Are You Ready to Receive Your Blessings?

Are You Ready to Receive Your Blessings?

by Gladys Diaz

hands_receiving_bing

November is one of my favorite months of the year because it seems as if most of us are more present to the blessings we have in our lives. The more present we are to our blessings, the more gratitude we feel, the more we begin to see more of what we want in our lives. It’s pretty amazing the way that happens!

If you’re reading this, it’s likely that there is one thing in particular you desire to have more of in your life: LOVE!

Love is one of our purest and deepest desires because you are a loving being. You were made of love, to love, and for love. It’s simply who you are!

During the month of November, Michelle and I have partnered up with some amazing women who are just as committed as we are to guiding you to get more of what you want in your life! And, because we are all about you creating and experiencing the life and love your heart desires, we’re not keeping it only to attracting more romantic love into your life.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing opportunities for you to participate in both live and virtual events that will enable you to:

  • Access more of what you want through practicing gratitude on a daily basis
  • Manifest more abundance and success in all of the areas of your life
  • Create harmony between your professional, personal, and family life
  • End 2014 powerfully so that you can move into 2015 with grace, ease, and equipped to fulfill the desires of your heart

 

And, of course, we’ll continue to provide you with the tools, skills, and solutions that guide you toward creating the extraordinary life and love you desire and deserve!

 

Now, we intend to give to our hearts’ content, and we want you to prepare yourself to receive.

We realize that may sound strange, but the truth is that receiving – particularly when you are being given more than you feel you desire or deserve – can sometimes feel uncomfortable.

Rather than receiving the blessings coming to us, we tend to block or push them away out of guilt, fear, or habit.

That’s why it’s important to prepare yourself and your heart to receive!

Here are a few steps to help prepare yourself to receive all of the gifts, information, and invitations we will be sharing with you, along with the other blessings that are coming your way!

  1. Remember that you are worthy of every gift, offer of assistance, compliment, and smile you receive. You are a beautiful loving being, and, because of that, you attract beauty and love. So, if you begin to feel overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or “weird” when you are begin given gifts of any kind, simply tell yourself: I am a beautiful, loving being, and I am worthy of all of the beauty and love I am attracting and receiving in my life!

 

  1. Remember that there are no strings attached to the gifts, offers, compliments, or smiles you receive. Part of what makes receiving difficult is that we somehow feel like we’ll owe the other person something of equal or greater value in return. That kind of thinking is associated with a feeling of unworthiness and keeps us from receiving what others freely want to give us. So, if you begin to feel those strings getting attached, cut them immediately by repeating the affirmation above, and add: I openly and willingly receive the loving gifts and gestures others freely give me.

 

  1. Remember to be grateful for everything! Whether you’re in a space right now where you feel like you don’t have enough of what you want or need, or you are relishing in a feeling of abundance, gratitude is the doorway to experiencing more happiness, peace, love, and everything else your heart desires. So, make it a practice to take just a few minutes each day to just take inventory of the blessings in your life and express gratitude for at least 5 things every day. You can write them down, or simply say them aloud or to yourself. However you choose to express it, just take a few moments at the beginning and end of each day to say, “I am grateful for…”

 

  1. Bonus: Remember to be grateful in anticipation of receiving what you want! One of my favorite practices of all time is expressing gratitude in anticipation of receiving what I want. After expressing thanks for the blessings that already surround me, I begin to express thanks for the blessings that are making their way to me. So, if you want to meet the man of your dreams, already give thanks for the fact that he is making his way to you. If you are married or in a relationship, express thanks for the love that is growing between the two of you and for all of the beautiful memories you will create together. If there is something you desire for your family, career, or business, give thanks in advance for those blessings that are being manifested. And, as you do this, allow yourself to actually feel and experience the love, happiness, freedom and peace in anticipation of receiving the blessing. I promise you, this will be life-changing!

 

If you practice these steps, you will begin to experience the joy of receiving. And, in doing so, you also give the people who are giving to you the joy of having their gift received and appreciated! It creates a beautiful cycle of giving, receiving, and appreciation that keeps growing and multiplying the blessings!

So, take a deep breath…

Open your heart…

And receive the love and blessings that are coming your way!

 give_heart_bing And, just because we love surprising you with gifts, here’s a sneak peek into the events you can take part in over the next few weeks!


  • Redefining Womanhood Series (Launches November 10, 2014): Discover 21 Creative Solutions for paving your own path to success in work, marriage, and parenting from top female leaders who are paving the way and redefining what it means to be “A Successful Woman” in today’s world! Click here to reserve your spot!

