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Briefcase Moms Newsletter
Newsletter Briefcase Moms
www.briefcasemoms.com

Issue #6 - July 2004

IN THIS ISSUE
1) Upfront & Personal
2) Win A Free Spot in Upcoming Program
3) Feature Article: A Recipe for Feeling Great
4) Special Discount for Subscribers
5) The Balance Zone
6) Out and About


Upfront & Personal
Many of you have been asking, “When is your book going to be ready? When can I get a copy?” Well now you can. I am happy to announce that Briefcase Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers’ Lives came off the presses in June (see sidebar for my special discount offer). The long, three-year (yes, that is how long it’s taken me to write this book) labor is now over. Whew!

Briefcase Moms offers solutions for the millions of stressed working mothers struggling with work-life balance and shows them how to "have it all" on their terms. As a professional certified coach I discovered, from coaching hundreds of North American working mothers to achieve the right balance for them and from my own personal experience of having a child mid-career, ten transformative and powerful practices to define, establish and maintain life balance. 

Combining life coaching philosophy and common-sense practical advice, Briefcase Moms gives women permission to de-guilt, de-stress and unshould their lives…and gives them concrete steps to make it happen. 

Briefcase Moms has been getting rave reviews. Here’s what a few readers have to say:

“I continually treat stressed-out working moms who are not taking time for their health. Briefcase Moms shows you how to put your well-being, your self-care at the top of your priority list as well as how to thrive in all areas of your life—family, career and personal satisfaction.” -- Dr. Wendy Loveless, M.D., family physician

“As a working mom I have strived for balance in life, often to no avail. Briefcase Moms gave me simple focused steps to get back on track. In a world where so many people say ‘you can’t have it all’ this book offers proof that you can,” adds Tamara Stanners, mom, business owner and broadcaster

To give you a taste of what you can expect from Briefcase Moms, read the following recipe for feeling wonderful.  Remember, to choose your ingredients wisely, L.


Feature Article: A Recipe for Feeling Great
by Lisa Martin, PCC  

When you feel good within yourself and about yourself, the result is a happy and self-content you. All the ingredients for your overall well-being are within your reach. Follow the recipe below to get the most out of your life.

1. Two cups of positive selfishness.
Being positively selfish means choosing to spend your time and energy on things that bring you joy and making decisions occasionally that are based on what you need instead of what others want. 

Practicing positive selfishness is all about letting go of the harmful emotions you might feel because you took some time for you. It’s believing that by serving your self-interests you will, ultimately, better serve the interests of your family, your colleagues and your community. By becoming positively selfish you can be physically and emotionally present at all times, without resentment.

2. One cup of unfaltering commitment to your wellness.
If you view your wellness as integrating body, mind and spirit it will become easier to make your well-being a priority. Use, the wellness wheel to see your physical, mental and spiritual health from a holistic perspective. Visualize a bicycle wheel. See the spokes radiating out from the center to the rim of the wheel; these are the activities you undertake to enhance your wellness. Exercise is one spoke. How you are treating your body in terms of nutrition and rest is one, too. Giving your spirit some time to be renewed, another spoke in your wellness wheel. 

You may not always achieve a perfectly circular wellness wheel, but if you’re willing to listen to your body and your intuition, they will guide you as you move toward overall wellness. 

3. Two cups of daily joy.
Experiencing joy is about paying attention to the small pleasures, appreciating the wonder hidden in the tiny moments of life. Small, basic, everyday things can bring you joy--the smell of fresh coffee, the sound of laughter, the beauty in a blade of grass. Make an effort to slow down for just a moment and practice really seeing and experiencing all the beauty that surrounds you, joy can be found that easily.

4. Five ounces of relaxation.
If you are craving some downtime but not sure where to find it in the midst of all you do and want to do, try starting with five minutes. When you first wake in the morning instead of rolling out of bed and jumping right into your day, just lie there. Lie there for a full five minutes. Just breathe and think of your day ahead. 

5. Three tablespoons of doing your best. 
Your best is going to be different from situation to situation. It will change depending on how rested you feel, who is involved and where you might be. No matter what the circumstances, the most you can ask from yourself is to do your best…and then remember to acknowledge that you’ve done your best. It is in this self-acknowledgement that you will be released from angst and regret, and possibly see the humorous side of things. 

Check Your Balance
To further feeling good take a look at these "100 Ways to Take Care of Mom."  Pick at least three items and do them this week and see how great you feel. 

