Monday, November 30, 2009

Hi guys,

Today I want to share an experience with you that I just wrote about in my weekly eZine. Nothing hugely profound really, just a couple of thoughts worth mentioning.

As you probably know by now I am in lovely Denmark, the country where I grew up. I am conducting a healing retreat with a close friend.

During my stay here, I have been shying away from the computer almost all together, leaving only Mondays to stay in touch with you, my community, friends etc.
You see, one of MY own personal objectives during this quiet time was to “conquer” what I would term my “my increasingly alarming computer addiction”, or better still, “my other-worldly existence”…

I realized that since my book launch in June, which required a constant strong online presence, a huge part of me simply remained in the virtual world of cyber space. My new existence had gradually engulfed me, and had become almost more “real” than my physical surroundings…It was eating away too much of my time and affecting my creativity (and without my creativity, I haven’t got anything to share on the internet anyway) Hmmmmm!

The Internet with all its trimmings is a wonderful thing, no doubt. It gives us so much access, so many opportunities to connect and make things happen on a global scale. It saves us time.
But it also steals of our time, unless we find an appropriate balance for ourselves between “the old and the new”, the “real and the virtual”.

I literally live and operate in several countries. Most of my clients, my coaching course, my radio show etc. are in the US - but I live in Europe most of the time. So I appreciate and quite honestly DEPEND on the Internet for both my work and my social life. However, for the last couple of weeks I have been joyfully reminded that the world still stands the next day, and the next, if I (horror!) leave my computer shut, if I don’t check my mails every day and respond immediately etc etc.

What a relief! I’m not THAT important – but “important” enough to still be around and have a place in the world even if I’m not available online 24/7!

Ahhhhhhh, time for cuppa tea and then maybe a good long walk along the coast afterwards, and then maybe…

Now that you're here, I'd like to share with you about this Week's - Your Voice Is Your Calling Card - Show on Real Coaching Radio Network, Tuesday 1 pm (13:00) EST/19:00 CET.
Tuesday's topic: It’s Your Time to Shine!

This week’s guest is Sandra Zimmer, the founder of Self-Expression Center in Houston, Texas and author of It’s Your Time to Shine: How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking, Develop Authentic Presence and Speak from Your Heart

Sandra Zimmer is the founder of Self-Expression Center in Houston, Texas and the author of It’s Your Time to Shine: How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking, Develop Authentic Presence and Speak from Your Heart. She is also my guest on Tuesday.

Like me, Sandra has a relentless passion for helping people conquer fears and stage fright. Sandra's passion has lead her to become one of America’s foremost leading experts in the field of fearless, authentic self-expression and communication. Join us for an exciting conversation and shine YOUR light – it’s time!

Also...
If you feel that it’s Your Time to Shine too, then check out Sandra’s wonderful book of that same name. Details and direct Amazon link below.
It's Your Time to Shine on Amazon.com

People with fear of public speaking have the potential to shine as compelling speakers because they have strong feelings! In this book, Sandra Zimmer shares her unique method to transform stage fright into authentic presence and develop a natural style of speaking. This book sheds new light on the #1 fear. It allows you to see stage fright and fear of public speaking, not as something wrong with you, but as a sign of your sensitivity which you can tap to help you speak from passion and make a difference in the world. It helps you become confident to speak in groups and presentations so you are free to share your ideas, insights and expertise. Gain understanding of what happens in your mind and body during stage fright. Find out how to free the tension and be comfortable in your skin. Learn to develop an authentic presence that holds the attention of others, make genuine connection and speak from your heart to engage and compel others to listen. Learn to let yourself shine!

If you’d like to know more about Sandra’s work, please join us on Tuesday for a full hour of tips and insights AND the opportunity to read a FREE chapter of It’s Your Time to Shine before deciding if this is the right approach/book for you. Get it here: It's Your Time to Shine on Amazon.com

To your Joy and Success!
Love,
Suzann.

Suzann Rye
Empowering Voice and Spirit
#1 Bestselling Author of Your Voice Is Your Calling Card; How to Power-Charge Your Voice, Boost Your Confidence, and Speak with Joy, Ease, and Conviction.
(The above contains excerpts from this book. Get it here: Your Voice Is Your Calling Card

Host of the Suzann Rye - Your Voice is Your Calling Card - Radio Show
realcoachingradio.net

Course leader of Your Voice is Your Calling Card Breakthrough Course on My RX for Living.com
Enroll now: Breakthrough Coaching

Suzann Rye FREE eZine/newsletter & eCourse: FREE Sign Up

“There can be no powerful Voice without a powerful Spirit and no Spirit will truly thrive without allowing the Voice to speak its truth”.

