BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THOSE WHO HAVE:

KNOWN DEFEAT
KNOWN SUFFERING
KNOWN STRUGGLE
KNOWN LOSS, AND HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY OUT OF THE DEPTHS. 

THESE PEOPLE HAVE AN APPRECIATION, A SENSITIVITY, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE THAT FILLS THEM WITH COMPASSION, AND A DEEP, LOVING CONCERN. 

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE DO NOT JUST HAPPEN.

WARRIOR PEACE

"Being a Warrior is not about the act of fighting. It is about the ability, courage, and commitment to end the war within oneself and not quit until the job is done." - M. Machowicz

May peace be with you Mr. Mack. You are an inspiration to many, and your influence cannot be underestimated. You, my friend, are a true Warrior.

OPINION: TRASH IT-BELIEVE IT-OR OBSERVE IT

OPINION: belief, judgment, thought(s), (way of) thinking, mind, (point of) view, viewpoint, outlook, attitude, stance, position, perspective, persuasion, standpoint; sentiment, conception, conviction.
An opinion is just that, an opinion. It has nothing to do with you. It was not formed by you, created by you, endorsed by you, approved by you, or in ANY way attached to you....... UNLESS....... YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT!!!!If you choose to believe the opinion of another, especially anything that comes through the air, then you have just given up your personal power. You have just wandered into the fold of the sheep, no longer making your own decisions, creating your life, creating the new. Instead, you're just following the herd, whomever the shepherd may be, if there even is a shepherd. Many times sheep find themselves open to the wolves that pass their way, they are vulnerable.When one is a wolf, they have focus, drive, ambition, and a keen sense of awareness. They identify the tracks of others easily, and can quickly track them, if necessary. Think for yourself. Whoever has an opinion, owns the opinion, it is not yours. Many times, it is but a reflection of the person giving it. However, there are times when an opinion might very well hold some element of truth to it. One would be wise to examine the opinion for any truth to be found. One must not be afraid to open the door to truth, and if some element of truth lies within the opinion, then it is your responsibility to deal with it in a way which will only bring you further personal growth. Sometimes an element of truth can be seeded amongst lies and heresies. Take what applies and allow the rest to pass.The only time one should listen to the opinion of another is when it is from a person they highly respect, find honorable, integrous, honest, has experience from which to base an unbiased opinion from, and can remain objective. And this is ONLY if they have asked them for their opinion, or are searching for their opinion.Of course, all this is simply my opinion, hahaha! Take it for what it's worth to you.As a Professional Trainer and Lifestyle Coach, I'm asked frequently for an opinion. I give it freely, unbiasedly, and with love. The truth is seldom easy to hear. The fleeting, flattering compliments whether based on truth or not, are much more easily digested. “All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.” 
― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.” 
― Bette Davis“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” 
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

PAIN RELIEF: MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN RELIEF VIA SELF-MASSAGE. THIS WORKS!!!

Hi Team!

Looking for a way to loosen those stiff muscles and release joint pain on your own? Welcome Painotopia.

Painotopia covers how to treat muscle and joint pain, naturally, using self-massage with tennis balls, etc. It's a great site and many athletes have found it to be a Godsend.

As a coach, I find a vast majority of athletes not stretching and/or massaging the muscles properly.

Please, keep in mind:

- Warm-up before any training
- After you're warm, begin a total body, or if pressed for 
  time, at least stretch the muscle groups you will be   
  working. Hold stretches to 5-10 seconds.
- Never begin a plyometric movement without proper warm-
  up
- Stretch the muscle group you're working while you're in 
   between sets/exercises, for 5-10 seconds
- Finish with a cool-down (walk on treadmill, gentle cycle, 
  etc.), and then
- One last total body or muscle groups you worked, stretch.
- Hold final stretches for 20-30 seconds.

Stretching should never be a painful experience. You should stretch just to the point where you feel slight discomfort, not pain.

Check it out:
http://www.painotopia.com/

SMART STUFF - HOW TO 'GROW' YOUR BRAIN

I receive a lot of questions about how to enhance the brain, become smarter, learn how to focus and concentrate, and how to simply quiet the brain. 

The brain is our central computer, orchestrating multiple functions at a mind boggling pace. We are but aware of a small fraction of what our brain is actually doing at any given moment in time, as much is run on auto-pilot. Thought however, is something we supply the brain with based on our emotions, experiences, perceptions, expectations, personality, and attitude. 

Just as any other organ of the body must be cared for and tended to consciously, so does our brain. It must have proper nutrition, hydration, electrical conductivity, circulation, rest, sleep, protection, be free of toxins, get plenty of oxygen, and plenty of exercise.

