Bliss Issue Final

8/2/2019 Bliss Issue Final

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Lee mInspirational Lisa

Editor-in-Cief

Lisa

Dear inspirational women heres to the start o your BLISSFUL LIFE...our rst issue o2012, the Bliss Issue.

From this year going orward I have decided that every single day, I am going to leave a posi-

tive mark on every woman that I have access to, a mark that cannot be erased and a mark thatwill better her.

Inspirational Woman Magazine is the only magazine in the world that promotes and stands or

unity amongst women. We are a global online publication, appearing bi-monthly, with readers

and contributors rom all over the world. We specialize in three areas: unity amongst women,

womens personal development, and proles o inspirational women. Our magazine is targeted

at women who want to make, and who are making, an impact on the world: women who do not

see national borders as barriers and who want to reach out to all to create worldwide impact andinfuence; women whose aim is to build a global brand; aspiring and achieving women between

24 and 50 years old rom all backgrounds worldwide.

Women who are looking or or undergoing transormation, and need and appreciate positivity

and inspiration. Women who want to better themselves and others around them. Women who

love to help other women and want to see relationships amongst women grow stronger. Women

who, despite their possible dierences, want to complete each other, rather than compete with

each other. Women who stand or unity amongst women.

In this issue we inspire you to ollow your bliss! It is the start o a new year, and also the start o

a new lie or youi you want it, i youre determined and dedicated. Change is never easy butthe choice to change or not is up to you.

I will also take this opportunity to invite you to write to me about any article(s) which have

inspired you in any way. We would love to eature them in our next issue with a picture o you

alongside.

I really hope that whenever you are inspired, you share that inspiration with other women. Even

i only one woman responds - GUESS WHAT? - you have made a dierence in her lie and

have played YOUR PART in positively impacting women.

I will leave you with this quote: Desire to leave footsteps for others to follow, written by me(Lisa Mundembe-Chuma).

Inspiring you,


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08Bliss for Beginner

18How to Know YouBliss - Top 5 Tips

24The Truth Aboutthe Place of Bliss

52Choosing Bliss

54Embracing YourBliss Spot

59I Followed MyBliss

62Dancing With

Bliss!

65Visualizing YourWay to Bliss

72Bliss and YourMenstrual Cycle

80Finding Bliss in thOcean

82Follow Your Bliss

A Journey Into thSoul

Interview12 Sweeta Noori

Cover20 Menaye Donkors24 Hours of BlissFashion & Culture

28 Travel Recommendations34 Bliss Retreat Suggestions

46 Book Review48 Fun Fashion

Finance56 Does Money Give You Bliss?

Better Yourself66 R-O-O-T-S to F-R-U-I-T-S IISpecial Feature

74 South Africa EmbraceFoundation

Blississue


4/884 INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN MAGAZINE

Meet theEditors

Lisa Mundembe-ChumaEditor-in-ChiE

Lsa s a saal Seake Scls e UK a e ue (E---Ce) isaal Wma Magaze. Lsa s kee make a s-ve mac e wl a see wme cme gee u wlwe.he ese s wme ealse a e ae ve ma e wwa, wc makes us all uque. i we acce a, we ca becme a s-ge cmmu because we wll ave ee gs e. Lsa s veassae abu beg a sve uece a makg a sve mac eles lves. Se as mae e essbl bee wmes ela-ss b em elg eac e, sag gee, sug eace a ecuagg em cmlee eac e ae a cmee.he fs bk, c-we w rue Clls, A Me da Sse(ublse b isaal Wma Magaze) wll be lauce 2012.

Ruthie CollinsdEpUty Editor-in-ChiE

rue s deu E isaal Wma Magaze a wes emsm a me wme, cema culue, avel a lesle.Se als wks as a busess cac a avs ceave aces,elg ceave eas ge e ae a evelme e eseve. Ses ceave ec e Cambge A Sal. www.cambgeasalg.uk.Wul u lke lea w we? rue s ug a (Beges) Wm-es Wg Cuse Cambge, UK, Al 2012. Lea e bascs le-sle jualsm a ceave wg a uug, bu sucue ev-

me w lkeme wme. Ceck www.eceavesal.c.uk.


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January/February 2012 5

Heather Nomi TshumaAShion Editor

heaes sual a cmassae esal ves e a sese essbl was e wl a makg a bee lace. Alms weas ag se bug le e eam, a ceae w e el ese eelg huma Assca Geece (c-ue w e yveBsjak). heaes melg as allwe e bg awaeess a us ma scal a mecal ssues as well as gazas ug a sees culual a as eves. Se ecel mve m Aes Geece aw lves e UK wee ses wkg vaus jecs bu als la-g e guwk eelg humas UK bu. We ses ugau se flls e me w e gea ass ga, exessge w ceav ug e les. The most beautiful things in the worldcannot be seen or touched ...but are felt in the heart. (hele Kelle)

Claire McGonigalproorEAdEr & Copy Editor

Clae s Bs a base Zc. Se s a wkg me w aug-

es, a exeece eae a c e. Se s e ewes mem-be e eam a s exce be a e magaze. yu ma llw e twe @claemcggal.

Laura MessengerLAyoUt Editor And proorEAdEr

A we a eseace gall m e US, Laua as lve GeevaSwzela sce 2001 a sls e me bewee Geeva a e mu-

as aces haue Save. i a e wk w isaaWma, se as we asecs le aba JeSeles a hellSwzela magazes. he eess clue avel a ace. Laua twe @lauaeexa a Lkei.


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Unity Photoshoots - Update

Inspirational Woman Magazine and Feeling Human are organising unity photoshoots throughout the UK, these photos

will be seen in our anniversary issue which will be out on the 8th March 2012 (International Womens Day) and at our

book launch in September 2012.

We are starting the road trips in September 2011. If you want to be involved in any way, feel free to contact us:

[email protected].


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HereareaewothethingsIlearned:

Pick up the pennies. Imag-ineyourewalkinghurriedlydownastreetonyourwaytoanimportantmeeting,withyour head ull oworries and a heavy bagonyourshoulder.Withyoureyesdowncast,younoticeapennyonthesidewalkinrontoyou.Wouldyoupickitup?IyourelikeIwas,theanswerwoulddenitelybeno.Inthatstate,itwouldtakeadollarormoretostopme.Likewise,inourdailylives,wetendtopassuplittleopportunitiesorjoyinthehurryothemoment.Wemayputoenjoyinglieuntilwecanhaveavaca-tion,reachagoalorjusthavesometime.Ten,outopractice,wemayactuallyndlessenjoymentthanweanticipated.Yet,iwesimplyacknowledgeandenjoythebeau-tiul,unny,orheart-warmingmomentsolie,thosepenniesopleasureintheblissbankcanquicklyadduptoahappylie.

HerearesomeothepenniesIvepickeduplately(enjoythemvicariouslywithme!):askyouchsia-tingedcloudsatsunset(whileputting groceries in the car on the way home tomake dinner),glowingbladesosunlitgrass

(while mowing the lawn),mysoncomortinghissister(while I washed dishes),thesmelloclean laundry (while olding that laundry),thesensationowarmwaterpouringoverme(while taking a shower),nestlingintomybedandintomyhusbandatnight.Writ-ingdownorkeepingatallyothepleasurepenniesthatyouenjoythroughoutyourdayistremendouslyhelpuliyourblissbankisempty, as mine was. Howmany pleasurepenniescanyoupickuptoday?

Be in the moment, andseize it!MyatherhasadvancedAl-zheimers.Hecannolongerretrievementaldetailsabouthispastlie,hisvechildren,orevenwhathappenedearlierintheday.Helivesalmostentirelyinthemoment.Whatheseesbeorehimullyoccupieshismindand inorms his reality. And because he

madeahabitohappinessthroughouthilie,whatheseesineachmomentcanbringhimjoy.Heseesapieceoartandappreciatesitthoroughly,asiorthersttimeHehearsmusicandexclaimsatitsbeautyHeseesariendandrepeatsagainandagainhowgooditistobetogether.

Unlikemydad,Ivehadtolearntobeinthemoment.Oten,inthemidstodoingonething,Imalreadythinkingaboutthenextthing,orworryingaboutnextmonth,orlastweek.Momentsthatcouldbeullojoyarerequentlyunrealizedbecausemythoughtorheart are elsewhere.Choosing tobeinthemomenttoullyappreciatewhoandwhatisaroundmeinvitesmetoseizethemomentandenjoyitorcreatejoyinit.Iopensthedoorstobliss.I,too,canexclaimTis is wonderul! It is good to be to-gether!,andHowbeautiul!whenImaketheeorttobeinthemoment,andseizeit. Some blissul moments I might havemissedlatelyinclude:rockingandsingingmysontosleep,skippingandholdinghandswithmydaughteraterpickingherupromschool,pointingoutabeautiultreetomychildrenaswedroveby,laughingwithmyhusbandaswetalkedoverdinner.Whatareyougrateulorinthismoment?Howcanyoucreatejoyrighthere,rightnow?

Simplify your expecta-tions, because less ismore.Asabeginneratbliss,Idiscov-eredthatIhadtoletgoosomethings,aswellasseizingothers.Oneothemainrea-sonsmyshouldersdrooped,myeyesdulledand the corners omymouthwere heavy

wasmyexpectationsomysel andothersTeweightowhatIthoughtIshoulddowas so overwhelming,I had no energy todoit,muchlesstohavejoyinit.Learningtoeliminatethewordshouldrommyvocabulary,andwithittheunrealisticexpec-tationsomyselandothers,lightenedmyloadimmeasurably.Now,insteadoamilelonglistothingsIshoulddo,Ihaveashort

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huy f h

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BBeginners


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listothingsthataremostimportanttome(andtotheLord,asIinvolveHiminmydailydecisions).Myexpectationsomyselaresimplied,andthatshorterlistmeansIhavemoreenergytodowhatisimportantandtotakejoyindoingit.Lessequalsmore.Along with should, Ive banned beingbusy.ItherearemanyimportantthingsthatIwanttoaccomplish,mylieisull,notbusy.Inaulllie,thereisjoyinthework.TatiswhatIwant.

Bysimpliyingmyexpectationsandchoos-ingmyworkbasedonwhatisimportantandvaluable tome, I have re-learned to enjoythingslike:takingtimetocareormysel,slowingdownandtakingthingsatmychil-drenspace,connectingwithriends,makinghealthydinnersormyamily,andspendingtimewithmyhusband.Canyourelinquishthe burden o should and reach out orwhatismostimportantinlieinstead?

Bliss is a choice, and astate of mind. TegreatEnglishpoetJohnMiltonwrote,Te mind is its ownplace, and in itsel, can make a heaven o hell,a hell o heaven.Itistheworkingsoourmindthatdeterminewhetherwearebliss-ully content ordeeplydepressed, not ourenvironment. In order to re-learn to behappy, I had to train mymind to choosehappiness.ActivelydoingthethreethingsImentionedabovewereessential.Inaddi-tion,Ihadtochoosetodismissthenegativethoughts that requently arose, or rerametheminapositiveway.Ittookalotoworkandconsciouschoicetotrainmymindtoholdontohappinessandshununhappiness.

Instudyinghowtodothis,Ilearnedthatas

Julia Bernardsbackground is in Family Life, both in education and experience.