Monday, November 23, 2009

How And Why To Use Affirmations

Try replacing the word obstacle with the word challenge. Does it feel different?
Imagine your obstacles to be just neutral statements with no weight either good or bad.
Positive affirmations are positive thoughts or statements that are repeated over and over. As you repeat them and infuse them with real emotion and passion, they go directly to your subconscious mind, where they begin to manifest as your reality. When you use positive affirmations, you decisively convert negative, restrictive statements into positive, constructive statements.

Begin with simply replacing minus words with plus words. For example, “I’m not smart enough” becomes “I am very smart—in fact more than smart enough!” “I’m not confident enough” becomes “I am confident and, in fact, every day I’m getting more and more confi dent!” “I’m too shy” could become “Every day I’m taking steps, moving forward, feeling more and more safe and comfortable with other people, in front of other people. I am finding communicating easier and easier, and I am becoming more and more open and outgoing so that speaking publicly is becoming more and more attractive to me, easier and easier, more and more fun, etc.”

How to Construct Your Positive Affirmations
Speak in the present tense and present continuous tense. Use the terms “I am,” “I am being,” “I do,” I have,” “I am having,” etc., as opposed to “I would like to,” “I could,” “I would,” “I wish,” “I will,” or “I will be,” which indicate something that you either want but haven’t yet got or something that “will be” sometime in the indefinite future. You need results now—not in thirty years or so!

For example, say, “I am being completely comfortable regardless of the size of the crowd” as opposed to “I will not be uncomfortable because of the size of the crowd.”

Always avoid using the word not. Focus clearly on what you want rather than focusing on what you do not want. Use positive (plus) words. Formulate your statements in such ways that they clearly state what you do want to achieve, be, or become as opposed to what you do not want.
Use passionate, emotive language—strong positive words, such as fantastic, amazing, exciting, fulfilling, excellent, confi dent, comfortable, invigorated, energized, refreshed, brilliant, wonderful, incredible, etc.

These are all powerful words that will strengthen your positive affirmations even more.
Repeat, repeat, repeat! There is enormous power in repetition . Strengthen your statements using repetitive phrases like “more and more, better and better, stronger and stronger, easier and easier,” etc. You can also use the term “even more.”

Also use the terms and therefore, and furthermore, so that, etc., to strengthen motivation. For example, say, “I am more and more confi dent every day and therefore I am more easily inspired. I’m getting better and better at letting go and being in the moment, trusting my abilities and my intuition, and I am enjoying speaking in front of my colleagues every day more and more.” Binding your sentences together, connecting them, and allowing them to back each other up adds reason and potency.

Use the term in fact to underline a point. For example, say “I’m calm and confident on stage. In fact, I am so confident that every time I speak, I am enjoying it more and more.”

Things to Avoid When Constructing Your Positive Affirmations
In general, avoid words that have a negative feel, like don’t, can’t, shan’t, no, not, never, maybe, if, probably, could, should, might, may, perhaps, impossible, and similar negatively loaded words.
Avoid words like try, want, hope, but, and hopefully because they indicate that you are wanting something—but not having it, trying for something— but not making it, hoping for something—but not getting it, etc.

Avoid terms like always, forever, and in the future, which are very diffuse expressions as well as indefinite time frames. Give it a specific time to start working. Say “from this moment in time (now),” “when I do this or that,” “when I meet with this person,” “when I arrive at this place,” etc.
Avoid adjectives that are not easily defined, such as normal or perfect. If you can ask yourself “What does normal actually mean?” it is perhaps not defined clearly enough.
Avoid ambiguity. Be precise. Say exactly what you mean—and mean what you say.

Converting words and statements is an ongoing process. Practice doing this every time a negative, self-limiting thought enters your mind. Make a habit of it.
Begin right now to create Positive Affirmations out of any and all thoughts and statements, especially negative ones.

This may seem weird and perhaps difficult at first. Maybe you will even feel like you are lying to yourself sometimes, but that’s OK. Fake it till you make it, as they say. And you are going to make it!

Have lots of fun with it. Make a commitment to part completely with any heavy negative thoughts and feelings that you may have. Allow them to leave your system; they’ve had their say, now it’s time to move on and replace old habitual thoughts and beliefs with new ones. Let the old rest in peace as you welcome the new.

