Cake Everyday.....

Welcome to the Cake Everyday Blog!
My, how time flies. It's been almost a year since the last time I posted about how the name "Cake Everyday Coaching Circle" came about. It all evolved from the blog below...and is still evolving!
Since we have new guests to the blog I felt like this would be a great post to revist. Welcome to my new sprinkles. Enjoy~. :-)

Raychelle




Today I felt like celebrating. It's not my birthday, or the birthday of anyone that I know, I just wanted to celebrate. I thought, "why not?" I have so much to be thankful for and my blessings are more than I can count. I am living my life by design and I continue to accomplish both my personal and professional goals. Doesn't that sound like something to celebrate?

So I have decided to celebrate SOMETHING at least once a day, everyday. Cake everyday for me!!! In theory of course but that's what works for me since cake is one of my favorite things.
The way I see it everyday that I open my eyes, stretch my limbs and thank the creator for one more day, I can celebrate. That's my cake! Exciting right??

Anything after that, like being able to work in a field that I enjoy, with people that I actually like is my icing. And the people that enhance my life: my family and friends that love me, they are my sprinkles. The cherry is me because all of these things help me to feel whole and brings me full circle.

This is not to say that everyday is happy, happy, joy, joy. Life happens and it can sometimes catch us off guard. Ending relationships, saying good bye to loved ones or losing dear friends is never easy. Falling short of our personal objectives and goals can be disheartening. If we don't allow ourselves to become attached to the pain and suffering we will realize these things are circumstances that will pass AND we still have our cake and ourselves! Trust and believe that fresh icing and new sprinkles will come! And when you feel whole and complete again, you can pop that cherry right back on top and marvel at the celebration of YOU…just because.

Always Remember...

From a dear friend....


Enjoy~

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ALWAYS REMEMBER:

1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; ...it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.

2] Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is ...so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.
...
3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4] All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If things are going wrong don't worry, they can't last long either.

5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!

6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."

9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today’s PEACE.

If I Had My Life To Live Over....

Erma Bombeck wrote the following before she passed from cancer. I felt compelled to share this because we are often preoccupied with things that are so insignificant. We are attached to what things look like, we make up stories about people that are just that....made up! We inject our "stuff" into the air that others breath and it is stifling! And of course, a conversation could clear the air but it seems easier to breath the pollution. We talk ourselves into feeling better to go to jobs that we hate and we are not patient with one another. She is right, how much time do we spend trying to figure out why this person doesn't like us, or what did we say to make this person stop talking to us, or what did they mean by that email. It goes on and on.... When I read this it was like a breath of fresh air! And as usual, Erma Bombeck has a point.. it doesn't really matter. Live life!
Cake Everyday, celebrate SOMETHING in your life DAILY! :-)
Enjoy~
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IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.'

There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute. look at it and really see it . . live it and never give it back.

STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. If you don't mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier.

The Four Agreements...again. :-)

I recently had a conversation with one of my Besties about the book titled The Four Agreements. I can not get enough of it! It seems that at least 4 times a year I am having conversations about this book and the effects that it has had on my life since reading it. Adopting these principles changed my life.

The Four Agreements is written by Don Miquel Ruiz and I recommend this book to everyone and have given it as gift time and time again. It is an easy ready and you walk away some great tools for life's little tool box. :-) #s 2 and 3 were life altering!

Enjoy~
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1. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST Your best is going to change from moment to moment. It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

To check out the author's page go to: http://www.miguelruiz.com/

Here is a powerful video to go along with it:http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=PX90DZq2OLA

Getting Unstuck by Kelly Green

GETTING UNSTUCK

(AND, FINDING YOUR SWEET SPOT IN THE PROCESS!)

