How to minimize stress and overcome anxiety

Hey siStar,

I want to tell you a story. It’s a story about me and it’s fairly recent. It’s a story about how I could be devastated and heartbroken, yet still be balanced and focused enough to keep hold of my hope and faith. It’s a story about what it has taken to move from a place of letting every upset, stress and discomfort throw me off track and convince me that the unspoken fears in my mind just might be true to a place where I can admit sadness and still see the bright glow of the sunrise of my dreams and goals on the horizon.

How is this possible?

It’s because of the work I’ve done to love myself deeply. It’s because of all that I have learned and put into practice about what that truly means. I had to learn what it really meant to take care of myself. I had to learn what it really meant to *listen* to myself and *hear* all the layers of what I tell myself. I’ve had to learn how to see through to the truth of who I am at my very core and begin to understand why I’ve taken on so many other versions of myself that just aren’t true.

And then I had to begin the work of telling myself something different. And then doing something different. And then finally - through a lot of trial and error and *patience* - I began to feel something different. I began to feel like life *was* working out for me. That I was *just* as entitled to a happy road as anyone else. And that in fact, I could create it with a lot more ease than I thought.

Getting to this place is nothing short of magickal. Magickal is truly the best word to describe it. The sense of potential that I have now about life is magnetic - figuratively and literally. I’m constantly bringing in experiences now that can only be explained by coincidence or serendipity and I choose to believe in the latter.

I want to help you experience this and I know that if you are sitting in a cesspool of anxiety, overwhelm, and stress (could this be you?) the first steps have to be about cleaning up the muck and putting an immediate halt on those feelings. Immediate relief is the step before the step of peeling back the layers and making the permanent changes that get you to the magickal place of peace, calm and sanity.

That’s why I created The Mighty Overwhelm MInimizer Course. My first version of this course was a mini introduction to how to immediately reduce the feelings of overwhelm, stress and anxiety (usually followed by our friend depression). I felt strongly compelled though in the past month to expand and fill out this course so that it isn’t just an introduction, but a true guidepost for you in taking these transformative steps forward.

In this course I will teach you:

** The power of gratitude and why it’s essential to your foundation

** The gift that aromatherapy gives in combatting anxiety and depression

** How to choose the right self-care actions for yourself and customize your own *effective* self care plan

** How to diffuse overwhelm from the viewpoint of self-love

And so much more!

I’ve designed this course to be powerful, transformative and life altering. And furthermore, I’ve designed it to be easy to digest, powerfully effective and simple to implement. If you’ve been feeling on edge, out of whack and in desperate need of some type of break, I encourage you to make this investment in your peace, calm and sanity.

I am so excited about sharing this course with you that I made it extremely affordable for you at $197 so you can experience the same results as me. In fact, I’ve packed this program with an incredibly valuable bonus to support you in your transformation. I wanted to make this available to all participants, but I knew this no-brainer would usher an influx of participants who would be eager for personal time to explore particular blocks. I incorporate the help of the Tarot and look into concrete ways to overcome them energetically and tangibly. Due to the amount of time and energy I invest personally into my “clients”, I truly have to limit that number.

You not only get the Mighty Overwhelm Minimizer Course, but you get an in depth, 90-minute, one-on-one intuitive coaching breakthrough session, valued at ($250).  This package, including our interaction together is easily worth more than $600, however, I want to make it completely accessible and cost-effective for you at $197. However, the bonus is only available through midnight tonight, CST.

Simply press the button below to get access. If you’re anything like me, I know you want to embrace a moment to exhale and release anxiety and the guilt and pain it causes  and gain peace of mind, calm and sanity.

Don’t worry. You have support in the journey. In fact, if you have any questions, I am here for you. Just click here to message me <3. 

Bachata, Livestreaming and Clarity...

Hey siStar!

How has your week been? Mine has been filled with the ups and downs of life. I've had some very low points and thankfully some ecstatically high points and my week is ending settled somewhere nicely in between. Lots of gratitude for that :-).

I have a busy weekend ahead of myself also with judging and teaching in Memphis. I'm judging a bachata contest tonight and tomorrow I'm teaching a ladies styling workshop. And the most unique thing happening is that after my workshop, I'm going to have a little informal talk with the attendees about how dance can be a powerful form of self-empowerment for women. I always imply this and if you've been with me for a while, you probably already know that I feel this way. However I've never combined both my dance world and my personal development world in the same offering. 

It's what I've been wanting to do though. So when the universe dropped this opportunity for a workshop in my lap in a place where people already know me well, I knew I had to take the chance to move the vision forward just a bit. 

So I'm curiously hopeful and expecting of a really gratifying experience and I will of course report back about how it all goes. (And if you are wondering will I mention MOVE, of course I will! Sweatproof, natural makeup is absolutely empowering, especially for dancers.). 