Keep a list of your Positive Affirmations, add to the list every day and watch it grow. Enjoy how your new life unfolds and fills every single day with more joy and the inner knowing that YOU have the power to create unlimited good in your life!

Enjoy, and let me know how you get on.

To your Joy and Success!
Love,
Suzann.

Suzann Rye
Empowering Voice and Spirit
#1 Bestselling Author of Your Voice Is Your Calling Card; How to Power-Charge Your Voice, Boost Your Confidence, and Speak with Joy, Ease, and Conviction.
(The above contains excerpts from this book. Get it here: Your Voice Is Your Calling Card

Host of the Suzann Rye - Your Voice is Your Calling Card - Radio Show
realcoachingradio.net

Course leader of Your Voice is Your Calling Card Breakthrough Course on My RX for Living.com
Enroll now: Breakthrough Coaching

Suzann Rye FREE eZine/newsletter & eCourse: FREE Sign Up

“There can be no powerful Voice without a powerful Spirit and no Spirit will truly thrive without allowing the Voice to speak its truth”.

Affirmative Synchronicity

Hi guys,

Today as I am writing this I am in total awe. It never ceases to absolutely thrill and amaze me how things always seem to work out in perfect synchronistic order.

As you know, I am in Denmark conducting a healing retreat with a close friend of mine. We are relaxing, talking, meditating, and much more. It is bliss.
We are using the wonderful teachings of Louise Hay as the basis for many of our guided meditations and affirmation exercises. The material is second to none – what an amazing woman she is! We have also been watching “The Shift”, a new movie from Hay House, based on the work of Dr. Wayne Dyer and featuring Wayne as the main character. It’s an awesome film – you MUST watch it along with “You Can Heal Your Life – The Movie” from Louise Hay.

Anyway, here’s the incredible thing: Being so totally preoccupied and engulfed in this space, I realized yesterday that I hadn’t booked a guest for my radio show on Tuesday (tomorrow)!
Oh well, I thought, I’ll just talk about all the wonderful things that were doing here, about how to use meditation and positive affirmations as part of ANY process where you’d like to see improvement. (If you’ve ever read any of my books, attended any of my workshops or seminars, or in other ways worked with me, you know how much I generally value and emphasize on these tools and principles). I would also introduce Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer’s work to my listeners and talk about their pioneering Spirits. Yes, that would make an excellent show!
Still, I had the distinct feeling that the perfect guest for the show would turn up last minute...
(I must have affirmed it, lol)

I posted a note on Facebook explaining my momentary absence from the virtual world, and added a short remark about the Wayne Dyer Movie. One of my Facebook friends commented back that she too had just seen that movie AND had been fortunate enough to meet the man himself afterwards! She had been in Tampa, Florida over the weekend attending the “I Can Do It” conference with, guess who… Louise Hay, whom she, of course, met as well (picture of her and Louise on Facebook). She would love to come on my show and talk about it!
Now, how’s that for Synchronicity in Motion (Title of my next book). I LOVE it. What an exciting talk we will have on Tuesday, I do hope you’ll join us.
By the way, if you haven’t already, ever thought of signing up for my weekly eZine?
Below is the list of contents from this week's issue just to give you an idea about what you’ll get every week, not to mention the free 7 week eCourse that you’ll get automatically when you sign up. Have a look and see if it’s for you.

In This Week’s Issue...
This week it’s all about affirmations so we are featuring the work of one of the ultimate pioneers in this field, Spiritual Author and Teacher, Louise Hay + another Hay House Author and teacher, Wayne Dyer.

1 This Week's - Your Voice Is Your Calling Card - Show on Real Coaching Radio Network, Tuesday 1 pm (13:00) EST/19:00 CET.
Meeting Louise And Wayne, And How Their Powerful Work Has Influenced Mine!
My guest Life Purpose Teacher Wendy Blum just returned from the Louise Hay “I Can Do It” conference in Florida where she met with the greats. She’ll be on the show to tell you all about it - don’t miss out!

2 Just a Thought...
Tips, tools & inspiration for powerful, authentic living, speaking & communication.

This week: How And Why To Use Affirmations
Positive affirmations are positive thoughts or statements that are repeated over and over. As you repeat them and infuse them with real emotion and passion, they go directly to your subconscious mind, where they begin to manifest as your reality. Enjoy this brief but very effective introduction into the use of affirmations.