Get your hair done. Talk to a friend. Play hide’n’seek with your kids. Fly a kite. Do nothing. Take a bubble bath with the lights off and the candles lit. Treat yourself to new socks. Take a yoga class. Listen to great music. Meditate. Do a puzzle. Make cookies that you loved when you were a child. Leave work early. Go for a walk. Buy a new lipstick. Hire a one-time cleaning service for the housework. Say no. Ask for help. Live in the present…no saying “what if.” Practice patience. Detach from the outcome and enjoy the process. Stop worrying so much. Let go of your guilt…you are doing the best you can. Wear comfortable clothes, especially shoes. Blow bubbles. Dance. Do the Tarzan yell like Carol Burnett. Take a weekend trip. Get a facial. Have lunch on a patio on a sunny day. Buy yourself some flowers. Join a book club. Participate in your community. Stop procrastinating: if there is a project you’ve been avoiding or is in “limbo,” complete it. Go on a date with your child(ren). Try mountain biking, skiing or hiking. Stop trying to “fix” others. Stop letting others “fix” you. Play a board game with your family. Watch videos and eat pizza. Go to bed at 9:00 p.m. Sleep in. Sing. Dance. Go to the beach. Listen to the wind. Admire the moon. Volunteer. Turn off the television. Unplug your phone. Say something nice to someone. Smile. Forgive and let go. Feed your body, mind and spirit. Be silent. Eat and cook foods that make you feel great. Share meals with friends. Eat by candlelight. Borrow a friend’s dress. Keep a journal. Avoid emotional vampires. Cut down caffeine. Resist the urge to judge others. Love. Reduce stress by arriving five minutes early for your next appointment. Throw out your to-do list for one day. Reconnect with an old friend on the phone. Take a risk…not risking is never knowing. Paint your toenails. Slow down. Watch a comedy movie. Eat chocolate. Don’t try to be perfect…just be you. Get a manicure. Redecorate your bedroom. Commune with the outdoors. Treat yourself to your favorite junk food once in a while. Floss. Know your priorities. When you get stressed…ask yourself if this will matter in a week, a month, a year. Contribute to others. Have fun. Mute your email. Stretch. Drink lots of water. Take vitamins. Nap with your child(ren). Read a book that you’ve really wanted to read. Potato chips. Romance your partner. Go to the park. Forget the mess and take a break. Feel the sun on your face. Make love. Knit or sew something just for you. Travel…near or far. Sleep in the middle of the day. Tell someone you love them. Tell yourself you love you. Laugh.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can! Just please ask our permission first by sending an e-mail to laura@briefcasemoms.com. She'll give you a short bio to include at the end of the article.



Contact Lisa Martin
For more information on Briefcase Moms® programs, customized private coaching with Lisa or inviting Lisa to speak to your organization, please contact her at (604)988-9394 or lisa@briefcasemoms.com. Or, visit www.briefcasemoms.com



Check it Out

Briefcase Moms® Program Contest- A Free Spot Could be Yours

We are giving away one spot in our upcoming Briefcase Moms® Program: 90 Days to a Balanced Life commencing September 14, 2004.

Designed specifically for any working mom who wants to de-stress, de-guilt and un-should your life, this teleseminar series will give you the tools to define, establish and maintain work-life balance. Work fewer hours, discover more time, and have more fun. 

Mari, a recent graduate of the program had this to say: 

"The Briefcase Moms® Program, and the supportive environment it created, helped affirm that I can successfully meet the challenges posed in balancing career and family. It gave me some terrific problem solving tools/techniques. The program freed me to stay true to my personal values by letting go of some unwarranted/imagined fears of the consequences of making some hard choices.. Most of all, it reminded me that others face challenges similar to mine successfully."

One lucky winner will receive:

A winner will be chosen at random from the pool of entrants on August 30, 2004.

Please note: Only one entry per person will be accepted. 

Enter Now >

Dawnese gained the following from the program:

"I have a feeling of well-being that I haven't had for a while. And I feel a sense of freedom that is so enlightening...the guilt is no longer what occupies the majority of my energy. I feel much more balanced in generally every aspect of my life...
The format was great. I like the sharing right up front and the coaching throughout and especially like the action statements at the end."

To register send me an email or go to www.briefcasemoms.com. 



Briefcase Moms® Book Update

Special Discount for Subscribers

As a valued newsletter subscriber, you can purchase copies of Briefcase Moms for a 25% discount from my website.  Instead of paying $19.95 US for a copy, you pay only $14.95 US. This offer is valid until end of the day Sunday, July 11, 2004.  Act now to take advantage of this limited time only special offer. 




The Balance Zone

Interesting Statistic
Nearly 25% of working mothers worldwide feel stress almost every day and 23% of women executives and professionals worldwide say they feel super-stressed -- Roper Starch Worldwide, 2002
Out and About

Here's a listing of some Lisa's most recent and upcoming appearances:

Bluesuitmom.com - article "Let Go of Total Control" - June 2/04

Deep Cove Parent Participation Preschool AGM: "Unshould and Play this Summer" Keynote - June 7/04

32 Books - Book launch and presentation- June 9/04

CityTV- Breakfast Show - Five Balance Tips - June 9/04

CBC Radio - The Afternoon Show - 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mother's Lives - June 17/04

Global TV Noon News Hour - Balance for Working Mothers - June 22/04

CBC Radio (690 AM in BC) - "Life Balance for Working Moms" - Live phone-in program.  1:00- 2:00 pm PST - July 15/04

Home Business Report Magazine - article "A Six-Step Recipe for Feeling Balanced When You Work From Home" - July/August Edition 

Minerva Foundation - Life in Balance Forum - Keynote Presentation - September 24/04- Vancouver, BC

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