Tag Archive for goal setting

Breakup Rehab: This Week on CHI FOR YOURSELF

October 9, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

 

How do you regain confidence and optimism about love following a breakup?

After her own relationship ended, Rebekah Freedom McClaskey developed and practiced a series of small, step-by-step actions that ultimately helped her heal her heart and live in harmony with her destiny.

Hear author and counselor Rebekah Freedom McClaskey on our next CHI FOR YOURSELF. Thursday, October 12th at 1 pm Pacific time, 4 pm on the East Coast at chiforyourself.com

Rebekah McCluskey on breakups

 

Rebekah Freedom McClaskey is the author of Breakup Rehab: Creating the Love You Want.

 

JohnK 10-9-2017

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Why It’s Good To Keep A Household Budget

September 25, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

budget dollars

You work hard to earn a living. So it’s best to make wise decisions when you spend that money. That’s where a household budget comes in.

A budget has obvious advantages. Like seeing at a glance what we have coming in, what’s going out (and what that money is paying for). You also get an idea if there’s anything left at the end of the month to put into savings.

 

Before we dive into exactly what a budget can do for us, let’s consider a few points. What will happen if we’re not tracking income and expenses?

You may end up spending more than you’re making in a given month (or two, or three). Over time that can put you into some pretty hot financial water. You may also spend a lot more than you’d like to believe on things like eating out, going to the movies or new clothes.

Having a budget gives you more control over your true spending wishes. That could be dinner and a movie, or not. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an actual choice?

A Budget Tracks Where Your Money Is Going

A budget’s only job is to track your money. You record where the money comes from each month (your income) and then write out everything you spend it on.

Start with your regular monthly bills. These include your mortgage or rent, utility bills etc.

What’s left is your discretionary income.

A Budget Helps You Spot Wasted Money

Having it all in front of you in black and white helps you identify things you’re wasting your money on.

Budgeting forces you to reconsider if you want to spend well over $200 a month on Cable TV. Or $150 on your large cell phone plan. Or how about that yearly magazine subscription to something you no longer read? Go through your expenses and reevaluate if this is REALLY how you want to spend your paycheck.

A Budget Allows You To Be Proactive About Savings

Saving money without a budget is hard. We go in with the best of intentions at the beginning of the month. But somehow there isn’t anything left at the end of the month.

A budget gives you a chance to be a bit more proactive. Set aside some money for savings at the beginning of the month, even a small amount like $20.

Put it in the budget as a regular expense, much like you do with your other urgent bills. If you need to, open a separate savings account so you’re not tempted to spend it.

A Budget Ensures You’re Not Spending More Than You’re Making

Your budget will keep you on track and help you avoid overspending. And I don’t have to tell you that that’s pretty important for your financial well-being.

JohnK 9-25-2017
chiforyourself.com home page

 

Image for overheard for budgetOverheard: ““While money can’t buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.” 
                                        ~ Groucho Marx

 

 

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Do You Have A Financial Safety Net? (And How To Build One)

September 18, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Do you have a financial safety net? It’s something worth thinking about and setting up. What will happen to you and your loved ones if you lose your job for a few months?
 
What if you get into an accident that prevents you from earning a living? Or what if some unexpected expenses come up. Do you have anything in place to make sure the bills continue to get paid?
 
If not, now is the time to get started. But where do you actually start?
 
financial help ideas
 
Three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved in an interest-bearing account is a good start. Figure out what your family needs to live on if all income stops. Then start saving as much money as you can until you have built up this safety net.
 
Trim expenses for eating out, going to the movies, buying the newest TV and Tech gadget and the like. Add these to your savings account until you’ve saved enough to have a comfortable cushion. To make this step go even faster, add any bonuses, tax refunds etc. as well.
 
But don’t stop there. Make it a goal to add to your safety cushion as you can and come back and revise your numbers from time to time. Your living expenses may go up or down over time. You can adjust the amount you need and set aside savings in an account where you can get at it with no hassle.
 
Life and disability insurance are another important part of your financial safety net. Do you have a plan in place to continue to cover your living expenses (or those of your family) when you can no longer work? Call your insurance agent and go over your current coverage. Make sure the insurance you’re paying for will pay out what you need and if not, make adjustments.
 
Next, consider investing any further savings into higher interest-bearing accounts. You may not be able to access money invested here right away. But the funds will come in handy when you’re dealing with a long-term financial emergency or are ready to retire. Plenty of investment vehicles have a higher yield than your bank savings account.
 
Talk to your financial adviser, Work out a plan that’s right for you, your family, and whatever the future may hold.
 