In 2005 I was laid off from my job, a career that I had been in for 15 years. Not only was I mad, I was hurt, confused and terrified. I had no idea what my next move would be. To make matters worse, the physical limitations of Multiple Sclerosis (which I had been diagnosed with in 1992) had begun to really take its’ toll. Let me start from the beginning:

At 22-years-old, I was told that I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an auto-immune disease that affects the central nervous system. It affects different people in different ways. Some people immediately go to being disabled while others will live their whole life without any major physical or cognitive limitations. That was a gift and a curse for me. A curse because I had no idea what it meant to have MS and did little to educate myself about the disease process. The gift? Again, I had no idea what it meant to have MS so I continued with my plans to move to New York and work in the music business. That turned out to be one of the most exciting experiences of my life. I got to travel all around the world, meet lots of people and make very good money. During this time, I had very few visible signs of MS so I did what I could to hide it. However, once a year, almost like clockwork, I would have a relapse. For me that meant I was confined to the bed and/ or hospital unable to walk for several weeks. This was the only time that anyone outside of close friends was made aware of my condition. After the relapse I would go back to living my life as though everything with my health was o.k. What can I say? I was young, that’s what I wanted to believe. And I was able to live out my dreams with that belief.

Unfortunately, the curse began to rear its’ ugly head as years passed and the disease progressed. I was lulled into a false sense of security. For almost 12 years, I moved around the music business working for 4 different companies from start-ups to Fortune 500, advancing from intern to Senior Director of Marketing, winning awards and selling millions of records. I wanted to ignore the MS, so I did – until I couldn’t. Physically it was becoming more and more difficult to keep up with the fast-pace of the entertainment industry – a business where most of the work takes place long after 5pm. Mentally, it was becoming harder to focus and concentrate and because I tried to “hide” the disease, my cognitive issues were seen by others as apathy towards my job. (Not a good look in any industry!)

By the time I decided to become more educated about the disease and research alternative forms of therapy, the fate of my music career had already been decided – I was laid off in July 2005. I got other job offers within the music industry, but deep down I knew that I had to take time for me and take control of my health. This was an extremely difficult decision for me. What would I do now? How could I continue to support myself not making the money that I had become so accustomed to? Would I become totally disabled?

It was at this time that I was introduced to a holistic nutritionist. After spending some time with her and seeing first hand how I was being “coached” through this time of uncertainty, I knew I had found my “sweet spot”! I moved to Atlanta to escape the rat race of New York and enrolled in a Wellness Coaching certification course. I had made the decision to coach people with chronic illnesses to lead healthier, more productive lifestyles. As my coaching practice evolved, I realized the biggest obstacle facing my clients wasn’t wanting to live healthier lifestyles, but learning how to become unstuck from that place that had kept them in a holding pattern for so long. In order to make any lifestyle change, it’s important to first understand what is holding us back from taking that first step towards finding our sweet spot!

That’s when I created The Personal Brand Blueprint, a step-by-step guide to defining and developing a strong Personal Brand that attracts the life you want to live. I thought back to my career and how I was able to successfully accomplish all that I had while having such an unpredictable disease as MS; it was having a strong Personal Brand. And when I lost sight of that, I let my fear of the unknown take over and keep me paralyzed.

How I got unstuck & How You Can Too

Acknowledge Your Feelings – Being laid off, having a disease, not knowing what the heck I was going to do, were all a source of embarrassment, frustration and disappointment for me (just to name a few). After some time (read: a long time!), I decided the best way for me to face those emotions was to first acknowledge that they exist. Just by my conversations with others, I realized that I was not alone. And more importantly, I could move on from this!

Clear the clutter – In order to clear your head, you must clear your space, literally and figuratively. Clean your house, clean your office, even clean your car! Get rid of the outside noise; the negative people in your life as well as the negative self- talk. Delegate specific times for watching TV, answering email, “browsing” social media sites – anything that’s not benefiting your BIG picture plan, clear it out! Having a clean space will allow you to think and act more clearly.


What’s the worst that could happen – Get rid of the expectations; expectations you put on yourself and those you think others have of you. Ask yourself, what is it costing me to stay where I am? If you decide today to step out on a ledge and it doesn’t go as planned, what’s the worst that could happen? I would bet the benefits, in the long run, would outweigh the risks. Think about it!


Reframe your thoughts – What’s your biggest fear for moving forward? How can you change that negative thought into a positive affirmation? Remember, what you think you become. The more you put those negative thoughts out into the universe, then guess what? You attract more negativity! Be conscious of your thinking.


