Suzy Carroll - Transform your Health. Transform Your Life.

When will we learn?

admin — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:53:25 +0000

To day I want to honor all those who pour their heart and soul into caring for those with mental disabilities. In the wake of the Connecticut tragedy and recognizing the immense loss these families are experiencing, it saddens me deeply to witness right here in my own hometown the falling apart of another “system” that cares for those with mental illness.

For the past five years I’ve employed a lovely gentleman who, along with his caring job coach, cleans my nutrition store twice a week. He’s a strong man, beautifully sensitive and is easily agitated by change and commotion. My store has provided him a place to earn a bit of money, but more importantly, a calm environment that gives him a sense of purpose.

Today I learned that the local organization that manages his 24/7 care has sold. The woman, who operated this organization and has given so much, is now challenged with her own health issues. No doubt brought on by the constant red tape and bureaucracy she must witness on a daily basis. Her company has been purchased by a large organization where profit is the motive. Employees are being let go, with the option to be re-hired but with a significant cut in pay.

So there you have it United States of America. A calm man, who is kept calm due to the exemplary care he receives, is about to have his calm world ripped apart. When will we learn? This isn’t about gun control. This isn’t about mental illness. This is about living our lives being guided by our heart and soul. Imagine if our government operated from the heart. Imagine…

Riding the wave…

admin — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:51:30 +0000

Do you know that feeling? When life gets so busy, so demanding that you’re sure your head is literally bobbing on your shoulders. That was me the past three weeks. Crazy, over-the-top busy. The result was a long list of necessary accomplishments for the health of my nutrition store, but not without a cost. I became depleted on all levels, edgy and easily upset. I felt out of my body, out of balance and downright exhausted.

And then the spin slowed. Here’s how:

The past few weeks have been a life boat measure. My store was in trouble and decisions had to be made fast! I did not have the luxury of time. I needed to get organized, and get things back on track immediately, or my business could potentially go under.

Step one was giving myself permission for three weeks of crazy intense work. I knew that hard work was needed, but I also knew I needed to set perameters and stick to them.

Step two – eat healthy! Which I always do, but when times get tough your body needs more good fuel than ever. Eat up, eat wisely and eat super super healthy!

Step three was being very aware of what was happening to me mentally, physically and spiritually as a result of the crazy period. Years ago I experienced an equally stressful period but without self awareness. Without awareness the spiral continues until hitting rock bottom. My intention was not to hit bottom, but to allow a bit of crazy work, get my head above water and them swim with waves.

Step four was using all the tools I have learned over the years to keep me on task, focused and somewhat intact. These are the very same tools I have been writing about the last three months. Who knew my own mini-course was going to be put to the test.

Step five at the three week mark, I came up for air, slowed the spin and allowed fun to be my transition – dinner with friends, a long walk, acupuncture just for me, laughter and I’m back in my body and refueling again.

Challenging times are opportune times to expand your soul learning. I’m happy to share with you a replay link (below) for dynamic interviews hosted by Sovereign Women Unleashed sharing and inspiring from the power of the sub-conscious mind to cultivating your sphere of influence.

Sign up and then join me October 31th at 11:00am PST when I get the opportunity to talk about:

How to tap into your own magnificent internal guidance system
The peacefulness and calm that alignment of the Seven Rays of Life (your foundation) brings.
Powerful steps to ignite your wonder within and truly own your awesomeness!

To listen, learn and go higher. Click here

Warmly,

Suzy

Receiving and Learning ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:00:42 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
You are ignited! Receiving and Learning.

All credit for receiving and learning goes to my wonderful and wise friend Barbara Stanny. Barbara teaches a life changing retreat called Sacred Success™ ~ A course in Financial Miracles and Playing Way Bigger! At the end of the retreat, we are given a twelve month assignment of mindfully writing down all that we have received, learned and accomplished and emailing our discoveries to each other every Wednesday.

For the purpose of this mini-course, I encourage you to write down each day what you received (both good & bad) and what you have learned. Even better, do this with a friend and email each other your Receives and Learns each week.

“Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will”. ~Vernon Howard

I hope you have enjoyed eleven weeks of Igniting Your Wonder Within™ and that this mini-course provided you with one (or more) pearls of wisdom! YOU ~ ARE ~ AWESOME!

‘Those who want to know the truth of the universe should practice the four cardinal virtues.
The first is reverence for all of life. This manifests as unconditional love and respect for oneself and all other beings.
The second is natural sincerity. This manifests as honesty, simplicity and faithfulness.
The third is gentleness, which manifests as kindness, consideration for others and sensitivity to spiritual truth.
The fourth is supportiveness. This manifests as service to others without expectation of reward.”
~ Lao Tzu

Hugging you all!
~Suzy

The Power of Intention ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:00:19 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
Week 10: The Power of Intention.

Don’t confuse setting an intention with goals. Goals are these things you strive for. They are in the future and they pull you away from the present. Intention keeps you grounded and living in the now. You can set your intention for the day, for the moment, before a big meeting or before a conversation with a loved one. Intention sets the flavor, the feeling you want to experience. In the morning you may want to say, “I intend to have a day full of interesting conversations”. Before a meeting you may want to say, “I intend through group discussion to find a solution for the good of all”.

Wonder Within Success Step: Each morning practice setting your intention for the day. At the end of the day, review your intention and be mindful of all that you received as a result of the power of intention.

This mini-course is posted at my blog site and also sent out via e-newsletter. If you would like to receive this Wellness Wednesday mini-course via email, please sign up for my newsletter. I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and discoveries.

Until next week!
~Suzy

Are You Having Fun Yet ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:00:29 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
Week 9: Are you having fun yet?

“Without the feeling of pleasure, Happiness is only an illusion”. ~Alexander Lowen

What do you enjoy?

Stella Resnick, PhD in her book The Pleasure Zone, says “to play is to engage in an activity just for the fun of it, just for the sheer excitement or stimulation of it. You enjoy what you’re doing, and the pleasure is like an energy factor – your battery is recharged, and it keeps you going and going. While you play, you’re fully absorbed in the here-and-now and anything you do in a playful spirit, even if it’s work, puts you into that flow.

What makes you smile, laugh, feel joy? Life is made up of moments. One little moment of happiness, pure joy, belly laughter will stay with you all day long. Look for these moments, create these moments and savor these moments. Be present, feel them, own them and enjoy!

Wonder Within Success Step: What gives you pleasure and fills your heart? Write down at least one ‘feel good’ and find this ‘feel good’ every day. Begin each day answering these two questions: How do I want to feel today? What do I need to do to feel this way?

Until next week!
~Suzy

Ego verses Soul ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:00:37 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
Week 8: Ego verses Soul

*I’m continually in awe of serentipidous occurrences…I wrote this post two months ago and attended Sacred Success exactly a year ago. I am again attending the amazing Sacred Success retreat mentioned below. This blog posted Wednesday with no intention what-so-ever of timing the post with the retreat and I had completely forgotten that the first day of the retreat includes Ego vs. Soul. Yesterday I heard Barbara say “what served you as a child, will suffocate you as an adult”. What rules has your ego made in order to protect you and keep you from stepping into your fear and souring?

———————————————-

I first learned about how our EGO guides us, verses how our SOUL guides us while attending the Barbara Stanny’s retreat, Sacred Success ~ A Course in Financial Miracles. Read the list below. Can you feel the difference? I began my own ‘mindfulness’ practice to help me become aware of when I was taking my marching orders from my ego and when I was taking them from my soul. What I discovered, is when I was feeling drained, on edge, unsettled, out of whack…it was because my ego was driving, not my soul.

The ego is about image. The soul is about authenticity.
The ego makes excuses. The soul takes action.
The ego always speaks first. The soul is quiet and listens.
The ego focuses on flaw. The soul reminds you of your divine gifts.
The ego can’t take constructive criticism. The soul seeks it out and welcomes it.
The ego wants to be seen as the best. The soul wants to keep getting better.
The ego encourages us to hide. The soul encourages us to shine!
The ego wants to be famous. The soul wants to start a movement.
The ego tries to control the message. The soul trusts the message to take on a life of its own.
The ego talks. The soul looks and listens.
The ego competes and dominates. The soul co-creates.
The ego lives from scarcity. The soul lives from abundance.
The ego protects you. The Soul wants you to soar.
The ego cares only about the end performance. The soul is in love with the process.
A compilation from Barbara Stanny’s Sacred Success Retreat and Justine Musk

Wonder Within Success Step: At the end of each day, take 10 minutes and review your moments of living in your ego and moments of living from your soul ~ a beautiful process of discovery.

