January 8, 2009
Volume: 1, Issue: 01
In This Issue:
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A Note From Sheila
Hello! Happy New Year!
Welcome to the premier issue of the Freedom to Dream ezine. I am so excited to be able to connect with you and share wonderful resources through this publication.
I love beginnings (and we have a bunch of them right now.) Not only is January the start of a new calendar year, but since my birthday is January 1st, it marks a new age for me as well!
For a special beginning, check out the announcement below about my brand new coaching program designed for writers. Then read the feature article to learn why your reflection process is so important and for tips on how to get the most out of it.
Regardless of the time of year, one thing that is super important to me is ongoing personal and business development. I'm always on the look out for new and useful resources. I will share the best of the best with you through my recommendations and the list of my favourite things in each newsletter.
So do up your seat belts. I feel an awesome year coming on! Join me for the rock'n ride to the life of your dreams.
Warmly,
Sheila Betker
P.S. I love hearing from you. Whenever you have questions, comment or requests regarding this ezine, please don't hesitate to contact me at Sheila@freedom-to-dream.com
Announcements
Attention all writers and aspiring writers!
Have you ever wished you had a writing coach - someone you could talk to about your writing goals, someone who would mentor you, help you stick to deadlines, and give you a gentle push whenever you felt creatively blocked or unmotivated?
Better yet, wouldn't it be great to learn how to become your own writing coach? To set your own goals, meet your own deadlines, and be your own mentor? In a creative profession, like writing, you have to stay not only focused but also inspired!
That is why I am so thrilled to announce that Mary Anne Hahn of WriteSuccess and I have partnered to create a one-of-a-kind coaching program designed for writers.
Success Strategies for Writers is the coaching and mentoring program designed specifically for writers who yearn for successful writing careers. In this 6-month coaching program, you learn how to practice concrete writing and personal management strategies that catapult you to incredible heights in your writing career.
Participants benefit from Mary Anne's years of writing and editing experience as well as my extensive coaching expertise. It's a double dose of success support!
For all of the details, click here.
Act fast as the program is limited to 20 participants and begins soon. We are accepting applications now.
Featured Article
A Good Time for Reflection
Ancient Romans named the month of January for Janus, their god of gates, doors and beginnings. Always pictured with two faces — one looking toward the future, the other back at the past — Janus is a fitting symbol for the turning of a new year.
As you step through the doorway from one year to the next, it's natural to take time to reflect on what you accomplished in the last year and have planned for the next. But this year, instead of just reflecting on the past year or making resolutions for the New Year, consider using this month to take a full inventory your life.
Who are you? What do you believe? What do you really want?
When you discover who you really are, you stop living on auto-pilot and start to live with intention and focus. You begin to make active choices in your life, instead of making excuses or waiting for others to direct you. You begin to live on purpose.
Here are a few questions to get you started. Have a journal or some way to record your thoughts. (Writing by hand keeps you in touch with your breath and your heart.)
- What is aching to be expressed?
- What needs healing?
- What are you afraid of?
- What unique gifts, talents and skills do you bring to the world?
- How are you expressing your talents (or not)?
- What beliefs are holding you back or getting in your way?
- What can you let go of in your life?
- What brings you joy?
- When have you felt most fulfilled?
- What is most important to you?
As you answer these questions, don't simply think your way through them. Consider the vital information that other "parts" of yourself are giving you. When you use only your head, your experience of yourself and the world is more limited.
Pay attention to what is your body is telling you. If you "listen" it shares a lot of wisdom. When someone yells at you, does your stomach tie up in knots? Do your shoulders stiffen when you've been too focused on fulfilling others' needs and ignoring your own? Notice your body's messages. If you don't, the messages get louder and more urgent.
Check in with your heart. The heart is the home of what is most alive in you. What does your heart have to say about your job? About how you spend your days? Does it need more play time? Your heart will tell you what really matters.
Listen to your intuition, your "gut". Your intuition speaks volumes, but often gets ignored. What is this voice saying now? Have you been trying to drown out a message it's sending you? Have courage and listen to it. It is far riskier in the long run to ignore your intuition even if its current message is difficult to hear.
Be sure to notice what you already have that is working. Acknowledge and give thanks for the gifts, the beauty and the miracles that are in your life right now. Write them down. Stay focused on those positive feelings and you will draw more blessings into your life. Remember, you are a magnificent creation and joy is your birth right.
Now is the time to start being honest about who you really are and what you really want. Tell the truth. Encouraging those dormant or suppressed parts of you to emerge provides an exhilarating sense of discovery and optimism for the New Year and beyond.
