her. I love talking to her. I love spending time with her. But 45 minutes is a huge part of my day! I was counting on those 45 minutes to get important stuff done!!!

So what do you do when things beyond your control take up your time, leave you with less time than you want, and leave you stressed out because you still have so much to do and now you have even less time to do it in?

Reign your brain.

I think that's going to be the title of my next book, because I believe it really is the secret to life and the secret to eliminating stress.

Watch for a future article on some specific techniques for reigning your brain in different situations, but here's what I'm going to do right now: I'm going to write my daily gratitude. And I'm going to be focus on how grateful I am for her, for our friendship, etc.

Try it. You'll like it. :o)

D'ja Ever Have One of Those Days...

D'ja ever have one of those days where you just couldn't warm up? It wasn't even that cold today (around 45°F), but the wind just wouldn't stop blowing. I think my house must be drafty, because I was just so COLD (even though I didn't actually feel any wind).

I have been looking forward to my bubble bath all day. Mmmm...

I used Renew Bath Oil and Body Satin Foaming Bath (no longer available) from Melaleuca--it was delightful!

If you're not a Melaleuca member (follow the link on this blog for more info or see the Appendix in my book--memberships are by referral only), find someone who is and sign up!! If you don't know anyone contact me, and I'll get you started: 888-454-5421.

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 2)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

These lessons are always so timely, I really should get over being amazed by it.

I just got back from the Bahamas, where I had the opportunity to listen to brain scientist Dr. Joe Dispenza talk about the chemical, neurological processes that happen when we think, when we learn new things, and when we remember. It was absolutely fascinating.

Add to that my understanding from Jill Bolte Taylor about how the brain works, my reading of Dr. Frank Lawlis' The Stress Answer (and seeing him on the Dr. Phil show), and I feel like I could give a lecture! In fact, I'm going to be talking about many of these things in my Talkcast tonight.

Though I will be talking more specifics tonight, what I have learned is that ultimately the answer to true change is to learn how to harness your brain power.

There is so much information swirling around in our heads at any given time that it is hard to sift through it--and usually we settle on thoughts we have had before--whether they are beneficial to us or not. And because we keep thinking the same thoughts, we keep reliving the same things over and over in our lives.

But our minds are much more powerful and we could use them for far greater things. If we focus that brain power on what we WANT (our vision of the future), and we really FEEL what it is like to have it (rather than thinking about how great it would be while at the same time despairing that we don't have it), then our bodies will become accustomed to that feeling, and the entire Universe will conspire to deliver to us what has become so real and vivid in our minds.

As I so recently learned, I must practice what I preach. I intend to do some mental rehearsal (Dr. Joe's preferred term over visualization because it's more specific) every night for the next 27 days. I can wait to see what I create in my life! :o)

P.S. This lesson also includes a powerful 5-step exercise. I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Wow. Thank you for such a powerful lesson how music can affect the mind and mood. Thank you that I avoided the traffic on the way to the theatre! Thank you for the parking space right in front (as always :o). Thank you that the computer was already on. Thank you that editing that graphic went so quick! Thank you for the chance to talk to Sue. Thank you for the insight from Tony through Mirjam. Thank you for my tidy house! Thank you for CJ and the 28-day program. Thank you for this beautiful fall day. Thank you that I have a warm house, warm clothes, and plentiful food to eat. Thank you for clean, plentiful water! Thank you for Lucas! Woo hoo! Thank you for Jay. Thank you for wisdom and clarity. Thank you for my amazing, awesome, wonderful, incredible life! Oh, yeah...and thank you thank you thank you for Carol A. :o)

Too Stressed to Get Out of Bed?

Do you ever lie in bed and just not want to get out? Your mind starts thinking of everything you need to do, you get completely overwhelmed, and the pressure just seems so great that all you want to do is go back to sleep and hide?

Well, guess what? That still happens to me--in fact, it happened to me this morning.

But the difference between the old Margie and the new Margie is that before, everything seemed hopeless. Today, I know exactly what to do about it.

What's my secret? Well, part of it is understanding why exactly I'm stressed out. Once I know that, I can take specific action to addres those things. I'm a big believer in getting to the root and digging it out.

So today's strategy is:

1. Restore my sanctuary. My house is currently a disaster. I have been focussed on other things and have really let it get out of hand. I can get overwhelmed thinking about cleaning the entire house, so instead, I focus on my one-room sanctuary (see my book for more information about this). My sanctuary is my dining room. It's my favorite room in the house. It has the most beautiful view, the colors are soothing, and it has the least amount of furniture and gathers the least amount of clutter. It has gotten messy, though. There are cobwebs in the chandelier, the floor has not been mopped in awhile, and the furniture is dusty. If I focus just on THAT room, and not on everything, I will create a place of peace. In that room, my troubles can melt away. Yes, I will definitely restore my sanctuary today.

2. Take time for my daily target praxis. I love love love Simpleology as a tool for organizing my day. It is a simple, strategic, and effective way to dump everything I feel I need to do out of my brain, sift through it to find out what's really important, and target only those items that will further my goals. So instead of being overwhelmed by 100 things I need to do, at the end of the process I only have a handful. Yes, my target praxis makes a tangible difference in my stress level.