 

 

  • 10 Days of Gratitude Video Series (Launches November 20, 2014): Join Mia Saenz as she hosts 10 inspirational interviews all focused on the incredible power that gratitude has on our lives! (Registration link coming soon!)

 

Remember: Give thanks… Believe… Receive!

 

Questions? Comments? Let us know below! We love hearing from you!

 

A POWER-FULL Conversation About Relationships!

A POWER-FULL Conversation About Relationships!

by Gladys Diaz

 

The other day, Michelle and I had a very powerful interview with Bill Weil for his “Conscious Couples Conversation” program.  

In this interview, we dove deep and talking about some of the most common questions we get asked when it comes to relationships, including:

  • The higher purpose of relationships
  • The difference between how men and women define and experience love and respect
  • The natural power women have to create and transform relationships
  • The most common mistakes women make in relationships
  • The essential ingredients for having a loving, intimate relationships
  • The 3 R’s for keeping the love alive in your relationship
  • How to have win-win arguments

And a lot more, including:

  • An interesting story about the “twin connection” Michelle and I share
  • How Michelle and I work together to coach women
  • A beautiful excerpt from Michelle and Arnie’s wedding vows (so moving!)

Whether you are single or in a relationship, you will walk away from listening to this interview with a HUGE amount of information and inspiration for creating a loving, intimate, relationship!

Click the image below to listen to this POWER-FULL conversation! 

Conscious Couples Conversations Interview_snapshot

Comment? Question about the interview?  Let us know below!  We love hearing from you!

How to Not to Lose Yourself or Your Dreams

How to Not to Lose Yourself or Your Dreams

by Gladys Diaz

Who-Am-I-2_bing

The other day, I was watching one of my favorite TV shows with my family and they were featuring a mother in her 40s who was almost 200 pounds overweight. She was beside herself with sadness and self-loathing because she said she had given up her dreams and could not believe how much she had let herself go after having been an athlete and gymnast in her youth.

Her reason for having gotten to this point?

Being a mom.

She shared how she had gotten pregnant in college and thrown herself into being “the perfect mom” and pastor’s wife. She described how she had put so much focus on being there for her kids that she’s lost herself and forgotten who she was.

I’d like to say this is an isolated incident, but it’s not.

One of the most common fears women share with us is that they are afraid of losing themselves in a relationship.

I work with women all over the world who are trying to prove that they are Superwoman or Supermom, doing everything, working themselves to the point of exhaustion, and ignoring their own needs so that they can please and impress others.

And this isn’t an issue that only affects mothers and wives. I also see women who are single and are throwing themselves into and losing themselves in their careers, giving all of themselves, their time and attention to their bosses and companies and leaving very little time or attention for having fun, dating, and just taking care of themselves.

Unfortunately, all of these women have forgotten that the MOST important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself!

If you don’t take the time to care for yourself by making time to relax, laugh, play, nurture your mind, body, and spirit, you literally have nothing left to give – to yourself or anyone else!

Giving to the point of feeling depleted, mentally and physically exhausted –and many times resentful, because you feel you’re giving, giving, and giving without getting very much in return – not only leaves you unable to have the energy, patience, and enthusiasm to date or create a loving relationship, but also teaches people how to treat you. So it’s unfair to resent the boss who keeps adding things on your plate with no recognition or additional compensation, the PTA President who knows she can call you the night before to do a task that would take anyone else weeks, or your husband who is not helping you around the house or with the kids.

When you don’t take time to make time for yourself, don’t expect others to go out of their way to do that for you, either!

It’s essential that you do something for yourself daily. Whether it’s read a book, talk on the phone with a girlfriend, take that class you’ve been saying you want to take forever, or just sit and do nothing (one of my favorites!).

When you make your needs, dreams, and self-care a priority, you are letting yourself – and the rest of the world know – that you value yourself, believe in your dreams, and know that there isn’t a need to “sacrifice” what you love and makes you happy in order to be a great woman, partner, or mother.

You’ll also find that when you make yourself a priority, all of those people who you love and are trying to make happy will rally around you, be your biggest supporters, and help make sure you have time for yourself and to make your dreams come true!

As we were watching the show, my older son said, “Wow… She had to give up her dreams so she could take care of her kids? “

I responded, “No, she didn’t have to give up her dreams. She chose to. We get to create our lives and make our dreams come true. A woman can be a great mother, have a happy relationship, and still follow her dreams.”

His response?

“Oh, yeah, Mama. Like how you take care of us and you’re also helping your clients and building your dreams for Heart’s Desire!”

My response?

Exactly!”