JohnK 9-18-2017
 
Image for overheard for financial wisdomOverheard: “All money is a matter of belief.”
           ~Adam Smith
 
 
 
 
 

How To Plan For Unexpected Expenses

September 14, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments
 
It always seems to happen at the wrong time. The car’s transmission blows just as your daughter gets her braces. Or your washing machine decides to call it quits.
 
These unexpected expenses will pop up throughout life. You want to prepare as well as possible for those times when life throws you a financial curve ball.
 
Do your best to plan ahead for upcoming expenses. If you’re driving an older car, or your dishwasher has seen its better days, start saving up to replace the item. You may also want to start keeping an eye out for good deals on the replacement.
 
budgeting expenses
 
An even better strategy is to have an emergency savings fund. Set up a savings account and add to it monthly. Use it only for completely unexpected expenses.
 
Make sure you know what’s in the account. And once you have to take money out of it replace it as soon as possible.
 
This brings us to an important point. How to make a quick recovery after taking a hit to your wallet.
 
Go over your budget (you have one of those, right?) and see if you can cut back on some things for the time being.
 
Stop ordering pizza every Friday night and make your own at home. Skip a night out on the town and watch a couple of movies on Netflix instead of going to the theater.
 
Use the money you’re not spending over the next few months to refill your emergency fund. For an extra boost, you might work a few hours of overtime. Or do a few freelance projects. You might pick up a short-term part time job to get back on track fast.
 
dollar expenses
 
But what do you do when the expense comes up before you had a chance to set up the emergency fund? Take a deep breath and assess the situation.
 
Can you make do without the item for a little while? At least long enough to scrape together the funds to repair or replace it?
 
If it’s the dishwasher, that’s easy. You can wash dishes by hand for a little while.
 
If it’s the fridge or the car you rely on to get you to work each day, that’s a different story.
 
If it’s your car decide if it would be better to repair than replace. Even if it isn’t the perfect solution, it may get you to work while you save up for the car you want.
 
Shuffle your money around and if there is no other option charge it to the credit card and get to work. Your one and only goal right now is to pay off that expense.
 
Sock away every available penny. Once you pay off your credit cards do what you can to get that emergency fund set up.
 
And be ready for any surprises down the road.
 
JohnK 9-12-2017
 
 
 

Chakra Wisdom with Tori Hartman: Today’s CHI FOR YOURSELF

September 7, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

 

Tori picture for chakra readsQuick reminder- Our guest on today’s CHI FOR YOURSELF is Tori Hartman, author of CHAKRA WISDOM ORACLE: How to Read the Cards for Yourself and Others. 

We’ll begin at 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern time at chiforyourself.com

 

 

“See” you then.

JohnK 9-7-2017

chiforyourself.com home page

 

 

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Chakras And Transformation- It’s in The Cards: Next CHI FOR YOURSELF

September 4, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

 

Tori picture for chakra readsOur next scheduled CHI FOR YOURSELF guest will tell us about using intuitive power to bring profound growth into our lives. Tori Hartman is the author of Chakra Wisdom Oracle: How to Read the Cards for Yourself and Others. Her system of cards and workbook is designed to help you break through blockages and achieve your dreams. 

 

Join us for CHI FOR YOURSELF and Tori Hartman. Thursday, September 7th at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com.

 

JohnK 9-4-2017

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Make Decisions With Better Self-Confidence

August 28, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments
 
                                                                                                                                           dig making decisions
Few things are as frustrating to you and those around you as your inability to make decisions and stick to them. This inability can be the result of a lack of self-confidence.
 
There can be many reasons why you lack the confidence to make decisions in your life. For example, you may have grown up in an environment where your parents made all the decisions for you. And they insisted you must not question them.
 
You may feel very anxious at the thought of having to make a decision.
 
Here are a few indicators that you are someone who lacks confidence in making decisions:
 
You would rather have someone else make the decision for you –
 
This happens when you don’t trust that you’ll make the right decision. It’s an indicator that you don’t have confidence in your ability.
 
You never make a decision –
 
Other people may be relying on you for a decision, but you let weeks or months pass without ever making a decision.
 
Your decision avoidance can be a signal that confidence in your abilities is poor.
 
When you do make a decision, you second-guess yourself –
 
Another demonstration that you lack confidence in your abilities.
 
You can work at and improve on this tendency not to trust yourself when you make decisions.
 
What follows are ideas for improving your confidence to make good decisions.
 
Make an “unofficial” decision –
 
In other words, this is a decision that is not yet set in stone. Make a decision, and live with that decision for a day.
 
For example, you’ve decided to upgrade to a bigger house, and you have the money saved. You find a house that you like a lot and that fits all the criteria you want in a bigger house. It has a big yard, a deck, and an attached garage.
 
