March Fireball Bonus: Get a Free 30 Minute Stress Busting Workshop with Diana Antholis!

Amanda Abella — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:00:38 +0000

Phew! Can you all believe it's March already?!? Time flies when you're having fun, right?

I am so excited to share with you all March's Fireball bonus! My awesome blogger buddy and go-to fitness guru Diana Antholis has been amazing enough to create a bonus just for GMW Fireballs! If you haven't been following this blog for very long then you can check out the incredible interview Diana and I did when she launched her unique fitness program - Unleash Your Sexy! We recorded this interview about a year ago and since then her business has helped countless individuals find their center, get balanced and get healthy!

Just recently Diana launched her first ebook Unleashed: Live the Balanced, Centered and Sexy Life You Deserve and it quickly became a best seller on Amazon! Some of you have already picked this up, but in case you haven't here's why you should:

1. It's less money than a couple of lattes from Starbucks.

2. This isn't necessarily about dieting or losing weight (though it can definitely help!) - it's about living an overall healthy lifestyle including mind and body.

3. It's a handy guide to keep around for when you fall off the health wagon or need some quick stress busters

4. She gives you effective tools to deal with stress, fear and anxiety! Tools that actually work!

5. She's loving and gentle. This book in no way makes you feel inadequate or suggests you should strive for perfection. The point is to live a better life, not your stress yourself out with trying to create it.

6. She's got an exclusive bonus just for Fireballs - a free 30 Minute "Find Your Center" one-on-one stress busting workshop!

Here are the deets:

Stress sucks. And it's very unsexy.

Your "Find Your Center" 30-minute session is designed to help you figure out what the heck is stressing you out, how to get over it, and move on sooner rather than never.

During your 30 minutes together, you and Diana will:

- Identify what is giving you a headache or elevating your stress levels (read: making you feel like a crazy person) this week.

- Find out how your thoughts are fueling your stress and how to put out the fire.

- Discover the ways you can immediately feel better, breathe easier, and center yourself to conquer your stress and tackle your day.

That's right - for the price of a day at Starbucks you get an awesome guide AND a free half hour coaching session with Diana!

How do you get in on this?

This month's Fireball Bonus is ONLY for email subscribers - current and those who subscribe during the month of March. You will receive instructions all month long on how you can snag this awesome offer!

1. Sign up for the Fireball Newsletter! You can use the form below, on the side bar, below the header or the Pop Up.

2. Check your email for instructions all month long!

3. Current subscribers: Check the sidebar of the weekly blasts for instructions.

I hope you guys get as much fulfillment, joy and happiness out of Diana's work as I have! Here's a to a healthy March!

Click here to read the entire post.

2. Figure out how you work.

Hit the ground running or baby steps? Everyone is different. I personally have to do something everyday in order to create a habit. Other people are more successful when they start small, like starting off going to the gym once a week instead of everyday.

Look back at your past successful resolutions. How did you approach it? Did you make a commitment from the get go or did you ease into it? Once you figure out what works best for you, use it.

3. Start early.

This is my favorite tip - start a few days early! Last year I started practicing my healthy resolution on December 26th. It made it seem like there was less pressure and by the time January 1st rolled around I was already a few days in.

This year I'm doing the same with my green juice resolution. In fact, I started on Christmas Day

4. Use life's curve balls to your advantage.

One of the biggest reasons people have a tough time with resolutions is because life inevitably gets in the way.

Been through a breakup? Got laid off? Illness? No problem! Use these less than desirable situations to your advantage. Get creative and use the energy these situations bring up for good.

Don't get me wrong, if you need to take a few days to readjust, do it. But you also have to look at the silver lining - and guess what, you know have more time to cultivate those resolutions. Besides, focusing on something else other than your hardship - like doing something good for yourself - can make a huge difference in the healing process.

For instance, when I was feeling a lot of anger after a breakup I upped my fitness routine and started kickboxing. I was still taking care of myself, was using the anger to get a good workout in and was releasing whatever crazy emotions were coming up through physical activity.

The result? I've got arm definition for the first time in my life (see picture below haha). My abs are tighter, I'm stronger, I've got more endurance, my mood has improved and most importantly, I've made health and fitness a regular part of my life.

