My II Sense: Personal Development & Productivity

My II Sense Goes Under the Knife

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:31:35 +0000

My II Sense Down for Two Weeks

Greetings Friends!

I must apologize for the lack of content this week. This notice is about 3-4 days over due.

I’m going to be making some changes to the My II Sense format and unfortunately that is going to mean some down time.

Not to worry! We’ll be back in no time at all (2 weeks to be precise). When we return there will be all new content, video and maybe even a new layout! So check back in a few weeks for the new and improved MIIS! You’ll be glad you did.

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael Stagg

The Way of Simplicity: Doing More with Less

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:45 +0000

Maximize Your Time. Simplify Your Life

Greetings Friends!

I came across this poem called Time and Simpicity that I thought I’d share with you. Im always looking for ways to do more with less. What measures do you take to simplify your life. Share them with us won’t you?

Today, Meditate on This is a quote from Thomas Edison:

“Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.”

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael Stagg

Create Your Convincers

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:19:27 +0000

Create Convincers to Get Motivated!

Today is Wellness Wednesday with Life and Weight loss Coach Flossie Alexander of You Can NOW! Coaching.

Whenever you hear or read that someone has accomplished something that you would like to accomplish, you automatically go within and search your memory for experiences you have had, and conclude whether such a thing is possible, and whether you have what it takes to do it too. The same is true when you set a goal for yourself. You search your memory for successful experiences and skills that point to success – these are known as convincers.

Everything that you desire to accomplish in life, it begins in your mind. Convincers support your beliefs that you can reach our desired goals. Changing your life around becomes much easier when you believe that you can do what it takes because your own experience tells you so.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you want to begin a regular exercise program and have not been successful in the past. You could start with skills that point to your self-discipline. Are you organized? Always on-time? A good housekeeper? Are you good with keeping routines? These are examples of self-motivation that you can bring to your exercise program. Do you enjoy activities that you can do outdoors? Do you enjoy moving to music? Do you like the synergy of a group? These are all preferences that can lead the way to enjoying your new program.

Get a winning attitude! Take a piece of paper and write down your goal. Then, write down all of your past successes and all the reasons why you know that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Write down all the skills and resources that you have or are willing to develop; all the actions you are willing to take. When your determination, your faith, your conviction, your endurance get challenged, you will have a long list of convincers ready to tell you that you’ve got what it takes to make it!

Yours in Health,

Flossie Alexander
Life/Weight Loss Coach
You Can NOW! Coaching
Where Results ARE Typical!

About Flossie: Flossie is currently a member of the National Association of Professional Women and Toastmaster’s International. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach as well as a Certified Wellness Coach with a successful track record in leading organizations and individuals into achieving healthy lifestyle goals. After overcoming obesity, losing 165 pounds in 18 months, she has developed a passion to help others through public speaking and one-on-one weight loss coaching. Visit Flossie at http://www.youcannowcoaching.com to start creating your new healthy lifestyle and lose unhealthy weight permanently.

108 Breaths to Greater Productivity

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:30:58 +0000

A Coiled Monk's Mala - Image Credit: DharmaShop.com

Greetings Friends!

I multitask – a LOT! I phone, text, email and blog with amazing efficiency. What’s my secret? Breathing. Yes, breathing!

OK, not just breathing, but that is the most important weapon in my multitasking arsenal. Without proper attention to the breath my whole day would be in a shambles!

How Breathing Helps Me Multitask

Before I begin my day I grab my mala (What’s a mala? Find out here.) and do three full rotations (counting three sets of affirmations) while focusing on my breathing and reciting whatever affirmations I’ve assigned myself for the day.

In the case of multitasking I would use affirmations such as:

I am productive right now
I am efficient right now
I choose to complete tasks in a thoughtful way
I complete tasks without sacrificing what is important

I change phrases every couple of weeks or so to give my mind something fresh to “play” with, that way it doesn’t get bored.

Breathing and Increased Productivity

The breathe energizes us. Properly focusing awareness on the breath can lead to better relaxation. When we are relaxed we perform better and experience stress less which can boost our productivity levels through the roof.

