Reconnecting With Yourself

Have you ever looked around and wondered what happened to your life, and the person you used to be? Did you used to be more ambitious, lighthearted, adventerous, optomistic, or just filled with life and vitality?

I have had many days where I wondered, what happened to me? This year, I embarked on the process of reconnecting with my true self. Often in life, responsibilites, dissapointments, and setbacks can not only knock you off course, but cause you to forget who you truly are. This is what happened to me, anyway. A lot of the things I used to enjoy, I simply stopped doing them.

Well no more! With each passing day, I am getting closer and closer to the person I was intended to be. I look for help, inspiration, and motivation anywhere I can find it.

What about you? Do you need to reconnect with your true self?

 Here are some things you can do to reconnect:


Journal- I've journaled daily for most of my life. In recent years I've begun to journal less and less until I hardly did it at all. Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your feelings, or to work problems out. It could also just be a place to express your grattitude for the blessings in your life.

If you need help getting started, you can find journaling prompts here.

Pick a hobby-  Growing up, what did you love to do? Were you into sports, dance or theater, painting, building race cars, or pretending to teach? Whatever it was, find a way to do it again. Check out a local softball team, take martial arts lessons, or a dance class. Let the real you out to play.

Self-help- Read a self-help book, or listen to one as you drive in the car to and from work. Sometimes self-help books pose questions that you may not have thought of on your own. Once you have the answers to those questions, your outlook on life may improve.

Shop: Go out and buy some clothes that reflect your true personality and not just your position in life. Who says that all of your clothes have to match, or come from a certain department store? Have fun. Wearing clothing you love is one of the best ways to express yourself.


What are some other ways to reconnect with your true self?

Stay Motivated Links

Anyone who is trying to accomplish a large goal knows that throughout the journey
you must do many things to stay on track. You must recommit yourself to your goal, remember why you started your journey in the first place. Finding inspiration wherever you can, and reassessing your strategy are also very important. Here are some links to help you along the way:

• Once you know, you can make the necessary corrections :12 Habits Standing Between You and What You Want
• Because it is never too late to dance: Too Big For Ballet?
• What are you reading this summer? Here's a great list of books for new business owners.
• Acceptance, the key to overcoming your fears?
• You can lose weight over the summer. Top 10 Tips For Fat Flushing Your Summer.
• Too hot to workout? Think again. 6 Ways to Rock a Summer Workout.
• My favorite kind of story...52 Year Old Graduates From UCLA With Honors.

Guest Post--Surviving Cancer and Reviving Sexuality

Combatting cancer is an all consuming quest with the prize being survival. Surviving is, without a doubt, something to brandish above your head like a great, glimmering trophy. However, unfortunately, surviving does not repair everything nor is it the end of the journey.

Reviving sexuality, a vital aspect of human life, after surviving cancer can be a daunting challenge. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are approximately 12 million cancer survivors in the U.S. and many of them (40% to 100% depending on the type of cancer and treatment) suffer from a sexual problem directly related to their illness (Zimmerman, 2011). Here are some tips, for both men and women, survivors and their spouses, to keep in mind on the journey to reviving sexuality:

•  Recognize the problem. Understand that sexual disfunction may be caused by a physical or psychological condition. Physically, a woman may experience treatment-induced menopause or vaginal dryness or pain during sex while a man may be unable to get or sustain an erection. Psychologically, survivors may loose interest in sex, suffer from depression, feel anxiety about their ability to perform, feel a sense of shame, or lack confidence (i.e. have a negative body image).

•  Start out small. You don’t have to have sex right away. Enjoy just touching your partner; try giving one another a massage. Don’t become obsessed with the act of sex. Sex should be enjoyable - not a task that has to be completed.

•  Try something new. Take time to explore with your partner and determine what feels good for both of you. Try a new sexual position, which may reduce or prevent pain during sex.

•  Don’t be afraid to accessorize. If you experience vaginal dryness or pain during intercourse try a vaginal moisturizer or a lubricant. However, do your homework first! Talk to a medical professional or knowledgable staff member or do some research as some lubricants are meant for “every day” use while others are for “special occasions” only. When needed, don’t be embarrassed to incorporate other sexual aids into your routine (ex. vibrators) as well. 

•  Get fit. Studies have shown that exercise can help prevent certain cancers and their reoccurrence. In addition, working out helps improve confidence, increase blood circulation, and produces endorphins which may help with mood, anxiety, and depression.  

•  Don’t give up. Keep trying and be patient with yourself. If you are a cancer survivor, recognize that your partner is there for you - he or she is not “bored” and you should not feel rushed. Don’t label an attempt at engaging in intercourse as a “success” or “failure”. Instead, recognize that this is an ongoing process towards recovery and reviving sexuality.

