It could be right in the middle of a 4-hour study marathon… It could be after a long week of campus activities… or even just after a long day of classes. Suddenly – or even not so suddenly – you are drained and all you can think of is finding a place to nap. From out of nowhere it all catches up to you. The worse thing is, you can’t afford to stop right now. WRONG! This is the very time for you to stop – just for a few minutes and do this quick exercise for balancing college stress to get your energy back in a flash.

STEP 1 – Notice it. That’s right. Don’t try to ignore it. Put your full attention on the fact that you just hit an energy barrier. If you are reading and feel like you’re about to fall asleep acknowledge it so you can address it.

STEP 2 –  Relax, sit up straight and breath normally. No slumping and no shallow breathing. These are two things that our bodies normally resort to when they are fatigued.

STEP 3 – Gently tap the middle of your sternum. Do this with your middle and index fingers five to seven times at about two taps per second. Repeat it three times with a few normal breaths in between.

As simple as it seems, this tapping on the center of your chest right where your heart is that will wake up your body’s energy centers. It takes awareness off of the tired feeling and places your awareness in the center of your body. The has the affect of energizing you.

You’ll find that if you start incorporating small stress-balancing practices like this into your daily routine while in college the effect will be cumulative. As you move further into your future you’ll also be more prepared for the stresses life throws at all of us.

♥ Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Recently, I visited the University of Alabama- Huntsville campus and presented Relaxation 101: A Meditation Primer for Stress Management During College and this was one of the questions I asked students to answer – “What is stressing you out right now?” The responses that I received were numerous – including but not limited to:

• Taking tests
• Starting first year of college
• Death of a family member
• Sexual abuse
• Relationship/dating problems
• Working while attending college
• Change in sleeping habits
• Taking advance classes
• Grades worse than expected
• Abortion
• And more!

I also asked them to identify the symptoms they are currently experiencing due to their stress levels and they responded with these symptoms:

• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Constantly thinking about something
• Tiredness
• Worry
• Weight gain
• Muscle tension
• Stiff neck and shoulders

This is life in college as many students across America perceive and experience it in 2011. The good news is that student’s mental and emotional health is beginning to receive the attention it needs. Some of the most recent statistics reported in The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2010 report (conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute) involved more than 200,000 incoming first-time, full-time students at 279 four year colleges across America.

Researchers found that first-year college students’ self ratings of their emotional health dropped to record low levels in 2010, however, their drive to achieve and their academic abilities are trending upward.

To me, this means that mental thinking and emotional feelings are not in alignment. This is the foundational work of my 4 step Growth in Motion™!! Process. I teach students to begin identifying and uncovering the stress and emotional blocks in their lives so that they can take care of themselves in an empowering way while attending college and beyond.

If you are experiencing some or any of the above symptoms, here is one thing you can do to experience relief – especially since finals are right around the corner!

Take 3 deep, full, slow breaths and read this poem out loud each day

Don’t worry, you’ll be okay
Slowing down is good
You are enough just as you are
Just relax
Let life unfold
You have what it takes to handle anything
Anything
Good things come from patience, not pushing
Trust life
Stop the judgment and internal lectures
Return to yourself in this moment where life is peaceful and safe – RELAX!

♥Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia

“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Self compassion is a key component of living a Growth in Motion!! lifestyle. It is an important aspect of self empowerment.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

The ‘self’ implies a focus on “me” or “I” and can be defined as our personality, identity, or character. Within the word compassion is the word compass. There is also the word passion. When I think of the word compass, I think of a device with a magnetic needle that helps me determine my sense of direction. The dictionary says that compass means to comprehend, to travel entirely around, or to get into one’s possession or power. And passion is defined as excitement, emotion, intense feeling and love. Thus, compassion empowers, supports, comforts, and fosters growth.

Self compassion is using one’s personality to direct, empower, and foster personal growth with love.

As soon as we enter into judgments like “I’m not smart enough,” “I’m too fat or too thin,” “That was a stupid thing to say,” or “I don’t deserve this,” in that moment, we have moved away from self compassion. It is not empowering and it is definitely not based in love. And if this kind of thinking persists without a consistent effort to change it, it can lead to anxiety, sleep difficulties, relationship problems, sickness and even depressive emotional states.

According to the Journal of American College Health (August-October 2011 issue) 71, 908 college students were screened for depression between January 2007 and May 2008 because it has been on the rise among college students. In fact, the American College Health Association recently updated their National College Health Assessment statistics to reflect that out of 23,863 students who self reported their data, 34% listed stress among the top ten impediments to academic performance. I wonder what those numbers look like for students who are not reporting their frustrations! Let me repeat…

34% of students surveyed listed STRESS among the top ten impediments to academic performance!

Practicing self compassion can be an effective star to combating stress. Here is one way to begin practicing self compassion on campus:

Practice talking to yourself in a kind way. Although this sounds basic, it can be a challenge for someone who has heard negative messages from key people in their lives like parents, relatives, coaches, friends, and instructors. A few ideas to help get started:

1. Ask yourself empowering questions: What am I feeling right now? (This helps us invite and acknowledge all of our feelings. Stuffing them, or not talking about them, leaves the door open for them to come back in the future as unfinished business.)
2. Speak positively: It feels great to be able to take time out to unwind when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
3. Be honest and caring towards yourself: Even though things ‘work out the way I wanted them to, I’m glad I did it. This is what I learned from my experience___________.

Self compassion occurs with a commitment to building a positive inner belief system. As you practice self compassion, you will feel more freedom to be who you are (not what others want you to be) because you will trust yourself more. Consider it a work in process.

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

To concentrate is to place your full attention on one object. This means that you are making a choice to notice or give consideration to only one thing. It requires one to be still and focus. The one thing may be a person, place, idea, class work assignment, etc. For most people, concentration is hard because the mind, like the body, likes to move and is uncomfortable with stillness.

Typically, most of us choose to live in a way that is complex. For example, as a college student, I often chose to study at the library – with friends. While there, we each sat within close proximity to each other and this led to “side conversations” throughout our designated study time. The conversations could be about anything from what we were planning to do on the weekend to how hard the last exam was in a particular subject! At some point, we might’ve chosen to listen to some music too. Would you consider this a good practice of concentration? Probably not, but at the time, I did! And I really convinced myself that I was “focused” because I had a consistent study schedule and got decent grades. If I had been completely focused, however, all outside influences would not have been considered for the designated study time.