Even if I were to eliminate the affirmations during my meditations I would still benefit just from the focused breathing as it would lower my blood pressure, reduce my level of fatigue and increase my over all health.

108 Breaths to Better Productivity

In order to be productive we have to be focused on the task(s) at hand and create quantifiable methods to complete the task(s) as effectively and efficiently as possible.

If we implement simple breathing techniques before, during and after a busy day at the office we can find the energy we need to “get ‘er done” without burning out.

Do you need to actually recite 108 affirmations to be more productive? No, you don’t. For some, the simple act of taking a single deep breath and exhaling is enough to get centered. Others may require more than 108 breaths to “get there”. The touchstone of incorporating focused breathing is not in how many breaths you take; it is in the breathing itself that you find your inner multitasker.

For today I ask that you Meditate on This: I breathe in peace and allow the day to unfold as it should.

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael Stagg

Are You Better Than You Were Yesterday?

Flossie @ You Can Now! — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:28:38 +0000

It's a new day..Strive to make it better than your last!

Today is Wellness Wednesday with Life and Weight loss Coach Flossie Alexander of You Can NOW! Coaching.

Years ago a fitness coach that I was working with told me: “The pursuit of excellence is rewarded.”
That might sound simple or easily dismissed as a trite self-help lesson. Yet put into action, this is the most powerful lesson on the planet. It’s taken me years to appreciate the potency of this statement and even less time to see the results in my body.

This lesson is so powerful that I took it into all aspects of my life in a way that reminds me that today is not just another day:

BETTER THAN YESTERDAY
Experiencing better than yesterday is hard. It requires you to be your own worst critic, while maintaining the belief that you are fully capable of remedying your own faults. This approach can be difficult to sustain. It’s easy to find satisfaction in complacency and believe that you’re doing the best you can. Actively seeking aspects of your behavior and your life that can use improvement is much harder on the ego and can be an uncomfortable place.

The reward of being better than yesterday is concrete improvement accomplished in small, manageable steps. Each day is better than yesterday and tomorrow is even brighter.

Take this philosophy, and apply it to your pursuits, whether personal or professional. You’ll find, as I did, that excellence boils down to a simple truth: you’ve got to reject where you are before you can get where you’re going. You’ve got to be better than you were yesterday.

Yours in Health,

Flossie Alexander
Life/Weight Loss Coach
You Can NOW! Coaching
Where Results ARE Typical!

Inspiring Quotes to Float Your Boat

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:30:20 +0000

I Find Inspiration All Around Me!

Everyone needs a little pick-me-up to get through the day now and again. Incorporating inspiring quotes is a great way to add a little sunshine to our daily routines.

How to find suitable quotes

It’s easy to find inspiring quotes online. A quick Google search will provide a wealth of useful motivational quotes for you. Here are a few links to sites I often use:

Where to incorporate your new daily quotes

On index cards – Write down your favorite quotes on index cards and keep them on your desk or in your briefcase to refer to them when needed.
On your computer - If you have the technical ability, you can add text from quotes to images to create custom motivational screensavers and wallpapers!
On your cellphone – Most cellphones have a “My Banner” function in display options. Why not use the space to add a few inspiring words that you can view each time you use your phone? for example, my current banner reads: I am this moment to remind me to operate from the present moment.

What are some of your favorite quotes? Do you have any other ways to incorporate quotes into your daily life? Please share them in the comments below.

In the meantime, Meditate on This: I find inspiration all around me.

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael Stagg

Lean Protein: The Natural Appetite Suppressant

Flossie @ You Can Now! — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:56:19 +0000

An Example of a Lean Protein Meal

Today is Wellness Wednesday with Life and Weight loss Coach Flossie Alexander of You Can NOW! Coaching.

Lean protein is a great appetite suppressant. It is an excellent choice when it comes to satisfying hunger and keeping blood sugar levels steady. These steady blood sugar levels keep your energy high and keep your appetite satisfied for hours! Here are a few examples:

Almond or Peanut Butter
Unsalted Nut Meats
Low Fat Cheeses
Lean Chicken or Turkey

Lean protein also allows you to maintain muscle mass while losing weight, which keeps your metabolism running at full speed. Cutting back on protein during weight loss, on the other hand, contributes to a loss of muscle mass and a slower metabolism.