Writing about family life to share inspiration and ideas with other women is one of

her primary passions.

wethink,eel,andexperiencetheworld,wecreatepathways inourbrain.Aswedweloncertainthoughts,eelingsandexperienc-es,theirattendantpathwaysarereinorced,andourmindbeginstogodownthosepathsnaturally,almostoitsownaccord.

WhenIchosetoocusonthepositive,hap-pinesscreptbackintomylie,andasIem-braceditmoreandmore,mystateomindbegan to change. Bliss became a way olie, andaway inwhichIexperiencedtheworld.Now,Iseemuchtobegrateulorinmanythingsthatonceseemedonlyover-whelming: housework, nancial responsi-bilitiesand challenges, caring orour ac-tivechildren,andevenattendingtomysonsmedicalneeds.Whatchangestoyourmindwouldbringyoubliss?

Be grateful.Ieellikethisalmostgoeswithoutsaying.Gratitudeisthegreakeytohappiness.Itistheoilinthegearsolie.Yet,whendicultiescomethickandast, it is easy tobe blinded to themanyblessings wehave.Gratitude ispart o altheotherourlessonsthatIlearnedaboutbeing happy. A grateul heart is humbleenoughtopickupthepenniesopleasuresensitiveenoughtoappreciatethemomentwiseenoughtodierentiatebetweenwhatisimportantandwhatisnot,andpoweruenoughtoalterthepathwaysothemind.I cant even begin to name themultitudeothingsIamgrateuloreachday.Isyourheartullogratitude?Ihopeso!

Begin to bring bliss into your lie todayPickalessonyoucanlearnrom,andgetto

work!

i fu

f, h

jy h

k.



Interview

SweetaNooriinterview

SweetaNooriwasborninKabul,Aghani-stanin1973.Hermother,anaccomplishedmedicaldoctorandproessor,andherather,apolicegeneralintheAghanarmy,alwayshighlyencouragededucationandsupportedherpursuitoacareerinmedicine.In1992,Sweetawasorcedtohalthermedicalstud-ies under themujahidins restrictive rules,endingaproudlineodoctorsinheramily.ForcedtomovetoPakistanduringthetimeo the aliban uprising, she worked withtheinternationalNGOInternationalRes-cueCommittee(IRC),wheresheoversawprograms relating to women, health, andagriculture.DuringherouryearsinRawal,Pakistan, she helped to establish a school

orAghanreugeeboysandgirls.In1996,she returned toKabul and continued herworkwithIRCasateamleaderorimple-mentinghealthandeducationinitiativesinvariouspartsoAghanistan.

SweetahasservedasCountryDirectororWomen orWomen International A-ghanistansince2002.Shedirectsprogramsthathavehelpedmorethan20,000womenby providing direct nancial assistancerightseducation,vocationalskillstrainingandmicrocreditloans.InOctober2005,she addressed the United Nations Secu-rityCouncilandtheU.S.Congressabouthe challenges Aghan women continuetoace.InJuly2004,Sweetalaunchedoneo Aghanistans rst micro credit lend-ingprogramstargetingwomen,whichhassincedisbursedover$11milliontoapprox-imately47,500womenwhilemaintaininganimpressive95%repaymentrate.Unde

Sweetas leadership, Women orWomenInternationalpartneredwiththeAghani-stanMinistryoWomensAairstoregister2,000womentovoteinthehistoric2004presidentialelectionsand1,800womenin

i s a M u n d e M B e - C h u M a


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the2005parliamentaryelections.Accord-ingtoSweeta,securityorwomencontin-uestobeaprimaryconcerninadditiontopoverty.Asananti-poverty,empowermentstrategy,WomenorWomenAghanistanispilotingagreenhouseprojectinParowanthatwillteachwomentogrowcucumbers,aroleacceptedandsupportedbymalecom-munitymembers.

PriortojoiningWomenorWomenInter-national, Sweeta served asanassistant or

theChairotheLoyaJirgaCommissioninormingtheinterimadministrationoA-ghanistan;shetraveledwiththedelegationtoBelgiumortalkswithdonorsandinter-national representatives in 2001. She hasalso volunteered or InternationalHumanRights Law Group and the InternationaRescueCommittee.Sweetarecentlygradu-atedromScienceandEducationUniversi-tyoAghanistanwithaB.A.ShecurrentlyliveswithherhusbandandtwochildreninVirginia,USA.

Between 1996 until 2001 whatwas life like for any woman who

was in Afghanistan?How was their day, what didthey do?

1996wasthetimeothealiban,ahorridtimeallwomenisolated,ignored.Forcedtosayinside,nojobs,noschool,ulloear.Also the men were in ear o their lives.

Forcedtoprayer,growabeardandmous-tache and orbidden to trip or cut their

beards.Womenhadtoweartheburka.

Oneday,whileoutwalkingwithmyhus-band, walking shoulder to shoulder alongthestreet.WewerestoppedbythealibanaskingwhetherIwasthismansgirlriendandmyhusbandwas asked i he wasmyboyriendtheywantedtondoutiwe



werehusbandandwie because Iwas notwalkingbehindmyhusbandbutshouldertoshoulder.FromthenonIhadtowalkbe-hindmyhusbandtoproveIwashiswie.Myhusbandismodernbutwewereeelingthattherewasnohope,nouture.

AterSeptember11,USbombardmentwasbadbutitwasadierentAghanistan.Moreliberal views, democratic Government therewasavoiceorwomen,opportunitiesorwomen peaceprocess.Womenweregettingjobs,goingtoschooltherewasaconstitution or the country guaranteeingwomensrights.

How did it feel to know Wom-en for Women InternatIonal wasstarting a year long programmefor women?How has it been for you to bethe Country Director for theWomenforWomenInternatIonal?

With the US bombardment we had to

evaluatethewomenandamiliestothebor-deroPakistanbigpanicasweallbecamereugees.Myriendtoldmedontcry,takeaction go back to Aghanistan and dosomething.Withthestrongsupportomyhusband,IoundWomenorWomenIn-ternationalwhichwasworkingwithwomentohelp themrebuildtheirlives.Tismis-sionmatchedmyowncompassionordo-ingsomethingtoocusonhelpingwomen.I started asa ProgrammeCo-coordinator

andthenwithinayearIwasCountryDi-rectoroWomenorWomenInternationalAghanistan at 27 years old. I have nowbeenworkingwithWomenorWomenor10years.

What change have you seen inwomens lives who have attend-ed this programme and what islife like for them?

Women orWomen Internationals spon-sorship programme matches each partici-pantwithasponsorromaglobalgrassrootsnetworkprovidingdirectnancialaidandemotionalsupport.Overthecourseothe12-monthprogramme,participantsreceivemonthlycashassistancethatallowsorthpurchaseobasicnecessitiesorherselandheramily.Participantsmayusetheundsto

purchasemedicine,schoolees,ood,trans-portation,ortobeginasmallincomegen-erationactivity.

WomenorWomenInternational-Aghan-istanencourageseachparticipanttosaveaportionotheirsponsorshipunds.Onaverage, Women orWomen International-Aghanistanparticipantsusetheirsponsor-shipundsortheollowingactivities:Food: 39%

Clothing: 26%Savings: 32%School ees: 3%

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I have seen that the averagenumber in a household is 10, doextended families live togeth-er?

Developed countries dont live with theirextended amily. InAghanistan it is im-portanttolivewithrelativeswithabout7to10adultsandchildrenperhousehold.Tewomanwould go to livewith her in-lawsmenneverwouldlivewiththewomensamily.Womenwillonlyreceiveoneeighthothevalueothehouseholdishehasason.

How has the financial assis-tance from Women for Womenhelped women in Afghanistan?

WomenorWomenInternationalociallyopenedacountryoceintheIslamicRe-publicoAghanistanin2002.WomenorWomen International-Aghanistan oper-atessatelliteocesinMazr-e-Shari,Ja-lalabad, and Parwan Province. Work has

been concentrated in Kabul, Kapisa, Par-wan,Nangarhar,Balkh,andWardak.

Women orWomen Internationaldeliversa holistic programme to socially exclud-ed women that addresses their economicand social needs, and builds awarenessabout their rights. Te organisation pro-videswomenwithaccesstoeducationandknowledgewhichcombinedwithaccesstoresourcesleadstolastingchange.

Women or Women International pro-grammeconsistsosponsorship,includingmonthlydirectaid,ayear-longcurriculumthat oers bi-monthly training sessionsinlieskillsandrights,businessandskillstraining.WomenorWomensprogramme

promotes lasting social and economicchangeorwomenandcommunitieslead-ingtopeaceulandstablesocieties.

Over33,000womenhavegraduatedromtheWomenorWomenInternationalpro-gramme in Aghanistan since its ounderZainab Salbi rst set up the programmeduringtheBosniaconfictstomovewomenromvictimtosurvivortoactivecitizens.

What changes has being a Coun-try Director brought in yourown life?

Being a leader hasmore responsibilityitstimetodosomethingthatyoubelievein a big change it empowers me beingabletodosomethingandIamrespectedasawomanbythemaleleadersomycom-munity.

How do women who voted in200 & 200 feel, how was thatexperience for them?

2,000womengotothepollstationsallWomenorWomenInternationalstaandparticipants are encouraged to go to thepollingstations.WardakprovincehasveryconservativepeoplewomenvotedandtheDistrictLocalGovernormadesurethepro-cesswastransparenttostopanycorruption-sothatwomensvotecouldbecounted.

You oined women for women in

2002, what has been the mosttouching moment for you overthe years?

Whathastouchedmehowawomancanchangetheentirecommunitywithhersmallopportunityandcansucceed.



SweetatellsastoryoShopaire,whowasrejectedbyhercommunityinWardakprov-incebutwentontorunabakery.Tebusi-nesssucceededinemployingmanypeople

rom the community gaining the respectoherpeople,sowhensadlyShopairewas

killedinacaraccident,theynamedthebak-erybusinessaterher.

ochangetheworldonewomanata time

gotowomenorwomen.org.ukandsponsorawoman.

te ma belw sws e mac u wk e wme we

seve Agasa, m we e fs el e gamme we

e gauae*. te cas ae base u u ke ucmes: wme

susa a cme, wme ae well, wme ae ecs makes, a wme

ave scal ewks a sae es.

IndIcator

Average daily income(US$)

Saving a portion oincome

Knowledge o nutrition

Knowledge o stressmanagement

Knowledge o rights

Voted in local or na-tional elections

Participate in commu-nity activities

Participate in a socialnetwork

EnrolmEnt

$0.03

1%

4%

3%

25%

47%

0%

53%

GraduatIon

$1.48

90%

100%

99%

100%

79%

59%

66%

* August 2011

sninterview

Lisa Mundembe-Chuma is an inspirational Speaker for

Schools in the UK and the founder (Editor-in-Chief) of Inspi-

rational Woman Magazine. Lisa is keen to make a positive

impact in the world and see women come together in unity

worldwide.



1

HowtoKnowYourBliss:top five tips

C a t h y d e a n

Whatisbliss?Dictionariesdeneitasper-ecthappiness,astateoecstasyoreelingsojoyousness.Inreligioustermsits the joyo heavenorthestateoutterhappinessthatcan only be known in paradise. It bringswithit ideasoother-worldliness,holinessandperhapssomekindoout-o-bodyex-perience.

Like somany once-sacred terms, wenow

useitineverydayspeechtoreertosome-thingthatwequitelikeTatsliceocakewasjustbliss!orKickingmyshoesoattheendoalongdayisbliss.