Focusing intensely on one thing helps you place all of your energy on that one thing. The result is that you strengthening it – whether it’s a good thing or bad thing. In the studying example above, I was not strengthening my concentration ability because my attention often shifted. At the same time, I was strengthening my ability to multitask. We do it all the time without thinking about it!

So, how can you increase your ability to concentrate?

Well, first decide that you are willing to make the effort to do it. Once you’ve made that decision, test it out on something that does not require too much thought. Start concentrating on something that you do automatically – breathe. Take 5 minutes to focus on your breathing. Notice how you breathe in and breathe out. As you do this, you will probably have thoughts flying through your mind like “what’s the point of doing this?” or “is this making a difference?” or “I never thought about how I breathe!” Just allow the thoughts to come and go and return to focusing on your breath – just for 5 minutes. Then, each day, spend another 5 minutes focusing only on your breath. After awhile, you will begin to notice that the thoughts don’t interfere as much as they used to because you are now concentrating on one thing better – your breath!

This one small practice will help you to concentrate better in any task that you encounter. Go ahead, give it a try and remember that it contributes to self empowerment, a key component of living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Psychologist Abraham Maslow was a phenomenal researcher of life who shared with the world (along with his colleagues Goldstein and Rogers) the term ‘self-actualization.’ He defined self-actualization to be the drive for self-fulfilment, namely the tendency for the individual to become their fully realized self at their highest potential. With this background knowledge and my own experiences, I define self discovery as the process of embracing one’s highest self. It is aligned with my definition of Growth in Motion!! which means your fully realized self. Thus, self discovery is an ongoing combination of actions we take as we change and grow throughout life. And, when we add conscious intention to the process of self discovery, we open our minds and hearts to uncover things that can hide in our unconscious mind for years. Some of those ‘hidden’ memories can include past issues such as abandonment, abuse, and more. Yes indeed, to practice self discovery is to be very courageous!

Are you on the path of self discovery?

Our ‘highest self’ is that part of us that reflects positive feeling qualities like compassion, trust, peace, optimism, harmony, beauty, and love to name a few. When we make a sincere effort to live with these qualities at the center of our lives, we experience greater satisfaction with ourselves and within our relationships.

Therefore, self discovery encompasses an ongoing combination of decisions we make and actions we take towards positive change and personal growth. And, in order to take appropriate actions, we must know the correct questions to ask ourselves.

Questions for Reflection

There are a few key questions that begin to lead an individual down the path of self discovery. These questions are:

1. Who are you?
2. Why do you do the things you do?
3. What is your purpose on this earth?

When examined thoroughly, it will take quite awhile to answer each of these questions with a knowingness that extends beyond logical reasoning. In fact, it can and often does take several years to begin to put the pieces of your life’s story together – kind of like a puzzle. With that said, take your time examining them. Life is not a destination; it is a journey of exploration!

Now, let’s get started answering the first question. If I asked your best friend to describe who you are in 4 words or less, what words would they use to describe you? If you compared your list to theirs, would each list match up?

Let’s get the dialog started. I want you to submit a comment below and answer the question: who are you?

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

To be accountable means to be in charge, responsible, or mature about your life experiences. And in the context of ‘radical personal accountability,’ to be radical is to be an activist, innovative, and uncompromising about your total well-being.

When you agree to live a Growth in Motion!! lifestyle, you are consciously agreeing to accept radical personal responsibility. It means you commit to looking inside yourself to understand the deeper meaning of your upsets and tendencies to blame others. You begin to realize that your experience of the world is determined by the way in which you perceive it and respond to it.

Throughout the process of acquiring radical personal responsibility (which occurs over a lifetime), your insights help you to make the internal changes that are appropriate for your personal growth which ultimately transforms your experiences of external success.

How have you dealt with radical personal responsibility in college? Or, is this a new idea for you? Reply below with your thoughts.

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia

On March 12, 2011, I met an 80 year old woman who didn’t look a day over 50! Clearly, she was a woman living a Growth in Motion!!™ lifestyle She was one of the participants at the Women’s Leadership Conference at Clemson University and she contributed lots of wisdom.

After delivering the 1st part of my speech, she approached me and thanked me for the wisdom I shared about authenticity. And after the 2nd part of my speech, she re-approached my product table and purchased one of my audio programs.

I hugged her and thanked her for being there and for being an inspiration to us all. Based on my interaction with her and observation of her, I could tell that she consciously practices self care, self empowerment, and self direction through radical self responsibility.

She was energetic and radiant from the inside out, she unselfishly shared her wisdom, and her responses revealed a strong conviction of her heart’s desires; and she shared with an underlying intention of love. I knew that because I felt her magnetism and I felt it in her embrace.

That day, I received one of the most precious gifts of life; she modeled for me (and every woman in her presence) how to represent ‘internal power’ with grace.

Ms. Hopkins, I’d love for you to share a few of your secrets with those of us who are ‘students of life.’ It was an honor to meet you!

Self care is a key element of the Growth in Motion process… and ‘doing nothing’ is a key element of self care, better known as ‘rest.’

When school is out there are no more final papers and exams to worry about, it’s a time to relax and rejuvenate yourself before returning to school. After all, you’ve been working hard over the past year. But, if you think like I did while I was in college, you may have scheduled a lot on your ‘to-do list’ for the summer. Or you may be spending lots of energy worrying about something yet to come.

One of those things on your ‘to-do’ list may be: work to make some money to use for next year’s expenses. If so, I celebrate your commitment to yourself! At the same time, I want to remind you to schedule sometime into your days to ‘do nothing.’ This means schedule 20-30 minutes each day to sit or lie down and just breathe. That’s it – nothing else! Yes, that’s right – no texting, checking Facebook, skyping, tweeting, emailing, talking on the phone, playing with the Wii, exercising, reading a book, going for a walk, watching tv – nothing for 20-30 minutes each day - except breathing!

Do you think you can do it? Are you willing to try it? Let me know why you think you can or cannot do it by responding below.