Today, I'm going to focus on the exercise element of the brain. Just as a muscle weakens when not used, so does the brain in it's own peculiar way. For instance, take a person who has just retired from 30 years of hard labor i.e., on their feet all day, lifting and moving things around, making important decisions, decisions that needed to be made quickly, and ran a crew of 75 employees. Suppose this new retiree wanted to move, down size, to a home with little maintenance.

As the years passed since retiring, he grew into a daily routine, he woke, got dressed, made the same breakfast each day, walked the dog the same time each day, same route, had lunch the same time, same food, same company (he and his dog), listened to the same news station throughout the day, and watched his favorite tv shows every night. He may have been challenging his brain when first adapting to this routine after all the hustle and bustle of just leaving his job, but now it's all done on auto-pilot. He no longer finds himself thinking about much because he thinks about the same things each day, or has other things (radio, tv), fill his mind for him. Hence, the brain is set to 'idle'. It's ready for attention but will sit idly by until its master decides otherwise. What once was calculating complex issues is now settling for simply being.

This can happen to anyone. Wake up, use the same toothpaste, put on shoes the same way, drive the same route to work, deal with the same people and their emotions/personalities all day, have the same type of conversations, eat the same type of foods, and so forth.

There are times that a routine is our saving grace, for sure. One just needs to realize when the routine has served its time, and we are ready to change things up, whether it's mentally, physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.

A young child learns so much so quickly, and his or her capacity and desire to experience is simply over the top!!! Hence, they adapt all along the way. They conform to no one set of ideals, their minds are free and open to everything.

Although, it is wise to learn from our mistakes in youth, I believe it is also wise to keep a healthy portion of the spontaneity, curiosity, excitement, adventure, and willingness to learn everyday, alive and well... throughout our adult life.

So, when people write and ask me about how to 'charge' their brain, so to speak, I would have to begin by saying:

DUMP OUT THE TRASH, first.

Yes, dump out the excuses, the lethargy, the resistance to change. Dump out the memories that do not serve you in a positive way. Dump out the I can'ts and install the 'I CAN' program. 

Then make a commitment to yourself to only allow what you DO want fed into your brain, in. This means filtering news, gossip, images, music, literature, relationships, and so forth. 

This also means dumping the garbage labeled 'food' products, that are products for sure, but certainly not food. Commit to putting health into your system at least 80% of the time each day, and work your way up from there. 

Drink good pure water. Get out and get some clean, fresh air,   breathe deep. Get daily physical exercise, and LAUGH!!!!!!
Laughter is not only good for our brains, every single cell in the human body responds to laughter, just as every single cell in the body responds to our thoughts, be they true or false. Beware. You hold the key to the treasure chest, what you find inside is solely your creation. Think wisely.

Now, on to the exercises for the brain. The brain welcomes these exercises!!!! Many involve what I call a 'cross-crawl' pattern, meaning, it makes the left and right hemisphere's of the brain work together, synchronicity!

There is something here for everyone. Work your brain daily.

1. Puzzles: Set up a table, or use one you already have out, and get a good size jigsaw puzzle. You will be surprised at how many people who stop by your house will be drawn to the table and start toying with a few pieces while chatting.

2. Word puzzles: Crosswords, Search and Finds, you name it. Keep a book by your bedside, or in the restroom, or in the truck.

3. Write often: This could be as simple as keeping a journal, starting a blog, writing a friend, to writing a book.

4. Read challenging information: Find pieces by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Look for pieces and books from the old school boys: Darwin, Newton, Galilee, Aristotle.

5. Play an instrument: It's never too late.

6. Sing: Yep, in the shower, the car, the gym, at work, sing!

7. Dance: You know where there's singing, there's dancing, right? So bust a move!!!

8. Memorize poetry: Emerson, etc.

9. Sketch: Go outdoors, or at work, or while on a call, it works just about anywhere, but it requires the brain to think, make configurations, etc.

10. Build your vocabulary. One thing I've alway had fun with was the vocabulary section in each issue of Reader's Digest, to me it's like an adult version of a mini spelling/vocabulary test.

11. Write with your opposite hand: I'm very right-handed, never wrote left-handed. I had to have bones fused in my right wrist several years ago that left my right hand in a solid cast for 4 1/2 months! No use of it whatsoever. I was forced to learn to do things with my left hand. Writing was one of the toughest. Strange thing occurred: I found the more I started using my left hand, I started thinking differently, seriously.

12. Play memory games: Yep, you know the ones kids love to play. It can be card games, or even on a computer.

13. Create a stimulating, enriching, playful environment where you spend a good part of your time. No one wants to be in a cubicle, no windows, everything very 'plain'. Liven it up with pictures, music if you can get away with it, keep a few interesting challenging books nearby, make it colorful and pleasant. Hold a weekly challenge: Who can do the most push-ups?