When you prepare a meal or a snack center your choices around protein and watch the pounds melt away!

Yours in Health,

Flossie Alexander
Life/Weight Loss Coach
You Can NOW! Coaching
Where Results ARE Typical!

About Flossie: Flossie is currently a member of the National Association of Professional Women and Toastmaster’s International. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach as well as a Certified Wellness Coach with a successful track record in leading organizations and individuals into achieving healthy lifestyle goals. After overcoming obesity, losing 165 pounds in 18 months, she has developed a passion to help others through public speaking and one-on-one weight loss coaching. Visit Flossie at http://www.youcannowcoaching.com to start creating your new healthy lifestyle and lose unhealthy weight permanently.

Letting Go of Ravenous Relationships

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:25:16 +0000

Greetings Friends,

Several months ago I spoke about the importance of letting go. It seems recently there have been a lot of people – friends and first time acquaintances alike – that have been experiencing failed or failing relationships.

Ravenous Relationships

Then, as now, I asked what would keep you in a relationship that you know is causing you unnecessary difficulty and stress.

It is akin to being attacked by a ravenous predator bound and determined to devour us. We know we are being attacked but instead of fending off the beast we allow it to strip the flesh from our bones, gnaw at out hearts and feast on our entrails until their is nothing left of us.

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh

The beast will take from you everything you allow it to. As with any attacker, the more of a fight you give it the more likely it will end its assault to seek easier prey.

Defeating the Beast

You do not have to fall prey to a ravenous relationship. Right now, you can vow to no longer be a victim of the vicious attacks of false friends and energy-leeching relatives. Here, in this very moment, acknowledge that you, more than any one else in the universe, deserve your attention and love.

Once you have decided to fend off the ravenous relationship beast(s) in your life you will begin to notice the attacks are less frequent, less ferocious and you are perfectly capable of surviving the attack unscathed (i.e. what they do no longer affects you in a negative way).

Most importantly, you will begin to see that the people in your life that want to feed off of your kindness (generosity, helpfulness, etc.) will simply stop coming around or circumstances will prevent them from being able to attack you in a way that causes you harm.

Do Not Fear the Beast but Do Not Hate It

Once you have freed yourself from ravenous relationships do not dwell on how they treated you or harbor ill will toward them. Instead, wish them love and light and pray that they eventually see that what they are doing is harmful to others but more so, it harms them.

In this way, you prevent negative karma from accumulating and at the same time you are doing your part to encourage their growth and release from their negative ways.

Meditate on This: I let go of relationships that deter me from my Divine purpose.

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael Stagg

Staying the Course with Your Fitness Goals

Flossie @ You Can Now! — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:17:11 +0000

Image: Snagwire Media

Today is Wellness Wednesday with Life and Weight loss Coach Flossie Alexander of You Can NOW! Coaching.

I’d like to know, do you eat and exercise according to what you want?

Think about that one for a moment. Do you consistently make the right food choices and lifestyle choices? Or do you get derailed by “the world” and its “forbidden fruits”? And do you consistently exercise each week?

If you’re struggling to get started, or if you have and sometimes “fall off the wagon”, I’ve got a powerful technique to share with you and it is amazingly powerful.

Here’s why…

People have this unique tendency to go back and forth when it comes to nutritional decision making. When faced with a number of choices – some good and some not-so-good – indecision sets in, tension rises, justification and rationalization sets in, and we sometimes make the wrong choices.

Then what happens?

Well, in retrospect we know we faced a moment of weakness. We know that we rationalized a poor choice with thoughts like:
· “It’s only one”
· “I’ll try again next Monday”
· “I earned this treat”
· “I’ll get back on the plan tomorrow”
· “I worked out really hard today”

You get the point, right?

“The reason most people fail instead of succeed
is that they trade what they want most
for what they want at the moment.” – Flossie Alexander

There are a ton of phrases that help us justify poor decisions. However, as we all well know, it’s only after we make the poor decision that we see the err of our ways.