As I encourage you to schedule time to ‘do nothing,’ what thoughts came to your mind? Did they go something like, “yeah, right! Or, I can’t sit still for 2 seconds! Or, that’s not a problem for me!” Well, whatever your response was, know that it was the correct one and it helped you learn more about yourself.

So, why is it so important to ‘do nothing’ sometimes? Well, when we don’t allow for “non-activity” in our lives, we become out of balance and our natural rhythm gets thrown off. And, frustration, irritability, and/or exhaustion can sneak up on us and settle in. When our natural rhythm gets thrown off, we spend a lot of time “in our head thinking” and we forget about the rest of ourselves – our body and spirit. We forget to just ‘be.’ When we are ‘just being’ we allow life to flow. The results are happier relationships, better grades, and feeling good inside. Things seem to just work out for the best without the struggle. We don’t feel like we are constantly working against the current.

So, here’s a challenge for you: try ‘doing nothing,’ starting with just 10 minutes. You might find it to be hard work at first because you are not used to it. Remember, if you are watching tv, that doesn’t count. If you are texting, tweeting, catching up on Facebook, or talking on the phone, that doesn’t count either!

Just sit or lie down and breathe – that’s it! Now, go to it and write me back to let me know how you did. Once you’ve achieved it for 10 minutes straight, send me a quick reply message explaining how easy or hard it was for you.

♥ Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia

Your day starts on the “right” side of the bed and you go to classes feeling energized and ready to take on anything. You are alert, prepared, and focused and all seems to be flowing smoothly. As the day progresses, you begin to slow down, start to yawn, creativity takes a “back seat” and you feel like you could go home and crawl into bed. And somewhere around 3-4pm, it hits you like a ton of bricks. You feel depleted and now your thoughts are racing inside your head saying “I don’t feel like studying tonight; and I have sooooo much to do!” Sound familiar?

Daytime fatigue can sneak up on you in what seems like a “second” after having moved through the first part of the day with lots of energy. But what exactly causes it? Well, here are some things that may be slowing you down.

1. The need for more rest
2. Illness such as mononucleosis, cardiovascular problems, or under-active thyroid
3. Mental exhaustion
4. Emotional upset over past or current relationship concerns
5. Lack of water
6. Not enough oxygen in cells

So what can you do about it, especially since “finals” are right around the corner? Well, a simple start is to drink more water. Research indicates that a 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Moreover, lack of water is considered to be the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. This translates into frustration, irritability, and can lead to even less sleep in college! So, to be proactive, the recommended amount of water to drink each day is ½ your body weight in ounces. That is, if you weigh 120 lbs, you need a minimum of 60 ounces of water each day. This works out to be just about 8-8 ounce glasses of water. If you weigh more, drink more water to help boost your energy.

Another strategy for managing daytime fatigue is to practice full, deep, conscious breathing. Most of us have shallow breathing and don’t pay attention to it and thus, we never fill up our lungs with the maximum amount of oxygen they can hold. Take full inhalations and exhalations slowly and deliberately and feel the difference in your energy. If you need help, contact me. I can share a simple breathing technique that makes you feel more energized the natural way!

May your finals be fantastic and don’t forget to…

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Well, the term “consciousness” means the awareness of being aware. And what we are aware of is what we notice, what we perceive, or what we realize in our everyday lives. So, the next question is, “what are you aware of and is this improving your life or making it more difficult?” As a college student, you may answer with any one of the following:

“I’m aware of my grades”

“I’m aware of my friends, professors, fraternity/sorority, etc.”

“I’m aware of time”

“I’m aware of my body”

“I’m aware of my roommate’s lack of consideration for others”

The list could go on and on. The point I’m making here is that most of us are familiar with the word “awareness” however; we are less familiar with placing focused attention on it.

When we pay attention to something, it means that we are exercising free will. And what you pay attention to is what you become conscious of. So, if you pay attention to the “bad grades” you got last semester, you are using your free will to focus on something that you don’t want to happen again. With that said, wouldn’t it be advantageous to pay attention to grades, ideas, people, situations, and things that improve your life? We all have set-backs along life’s journey. We just have to pick ourselves up and take the next positive step forward.

So the next time you find yourself paying attention to thoughts, people, and situations that send you spiraling downward into sadness or emotional upset, ask yourself “what am I aware of right now and is this improving my life or making it more difficult?” Then free yourself by making the choice that is correct for you!

Take Care of Yourself,
♥Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Have you ever used any of the following phrases to describe another human being?

• He’s so irresistible!
• She has a magnetic personality!
• I feel like I can talk to him about anything!
• She makes me feel like a million bucks!

Each of the above expressions is a different way to express one’s magnetism. You can probably think of so many more to add to the list. Magnetism is another word for charisma, charm, or pull. And you don’t have to be around a person very long to feel the power of it. Some people effortlessly express it while others have to work a little more to increase their magnetism. Why is this so? Well, some of us figure out the formula early on while others have to learn it through relationships. There’s no doubt that we all possess magnetism, however, we must learn how to increase it and effectively express it in order to experience more satisfying relationships, emotional resilience, and the overall fulfillment and satisfaction we all seek in life.

The truth is that we all have a magnetic “internal compass” that literally pulls to us all of the people, places, and events we are here to experience… just like a magnet attracts paperclips. The challenge we face, however, is to attract the people, places, and events that are correct for us. Because when we attract what is incorrect for us (like a side job that has nothing to do with our major and it’s boring), life becomes a drag, it feels heavy and our experience of satisfaction decreases!

Use the following questions to begin attracting what’s correct for you:

1. Do my close relationships feel supportive or combative? How can I attract the support I desire?
2. What have I attracted into my life in the following areas: health, relationships, and accomplishments?
3. Overall, am I satisfied with my life right now? How can I make it better?

Some of the benefits of increased magnetism include:

• More fulfilling relationships because of being “tuned in” to others
• A sense of direction in life
• Self Confidence
• Greater acceptance of uniqueness and difference
• Feeling comfortable in your “own skin”

Increased magnetism begins with your ability to stand in loving relationship with yourself first. Then, you will effortlessly attract all of your heart’s wishes!