3. Reign my brain. One of the reasons we get so stressed out is our brains kick in and start thinking about all we have to do (in my case) or what all is going on in the world, our families, etc. It is our active imagination that creates the stress hormones that course through our bodies and create the feeling. The feeling then causes us to continue to think about these things, which in turn makes us feel bad, which in turn makes us think about what's stressing us out--it's a viscious cycle. The only way to counteract this is to consciously reign in my thoughts and focus them on good, happy, positive things--like how good I'll feel in my sanctuary, or how grateful I am for my home, my kids, etc., or what it feels like to be happy and stress-free. When I do that, I create new emotions, new chemicals, and a new cycle--one that works in my favor. Join me on Tuesday at 9pm for my weekly Talkcast. I'll be discussing how stress affects us physically and exactly this biochemical reaction.

So, that's it for me. I'm off to take care of this oppressive feeling I have this morning. Why? Because my choice is that stress is NOT an acceptable part of my life.

What's yours?

My Stress Free Day

Well, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, but it was a great day, and I had a great opportunity to flex my stress-free muscle. Here's the scoop:

I got up at 5:30, which was GREAT. I love getting up early, but can't always manage to do it. This morning my husband was sick and got up super early, so I was already awake when my alarm went off.

I got dressed, mixed an Access shake (super fat burning exercise shake from Melaleuca!), and did my Simpleology. That program is so fantastic at keeping you focused, I'm glad that I am recommitted to doing it.

When I was done, I headed out for my daily 10 mile bike ride--part of my training for Dream for the Stars. Then I came home and took a shower and got the kids off to school.

After that, I did some stretching. I have been very stiff all my life and have made it a goal to become flexible--I want to be able to do the splits by December 31. So I am following Lucas Rockwood's YogaBody flexibility program.

The bike ride and the stretching give me time to meditate and plan my day. It feels really good.

When I was done, I sent a couple urgent emails, being careful not to get sucked into reading others and responding to them. Then I read my daily affirmation, and began my blog entry about the networking event last night. I tweeted it and sent a copy to several friends--including the people I mentioned in the blog.

That all took way longer than I thought it would, so I didn't get anything else done that I planned to do.

From 11-11:30, I joined our daily community call and got a blast of energy from everyone else's enthusiasm and positive spirits. While I listened (decided not to participate today--sometimes I do join in), I cleaned up the kitchen.

After the call, I finished up the blog and planned my meals for the rest of the week.

I generally do that on Tuesday, but I had other stuff going on, so I just wrote out a few meals to last us until next Tuesday and headed to the grocery store.

From there I met a couple girlfriends for our monthly get together. Then I joined another community call--this time it was a lesson from our company co-founder. What did he talk about? Being transparent, authentic, and honest. What timing.

After the call, I had a brief conversation with a woman who had heard me on the Conscious Choices radio show and wanted to learn more about how she could incorporate stress-free living into her life, too.

While I was still on the phone, my kids came home from school, and after we cuddled and snacked, we headed out to buy some Halloween costumes. Woo hoo! They have been planning this for MONTHS--I kept thinking they were going to change their minds, but they didn't! My daughter is going to be a witch, and my son is going to be Mario.

On the way home, we had a great opportunity to make the stress-free choice! As we approached our neighborhood, the traffic was stopped--some kind of accident or something. The police arrived to supposedly direct traffic, but really they were just standing around, and it wasn't clear to me where I was supposed to go. So when I proceeded ahead slowly, I had two different officers yell at me! Sheesh!

The old Margie would have been crushed, would have taken it personally, and would probably have broken down in tears--but the new Margie took it in stride. "They must be having a bad day!," I thought. I was able to keep my composure, keep it in perspective, and just focus on getting out of there. I still pinch myself when things like this happen and I notice such a change in how I used to react to things.

Anyway, my husband had decided to stay home and make dinner, so when we got home it was all ready--yum!

Then he left to go build the set at LTA and the kids and I stayed home and had ice cream and watched Wheel of Fortune (their favorite!).

My goodness, I love my life. What an awesome, stress-free day!

Be the Change - A New Beginning

How could a networking event totally change the way you see the world, how you conduct your business, and how you live your life? Well, I'll tell you.

The event was sponsored by the marketing and PR firm Warschawski. It was held at Luckie's Tavern in Baltimore. The guest speaker was PR and social media expert, Peter Shankman.

It was during the meet and greet when I met Angelique Rewers, owner and president of the communications firm, BonMotComms.

She told me what she does, and I told her what I do, and like most people, as soon as I mentioned the Stress Free Revolution, she said, "Sign me up!"

I laughed and said, "Everyone says that!," and then I confided that while everyone tells me that they WANT to change, rarely does anyone actually do it.

Angelique pondered my comment for a moment and said, "Hmm...well, thinking about what just popped into my own mind, maybe it's because it seems like a 'Holy Grail' of sorts--you know, something that's kind of out there as a dream, but people don't really believe it's possible, so they don't even try." Wow. What insight. I could totally see where she was coming from.

The program began, and we listened to Peter talk about this new world that we live in--a world where anything you say or do can be instantly communicated to millions of people. "Social media," Peter said, "is really just a way to screw up a lot faster and in front of a lot more people."

He talked about how corporations (and people) can no longer live in secret, and how the generation growing up in this environment expects honesty and transparency in everyone--from casual acquaintances to businesses to politicians.

This is kind of a scary notion to us old folks, who are used to being able to talk one thing and walk another, but the generation that follows us is used to it, embraces it, and expects it.

As I drove the hour and half home, I reflected on what I had learned. I thought about Angelique's comment and wondered how I could make this notion of Stress Free Living accessible and believable, and I realized that Peter had given me the answer.

"Be the change you want to see in the world," Gandhi taught us.

The only way for me to show the world that a stress free life is possible is to live it myself and let others in on exactly how I'm doing it. Modern technology provides the means, all I have to do is use it.