Before I say adieu this week, I want to leave you with my latest livestream on my personal Facebook page. Yesterday eve I talked all about the new direction that I'm boldly headed in with my coaching work. It's what I've always been doing but just hadn't realized. Watch it here and let me know your thoughts in the comments. I would love to hear what you think about it! 

Beauty Rituals as Self Care?

Just recently I was asked to be a guest on my mentor’s podcast. The topic was what I do and why I do it. That should have been easy right?

I felt some anxiety though.

Was there a way to talk about all the components of what I do in a way that the listeners could easily see the beautiful synergy? Was there a way to make my philosophy, mission, and offerings succinct and complete and understandable? Maybe even inspiring?

As I began talking though, the fear around that worry completely dissipated.

I know that all the components of what I do equal total transformation and I understood even more clearly how to explain how I’ve come to my conclusions. The guidance I give is a true and doable path to thriving in life (not just getting by).

WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

We mostly talked about beauty rituals and why they are an ultimate form of self care.

There were so many gems in that conversation and truly it’s too much to write about in one post; so be on the lookout for future posts where I expound and wax philosophical about the things our conversation brought up.

However, let’s start today here at the beginning and explore the emotional charge that comes up when you say or hear “beauty rituals are an ultimate form of self care”. Did you feel the charge? I know I still feel it.

Where does your mind automatically go?

My mind defaults to judgement. If you do too let’s look deeper into that judgement and define it even further. Is there a sense of frivolousness, shallowness, baseness, simple-mindedness (and not in a good way) when you think about engaging in beauty rituals with this intent? Does it feel like you’re cheating yourself out of some possible evolution/enlightenment - taking the easy way out or dumbing it down for yourself?

Maybe you are the one that is on the other side of this - feeling like you dare not indulge yourself that way. You find yourself feeling like it would supremely selfish to take the time to care for yourself, especially through pampering and activities solely created to enhance your beauty and make you feel good..

And of course, there are those of us that are somewhere in between.

There’s so much resistance around this right? Which means there’s so much room for growth. There’s so much room to find your sweet spot. There’s such a potential to make a big statement to yourself and thereby to the universe that you matter enough to be a priority.

How awesome would that be?

Let’s actually look at that. How awesome would it be to proclaim you are a priority. Not to ask *if* you are a priority. But to proclaim it and bask in it and live in it as a quiet, powerful, steadying truth?

How would that affect your life?

How would that change what you allowed yourself to accept from people. How would that change how you interacted with everyone from your coworker to the delivery guy? How strongly would that put you in a place of no longer reacting on auto-pilot, being swayed by random, unchecked emotions and energetic whims from others.

Wow, that sounds like a life on purpose right? That sounds like a life where you could actually have some say-so in the joy you feel and -wait for it- even in the experiences that you get to have.

The beginning of a life like that CAN start simply - and it can start simply with a few beauty rituals that you partake in with intent. You can move the needle and start churning the wheels in your favor with just a few tiny but meaningful shifts. It really can be easy. It doesn’t have to be an ordeal and you don’t have to feel like you must change drastically in an instant in order for your change to be valid.

What it’s really about is taking one small, meaningful action and then another and another until those become commonplace. All of a sudden, you’ll be living a life infused with all the things that you want instead of most of what you don’t want.

If you’d like help figuring out what your first small meaningful action should be, I’m your woman. Let’s hop on the phone for a complimentary “Get on Track” session and I’ll help you choose a self care beauty ritual guaranteed to jumpstart your transformation. Click here to see my schedule and choose a time that's best for you. 

Free Teleseminar! - Self Care for Busy Women

Hey dear!

Have you seen my announcement around on social media about the free teleseminar I’m giving this Thursday? I’m really looking forward to it and I don’t think you should miss it. I’m going to be sharing 3 ways to reel yourself back in from stress, worry, and the dreaded A word – anxiety. The point is to show you how I get my balance back and encourage you to try out some of my tactics for yourself.

As you probably know by now, I am a fellow busy woman. Even though I’ve made a huge effort over the past 12 months to release that identity, it still creeps up from time to time. I constantly teeter the balancing edge of knowing that I must be a Firestarter and remembering that the flames can’t spark off if I have no fuel to give them. I’ve struggled with making time to replenish myself for years. Only because of my stripped-bare year, have I catapulted into enough of a sense that I must preserve myself to be able to do that with a disinterested shrug and oh well to the rest of my supposed to-do list. As I’ve said a couple of times, I was ready to let it all go if need be.

And that was not a particularly fun time, so if I can help keep you from having to take yourself to that brink, I’m all for it. This is why my focus is on self-care for the beginning of this year and why I’ve decided to offer this free teleseminar.