Remember to Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

According to The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner, “leadership is a relationship” and “leadership development is self development.” It is no doubt that this philosophy has been embraced by the women’s leadership conference vision team at Clemson University. It was a delight to witness the manifestation of this vision when I travelled to Clemson, SC to speak at the 2011 annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Students were engaging in discussions about conflict management, forgiveness, balancing roles in relationships, clarifying one’s values, relaxation techniques, and thinking with one’s heart to name a few! Leadership development truly IS self development in the 21st century and beyond.

From my perspective, this was a match made in heaven because my heart’s desire is to inspire others to live from their heart via a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle.

There are four critical skills that our future leaders will come to embrace along their journey. They are:

1) Self knowledge – This helps us to know when to say “no” and when to say “yes” for correct decision making.

2) Appreciation of others – It is challenging in any environment when people don’t feel appreciated.

3) The openness to listen to their heart – A skill that requires intention, attention, and inspiration.

4) The courage to follow their heart – Even when their mind is telling them something different!

Each critical skill sounds very simple yet each one can be a lifetime of discovery because patience, trust, and endurance create the foundation of them! The fact that the women of Clemson are already exploring these topics is exemplary of true visionaries and authentic leadership development. They are already on the path to truly understanding how to work better with other people, have a better understanding of how and when to take risks, unleash enormous levels of creativity, and escape self-imposed limitations.

Congratulations women of Clemson University. You truly are role models who are authentically committed to our future leaders!

Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

See larger image The Leadership Challenge, 4th Edition (Paperback) By (author) James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner List Price: $24.95 USD New From: $12.00 In Stock Used from: $9.73 In Stock

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at Clemson University for their Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. I was surprised to see attendees ranging in age from late teens to 80 years old! It was wonderful to see the support of approximately 130 undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, and participants from surrounding colleges and universities.

I want to thank Carrie Tucker and Lauren Kennedy for extending kind “southern hospitality” to this northern native! It was evident that they worked extremely long hours to bring such a thorough and inspiring conference to manifestation and everything flowed with ease. Centered around the theme, Our Authentic Selves: Show Me What You’re Made Of, there were several breakout sessions including topics such as balancing your roles, maintaining a healthy self-identity while in a relationship, authentic reflection, and creative discontent to name a few. I opened the conference with an overview (framing discussion) of how to tap into our authentic selves and then provided the keynote speech over lunch.

I also want to send a special “thank you” to Weslie for being my student assistant while on campus. She was wonderful in helping me with the distribution of my presentation notes, photography, videography, and even transporting me around campus. Also, thank you for the string quartet during lunch – that was the perfect touch! It brought back memories of the time that I played in a chamber string orchestra years ago.

Overall, there were laughs, tears, deep thought and feeling, and lots of reflection throughout the day, which is reflective of women who are being authentic… and also reflective of women who are living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

May you continue to gather for many years to come and continue to be “100% Authentic!”

Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Have you ever heard the phrase “honesty is the best policy?” Where did that phrase come from? I mean, there are so many situations that clearly reveal that honesty will either hurt or destroy the relationship! For instance, you were out with friends at a campus event and met this really nice guy who made you feel like no other person ever has. In fact, he made you feel so much better about yourself than your current partner (who you’ve mutually agreed to be in a committed relationship with). So, because you are charmed by the wonderful attention that you are receiving, you decide that you want to see him again. And he really gets how much you are attracted to him so he asks you out on a date. You say “yes” without even thinking about your current committed relationship. You return home that night feeling like you just met THE perfect person for you! The next day, you realize what you’ve done and now must decide to either tell your current partner about it or explore the possibility with the other guy and “see where it leads to.”

So, what would YOU do?

If “honesty IS the best policy,” why do so many of us think we have to “fib” a little or not share the whole truth in various situations? Well, it probably stems from one of the following scenarios:

• You’ve been shunned by someone when you told the truth and it made you feel wrong or ashamed for thinking differently
• You want to be nice and not hurt the other person’s feelings
• You want be in control of the situation
• You don’t want to look like you don’t “have it all together”
• You want to play it safe

Well, when it comes to being honest about what you want, it is the KEY to opening the doors of courage. Honest, conscious communication requires a lot of courage and vulnerability. And someone else’s truth may not align with yours because we each think, feel, and act in our own unique way. And that is OK. “Living a Growth in Motion™!! lifestyle” requires that we dig deep inside ourselves and not be afraid to learn as we experience life along the way. This nurtures self care, self empowerment, self knowledge, and self direction.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Remember, personal boundaries take shape and naturally form as we get clear about who we are and honest about what we want.

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Do you often get last minute requests from friends or family members just after the moment you decided to carve out quality time for yourself? Have you noticed a habit of giving your time and energy to projects or people and at the end of the day you feel exhausted or dissatisfied with the outcome? Do you frequently think “when is it my turn to get what I want?” If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a good chance that you are engaging in self-sabotage.

When something is important to us, we want to take care of it, protect it, and maintain it. And when important things or people in our lives have a perceived value, the risks are even higher. In fact, we will put aside, deny or jeopardize our own needs and well being to provide for those we consider important and valuable. It is a habit that many of us have come to accept as normal.

Each time we assign a value to something outside of ourselves, we reduce our sense of self efficacy. And the destruction continues as we make daily choices to care for and maintain something or someone that has “more” value than we do. Being the top student in the class is not more valuable than your emotional, physical, social, and mental well being. Being a faithful partner is not more valuable than internal peace.

If you’ve read this far, chances are you probably have considered something or someone more important than you at various time points of your life. You may have kept a secret that you know you should’ve shared for your own protection. In this moment right now, think of yourself. Value yourself by making YOU the most important aspect of your life. Remember, self empowerment is a key aspect of living a Growth in Motion™!! lifestyle.

Growth in Motion!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Do you feel like you are always hurrying to get things done? Are you suffering from burnout? Does it feel like you hardly ever get your needs met?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you could be going through a very important life lesson. That lesson is learning how to become wise about the pressures of the world. It may feel like a drag now but you will be thankful for learning this lesson as you move beyond college and into the next phase of your life!

If the above questions don’t resonate with you, perhaps the following “pressure indicators” will generate some discussion in your mind. Do you often find yourself saying…?