That realization was at once frightening and exciting. I am, after all, one of the old folks for whom opening up one's life like that is a scary concept. Writing a book, giving advice on a Talkcast, being a guest on a radio show--all those things allow me to be in the spotlight for a moment and then retreat to my normal life, where I can choose whether or not to follow my own advice.

And yet it's exciting, because revealing my day-to-day life forces me to live up to my own standards and could be THE thing that provides people with real motivation to change. And it is, after all, my real heart's desire to see people say goodbye to stress in droves and wake up to the wonderful, miraculous, joyful, fantastic life that is theirs just for the asking.

So today I start a new chapter in my life. Today I begin letting the world in on exactly what it means to live stress-free. Today I begin demonstrating and recording it. Today it becomes real. And as of today, there will be no excuses left.

What is a stress-free life really like? Start following me on Twitter and find out: www.Twitter.com/stressfreemama

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

I love my life! Thank you for giving me the FREEDOM to sleep in if I want to--to go back to bed if I want to--to just be lazy if I want to! Thank you for being home and able to take care of Lyn when she is sick, without it running into other plans! Thank you for food in the house to soothe aching tummies. Thank you for chess. Thank you for piano lessons, for TV, for Dan, for life, for the Yahoo! groups, for a community of support, for Tony, for the Bahamas!, for this incredible, wonderful, amazing life that I get to live. Thank you for vision and clarity and purpose. Thank you for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Thank you for CJ and the power of ACTION! Thank you for my wealth that increases daily. Woo hoo!

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Thank you for the Bahamas!!!!!!!!!! Wow. How can I list them all? Thank you for the courage and the fortitude and the perseverance and the persistence and the incredibly, amazingly wonderful and supportive husband that got me there! Thank you for Ed and the entire 7th dream team. Thank you for bringing me to this place of clarity and focus that has allowed all these great things to come into my life. I can't wait for more!!!! Thank you for Colin and the soccer story--it is going to affect the lives of so many people! Thank you for Andy Andrews. Wow, wow, wow. Thank you!!! Thank you for Brent and Shane. Thank you for Beyond Freedom. Thank you for Dr. Joe Dispenza! Holly Hannah! Wow! Thank you for preparing the soil that was ready for those incredible seeds to be planted! Thank you for the upcoming radio shows. Thank you for Aisza, Linea, Coleen, and all the Stress Free Warriors yet to be! Thank you for Guy. Thank you for technology. Thank you for Ellery. Thank you for Lucy and Hank Heron. Thank you MENTAL REHEARSAL. Thank you for Lucas and the stretching program. Thank you for my beautiful, amazing, incredible, wonderful children. Thank you for my amazing, wonderful, incredible, fantastic husband. Thank you for this beautiful home. Thank you for Stake Conference! For sooooo many wonderful, amazing, incredible, amazing (did I say that already? ;o) things, people, and events in my life--thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!! :o)

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Wow. So thank you for Aisza. What timing! Thank you thank you thank you for the last 27 days. I have come soooo far, it is truly remarkable. Thank you for Brian Tracy. Such insight. Thank you for President Nixon!!!! (not the former U.S. president...ha ha ha...). Thank you for so many wonderful things in my life. Thank you for my incredible, awesome, amazing husband. Thank you for my incredible, awesome, amazing children. Thank you for their teachers--thank you for public education! Wow. What a great country. Thank you for all of the many wonderful things I get to experience in this life. Thank you for Jonathan and Lewis and Santa Fe. Thank you for inspiration, motivation, enthusiasm, and light. Thank you for the opportunity to be a tool, and the FAITH to allow it. Thank you for the Bahamas!!!!!!! I have so many wonderful things in my life. How could I ever focus on anything else? :o)

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Thank you thank you thank you for some much needed relaxation and recuperation this weekend. Thank you for an awesome husband who is always so willing to pick up the slack. Thank you for Lyn getting her poster done without too much trauma. Thank you for getting John's backpack back! Thank you for guidance, inspiration, and revelation. Thank you for the movie yesterday and the reminder that the best thing you can do to weather the storm is RELAX. Thank you for clarity and choosing JOY. Thank you being an instrument. Thank you for getting up and biking this morning! Thank you for energy, time, and enthusiasm. Thank you for so many blessings in my life and the many wonderful things that are going to flow into my life TODAY. Life is amazing! :o)

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 1)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

Wow. At what point do you stop being amazed at the law of attraction? This is staggering.

So on my bike ride this morning I was thinking about my mission--my mission to change the lives of hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people and help them see that they do not have to accept their life the way it is...that they can STEP UP and make a change.

I was thinking about the chapter in my book about going to the dentist and how even though we have this ache in our lives we often choose not to do anything about it because the thought of doing something is worse than the thought of living with it.

Then I thought about Les Brown in Rome and his telling us that change is THE hardest thing for anyone to do and there was a study that showed that people would rather die than change.

And it made my heart cry out.

So many people are miserable or only moderately happy! When they can live lives that are joyful and enthusiastic and and bright and passionate, why do they choose to stay small?

Then this morning I opened up my Beyond Freedom to today's lesson: Change and Acceptance.

Wow. I haven't even read it yet and already I am overwhelmed by how synchronous the Universe is.

Change change change! And acceptance. And life and power and enthusiasm and joy and wonder and light. Right on.

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Wow. Wow. Wow. Life is AWESOME. Thank you for a GREAT sleep last night--EXACTLY what I intended when I went to bed. Thank you for getting the kids off too school without toooo much hassle. :o) Thank you for a great bike ride...it seemed like it went so quickly! Thank you for voice broadcasting. Woo hoo! This is AWESOME! Thank you for courage and clarity and fire and passion. Thank you for using me.