2012 resolution completed, even with one of life's curve balls.

5. Enlist some buddies & declare your resolution.

Do you and a friend both have a similar resolution? Join forces! Go to the gym together, work on your side hustles together at a coffee shop, train for that marathon together, whatever! There is some serious strength in numbers so take advantage!

This is also a great way to keep yourself accountable. By declaring your resolution out loud it gives you a sense of commitment. The friends you enlist can also help keep you on track (just like you can help them).

6. Have fun! Don't be so hard on yourself!

We're not perfect, and as a result we're going to fall off the wagon. The plan of action here isn't to be so hard on yourself - that just brings up feelings of guilt, anger and a whole bunch of bullshit that won't serve you.

The solution is to acknowledge the goof up, give yourself a pat on the back for getting as far as you did and picking yourself back up again the next day. Sometimes it takes a few tries before something sticks, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

At the end of the day resolutions are meant to improve our lives, not make us feel miserable.

So what are my resolutions this year?

Health & Fitness: Start juicing, baby! I got a Breville juicer for Christmas (the same one in the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead) and I'm ready to use it! I've been experimenting with green juices and smoothies for a few weeks and I truly feel it's time I make a commitment to those micro-nutrients and make myself some green juice for breakfast everyday (as I am writing this I am on Day 2).

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to keep up, join in and show me your juice!

(Optional resolution: I've been reading up on the health benefits of massage thanks to Kris Carr. In 2013 I will try to get a massage once a month to help my muscles out.)

Money: In 2013 I hope to max out my Roth IRA contribution for the year. The max contribution is $5,000 and I already contribute $1,200 automatically. Only $3,800 to go! I plan to do this with the help of Impulse Save. If there is anything that Impulse Save has taught me it's that little savings here and there add up quickly.

Career: There's nothing really new in the career sector other than continuing what I've been working toward since starting this blog. I need to continue testing my coaching chops as I move through the ICA program. I also hope to become actively involved in local networking and career communities. I've got a couple of workshops I'm working on that will help me get involved, give back and help me with one of my ultimate blog/career goals of speaking & live events.

I also hope to attend at least one conference in 2013. I upgraded my Delta Skymiles account & have accumulated a ton of miles for United. It's time to start using those suckers!

Are any of my fellow bloggers attending any conferences in 2013? Which ones? Want to split the cost of accommodations? Email me and let me know

What are your resolutions or goals for 2013? Feel free to share in the comments below!

"Lose 10 pounds in a week."

"Try this diet and you'll look like a super model."

Even Googling "define: health" pulls up a bunch of negative connotations such as "poor health" (you couldn't define it with good health?) or "free from illness or injury" (Um, we're human. We'll never really be free from illness or injury. And besides, Kris Carr has cancer and she's pretty damn healthy.).

What ever happened to just being healthy? What happened to loving your body and treating it with respect? What happened to the true meaning of wellness?Where we are compassionate and loving toward ourselves and our bodies and as a result we extend the same to others?

Fortunately, there are several resources out there helping to spread a positive message about loving ourselves and our bodies. Websites and people like The Daily Love, BodyHeart, Ashley Turner, Jenna Phillips, Kris Carr, Your Bella Life, Kate Northru p, Diana Antholis and many many more.

I'm all about general all around old fashioned health and wellness. I don't count calories. I don't buy into crazy fads or the next super food. All I do is eat well, exercise regularly, meditate and try (operative word being try) not to overwork myself. In short, I try to take care of myself to the best of my ability all while practicing compassion and love toward myself and my body.

Here's how you can do it it to.

1. Work Out

I work out regularly. My ideal schedule is kick boxing three times a week and then yoga the rest of the time. Of course, sometimes life gets in the way, but I have dedicated much of 2012 to creating a regular routine. And you know what? It has worked!

After 9 months of regular yoga I must say I can't really go too long without some sort of physical activity. I've gotten to a point where if I don't work out or move my body then I get very crabby, anxious and stressed. I get tense and very very tight - particularly in my neck and shoulders. As a result, I'm not working out with the intention of getting my abs back (though it is an extra perk), I'm working out with the intention of releasing stress and other negative emotions.