Joseph Campbell meant something veryspecicwhenhetalkedaboutbliss.HewasanAmericanmythologistandteacherandheusedthewordblisstomeanthethingthat givesyoumost joy in lie andmakesyoumostullled.Hedidnotmeanthisina

hedonisticsense,quitetheopposite.Camp-bells bliss is what others reer to as yourliespurpose,sohewassayingthatwhenyou ollow your purpose everything allsintoplaceoryou.

Buthowdoyouollowyourblissiyoudontknowwhatitis?Herearemyvetoptips:

Work out what your values are. Each o ushas her own, individual set o values thecore belies by which we live our lives. I youlive a lie thats not in tune with your valuesyou will become unhappy and unhealthyLiving in tune with your values leads to in-

ner strength and peace and gives you anunassailable eeling that youre ollowingthe right path. Once you know youre on theright path, youll be ollowing your bliss.

2Decide what dierence you want to make in

the world and then do something about itYour mission will be aligned to your valuesand is likely to stem rom one or more oyour core values. I your lie and your workcontribute in some way to honouring yourvalues and achieving your mission you wilbe well on the way to ollowing your bliss.


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Cathy Dean is a fortysomething woman who has experienced a fair few of the

highs and the lows that life can throw at her and her mission is to help other forty-

something women, just like you, to learn to know, love and understand yourself so

that you can put aside your fears and step out into the sunlight where you belong.

She is a professionally qualied coach and trainer with a 25 year career in per-

sonal development behind her and she loves her work.

Because life is a journey of discovery and rediscovery, she loves

to help women who have lost sight of who they are and why they

are here. Her greatest passion is to see women take positive steps

toward their own condent and personally fullling present and

future lives.

3

4

5

Know, love and trust yoursel. You will neverbe able to ollow your bliss while you arearaid to show the world who you really

are, and youll never be ready to show theworld who you really are until youve donethe work that enables you to know, love andtrust yoursel. You are a wonderul womanwith strengths, talents and gits to sharewith the world, and the world will be a bet-ter place once you know, love and trustyoursel enough to share those gits reely.

Treat yoursel as a valuable commodity. Bythat I dont mean become selfsh and sel-centered. I mean, treat yoursel with therespect that you deserve by adopting theprinciple o proper selfshness. Keep your-sel nourished and healthy so that you arein the best possible shape to give your gitsand strengths to the world. I you always putyoursel and your needs last, youll never bestrong enough to ollow your bliss.

5. I you have a calling, ollow it. I you havea dream, pursue it. You are the only personthat has the right to decide what to do withyour lie. The opinions o others who wantto keep you small will only keep you romFollowing your Bliss. The world needs you toulfll your purpose thats why youre hereWhat other people think doesnt matter.

JosephCampbellalsosaid,Aheroissome-onewhohasgivenhisorherlietosome-thingbiggerthanonesel.

Whenyouollowyourblissyouwillbecometheheroinyourownlie,andinthelivesothosearoundyou.



MenayeDonkors24hours of Biss

My24hoursoblisswouldhavetobeginwithbeingwokenupbythesoundothewatergentlylappingattheshoressomewherebytheoceanateragoodnightssleep.Besidesbeingbytheocean,oneomyotheravoritethingstodoissleep!!Sothecombination

obothwouldbetrulyblissul.Youshouldneverunderestimatethegoodthatasolidnightssleepwilldooryouandhowmuchbet-teryouwilleelthenextday.Beingbytheocean,inmyopinion,isincrediblyrelaxingbecauseIbecomeatpeacewithmysel,as inothinginthisworldmatters.Teoceanisoneothemostamaz-ingcreationsonearthandIalwayseelclosertonaturewhenIambyit.Mymumcallsmeamermaidbecauseomyloveorandcon-nectiontothewater!Iwoulddenitelyspendmy24hoursoblisssomewherewithbeau-tiulscenerywherethewaterisclearandthesandwhite...some-

On the Cove


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Menaye Donkorwas born in 1981. She was brought up by her

parents in Accra, Ghana, and is the youngest of seven siblings

with four brothers and two sisters. At the age of seven Menaye

inherited the job title of Royal Stool Bearer for her paternal

grandmother, who is the Queen mother of Agona Asafo. She

graduated with honors in marketing from York University in

Toronto, Canada.

wherelikeMauritius,ortheSeychelles.TepersonIwouldmostliketospendthedaywithwouldbemymum.Wegoongirlyhol-idaystogetheranditisalwayssuchablast.Wehaveloadsoqualitytimetogetherandjusttalkandlaughallday.Mymumhasal-ways been, and alwayswill be,mybiggestinspirationinlie.

Ourdaywouldbelledwithnothingbutplayingintheocean,drinkingreshexoticcocktailsandeating lotsogoodood,es-peciallylocalruitromtheislandandreshshromthenearbyocean.Iwouldlovetohavethebestqualitysh,cookedandpre-paredinrontomeorlunch.Andlateronintheday...

my husband Sulley andmy amily, in-cluding my awesome ather, my six sib-lings,dozensocousins,andallourniecesandnephews,wouldjoinmymumandmeoraneveningmealonthebeachatsun-set!Wewouldbesurroundedbytheoceanbreeze, lots o laughter, the kids and loveallaroundus.Familyisveryimportantto

me,soallcomingtogethertohaveagoodtimeandenjoyeachotherscompanybytheoceanwouldmakemeveryhappyindeedIdendtheeveningwithSulley,justthetwoous...sittingtalkinginthedark,withthestarsaboveandthesoundotheoceanalaround.Ahhh...nowthatswhatIcallpurbliss!



TheTruthAboutTheplCe of Biss

t a M M y f u r e y

I was talking to a girlriend today aboutbliss,andshesimplyexplodedintolaugh-ter! Bliss? Tats what I want right now! Ijust dont have enough money! Or time! Ive gotkids!

Bliss,ortheconceptoblissseemstohavebecomealostEldoradoorwesternsociety.Ithasbecomeaquestorgoldinourlives,to that mythical place, the Place of Bliss.Blissgurus(otherwiseknownasadvertisingexecutives) have thoughtully provided usmapsothismythicalkingdom,otherwiseknown as spas, beauty products, luxuryholidaysandretreats.Tesewonderulex-periencesgiveusaglimpseothePlace of Bliss,butthatglimpseisfeeting,makinguseelbetterorshortperiodsotimeuntilwe

areonceagaincastbackintoourordinarylives.

We dream o the day we can experiencethePlace of Blissmoreregularly,sowecon-tinueoursearch.Wearetoldthatiwede-signourlivesintherightway,iweworkhardenough,wecanaordmoreandmoreglimpses o the Place of Bliss. I we workreally,reallyhardmapoutourgoalsandamass great wealth, wemight actually be

abletobuyourwaytothePlace of Bliss.Fewactuallymanage this epic eat, and whentheydo,theydiscoversomethingshocking:itispossibletoeeltotallymiserableonabeautiul tropical island, with everythingyoucouldeverwant.

SodoweabandonoursearchorthePlaceof Bliss?Dowethrowawaythemapsthawehavespentsolongstudyinginourlives?Yes!Absolutely! Be ree o it! Bliss is notadestinationonajourney,norisitacom-moditythatcanbeacquiredthroughwealthNoonehasthepowertotellyouwhereitis,orwhatitislike,asBlissisyours,andyouralone.WesearchorBlissasiwehavelostit,asiwedonthaveitalready.Blissisanexperience;aeelingthatcomesrominsidous.Otenitistriggeredbyexternaleventsbutthisisarromguaranteed.IyoutrytondBlissthroughexternalmeans,youwilspendyourentireliesearchingandsearch-ing.

Blissisaninternalexperience.Wehavethe

abilitytoexperienceBlissinthehereandnowwithouthavingtotravelanywhere


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Sowhy dontwe?We have covered it upwithourbelies, concepts,perceptionsandthought processes; we actually think our-selvesoutoBliss.TecosmicjokeisthatallthatrushingaroundtryingtoreachoracquireBlissactuallystopsusromexperi-encingBliss.TatiswhyglimpsesoBlissarepossibleinenvironmentsthatcalmthemindspasandholidays.

Soletstakeabreakromthementalclutterright now. Look away rom the computerscreenoramoment,andjustnoticesome-thingthatpleasesyouinyoursurroundings(youwillndsomethingkeeplooking!).What pleases you about this thing/view/play o the light/sound/taste/smell/eel-ing?Reallydescribeitandbeabsorbedby

it.Rightnow!Feelingbetter?Feelinggood?

Tammy Furey works on living and working with clarity and in

the moment, while being challenged and knocked off her centre by

her gorgeous 4 year old daughter. Tammy is known as the Free-

lancers Coach, and works with those who create their own work,

outside of the constraints of the 9-5 ofce. She can be reached at

www.fureycoaching.com.

Youhavestilledyourmindorlongenoughtoeelthebeginningsobliss.Anditsto-tallyree,becauseitsyoursyouuncovereditromwithinyou.

So, i blisswas naturally available to youwhatwouldyoudo,wantorhavejustorthejoyoit,ratherthanbesearchingorthePlaceoBliss?Whatdoesyourheartwant?Whatwouldbeun?Justthinkhowdier-ent your liewouldbewithBliss shiningthrough,romtheinsideout.

IIevergolookingormyheartsdesireagain,Iwontlookanyurtherthanmyownbackyard; because iit isnt there, Ineverreallylostittobeginwith!Dorothy, Te Wizard o Oz, 1939


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TravelreCoMMendations

Blissful Retre

Ragdale Hall

NestleddeepintheheartoLeicestershirecountryside, surrounded by velvet-greenhillsandunspoiltmeadows,Ragdale Hall

isagorgeousstatelyhomethatlapsyouupinluxuryromthemomentyoucrunchintoitsgraveldrive.Bestknownoritsunbeat-ableservice,thespahasaloyalollowingobliss-seekingwomen(over90%oitsclien-teleareemale)andhasaclutchoawards

r u t h i e C o i n s

underitsbelt.HavingwonBest DestinationSpaintheProessionalBeautyAwardssixtimesinthelasttenyears,in2007Ragdale

was votedBest Destination SpainEuropeIn2010,Ragdalewonsixawardsincludingtheprestigious Cond Nast raveller Read-ers Spa Awards 2010 Favourite UK Spa Re-treatandtheSunday imes ravel MagazineReader Awards Favourite UK Spa.


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Ragdale Hal



treCoMMendations

Itseasytospotwhywithinsecondsoarriv-ing:theHallhasanauraolaidbackcharmthats a ar cry rommany high-end spasminimal chic. Forget size-zero glamazonsdrippingwithterriyingcoolalongthepoolsidehereisaspathatembracesallwomen,wrapping themup inwhitefuydressinggowns and making them smile. Even therestaurantispackedwithdelighted,relaxedspa-goddessespaddingaboutintheirgownsthere iszerodresscodeandllingtheplacewithlaughter.Yes,weeedyoutheconciergeonreceptiontellsusasshesign-postsustothestunningeateryonsite.Tey

eedyouwithdelicious,healthyoodtore-member(myguestortheweekendtellsmehisdishTaigreenchickenisthebesthehaseverhad).TeyalsoeedyouwithcakethoughyouhavetoorageoritchecktheVerandaBaroverlookingemerald-greengardensoryournaughtyindulgence.