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19

Stress Free Like Coleen!

Wow. I am so excited about the Stress Free Revolution that is taking place. People are starting to WAKE UP to the fact that they do not have to put up with stress in their lives!

Take Coleen. Coleen is a middle school teacher in Jackson, Mississippi. She joined our Stress Free Revolution just a few days ago and has already started experiencing tremendous changes in her life--and is spreading the word to others about it! Look what she wrote in a letter to some of her fellow teachers:

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FREE TO LIVE
COLEEN KNIGHT’S ANSWER TO STRESS
Most of you know that I have been highly stressed out for a while now. My mom is a constant worry and my job is a constant challenge, just like the rest of you. There have been many days that I have gone home with chest pains and a burning stomach.

BUT NOW, THINGS HAVE CHANGED!!!

I MET MARGIE REMMERS. SHE HAS ALREADY TAUGHT ME THAT LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT. I DON’T HAVE TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK HOPING THAT I HAVE ENOUGH EVERY MONTH TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I DON’T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THERE ARE NO ANSWERS AND THAT I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE STRESSED!

LISTEN TO HER STORY ON WWW.STRESSFREEHOMEBIZ.COM. CALL HER AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE. I DID AND I HAVE SINCE STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS WITH THE HOPES OF WORKING OUT OF MY OWN HOME BY THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR!

I was at the end of my rope. I felt like nothing would take me out of the depression I was falling into. I spoke to Margie and realized that I was not alone and that there were thousands of people in my situation. I would always wonder why God didn’t pick me to be one of those people that enjoyed their work AND made money. Then I realized…God helps those who help themselves. I was not helping myself, I was waddling in self pity. So, He and I had a little talk and I asked His guidance and started on this journey. A journey to a happy, healthier and independently wealthier me!

If you would like the opportunity to hear the same life-changing program that I heard, go to Margie’s site and log in. She will call you and explain her story and where this program has taken her. It will be well worth your 15 minutes. She will not pressure you into anything. She will only ask you questions about yourself and then tell you to listen to a recorded phone call. If you feel like the program is for you, she will have you call her back to move to the next step. This is so easy and I loved the fact that there was NO PRESSURE. So what do you have to lose except stress.

REMEMBER TO PUT MY NAME IN THE REFERRED BLOCK ON HER WEB PAGE!!!

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Coleen told me she has 100 teachers excited about making changes in their lives, too. Way to go, Coleen!

What would it be like to have this kind of enthusiasm and zest for life? You can have it, too! Just visit http://www.StressFreeHomeBiz.com and join the Stress Free Revolution!

Need Some Relief?

Need some stress relief RIGHT NOW? Watch this and see if it doesn't make you feel better. :o)

Lesson 18: Dreams

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE, and it can change your life, too. Click here now to order your copy and start overhauling your life right now!

It continues to amaze me how things happen in perfect synchronicity.

I started this lesson a few days ago and was reminded that dreams can be a powerful message from our subconscious mind. Remember, your subconscious mind absorbs every single thing that happens around you, to you, and within you--tens of thousands of bits of data. It is all powerful--like a massive super computer filled with data.

Your conscious mind, on the other hand, is responsible for retrieving and interpretting the data--the computer operator, if you will.

Your subconscious mind is unlimited in its capacity. It remembers every thing that has ever happened to you, everything you have ever observed, and everything you have ever learned.

Your conscious mind, on the other hand, is limited. It's role is like a gatekeeper only allowing out the wisdom it likes and can handle. Think of the computer operator--a mere human--trying to process and handle the information from the supercomputer. He is only going to pay attention to and use those things that he has decided are necessary.

Unfortunately, because the conscious mind is limited and can only handle so much, it often decides to block out things that the subconscious mind is trying to tell it--things that the conscious mind as asked for even.

Ah, but when we sleep, the conscious mind shuts off and the subconscious mind is free to send messages, and they come in the form of dreams.

So the other night when I first started this lesson, I followed the advice in the exercise and put a pad of paper and a pen next to my bed. I wrote the word "dreams" up at the top and went to bed with the intention of dreaming and remembering my dreams.

What's interesting to me about this is that I hadn't had a dream that I remembered in weeks. Yet when I set the intention to dream, sure enough I had LOTS of dreams that night.

I woke up with a smile on my face that it had "worked," but instead of writing them down, I promptly went back to sleep! Ha ha ha! :o)

Even more significant to me, though, is that I began this exercise on Wednesday, September 24. On Thursday, September 25, I went for my regular morning bike ride and had a POWERFUL REVELATION about my future and my mission, and THAT DAY, I began the Stress Free Revolution. I have been absolutely ON FIRE ever since!

You see, I set the intention that night not just to dream, but to start listening to my subconscious. I was ready to receive the message, whether it came through a dream or some other activity. And as we learned in Lesson 16, "it's the relaxed and slightly occupied mind that allows direct access to the subconscious."