• I need something new in my life
• I have to get this done today
• I don’t want to waste any time
• What am I going to focus on?
• I have to eat fast to get on with my day (or, I don’t need to eat right now because it will take too much time)
• I can’t say “no” to him (or her)

If the above scenario is a reflection of your life in college and it is not working for you, it is time to change the program! If you are constantly feeling overwhelmed from the pressures of life, start making changes by doing the following:

Notice How you Handle Stress – Some of us are very logical and focused about the way we hande stress by taking steps and going deeply into them before moving to the next step, others have a fixed way of dealing with pressure, and others are totally unpredictable and very emotional. Identify which category sounds like you, determine if it is working for you and if not, try another way.

Take time to make decisions – As a coach, I work with clients who rush into decisions only to feel regret, frustration, and shame on the other side of their decision. Sleep on it for a day or two and then make the decision from a place of peace. You will feel like it was the correct decision when you make promises that you can honor.

Remember, self empowerment is one of the key components of living a Growth in Motion™!! lifestyle.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia

“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

• I choose to stretch and move, not sit
• I choose to eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains that increase my energy
• I choose to breathe, deeply and fully
• I choose to connect with my Creator daily
• I choose to be compassionate and caring
• I choose to be honest with myself and others
• I choose to use my voice, speak up, and share my truth with an intention of love
• I choose to learn more about myself through personal problems or upsets
• I choose to keep it real with my thoughts, words, and actions
• I choose to listen to my body and my heart
• I choose to never ever give up on myself

Remember: Growth in Motion!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

One of the most effective early warning signs of a mental or physical imbalance is the development of a pessimistic outlook. And once that belief takes root in us, we start to feel irritability, frustration, anger, sadness or sometimes we even lose hope or faith in ourselves and our abilities. I call it the “tired of being tired syndrome.” It can creep up on you when you are placing minimal attention on your needs and maximum attention on all the things that you have to get done.

Some other indicators of the “tired of being tired syndrome” include:

• Insomnia
• Constantly ripping and running or rushing
• Loss of appetite or eating too much
• Poor concentration
• Poor memory retention
• Loss of motivation and energy
• Missed deadlines
• Frequently angry or upset
• Constant comparison to others

Ask yourself; have any of the above indicators become habits for me while in college? If so, congratulate yourself for acknowledging it! Then, take the following steps to get yourself back on track:

Stop trying to force study habits – this is like pushing your way through a brick wall. It is too much effort. Find the time of day where things seem to flow more easily for you and do your studying at that time. Some people feel more energized in the morning while others feel like they just can’t get going until evening time. Check in with your body (determine how it feels) and it will let you know what is best for you.

Know when enough is enough – if you keep trying to practice your speech, type a paper, or read the same passage over and over again and it feels like you aren’t getting anywhere, then take a break. And after that, take some deep breaths to relax your body and mind. Sometimes we have to pause for a little while to “recharge” and then move forward – with replenished energy.

Stress can be a challenge or a doorway to an increased commitment to self care. The key to managing it is to recognize when your thoughts become more pessimistic than optimistic. Complete your “stress check up” today so that you establish a Growth in Motion™!! lifestyle while in college.

Growth in Motion!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥Felicia

“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

College students can have very stressful lives. When I was in college, it was commonplace for “information overload” to send us into some of the deepest hours of sleep because we were so worn out from all of those hundreds of chapters of reading material! On many occasions (too many to count), I fell asleep while reading, only to wake up and discover that I lost a lot of valuable study time! During those days, we didn’t use a lot of resources for help. We just “pushed” our way through it all.

There was one key thing that I did to regenerate my energy and it worked out to be extremely effective for me. (I must point out that there was no cable television, laptops, internet, or technologically advanced contraptions in our dorms!) I didn’t understand the power of it at the time and upon reflection, it could’ve been one of the major determining factors for my success. Quite simply, I spent time in nature when I felt “study overload.”

Spending time in nature may very well be one of the most important things for you to practice so that you manage your experience of “overload.” Sitting in nature is like embracing life! You have the opportunity be quiet and listen to sounds, see life reflected all around you, feel the warmth of the sun, and breathe fresh air. And if you are in the northern part of the country, you get to experience the “element” of snow through sledding, skiing, or even snowball fights!

Nature has a way of transforming thoughts, inspiring creativity, and giving us a sense of taking a “vacation” from it all. So, the next time you feel like things are getting hectic, take a break in nature. Your mind and body will thank you for it!

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

A final thought to consider: We are like nature. The rain cleanses the sky just as emotional release cleanses your mind. Spend time in nature to clear your mind.

Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia

“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Recently, I participated in a 21 week live tele-training course entitled the Mentorship and Manifestation Circle. It was an opportunity to expand my manifestation skill set and to unite with dynamic, powerful, empowered, and purposeful women. Our facilitator assigned “lifework” assignments which are similar to “homework” assignments; however, the focus was on one’s life instead of a book, term paper, or speech. The idea was to place attention on daily life experiences and learn from them via an assigned activity. Well, one specific assignment was to go on an “appreciation rampage.” Our mission was to notice simple opportunities to send appreciation to another person(s) and take action on them.

The value of this exercise was priceless. It taught us to place our attention on others in a way that was positive and uplifting. It also helped us realize just how much we take for granted in our lives. As I shared appreciation and gratitude with others through notes, verbal expressions, and random acts of kindness, I began to feel and experience a greater level of appreciation from them. What I gave, I received!

Question for Reflection: What do you appreciate in your life?

Make a list and add to it daily. You can start with one thing you appreciate each day and at the end of the month, you will have 30 specific things that help you feel joy and satisfaction with yourself and others. This “lifework” assignment is a wonderful way to experience Growth in Motion™!!

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Remember, appreciation only costs a little bit of your attention and focus and the rewards are infinite. Begin your appreciation rampage at any moment of any day to increase your personal success!

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia

“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Your heart is the core of who you are. Your mind is the instrument of your heart. Emotion is behind thinking. And your “unsettled” emotions are buried very deep within your heart which feeds every cell of your body. Therefore, it is critical that we understand the physical, emotional, and energetic workings of our heart. Living from the heart is all about placing your consciousness in your heart and practicing it daily. It is about placing your intention, attention, and focus on the center point of your very existence – your heart.