Move your body people! Not to get killer abs or fit into a bikini, but for your overall well being, your organs and the releasing of stress and tension. Change your intentions about exercising and you'll soon start to love it. You'll also start seeing better results!

2. Watch what you consume.

When I started working out regularly I found myself naturally picking healthier food. What we consume and put into our bodies has a lot to do with our physical and even emotional well being.

Of course, I've revved this up recently as I started noticing the connection between certain foods and the the way my body reacts to them. For instance, I've been noticing for quite some time that my body kind of hates dairy, I just hadn't really done too much about it until now. As a result, almond milk has become my new best friend.

Take a daily inventory of what you're eating and how you feel afterward. Are you getting the 2PM crash? Are you having a hard time sleeping? Are you way too jittery for your own good after some coffee? How are your dumps? (I'm serious, we can learn a lot about our health through our poop. )Simply take note and start adjusting from there.

If you need help getting started because you are as clueless as I was I highly recommend getting your Kris Carr on.

3. Watch what you think.

Did you know that people that come into workouts with positive intentions tend to get better results than those who don't? Did you also know that all the "motivation" you need to get off your butt starts with how you think?

If you're too busy thinking "I don't have time to work out," "I'm too tired," "I'll never get fit," "I can't do that workout because I'm x weight" then you're going to get no where.

Don't take my word for it though. Check out this video below from Patricia Moreno of Intensati. She's combined aerobics, yoga and other forms of exercise with positive and empowering affirmations. The result? People get fitter faster. And they generally feel better!

P.S. If anyone knows of a place in Miami that offers Intensati classes let me know!

Overall, loving your body isn't all that complicated. The most important thing is that you feel better, not fitting into a size 0.

What are some of your tips for loving your body? Share any insights, tips or resources in the comments below!

I used to think that way myself, and I was desperate to find some sort of solution to my fears around work, life and relationships. I tried just about everything - from drowning myself in work to make extra money to going as far as taking a hiatus from dating.

I kept trying to “fix” parts of my life in an attempt to somehow make it seem better. I thought my negative mind was a result of my outward circumstances. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I had “aha moment” I’d been waiting for and realized that I had it backwards. In that one moment I knew I was on to something. I knew I had taken one giant step toward relieving myself of my own Inner Ick.

In reality, it’s our internal state that affects our outward perception. If we’re constantly stuck in fear then that’s how we’re going to see our outside world. On the other hand, if we come from a place of openness and positivity then we quickly start to see how much brighter our days seem. Doors open, opportunities come up, and things just seem to flow more easily.

After months of practicing positivity I like to think of myself as a glass half-full kind of gal, and I fervently believe that people are the co-creators of their lives. As a result I’ve come up with seven ways that you can stop being your own worst enemy.

Become Conscious of the Negative Conversation

We all come into this world with endless possibilities and an openness to love and life. Unfortunately, soon after coming out of the womb we spend all our lives being told what we should do and what we should think. We get hurt along the way, and for some this hurt becomes their primary place of function.

Some people spend a lifetime with the same negative record playing in their heads. They live according to fear, not love or possibility. This in turn affects everything around them - their relationships, their career, their health, their money and their lives.

The first step to overcoming this fear is to become conscious of when it appears. I often tell coaching clients to spend a week walking around with a notebook where they can record their thoughts. Every hour on the hour I tell them to do a mental scan of their thoughts to see if there was any negativity.

Once we start becoming conscious of our thought patterns we can actively start changing them.

Use Positive Affirmations.

An affirmation is a personal statement that can be used to reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and help you create the life of your dreams. The power of positive thinking is truly omnipotent and by retraining our subconscious mind we can start coming from a place of optimism and openness rather than fear.

For some great guides on creating affirmations check out Terri Cole - Live Fearless and Free and Louise Hay’s Daily Affirmations.

Start a Meditation Practice

Meditating has not only proven to help people physically, it is also a great way to start retraining your brain. It helps you clean your mind and start fresh so that you can find the clarity you need to continue about your day.