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Thank you for the beautiful, cool, crisp air. Thank you for autumn! Thank you making it to the bus on time! Thank you for this fire and passion. Thank you for President Nixon! Thank you for Tony & Jim and the awareness that I need regular breaks. Thank you for the wisdom and foresight to clear my calendar! Thank you for early release Mondays and the relaxing time I get to spend with my kids. Thank you for joy and happiness and love and peace and enthusiasm--and thank you for reflecting it back to me through my family. Thank you for so many blessings I can hardly count them! Thank you for technology and the joy I feel using it. Thank you for the opportunity to use my strengths--just like Shawn and others have said. I love it I love it I love it--AND I AM SO HAPPY! Thank you thank you thank you!!! :o)

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Thank you for fire, passion, enthusiasm, zest, clarity, wisdom, inspiration, excitement, joy--how many words can I use to express what I'm feeling right now? Thank you for opportunity and vision. Thank you for this incredible home--this incredible time that we live in. All I have to do for food is go to the grocery store and buy it! Thank you for all the people and events that make that possible. Thank you for this lovely weather--nice and cool and beautiful with all the leaves changing. Thank you for my amazing husband and children that bring so much joy to my life! Thank you for my book--and for all the technology that makes it possible to me to publish it and promote it. Thank you for putting me in the hospital! Thank you for the contest that finally forced me to tell my story. Thank you for Dani--I have learned so much from her and am so grateful that she still sits on my shoulder and whispers wisdom into my ear. Thank you for CJ!!!! One day soon I am going to have to send her flowers. Thank you thank you thank you for my life and for all of its delicious possibilities! :o)

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for my mind--I love to think! I love to use it! Thank you thank you thank you!

Thank you for inspiration and Dan's support. Thank you for the Bahamas! Thank you for my new FIOS! Thank you for school. Thank you for organization. Thank you for this wonderful world--for this wonderful land of opportunity--thank you for putting me in this place in this time. Thank you for the guidance that I so readily receive. Thank you for finally finishing my triathlon story! Thank you for so many friends and associates. Thank you for my wonderful children that I love. Thank you for CJ--oh, thank you for CJ! Thank you for technology. Thank you for soooo much opportunity. Thank you for courage! Thank you for the clean air that I breathe, the house that keeps me arm, the food that shows up in the grocery store, the clothes that protect me, the sun that shines and the water that flows. Thank you for all of the perfect conditions that have allowed us to live in this beautiful place. We are all so richly blessed.

A Triathlon for My Birthday

I did not fear it or avoid it. In fact, in some ways I looked forward to it!

There is something legitimate about turning 40. Like now I was a real adult. People would take me seriously now. My opinions mattered. I was a real person.

I never would have dreamed, however--not in a million years!--that I would celebrate my birthday by completing a triathlon. Me--of all people! This girl who hates exercise--who has struggled with her weight her whole life--who gets winded going up one flight of stairs--who didn't even OWN a bicycle...how does THIS girl end up in an Olympic distance triathlon, swimming .93 miles, biking 25 miles, and running 6.2 miles--on her 40th birthday no less? Well, here's how it happened...

It all started with Beyond Freedom.

Beyond Freedom is a 90-day personal development home study course. It's a journey of self discovery--audio lessons, journalling, and a workbook of exercises to uncover what has brought us to this point in our lives and how we can create the rest of our story.

One of the exercises is to write a list of 101 things you want to experience before you die. The lesson says, "This is the way we should all be living our lives. With specific intent. With a happy ending in mind, so that when you turn the last page of the book, you break into a warm knowing smile, maybe dry a small tear of heartfelt emotion and know it was a life well lived. A life of accomplishment. A legacy of purpose."

As I began my "bucket list," as people now call them now (the movie of that name wasn't out when I did mine!), I struggled to come up with 19 things I wanted to do. It was amazing to realize just how small my dreams had shrunk.

When I got to item 10, I started to write down "finish a marathon." I have always admired people who run marathons, and I thought, "Boy, if I could do that, that would really be something!"

But as I began to write it down, I thought, "What am I doing? I HATE running!"

I had a friend who was training for a triathlon at the time, and I thought, "Well, I like to bike and swim...," so I wrote down triathlon instead. But writing it down did not mean I was actually going to do it. It was just a pipe dream--something I thought maybe I would do sometime before I die.

I could not have imagined that I would turn that dream into reality in just over a year!

A few months after I began my Beyond Freedom study program, my family and I took a trip out out Oregon and Washington to visit family. While we were at my dad's house, I happened to look through his bookshelves and pick up a copy of The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.

I remembered seeing the authors on Oprah years ago. Their philosophy is that managing energy is more important than managing time. After all, you can have all the time in the world, but it is worthless if you don't have the energy to use it.

I started reading and fell in love with the book instantly. I read page after page about why my energy levels were the way they were and what I could do about it. I was excited! I told my dad how much I was loving the book, and he said I could have it if I wanted it. He had read it some time ago and didn't care much about it. "Yes! Thank you!," I said.

I continued to read it for the rest of our vacation and couldn't wait to get home and apply the techniques that they recommend.

In the book, the authors discuss our energy as being in four categories, each building upon the other. First you have your physical energy, next your emotional energy, then your intellectual energy, and finally, your spiritual energy. They say that in each area we must alternate between periods of activity and rest--just like training your body.

Your physical energy is your foundation. You must increase the quality of your physical energy first--exercise, get adequate sleep, eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, etc.--before you can work on the other three.

They repeatedly stress how important exercise is and recommend a type of exercise called High Intensity Interval Training. Their experience led them to believe that this was the most effective type of exercise--huge results with a minimum amount of time.

Well, I have never been one to exercise--it took too much time, and I struggled to see results--but I was excited to get home, find an HIIT exercise program, and try it out.

I found exactly what I was looking for in an online article titled HIIT and Run: This Aerobics Alternative Will Help Take You Out of the Fat Lane by Shawn Phillips on MuscleMedia.com.

The article gave an exact program for using HIIT with running. It starts at just four minutes and works up to only fifteen minutes. "Now that's my kind of exercise!," I thought. I couldn't wait to get started.

The way the program works is you sprint for 30 seconds, then jog for 30 seconds, and repeat. You start with four cycles, then add one cycle every other work out. No problem!