So how do we begin living from the heart? Well, this may sound so basic but 1st, we must locate our physical heartbeat within our chest. A simple way to do this is to place your right hand on the center of your chest and feel the beat of your heart. If you cannot feel it, you can place your index and middle fingers on the inside of your right wrist. Your pulse is located there. And your pulse is the echo of your heartbeat. Just by taking this first step in heart centered living, you establish communication between your conscious and subconscious mind, which is consistently fed and directed by your heart!

Once you’ve established a connection with your heartbeat, you begin to place attention on it – each and every day. And as you remain faithful to placing attention on it every day, something magical happens. Your heart begins to open wide, allowing you to experience more loving relationships, it reveals your purpose to you, it guides and directs your thoughts and sense of direction and it makes certain that you KNOW that you have all that you need and you have a purpose for existing.

Take care of yourself in a way that supports you to live from your heart. A few ways to do this are to 1) Locate your heartbeat in your chest each day (as outlined above), pay attention to your emotions, and live a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle.

Pay Attention to Your Emotions

As I shared earlier, emotion is behind thinking. There is a famous phrase that states “change your thinking, change your life.” I want to modify that phrase and suggest that we all “change our heart, change our life.” If you believe that emotion is behind thinking, then the level at which we truly change thinking is at the heart level because emotions are stored there and it sends signals to every other part of the body. And when we are experiencing emotions, they reveal what is going on with us at a deeper level.

So, the next time you get frustrated about the computer freezing up on you when you have a paper due in less than an hour, ask yourself “What is this telling me about how I prioritize, react, or respond to crises, and what is the message for me?” Your answer may come from a childhood experience that was buried deep in your heart. Or, it may be a former upset that did not receive complete, undivided attention at that precise time to heal it. So, it has returned in a different but similar experience as “unfinished business” to complete and lay to rest.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Don’t forget to be patient with yourself and give things time to work out. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself and check in with your IGS (Internal Guidance System) to really know what is correct for you. Only you know what is correct for you. Step by step, we each have the power to live from the heart and create happy and balanced lives.

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

Recently, I was perusing the dictionary because I wanted to see what it said about this word “understanding.” Some synonyms shared were: comprehend, absorb, appreciate, identify with, empathize, be familiar with, and value. And in the context of personal growth, to understand is to be willing to empathize with others, be in tune with our emotional selves, and to value individual differences – even when we don’t agree with them. Thus the process of understanding involves a high level of mental, emotional, and spiritual awareness.

To comprehend, we use our mind, to empathize, we use our emotion, and to appreciate, we must tap into our heart (which houses our spirit). When one or more of these perspectives is under-represented, it is a challenge to have understanding and when all three converge, we experience peace… and authentic understanding. We live out what I refer to as Growth in Motion™!! I’m encouraging you start now while you’re a college student and this lifestyle will support you through graduation and for many years to come.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Throughout my life – starting even before college – I can think of many opportunities where I had to choose to understand situations I’ve been going through or to view them as the other person’s problem. Many times, I decided that it was the other person’s problem. More often, however, I decided to make a huge effort to dig, excavate, or get underneath and “understand” what was actually going on in an objective way. This has cost me a lot of restless days and nights, tears, and sweat over the years but after having experienced life in this way, I’ve grown to appreciate the upsets, arguments, and misunderstandings from a perspective of insight and wisdom. And in viewing life from this perspective, I have experienced a lot of personal growth and understanding.

Take care of yourself in a way that helps you experience a better understanding of yourself. A few ways to do this are to answer the following:

What I appreciate about _____ is ______. By completing this exercise, you will begin to reveal a sense of gratitude for the people, places, and things in your life. By focusing on what you appreciate, it lightens the load of the problems or circumstances that weigh you down, like your argument with your boyfriend last night! It also helps you to becoming more accepting of others and their differences.

What makes me happy? To prepare yourself, find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Then, take several full and deep breaths to help relax your mind and body. When answering this question, allow whatever comes to mind and express it on paper, even if it appears to be unfamiliar. I have found that this exercise can bring up some ideas and things that have been buried for years! For example, I forgot just how good I feel when I jump rope! As a result of completing this exercise, I have returned to this fun childhood experience. I also discovered that I enjoy writing and use it for healing and self expression. And after that particular writing session with myself, I decided to create this blog entry! So, get your paper and pen and allow your creative juices to flow! (Note: if you don’t enjoy writing, get a tape recorder and speak into it or if you prefer to draw or sing, take out your color pencils, paints, or recorder and have fun!)

Remember to spend time alone with yourself – yes, between classes, ex-curricular activities and having a life – to gain a better understanding of your likes, dislikes, and what really makes you happy. You will feel more compassion and internal peace. You might be surprised at how much more you enjoy the rest of life.

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

I had to stop and ask myself, “Are my closest relationships authentic relationships?” My honest answer was “no, not all of them.” Then, I began to think about my past and current relationships and mentally list examples of experiences within those relationships that appeared authentic to me. Even though I had many examples to list out, I clearly had more growth opportunities in this area of authentic relationships.

So, moving forward, I have decided to make a conscious effort to establish and sustain authentic relationships because I want all of the things listed above in my closest relationships – transparency, care, connection, cooperation, commitment, communication, and character. In short, I want true partnerships. How about you? Life in college is the perfect time to get serious about the types of relationships you are entering into. Often times, you will carry these relationships well into your future.

Take care of yourself in a way that helps you identify, establish, and maintain an authentic relationship with yourself and others. A few ways to do this are to answer the following questions:

1. Is the idea of an authentic relationship important to me? Why or why not?
2. What are the indicators of authentic and correct relationships for me?
3. What does not work well for me in my relationships?
4. How is my mental, physical, and emotional well-being affected in my closest relationships?

The questions above are a few examples of my unique way of focusing on and sustaining authentic relationships while experiencing Growth in Motion!!

Growth in Motion™!! = Self care + Self Empowerment + Self knowledge + Self Direction

As I continue to embrace all of me – the good, bad, and unconscious aspects of myself, I continue to change, reshape, and/or redefine my life and relationships in a way that feels correct for me. I suggest that you keep the above questions close by, use them consistently, and watch how magnificent your relationships become!

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!”