I currently have a practice where I meditate twice a day. I meditate in the mornings before I go about my day in order to set my intentions and then again at night to get centered and wind down. It’s something I’ve come to rely on when I need to recharge and start over.

WorkAwesome recently posted a wonderful guide on how to get started with a meditation practice. Meditation Oasis and Gabrielle Bernstein also have a nice collection of free guided meditations you can use to get started.

Practice Saying “Yes”

If we’re constantly saying “no” then we’re shutting ourselves off from some amazing things. Stay open to new possibilities and practice saying “yes” on a daily basis.

Say yes to opportunity. Say yes to adventure. Say yes to that guy (or girl) that asked you out on a date. Say yes to finally starting your own business. Say yes to trying new things. Say yes to working out.

At the end of the day you never know where something will lead. Saying “yes” at least ensures that you open your life to some great things and switch up your routine every once in a while.

Move Your Body

It’s widely known that regular exercise not only helps you get fit, it also releases endorphins. Our bodies hold a lot of emotions - including stress, anxiety and negativity. By moving it we can start releasing the blocks, easing our bodies and consequently ease our minds.

Give Yourself Permission

One of the biggest factors for people being their own worst enemies is the false idea that someone has to give them permission to do what they want. This is probably because we feel tremendous guilt when our needs and desires are not in line with those of outside influencers like society or our families.

Here’s a newsflash: you don’t need to wait for anyone to give you permission. You are the creator of your own life and no one else. In fact, the only person you should be asking for permission is yourself.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

The “Compare Game” is a vicious cycle. We find ourselves constantly comparing ourselves to others and as a result see lack in our own lives.

We think that because our co-worker has a great relationship, a sweet paycheck or a fancy new car that we’re obviously not on par and therefore cannot be happy.

Guess what, it’s a complete farce. First of all, you don’t really know what people are going through - for all you know their relationship may be on the rocks and they’re in debt up to their eyeballs. Second, everyone has a different path and a different view of success and happiness.

Instead of looking onto others for what success and happiness should look like get clear on what success means to you - then go after it.

Being our own worst enemy has become an epidemic among working individuals. Fortunately, there’s a new conversation out there that is calling out our negative habits and helping people go after the lives they’ve always dreamed of. By following the aforementioned tips you’ll be well on your way to retraining your subconscious and working for yourself instead of against yourself.

emotionally shaky month. And just as I suspected my finances took a major hit thanks to my emotions. I've known for quite some time that I am an emotional spender and since I was really not in the mood to be paying attention to my finances they took a dip.

I was also behind with my side hustle invoicing and didn't send them out until the last week of September. However there is a silver lining, although I racked up my credit cards much more than I should have I PAID THEM OFF IN FULL. The other good news is that I am almost done paying off my Life Coaching Certification (Projected Finish Date: December 2012). Once that is taken care of I can really start saving some dough (it's about $600 a month).

Nothing sends me into panic mode like having debt so I made damn sure to take care of that. I also canceled my trip to New York due to un-forseen circumstances (thinking about using those airline miles to finally attend a conference in 2013). All of that money was moved over to my regular savings and used to pay off the debt I took on this month.

As for the numbers, here they are. Not the best but not terrible either given the circumstances.

Cash: 6225.07 (+225.07)

Brokerage: 681.31 (+9.13 without even touching the account! Woooh!)

Roth IRA: 2,091.17 (+137.01)

Credit Cards: $0 (Biggest win this month!)

Net Worth: 8997.49 (-328.70 Womp)

Life Coaching Certification

As soon as I was feeling better I really revved up the coaching classes. Believe it or not the topics discussed in these classes have really helped me during my post-break up healing process which of course will certainly make me more empathetic toward my clients.

Thanks to ICA's new schedule I am also putting in major hours during the weekend. I also picked up my second external client as I work toward my certification. Phillip is a long time follower of Grad Meets World (I think he wrote the first comment on the blog), has an entrepreneurial spirit and is a boxer!

Side Hustle

My monthly posts on SALT are still up and running. Unfortunately, I did have to drop a project earlier this month. But hey, that's the great thing about side hustling - you can back off when you need to.