I had planned to work out Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, so the next Tuesday morning, I went out in front of my house and proceeded to run on the street as hard as I could for 30 seconds. Then I rested for 30 seconds. Then I ran as hard as I could...but I could only last 20 seconds. I rested for 30 seconds. Then I ran as hard as I could...but this time I only lasted 10 seconds. Again I rested. My fourth run, I again ran as hard as I could, but again only lasted 10 seconds.

I walked into my house and collapsed. Literally, I fell to the floor--completely wiped out. Useless. I could not believe how much four minutes of exercise took out of me. I called my husband (from the floor), and said, "They said it would only take 4 minutes--they failed to mention that I would be wiped out the entire rest of the day!" Truly, for 24 hours I could barely move. I think we ordered pizza for dinner that night!

On Thursday, I tried again. Again, I was able to run the same amount: 30-20-10-10. But THIS time, I was only out of commission about 2 hours. Hmm. Improvement.

On Friday, a friend and I took our kids to the lake, and as we were sitting on the beach watching them, I told her what I was doing. I said, "Tomorrow I'm supposed to add another cycle--but I don't think I should add one until I can at least do two full cycles!"

She said, no, to go ahead and add the cycle anyway, "Your body will catch up." When I remembered that she used to be a competitive body builder, I decided to take her advice, so the next day I added my fifth cycle.

That day, I still had the same results--30-20-10-10 and now another 10 second sprint. BUT my recovery was only 10 minutes! In 3 workouts I had gone from completely exhausted and unable to function after a workout, to being raring to go after only a 10 minute rest. Amazing!

Day after day I pressed on, and day after day I got better. Alison was right--my body did catch up. After I got up to about 8 cycles, I hardly felt it anymore, and at around 10 cycles, I felt like I could go forever as long as I had that 30 second rest.

I began to think--gosh, maybe I COULD do a triathlon. Maybe I could do one not just before I die, but before I'm 50!

Of course, at the time, I didn't know anything about triathlons. I knew that they consisted of a swim, a bike, and a run, but how long was each leg? Did you have to run a whole marathon at the end?

I did some research and found that there are basically four standard lengths: The Sprint, the Olympic, the Half-Ironman, and the Ironman. Only the Ironman requires a full marathon. Whew!

I decided that I would shoot for the Sprint triathlon: 750 m (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, and 5 km (3.1 mi) run. As I gained confidence, I began to think, "Maybe I don't have to wait until I'm 50--maybe I could do it before I'm 40!"

As I continued to train, lots of miraculous things happened. I found an incredible training program that exactly fit my skill level and personality. A friend was participating in the Avon Walk and asked me to join her. While I didn't want to walk, I helped out by working the crew--biking nearly 60 miles over the course of two days...great preparation for my race ahead! I ended up swimming in the lane next to a swimming coach who gave me lots of pointers. I found that the bike I had bought was inadequate, and a friend went out of his way to find me a better one. I interviewed a woman for my Look What They Did! article series who had discovered an injury free running program.

All the pieces were falling together in an amazing way.

During this time, I met a woman at the gym who was a triathlete, and we talked about various things. She highly recommended the Sprint triathlon at Dewey Beach. She said it was a great course, and since it was on Saturday, you could get it out of the way and then just relax on Sunday.

So the Dewey triathlon became the plan. It was in September--after my birthday--but that was OK. It would still be my 40th year.

Then one day I went looking online for the exact dates of the triathlon. But I forgot that Dewey Beach is in Delaware, and I was looking in the list of Virginia triathlons. There, to my shock and amazement, I found a triathlon that was ON MY BIRTHDAY in one of my favorite places in the world--Luray, Virginia. It wasn't a Sprint triathlon, though--it was an Olympic! 1.5 k (0.93 mi) swim, 40 km (24.8 mi) bike ride, and 10 km (6.2 mi) run.

It was twice the length of the triathlon I had mentally prepared for, but it was just too perfect. A triathlon on my 40th birthday! I couldn't resist. The game was on.

Over the course of the next few months, training got long, but I revelled in how far I had come. Just a year ago, I couldn't even run 4 minutes! And now, here I was, facing a 5 hour endurance event.

As I trained and learned more and more about triathlons and what to expect, I came up with my personal goal times. My number one goal, of course, was just to finish. And that was what I had written in my Beyond Freedom--to finish a triathlon.

I looked up the finish times from last year and came up with my overall goals:

• For the swim, I wanted to finish in 45 minutes.
• For the bike, I wanted to finish in 2 hours.
• Running was always hardest for me, so I didn't set a goal there, but I wanted to finish the entire race in under 5 hours--which meant that if I hit the other goals, I would have 2 hours and 10 minutes to run, walk, or crawl if I had to.
• And finally, I didn't want to be last.

A few weeks before race day, as it all started to become "real," I suddenly had a sense of panic--several "oh my gosh, what the heck have I gotten myself into!?" moments. I found myself wishing I would get sick or injured so that I would have an excuse not to finish. But I pressed on.

Eventually I settled into the mindset of "it is, what it is." I no longer had time to improve my stroke or pick up my running pace. If I wasn't sitting right in my seat or changing gears when I needed to be, then too bad. It wasn't going to get fixed now.

The night before the race we packed up our gear and headed out to Luray. Our first stop was downtown to pick up my race packet. I walked into a sports store, was surrounded by athletes, and was struck by the fact that I actually felt like I was one of them. For so long I had felt incredibly inadequate compared to other "real" athletes. I wasn't one of them--what the heck was I doing? But I didn't feel that way in the store. Mentally, I had come a long way, too.