I invite you to share what impact doing the activity had on you. To join the discussion, reply to this email or visit my blog.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sheila Betker is founder of Freedom to Dream, a company dedicated to connecting women with their true life's purpose and helping them build the life of their dreams. To learn more about Sheila and to access great resources to help you live your life on purpose, visit: http://freedom-to-dream.com.
Sheila Recommends
The Energetic Edge by Linda Binns
Your environment could be sabotaging you and your success right now, and you wouldn't even know it.
The Energetic Edge will help you understand why, and then show you what to do to stop the sabotage. It will show you how you can improve the energy to not only support you and your business, but to dramatically increase your business success.
What does your bedroom have to do with your business? Why does it matter where a bathroom is located in your home or your business? You might think that these things have absolutely nothing to do with the success of your business - and you'd be wrong. Energetically they do. Your home is a reflection of you and everything that is going on in your life, including your business. The energy in your home and your workplace affect you and your business success.
This book contains everything you need to know about how your home and your work environments affect you and the health of your business. More importantly, it tells you how to improve the energy in your surroundings to maximize your success.
The information in this book can help your business attract more customers, close more sales, and ultimately increase your income. It can mean the difference between business success and failure. It can be the difference between mediocre performance and phenomenal success. If you're just starting your business, it will get you off to the best start possible.
I've had the pleasure of reading this book and can tell you first hand it is full of valuable strategies and suggestions. I found The Energetic Edge educational, insightful and inspiring. After implementing several of Linda's suggestions, I can say with all confidence – you want to read this book and implement these strategies. Here's to your success!
A Few of My Favourite Things
Here are some resources I just love.
Wonderful Web Women – Janet Beckers, founder of Wonderful Web Women, is on a mission to find the most successful women on the Internet, learn their secrets, and share those lessons with you. Janet has created an international community of thousands of women who help each other create their own success on-line. You will quickly see that this is one of the most generous programs available on the internet. My monthly membership fee is the one of the best investments I'm making in my company and me.
Life Transformation Tools – Do you have big dreams and are tired of taking two steps forward and three steps back...or no steps at all? Imagine being able to clear the beliefs, the fears and the patterns that stand in the way of feeling free, happy, joyful and completely alive. Stacey Mayo, the creator of the Life Transformation Tools program, is an incredibly knowledgeable and genuine coach and person. I am 11 months into the 12-month program and I highly recommend it. The tools that Stacey has shared have helped me over come fear, make significant progress in my business and improve my physical health, to mention just a few of the benefits I have personally received.
The Barefoot Executive – As "The Barefoot Executive," Carrie Wilkerson and her network of experts have become the definitive resource for helping women achieve extra income and career goals while working from home. They provide resources, advice, shortcuts and support for women who are on this journey alongside you! Their forum is a non-threatening place to connect with other like-minded women! Ask questions! Share wisdom! LEARN from their experts and each other! I know you will love and appreciate Carrie's exuberance and expertise.
Life Design Strategies – Life Design Strategies works with creative, self-employed women who want to boost their bottom line. Vicky White, the founder of Life Design Strategies, has helped hundreds of women to fully embrace their creativity and find increased prosperity in their businesses while feeling more fulfilled, whole and passionate doing what they love. If you long to find your creative voice again, and do what you're here to do, check out the excellent resources at Life Designs. I have worked with Vicky as a peer and as her client and I can attest to her knowledge, compassion and grace.
The Self-Esteem Book by Dr. Joe Rubino – You need to know about a revolutionary new book on the topic of self-esteem titled: The Self-Esteem Book: The Ultimate Guide to Boost the Most Underrated Ingredient for Success and Happiness in Life. Through this book you will discover how to overcome fear of failure, nagging self-doubt, guilt, frustration, shyness, and negative habits. You will learn to implement a step-by-step formula to achieve the quality of life you absolutely deserve. Imagine feeling loved and lovable, confident and competent.
About Sheila
Sheila Betker is founder of Freedom to Dream, a company dedicated to connecting women with their true life's purpose and helping them build the life of their dreams.
Sheila brings energy, experience and expertise to her coaching, writing and workshops. With over 15 years of experience in the personal development and organizational development fields, she has helped people as they explore career paths, enhance their personal excellence, and achieve their dreams.
For more resources to help you live your life on purpose, visit: http://freedom-to-dream.com
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The Freedom to Dream newsletter is written by Sheila Betker. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: Sheila@freedom-to-dream.com
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