On the other hand, when we are in reaction mode, we immediately take action based on our current beliefs and emotional state. Often times, our beliefs come from family, society, culture, environment, or our individual experiences. They are embedded within us very deeply – many times beyond our conscious awareness. Moreover, our beliefs may not consistently align with our core values. When this happens, we typically get a result of dissatisfaction, upset, or frustration.

When our result is something that feels correct for us, we experience pleasure and learn from our behavior. And when our core beliefs and core values don’t match up, we are not pleased and we (hopefully) get another opportunity in the future to learn. In essence, when we practice empowered responsibility, the way we approach and resolve conflict changes. And when that happens, we experience satisfaction, peace, balance, and sense of freedom in our lives. In essence, we experience Growth in Motion™!! (Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction)

Take care of yourself in a way that helps you practice empowered responsibility. A few ways to do this are:

Guard your thoughts – have you ever thought about what you are thinking? Another way to ask this question is “are you an observer of your thoughts?” It’s a fascinating question isn’t it? And, it offers a lot of wisdom to you about your unique life experiences. When you begin to observe your thoughts, you begin to see common themes about your life journey. As I have observed my thoughts over the years, I’ve discovered that I have consistently been interested in anything associated with spiritual health/wellness and the heart. And I began to think about what I DO want more than what I DON’T want.

Make conscious choices - our mind is the surface of our heart and our emotions reside in the depth of our heart. Many of us live our lives making choices from the surface of our hearts – our minds. For example, you cram for an exam the night before it. When you get a “C” on it, you start to beat yourself up because you knew you should’ve studied more effectively. This is why so many people feel like their emotions are “buried deep” because they are! To begin making conscious choices, we have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable (shed the tears, have the conversations that you have been avoiding for so long, or make the tough decisions you know are right for you) so that we feel deeply and feed our minds from the depth of our hearts. Then, we have the ability to make conscious choices that create satisfactory results.

Affirm “I am responsible for my own thoughts and choices!” This life practice will start you on the road to becoming more happy, balanced, and satisfied with yourself and your relationships.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

I then looked for the definition of passion. I found the following: obsession, excitement, anger, sexual desire, emotion, intense feeling and love. These words described feelings from one end of the spectrum to the other. And as those words sunk in, I thought about some examples in my life where I felt like I was demonstrating compassion because I felt an “intense powerful feeling” that I decided to name as “loving.” Upon deeper understanding, however, I told myself the truth and it was not only compassion that I was feeling, it was many times sympathy.

Let’s take a look at the differences between compassion and sympathy. Compassion empowers, supports, comforts, and fosters growth. Sympathy, on the other hand, provides a cushion, it smothers, it keeps us in the role of victim tempting us to escape from reality, and it feels good in the moment but in the long run, it does not help our personal growth. This new understanding has been a “wake up” call for me! And I hope that this information helps you much earlier in life than it did for me – during your college years.

Compassion fosters internal growth and wisdom. As I often tell my clients and workshop participants, here is a “lifework” assignment for you if you choose to take it on: commit to being compassionate in your relationships. Be more supportive and empower others with positive, constructive feedback and actions – even when you want to write them off! Know that each of us is unique and we are influenced by cultural traditions, family ancestry, our environment and personal experiences along the way. When we have compassion for others, we are letting them know that we are allowing some space in the relationship for the expression of difference and could not possibly know all of the details that make them a unique, one-of-a-kind human being – because we are not them! No two people are exactly the same.

Consider compassion a lifelong “work in progress.” Consider it as one more stepping stone along the path of a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle. It supports, comforts, empowers, and fosters personal growth. Remember to slow down and take time to work on empowering your relationships with compassion.

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

Healthy relationships start with a focus on self-care and well-being. That is the philosophy I shared with Voorhees College students during my recent visit to their campus. When I asked the question, “What is most important to you in your relationships?” I received answers like trust, communication, love and respect. The idea of practicing self-care as a foundation for healthy relationships appeared to be a new paradigm for them. I can understand, though, because several years ago, it became a new paradigm for me as well. Through my own learning experiences, I have concluded that taking care of me is critical to the health of my relationships with others. And “taking care of me” includes my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

When a person has a solid foundation of self-care and well-being, she brings that ritual into her relationships with others. And when she has not firmly established a self care “ritual,” she will experience tremendous potential for unhealthy relationships.

So, what exactly does it mean to practice self care?

Self care is the daily practice of choosing experiences that cultivate, restore, and strengthen one’s body, mind and heart. It is crucial that one does not limit her practice to just “grooming.” Some examples of grooming include getting haircuts, manicures and pedicures. This is a focus on physical appearance. Self care is the practice of focusing on physical (external) as well as mental, emotional and spiritual (internal) aspects of ourselves. Some examples of internal self care include deep breathing, journaling, practicing forgiveness and engaging in activities that are fun.

What’s the link between self care and healthy relationships?

The practice of self care helps one to understand her body, emotions, thoughts, needs and wants. Through self care, one establishes self-connection, greater self-awareness, self-trust, self-direction and self-love. And once this foundation is in place, it is a platform for assisting us in our day-to-day interactions within relationships. There’s no doubt about it, upsets and miscommunication will occur in relationships. However, with a healthy foundation of self care, we have the emotional resilience to work through them and create healthier outcomes for all involved. Healthy relationships start with a focus on self-care and well-being.

Begin practicing self care today and notice just how much your relationships with roommates, professors, your intimate partner, friends and family members grow in a healthier direction! Today, begin to live a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!

Growth in Motion™!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

In Latin the term “cor” means heart. In French the term “cour” means to be in the process. And in English the word courage means “the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger or hardship resolutely.” Therefore, when one is said to have courage, she/he is in the process of connecting with her heart (or core self) as challenges arise so that she is able to understand them and take correct action.

When we think about someone with courage, oftentimes we think about a person who is bold, assertive, brave, gutsy, spunky, confident and strong. And many times, it centers on a specific task that they handled “well.” Think about three people you interact with on campus that you would describe as courageous based on this description.

Courage is powerful in and of itself because it starts in the heart.

A few questions I would like you to consider are: Can a person who is soft, caring, connected, compassionate,and cool possess courage? Why or why not? If so, is there a difference between their way and the way the bold and assertive person possesses courage? I’d love to receive your feedback! You can post your responses below in the comments section.