3 I Recommend...
Two incredibly inspiring films from Hay House, The Shift (Wayne Dyer) & You Can Heal Your Life – The Movie (Louse Hay) + You Can Heal Your Life, the classic, original cornerstone book by Louse Hay. Read more and get the direct links.

4 Quote(s) of The Day...
Please enjoy today’s "extended version" of the quotes section. As I looked up my favorites quotes from Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer I realized that I would NEVER be able to limit myself to just a couple… Here are 12 wonderful nuggets of wisdom, six from each… Pure inspiration.

You can sign up here: Suzann Rye FREE eZine/newsletter & eCourse:
suzannrye.com FREE sign-up


To your Joy and Success!
Love,
Suzann

PS. One more post to come later today, don’t miss your chance to enjoy this brief but very effective induction into the powerful use of focused affirmations.


The Shift (Wayne Dyer)
Get it here: Deluxe Edition

Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life – The Movie
*Recommended version, the expanded version. Get it here: LH Movie

The Book: You Can Heal Your Life

Or get them both in one package: LH Book & DVD

(*Not the extended version of the movie though)

Monday, November 16, 2009

Hold On To Your Neighbor

Recently I had an important speaking engagement. I had chosen to speak on the value of making mistakes, how mistakes are important lessons that help us grow and make us who we are, and how we should learn to simply view mistakes as neutral experiences that we can deposit into our knowledge-bank account and watch as our wealth of wisdom gradually grows every time we make a mistake. (You may be familiar with one of my earlier articles on this topic)

I’m used to speaking and I enjoy it. I rarely get nervous and overall I feel very comfortable on the platform which is a good thing when you are a speaker!
But sometimes you become so used to doing what you do that you begin to think that you can get away with murder...

I guess this is what happened to me on that particular occasion. I stopped paying attention and allowed myself to run on autopilot.

Now, in some cases I guess autopilot works. But sometimes it turns out that the battery is drained and so the power fails. Complete system failure!
At the time, thought to myself, "why was this happening"?!

I hindsight it was simple. My system was totally overloaded. My head was in a hundred different places at once, and I wasn’t able to hold a single thought long enough for it to manifest into anything coherent or useful at all.

Sometimes we need to sit back, take a deep breath and simply allow our batteries to charge. We need to listen and pay attention when our entire being is screaming at us to SLOW DOWN!!! Are all of those tasks on the to-do list really dead necessary!? Do we really need to grasp at any opportunity that comes our way?

There’s nothing wrong with saying no. It’s OK to admit that there are limits to how much we can take on and cope with at any one time. If we spread ourselves too thin, the things and maybe even the people that matter the most to us may suffer. If we try to do too many things at once, chances are that none of them will get the care and attention they deserve – none of them will get done properly. And there’s nothing more frustrating than not doing your best or being the best that you know you can be.

That day I was reminded how important it is to stay present and stay in the natural flow of things. And I was certainly reminded that no matter how experienced and well trained we are, falling asleep behind the wheel is not a good option – you might steer yourself straight into the ditch!

I made several mistakes during my presentation – I was counting them as I went along – and I was humored by the irony of the situation. Here I was, talking about mistakes and keenly demonstrating as I went along!

Were the mistakes good for me? You bet. The engagement was all good fun and pretty relaxed, so no real harm done. But a couple of weeks later I was due to speak at a huge convention. I suspect that without an early wake up call I would have simply continued full speed ahead down the same road to overload disaster. Now I wouldn't.

No matter how much we would like to think so, none of us are invincible. And you know what – that’s okay - we don't need to be. It is far more important to enjoy and feel passionate about what we do than to impress people with our perfection. Think about it; who would you rather be inspired by: someone who exudes joy and excitement - or someone who is so perfect that you can't relate to them?

When we show our weaknesses and our vulnerable sides we reveal ourselves as fellow human beings - no matter who we are, how accomplished, successful, rich or famous. We all come from the same place. We're all in the same boat on the same journey. So it's not so scary after all. As long as we stay in touch with ourselves we'll be all right. It is when wee loose touch with ourselves that we loose touch with the world and other people too - and when this happens we're on for a very lonely journey.

Stay present. Stay in touch, hold on to your neighbor and enjoy the ride.

To Your Courageous Speaking Joy and Success!

Love,
Suzann.