Ive worked in other spas and this is thehappiestplaceIveeverworkedin,my(ex-tremelynice)therapistMeltellsme.Allthe

staarehappybecausetheyspendalldaypampering clients who are reallyhappybecausetheyarebeingpampered.Everyonesmilesallthetime.Shelaughs,looksatmesuddenly.Itsnotnormal.

Itmaynotbenormal,butitsureisheaven.Ragdaleweloveyou.

Must-Try:Tecandle-poolinthethermaspacomplex.Chillouttoclassicalmusicinanundergroundcave,toastarlitsky.Abso-lutelystunning.

Blissed Out Treatment: ry theNaturaHarmony Facialorextraspecialpamperingandexcellenthandmassage.Tisbespoke50minuteacialisyoursateraquickcon-sultation,madepurelywithyouinmind.

Ragdale-tip:AsktowatchaDVDtocosyupwiththegirlsinyourroomaterdinneRagdalehasasuperblmcollectionandwillinstall aDVDplayer toyourroomornoextracostatall.


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Clarice House

Youd be orgiven or thinking that in aglobalrecessionthespaindustrywouldbethe rst tosuer.ButClarice HousehasbeenboomingatrendthatmanyotheUKsleadingspashavealsoenjoyed.Ithinkpeoplearegoingonholidayless,soaspaminibreak break is a great compromise much cheaper and ar more relaxing, our

therapist tells us as she paints chocolatebrownvarnishontomynails.

WithClarice HouseBliss Experiencesonoerromaslittleas70,youcanseeherpoint.Whytrekhalwayacrossthecontinentandbattlethroughairportstobaskinsunshine,whenyoucan justslipintoagorgeousspapoolclosebyandbeathomethesamedayeelinglikeyouvebeenawayoraweek.

Tis stunningneo-JacobeanMansion sur-rounded by woodland derives its uniquenameromceramicistClariceCli.Deco-rated rom top to tail with contemporarydetail that uses antique charm with ArtDecostyle,thehotel,countryclubandspaisaabulousmixoEnglishtraditionand

modern luxury. We enjoyed a one nightOriginal Bliss Experience mini break, o-eringusathreecoursedinner,twocourselunch,overnightstayandaccesstothespagymandpoolplustwotreatments.Teexperience? Fabulous. Spend your ater-noon baskingnext to the pool, in the ja-cuzziandsteamrooms,ormakeuseothe

extremely high-tech gym. Leisurely leathrough newspapers over a coee in thehotelswoodpanelledreceptionandloungearea.Padintotheglasshouseconservatoryorabitopeaceandquiet.Orjustchillouinyourhotelroom:ourswasspaciousandcomortable (named Fantasque, ater theClariceCliceramicsrange).

Must-Try: the award-winning restaurantSeriously.Ourmeringuedesertwasutterly

divineandtodieor;sodeliciouswehadit or lunchagain the next day. PolishupyournailswithanExpress Manicureonsitethough,astherestaurantasksyoutoleaveyour fuy white gowns at the door anddressordinner(what,youmeanwehavetowearclothes?!).


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Clarice House

treCoMMendations


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Bliss Out Treatment: Germaine de Capuc-cini Facial.Energizing,soothingandallthethingsagoodacialshouldbe.(Myguestound her headache that had plagued herallweekmagicallydisappearedatertryingthis).

ClariceHouses BlissPackages start rom70.Watchoutortheirexcellentoersathttp://www.claricehouse.co.uk

Clarice House


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Te Island o Hydra

BlissRetreatsuggestions

whichsouniquelyusestraditionan

dernity,hasestablisheditselasaMetheworldwideandworld-renownedacallyandintellectuallyinclined.

Hydras barren, rocky hillside and ucoming oliage, combined with itsmalistbohemianarchitecture,atrstseemsutterlyundesirable.Yetiyouyourseltolookpasttheprickly packyouwilldiscoverasmallAtlantison

The Island of Hydrarom my personal diarybyDaphneAntonakopoulou

NeverdidIexpecttondsuchmajestyinsuchasmallpackage.NeverdidIexpecttoallinlovewithaplacesodeeplyandirre-sponsibly,sowhollyandtruly.Yettheysaythatthegreatestlovesareoundincontra-dictions.AndIsurehaveoundmine.

Te tiny island o Hydra in the SaronicGul,amere45milesromAthens,Greece,


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aterstotheneedsotheromantics,theart-

ts,theintellectuals,thecelebrity-spottersndthegood-timers.Gettinglostwithyourvedoneinthenarrowbackstreets,hikingoreachthesecludedbeaches,meditatinghiletakingintheduskviewor,iyoulike,artyingallnightwitholdandnewriendsttheharboursvivacioushotspotswhat-ver you choose, Hydra is guaranteed toliss-upyourlie!


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January/February 2012 37Te Island o Hydra


38/8838 INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN MAGAZINE38 INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN MAGAZINE

All Around MebyJuliaBernards

Ibelieveintakingblissretreatsdaily,somyretreatsarecloseathand.akingtimetolieinapatchosunstretchedacrossthefoorortakeawalkthroughthewoodsisbliss-ulorme.Otherbliss-inducingexperienc-esincludeocusingononeomychildrenand enjoying him or her ully, admiringandcaringornature,beingenrapturedbygreatmusicorart,dancing,learningtruththroughmymindandheart, and contem-plating the eternal. Making bliss retreatspartomydailylienourishesmysouland

makesitaplaceoperpetualjoyandbeauty.

Blissful Paris!bySlavicaMonczkaAttheverytopomylistothemostblissulplacesonearthisParis,France.Knownasthecityolights,itisamagicalplaceorsomanyreasons.Itisaplacethatpeopleromallovertheworldaredrawntooritssavoir-aire.Tecapitalogastronomy,birthplace

ohautecouture,andatreasuretroveoart,Parisisendlesslyintriguingtome!My avorite place to be is blissul Paris,hautecouture,gastronomy,theEielower,whatasighttosee!

Chume Island, TanzaniabyammyFurey

Iblisscomesinthepackageoadesertis-land,thanthisisit!Locatedothean-zaniancoast,thisislandisaprivatenaturereservethatrunsacommunitymarinecon-servationandeducationproject.Accommodationisinthemostgorgeouseco-houseswith their own rainwater reservoirs underthefoor.Amazingoodandthemostbeau-tiulsunsetswillreconnectyoutoyourinnerbliss.www.chumbeisland.com.

Villa Gaia, BalibyinaYulianiAyuningsih

VillaGaiaisaprivatevillainBali,locatedin the heart o Seminyak, within walkingdistancetoitsshoppinganddiningdistrictandonlyveminutesridetothebeach.Tibrand new villa was beautiully designedby Italian architects and the combinationocontemporaryarchitectureandaluxuryinteriormakes this villa ideal or couples

riendsandamily.

Equippedwith twoqueen-size bedroomskitchen,andlivingroom,itbecomesaper-ectplacetoblissoutyourenergy.Awon-derulswimmingpoolsurroundedbytreesaddstopeaceulmoments.Ontopothatweprovide youwith reebreakaston the

Villa Gaia

Brsuggestions


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rstdayandreeairporttranser.Findoutaboutourspecialoersbyvisitinghttp://www.gaiavillas.com.


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Brsuggestions

Somerset Gift YogaRetreatbySharniQuinn

Somerset Git Getaway is nestled inamongst the Langeberg mountains nearSwellendam, three hours outside Capeown,SouthArica.

Tequaintcottageseachhavea largebed-roomwithanen-suitebathroom,aloungeareawithareplaceandabeautiulverandaopening out into the breathtaking naturalsurroundings.

Itisaplaceinheaven.

Tesotsunshineglistensonthewater,thehorsesgrazeinthedistance,thebirdsbuildtheirnests,thesoundsotheriverfowpastandthegentlebreezekissesyourskin.

Aswellasoutdooractivities,SomersetGitGetawayalsospecializesinhostingweek-endYogaRetreats.

PleasecontactMarlienon+27765087188or visitwww.somersetgit.co.za or moredetails,andbookyourselinoranurturing,pampering,blissulandpeaceulweekend.


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Brsuggestions

Castel de Cantobre


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Midi PyreneesbyRuthieCollins

I escape to theMidi Pyrenees, South oFrance every year to stay in mymumsplace,CasteldeCantobre.Itistheultimateinretreats, achteaubuiltonthe ruinsoanancientcastleintoabreathtakingpreci-picethatlooksoutontoavalley.heresan

oldcave,withstunningviews,plusheapsolandorreshairandwalks.Shegrowsherownvegetablesthereenormoustomatoes!Andrunsaholidayrentalbusinesslettingoutpartsothechteautotouristswithherhusbandthewholeplaceisadreamcometrue, really.hey have visitors there romallovertheworldwhocomeortheatmo-

sphereandthesurroundingareawhichisperect orwalking, climbing and ishingCantobre itsel isa tinymountainhamletwitharound16inhabitants.hepaceolieisincrediblyslowandyoucannotailtore-lax.ItsperectormeasIcanspendqual-

ity time with amily, catch up on writingandenjoyplentyoregionalFrenchdishesthatmymumlovestocook!Iwroteahugechunkomynovelwhenvisitingtherelastyear.Jadore!

Visitwww.casteldecantobre.co.ukormoreinormation.

Castel de Cantobre


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Brsuggestions

SabbaticalScapesbyAngelaM.Petitt

Insteadodreamingaboutwhatjustabouteveryonewished theycoulddo, Idid it!!IquitmycorporateIjobinthethroesotherecessionin2009totraveltheworld!!

My aha moment came when I realizedthatIwouldrathertakeachanceonmyseltoseetheworldinsteadocontinuingonintheordinarydailygrind.So,inspiteobe-ingintherecession,this41yearoldsingleAricanAmericanwomantookahugestepoaithandquitherjobtolivelietotheullest.WhenImadethedecision,Ireallyhadnocluewhatwasnext.But,aewdaysatermylastdayatwork,IwasonaplanegoingtoItaly!

Fastorwardtomorethantwoyearsandal-

most 30countries later,my sabbatical hasallowedmetolearnnewactivitiessuchasplayinggol,horsebackriding,climbingtheGreatWall,gettingahugesurprisebouquetolowersromanadmirerinItaly,ziplineinCabo, cavedive inPuntaCana, experi-encebonechillingtemperaturesinSiberia,and narrowly escaping the earthquake inJapan.IhavealsotraveledtoEgypt,Israel,Greece, Colombia, Nicaragua, and many

otheramazingadventures.Iwasevenpre-sentedwithaServiceandLeadershipawardbymyalmamater,recentlyeaturedinES-SENCEmagazineasa Power Player,andaspeakerorthenationalMeet Plan Go! Ca-reerBreak ravelconerencethatencouragesothersintheirquestorasabbatical.In2012,thedreamcontinuesasIamwork-ingonmydoctorateinorganizationallead-ershipanddevelopmentandocourse,moretravel&SabbaticalScapes!!

With hopes o inspiring other people, Ihavebeenbloggingaboutmyexperiencesahttp://www.sabbaticalscapes.com/.

Onethingorsure-with God ALL things

are possible!

IwouldtellyourreaderstoDoIt!!Lieistooshort...dontbeaspectatorinyourownlie.Beaparticipant.Whether youwanttodoagetawayorex-tendedtravel/sabbaticalthewayIamdoingit,justknowitcanbedone!!