 

Comments?  Questions?  Let us know below!  We love hearing from you!

Three Mistakes That Can Cost You Intimacy (and how to fix them)

Three Mistakes That Can Cost You Intimacy (and how to fix them)

by Gladys Diaz

couple sitting on couch upset_FDP_ID-10044279 (1)

Yesterday was my husband’s birthday, and, at our house, I love making a big deal when it’s someone’s birthday by celebrating “Birthday Week.”  During this week, the person gets to choose what we watch on TV, what we eat for dinner, and, basically is made to feel special all week long by everyone else in the house!

Well, Sunday night, I almost ruined Birthday Sunday for my husband.  The boys had misplaced the remote control for the TV (again) and were arguing about it in the playroom.  It was already late and past their bedtime, so my honey and I were ready for our “alone time,” so we could watch our shows and relax together.

When I saw that my husband was getting upset at the boys for arguing, I jumped in to “help.”

(Mistake #1 – Offering Unsolicited Help: Stepping in “to help” without there being a need or a request for it. This sends the message that you feel he is incapable of resolving the issue on his own. Instead, trust in your partner’s capability to resolve the situation himself.  If he needs help, he’ll ask for it. By the way.. he probably won’t.).

The truth is that there really wasn’t any reason for me to jump in to “help.” My husband had the situation handled.  I jumped in because didn’t want him to be upset with the boys (especially on Birthday Weekend) and I just wanted the arguing to stop.  Now, even though these might be “good reasons” for stepping in, had I stayed on the couch and allowed him to handle things, it probably would have been resolved right away.

Instead, I jumped in and noticed that, the more I tried to “help,” the more angry he was getting.  At first I thought he was angry with the kids, but, in retrospect, I can see that he must have felt like I didn’t trust him to handle the situation.

I did an exercise I do with the kids that helps them to remember where they last saw and held something, and, the remote was found!

(Victory #1 – Resolving the problem.  This was short-lived, however, because of Mistake #2!)

Now, if I’d just left it at that, everyone would have felt happy, relieved, and the situation may have been over. However, for some reason, I simply had to make sure that I emphasized (rather loudly) that this is what you should do when you can’t find something.

(Mistake #2 – Proving I’m Right and You’re Wrong: This is an ego-driven need to prove the other person wrong. While there may be a sense of “victory” in having been “right,” essentially, there is no “winner” in this situation because your partner is left feeling as if he’s wrong or in some way “lesser than” you.)

Then, to prove my point further, as my husband was talking to the boys about them being responsible so that they don’t lose things, I butted in again to mentioned that things in the house don’t get “lost”; they simply get “misplaced.”

(Mistake #3 – Wanting to be “Right” AGAIN: This adds salt to the already-tender wound.  By correcting or contradicting your partner, you once again disrespect him by pointing out how “right” you are.  There is no demonstration of support or encouragement for your partner, which can leave him feeling upset and alone).

Well, that did it.

My husband yelled, “Okay, things in the house don’t get ‘lost,’ they are ‘misplaced!  Is that better?’”

Now he was in an official funk…and so was I.

I was upset at myself for getting involved, sending the message that he couldn’t handle a simple situation, and that I was the one with the “right” solution.  I saw how disrespectful and condescending I’d been.  I was ashamed and angry with myself, especially since that’s not the way I am committed to treating my husband.

I wish I could say that I immediately apologized and that we were soon in a snuggly, blissful space, but that wouldn’t be true.  It took me a while to get to the point that I could forgive myself enough to apologize to him.  I made a first attempt to apologize, but I have to admit that it wasn’t very sincere.  It came from a place of trying to “fix” things.  I think he could tell, because he remained cold.

A little while later, I noticed it was past midnight (we always try to be the first to wish the other a Happy Birthday). I moved closer to him on the couch, looked him in the eye, and said, “I’m sorry I disrespected you, and I know you’re upset. I just want to say ‘Happy Birthday.’”   

He leaned forward, we kissed, and I snuggled up next to him and said a prayer of thanks. (smile)

In the past, I wouldn’t have apologized. I would have made it seem like it was not such a big deal and then made him wrong (again) for not forgiving me right away.  Now, even when it’s hard, I choose to apologize – because that’s something I can be responsible for – and give him space to work through his own feelings.

(Victory #2: Sincerely Apologizing.  It’s not always easy to admit when you’re wrong. However, if you can put aside your pride and realize that what’s more important than being right, staying angry, or pretending like nothing happened is restoring the intimacy in the relationship, then you also recognize that it’s really a small price to pay.  And now you’ve got a win-win situation going!)

