Posts Tagged ‘work life balance’

InSpiriational Quote & Life Tip of the Day to help you live a life in balance!

 

Live fully
Create happiness
Imagine peace
Seek truth
Laugh often
Hope more
Inspire change!

From a wall poster !

Enjoy your glorious day dear friends and feel free to pass this on.

namaste

Zoey

This morning as I was getting dressed, I got hit by a star…literally!

I was pulling clothes out of my closet and a tiny, sparkly blue star fell on me.

It was one of those little stars that are put in gift bags and used as party favors. I guess it got caught on my clothes.

The falling star was a wonderful unexpected surprise and reminded me that life is a mysterious adventure and that my day can be sparkly!

I hope your day is sparkly too!

in peace & mindfulness

namaste

Zoey

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

Continuing with the story about women and the heart….

Some background;  for the past 20 years or so, I have been delving into what used to be called ‘New Age Spirituality’, and now I simply call it ‘my spirituality’.  My spirituality feels like a personal and unique blend of Christianity and Buddhism, with hints of other major religions thrown in with a lot of meditation and yoga.  I’ve read many self help, personal development, integral theory, and new age spirituality books.  As a working mom and professional woman, I did a mid-life career shift (after a couple of decades working as a Nutritionist ) and took professional training into life & leadership coaching, using a body centered, whole systems orientation.

About three years ago, my husband informed me that two ‘suspicious spots’ had been seen on his lung.  Not long after, I attended a seminar about critical illness insurance for the self-employed business woman and decided I needed to take out this type of insurance as I had a family history of both cancer and heart disease.  We were in a state of hopeful/hopeless anticipation of the results of his lung biopsy.  To add to the health concern, my husband had also developed pulmonary emboli also known as lung clots, in both lungs.

As one may imagine, I was very worried about my husband, about our family, about how I would support three daughters as a professional woman if my husband died.  My mind utilizes ‘worst case scenarioizing’ very well!  At the time I was 51 years old.

I was also going through menopause and was taking a compounded progesterone for the symptoms.

We had just returned from a sailing trip where we had ‘weathered’ a significant storm of over 40 km per hour winds and where our engine had almost failed, resulting in a very scary couple of hours on the water with an accompanying surge of adrenalin.

To re-cap, between us; we had money worries due to reduced income, health worries, significant additional stress, menopause, three daughters to support and help with college, possible lung cancer, a really bad scare, pulmonary emboli and a recently purchased critical illness policy.  I also found out later that I had undiagnosed ‘essential hypertension’ or high blood pressure. I had ‘gained a few pounds’ over the past years although I regularly exercised, was a non smoker and drinker and ate in a healthy way!  I looked pretty healthy for my age.

I engaged in daily meditation and walks and was reading a lot of Buddhist teachings about ‘keeping the heart open’ and  without actually being trained in the practice, using a breathing practice called tonglen , where you breathe in the pain of the world and breathe out clear healing love.

What happened was that I was ‘broken hearted’!  My heart literally broke!

On a Monday morning after a ‘power walk’ and coffee, I experienced shortness of breath and felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.  This heavy sensation wasn’t in any way painful, but it was uncomfortable.  I had a tiny bit of pain in my neck and right shoulder.  The ‘heavy’ sensation came and went about three times after which I googled ‘symptoms of a heart attack in women’.  I basically had all the symptoms and had my daughter drive me to the hospital half of me thinking that I was having a panic attack and in my mind, calling myself a ‘drama queen’ and the other half, the holistic health half saying ‘listen to your body and take this seriously’!  I’m very fortunate that I did listen to my inner wisdom and trust my body’s messages!

I was not having a panic attack, I had in fact had a ‘spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)’, where an flap of tissue from inside my heart artery tore off the wall of the heart and blocked the blood flow, resulting in a heart attack or MI.  I found out later that this type of heart attack is diagnosed in 70% of the cases upon autopsy and is not very common.  It happens more often in women and is associated with stress and changes in hormones and blood pressure. It has sometimes been called  ’Japanese Widows Syndrome’, as when a Japanese woman would suffer a heart attack  and die, just after her husband’s death!  In the hospital, my Cardiologist, Dr. Hamburger said that I had a ‘broken heart’, likely in some part caused by stress about my husband. If you google ‘SCAD’, you will find much more information

This may all sound very sad and upsetting and yes, it is and it was.  However, as a result of all of the above, our lives are better and we will live healthier and longer!  I can summarize the good results as:

- my ‘essential hypertension’ and ‘Syndrome X’ was diagnosed and I am now on appropriate medication.