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Things to Consider:

Pray and be prayerful. DeinitelyseekdirectionandinsightromGod.DevelopingourrelationshipwithGodgivesusabetterperspectiveinulillingourpur-poseanddreams.

Ilovethequotewhether you thinkyou can or cant, you are right. IknowseveralpeoplewhosayromthestartOh,Iwouldlovetogo,butIcant.Ihavetoomanybills.Youknowwhat?heyareright!!hey never go and they still havethose same bills. Instead o developing aplan tomake it happen responsibly, theyhavelimitedthemselvestoanyvenuesandoptionsalready.So,replacetheearandlim-itingbelieoIcantwithIcandothis.ReadtheBibleinordertobeequippedwiththeaithtoovercomeearswemayhaveandtohelpmoveorwardandstepout.

3 PlanLookatyouroverallinancialpicture.Ithasbeensaidthatgivingupalatteadayorayearis$1446!Actually,thatisatrip!ItreatedmyMomtoabirth-

daycruisingtoSt.homas,Bonaire,Gre-nada,Aruba,andDomincaorsevendaysoraboutthatprice.Seeourjourneyhere-http://www.sabbaticalscapes.com/?cat=15

4 ParticipateStep Out! Actionbringsaboutconidence.Participatbyresearchingdestinationsonline,readmyblog, get involved inthe conversationsonsocialmedia,getaroundlikemindedtravel

people,andlookattravelmagazines-theyreallygiveyouawanderlustorthebeautyinspiration,culture,andexperiencesthatareoutthere.Becreativeinhowyouwanttotravel.Itookcruisestomaximizemyvalueandtackedonapre/postcruiselandstayatahotel.

5 Iyouaresingle/soloanddontwanttogoalone, sign up for organized/group tours.Somecruiseshipsnowhavesolocabins.

You can do this!



Bookreviewr u t h i e C o i n s

Culture

Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the Worldby Christine Mason Miller

Iyoureneedingatoucho inspirationtore-igniteyourcreativepassionthisJanuaryandgetyoutrulyollowingyourbliss,snagyourselacopyoChristineMasonMillersDesire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion toTransform the World.Itscrammedwithin-

spirationalbutpracticalinterviewswith20creative,entrepreneurialwomenandwildenitely help you get started with thalongputocreativedream.Fullowonder-ulquotes,exercisesandstoriesitsonetoreadwhilecurledupinrontothere.


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Ruthie Collins is Deputy Editor of Inspirational Woman

Magazine and writes on feminism and modern women, con-

temporary culture, travel and lifestyle. She also works as a

business coach and advisor for creative practitioners, helping

creative ideas get the attention and development they deserve.

She is creative director of the Cambridge Art Salon.

www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk.

So what is bliss? We askedChristineMasonMiller andhereswhatshesaid:

Last night I was lying on our couch with my chocolate labcurled up next to me. Wild winds were blowing outside,and as deeply as I was sinking into our couch I was sink-ing into the awareness o how blessed I am. Relaxing in thehome I created with my husband, enjoying a cozy fre, andthinking o the beautiul circle o amily and riends that isalways around us, I elt the deep, soothing joy that is bliss.Bliss arrives when I am able to savor the totality o a mo-ment the thousand tiny details that bring me to each andevery moment I experience.


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Peoplemustneverlosetheabilityto dreaM...

Fun Fashio


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Danceasthoughnooneiswatchingyou,Loveasthoughyouhaveneverbeenhurtbefore,Singasthoughnoonecanhearyou,ive as though heaven is onearth.

Model - Paolina DiamantouliPhotographer - Tanos HoutosDesigner - MARAVEYAStyling - CC Styling



Thebeginningsover,theend

hasntcomeyet.a i CareaBout is now.


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Model - Paolina DiamantouliPhotographer - Tanos HoutosDesigner - MARAVEYAStyling - CC Styling

Chooseajobyouloveandyoull

never have to workanother day in your ife

Heather Nomi Tshumasspiritual and compassionate personalityher to a sense of responsibility towards the world and making it a

place. Almost two years ago she brought to life her dream, and create

the help of others, the Feeling Human Association in Greece (co-fo

with friend Yvonne Bosnjak). Heathers modeling past

allowed her to bring awareness and funds to many

social and medical issues as well as organizations

through a series of cultural and fashion events. She

recently moved from Athens Greece and now lives in the

UK where shes working on various projects but also

laying the groundwork for Feeling Humans UK dbut.



ChoosingBissp a M e a M u r r a y

What is Bliss?Blissisanelytunedenergythatallowshumans to have a higher expression othemselvesashumansand allows themtobeopentoandhaveexposuretohigheren-ergies.

Blissisnoteltbymanyhumansveryo-teninthiscurrenttimeonearth,althoughbliss has the potential to expand rapidlyandwidelyasmoreandmorehumansallowthemselvesthepotentialtoeelit.

Blissisjoy,blissislove,blissislight.Asahumaneelsanyoneotheseenergiestheyare increasing their own potential to eelmore,toeelmoreoten(i.e.moremomentsinoneday)andtoembracethehighesteel-ingsthatahumancaneelonthisplanet.

Blissmovesitmovesinwardsandupwards,andissimpleandexpansive.Teheavinessandlightnesseltbyeachindividualhumanonthisplanetatthistimeiswhatallowsthehumantoeelornottoeelbliss.Telighterthehumaneels,themorepotentialthereisorbliss.

Blissisanexquisiteeeling;iteelsexqui-sitetoahumanbeingasmostlyatthistimeonthisplanetblissisonlycapturedinsmall

incrementsbyhumanswhoallowlightnessandconsciousnessintotheirdailylives.Tishasthepotentialtoincrease,althoughitwillbesometimebeorealargernumberohu-mansareopenandavailabletoeelthis.

Peopleareattractedtoblissasitissomething,eventhoughtheydontreallyunder-stand what, that uplits them and bringsthemjoy,andcanbringthemsomepeace.

How can we feel bliss inour bodies?Teeelingoblissinyourbodyisdierentoreachoyou.Teeelingoblissexcludespainoanysortandthisisthequestionthatyouare asking:Howcanwe removepainromourbodies?

Painisexperiencedwhenanindividualhu-man being is not allowing themselves toexperiencetheirloveorthemselves.Inthisworldoyoursithasnotbeentheacceptedconceptthateachoyouasindividuals,canactuallyloveyourselves.

Tisischangingandasitdoes,andonebyone you choosemore love or yourselvesthiscanallowlesspainanddiscomortandmorebliss.

How do you love yoursel, you ask? Wewould suggest that i you were to reallychoosetoexperiencemoreloveoryourselthatyoundaquietplacepreerablyinthegardenorinnature,andtakeoutyourpen

andnotebookandwrite.

Writedownall thewaysyou loveyoursel-wesaythiswithhumour!-mostoyouwouldndthisquitechallengingasyoudid


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notgrowupinthis lietimewiththecon-ceptosel-love.Sothisiswhywesaytoyou to write down anything that you canthinko,ohowyouloveyoursel.

Wewillgiveyouaewhints:

6 Canyoulookintoyoureyesinthemir-rorandsmileandsaytoyourselIloveyouandreallyeelthisinyourheart?6 Can you acknowledge that just beingyouasyouarenowisperectlyOKandtheneeltheloveinyourheartcentreor yoursel?Ask yoursel: How doesthislovingomeeeltome?

Asyouactuallyget toknowtheeelingowhatiteelsliketoyoutoloveyoursel,youwillbeabletodothismoreoten-bringtheacknowledgement o loving yoursel intoyourdailylie.

Tiseelingoyoulovingyouwillgrowonyou (with humour again) we might evensaythatyoucould,iyouchoseto,becomeaddictedtothiseelingandchoosetotakeyoursel to thisplace regularly throughoutyourday.Asyoudothis,youracknowledge-mentowhoyoureallyarewillchange.

With this change o acknowledging yourlove or yoursel, we ask you to be awareothelevelsopainordiscomortinyoubody:

6 Havetheychanged?6 Areyoueelingmoreatease?6 Whatelseinyourliehaschanged?6 Areyouenjoyingthesechanges?6 Wouldyoulikemorechange?Yourchoiceormoreblissinyourbodywilcomeintobeingwithyourchoicesaboutyoulovingyourselandbringingthisawarenessintoaeelingstateorplaceinyourheart.Sothatwhenyouhavepainordiscomortinyourbody,youactuallyhaveaplacetotakeyourseltothatwillallowyouease.

Iyouchoosetodothiseachtime,youmaybesurprisedatyoursel orchoosing yourbliss.Blissisaboutsel-love,whichincludesloveoyourbodies.

As channelled rom theAkashic Records byPamelaMurraywww.liewhispering.com.au

Pamela Murray has had an interest and curiosity about spiri-

tual things for about 30 years. This led to her interest in the

Akashic Records. She chose to learn how to channel her ownAkashic Records then later discovered that she was also able to

channel the Akasha for other people.

She has since decided to become a Life Direction Intuitive and

now offers Akashic Record sessions.

Visit www.lifewhispering.com.au for more information.


54/8854 INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN MAGAZINE54 INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN MAGAZINE

EmbracingYourBiss spota i M e h u t t o n

You can dance anywhere, i only in yourheart.(Unknown)

ake amoment.ake a breath, drop intoyourbody.Listendoyouhearthesonginyourheart?Whatdoesshewantyoutodo?Come,Iinviteyoutogetupandmoveyourbodywithme.

DanceisonewayIcanbringmyseltoaeelingobliss.Whatbringsyoutobliss?BydancingandmovingmybodyItapintomypower,condenceandecstaticbliss.Whataboutgivingyoursellove?Puttingonsomeslow sensualmusicand pressing love intoyourbodywhilelisteningtothemusic.Feel-ingthepowerinyourownbodyisablissuleeling.Yourbodyisasensual,eelingbeingonthisearth.Itdeservesallthepleasureandblissyoucanoerit!

Enjoyingablissulpieceodecadentchoco-late,useallyoursensestoexperienceit:Howdoesitsmell?Whatdoesitsoundlikewhenyoubite into it?Howdoes it taste?Whatdoesiteellikewhenyouletitmeltdownyour throat? Or how about some sensual

handcream,rubbingitintoyourskin:Howdoesiteel?Whatfavourdoesitsmello?

Youhavea bliss spot inside you! Its timetotapintoitandshine!TewomenIhavethepleasuretoworkwithtapintotheirblissspotwhilemovingtheirbodiesandtakingtimetogivethemselvessel-love.Yourblisspotisinyourbody,notyourhead.IinviteyoutoconnectwithmesoImayhavethepleasure to inspire you to nd your ownblissspot.Feelingtheempowermentolov-ingyourbodywhereitisnowisapoweruleeling.

Embracingyourblissspotandgivingyour-selsel-lovecanbeoneothebestgitsyougivetoYOU!

WhatothershavesaidaboutthesessionsoAwakeningGoddess:

I let that class eeling very eminine. I wasinspired. Te energy was very supportive andloving, we were dancing, laughing and justhaving a wonderul time.

Encouraged us in loving and appreciatingourselves and our sensuality in the best possibleway.


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Aime Hutton is passionate about

inspiring women to be fully who they are

and tap into their own power, self con-

dence, radiance and love themselves!