 

Having a loving and intimate relationship isn’t about perfection. You may not always say or do the right things.

So what can you when you’ve made a mistake that impacts the closeness and connection in your relationship?

You can continue to focus on becoming your best self.

You can forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness along the way for those times when you don’t reflect the best side of yourself.

And you can recommit to restoring intimacy in your relationship.

In doing all of these things you can be confident that you are on the path to creating the happy, loving, intimate relationships your heart truly desires.

 

Questions? Comments? Let us know below!  We love hearing from you!

 

 Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How to Break Through Life’s Scary Moments

How to Break Through Life’s Scary Moments

by Gladys Diaz

worried woman

This weekend, I did one of the scariest things I’ve ever done in my life, and I learned a lot about myself!

As many of you know, my older son has Asperger’s Syndrome – a mild form of autism. Recently, we told him about his diagnosis and we have taken on really empowering him to try new things, stretch outside of his comfort zone, and have confidence in himself.

Well, as they say: Be careful what you wish for!

This Saturday, I woke up at 4:30am to drop my son off at the church where his Boy Scouts troop was leaving for a full week of sleep-away summer camp!

I can’t tell you how incredibly nervous, unsure of myself, and terrified I was. This was the first time he’d be away from us for more than 48 hours – and in a completely different state!

I wish I could say that I was the picture of grace and ease.

I wasn’t.

As much as I tried, I simply could not hold back the tears. My baby was going far away and I would not be there if he got hurt, scared, or did not know how to do something. I had to trust that he would be able to communicate to those around him when he needed help. I had to believe that he would be able to problem solve and help himself.

I felt completely helpless and afraid. And it was written all over my face (in big, shiny tears)!

Thankfully, there are other mothers in the troop who have been through this and they gave me their phone numbers, have been reaching out, texting and emailing me to see how I’m doing.

Now, as a relationship coach, I’m usually the one who is helping and supporting other women through their own fears, pain, and insecurity. When it was my turn to be on the receiving end of that type of love and concern, and I have to admit that it wasn’t very comfortable for me!

I noticed how I was trying to play it cool at first, not completely open to receiving their genuine concern and affection. It made me feel so vulnerable to let them see how afraid I really was.

I also noticed how I kept thinking it was “worse” for me, because my son has special needs. I didn’t think they could understand what I was going through because they hadn’t been through my experience. How could they possibly know what it was like?

Then there was a moment where I stopped and thought about you – the women who trust me to guide you from some of the most heartbreaking and frightening moments of your lives to a place of hope and happiness.

I thought about how you open your heart in such a beautifully vulnerable way, sharing it with me and allowing me to see into the deepest parts of it because you trust that together we can find a way to the other side.

Realizing this gave me courage to allow these women who I don’t really know very well, but who I see want to offer comfort and reassurance, to be there for me. I’m allowing myself to be guided and taken care of, and to learn from their experiences. I’m still afraid and unsure, but I’m trusting, receiving, and releasing control and it feels great!

The best part is knowing that I’m not in this alone!

So, what about you?

Are you ready to open your heart and allow someone to help you break through your own fears, pain, and doubt?

Are you ready to talk to someone who’s been where you are and can show you how to get to the other side, where extraordinary love is already waiting for you?

If you are, go ahead and click here to schedule a Ready to Love Session. During this call, we’ll look to see where you are currently in your love life, what is standing in your way of having the love you want, and how to get to the other side of it so that you can experience the love and life your heart desires!

Remember: You’re not in this alone. There is hope. And I’m here to help!

Schedule your Ready to Love Session now!

Questions? Comments?  Let us know below!  We love hearing from you!

Are You Avoiding Difficult Conversations in Your Relationship?

Are You Avoiding Difficult Conversations in Your Relationship?

by Gladys Diaz

woman covering her mouth_FDP_ID-100108876

Last week, my husband and I had a conversation we’d been avoiding for years.  It was something we knew we had to do.  We’d talked about having the conversation, mentioned it to others, and, still, months and years went by without us having it.  Why?

We were afraid of what it would mean – for us and for our family.

The conversation I’m referring to wasn’t a conversation we needed to have with one another.  It was the conversation to let our older son know that he has Asperger’s Syndrome – a mild form of Autism.

We found out that our son had Autism during the summer before he begin first grade.  The truth, however, is that I’d had my suspicions since the time that he was about 2 years old.  There were signs that he wasn’t connecting with others, he had obsessive patterns of behavior, and changes in his schedule were very difficult for him to handle.

