Just a note to let you all know that we have really appreciated your support in this fantastic journey we shared. However, we have decided to dissolve IAWSL for now. Ruth will be taking a sabbatical and Patricia will be concentrating on her own business: www.TheBlissfulSoul.com.
Please feel free to stay in contact!
Peace and Blessings to you on your journey!
Ruth and Patricia
This is a title of a poem by Marge Piercy, who born in 1936 in the industrial city of Detroit, went on to become one of the earlier proponents of feminist issues and social and environmental concerns. I happened upon this poem of hers in a program hand-out for one of my grand daughter’s school productions last year which I dearly embraced, archived, and cherish still.
It is one of those poems that when you read it for the first time, is like your first kiss; it gets embedded in the inner depths. It goes like this:
I want to be with people who submerge
In the task, who go into the fields to harvest
And work in a row and pass the bags along,
Who are not parlor generals and field deserters
But move in a common rhythm.
I’ll bet my net worth on the presumption that you can identify with this powerful message! How many times in your life have you had an understanding of the task that was agreed upon, only to find when you ‘went into the fields’ you were either doing the job alone, or the people who had signed on were doing the task their way; without rhythm?
How many times have you been led to believe by the leadership of a project or an agreed-to program that you would have the support you would need?
How many times have you had to swallow the advice of ‘parlor generals’ when you knew in your heart they were like the main character in Hans Christian Anderson’s, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”?*
*For those of us who need a ‘reminder’, the Emperor in the fairy tale has little to be concerned about, as Emperors go. So, he focuses on his wardrobe (any similarity between then and now is ‘purely coincidental’) while he cultivates an invested interest in maintaining his position.
So much so, that he hires two dudes, weavers they be, who promise him the finest suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for the Emperor’s position, or who are just hopelessly stupid.
When the crafty weavers present the ‘magnificent suit’ which is invisible to the Emperor, he, of course, cannot see it! Oh-oh, a real dilemma here… His fear of appearing unfit for his position, or worse yet, stupid, throws him into a state where his ego goes into high gear.
You likely remember the story that he parades naked in order to ‘be right’ or not thought of as stupid.
We all have had to deal with the Emperors who crossed our paths and our working lives! And what about the ‘weavers’ who have spun their craft and with whom we have engaged because of the enticement we were ready for?
Then there are the ‘field deserters’ whom Ms.Piercy refers to in the poem. How many of these people have interrupted the rhythm in your work or in your life?
They may have been “in the trenches” for a short period of time, and due to their unwillingness to stick with a difficult project, their lack of motivation, or their ‘bravado’ that they had ‘been there, done that’ they now feel ‘qualified’ to be an expert?
It is my belief that we have encountered and experienced all of the above. And, because of my age and experience, I believe that each of us has likely been, at one time or another, those who go it alone, those who do the task our own way, those who are ‘parlor generals’ and those who are ‘field deserters’.
And yet, I hold the faith that each of us may aspire to the ideal:
I want to be with people who submerge
In the task, who go into the fields to harvest
And work in a row and pass the bags along,
Who are not parlor generals and field deserters
But move in a common rhythm.
Love and Blessings in the Field,
Ruth
It is said that nothing ever dies – it simply changes. Maybe that’s true – but then what? Change???? Most people struggle deeply with the idea of change. Companies have entire departments devoted to “managing change” so that employees can deal with it effectively. 
Resistance to change comes from a fear of the unknown or an expectation of loss. The first aspect of a person’s resistance to change is how they perceive the change. The second aspect is how well they are equipped to deal with the change they expect.
How much a person resists change is determined by whether they perceive the change as good or bad, and their expectations of how severe they expect the impact of the change to be on them. In order to ultimately accept change, we need to have adequate resilience and excellent coping skills.
However, not only is change inevitable, but it is required if you are to be successful in business and in life. How can you ensure that when change is required, you handle it skillfully and with grace? Here are four tips for dealing with change when (not “if”) it comes into your life:
Ensure that you have a quality support system
It is so important during times of transition that you have a good support system around you. This could be family and friends, or a business mastermind group. Depending on the type of transition you are going through, different types of groups might prove to be more effective than others. It is imperative that you have some sort of mentor.
Look for the silver lining in the situation
Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. Even if it appears that the world is falling down around your ears. Take some time and look at the situation. See what can be found that is positive. For example, even if you lose a job, perhaps that job wasn’t the best fit for you and now you are free to pursue a long-lost dream or some other opportunity that will make you much happier.