But if you have trouble making decisions you may find yourself trying to talk yourself out of it. You begin to worry about how you’ll afford it, higher heating and cooling costs, and so forth.
 
This is where it can help to make an “unofficial’ decision. You have to decide that you will or will not move. Pick one, and live with that decision for a day. Make your mind believe that the decision is a real one that you have made. Then see how your decision makes you feel.
 
This can be a good way to test out decisions before making them official. Knowing that you can still change your mind if it does not feel right, can be comforting.
 
Recognize decisions that are reversible –
 
For example, you’re having a tough time determining what color to paint your house. Start by getting a collection of color swatches. Then make a decision, rather than continuing to fret over choosing the perfect color.
 
If you start painting and don’t like the color, you can always choose another color.
 
Ask yourself what is the worst that can happen –
 
Not all decisions are life altering. Begin with making small decisions such as what movie to see. You can grow your confidence and make bigger decisions as time goes on.
 
Write down pros and cons of each decision you are considering –
 
Sometimes it helps to see your ideas for and against a decision written down on paper. When you see the options on paper they crystallize. This it can make it easier to come to a decision.
 
JohnK 8-28-2017
 
 
Image for overheard for decisionsOverheard:  “It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do.” 
                                                      
                    ~Elbert Hubbard
 
 
 
 
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Jump-Start Your Dreams and Bring Passion Back Into Your Life! (video)

August 25, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

Bottle of DreamsAnother week goes by. Maybe you’re thinking about that “lucky” friend or relative who knows just exactly what to do with his or her life.

Maybe you’d like to know that feeling, too. And maybe you know there’s something special you’re meant to do but you’re not sure how to go about it.

 

This short video is intended to get you back to putting your attention on your dreams. So “pop the cork” on your bottle of dreams and get to dreaming!

Click on this player and “toast” to a fuller life!

 

JohnK 8-25-2017

chiforyourself.com home page

 

Image for overheard for dreamsOverheard:  “Enough is a feast”

                       ~Buddhist proverb

 

 

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More FREE STUFF: Treating Pain With Aromatherapy

August 14, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

aromatherapy doctorGrowing numbers of respected physicians and health care professionals agree on the benefits of aromatherapy. They’re finding that pleasurable smells go to work immediately on your brain, easing pain and relieving stress. 

How does this work? It has to do with the way your nose communicates with your brain. 

Aromatherapy affects your brain’s emotional center, also known as your amygdala.

 

CHI FOR YOURSELF invites you to check out a FREE list of some popular aromatherapy scents available in essential oils and other products, as well as the healing benefits they provide.

Click on this button to get the report:

aromatherapy graphic

 

To your health!

 

JohnK 8-14-2017

chiforyourself.com home page

 

 

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Natural or Not Natural? That Is The Question

August 7, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments
We see the word “natural” at every turn. Health organizations and food makers love this word. They tell us that natural is our signal that certain food is healthy and good for us.
 
You may believe this yourself. After all, you see natural listed on product labels all the time. But what does natural actually mean?
 

Chris Lawton

 
Consumer Reports magazine warns that natural can be a very misleading word. Some are calling on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to ban the word’s use on food labels.
 
Now, it’s unlikely that manufacturers will put the word “unnatural” on a product. Yet foods described as natural can be healthy, unhealthy, or have no effect on you at all.
 
By the way, the FDA has yet to come up with a hard and fast definition of natural on a label. Other modern countries are facing the same challenge.
 
So, for years manufacturers have had no problem slapping the natural label on food. Some of it is actually unhealthy.
 
If the “Natural” Labeling Process Seems Confusing To You, You Are Not Alone
 
Let’s look at a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center*. 60% of the 1,000 shoppers questioned said they look for the word natural on labels. 66% believe natural means no artificial ingredients, genetically modified organisms, or pesticides. Yet there are no mandatory disclosures that allow foods to carry the word natural.
 
You can see where this is going. No hard and fast rules for natural as it applies to food can assume too much trust. With that in mind, what steps can you take to be confident that your food is natural?
 
A good starting point is to contact the manufacturer. It may take some time, but get someone on the phone. Ask some hard questions. Get the name of the person you’re talking to. Ask him or her to send any and all relevant information to you via snail mail or e-mail.
 
The contact person may tell you such information is “proprietary.” That they’re not allowed to tell you. Consider this a red flag.
 
Also, keep in mind that food with tons of sugar and calories may actually be natural. But that doesn’t make them healthy.
 
The bottom line? Stay away from packaged foods wherever possible. Eat whole foods. More fruits and vegetables than processed items.
 
Take the steps to ensure that you’re getting more natural and healthy foods. After all, you and your family are worth the effort!
 
 
JohnK 8-7-2017
 
*Consumer Reports source
 

 

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