I even had a “secret” folder on my computer where I had been gathering research about Asperger’s Syndrome.  No one knew about my suspicions, except me.  For years, I carried this feeling with me, but was too afraid of what it might mean if my suspicions were confirmed.

The decision to not tell my son about his diagnosis was one that my husband and I made together.  We went back and forth about the pros and cons of letting him know, considered what it would mean to him, how he might react.  We were afraid of saying something that might set him off, make him feel like there was something “wrong” with him, or that he might use his diagnosis as an excuse, rather than the reason for trying harder.  At the same time, we wondered if not telling him would cause just as many issues for him, with him never knowing why he felt and was sometimes treated as if he were “different.”

I can’t tell you how many times I envisioned us having this conversation with him. In each scenario, I would hear my son asking a million questions (something he does anyway), questioning who he is, why there was something “wrong” with him, how it could be cured (there is no cure for autism), and why this had to happen to him.  I pictured him crying, storming out of the room, or throwing a tantrum.

The fear of what I imagined his reaction would be is one of the things that kept me delaying having the conversation.  I couldn’t imagine having to have to comfort my son, answer questions I didn’t have the answers to, and explain something that, quite honestly, I understand very little about myself.

We finally decided to stop avoiding having the conversation. He’s about to go to middle school, and we want him to be able to speak up for himself if he needs help.  We planned what we would tell him and decided to keep it as simple as possible, allowing him to ask questions if he wanted more information.

Last week, we sent our little one upstairs and let him know we needed to talk with him.  I was sweating, cold, and trying not to cry, all at the same time.  I looked at my husband.  We gave each other the look that said, “We’re in this together,” and we told him in the most simple and matter-of-fact way about his diagnosis, what it meant, what it didn’t  mean, and why it was important that he know about it now that he’s getting older.

He asked us some questions like, “Is this why I feel left out a lot of the time?” (that was a hard one to hear), “Is this why I’m really good at math?” (an easier one to hear), “Is this why I have trouble with my short-term memory?”

Then he asked me if I had Asperger’s, too.  I told him I didn’t but that dad had learned that he might have it, and that seemed to make him feel better.  Then, out of nowhere, he asked if Albert Einstein had Asperger’s.  I smiled and said that, a matter of fact, doctors now believe that he did (this made him feel a lot better).

When we asked him how he felt about knowing that he had Asperger’s Syndrome, he said, something I had never imagined in any of my worst-case-scenarios.

He said smiled and said, “It feels good knowing that there is something unique about me!”

In that moment, all of my imagined fears fell away. All of the doubts I’d had about whether or not telling him was a good idea, disappeared.  And I had to smile to hide back the tears.

I spent years ignoring the fact that I suspected my son had Asperger’s because I was afraid of what others would say and how they’d treat him.  I was afraid of what it might mean for him and his life.  But avoiding the issue didn’t make the Asperger’s go away.

I spent years avoiding telling my son about his diagnosis because I was afraid of how he might react, that it might be “devastating” for him, and that I wouldn’t know how to help him through understanding and dealing with it.  But, eventually, we had to have the conversation, anyway.

I spent years carrying all of that unnecessary fear, emotional stress, and useless worrying.

And, in the end, he just felt special!

 

So, how does this relate to you and your relationship?

 

Is there something in your relationship that you’re not dealing with?

Are there signs that the intimacy in your relationship is fading?

Are you arguing more than you need to?

Are you not connecting the way that you used to?

Are you pretending that the problems aren’t there?

 

Is there a conversation you’ve been avoiding having?

Are you afraid of what he might say or not say?

Are you imagining a worst-case scenario in your head that is keeping you from having a discussion that might actually help turn things around?

 

Pretending that the problems are not there doesn’t mean the problems aren’t there, nor is it helping to solve them.

Avoiding having the conversation because you are afraid of how he might react or what might happen as a result isn’t solving anything either.  It’s just delaying the inevitable, and could actually be making things worse because of your unwillingness to deal with reality.

 

I know it’s going to take courage to see what you may have been unwilling to see and to say what you’ve been afraid to say.

Consider that what you are imagining may be ten times worse than what actually ends up happening.

And consider that having the courage to confront reality and deal with what there is to deal with now may save you years of dealing with unnecessary worry, fear, and heartache.

If you need support with having a difficult conversation, contact us.

We can help you gather your thoughts and communicate them in a way that will help you say what needs to be said and empower you to begin turning things around in your relationship.

You don’t have to avoid things or pretend any longer, and you don’t have to face it alone!

 

Questions? Comments?  Let us know below, we love hearing from you!

 

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net