Aime believes that women are on this

earth for a purpose, and need to strut

their stuff, dance their dance, for women

are born to shine!!

Aime is a speaker, author, and sensuality expert. She

wants to get women in touch with their bodies again and

love themselves where they are on their journey in life.

You can nd out how to tap into your inner radiance by

visiting her website www.awakeninggoddess.com and con-

necting with her through [email protected]

Mxme

YourMotvto

in 28 daYs

E-Coure

Maximise your Motivation

in 28 days E- Coursewas designed and written by Ga

Gibson as part of our Inspira-

tional Woman Better Yourself. Th

e-course is a one-off buy for 7

Please email Lisa

for more information

[email protected]

This course is worth every

womans time.

Ater fve minutes o instruction I was calm, centered and eelingALIVE and ecstatic! She pushed me to connect with the truth and powero my sensual body.

Aime is committed to her expertise. Her years o education allow her toreach her audience and guide them on a journey. She delivers her mes-sage o confdence and movement. For anyone considering hiring Aime Iwould be thrilled to provide a reerence!

AwakeningGoddesscanbebookedorspeakingengagementsandsmallgroupsessionsbyconnectingwithherat:[email protected]

Tereareshort-cutstohappiness,anddancingisoneothem.

VickiBaum



DoesmoneygiveyouBiss?

Finance

Id rather sit and cry in the back of a BMW than

smile on the back of my boyfriends bicycle.

a n n e t t B e C h s t e i n

I You Are the One was themostwatchedVdatingshowinChina.Terealityshowwowed its audience with many beautiulwomenand theirbrutal rejectionso suit-ors,andshowedhowwidelymoneyiswor-shipped. A young emale contestant wasaskedbyapossibledatewhethershewouldlike to go or a bicycle ride. Her answersparkedafurryodiscussionsacrossChinawhen she answeredwith the quote at thetopothisarticle.

It seems that many young Chinese girlswould never consider dating a man whoearned less than they do. Many womendont want to marry anyone who doesntownahouseandmenbelievetheywontberespected and sought ater bygirls unlesstheyarewealthyorwillbeoneday.

Isthisexampletooextreme?WouldyousayO course, thats not bliss?Ten let megiveyouadierentexample:

A riend grew up in Germany. She wasraisedundertheguidancethatLieisnotair, but i youwork hard, youwill makemoneyandthenyouwillbehappy.Sosheworkedhard,savedmoneyandcouldaordtorentafat,buyacar,andtakeabeautiulholidayeachyear;shetickedalltherigh

boxesinherormula.

Butwherewasthehappiness?Tebankac-countgrewbigger,shehadsalaryincreasesbut she did not eel happy. She even elguiltyaboutreceivingthehighersalary.Sheltshedidntdeserveitandhencehadtoworkevenlongerhours.Shewassabotaginghersel.


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Forherthewayoutothisgamewastoeelthatshehadvalueandtoreleasetheguilt.Tis empowered her to see her salary assomethingshehadachieved.Shedevelopedasenseodeservingandrealizedherhappi-nesswascomingromwithin.Shechangedherjobtosomethingthatsheeltmorepas-sionateabout.Sincethenshehasreceivedmanymorepayrisesandnowworksewerhoursthanbeore.

Teroadtojoyandhappinessstartswithinus.Moneycanhelpyouulllyourdreams,butmoneycanneverbethedream.

Sowhatcanyoudotoachievebliss,evenwhen you are struggling to meet thosemonthlybills?

Empowerment is the key word. Feel em-powered around your costs, by takingchargeothem.Billsarenotsomethingthatisdonetoyou;youdothemtoyoursel.Areyoudonatingtocharitiesyoudontevenlikeanymore? Is your cell phone package therightoneoryou?CanyoumakemorecallsusingSkype,reeocharge?Areyoupayingyourcreditcardbillontimeordoyoupay35%,ormore,interest?Isuggestthatoraewmonths,youcancelanyautomaticdeb-itsromyouraccount.Ipossible,makethemonthly payments yoursel.Tis will giveyouaeelingthatyouareincontrolowhatleavesyourbankaccount.Directdebitseelasthoughabig,anonymoushandistakingromyourbankaccount.Wetendtoorget

tocanceldirectdebits.Butyoumustpayontime, because penalties or late paymentscanbeextremelyhigh.

Feel even more empowered around yourpaycheck.Isthereanychanceomakingthabigger?Couldyouworkovertime,withousacricingvaluableamilytime?Evenmoreimportant, do work that you nd un. Isthereadepartmentinyourcompanywhereyouwouldpreertowork,becauseitseemsmoreun?Whattalentsdoyouhave?Whabrings you un and joy?ry to establishwhatpeople in your community needandseehowthatlinksupwithyourtalents.Areyougoodwith a sewingmachine and de-sign?Couldyoustartadressalterationser-viceromhomeinyoursparetime?Doyouliketodomakeuporwomen?Perhapsyoucanoeryourservicestowomenwhogoorjobinterviews.Areyougoodwithcomput-ersorsotware?Helpotherpeopletosetuptheirwebsites.Setupyourownwebsiteorusesocialmediatoadvertiseyourtalent.Iyoudonttellpeopleaboutyour talents,noonewilleverndout.

Areyoucomortablechargingaeeoryouservices?Doyouchargeenoughtocoveralyourcostsandgenerateaprotoryoursel?Chargingaeeishonouringyoursel.Itisnotgreed.

Empoweryoursel,andanenchanted2012willollow.

Annett Blechstein is a Financial coach and the founder of abcoaching. She

combines her passion of coaching with her long nancial experience, in conduct-

ing nancial education seminars targeted towards women (however, men are

also welcome). The seminars serve to demystify the nancial world and empower

women to make their own nancial decisions. www.abcoachinghk.com

B

-

h h

d

yu; yu

d h

yuf.



Dear Inspirational Women,

Beginning in the next issue I will be happy to answer any finance-related questions you might have in my new column. The scope is

wide. It can be a question about your individual financial situationor a general question on finance and the economy.

Your questions will show me where your interests and needs lie. Byaddressing them I hope to demystify the field of finance. You will seethat the secret world of high finance does not really exist. You willnot feel you need to be a maths whiz to invest money. And most im-

portantly, you will soon feel how exhilarating financial understand-ing and independence is.

Giving you confidence to make your own financial decisions is whatthe column is all about.

Looking forward to receiving your questions!

Inspirational Financial Agony AuntAnnett


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I FollowedMy Bisss h a r n i Q u i n n

Follow your blisslisten to your innervoice, listen to your intuition and ollowyourheart!

Itsoundseasy.Ionlyonecouldullytrustandlistentoonesinnervoice,wouldntliebea simple and beautiul place?Well, wecan.Ilearnedthisthehardway.

2010wastheyearomythreepassionsYoga,beachandtravel.IdecidedtodedicateninemonthstomyFollowtheSunjourneyandsearchormyinnerlightandradiance.IliterallyollowedthesunshinearoundtheworldexploringthewarmthoIndia,BaliandAustraliaandabsorbingasmuchlightandPranaaspossible.

What brought on this quest? A broken

heart, a weary body and my emotionallydrainedsoul-whichwasindesperateneedohealing.

LeadinguptomydecisiontotravelonmyownpersonalYogapilgrimage,Ihadexpe-rienced an emotional breakdown and hadmademyselphysically ill due to stress. Irealizedmymarriagewas over.MyworldhadallenapartandIneededtomakesomedrasticchangestosavemywholebeing.Ineededtodiscovermyselagain,IneededtondmylivelinessandnurturewhatlittlelightIcouldstilleelfickeringinsideome.

Andso,withinourmonths,ImovedoutomyhouseinCapeown,packedupmylie,signeddivorcepapersandsaidgoodbyeto

myYogaclients,amilyandriends.Withonlymy intuition as my companion, onebagoluggageandawholelototrustandbelieintheUniverse.IboardedtheplaneandfewtoIndia.

Duringtherst twoweeksomyjourneyIsimplycollapsedonthebeachinGoa.Ineededtoreplenishandrecharge.Indiaalso

tooksomegettingusedto!Itisanamazingcountryulloenergy,colourandvibrancybutorsomebodywhodidnthavemuchvigourtobeginwith, ittookquitea lotoeorttoexperiencethein-your-acepov-erty,people,lthandnoise.

Indiaisoneothoseplaces,however,whereonce you spendany time there, the layersstarttounravelandyourealizethatunderthesuraceisaplaceulloloveandpas-sionandacountrythatyoucanthelpbutloveandbepassionateabouttoo.

I spent most o my time healing in theSivanandaAshraminKerala,SouthIndiaAteramonthoourhoursoYogaandthreehoursomeditationandSatsangdaily,

if y

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plusapureSattvicdiet(eatenonabananalea,onthefoor,withourrighthand),anda20-dayPanchakarmaAyurvedicdetox,IlettheAshrameelingcompletelyhealthy,wholeandblissulagain.Ieltallmyemo-tionalanxietywashawayandIeltmylightstarttoshine-Iwasreadytocontinuemyjourney.

MynextdestinationwasBali.

Baliisabeautiulplace,whereyoucaneelthepeaceulnessandgraceassoonasyouarrive.

I met up with a good riend and ellowCapeownYogi.FortwospecialweeksweenjoyedthetranquilsettingoUbud,vari-ousYogaclassesandBalinesetherapiesattheYogaBarn,cyclingthroughricepaddiesanddiscoveringthesurotheBhukitPen-insula.Wewereree,spontaneousandlivingthedream!

Tisisprobablythereasonorthenextpartomy adventure. I was completely happywithlieandglowingwithdelightandso

ImetagorgeoussurerboyromHawaii.Welivedinparadisesurerhutsonthebeach.Weateromtheearthreshco-conuts,mangoesandpineapples.WespentourdaysdoingsunriseYoga,surngintheturquoisewateroBalangan,andsnorkel-ingoverthereesotheGiliIslands,andendedourdaysmeditatingatsunset,enjoy-ingHatten Rose wine andwishing uponthestars.Itwasheaven.Itwasaantasy.A-tertwogloriousweeksIkissedhimgoodbye

andheadedotoAustralia.

Australia, orme, elt like coming home.Ispentsixmonthsinthatamazingcoun-try,thecountryomybirth,andeachdayIeltasthoughIwasreconnectingwithmyroots.Tepeople, the landscape, the veg-

etation,thehospitalityandthewarmthareverysimilartomyownhome,SouthAricaIalsoeltasenseosecurity,supportandsaety.Iwaswelcomedwithopenarmsandlived with Australian amily riends andmany ex-South Aricans throughout mystay. Iwas blessedbythesehumanangelsandgottoexperiencethelocalsideoAus-traliaandwhatiteltliketolivethere.

IstartedoinCairns,learningtoscubadive- and experiencing a our-day live-aboarddivetripontheSpiritoFreedom,workingasawaitresstoearndollars,teachingYogaandacilitatingFollowtheSunYogawork-shops.

TenIcontinueddowntheeastcoastliv-ingwithanIndianSwamiandhisamilyvisitingNoosaandriendsinBrisbane,cre-atingmyownYogaretreatinByronBayandnally settling in Sydney or the last twomonthsomystay.