So today, I’m going to disempower these harmful phrases by introducing a new phrase. This will absolutely help you avoid the poor choices we’re all prone to making. A phrase that will give you control back when you feel like you’re slipping.

“It’s just food … I’ll stick to my plan”

Here’s how it works

You’re at the office and your co-worker brings the leftover deserts from her catered party. You see the tempting treats and they look delicious. Before you start that conversation in your head where you debate and negotiate with logic, you shrug your shoulders and say, “It’s just food – I’ll stick to my plan.”

My Clients (and me)

Having worked my way through this struggle and having worked with countless weight management clients, it always amazes me how much time we’ll spend debating about whether or not to eat a certain foods.

Of course, we all have our share of internal debates with food choices. But some of these internal struggles amaze me. Indeed, many clients have explained in graphic detail the internal dialog and bartering they go through over something as simple as the office candy dish.

Out of control isn’t even the phrase for it. Instead, they were under the control of the candy. Or the pizza. Or the donuts. Or the sugar free, artificially sweetened jello. Or the after work beers.

Or the …

Now, I know you might be thinking this couldn’t possibly work. After all, with all the serious dietary choices people have to make – and all the psychological baggage involved – a simple shrug of the shoulders couldn’t possibly work.

Well, you just have to try it to see how this works. This is one of the most powerful strategies I’ve ever found for helping me and other folks make the healthy decisions day in and day out.

It allows folks to avoid the messy mental gymnastics and gives them a touchstone for remaining true to their real intentions and goals. Indeed, it helps us avoid the problem outlined in this quote — “The reason most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.”

Take your power back …

Now, let’s be clear. You don’t exactly have to use the phrase “It’s just food” Instead, you can choose from a host of other phrases. Pick a trigger phrase that turns your nutritional decision making into a “no big deal” proposition and take your power back.

Yours in Health

Flossie Alexander
Life/Weight Loss Coach
You Can NOW! Coaching
Where Results ARE Typical!

What Exactly is Conscious Living Anyway?

Michael Stagg | My II Sense — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:51:05 +0000

Good Morning Friends!

Today I’d like to clarify what conscious living is all about and provide a few examples of how we can all incorporate this philosophy into our daily lives.

Michael and Bianca Alexander over at Conscious Living TV have the best definition of conscious living I have come across which states:

Conscious Living means taking responsibility for our experiences and living with awareness to make choices that sustain ourselves, our communities and the planet. While meditating and practicing yoga will get you headed in the right direction, Conscious Living is also about how you shop, eat and live.

In short, conscious living involves doing what is right not only for our own benefit but for that of the world as a whole. It involves actively seeking solutions that will bring us in harmony with the world around us and doing what we can to teach others how to live this way as well.

Living Consciously

As the quote mentions above, it is fine to take up meditation or yoga as a means of getting in tune with yourself and nature but there is so much more to it than that. To live consciously requires changing our perceptions and practices on all levels of being – spiritually, mentally/emotionally, physically and financially – so that we maintain a “do no harm” attitude in everything we do. Here are a few examples of how you can incorporate conscious living into daily life:

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle: Reduce the number of plastic water bottles in landfills by purchasing a reusable bottle instead. Cut sheets of documents that are no longer needed (You only print when necessary , right?) and use them as makeshift scratchpads. Finally, if you have outdated electronics lying around your home donate them or recycle them instead of tossing them in the trash.
Purchase Eco-friendly Fashions: Find alternatives to clothing that hurt our fragile planet. Environmentally safe clothing made from sustainable materials such as bamboo and organic cotton is just as fashionable and you can feel better about your purchase knowing you are doing your part to protect the earth!
Shut It Down, Shut It Off: Keeping electronics plugged in or turned on when not in use wastes electricity so unplug items such as laptop adapters and cell phone chargers when not in use. Additionally, disconnect appliances such as irons and toasters while not in use. Even though they are not being used they are still using power.

These are just a few simple steps that can used to leave a cleaner healthier planet for generations that follow. Many others can be found on sites like Conscious Living TV. Check them out and tell Michael and Bianca I said hello!

Today’s Meditate on This affirmation: I do all I can to live in harmony with the planet and its inhabitants.

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael Stagg