Start where you are – You will constantly be chasing the next thing – this is called “the shiny ball syndrome” – where everything that looks shiny, new and attractive, is more fulfilling than what you already have. But I’m telling you that by doing so, that next thing will never be enough. Start where you are, accept what is and make a conscious decision to move forward. “If we wait for everything, absolutely everything is ready, we will never begin” – Ivan Turgenev

This brings me to my final point:

Make a conscious decision to move forward – Take this time to stop and do some soul-searching. Decide what you want for yourself and move toward that. What’s your BIG picture vision?!

If you’re feeling stuck I challenge you to do the above exercises and do them with intention. Commit to getting unstuck and moving forward – it’s the key to finding your “Sweet Spot” in life!

AUTHOR BIO: Kelly Green, CWC, empowers those in transition to find their sweet spot by defining, developing and delivering a powerful Personal Brand. Her company, http://ThePersonalBrandBlueprint.com , is a step-by-step coaching process that re-energizes, re-charges and re-claims your inner-entrepreneur. If you’re ready to create the blueprint to your success, become the person you want to be, and live the life you were meant to live, contact Coach Kelly: kelly@thepersonalbrandblueprint.com for your FREE strategy session!

My YOU Cube in the New Year..another year!

My goodness, where does the time go? I was digging through my old blog posts and ran across this post from last year. As I read it I was struck by the fact that is it still so relevant and decided to share it. Hope you enjoy!
Raychelle
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Can you already believe that it is the middle of January?

I am so excited. Just because.

There is something to be said for new beginnings. The best part is that NEW beginnings can happen when ever we want, not just yearly or quarterly. While moving through life it's real easy to fall it the same old physical and mental patterns. We get stuck and before you know it, other's are defining who you are and what you need to be.

Just because others keep us in a box doesn't mean that we have to stay there. We are often times the worst offenders! No one limits us more than we do. Free yourself and bust out of the YOU Cube! It's a beautiful thing. It's so liberating and it works.

Now....beware, the folks that keep you in that cube will be thrown for a loop but it's all good. Your best buds move and grow with you so don't fret. Once the dust clears the folks that are supposed to be there will still be there.

So I have committed to make ME a project. Each day I am going to examine something that is in my YOU Cube that needs to be removed! My commitment to starting fresh every day. My objective is not to carry over any grudges, hard feelings, negative thoughts etc. into the next day. All fresh and new..lol. I'm working through some things! :-)

I have chosen to share this so that the people closest to me can keep me honest and make me accountable. This will be a real challenge for me but I am looking forward to the growth.

Wish me luck!!!

SheNotes

10 Words To Delete From Your Vocabulary

What better time to revisit then at the top of the year when we are startin a new :-) This is an oldie but goodie, still very relevant.
Enjoy~
Raychelle
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By Barbara J. Henry

Words are powerful because they shape our thoughts, determine our actions, and chart the course of our lives. This is true whether the words are positive, giving hope and encouragement, or negative utterances that steal our joy and confidence.

Wherever we are in our lives, personal relationships, or careers, the words we have used consistently are partly responsible.

This fact should prompt us to become more aware of our words, and when needed, to change them so that we can begin to get the results we really desire.
Recently, during a particularly challenging period, I discovered that I was using some of the following words far too often to get the favorable results I sought.

1. Can't The use of this word is primarily responsible for countless hopes and dreams lying dormant on the "drawing boards" of our lives. Completely eliminate your use of this word and you will see a significant positive change in your life.

2. But When used as a conjunction, "but" negates whatever statement that precedes it." I want to study law, but it will take a lot of hard work." Your mind does not focus on your desire to become a lawyer or judge; it only sees the hard work you will need to perform. Replace "but" with "and."

3. Should Any statement that uses the word "should" generally elicits guilt. "I should go to the gym," makes you feel guilty for not going. Replace this word with "choose," as in, "I choose to go to the gym, or I choose not to go to the gym today."

4. Maybe This word indicates indecision, doubt, or uncertainty as to a course of action. For example, "Maybe I'd better wait to..."
For those of us interested in personal development, "maybe" should be used very sparingly. Use "I will" or "I will not" instead of maybe. The mere sound of the more positive words emits feelings of confidence and resolve which are so important to our personal well-being.