After a bite to eat, we headed to our hotel in New Market, a town not too far away (all the hotels in Luray were booked).

It was still dark when we got up in the morning to pack and head to the park. The race started at 8am, but we planned to be there at 6:30 or so to get checked in, marked up, and settled.

The morning was chilly (in the low 60s) and very foggy. Because of the fog we got to the park a little late, but not too bad. There was plenty of time.

First we had to park the car and carry all the gear up to the transition area--that's where you store your bike and stuff. We not only had all my triathlon gear, but blankets, a picnic basket, and toys for the kids. It was going to be a long day for everyone.

My number came with my race packet--401. They gave me a sticker for my bike, a sticker for my helmet, and a number I was supposed to pin on the front of my jersey. I still had to pick up my timing chip, though--a little device they attached to my ankle to keep track of my starting and ending times for each section. They also had to mark my body with numbers to keep track of me--401 on my arm, and my age, 40, on my leg. I was official!

With the help of one of the other athletes, I got my bike set up on my assigned section of the racks. Then I set out my towel, my shoes, and my helmet, and I was all set. I was as ready as I ever would be!

The race started at precisely 8:00am, but they sent everyone in in waves two minutes apart. Each wave was determined by age and gender and was designated by the color of your cap. I was in the fourth wave and started at 8:06am.

Despite the fact that it was a chilly morning, the water was perfect--not cold at all. With my heart racing and my head spinning, I entered the water and awaited the starting pistol.

I had trained well for the swim, and though I wasn't fast, I was steady and confident. The hardest part was the fact that I couldn't see. I had swum a test lap in the lake a month or two before, so I was prepared for murky water. What I wasn't prepared for was the sunrise that was directly in my eyes each time I came up for air. So I couldn't see below me and I couldn't see above me--all I could do was follow the other swimmers and hope they were going in the right direction.

The swim took me 44 minutes, and I was relieved to look back and see that I was not the last one out of the water. Woo hoo! First goal accomplished.

Next, I headed out on the bike. At the first pedal, I groaned to discover how tired my legs were! Though I had trained on the transition from bike to run, I hadn't trained from swim to bike. What a surprise! It seems that when you swim a mile, your legs get a little worn out!

One of my main fears as I began the race was that I had spent so much time training for the event that I hadn't spent enough time learning the rules. Consequently I was terrified that I was going to do something wrong and receive a penalty or be disqualified. So as I began to leave the park on my bike, my heart stopped when I heard the announcer call my name.

There were two lanes to choose from, and I wasn't quite sure which one I should take. My name was called just as I was heading out on what I thought was the bike lane, so I stopped--thinking I was off course. The announcer said, "No, no, Margie keep going!" Turns out he was just making a joke about my bike--I think he said something about me winning the contest for the oldest bike in the race.

"You should have seen the bike I had before this one!," I thought. I was so grateful for my friend Paul, who had gotten the "new" bike for me and helped me train. It was a tough ride on that bike, but I would not have been able to finish at all on the one I had before.

Like all the other legs, the bike was a two loop course. As I was heading out on my first loop, everyone else was going around for the second time. Almost every single person that passed me made a comment about my bike. Things like, "Wow, you are brave to come out here on that bike," "I really admire you on that bike," and "You have the toughest ride of anyone here!" Geez. My bike was such an improvement over the one I had before that I didn't realize it sucked!

The bike ride was hard--MUCH harder than I thought it would be. Part of it was due to my tired legs after the swim. Part of it was due to the very hilly course--much hillier than I had remembered from checking it out a couple months before the race, and definitely more hilly than the path I had trained on.

For many many miles I was all alone with hardly any indication that I was in a race. It was tough--much tougher than I thought it would be--and I had to keep telling myself that I was just on a ride with Paul and he was just up ahead. Only during the bike ride did the thought of giving up enter my mind. It was so hard! What was I doing?

At every hill I said to myself, "Stay on the bike...stay on the bike." It was so tempting to get off and walk, but I knew that if I did, it would be harder to get back on.

On one particularly difficult hill, I wondered if I would make it. I decided to count to 100 and then reassess. I counted and counted and counted and pushed and pushed and pushed and by the time I got to 100, it had leveled out a bit. "See?" I said to myself, "No need to get off--it's getting better already."

Finally I got near the end and faced the final hill, which had a huge, steep incline. I knew from before that it was coming. I was on my highest gear. I went fast to get some momentum, and then I started counting. Around 30, however, I just couldn't take it anymore, and so I got off the bike and walked the rest of the way up. At the top, I got back on--it was downhill from there to the park.

I got into the park with no idea of what time it was or whether I was last or not. It seemed I had been on the road for hours and hours. I unloaded my bike and helmet, changed my shoes and headed out on the run.

I had always planned on walking that last stretch if I had to, and I definitely had to. It was all I could do to just keep moving forward. As I headed out, Lyn said to me, "Mom, how come you're not running?" Ha ha ha! I told her I was a little tired.

As I left, I heard Dan say, "You're doing great--you're right on schedule." Really? I couldn't believe it. I felt I had been out there FOREVER on the bike! Those words were the best thing anyone could have said to me at that moment. It bolstered my confidence, and I went out with a smile.

As it turned out, I did the bike leg in 2 hours 20 minutes -- 20 minutes longer than I had hoped. But still, everyone was impressed at how well I was able to estimate my time on each leg of the race.

The 10K run was, like the other legs, two loops. We headed out about a mile and a half, turned around and came back to the park, then did it again.

I thought perhaps I could walk the first round and then run the second.