Reviving sexuality after surviving cancer is a a quest all on its own. Be patient with yourself and your partner as well as open minded. Try to see this journey not as a challenge but as an opportunity to bring you and your partner closer together.

 Article contributed by Alex Webb an behalf of the Urology Group in Cincinnati. Alex formerly worked for a company dedicated to empowering and educating women on sexual health. The concept stuck with her after her departure and she now regularly contributes guest posts about health and fitness topics (although not strictly for women) to various blogs. Follow her on Twitter @alexandriakwebb.

Resources:

 Zimmerman, R. (2011). Sex After Cancer: How To Get Your GrooveBack.

Generating New Leads For Your Business

Often one of the major problems solo entreprenuers run into when establishing their small business is generating new leads. It is often difficult to find the right ways to market a small business, or get customers engaged.

Melinda Emerson over at "Small Biz Lady" in an interview with Yahoo gives some excellent tips for finding new leads.

In the interview Emerson describes how to use emails to engage your customers, social media to find new customers, and search engine optimization to be sure that potential customers can find you.

If lead generation is an area where you have struggled, head over to "Small Biz Lady" and pick up some tips that can move your small business forward.

Why We All Need Mentors

I wrote an article a few months ago for Monster College about the importance of finding a mentor.
My own mentor, Deesha Philyaw co-author of the forthcoming book, Co-parenting 101: Advice from a Formerly Married Couple on Parenting Across Two Households, reminded me yet again why having a mentor is so important.

After receiving a ton of rejections for a certain piece of writing I decided that it was time to ask for some help. I admit I'm not very good at asking people for help. A mentor, however, is someone who can help you to figure out areas where you are going wrong. Deesha was able to see several areas where I could improve that piece of writing. Her feedback was so valuable, and now I have direction!

No matter what industry you aspire to work in, or how many degrees you may have, learning never stops. We all have areas where we could improve. A mentor is the perfect person to show you the missing links. Whether you are in school or not, finding a mentor is important for your growth.

Check out my article for some good places to find a mentor, and if you can think of more places please leave them in the comments section.

Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award

In an effort to stop cyberbullying, two scholarship awards in the amount of $1,500 each are being offered.

The award is open to any student at any level of education from high school to graduate school. All you have to do is fill out the entry form, and write a short essay (500 words or less).

It is very clear that bullying, and cyberbulling is a huge problem. This is a great way to make a difference, and hopefully earn some scholarship funds at the same time.

Guest Post- 5 Ways to Improve Your Fertility

Having a baby may have been a life-long dream of yours, but if you experienced infertility or poor fertility, you may have thought that dream was lost. Most women who experience problems with fertility can improve their odds of getting pregnant by making some simple lifestyle changes. Of course, more serious medical issues will require a doctor's treatment.

However, if you have been trying to get pregnant for many months and are still not having any luck, here's how you can improve your fertility and give yourself a second chance at getting pregnant:

Improve Your Diet

Diet can have a significant impact on your fertility. try to reduce or eliminate processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. Eat organic if you can. Above all, eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, lean meat, and whole grains.

It is important to make sure you are getting enough of all the important nutrients, including protein, zinc, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins, which all play a role in fertility. It is also key to get plenty of healthy fats.

Exercise

Exercise helps you to maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, and regulate your hormones -- all of which are key to improving your fertility. Exercise can also ensure healthy circulation.

Be sure not to overdo it, as too much exercise can also hurt your fertility. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise three to four times a week should be plenty.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Getting enough sleep ensures that your body is healthy and is able to function optimally. When you sleep, all of your bodily systems are repaired and rejuvenated. Too little sleep and your body starts to suffer. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of restful sleep each night in order to improve your fertility -- as well as your odds of sustaining a healthy pregnancy.

Reduce Stress

Stress has serious physical consequences for your body. When you are trying to get pregnant, stress can create serious hormonal imbalances that make it difficult to impossible to conceive. Reduce stress where you can, and you will improve your fertility significantly.

Chart Your Cycles

Your body has peak fertility times each month -- typically about two weeks after the start of your last period. Chart your cycles to keep track of your periods and your ovulation so that you know when your best chances of getting pregnant are. You can even monitor your temperature and other fertility signs to increase your odds.

Improving your fertility and getting a second chance at having a baby is often a matter of taking simple steps such as these. Improving your diet and exercise, making sure you get enough sleep, reducing your stress, and monitoring your cycles can help give you the best odds of improving your fertility.

Heather Green is a Christian mom, freelance writer, pet lover and the resident blogger for OnlineNursingDegrees.org, a free informational website offering tips and advice about online guides and medical transcription programs.