5. Soon or Later Both are indefinite references to time. They are also non-committal. They should be replaced with a definite time and date. When someone tells you he or she is going to do something "soon" or "later," there is no way to determine when whatever it is will get done. Imagine what could happen to deadlines and your integrity when these words are used frequently.

6. Someday Someday, like soon or later, is much too indefinite, and when it is used, it shows the same lack of commitment. Replace "someday" with a specific date and time.

7. Never This word is absolute, and there are only limited situations when "never" is absolutely true. The use of this word, in my opinion, suggests a closed mind, which seriously hinders our self-growth efforts. The word "never" should be replaced with a non-absolute term.

8. Won't The word "won't" implies an unwillingness, reluctance, or closed mindedness, and like the absolute term "never," it is quite harmful because it closes the door on many of the actions we need to take to reach our goals.

9. If This is a small word that carries large doubts and uncertainties, and when used often, it gnaws away at our confidence and intended actions, two qualities necessary for any type of success.

10. Try or (I'll Try) I don't know about you, but each time someone has said these words to me, or the few times that I have used them in conversations with others, whatever the subject of "I'll try" was, rarely, if ever, got done. Replace "I'll try" with "I will."

These words must be given serious thought before we use them in our "self talk" or in the conversations we have with others.
We must remember this: Our words affect our thoughts, our actions, our very lives, and because of their power, we must choose them with the utmost care.


An article fromSelf Growth.com http://www.selfgrowth.com/

Letting Go and Moving Forward

I ran across this article this morning and thought it was so on point. In particularly for this time of year when we are all swearing off people and things that we KNOW are holding us back and are just not good for us. Letting go can be very difficult at times but what do you have to lose? It's like holding on to the bumper, let it go! Then of course, dust yourself off and get out of the street! :-)
This is much easier said than done. I think this article makes some great points about where to start.
Enjoy~
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Let's face it. Many of us choose to hang on to things that at some point have hurt us, angered us, made us feel sad, or depressed us. If we choose to hang on to them, we will never move forward and we could even create physical or medical damage to our bodies. To prevent this from happening we need to let go...but no one really tells you how to let go and move forward. Sure it's easy to say: "Just let go, move forward, forget about it, just let go." But that really doesn't work. I'm about to show you how to let go and start moving forward.

Why You Need to Let Go and Move Forward

Throughout our lives we go through different experiences, some are positive and some we see as negative and unpleasant. When you hang on to a negative or unpleasant experience you are constantly thinking about it. And when you constantly think about that negative event you prevent yourself from healing. How many pleasant memories do you recall every day? Chances are you're like most people and you have a number of unpleasant experiences that you're holding on to, which is preventing you from moving forward.

The more you carry the worse life gets. Why? Because you've filled your mind up with negative experiences, because you continually hang on to something that doesn't allow you to move forward, in short, you're carrying useless baggage that's really slowing you down.

Think of it this way: you're on a hiking trip and along the way you keep picking up heavy objects, things that really don't serve you. After a while, these objects begin to slow you down and unless you get rid of them, you'll never complete your trip.

To let go you have to get your mind to focus on different goals and different objectives. It's not about saying: I let go of the pain from my fight with -- and move on. That will help, but if you really want to start moving on, then you have to get your mind to focus on new things, in the process you automatically let go of the things that have been slowing you down.

How to Let Go and Move Forward

Researchers believe that that if you hold on to negative feelings, sad emotions or depressing memories there is a possibility that you could reshape the human cell to the point where your thoughts of the past have a negative effect on your cells and your physical health.

Hanging on to negative past events is a process that can destroy your life in ways you're not even aware of. Ask yourself these questions: Do the negative things you hang on to serve you any purpose? Do they help you move forward? Do they work in your favor in any way? If you said no to any or all of the above then tell yourself this: This emotion/feeling doesn't help me so I'm letting it go and focusing on what is important. Then begin focusing on what you want next, focus on what is important and what can improve your life. This is a simple process that gets the mind moving in a new direction and you stop building negative energy created from the negative events/emotions, which only attracts more negative situations.