Continue your spiritual practice
This is not the time to quit praying, meditating, journaling or doing whatever it is that centers you and brings you peace and serenity. If you don’t already have a daily spiritual practice, then please start something before you find that you need it! It could be something as simple as taking five minutes each morning before you get out of bed to quiet your mind, breathe deeply and review your plan for the day; or write whatever comes to mind in your journal for 10 or 15 minutes each morning or evening. Just five to ten minutes each day will provide you enough peace of mind to get through any of these obstacles, with at least some amount of grace.
Create a structure to support you
When all else is failing or seemingly In chaos around you, it is important to have a structure to cling to. This can mean having a simple daily routine that you keep to each day. For example, getting up, meditating, having breakfast, etc. at the same time each morning. In the evening, spend a few minutes relaxing before eating dinner and settling in for bed. Whatever your routine is, stick to it! This will provide an important framework and touchstone amidst the change and confusion that may be going on externally.
As you can see, while change may be inevitable, it doesn’t have to be traumatic. Keep your life as simple and structured as possible, with downtime and spiritual connection included and you will find that “This too shall pass” – you will soon be acclimated to the change that has occurred and it will be smooth sailing from here on out!
This article was written by Patricia Selmo, an ordained Interfaith Minister, certified life coach, spiritual healer, teacher and guide. She is the co-founder of the International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders: www.iawsl.com.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you commit to leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline: The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions. We invite you to download-as our GIFT to you-the 5 Secrets to Creating Abundance Through Your Purpose. You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of information and tips for supporting you in your calling. Just click here: www.iawsl.com
July 15, 2010 6 PM Eastern/5 PM Central/4 PM Mountain/3 AM Pacific
Building online relationships, getting clients and making money.
Lisa shares 7 simple steps to getting the most out of your online presence by developing relationships and creating a money engine.
During the interview Lisa reveals proven steps to:
o Determine the purpose of your website and understand the importance of messaging and strategy
o Create a symbiotic relationship between your online and offline marketing efforts so your all of your marketing, advertising and promotional efforts are working together to increase your brand and message.
o Build relationships by gifting knowledge and offering something of value for no cost.
o Continue the online relationship with marketing techniques to reinforce the know, like and trust factors.
o Leverage your expertise online to drive traffic to your website and increase credibility.
o Gain additional online exposure via news by leveraging things you’re already doing in your business to gain publicity online and offline.
o Create a sales funnel or tiered offerings to continue the relationship with your clients and show them the next logical step to doing business with you.
Lisa Manyon is the President of Write On ~ Creative Writing Services, LLC., Professional Copywriter, Marketing Strategist and Published Author specializing in POWERFULLY communicating your marketing message to increase results. She is a master of matching your message to market in your authentic voice. Plus, Manyon has a passion for helping people reach their individual goals. She helps transform dreams into manageable action steps with tangible results. Her passion for authentically sharing newsworthy messages has earned her recognition for press release and publicity results.
She continually invests in professional growth to offer the best service possible. She’s completed Ali Brown’s Marketing Mastery 12 month online marketing & mentorship course and the Millionaire Protégé Club Platinum Program (serving as a mastermind leader within the program). Manyon developed a series of marketing trainings for the Idaho Small Business Development Center to help businesses avoid costly start-up mistakes. She is the first professional copywriter in the state of Idaho to achieve Glazer – Kennedy Creating Copy that Sells certification. Manyon has worked as Managing Director of Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero’s National Copywriting Mentorship Program, is the featured press release case study in Lorrie’s She Factor Marketing System and serves as a Copy Coach in the She Factor Copywriting Bootcamp program. Manyon has studied John Carlton’s work and survived his infamous Marketing Rebel Hot Seats. She is the Copywriting Expert for Wendy Y Bailey’s Group Mastery, a Faculty Member for Affiliate Wealth Partners and more.
She’s a published author and is a featured in the Official AWE Guide to Emerging Trends Every Online Entrepreneur Must Know and has written promotional, advertising and marketing copy for internet marketers and a wide variety of brick and mortar businesses.
Lisa Manyon has spent well over 20 years in the marketing trenches of advertising agencies, radio stations and non profit organizations. Manyon has successfully operated Write On ~ Creative Writing Services since 2003. She created a mobile business model that allows her to work and play anywhere she chooses. She LOVES what she does and is particularly passionate about helping you share your gifts with the world. In addition to providing exceptional copywriting services, she accepts a limited number of one on one consulting clients to help you create your marketing and messaging strategy.