On my way out, I passed a few stragglers--everyone cheering each other on. After I made the first turnaround, however, I ran into another racer, who I assumed was making her second loop. When she asked me how far it was to the turnaround, I realized it was her first. We got to talking, and it turned out that she had had bike troubles and came in AFTER me. So I had reached my goal of not being last after all! Woo hoo!

As I started my second loop, I thought perhaps I could run a little bit--maybe I could count like I had on the bike and run 100 steps, walk 100 steps, etc. Well, I ran my 100 steps, but then I just couldn't start again. I ended up walking almost the entire way--just until I was about to enter the park and approach the finish line. The other girl passed me, and I was indeed the last one to finish the race.

As I reached the park, with my fans cheering me on and the race officials directing me to the finish line, all I could focus on was--what time is it? I wanted to know if I had made my 5 hour goal.

Unfortunately, by the time I came in, they had taken all the equipment down, so I did not receive an official end time. But by everyone's estimation, I had done it. Dan even took a picture of the time on the cell phone to prove it.

After I turned in my chip, workers fell over backwards to get me food and drink. My cheerleaders hugged me, and I was just TIRED. I thought that I would be weepy, but I wasn't so much at the end. All along the race, though, I would start to get choked up about how I couldn't believe I was actually doing this and how far I had come. I would start to cry--embarrassed that the other athletes might think I was hurt or something!--and then that would make me have a hard time breathing. So I would shake it off, focus, and get back to what I was doing.

After the race, several people asked if I would be doing another one. I initally replied, "Oh, I don't think so!," but I have decided that doing a triathlon is like having a baby. Don't ask a woman right away if she is going to have another--she needs time to forget how painful it was!

During my training, I definitely loved the bike riding the best. I had not ridden a bike in 20 years, and I had forgotten how much fun it is! I thought that perhaps I would like to do a "Century Ride"--a 100 mile "marathon" for bikers.

Shortly after the triathlon, though, as I reflected on my experience, I got a little upset at myself that I didn't push through and run more. I thought maybe I would focus just on running for awhile--do some 10K runs and overcome my weakness. After that, maybe I would do another triathlon just to prove to myself that I really could do all three legs.

But then an amazing opportunity fell in my lap--something completely unexpected and yet giddiously exciting.

I happened to be on craigslist (I am NEVER on craigslist!) and saw an ad for bike riders to participate in an 800 mile ride from Chicago to New York (over a period of two weeks) to raise awareness for child abuse and domestic violence.

It piqued my curiousity, so I wrote to the woman who had placed the ad. Turns out they are filming a documentary that will be shown in shelters around the country, and they are sponsoring this bike ride to generate media buzz.

Barbara Brower, the woman who is putting this together, and I emailed back and forth and then spoke on the phone and really connected. It seems the message of this project is the same as the message I have felt called to preach as well: that you don't have to put up with your current circumstances and can change your life!

I am thrilled to be participating in this event, and though it will be a lot of work to get my body in shape enough to do it, I am up for the challenge.

After all, if I can do a triathlon, I can do anything!

This adventure began because of the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for a beautifully smooth and efficient morning. Thank you for finding a good 10-mile bicycle course close to home. Thank you for my friends, my family, and everything that has led up to this glorious life that I get to live. Thank you for the MONEY! Thank you for getting organized! Thank you for piano lessons. Thank you for all the things I've learned that I get to pass on to my children. Thank you for inspiration and courage. Thank you for Liberty League! Thank you for FIOS! Thank you for this huge, beautiful home. I am so very blessed. Thank you thank you thank you.

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Wow. Life rocks. Thank you for my lunch date with Amy. Thank you for almost NO sore throat this morning. Woo hoo! Thank you for Dan and all he does to support me and show that he loves me. Thank you thank you thank you for CJ! Wow--I am learning so much about myself, about business...wow. Thank you for standards and clarity and purpose. Thank you for this beautiful Fall weather--I LOVE it! :o) Thank you for the MONEY. Woo hoo! I am going to go buy some more things I have been wanting--INCLUDING the fabric for the curtains. Right on!!! Thank you for the inspiration for Lyn's list--what a change! Thank you for my wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, incredible children. Thank you for the triathlon video. Thank you for the triathlon. Thank you for all the people who helped me get there--Paul, Susan, Jim & Tony, David, Brent & Shane, and Beyond Freedom! Thank you for Barbara and Dream for the Stars. Wow!!!! Life Rocks!!!!!!! :o)

Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Wow...wow...wow. I am soooo grateful this morning, I don't even know where to start. Thank you for ALL OUT MASSIVE ACTION. I never really understood it before. Thank you for the HUGE unexpected check in the mail. Thank you for CJ. Wow. Thank you for CJ. Thank you for an awesome, incredible, wonderful, fantastic, FRUITFUL weekend. Thank you for stepping UP. Thank you for all of the amazing interconnectedness in bringing to pass my heart's desire(s). Thank you for Dan! Thank you for standards! Thank you for affirmations!!! Thank you for Joseph Murphy, John Lavenia, and Aisza! Thank you for Lucas. Thank you for Create Space. Thank you for my journey and ALL of the lessons I have learned along the way. Thank you for Amy. Thank you for Dani and Tom. Oh, and thank you for John and Roland--wow...wow...wow. Thank you thank you thank you for my incredible life!!! :o)

Stress Free Like Gene!

Congratulations to Gene Braxton, our Associate of the Month! Gene is the epitome of stress-free living--choosing joy, creating wealth, and living life by design.

Wouldn't you like a life like Gene's? You CAN! Find out how: www.YouCanHaveWhatYouWant.com