When you begin focusing on more positive things you begin attracting positive situations. The next step is to create an action plan; the past is over. Where do you want to go now and how do you plan to get there? You may not have the answers but merely thinking about the options forces your mind to go in a new direction and you automatically let go of unwanted feelings and emotions.

The key to your success is to train your mind to move in a new direction so you send new messages to your subconscious mind, which then brings you the opportunities to move forward.

The final step is to live in the present moment, to start living in the now. Living in the now is different than living for the moment. Living in the now is the process of enjoying everything that is going on at this present moment. Take a look around you and appreciate those things that you once thought were trivial. When you are here now you can be nowhere else. You are not hanging on to something, you are here now. I know some of you may say the following: "But Karim, where I am right now really sucks, I don't want to think about it." It only sucks because you're looking at all the negative things going on. Focus on a few of the positive things anything from nature to the wonderful family you may have. This forces your mind to look at things differently and tells your subconscious mind that you're ready for new possibilities, then you'll begin to let go and move forward.

About the Author:
Karim Hajee is the author and creator of the Creating Power system - which teaches you how to direct the power of your mind and subconscious mind so that you achieve your goals and live the life you want. To learn more visit: http://www.creatingpower.com/

Find Peace in Forgiveness

Let's start 2011 off empowered!
Raychelle
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Give up the right to resent.
By Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Sweep your heart clean by forgiving.

You hear people say this all the time: “I have a right to be upset because of the way I’ve been treated. I have a right to be angry, hurt, depressed, sad, and resentful.” Learning to avoid this kind of thinking is one of my secrets for living a life of inner peace, success, and happiness. Anytime you’re filled with resentment, you’re turning the controls of your emotional life over to others to manipulate.

I became aware of how powerful this lesson was many years ago while sitting in on a meeting of 12 people who were in a recovery group for alcoholism and drug addiction. All 12 of those people were accustomed to blaming others for their weaknesses, using almost any excuse as a rationale for returning to their self-defeating ways. On a poster hanging in the room were these words: “In this group, there are no justified resentments.”

Regardless of what anyone would say to another group member, no matter how confrontational or ugly the accusations, each person was reminded that there are no justified resentments. You may need to consider whom you resent before you make your own choice about whether this is useful for you. Resentments give you an excuse to return to your old ways. This is what got you there in the first place!

Removing resentment and blame from your life means never assigning responsibility to anyone for what you’re experiencing. It means that you’re willing to say, “I may not understand why I feel this way, why I have this illness, why I’ve been victimized, or why I had this accident, but I’m willing to say without any guilt or resentment that I own it. I live with, and I am responsible for, having it in my life.” Why do this? If you take responsibility for having it, then at least you have a chance to also take responsibility for removing it or learning from it.

If you’re in some small (perhaps unknown) way responsible for that migraine headache or that depressed feeling, then you can go to work to remove it or discover what its message is for you. If, on the other hand, someone or something else is responsible in your mind, then of course you’ll have to wait until they change for you to get better. And that is unlikely to occur.

First, you have to get past blame. Then you have to learn to send love to all, rather than anger and resentment. Just as no one can define you, neither do you have the privilege of defining others. When you stop judging and simply become an observer, you will know inner peace. With that sense of inner peace, you’ll find yourself free of the negative energy of resentment, and you’ll be able to live a life of contentment. A bonus is that you’ll find that others are much more attracted to you. A peaceful person attracts peaceful energy. You won’t know God unless you’re at peace, because God is peace. Your resentments literally send God out of your life while you’re busy being offended.

At the root of virtually all spiritual practice is the notion of forgiveness. Think about every single person who has ever harmed you, cheated you, defrauded you, or said unkind things about you. Your experience of them is nothing more that a thought that you carry around with you. These thoughts of resentment, anger, and hatred represent slow, debilitating energies that will disempower you. If you could release them, you would know more peace.

You practice forgiveness for two reasons: to let others know that you no longer wish to be in a state of hostility with them and to free yourself from the self-defeating energy of resentment. Send love in some form to those you feel have wronged you and notice how much better you feel.

Excerpted from Excuses Begone! by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Copyright © 2009 (Hay House).