Interesting surprise though, I did start getting requests from people looking for help with their blogs. So it is with great pleasure that I announce that BLOG CONSULTING IS BACK! I can only take on a couple of clients so feel free to email me if you're interested - amanda [at] gradmeetsworld [dot] org or use this form.

Health and Fitness

Since my emotions have gone from sad to angry and back again I needed to find healthy ways to channel them. Yoga is great, and this would mark the 9th month of my regular practice, but I needed something a bit more aggressive. Lo and behold I found an awesome mixed martial arts studio six blocks from my job! Last time I did mixed martial arts I was 20 so this was definitely a pleasant surprise as I have always had an interest. If you're in the Miami area make sure to check out Arena Combat Sports.

Below you'll find proof that I am indeed attending boxing classes:

First class! There I am in the purple! That would be my coworker/IT guru near the wall.

Post workout feeling so much better! Exercise is great stress relief!

Don't worry, though. I most certainly have not forgotten about my yoga and have attended whenever my mind isn't completely frazzled. Besides I have to visit my favorite teachers over at Prana Yoga.

Ready to get my OM on!

Follow me on Instagram for all my picture adventures! @amandaabella

Moral of the story: Going through a hard time? Perfect excuse to GET IN SHAPE!

Top Posts on the Blog September Edition

I don't know why but we got some major traffic boosts on the blog this month. I've also had quite the spike in email subscribers. I think it's because I'm really pushing myself to be authentic and it's resonating with people. Either way, I've really enjoyed all the empowering emails, Tweets, comments and Facebook Messages. YOU GUYS ROCK!

How Do You Deal With a Break Up? 7 Steps to Getting Over a Break Up

4 Steps to Start Working When You Feel Overwhelmed

How Can Exercise Help You With Life's Curve Balls?

Am I Too Young to Be a Life Coach? (Reader Question)

Events You Don't Want to Miss

My new friend and colleague Jordana Jaffe is hosting a FREE CALL on October 18th where she's going to dish out her secrets for being a successful entrepreneur. I promise you she's got some good stuff and hey, IT'S FREE! Click here to learn more and sign up.

On October 11th Coach Jennie is launching a self-guided coaching program called Audacity Rules. It's purpose? A cathartic shove toward self-actualized brilliance. If you've ever met Jennie, as I have, then you would know she does just that! If you want to go from kinda awesome to straight up audacious I would not hesitate to check this out! Click her to sign up and snag a free sample chapter!

That's all for this month, folks! Here's to a rockin' October!

I do still struggle with IBS on a daily basis. For those of you who don't know my story, my Quarter Life Crisis really started when I was 21. I had been burning the candle on both ends throughout my entire college career - hard studying, hard working and even harder partying. Couple that with dorm living (a cesspool of germs) and I ended up getting a gnarly stomach infection that plagued me for months - I even had to take a medical leave of absence from school.

The course of action? The most ridiculous dose of antibiotics I've ever had the misfortune of having to take. It was so bad that even after the treatment I spent close to a year trying to heal and every time I went to the doctor they said I was fine.

Fine my ass! I was still up in the middle of the night with awful nausea and stomach pains. The eventual diagnosis? I had post-infectious IBS as a result of whatever bacteria I had mysteriously ingested. Then all they did was put me on anti-anxiety meds. So yes, at the age 0f 22 I was popping anxiety meds like they were candy as I survived my last semester of college.

I knew something was clearly wrong with this picture.

Upon graduation I told myself I'd have to start getting healthy. I started by quitting smoking. Then I made it my mission to start an exercise regimen. It took some time and a lot of trial and error but I'm finally pretty solid in the exercise department. 9 months of regular yoga, Zumba when I work out at home and as of late Mixed Martial Arts.

I learned about the effect the mind has on the body. I also learned how regular exercise, and subsequently what you put in your body, can help the mind. The mind then helps the body.

Pretty nifty, right?

Anyway, October is the month I'll be revving up my eating habits. More veggies, way less dairy and if I can muster it I'll tone down the coffee. I'll be doing this will the help of Kris Carr and her lovely books and eguides:

Crazy Sexy Diet

Crazy Sexy Kitchen

Crazy Sexy Juices and Succulent Smoothies

Which brings me to my next point...