Until next week!
~Suzy

I AM ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:00:54 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
Week 7: I AM ~ Two of the most powerful words; for what you put after them shapes your reality.

Can you quickly name three fabulous things about you? During group sessions I have seen this question stop people in their tracks. As humans we have been programmed to not put ourselves first, to be humble, to do what we are told, behave, follow the rules, speak only when spoken too and the list goes on. We have not been taught to honor ourselves, to feel glory in our accomplishments and shout them to the world. To serve the world, we must serve ourselves first.

Struggling? Imagine you have a friend who is very much like you. Now, imagine thinking about your friend and all that you like about her. What are the three things (or more) that come to mind?

Continue practicing mindfulness and expand this practice to receiving what others say about you. Even the smallest thank you is a clue to who you are and what value you bring to this world. Compliments, thank you’s, do not deflect what you have received away from you. Absorb it, feel it and own it!

Wonder Within Success Step: Write down three fabulous things (or more) about you? I AM:

“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?..As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same” ~Marianne Williamson

I love all that I am, just as I am.

Until next week!
~Suzy

Just Ask ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:00:33 +0000

Igniting the Wonder Within™
Week 6: Just Ask!

I woke up this morning feeling resistance, but not quite sure to what. I had set aside my day to write this mini-course, but felt doubt creeping in.

Why? I couldn’t figure it out and the process of figuring it out was leading to mind churning, so I used this very simple step: I stopped and said (asked) to the Universe, Creator, God, Spirit (whatever works for you), what IS this feeling? Then I moved on to something that made me feel good and within an hour I was happily typing away at my computer, having received my answer.

The answer: I’m a perfectionist and my perfectionism is connected to insecurity. Any written word must in my mind be perfect, but I can never get to that place. Another lesson learned…let it go, write from my heart and remember imperfection is beautiful! All this from just asking! Give it a try!

“The only thing standing between greatness and me is me” ~ Woody Allen

Until next week!
~Suzy

Reframe, reframe, reframe ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:00:45 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
Week 5: Reframe, reframe, reframe.

“We must be ever diligent about our thoughts and reactions. Not denying them, but allowing them to surface, feel them, learn from them and then step through to the other side”. ~ Suzy Carroll

Reframing is another helpful step to changing on a moments notice. Reframing requires mindfulness. When I first began practicing mindfulness I was astonished at how often a negative thought slipped in. Over the years my skills have been honed and on a moments notice I am now able to reframe a thought that has the potential to sabotage my growth and happiness.

Wonder Within Success Step: Intend to ‘catch’ at least five negative thoughts each day and reframe them every day for the next ten days. Knowing your progress is important. Give yourself a smiley face  for every catch and reframe you make!

Until next week!
~Suzy

Lets Talk about Self-Talk ~ Ignite the Wonder Within™

admin — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:03 +0000

Ignite the Wonder Within™
Week 4: Lets talk about Self-talk.

Are you your own BFF (best friend forever)? What do you say about yourself? How do you talk to yourself? What is your inner dialogue about other people and situations?

Become ever so mindful of your self-talk. Whether your self-talk is about you, your body, your relationships, your kids, your finances, your job, your life. Every time you catch yourself saying or thinking less than positive and uplifting comments and thoughts to yourself – WAY TO GO! The first step to change is being mindful. When you catch yourself speaking negative self-talk, you are being mindful.

Wonder Within Success Step: Keep a journal of your “thought catches”. And ask yourself this: Would you say these things to a friend or your child or even out loud? No! Be your own BFF. Love yourself up!

“Having a low opinion of your self is not “modesty”. It’s self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not “egotism”. It’s a necessary precondition to happiness and success”. ~Bobbe Sommer

Until next week!
~Suzy