14. Work on expanding your attention span. In todays world of technology, studies have found over and over and over again, that both the attention spans of children AND adults has dwindled to about 3 seconds!!!!! What do you think about that?! First thing, turn of the devices unless necessary, do not allow them to become vices (social media, gaming, porn, whatever), YOU need to keep charge. Get outdoors. Get together with a friend and work on a project one of you needs help with, find places you can work on your attention. Listening to another speak is a great opportunity to keep your attention, but too many times, we're busy thinking about what we want to say while the other person is speaking. Put on a talk, that's on a cd, take notes, listen, pay attention.

15. Learn a foreign language: Let me know if you learn Russian, as I'm looking for someone to 'talk' with.

16. Paint, sculpture.

17. Play chess, bridge, and other challenging games.

18. Exercise: Play group sports this way you must think ahead, move, predict, etc.

19. Expose yourself to new opportunities. Keep life alive and fresh. 


As you incorporate many of the things on this list, you will find your ability to focus, concentrate, and pay attention will grow. Your brain will be happy, and you will be happy!!!

Health!

MASTER the MIND, and the MIND BECOMES THE MASTER

"If you want to achieve greatness, it starts in the mind, and continues with the grind." - Eddie Harris, Jr.



Yep, this means nothing anyone says, nothing life has to offer, no amount of money could be paid to you that which you, yourself do not believe you can do. IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU!!! What are you made of? You have a goal? Tell me about it, then SHOW me through YOUR ACTIONS that you are worth your words.

People ask me all the time:

 "Jill, I've heard that ab's are made in the kitchen, is that true?" Or, "Jill, I hear ab's are 80% diet."

I say, "Hell no! Ab's are 100% made in your mind, an exquisite physique is made 100% in the mind, a successful businessman (woman), is made 100% in the mind, an Olympian is made 100% in the mind." Follow that up by giving 100% in the kitchen, 100% in the gym, 100% in the field, and so forth, and you cannot help but be successful!!!

Harness the power of your mind folks. Realize when the mind powers and runs the body you can do things others will think impossible. Master yourself. Stop analyzing everyone else and analyze yourself. Work on yourself daily as a trillion piece jigsaw puzzle, with many facets and dimensions, for this is what you are, a Masterpiece waiting to be assembled, and organized. This can ONLY happen when the mind settles the ego. The mind needs daily training to override the senses, and then the mind can wake you up to your potential.

When the body runs the mind, hence, "I'm too tired, let's sleep in" (day after day, week after, week), "I'm hungry, this pizza and beer (or soda), sounds better than chicken and broccoli", "I want to watch a movie, a game", a blah, blah, blah. The body does not realize what is best for itself so long as it is run by its senses. Senses want to be pleased 24/7 . Senses do not like to be denied. Senses these days have grown to expect instant gratification.

It ALL starts in your mind. Daily, you brush your teeth, you train, you work..... ARE YOU TRAINING YOUR MIND? Begin today. Make EVERY decision a conscious one. Say no to yourself. To hell with non-nourishing pharma-food, feed your body, nourish it, care for it. If not YOU, than WHO?????????

Begin a daily habit of quieting yourself, your mind, and the endless chatter that runs rampant within. Be still. Now, focus on one greater than yourself. Focus on a goal you desire to achieve. Do you know what focus is? Let's back track for a moment: When you truly desire to figure something out, you must concentrate on it, all you attention must be placed on it. The problem most people have due to technological devices is they lack the ability, or have lost the ability to concentrate due to how quickly everything is done by computer, an iPhone, iPad, remote control, etc. You can rebuild this skill through practice, daily practice.

Now, back to focus:
Once concentration is mastered, and attention is focused, you must now maintain this heightened awareness, hence.... FOCUS. Focus does not allow distraction. Focus does not allow interruption. Focus is pinpoint accuracy.Focus on your goal, see it, feel what it will be like as though you have already reached it, allow your mind to bring in your senses, and emotion, into the big picture... bring it to life!!! Do this daily. You may only be able to focus for 3 seconds for many weeks, but do not worry, in time, it will increase, and will become easier to maintain for longer periods of time. 

I challenge you to focus daily. This blog has readers from all over the world. Not only are you readers, many of you are leaders. This blog is read regularly in at least 80 countries. Imagine the impact you can have on others by simply living your life in such a way as to Master yourself. You can then help others in the process. Master your Mind. You CAN do it, one day at a time, one decision at a time. Rise to your potential. Do it!

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” ~ Patanjali