How on earth do we start getting healthy to begin with? How do we hold ourselves accountable? How do we ensure we don't rip our hair out?

Step 1: Find something you actually like.

I spent much of 2011 trying out all these different exercise techniques. I bought a boat-ton of yoga classes, signed up at the gym, got a trainer, tried P90x, downloaded some Zumba classes etc. etc. etc.

Needless to say I was totally burned out and frustrated because I was too busy trying to keep up with a bunch of different things. So, I stuck to what I really enjoyed and knew I'd actually go to. Yoga was the clear winner and I've been attending regular classes for about 9 months.

Recently I also rekindled my love for mixed martial arts and was fortunate enough to find a studio six blocks from my job. Yay!

Step 2: Enlist some friends.

My co-workers and I try to keep each other accountable. Granted, this doesn't always work but when it does it's pretty awesome. We remind each other to order the healthier food, talk about our workouts from the night before and talk recipes. We'll also share any new and exciting fitness classes we come across.

Fact of the matter is there's strength in numbers. If you're worries you'll fall of the wagon enlist some buddies to go along for the ride.

Step 3: Don't look for a diet, look for a lifestyle.

Diets and fads don't work - and the reason is because they are difficult to sustain for long periods of time. Sure, you'll find this awesome diet where you shed some pounds but as soon as the diet is over you gain it all back again.

Instead of looking for diets, look for lifestyle changes. That's why I was drawn to Kris Carr - she's not touting a diet fad, she's teaching people how to actually live healthy on a day to day basis.

And thus, I made my first ever green smoothie

What tips do you have for healthy living? Are you a fan of any wellness coaches? Got some green juice recipes? Share in the comments below!

What's the point of working your ass off if you're always sick or on the verge of a mental breakdown? There is none. Because life is meant to be enjoyed. If you're too busy working or stressing yourself out you're going to close yourself off from a lot of the beauty life has to offer.

Now, I know this is a hard pill to swallow for some of you. We're raised within the realm of the achieve mentality. That is to say, we think the more we achieve - whether it's a degree, a job title, the paycheck, the hot boyfriend (or girlfriend) , or recognition - the happier we'll be.

It's bullshit.

You need to take care of yourself first so you can pave the way for good things to come. Now, this doesn't mean sit back and wait for things to happen to you. I won't get my life coaching certification without doing the work. You won't get a job unless you go to that interview. Your money situation won't fix itself.

It just means you occasionally need to take time for your own health and well-being. You need to recharge and replenish yourself so you can face your goals and challenges with greater ease.

So what's my self-care routine?

Daily prayer and meditation - ESPECIALLY when I need to forgive and let go.

Regular exercise and physical activity. (Added mixed martial arts to my routine.)

Oprah's Super Soul Sunday (It's a damn good show. Very thought provoking.)

Watching some of my favorite inspirational speakers - Marianne Williamson, Gabrielle Bernstein, Danielle LaPorte and Iyanla Vanzant just to name a few.

Writing.

Constantly reading, learning and then teaching others.

Constantly being compassionate with myself.

This is what I have come to use as my self-care routine. When I need to replenish, recharge, get clear about something or move on I come back to my tools and take it one step at a time. Of course, what works for me may not necessarily work for you. Everyone has different things that make them feel like they're at home, but there are a few simple guidelines you can follow when creating a self-care routine.

Move Your Body

Your body holds onto a lot of emotional and physical stress. Moving it around not only helps you get healthy physically, it can also help you psychologically by relieving stress and releasing endorphins. You can start off by doing some of these hip-opening stretches (All my yogis out there know just how much we can hold in our hips!)

Music

For many people music is like therapy. Find music that inspires you, makes you get up and move and lifts your spirits. I'm currently digging this song by Jai-Jaddeesh. It's beautiful, meditative, lifts my spirits and by the end makes me want to get up and dance.

Surround Yourself with Positivity

I love watching lectures by some of my favorite speakers. Whether it's Marianne Williamson riffing on A Course in Miracles or a kick-ass TED talk I can't get enough of all the positive stuff out on the web. The more I watch the more I learn. The more I learn the more I can share with you all.