- my husband was found to have a ‘clotting deficiency’ and likely would have died young from a heart attack but is now on the appropriate medication.

- as a result of thinking he had ‘lung cancer’ (he doesn’t) , my husband’s doctor reacted very quickly to my husband’s back pain (caused by the blood clots in his lung), which likely save his life.

- we both made further major healthy lifestyle changes.

- I received a significant critical illness claim which has helped tremendously with our daughters’ post secondary education!

- I have developed a very healthy respect for the power of spiritual practices and am daily reminded of what a beginner I am!

- I appreciate every day that I am alive and my family is well.

- I still chuckle that a former dietitian (moi)  would have a Cardiologist named Dr. Hamburger!

- I tell my story to help inform other women about heart disease, the symptoms of a heart attack in women and SACAD, so that any woman feeling ‘weird sensations’ (heaviness, difficulty catching your breath, tightness in chest, shortness of breath)  in her chest, will go immediately to the closest hospital emergency ward!  Please check with your local health authority for a complete list of heart attack symptoms in women.  In Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is a great resource!

- I practice meditation and yoga and have a wonderful life!  I’m not quite sure what to make about the financial windfall part of this, however, I believe the ‘law of attraction’ was at play!

My life lessons from this experience?

- trust your inner wisdom

- listen to your body messages

- we are more connected than we think

- the mind body connection is powerful!

- trust that even though sad things happen, there is a bigger stronger more powerful loving force at work!

- the law of attraction is powerful!

- women are wise

- sometimes bad things turn out to be good things

- pay attention to life work balance

- have fun, be joyful, love!

Please share this information with other women and be aware that heart disease and stroke are big health issues for women and take good care of your heart and your health!

 

in peace & mindfulness,

namaste,

Zoey

 

A beautiful thought for the day !

namaste

Gong Hey Fat Choy
LOVE
HEALTH
JOY
LUCK
WEALTH
WISDOM
HAPPINESS
PROSPERITY

From the ‘Peace Compassion Love’ Facebook Group

This Lunar New Year is the year of the dragon, also known as the water dragon.  The water elements cools the firery dragon and it is a time for family and community!

Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade is on Sunday, January 29th.

namaste,

Zoey

Nutritional Boosters to Help You Weather the Flu Season

Whether or not you decide to get the flu shot this year, it makes sense to protect your self and your family with a fine-tuned nutrition plan.  This is not the time for extra sugars and fast foods.

The immune system is a complex collection of tissues and cells that protect the body from allergens, bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms.  Skin and the membranes that line entrances to the body — nasal passages, eyes, and respiratory and digestive tracts — are the first line of defense, providing a physical barrier against invaders.    You can keep your skin healthy with a balanced diet and extra essential fatty acids.  Make sure you work up a sweat daily (from exercise and/or saunas) as it is a great detoxifier.  Shower with a natural soap and loofah brush to keep skin and circulation healthy.

Internally, specialized white blood cells fight antigens that make it past the skin: T-lymphocytes continuously patrol the body in search of antigens; B-lymphocytes manufacture antibodies, special blood proteins that neutralize or destroy germs; and neutrophils and macrophages scavenge antigens from the blood for delivery to the lymphatic system, which disposes of them.  To work smoothly, these cells depend on you keeping your body in top shape. Nutrients critical for the production and maintenance of key germ-fighting cells in the immune system.  A balanced diet has a strong effect on vascular function.  The immune system is dependent on blood flow.  The bloodstream is the route along which infection-fighting cells travel throughout the body to where they’re needed.

Vitamins and phytochemicals in colored fruits and vegetables are great at promoting immune function. These nutrients help ensure that lymphocytes can divide and reproduce properly in response to a virus and that the neutrophils and macrophages that engulf and kill invading bacteria can do their job. Eat five to nine servings of different colored organic, locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables per day..