Manyon accepts a limited number of copywriting, coaching and consulting clients and prefers a long-term client relationship approach to working. She publishes a monthly ezine Manyon’s Musings and offers a free Copywriting Action Plan. Her work has been featured in various publications. She’s participated in numerous speaking engagements, teleseminars and interviews. To learn more about working with Write On ~ Creative Writing Services, to grab your free stuff or schedule an interview visit www.WriteOnCreative.com.
I know this has gone “around” the internet for a while, but I saw it again today and couldn’t resist sharing. There are some key nuggets of information “gold” in this short video:
So, are you a leader or a first follower? Or one of the other followers?
Blessings,
Patricia
“Ice Ice Baby”… That was the headline for a communiqué I received this week from one of the financial newsletters I subscribe to. You can imagine that it grabbed my attention! As I read the article my blood ran cold… no, turned to ice.
Please allow me the time because I think this is of interest to every woman and man. And that is not hype!
Marc Lichtenfeld, Healthcare Specialist, wrote about a phenomenon which is washing over our college campuses and across America called “Bros Icing Bros”. It is a game, obviously played only by young men. I can only shudder to imagine that it may be climbing up the age ladder.
The name of the game is “icing”. One guy (bro) gives a “Smirnoff Ice” to another bro, the recipient of which has to get down on one knee and “chug” the “Smirnoff Ice”. This exchange can happen anywhere at any time.
Should the ‘bro’ recipient refuse, as Marc explains, “they break a ‘man code’ and face ridicule, scorn and excommunication from the tribe for eternity.”
He goes on, “of course there are ways to protect yourself. You can present your attacker with your own bottle of “Smirnoff Ice”, making him chug both bottles. The internet is filled with stories and videos of bros getting iced in inconvenient places such as the shower, work, the gym, even a funeral”.
And here is the nubbin…
“But why Smirnoff Ice and not a Bud Light? The answer lies with ‘Smirnoff Ice’s’ target market – women. ‘Smirnoff Ice is a sweet alcoholic beverage, akin to a Cosmopolitan or an Amaretto Sour. You know, girlie drinks. So forcing a bro to chug a ‘Smirnoff Ice’ in public is considered side-splittingly emasculating”……. (vis a vis the bro getting down on one knee).
My response to this whole phenomenon initially was one of sadness. Haven’t we come farther in having men acknowledge, if not honor and integrate the feminine? Why is it that these young men have to act out their fear of being considered less than ‘macho’ with this ritual which on the face of it appears to demean women, but in the final analysis, who is it demeaning? 
We, as a culture so accustomed to alcohol and the role it plays in our social fabric, may look at this phenomenon as boys and young men having “fun” and participating in another bizarre rite of passage. But I urge us to look deeper.
While I acknowledge the fact that there are many young men who refuse to participate, or quietly go their own way, the numbers of men who are taking part in and perpetuating this ritual have caused the sales of ‘Smirnoff’ to soar for its parent company, ‘Diageo’.
Why is it that our young men feel they have to demean women? Have we taught them to deny the feminine aspects of themselves? What kinds of messages have we been giving these men upon whom so much of our society will depend in the future?
I certainly don’t have the answers to these questions, but I ask you to think about them as they relate to the men you love, especially the young ones in your circle. It might even be beneficial to discuss this “icing” as it might be an opening to rich dialogue.
I plan to do just that with my sons-in-law Alex and Rod and my grandson, Devon.
Love and Blessings!
Ruth
Ruth Reiner is an ordained minister in the Interfaith tradition, spiritual counselor, professional nurse, certified life coach, and successful entrepreneur. She is president and co-founder of ‘The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders’. Ruth has two adult daughters with families/four grandchildren.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you commit to leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline: The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions. We invite you to download-as our GIFT to you-the 5 Secrets to Creating Abundance Through Your Calling. You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of information and tips for supporting you in your calling. Just click here: www.iawsl.com
What could be riskier than diving out of an airplane or climbing a glacier-covered peak or accelerating a race car into a curve at the Indy 500?
For one person it might be quitting a secure, well-paying job to go back to school. For another, it could be deciding to leave a marriage after 18 years or reporting that the company they work for is endangering the environment or people’s lives.
For me it was quitting a well-paying job to work for myself at something I loved and had a passion for. It certainly wasn’t easy – but, there came a point when I knew I had to take that leap of faith to else continue down the path of drudgery I was feeling.