Be of Service

Nothing gets you in a good mood quite like helping other people. Find out where you can volunteer or how you can use your skills to serve others.

Quiet Time and Reflection

Sometimes we need to just sit still. We need to cleanse our minds and recharge. Try meditation, journaling, visualization or yoga. All are great options for getting the much needed reflecting time you need and deserve.

Sleep!

How many times do we give up sleep for work or some other activity? Even with everything I have going on I RARELY give up my sleep! Quite frankly I'm a hot mess if I don't get my Z's.

However you choose to manifest your self-care routine make sure to schedule it into your daily or weekly activities. Resting and recharging is just as (if not more) important that checking off all that stuff on your to-do list!

How do you relax and recharge? Share in the comments below!

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Since we live in an imperfect world we're always going to have curve balls thrown at us. after all, no one is perfect and the perfect life certainly doesn't exist - so our ability to handle emotional stress and trauma is what is really going to make a big difference in our lives.

As of late I've been dealing with some emotional stuff. Work has been stressful (partially my own doing for overloading my schedule on a near daily basis) and I ran into a road block in the romantic relationship department. Needless to say I've been frazzled and emotional and although I know eveything is going to be fine I still have to deal with the feelings that are coming up for me.

I know that in my life there are two things that always make me feel better: the ocean and physical activity. Both of which I've hit up in the last week or so. Unfortunately i can't go to the ocean as much as I would like, but exercise is always an option.

Your body holds a lot of emotional stress (you yogis may recall that hips and shoulders always come up when it comes to holding on to baggae) it needs to move so you can start releasing those pent up emotions. Some would even argue that exercise is a form of meditation - it helps you release blocks, recharge and even gives you clarity when you really need it. As of late exercise is the only thing that calms my nerves and helps me release emotional tension. So much, in fact, that I started doing mixed martial arts again after a few years of hiatus (bet you all didn't know I used to do that). After a long day at work and relationship issues theres nothing like punching or kicking a bag. Couple that with my yoga routine and ive got the perfect combination to work both the inside and the outside of my body.

And if the release of all the negative crap in your body isnt enough to convince you of exercise's healing powers how about the fact that being fit and healthy generally makes life better? You get more energy, you deal with stress in a healthy way, and you release endorphins.

Like Elle Woods so famously said in Legally Blonde...

Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu

We already know that life tends to be better when it's unrushed. It's like this, would you enjoy a book more if you sped through it or took the time to enjoy it? No brainer, right?

So how do you get to the state of unrushed? How do you get back to feeling grounded and present?

Take time to disconnect.

There's a craze among personal development and productivity bloggers that has some serious value: a technology fast. Contrary to popular belief you will not die if you turn off your phone, don't check your email and stop going on Facebook for a while.

The fact of the matter is that our brains are on constant information overload. We're more connected than ever - which is great - until we're constantly bombarded with notifications, messages, tweets, emails, texts, news and more. Quite frankly it's a great way to cause anxiety because your brain never rests.

Twitter and Facebook aren't going away any time soon and eventually we'll just have to adapt, but until we learn to manage being constantly connected we can take some time to regroup and disconnect each day.

Try turning everything off for an hour a day, especially before bed or first thing in the morning. Let your body and brain prepare for what's to come. Believe me, it works wonders.

Reflect.

I've recently picked up the habit of journaling again. It was something I did growing up and I (unfortunately) completely lost the habit in college.

Since working toward my life coaching certification I've come to really love the act of journaling again. It's a wonderful way to unwind, release and really reflect on what's going on around you. It's a powerful tool that can really help you get grounded as you process everything around you.

Oh, and sometimes you'll completely blow your own mind as you look back and see what you've written in the past. That's always fun.

Make a self-care routine.

I've come to notice that if I don't keep up with my yoga routine then I get distracted and off-center very easily. This has become especially apparent in the last couple of weeks as I embark on a new romantic relationship, try to keep up with my busy work schedule as of late and attempt to take my life coaching classes.