Registering for it is simple – all you need to do is text selfcare to 87365. That will get you set up so that the day before, you’ll receive a text with all of the listening details and a reminder text the day of to tune in.

I really hope you will join me. You won’t regret it and in fact you’ll feel so extra rejuvenated and refreshed because you did :-). 

Remember, registering is simple - just text selfcare to 87365!

Self Care for Busy Women: 90 Days to Restoring Your Spirit!

Hello love!

Happy Valentine's Day! It's so interesting the way the Universe and serendipity works. Interesting isn't the right word - it's magical and awe-inspiring. Because I believe in serendipity, serendipity happens around me all of the time. And so the serendipity of my plans to write this message ending me on sending this message on Valentine's Day - how appropriate :-). 

Today I want to tell you about the new offerings I've put together. I've thought about what's been the most needed thing I've been asked to teach (not just the most fun ;-)). What thing is it that people gravitate to me for and ask me about? What wisdom do I have to share that you ask me for time and time again.

I've discovered two and these are what I've decided to lead with this year.

One is Hormonal Health which I call Wise Woman Womb Ways. I've found that so many women are at a loss about how to be in balance with their body after a certain age. It's something I've practiced for years - I know my body really well and I'm tuned in to what it needs and most of the time, I'm good at complying. This is what keeps my skin clear, gives me boundless energy to do so much and choose to do only what I want, and keeps me - as a friend just recently told me -  "the most gorgeous, vivacious, fit, healthy and young spirited 40 year old I know".  Am I blushing?? You know I am :-D. 

And so I've created as a starting point for you, my guide to Wise Woman Hormonal Health. It's free and I made it out of love and real care about helping you set out on the right path if you are floundering looking for direction. Please tap in and download it here.

The second area is self care. Oh self care. Self care is more than a simple word for me. It's what has saved my life. Yes, I know that at first glance, sounds melodramatic. But rest assured, it is the honest truth. Had I not learned to care for myself, prioritize myself, learn myself, and ultimately love myself - I would not be here. I mean that literally. You may know my story of depression and attempted suicide. Believe me when I say that no one else can convince you that life is worth living except yourself. To get out of that space YOU have to decide that it's worth it and that you are worth it. 

And so you see, self care is sacred for me. I believe it is THE KEY to unlocking the rest of the joy in your life. And I believe that self care is more than just a massage or a mantra or an essential oil diffuser. It begins so much deeper than that. It's multi-faceted and spans across all the areas of your life. It's a practice much more than an act  - self care is a lifestyle.

And when I thought about what work I wanted to do this year that would fill me up and simultaneously fill up my clients and customers, empowering them to create self care plans that reached to their essence and restored their very core continued to float to the surface.

And so I listened and in response I created Self Care for Busy Women: 90 Days to Restoring Your Spirit (because part of our problem is that we are so busy right?). It's a 90 Day Program that brings together all that I have learned in the journey of becoming the most important person to me. This program does a lot. In the immediate, it frees you from dragging through every day in zombie mode. But more than that, I designed it help you discover how to feel restored, renewed, and ultimately truly able to handle all that life presents you - with ease, grace, joy, and a knowing that things are always working out in your favor. Because they always are and wouldn't it be nice to just have peace with knowing that's true?

I'll be honest with you. This program is intensive and extensive. It's only for the woman that is ready for a change - a change that might take you through some unpleasant moments and make you look at some uncomfortable things. With love, I'm telling you that it's not for you yet if you find yourself creating excuses for your life. It's not quite yet for you if everything is always everyone else's fault. It's not for you if you are just looking for someone to commiserate with and agree on how bad it all is.

But if you know that your spirit needs restoring and you are ready to do the work - some of it hard, some of it fun and joy-filled, all of it necessary - then I would love to talk to you because I believe that Self Care for Busy Women might be what you are seeking. I want to talk with you and see if the program I've created is your next step of renewal on your path. 

I invite you to schedule a Rebalance Session with me where we'll take a look at some of the reasons that you feel like your wheels are spinning, create some solutions that you can immediately put into play and then assess if Self Care for Busy Women is a good match for you. Click here for my calendar - let's talk soon! 

Full Moon Mojo

Tomorrow is a full moon - full moon in Gemini and apparently this last full moon (a supermoon) of the year is just as intense, if not more so, than the other super full moons this year. When I read about it here, omg, it made so much sense. It was actually comforting! 

This year has been so much of a transition for me. So much shedding and letting go. So much sadness and disappointment and creating of space for new and different and hopefully better things to replace the things that fell away. Not easy is an understatement. Trial by fire is a nice way to put it. 

Courage was my word for 2016 and like I've said a few times this year, oh my how the Universe has delivered on ways for me to display courage!

