Hope you are enjoying the holidays!

 It’s that time of year to offer a look back at some Personal Growth Gab fan favorites from 2011:

 Changing of the Guard

Freedom is Fashionable

(Wo)Man Up

And S/he Was

Battle of the Bulge

Work It

Six Seconds 

A Tale of Two Streets

 We’ve had quite the tumultuous year, so don’t forget to take some time to review all that you’ve accomplished and learned internally and externally throughout the past twelve months, and think about what you’d like to do in the next 365 days!

 Looking for some one-on-one guidance and support to gain clarity, balance and direction in your life for 2012 and beyond?  Be sure to contact me for an Essential Self Consultation today!

 Wishing you a Peaceful & Prosperous New Year!

Kristina 

Well, it was a bad year for dictators, and that’s a good thing for the rest of us.  Now that there is the possibility, and in fact the dawning or re-birthing of a more democratic existence across the globe, we must remember to do our part to make it so.

No matter what the topic, I always talk about two things in my seminars: how can we expect to have peace on this planet if we don’t have peace in our own lives; and everyone should cook.  Ergo, we must have peace in our kitchens in order to have peace in our lives in order to have peace in the world.

Whether you consider yourself the next Top Chef or think heating up leftovers in the microwave qualifies, my go-to recipe that gourmets and gauche gourmands alike can make is pea soup. Cooking in general, and especially something like soup, is extremely meditative and teaches us that life does not always function like an instant message; this forces you to slow down, be more present, have more patience and then literally enjoy the fruits of your labor.

One ingredient alone won’t cut it, and you can really make the recipe your own.  Each chopped up piece of onion, carrot, celery, garlic,  (ham, kale, turnip, parsnip, sweet potato…whatever else you want to put in there) and of course split peas ultimately blend together in an harmonious way; the whole meal is highly nutritious with many healthy benefits and the subtle combination of these diverse components over time brings out the best in each other.  Yum.

It was once said that the United States is a melting pot, and as a struggling global superpower, if that can truly be realized in its most positive sense, the rest of the world has a pretty good shot as well.  So, as you’re making the soup, perhaps visualize the ingredients as Red States and Blue States, the Rich and the Poor, White, Black, Muslim, Non-Muslim, Gay, Straight, Liberals and Conservatives – and why not throw in the countries of the European Union as well, since they need all the help they can get at the moment…

But if you really are a menace to yourself and others in the galley, you can always take a mental ride on the Peace Train  or imagine yourself a member of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, with 100 artists from more than 30 countries representing over 26 instruments who have come together to create that beautiful universal language known as music.

Still feel like your Jong is kind of Il?  Give me a buzz and I’ll help unite your body, relationships, career and life so that they can be peas in a pod  and you can make your contribution by experiencing a deeper sense of peace in your piece of the pie. 

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts  Let Love Rule, Changing of the Guard, Conjuction Junction, and Follow the Leader

We should be evolving into a new age of business with a worldview that maintains one simple proposition-that all of nature: humans, animals, earth, are interconnected and interdependent. — Anita Roddick

Throughout the past few years it’s become even more apparent that the physical glue that binds us together, whether we like it or not, is money, finance, trade.  Between the crumbling of our economy and Europe’s, and thus the world’s, we’ve watched as the powers that be attempt to patch it all together with rubber bands and bubble gum both here and abroad in order to prevent a full-on global collapse.  The technological revolution, increasing demands on natural resources, wars, extreme weather and earth changes also remind us that at this point in history we are inextricably linked and will only to continue to be so.  

The good news is that the rise of social entrepreneurship and demand for corporate social responsibility, along with the accompanying interest from newly minted and currently enrolled MBA’s, even mega-companies like WalMart are being pushed, whether by internal, external or a combination of both forces, to do better and be better. They are expected to make a profit and serve the world community at large as well as minimize, mitigate or eradicate any negative impact of their core business.  We’ve got a long way to go, but it’s a start, whether or not the intention/motivation is purely altruistic. 

But that is only half of the equation, as the deeper currency that holds us together is our common humanity.  Because at the end of the day, we all bleed the same blood and breathe the same air and when stripped to our core generally want the same things during our time on this planet: to live a life that has purpose and meaning and to love and be loved in return.    

So this holiday season be a little more conscious with the way you are spending your ‘cash’, both physically and emotionally, and reflect for a moment on the repercussions of each expenditure. What are you giving, who is that purchase affecting, and what is the receiver ultimately receiving?  What kind of present can do double duty, last year round, or even a lifetime?  Remember it really IS the thought that counts and should demonstrate love for the recipient, regardless of the price tag. 

Want a gift for yourself (or someone you love) that keeps on giving? Give me a buzz and I’ll help you (or your loved one) discover what your personal gift is and how you can give more of it to your work, your family, your relationships and the world at large!   

P.S Check out some socially conscious/women-owned/empowering businesses at TWM’s 2011 Virtual Holiday Bazaar! 

I love to sing.  I’m not very good, but I do it anyway.  I have a ‘belting’ playlist on my iPod and periodically sing my guts out for an audience of none;  I keep my earphones on so I can’t even hear my own off-ptich rendition. Sometimes I’ll be walking down the street or sitting on a bench somewhere and sing slightly out loud, much to the amusement of passersby. Or I’ll blast music in the car and sing at the top of my lungs, much to the dismay of my tween nephews who were with me during a recent episode.

Singing releases pent up energy and allows us to express emotions in a way that words without rhythm, harmony and melody simply cannot. The marriage of thoughts with a tune is powerful, healing one and when done honestly and authentically, connect us to our deepest center, the very core of our being.  As one of my favorite vocalists Jill Scott says, you can study music theory and employ various techniques, but when you come on stage ‘you gotta sing with your soul, play with your soul.’ Those who do are the performers who move us the most.

Like The Muppets and their friends, it’s generally best to sing of good things, not bad; sing of happy not sad, but they can allow to us process darker feelings too, so it’s okay to use corresponding songs according to the situation…just remember the purpose is to release and heal, not get to stuck and wallow.

You never need a reason to sing, but what better excuse to get your grove on than the holidays?  There is no other time of year when it’s more common and acceptable to round up some folks and do some caroling or sit around the dining room table and sing a few festive tunes.  Of course there’s always karaoke, your own bedroom mirror and plenty of choirs and live acts should you need some extra inspiration.

Need a little push to exercise those vocal chords and activate your own personal Glee?  Give me a buzz; we’ll start at the very beginning of your Do Re Mi‘s and find the right song that helps you Dream On so you can Fa La La La La throughout this holiday season and beyond!

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my post V