Suzann Rye
Empowering Voice & Spirit.
Author of the #1 bestseller, Your Voice Is Your Calling Card.
Get your copy here: Amazon.com

Suzann Rye LIVE Online "Your Voice is Your Calling Card" Breakthrough Coaching. Enroll Now

The Suzann Rye - Your Voice Is Your Calling Card - Radio Show,
Tuesdays 13:00 - 14:00 PM Eastern US (19:00 CET) on Real Coaching Radio Network: realcoachingradio.net

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Who’s Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf?

If you know anything about my work, if you regularly read my articles or blog posts, or if you've read my Bestselling book, Your Voice Is Your Calling Card, you'd know without a doubt that I consider fear to be a speaker/performer's worst enemy - if not Mankind's. Fear creates blockages that stops energy from flowing freely within our being and prevents us from being our greatest, most courageous, and most brilliant self.

With that cut in stone once again beckons the question...

If fear is your first enemy, who’s your second?

Some would argue that your second enemy is the heckler, the crowd vampire, the one who feeds on you and your insecurities to soothe his own. Do not attempt to feed him; his hunger is insatiable—the more he eats, the more he craves.

In my experience, most crowds are welcoming and appreciative. Most likely they are attending the event because they are already interested—nobody forced them to come.
But you will get hecklers from time to time. No matter how excellent a speaker you are, you can be pretty sure that at some point or another, you will come across people who are reserved and apprehensive and seem “hard to get”—and you will experience people who are opposing, disruptive, and downright rude!

So what? As long as you know that you’re doing your job, then peace be with anyone who, for whatever reasons they may have, feels the urge to object. Try not to make it personal. Please know that this is not necessarily because they are nasty, arrogant people by nature. They are just playing out their own insecurities, often not realizing that they are actually behaving very badly, making fools of themselves, causing you to struggle, tapping your energy, and distracting your focus away from where it should be—on your expertise, your well-prepared topic, your presentation, and the people who are genuinely interested.

Do not let the crowd vampires get to you. Don’t allow them to project their emotions onto you and the rest of the crowd. Either ignore them, or, if the disruption continues, address them very directly and openly invite them to talk to you about whatever their issue may be after your presentation. Give them the center stage they so crave, and they will likely shy away from it. Their aim is to get people on their side, to feel like “somebody,” to pretend they know better than you. Being put on the spot will not do that for them. In fact, chances are they will suddenly feel very silly indeed and retreat.

Know that this kind of behavior is just part of human nature. These people are in desperate need of attention, praise, respect, or acknowledgment themselves, and therefore they find it hard to watch others or allow others to get their fair share of what they would like for themselves. They are probably also of the opinion that they are there to be entertained and enlightened, and so they expect you to deliver, to do something that they can’t do themselves—and do it right according to their ideas or standards. That is why you’re up there and they are not. You are supposed to be superhuman! And no matter how well you deliver, it may not ever be good or exciting enough.

Well, too bad for them. It is not your problem. You can’t ever please everyone in the entire world. Please don’t waste your gunpowder on these people. Use it somewhere else where the fireworks are appreciated. I’m serious. Really, it’s a common mistake to spend way too much energy trying to win over the one person who doesn’t want to know anyway. Don’t. Reserve your golden nuggets for the people who really want and appreciate them. Be aware that often unfriendly, reserved people turn out to be the most appreciative of all. It turns out that they are just shy or simply in awe.

Don’t ever be afraid of the audience. If you are very nervous, either try not to show it or simply say that you are without making a big fuss out of it. Most people will find it endearingly human and take to you kindly for simply saying it. They know that what you’re doing takes guts, and they’re happy that they’re not in your shoes!

If some people believe that you’re insecure because you don’t know your stuff, you’ll soon prove them wrong. Once you’ve learned how to control nerves and take command of the stage with confidence and a strong presence, you will always be able to put your message across with unmistakable conviction.


To Your Courageous Speaking Joy and Success!

Love,
Suzann.


The above contains excerpts taken from from the #1 bestseller, Your Voice Is Your calling Card by Suzann Rye. Get your copy here: Amazon.com

Suzann Rye LIVE Online "Your Voice is Your Calling Card" Breakthrough Coaching. Enroll Now

The Suzann Rye - Your Voice Is Your Calling Card - Radio Show,
Tuesdays 13:00 - 14:00 PM Eastern US (19:00 CET) on Real Coaching Radio Network: realcoachingradio.net