And so to hear that the final purge is upon us and that the time of purification and stripping bear is almost at an end - it's released such an exhale of relief in me that I can barely describe it!

The whole point is to usher in the energy of newness and activated purpose of 2017. Where as this year has been about shedding, next year is going to be about growing new vibrant, glowing and radiant skin. Next year is going to be about being able to step naked and shining into your purpose as though you've been newly baptized and recommissioned onto a new path. 

I can barely express my excitement and gratitude for that lol! Seriously though, I'm sure that you can resonate with what I'm saying. I'm sure I'm not the only one of us who has let go of much this year and held onto hope that the goals and dreams we've clung to and allowed to percolate and evolve over this year would begin to solidly manifest at some point soon. 

For instance, in my case, I've been working on how to bring together what I can offer you. I created small programs and then came to the realization that these would only get you surface results. I got clearer on what transformation from working with me looks like and exactly how I've chosen thriving in life and how I can help you make the same choice for happiness and vibrant living (thriving!). I admitted that it's a system and not a quick fix, one you need to commit to, one that you need to allow time for. And I realized that only in-depth work would take you from where you are to where you want to go. 

And that has been a process believe me. A process of understanding and reassessing and adjusting and more understanding. And in the meantime, life was going on with it's regular bumps and fun not fun trials too. 

But here I am - here we are - at the end of the cycle, ready to give that last heave-ho and concerted effort to release anything else that's lingering around holding us back. It's time because who wants to take that unnecessary baggage into 2017? I know I don't! 

Tomorrow I'm going to be livestreaming from my Facebook Page about the full moon and giving some more of my insights and suggestions on how you can use that energy in your own life as well. I'm not quite sure what time of day it will be but I'm shooting for early morning :-). 

The beautiful thing about FB Live videos is that you can catch it later if you miss it live. So be sure to stop over there at some point tomorrow and check it out. 

So my love, here's to heralding in new amazing energy and releasing every bit of the stagnation that is still holding us back. Woohoo!!!

Lots of love <3!

Being A Voice of Hope

I’ve been hemming and hawing around this post for a few days. I’d like to think it’s because the ideas have just been materializing and maybe there is some truth to that. Closer to the truth though is that what I’m going to write about is heavy and so I’ve been avoiding it.

You may have noticed that I uploaded two new posts to the blog. These were articles that I wrote and published on Huffington Post and then realized needed to be here as well. They are about suicide, depression, and anxiety. Yep, those are things I know a lot about.

I attempted suicide in 2008 and I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. I *successfully* manage them both now and suicide is an option I’ve decided not to choose. And in the tumultuous changes I’ve undergone in 2016, I’ve found myself called to share my experiences and be an example of how you can overcome them.

It started with an intense urge to do 3 specific Facebook Live videos during Suicide Prevention Month in September. 1 about How to Bounce Back from a Suicide Attempt, 2 about Why Remembering Your Story is Important and 3 about What to do about your Moody Friend.

I finally did them and with that, I realized how much my message was needed. Many people reached out to me after each video and expressed how much it helped or meant to them.

I kept getting confirmation on all levels that the things that I had learned over the years to start shifting the scale to more good days than bad days were extremely important to share.

I was reminded that the encouragement to stay above ground and to keep pushing forward to feeling better was something that I needed and didn’t always get. And I also remembered how much it meant when I did get it.

So I felt compelled to show up for the work that the Universe was calling me to do. How could I not? How could I deny that I could clearly see how all my experiences were preparing me for this? I could not with honestly sit back and say no Universe, you've got the wrong girl.

But then my own life hit hard. And I experienced a slew of stressful moments, rockiness and test upon tests. If my year has been about decluttering everything that isn’t moving me forward, this particular bent felt like what activated charcoal does to you – violently rids you of *ANYTHING* that’s still hiding out.

So yeah, I began to doubt that my voice was necessary and that this was the path laying out in front of me.

Then in the span of two weeks, I found out a salsa friend had committed suicide. I was drawn inexplicably to a woman online and found out that her husband killed himself back in August, though he was adored and loved by seemingly everyone. This morning I read about a young 12-year-old boy who self-harms and has threatened suicide many times.

I know that the Universe was speaking to me – telling me Leah – people still need a voice. They need a voice to speak for them and to them. You have to be a part of that.

So I know now that without a doubt being an advocate for suicide survivors like me and those suffering from anxiety and depression is a part of this next phase of my life. If my message can give someone who is where I was CONCRETE HOPE, the strength of belief, or even the flicker of possibility, I will share it over and over again. I will make it a big part of what I do and infuse that message into all the rest of the things I do as well.

I’m ready to be a Voice of Hope for anyone who needs to hear it.