What I've come to realize is this: the less I partake in my own self-care the more off balance I get. For me, self-care equals yoga, for you it could be something like painting or playing music. Whatever you do as your own form of self-care make sure not to put it on the back burner when life starts moving fast.

If you're not too sure where to start when it comes to self-care make sure to check out my friend Diana's The Guide to Living the Life You Were Meant to Live. Diana created this product as a supplement to her Unleash Your Sexy training packages which strive to help people get healthy and balanced. The guide itself has a podcast, a mediation, 3 work-outs under 30 minutes and a huge list of healthy snacks (which by the way are totally delish). The best part is it's completely free. Click here for more info.

" The greatest oak was once a tiny nut that held its ground." ~Unknown

Staying grounded amid the craziness that life brings is paramount if you want to stay centered and focused. Like I mentioned earlier, it's not only stress and anxiety that knocks you off balance, it can be great elation as well. That being said, making it a point to get grounded can significantly improve your standard of living, even if you feel like you are being tossed about.

For more tips on good living make sure to check out Zen Habits. Leo Babauta covers everything from minimalism to money in his amazing blog.

Image via Keith "Captain Photo" Cuddeback

I can't stress enough the importance of personal development. Sure, it has that whole stigma behind it, i.e. "self-help is cheesy", "self-help is for people who don't have it together", "self-help is for people who read stuff like 'The Rules'", "self-help is for single people" the list goes on and on and on.

I have a response to people who think that way: Do YOU have your life totally figured out? Do YOU have it together with relationships, career, health, personal finance and above all yourself? Do YOU go after what you want on a daily basis? Do YOU live a fulfilling life?

Chances are there's something you can work on, because here's some straight up truth for you: NO ONE has it all figured out. Not your mom, not your friends, not your favorite motivational speaker, and not your role models. Here's some more truth: EVERYONE is afraid of something.

That's not a bad thing though, after all, we're all human and no one is perfect. What's bad is when things get off kilter and you don't do something about it. Because you see, there's a difference between people who try to better their situation and those who scoff at such a thought: the former know that their lives are in their own hands, the latter simply accept defeat. So if you know there's some aspect in your life where you can improve, do your best to improve it.

Is it easy? No. In fact, true personal development takes a lot of work and commitment because it's a life long process. But think of it this way, you've got one life to live, wouldn't it be in your best interest to live it as fully as possible? Don't you want to have a great relationship with yourself? Don't you want to go after what you want in life? Don't you want to really live?

I know I do. And I know many of you do as well, or else you wouldn't read my blog. So here's your chance to start taking some action:

I'm giving away 12 free coaching sessions.

A part of my ICA coursework is to take on a couple of external clients. I decided all I could handle for time being was 3 clients, 2 of which found me pretty quickly. That means I have one spot left for 3 months of free coaching.

Here's what you will get for FREE:

A safe environment where we can discuss your fears, your goals and whatever is coming up for you.

The support system of having a coach to keep you accountable.

Action plans with tangible goals to help you reach your milestones.

3 months of free coaching valued at $840.00

Here's what my other clients have to say about coaching with me:

As a recent graduate, I had to decide what direction I wanted my life to go in. Having so many interests was proving to force my life into a standstill. During my weekly sessions with Amanda I have been able to make strides in my life plans. It is during our sessions that I have been able to fully analyze the nature of my future career paths.

- Melanie Gomez, 24, FIU '11

I loved working with Amanda! She's really personable, and knowledgeable about the things she's talking about.

Tatiana Christiana, 24, Hollins University '10

So how do I get in on the free coaching?

There are some easy ways to get in on the free coaching giveaway.

1. Sign up for the Life Coaching Email List. That way you can stay up to date on other free coaching giveaways, discounts, courses and snazzy free coaching stuff.

2. Make a 2 minute Youtube video describing who you are and why you need life coaching. Make sure to link Grad Meets World in the description and then simply post it either in the comments section or on the Grad Meets World Facebook Page. Get bonus points by sharing your stuff on Twitter and Facebook (i.e. "I'm trying to win free coaching from GradMeetsWorld via @amandaabella")

You must make a video in order to participate and the deadline is May 27, 2012.