Though it may not appear so at first glance, psychological risks that summon us to put our personal values and beliefs on the line may ultimately feel more dangerous than those of physical derring-do. Yet these are the challenges that we are asked to face time and again if we are to continue to grow as individuals. Each time we take a risk that contributes to our personal growth or enhances our self-esteem or enriches our lives, we make the choice to stretch ourselves, knowing there are no guarantees and chancing possible failure.
I knew that even if I failed, I would have felt better for trying – I would have continually regretted not at least going after my dream. That alone made it all worth it!
Growth-producing risks generally fall into three categories.
Self-Improvement Risks
These are the risks you take when you want to get ahead, learn something new or make a distant dream a reality. You take on the venture with hopes of enriching your life. Maybe you want to change careers, or take singing lessons, or learn to speak French. On one side of the risk is the person you are and, on the other, the person you want to become.
Commitment Risks
All commitment risks have emotional stakes whether you pledge yourself to a person or a relationship or to a cause, a career, or a value. According to Joseph Ilardo, author of Risk-Taking for Personal Growth, if you avoid making emotional commitments, you all but guarantee that your emotional growth will be stunted.
Self-Disclosure Risks
Communication risks fall into the category of self-disclosure. Anytime you tell someone how you really feel you’re taking the chance of self-disclosure. When you open up to others and reveal who you really are, how you feel and what you want and need, you make yourself vulnerable. It is impossible to be assertive without doing so.
All risks carry with them the possibility of failure. Often significant sacrifices must be made before any real benefits are realized. Routines may have to change; the familiar may have to be released. You may be rejected or humiliated. In the case of commitment to a value, personal safety may be in danger. Consider those who stand up for what they believe in or put their own health and well-being on the line in the name of a cause. Challenging yourself is often the key to personal growth and development.
Are you a risk-taker? Ask yourself the following questions:
• Does every decision involve endless debates with yourself?
• Do you accept less than what you should because you’re afraid to speak up?
• Do you have difficulty making emotional commitments to others?
• Do you make up excuses that stop you from taking advantage of opportunities for self-improvement?
• Does fear of disapproval keep you from doing what you’d really like to do?
A “yes” answer to these questions indicates a reluctance to take risks, which may mean you tend to play it safe and reject change.
Consider this: to fulfill your potential, to discover your real self and live an authentic life, you must take risks. And while security may appear to be the absence of change, the only genuine security lies in taking risks.
This article was written by Patricia Selmo, an ordained Interfaith Minister, certified life coach, spiritual healer, teacher and guide. She is the co-founder of the International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders: www.iawsl.com.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you commit to leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline: The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions. We invite you to download-as our GIFT to you-the 5 Secrets to Creating Abundance Through Your Calling. You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of information and tips for supporting you in your calling. Just click here: www.iawsl.com
July 9, 2010 3 PM Eastern/2 PM Central/1 PM Mountain/12 PM Pacific
Diane Musho Hamilton is a gifted facilitator, mediator, and spiritual teacher. She is a core founder of iEvolve: Global Practice Community and a co-director of Integral Life Spiritual Center. Diane is a fully ordained Zen priest and teacher. She has studied Buddhism since 1984, and was given dharma transmission by her Zen master, Genpo Roshi, in 2006. She is well known as an innovator in facilitating group dialogues, especially controversial conversations about culture, religion, race and gender relations.
For her, Zen practice is a fundamental commitment to experiencing reality as it is – beautiful, ungraspable and seamless, nothing other than your own life. It is also a practice in fearlessness, in compassion, and in seeing the wisdom in all situations and greeting them with a joyous mind.
Before I was ordained as an interfaith minister and co-founded ‘The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders, I spent a good part of my career as a registered nurse. So what does this have to do with you as a woman and leader of your business or a ‘spiritual’ practice?
At some time in most of our lives, we will encounter the health care system either through our own illness or injury or that of a family member or friend. As you are aware from the articles we have written, we are very much into ‘self care’. In my opinion a major part of taking care of ourselves is having the knowledge about how to do that. 
In a recent article, Patricia used the analogy of our intuition acting as a ‘GPS’ as guidance when making decisions. I would like to take that analogy and employ it for this article.
As we know, a ‘GPS’ (global positioning system), or any navigational system uses ‘waypoints’. A waypoint is a point of reference in physical space and essential to navigation. In my experience, it is essential for us to have ‘waypoints’ should we ever have to encounter and navigate the health care system.