Sydneyisanawe-inspiringcity,whichreallyresonatedwithme.IvisitedmanyYogastu-diosandexperiencedvarious internationa

teachers and styles. I explored the FutureSoundoYogainPaddingtonchurch,IdidtheYogaAid challenge orcharity in thebotanicalgardens,Iwenttotalks,medita-tionworkshopsandlistenedtoSwamiGo-vindananda share his knowledge o Yogaphilosophy beyond the mat.WhatcompletedmyYogapilgrimagethough,wastheweek-endbeoreIfewhome.IjoinedtheFluidPowereacherraining withweeMer-rigan, one o ShivaReasmaster teachers

Completelyinspiring!

However,myFollowtheSun journeywasnotonlyaboutmypersonalmissionbutalsotondsomelightandpeaceorothers.ItwasalsoaboutraisingYogaawarenessanddoingYogaorcharity-ortheruralchil-

i ud

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i fMy Biss


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drenintheWesternCapeoSouthArica.TroughoutmyjourneyIdid108SunSalu-tations perweek (betweenAutumnEqui-noxandSummerSolstice4,644intotal)andencouragedloving,caring,givingsoulstosponsormeandthechildrenoGoedge-dacht by donating an olive tree to theirbeautiul arm andwonderulPathoutoPovertycauses.

IreturnedhomerealizinghowmuchIhadhealed and completely transormed I hadbeen.

Asthesunsetonmyjourney,Icouldnthelpbutlookbackandrefectonwhatanincred-ibleyearIhadexperienced!

Te trip changedme orever, and broughtmebacktomyselatthesametime.ItwaseverythingIhadhopedanddreamedorplus a ew wonderul surprises along theway.

Imetmanyphenomenalnewpeoplealongmytravelsandreunitedwithsomanyoldriends. However, without the love, sup-

portandconstantcommunicationwithmywonderulriendsandamilybackhomemyjourneywouldnot havebeenasnurturingandulllingasitwas.

Passionate about Yoga, health and happiness, Sharni Quinn

has just spent nine months travelling through India, Bali and

Australia on her personal Yoga pilgrimage and doing Yoga for

charity her Follow the Sun Journey.

Upon her return to Cape Town, South Africa, she now plans on

sharing her inspiring moments through teaching Yoga, facilitat-ing workshops, writing, sharing her experiences and spreading

the sunshine.

IamnowhappytobehomeinCapeowntoeelhealthy,wholeandatpeaceagain.Mytimenowisdedicatedtoreconnectingwith my Yoga clients through acilitatingFollowtheSunworkshops,writingabookaboutmystory,engagingasaYogaliestyleconsultantandsharingwhatIlearneddur-ingmytravels.

Iampassionateabouthelpingtoinspireindividualstondtheirownradiance,ollowtheirblissand become a shining light orthemselvesandorothers.

I will never orget my 2010 Follow theSun Journey I eel completely blessedandgrateulandwillorevercontinuemyjourney towards my inner-sun, inner-selinnerlightandsoul.

I ...

, , .. ,

. Joseph Campbell, Te

Power o Myth



Dancingwith Biss!k i r s t e n M e n e g h e o

As children, we used to experience blissonanalmostdailybasis.Wewereintouchwithtruejoyandhappinesswhenclimbingatree,watchingabutterfy,digginginthedirtorrunningintheplayground.Wedidntthinkaboutblissbecausewelivedit.Bliss canbedenedasperect happiness,serenejoy,orecstasy.Itsamomentwhenyoueelsuspendedintimeandwanttosa-vour that wonderul experience.With thedemandsandschedulesoadulthood,howotendoyouexperienceblissinyourdailylie?Tinkaboutthelasttimeyouelttrulyblissul. Perhaps itwas on vacation when

you were able to step outside o your re-sponsibilities.Maybeyouwerelyingonthebeach, hearing the sound o the crashingwavesorwatchingasunset.I recently recaptured the eeling o blisswhenIreconnectedwithwhatIlovedmostasachild:dancing.MyloveodancestartedwhenIwasatoddler;IlovedmusicsomuchthatIwouldstandnexttotheradiotosinganddancealongorwhatseemedlikehours

onend.IwouldwatchDanceFeveronVandcopyallthedancemoves.Once,asIwasperecting a particular move, I slid acrossthelivingroomandslammedmychinintothecoeetable.Itwasntaparticularlyuntriptotheemergencyroomorstitches,and

thesmallscarisstilltheretothisday,morethanthirtyyearslater.Butthatexperiencedidnotlessenmyloveodance.AsIgrew,Istartedtapdancinglessonsthentransitionedintoballet.Ibecameveryseri-ousaboutdancingandearnedmyrstsetopointeshoesinmiddleschool.IcontinuedtowatchFame,AmericanBandstand,Soulrain,andSolidGoldinordertoimprovemyskills.Ilovedtheeelingoextendingmy body long and lean while en pointeTerewasno other eeling like it. I lovedthedisciplineandtheconstantdrivetowardperection,coupledwiththeartisticexpres-

sion.Iwantedtopursuedancingasacareerandhadanopportunitytoattendahighschooortheartisticallytalented.Butmyparentsdidnotsupportmydreams.Teysaiditwasnotprudenttopursueacareerasadancerand pushed me to go to college and lawschoolinstead.Inhighschool,Istoppedtakingballetbe-

causeIknewIwasnotgoingtobecomeaproessionaldancer.AndalthoughIdancedinclubsandathomeoccasionally,orthemostpartIclosedthatchapteromylieWhiletryingtostaytasanadult,Ijoineda gymand did the workout thing: lited


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weights, took aerobics classes, walked onthetreadmill.ButIneverreallyenjoyedit.Atage42,IrecentlyrediscoveredtheJOYodancing!IlearnedaboutNIA(Non-Im-pactAerobics)romariendandgaveitatry.NIAissensory-basedmovementprac-tice that leads tohealth, wellnessand t-ness.Itempowerspeoplebyconnectingthebody,mind,emotionsandspirit.Wedancebareoottosoul-stirringmusic.Inmyrstclass,IwasclosetotearsbecauseIeltthepureblissomovingwiththemusic.Terewasno judgmentorquestorperectionasthereisinballet.Itwaslikedancingaroundtheretothebeatoadrum.Ieltthesheerjoyomovingrhythmicallyinconcertwithothers.Eventhoughitwasgroundingandbroughtmehometomysel,itwasalsoveryexpansive,andIeltconnectedtospiritandthegreaterworld.NowIpracticeNIAonceaweekandIlookorwardtothistimetoreintegratemybody,mindandspirit.Itbringssomuchjoytomylie.IhavealsodiscovereddancegamesonouramilyWiivideogamesystemandIgettodance to Beat It alongwith adigitalMichaelJackson.IwasluckytostumbleintoNIAclassesandndblissthroughmovement.Myhopeis

thatyouwillndyourblissbasednotonluckorchance,butratheranintentiontoseekoutwhatbringsyoujoy.Herearesomestepstodiscoveryourbliss:

1Tink back to when you were a childWhat brought you the most happi-ness?Wasitdigginginthedirtlookingorworms,drawingashiondesignsorstaginga play with your riends? Look or cluesamongstyouravoritechildhoodactivities.

2

What activities do you engage in nowwhere you nd yoursel losing track

otimeandthehoursjustseemtofyby?Someexamplesare:gardening,fyshing,writing,hiking,cooking,andknitting.

3What have you always been drawn toand havent tried yet? My aunt alwayslovedbeingnearthewaterandwasdrawntoit.Itwasonlywhenshemovedtoahousenearalakeatage60thatshenallytriedkayakingandlovedit!Itsnevertoolatetondyourbliss.Whenyoutapintoactivitiesthatbringyoujoyonadailybasis,yourheartexpandsandyou live in joy.Tathappinessand energyexpandstootherareasoyourlieandtoothersinyourworld.IwishyouawonderulNewYear,ulloBLISS!

Kirsten Meneghello, J.D., is a Life Purpose Coach based in

Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. She works with successful profes-

sional women who are seeking change and on a quest for greater

purpose and meaning in their lives. Kirsten coaches, speaks,

writes and hosts retreats on nding your purpose. You can

reach her at [email protected] or follow her on

Twitter @IlluminationPDX.


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Are you a successulproessional who is wonderingi it is possible to fnd meaningand a sense o satisactionrom your work?6 You feel like you should like your job because you are good at what you do

and have a successful career.6 You dont think its possible to have a career you enjoy because work is

supposed to be hard, right?6 You are worried about what others will think of you leaving your profession.6 You feel trapped.6 You feel there is a part of you that has not been fully expressed yet.6 You are ready to do the work and get clarity about your purpose and your

ideal career path.

Good news! It IS possible for you to:1. Discover your unique life purpose.2. Choose a job/career path that uses your unique purpose.3. Enjoy your work and feel that you are contributing and making a mean-ingful difference.

You can identify your life purpose and choose a careerthat uses that purpose in order to make a meaningful

difference in the world.Im Kirsten Meneghello and I am a Life Purpose Coach. Whenyou coach with me, you will get clarity about your purpose anddetermine how to illuminate it in your work and personal life.

To request a complimentary 30-minute coaching session,email [email protected].


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Mila Diamond is a Personal and Business Coach, founder of Womens Perfect

Body, as well as CEO and Master Coach of Diamond Mind Coaching. She teachesfrom the heart and accepts no less than the best from each client. She works bril-liantly with women, helping them to permanently break through

limitations and achieve amazing results.

Womens Perfect Body was created to help you become healthy,

happy, and fullled, while creating the beautiful body and life

you desire and deserve.

Withholidaysbehindus,itstimetorejuve-natethebody!Forout-o-this-worldmas-sage,visitBali.Iyouareanadventurer,tryscuba diving in Belize or mergewith thewindonamountaintoponNewZealandsSouthernIsland...butitravelisnotanop-tionatthistime,trysomethingyoucandoromwhereveryouare:aspecial,rejuvenat-ingmeditation.

Oneothewonderulthingsaboutmedita-tionisthatyoudonotneedtogoagreatdistance to reach your inner and bodilybliss.Colorulimagesinyourmindcantakeyoutoaretreatoyourwildestdreams!Fordeeprejuvenation,putyouravoritemusicon and imagine yoursel driting away to

VisualizeYourWayto BissM i a d i a M o n d

your secret place o healing.Ten, as youwalkaroundyourimaginarygarden,beachormountaintop,imaginethatyourbodyislight,radiant,strong,andabsolutelybeauti-ultheidealversionoyou!Nowimaginethatyoucandothingswithyourbodythayouvealwaysaspiredtolikerunningwithease,doingyoga,martialarts,ordancingyou decide! Visualize putting on the best

perormance o your lie with strengthagilityandgrace.Fiteentotwentyminutesadayovisualizingyourbodyatitsbestandyouwill eel re-energized and inspired tojointhegym.Tisiswherethe truepowerovisualizationliesitinspiresustotakeactionandollowourbliss.oyourblissandbeautiul,condentyou!



Better Yourse

R-O-O-T-Stof-r-u-i-t-sa n d r i e k a a u s t i n

Part II

There is an energy in even the smallest things

of everyday life that can be used to motivate and

strengthen ourselves and others. -Unknown

In a previous article, I briefy mentionedwhat happenswhena seed isplanted andtherootsgrowproperlyinplaceandarese-cure;theendresultbeingthemaniestationoruit.Now,morethaneverthereisaneedornaturalruitoneverycornerotheglobe.Weareinneedophysicalruittohelpsus-

tainourhealthandmaintainthepropernu-tritionorourbodies.WecanalsoapplythissamewordruittotheaspectobeinganemPOWERedemale.Inourworldoem-POWERedwomen,wearealsoindespairoruit;FearlesslyReceivingUnlimitedIn-spirationTroughSel-EmPOWERment.