Amino acids found in protein are the building blocks of all the body’s cells — including the cells that power your immune system. If your diet is low in protein, you won’t manufacture enough white blood cells to combat antigens.  Consume about a gram of protein per kilogram (kg) of your body weight.  Eat plant protein like lentils, peas and beans every day for at least one meal.  Keep animal protein choices to 100 gm portions of lean protein.  Add a protein shake for breakfast or before workouts if you are often on the run.

By Guest Blogger:

Victoria Pawlowski, R.D., R.C.C., M.Ed.

Counselling & Nutrition Therapy
info@victoriapawlowski.com
________________________

1.888.556.3663

Vancouver: 1000-355 Burrard Street
Nanaimo:  170 Wallace Street, 2nd floor
tele-counselling. skype. email counselling

Women Health Life:  Words of Wisdom Heart of Wisdom – Integrity

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.”
—Janis Joplin
We tend, through life, to be confronted with many ethical dilemmas where we need to draw on our personal codes and guiding principles.  These dilemmas may feel small or large, depending on the circumstance.  Part of “life coaching” is helping women develop clarity about their personal guiding principles and values.  I often suggest that clients ask themselves the following question; “can you live with yourself, with your integrity intact, if you make that decision”?

I found the following definitions of the word “integrity” to be very interesting (from: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/integrity)

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

Most folks I talk with are familiar with then first definition, however, it is the third definition that I find fascinating, especially if one applies this to people not cell membranes! In ancient traditions one often hears about each person’s aura or “egg” of energy.  In psychological and mind/body terms, one talks about “containment” and the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.

What if we placed the emphasis on first “getting whole” and then making decisions; would that automatically mean we make integral decisions?

Now I know this discussion may seem ‘airy fairy’ to some, yet, it is a serious question.  If we design a practice and actions so that we have a “felt experience” of being whole, complete and contained, with all parts of us, mind, body, spirit and emotions connecting and integrated, then, I would say, we can’t help but function with integrity.

In our Western culture, we are encouraged to primarily use our mind in making decisions.  What if we also asked “what would my heart say about this”, or ”how does gut feel” with that decision?

In previous postings about being a sage or wise woman, I have discussed a variety of qualities from wisdom to power, from courage to gentleness; with incorporating the word “integrity” we add in both meanings of the word and draw on the concept of wholeness or completeness as well as a personal code of ethics.

So, you see, being a wise woman with integrity may encompass so much more than just being true to oneself.  Janis Joplin has half the equation!   Imagine a world where we all make decisions with both our head and our hearts for the purposes of deeper connection!

Luscious ladies, play around with the following questions
“Self-care Enchantments”:

1. 1. When have you experienced a challenge to your personal code of ethics?  How did you respond?
2. 2. Do you or how do you experience a sense of wholeness or containment?
3. 3. This week, when making a decision, run it through your head, your heart and your gut and see if the process feels different.

In peace & mindfulness,

namaste,

Zoey

Sometimes just looking at a beautiful, relaxing image helps de-stress at the end of a busy day as a ‘working mother’.

Enjoy!

Namaste,

Zoey

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

Probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do as a working mother was leave my daughters when they were sick! I would dread cold and flu season and the balancing act required to maintain family health and life and work balance without guilt!

When sick, all my kids wanted to do was snuggle up with mommy but mommy often had additional priorities.

Here are 3 family health survival tips for maintaining work life balance for working women during cold & flu season.

1. Plan ahead: early in Fall stock up on healthy frozen meals and soups, cold & flu medications and remedies, herbal teas, hot packs and quiet time activities.

2. Know your work policies: check policies in advance regarding ‘leave’ to care for a family member. Good organizations either have paid family leave or are flexible about having employees use their own sick time to stay home with a sick little one.

3. Have a back up child care plan: put your plan in place before you need it! Confirm with your partner, grandparents, favorite relatives or trusted friends that they can provide additional help and support if either you or your child is ill.

In peace, health and mindfulness,

Zoey

Life & Leadership Coach for Working Women

Happy Diwali, October 26, 2011

Diwali, or ‘festival of lights’ is celebrated by many people around the world, particularly in South Asia and signifies, among other things, the triumph of good over evil.

It is customary to light candles and share sweets and snacks with family and friends to celebrate Diwali. Enjoy some special time today with your family and friends.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

In peace, light & mindfulness,

Zoey