It is a given that our health care system is complex, and when entering it, it can be overwhelming if you don’t have the knowledge necessary to make your way through what can be confusing, at the least and life threatening, at the worst.
In order to be successful with the use of your ‘waypoints’, you cannot be passive, expecting that the health care system is patient centered. It is not. Most medical providers would agree that the system is designed, “for efficiency” to revolve around the providers of care. And that doesn’t consider the impact the third party payers have on the system!
Accepting that it is essential to be assertive if and when you or a loved one enters the health care system, the following waypoints may be invaluable:
Waypoint #1: Have a competent primary care physician, and establish and maintain a relationship. Reputation and word of mouth will assist you in making your choice should you not have a primary physician. That physician may be your advocate, and conduit to the medical care you may need. It also helps to befriend a member of the staff. When a report or other information is needed in a hurry, knowing someone can often expedite the process.
Waypoint #2: Acquire and systematize your medical records. Considering that a universal electronic record keeping system is in the future, you have to be the “gatekeeper” of your medical information, including lab reports, radiology tests, surgical procedures, etc. That includes records generated by specialists you may have seen. And what about medications and supplements you are taking? Each physician you consult should know about these.
Waypoint #3: Ask questions! If you are not sure you were heard or understood, re-state your concern. It is better to err on the side of caution than to have a misunderstanding result in a mistake, or worse. Communication in our society is challenging anyway. Compound that with the anxiety you feel and sense of the health care provider “being in a hurry” and communication becomes ineffective. Make sure you are heard and understood!
Waypoint #4: Research the internet and other sources for information regarding your medical challenge, but don’t rely totally on what you learn. So often diagnoses are missed because someone thought their symptoms “belonged” to another disease or injury. In this age of information, sometime too much is worse than too little. Remember, even physicians and other health care providers seek the advice of the experts when they need it!
Waypoint #5: Arrange today, or as soon as scheduling allows, for someone to be your advocate should you ever encounter a serious illness or injury. This person can be a trusted friend, family member, or nurse case manager. It is beneficial to you if they know how to be assertive. They will be the asker of the questions, the helper in problem solving, and the communicator to you as to what is occurring. When you are dealing with symptoms, and not at your best, your advocate is your stand-in.
I trust this information has been helpful, and that you will follow the waypoints, if you don’t already have a system in place for dealing with those unexpected illnesses and injuries.
Love and Blessings for Robust Health!
Ruth Reiner is an ordained minister in the Interfaith tradition, spiritual counselor, professional nurse, certified life coach, and successful entrepreneur. She is president and co-founder of ‘The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders’. Ruth has two adult daughters with families/four grandchildren.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you commit to leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline: The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was founded to support spiritual women in living abundantly while serving their unique missions. We invite you to download-as our GIFT to you-the 5 Secrets to Creating Abundance Through Your Calling. You will also be registered to receive our weekly newsletter full of information and tips for supporting you in your calling. Just click here: www.iawsl.com
June 25, 2010 11 AM Eastern/10 AM Central/9 AM Mountain/8 AM Pacific
In her first book in several years, Daphne Rose Kingma takes us on a path of emotional and spiritual healing with particular attention to the complex and frequently overwhelming circumstances of our lives right now. Whether you’re struggling with money issues, job loss, relationship problems, an unexpected health crisis or all of the above, this book will light your path and heal your heart. Along with giving sound practical advice, THE TEN THINGS will help you see your crisis in a larger context, one in which no matter what you are going through you’ll be able to find a sense of renewal and peace.
Everybody has hard times and this is the book that will carry you through them.
“Anyone going through a dark night of the soul needs to have this book. It will be your closest companion and your most tender angel. Daphne Rose Kingma more than speaks to your soul; she knows how to heal it.” –Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love
Join us as we discuss The 10 Things to Do When Your Life Falls Apart with Daphne on:
The recording will be available for 48 hours afterward OR you can Join IAWSL for $50 off and receive access to ALL of our teleseminar recordings.
Known primarily for books on relationships (Coming Apart), Kingma’s latest is a lifeline for those in the isolating depths of personal tragedy. Its purpose is to hold, to heal, and to listen, and it comes from a very real place: a friend of the author’s in the midst of physical and financial hardships asked for a list of 10 practices to survive his crisis. With chapters dedicated to the necessity of tears, the freedom of letting go, and the fulfillment found in simple living, these techniques are all about practicality.