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Fearlessly FEARisotenre-erredtoasFalseEvidenceAppearingReal.BychoosingtobeanemPOWERedwom-an,wesoonlearnhowtoshowactionsthatrefect the veryoppositeo thisdenitionwhenwedecidetobeearlessandovercomeobstaclesthatmaytrytostandinourway.

Receiving thiswordisanartinitsel.Teabilitytoallow,accept,andem-bracewhatevermaycomeisonlythebegin-ningotheruitsprocess.

F

R

U

I

T

S

Unlimited whensomethingisunlimited,itisendlessandallowsanover-fowandabundanceinwhateversourcehasbeenprovided.Itsalwaysgoodtobeunlim-itedinallthings.

Inspiration tobreatheinto,tostimulateandimpeltosomecreativeeort.Tismaycometoyouasyoubegintoshareyour passion, your git,or your liesstory

with someone. Inspiration will denitelyguideyouonthejourneytoruits.

Through likeinthewordroots,thiswordislinkedtotheprocessogettingromonelocationtoanotherdesireddesti-nationorplace(whethermental,physical,orspiritual),beitasituationorathought,itsaprocessthatisusuallynecessarytoreachadesiredoutcome.

Self-EmPOWERment this word is our anthem as inspirationalwomen. Its our motto to living a good,healthylie.Whethergoingromrootstoruits, deciding to be a sel-empoweredwoman and inspiring others to live em-POWERedlivesisgreatmissiontostriveor.

Natural,spiritualandmentalruitsaretheresultoaplantedseed.Teyleavealegacypayitorward,andpositivelyimpactuturegenerations.Eachruitisedible,otensweetandusuallycontainsotherseeds(whichcanbe re-planted). Most importantly, ruit isthematureresultoanyaction.Whenwechoosetoberuitul,wearealsochoosingtobeproductive,ertile,andpositive.Teveryoppositeothisdecisionisbeingunruitulwhichcancanleaveuseelingvain,unpro-ductive,andemptyinside.

Apreviousarticleonroots to ruits gaveyou the acronym or the word roots;Re-sistingandOvercomingObstaclesTroughStrength.Tisreadingexplainsthebreak-downorthewordruit;FearlesslyReceiv-ing Unlimited Inspiration Trough Sel-EmPOWERment.Tebeautyobothrootsandruitsisthatonceimplementedcorrect-lyandsharedwithsomeoneelse,theyeachcanhavelong-lasting,long-termeects,beusedasmotivationaltoolsandhaveaposi-tiveoutcomestartingromwithinyou,andgrowingromtheinsideout.

Andrieka J. Austin is founder ofJour-

ney Girl, a mobile enrichment service

for girls and women. She offers life skills

and self-emPOWERment training and

development services. Visit her online atwww.MissJourneyGirl.com and see her

companys work at www.journeygirl.org

Find her through social media

facebook.com/journeygirlatl

twitter.com/journeygirlatl, and on

Linked-in as the Moderator for

the group: Female Self-emPOWERment


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BlissandYour

Menstrua CyCeg a B r i e a g u g i e M i n o t t i t r i v e Wearealltakenbysomanythingsnowa-daysinourdailyliethatmostothetimewe eel torn apart by conficting interests,commitments,duties,hobbiesanddesires.

Wearebombarded24/7bysomuchinor-mationthatattimesweeeloverwhelmedandexhaustedjustatthethoughtohavingtoreadanotheremail,newsletter,letterormagazine.

As womenwe tend to have a natural in-stinctaboutwhattodo,whenandhow,andthishelpsusnotonlyinbusiness,butalsoasmothers,wives,riends,partners,colleaguesorwhateveryourmainroleinliemightbe.Haveyoueverwonderedthough,wherethisinstinctcomesrom?Orwhy?Doesallthisapplytoyou?Ordoyouthinkitisonlyamythandthatonlyewwomenhaveit,butitisnotapplicabletoyou?

Well,whateveryourexperience inyour liemightbe,Icanassureyouthataswomenwedohaveanextragear.Naturedidgituswithsomeextratoolsthatprobablymostousorgettouse,maybejustbecausewearenotawareothem.

One o these extra tools that we comeequippedwithaswomenisthemenstruacycle,theoten-dreadedmonthlyeventthamanyouscallTeCurse.Eveniwelivein the 21st centurywe tend to ignore oravoidthe subject, especially insocial con-versations,unlessit isreally necessary(andinthatcasewetendtolowerourvoiceandlookaroundbeorestartingtotalkaboutit!)

Whydowedothat?Whyisitataboosub-ject that still carries such stigma, concernandembarrassment?Isntitanaturalpro-cessthatallowsalloustobealive?Whydoweostracizeitsomuchwhetherwearemenorwomen?

72 INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN MAGAZINE


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Well,iwelookinto anytaboosubject,wecanseethattheretendstobealinkbetweenatabooandthesacredorsomethingcarry-ingsomepower,socoulditbethatthisisthecaseorthemenstrualcycletoo?

Willingornot,wehavebeenlivingorsev-eral thousands o years under patriarchalrule,andthecyclehasbeenconsideredassomething pertinent to the emale genderandthereorenotomajorinterestoraso-cietymainlyrunbymen.Atermilleniaevenwomenhaveconvincedthemselvesthatitisaninconvenientaspectoliethatwomenjusthavetoputupwith,andthemoreyoucanrepressitornumbit,thebetteryourliewillbe.

Arewe really sure o this?Couldnt it bethatthismysteriousphenomenonhasbeendreadedormisunderstoodsomuchbecauseitinactcarriessomespecialpowerswith

Gabriella Guglielminotti Trivel is an NLP Master

Practitioner, passionate about helping women break through

limiting beliefs, fears and helping them y in life!

She joined an expedition to Antarctica in March 08 to stretch

herself to the limit and be even better in helping other women do

the same.

She helps women deepen their knowledge about their menstrual cycle, open up to a

new awareness and be empowered! Visit her website at www.yinginspiration.co.uk.

it?Coulditbethatwearesittingonagoldmineandwedontknowit?

WhatiItoldyouthatyourmainsourceoinspirationisactuallyresidinginit?Howwouldyoueel?Wouldyoureconsideritandlookatitwithatleastacuriouseyeratherthanlabelitasadrag?Haveyouevernoticedthatattimesinyourlieyouareulloinspiration,energyanddetermination,andhavealltheanswersyouneedtodowhateveryouwant?Haveyoueverthoughtthattheremightbea linktoyourmenstrualcycle?

I youwant to nd outmore about yourmenstrual cycle, I run regular workshopcalledFlyingSoloIandpersonalsessionswithwomen.Mypurposeistomakeyoufyinlieandeelgreatinyourskinbyhonour-ingyourbodyasasourceowisdom.




Southern Africa Embrace Foundation (SAE)isaninternationalnot-or-protcharitableorganization ounded in 2010 inoronto,Canada.Wearecommittedtoadvocating,supportingandpromotingthewellbeingomarginalizedwomenandchildren/orphans(0-16years)intheSouthernAricancoun-triesoBotswana,Lesotho,Swaziland,Re-publicoSouthAricaandZimbabwe.Weaspiretoempower,educateandacilitateabetterliestyletowomenandchildrenwhoareacedwithadailystruggleintheirsoci-etytosurvivepoverty,abuse,hunger,home-lessness, illiteracyanddisease.Wesponsorand work in collaboration with selectedclinics, shelters, educational organizations,orphanages,religiousorganizations,NGOs,individualsandcorporatermsinandout-sidethecountriesweprovideourservices

to.

SouthernAfricaEmbraceFoundationCharity

Our Vision:We envisiona strongalliance o Southern Arican women andchildrenotodayandtheuturewholiveinsustainable communities and are sel-reli-ant,empowered,prosperousandcondenindividualswithopenaccesstoliespoten-tialopportunities.

SAEs women empowerment programs, run inZimbabwe in collaboration with Lupane Wom-ens Centre (www.lupanewomenscenter.org)and inSwazilandwithMustardSeedArica(www.mustardseedarica.org), were createdtopromotegenderequality,knowledge,educationandsel-sustainabilityinthecom-munitiesthatwomenlivein.Asweallknowempowermentistheexpansionoonesca-pacitytocreatepositivebehaviouralchangeanditisthroughthisthatdevelopmentcan

beachieved.WomeninSouthernAricao-tenstruggleorequalityinmakingculturalsocial,nancialandevenamilydecisions.

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Women are also less represented in theeldoeducationandinthelabourmarket.TeocusonwomeniscrucialtoSAEbe-causeanempoweredallianceowomencanequatetochangeandsustainabledevelop-ment.Empoweringwomenwillgivethemaccesstoeducationandotherskillsinordertobenanciallyindependentandimprovetheirlives,amilies,societiesanduturegen-erations.SAEsWomen Achievers Programenrolls women in programs that help inmanyareas:

RaisingawarenessoHIV/AIDS, Combattingsexual,physicalandemo-tionalabuse

Alleviatingpoverty Helpingwomentoknowtheirrightsintheirhomes,societyandworkplace

eachingthemhowtogrowcrops Maintaining sel-sustaining projectswithintheirtalentcapacity

Promoting nancial planning andhandicrats.

We believe empoweringwomenwill edu-catethemtoknowandtaketheirrightuplacesintheircommunities.

Lupane Womens Center

In July 2011, Southern Arica EmbraceFoundationpartneredwithLupaneWom-ensCentre(LWC)tohelpcreatesustain-ability or the women that are currentlymembersatthecentre.Tecentregeneratesincome rom localmembership ees, run-

ning a poultry project, a small restaurant,booking rooms and a conerence acility.Tegardenatthecentrealsocomplements

income through the sale o nursery treesthat are grownbythewomen.Womenatthecentrearealsoinvolvedinraisinggoatsand chickens, selling eggs, soap-makingcandle-making, conservation arming, nu-trition gardens, bee-keeping and acilitat-ingnancialstabilityamongstthemember

throughthecreationoamonthlysavingsclubwherewomencontributeundstoin-vestorthemselves.



Te women at the centre are reaping the

rewardsotheircommitmentandpartner-shipsthroughtheprogressotheircommu-nitygardens.Tegardenssupplythemandtheircommunitieswithimprovednutrition,as well as some monetary gains, by sell-ingtheexcesstolocalpeople,thusraisingmoneytospendontheirindividualamilyneeds.Tewomen inLupanemake someothemostbeautiulNdebele,ongaandNambyanbasketsandothertraditionalandcontemporary works o art. Teir crats,

through generous sponsorships and part-nerships,haveoundmarketsinotherpartsoArica,EuropeandtheAmericas.SAEisdelightedtobeapartneroLWCaswearewitnessingshitsandimprovementsinthelivesothemembersthroughthevari-ous programs. Some women have boughtassetsortheirhomes,smalllivestock,im-

provedtheirdietandreceivedagreatdeal

otrainingintechnicalandbusinessskillsTewomenhave also learnedmore aboutlegalandhumanrightsandhowtoadvo-cateorthemselvesintheirpr

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