Here are a couple of ways to build sustainable courage

1. Focus on your heart – Do you ever take time to locate your heartbeat and actually feel it? If not, your first assignment is to find your heartbeat in your chest and give it some undivided attention. This one act creates a bridge between your conscious mind and your unconscious mind. The fact is, we don’t have to pay attention to the parts of ourselves that work automatically because they are automatic! As you take the time to focus on your heart, you strengthen it and anything that builds in strength will increase your sense of self confidence and ultimately courage. How this translates is that you have the ability to do better on exams, have a greater capacity to handle more, and you still feel good about yourself.
2. Be you! – It is my belief that each of us is a unique expression of goodness. (It is some of the choices we make that can make us feel “bad.”) We are naturally designed to be in relationships so that we can learn about ourselves, learn from each other and continue to grow. When you are being you, the doors open for others to receive the gift that you bring to life – your uniqueness. And when you aren’t being true to who you are, you end up in a vicious cycle of being someone you think others want you to be. As a result, things never feel quite right because you are not living the true you. So, the bottom line is… be yourself, not what others want you to be.

Remember to take care of yourself in a way that builds courage and supports you to live a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle! You will begin to see improvements in your ability to handle any challenge that comes your way!

Take Care of Yourself,
♥Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

A seed represents the beginning or starting point of all living things. Inside of the seed is all that is needed to grow into something magnificent. There is nothing to add, subtract or change within the seed to produce its harvest. And the most amazing part is that, given the proper conditions for growth, one tiny seed will produce so much more than itself.

To be great is to be massive, to be talented, and to be important. Each and every one of us is born from a seed that already contains greatness! Ask yourself, “Do I feel important? Do I believe I can truly make a difference in my life, my family, my community, my campus or my world?” Even in the midst of upsets with your parents, roommate, significant other or even yourself, you are still a seed of greatness. You are great just because you are you!

“I Am A Seed of Greatness” is a powerful statement that helps you live a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle which helps you believe and know beyond a shadow of a doubt you are talented and important. Have trust and faith in who you are, simply because you’re you! Tell yourself the truth and know that you are appreciated by so many people.

Growth in Motion!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

2 Ways to Practice and live “GREATNESS”

1. Listen to your own guidance – we are born with an “internal guidance system” (IGS) that directs us each step of the way. Many of us learn to ignore our natural “internal voice” while making plenty of room in our lives for validating what others say about us and what they think about what we should or should not be doing. When we learn how to give our “internal guidance system” the priority that it deserves in our lives, we feel empowered and true to ourselves.
2. Schedule time to relax – you might be saying, “Yeah, right! Relaxing is something I just can’t do. I have too much homework, papers to write and tests to worry about!” The problem with this is that our bodies are naturally designed for periods of activity and non-activity. When you don’t allow for “non-activity” in your life, you become out of balance and your “natural rhythm” gets thrown off. When your natural rhythm gets thrown off, you spend most of your time “in your head or thinking” while forgetting about the rest of yourself – your body, emotions and spirit. And when you don’t pay attention to all aspects of who you are, some parts of you will become stiff, inflexible, irritable, resentful or fearful. Spending time in relaxation helps you to begin giving your “constant thinking” some much needed breaks.

Remember, today is a new day! Every day, affirm “I Am A Seed of Greatness!” Take care of yourself in a way that brings out your greatness. Write down what happens and share your discoveries with me here at CampusTalkBlog. Your life will change for the better right before your eyes!

I Am a Seed of Greatness!

Take Care of Yourself,
Felicia Harlow
Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle

To have a harvest is to have a return, a yield, a collection of some sort. It also implies that we give, express or put something “out there” and, by nature, receive something back. This past summer, my family planted seeds in our garden. We gave our effort in the form of time, physical labor and patience with a positive expectation that we would receive something in return – a harvest of various vegetables.

Question for Reflection: When you give your time, effort and energy to your partner, friend, job or even a 30-page term paper, do you look forward to a positive return?

If the answer is “yes” for many issues, relationships and circumstances that you encounter in life, you probably feel self-confident, powerful, valued and tremendously blessed! If the answer is “no” for key areas of your life, you might have an emotional reaction to this question, which may result in feelings somewhere between sadness, hopelessness, frustration, anger or resentment in your present life.

To receive an abundant harvest, you must prepare the soil (your heart, mind and body), plant good seeds (mental thoughts), and nurture them (feed your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being) in order to experience satisfaction and success (a positive return) with the harvest.

Questions for Reflection: What are you harvesting? Is your crop (in your relationships, job, money and health) yielding a positive return or one of depletion?

Take some time to explore the answers to the above questions in every area of your life. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and write your responses out in a journal or on notebook paper. You may also choose to draw them out or write a song that reflects how you truly think and feel about the harvest(s) you’ve been creating to date. This exercise is very important for college students because it helps to prepare you for “life outside the campus.”

Now is the time to do the “inside work” so that you can create and sustain a Growth in Motion™ lifestyle!

Growth in Motion!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”

Most of us run around doing, doing, doing and then one day realize that we have little “juice” or energy to do the things we really want to do. It is similar to running a battery down to the point where it will not charge anymore. Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, we continue to deplete our energy without recharging our “batteries.” Well, the next time you find yourself experiencing that “I’m sinking” feeling due to never-ending homework, exams, roommate challenges, or personality conflicts with your partner, take a time out and review the follow 10 strategies to help get you back on track with experiencing Growth in Motion™!!

Growth in Motion!! = Self Care + Self Empowerment + Self Knowledge + Self Direction

The 10 emotional management strategies are:

1. Believe and know that you can do this!
2. Accept responsibility for your stuff (i.e. thoughts, feelings, and actions).
3. Seek to understand everything and everyone.
4. Be honest with yourself.
5. Learn from your mistakes and take action to correct them.
6. Take care of yourself in a way that energizes and empowers you.
7. Trust yourself and know what is correct for you.
8. Celebrate the victories and have fun!
9. Pay attention to your body and rest when you are tired and/or exhausted.
10. Surround yourself with a positive support network.

Post this list on the wall next to your bed so that you will see it when you awake and before you retire to bed. And know that with a little bit of adjustment and tweaking along the way, you can make it through!

Take Care of Yourself,
♥ Felicia
“Living a Growth in Motion™!! Lifestyle”