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	<title>Conscious Divas &#187; Amber Ludwig</title>
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	<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com</link>
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<title>Conscious Divas</title>
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		<title>Learning to Accept and Respect Change</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/learning-to-accept-and-respect-change</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/learning-to-accept-and-respect-change#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:30:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Connection To Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accepting change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coping with Change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[expect change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to handle change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life changes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcoming obstacles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=6495</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When was the last time your alarm kicked on in the morning, you rolled over, and just couldn&#8217;t find it in you to bounce out of bed? When is the last time you ended a work day and realized you slacked off and didn&#8217;t give it your all? Was it less than a week ago? [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1205" title="Conscious Divas" src="http://www.consciousdivas.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/A-Strange-Form-of-Validation-You-Want-To-Embrace-and-Give-Space-For.jpg" alt="" width="344" height="228" />When was the last time your alarm kicked on in the morning, you rolled over, and just couldn&#8217;t find it in you to bounce out of bed? When is the last time you ended a work day and realized you slacked off and didn&#8217;t give it your all? Was it less than a week ago?</p>
<p>When is the last time you felt you were <strong>preforming at your best</strong> in all areas of your life?</p>
<p><strong>Our attitude is so fragile</strong> that even the smallest of experiences can dramatically inspire our moods. Our attitude is what drives the quality of our lives &#8211; relationships, work success and personal peace.</p>
<p>If you dissect what causes an attitude, you&#8217;ll find it is change. If we are in a great mood and something bad happens (a change), it can cause us to feel bad. If we are feeling depressed and something good happens (a change), it can cause us to feel empowered.</p>
<p>The positive and negative thing about life (pending your viewpoint) is that <strong>change is a constant</strong>. In fact, I don&#8217;t think we realize just how frequent change occurs in our lives. It&#8217;s multiple, if not dozens of times a day!</p>
<p>One of the most important realizations of my life to date is that change is constant. If change is constant, then I can either continue to be surprised about it or I can learn to accept it and respect it. If I know change is going to come, I start to let go of attachment to things and better prepare for the impact (good or uncomfortable).</p>
<p>For example, if I accept that change is constant then it should be no surprise to me when I hit every red light on the way to work and end up being late for a meeting. By accepting and respecting change, <strong>I gain the opportunity to choose my reaction</strong> to each event. Instead of cursing the whole way to work and putting all that negative energy in the world, I can take a big deep breath, laugh and hope that my boss isn&#8217;t too mad when I walk in the door. I can also try and control that change as much as the Universe will let me &#8211; for example, by calling my boss to let him know I will be late and hopefully lessen the impact. This is an example of a small-impact change.</p>
<p>Large-impact changes become much more difficult to &#8216;laugh off&#8217; or accept. An example is discovering your relationship partner has cheated on you. This is the kind of change that seems <em>impossible</em> to understand, accept and for sure, impossible to respect, right? If I am not used to change, this experience would totally catch me off guard, I would immediately get defensive and play the &#8216;victim&#8217; card. It would also absolutely affect my future relationships. I may never trust again.</p>
<p>By knowing that change is inevitable, it allows me the opportunity to sort of<strong> rise above the current experience</strong> and look at the unfolding of this event in another perspective. Instead of wondering what is wrong with ME that would cause him to cheat, I would have the opportunity to let go of attachment and see this wasn&#8217;t about me at all. It was about him and his interests changing. (And can you really blame someone for changing? We change ALL the time as humans. You have every right to get upset about how he <em>handled</em> that change, but you can only get so upset about the change itself.) The new perspective is that this &#8216;cheating&#8217; was not about ME. I can accept this and respect it. Think about how much easier this view is to process and move on from. It won&#8217;t leave me with trust issues and it won&#8217;t leave me exposed and vulnerable. Instead, it leaves me with <strong>great power.</strong></p>
<p>Our mind and ability to process information any way we CHOOSE is a tremendous power. We only scratch the very surface of what&#8217;s possible in how we perceive events and change.</p>
<p><strong>Below I have listed out a few steps or questions to ask yourself the next time you are presented with a change:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Take a deep breath and try to step outside of your experience.</li>
<li>Ask, &#8220;What is this really about?&#8221;</li>
<li>Ask, &#8220;If change is constant, how can I look at this situation with acceptance and respect for the process?&#8221;</li>
<li>Ask, &#8220;How will I choose to respond to this change to better my life and my experience?&#8221;</li>
</ol>
<p>If you need a reminder, a great &#8220;mirror message&#8221; would be: <strong> I will expect, accept and respect change.</strong></p>
<p>Will all have the power to create our own reality. What will you choose to do with yours?</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>If you thought this article had a message others would benefit from</strong>,</span> please help me share it through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.</p>
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		<title>Do You Feel &#8216;Good Enough&#8217;? How a Shift in Perspective Can Change Your World for the Better</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/do-you-feel-good-enough-shift-perspective-change-your-world-for-better</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/do-you-feel-good-enough-shift-perspective-change-your-world-for-better#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:30:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Connection To Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[am I good enough for me]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amber Ludwig]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[being the best version of yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[build online platform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[limiting beliefs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new years]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[not feeling good enough]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=6194</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have done a LOT of soul work ever since I was a little girl. As dorky as it may sound, I have actually broken my 28-year old life into two stages, and I even have titles for them! The first stage was my teenage depression years titled, &#8220;From Lost to Found&#8221; and since then [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6196" title="Do You Feel 'Good Enough'? by Amber Ludwig" src="http://www.consciousdivas.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/girl-running-round-track-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />I have done a LOT of soul work ever since I was a little girl. As dorky as it may sound, I have actually broken my 28-year old life into two stages, and I even have titles for them! The first stage was my teenage depression years titled, &#8220;<strong>From Lost to Found</strong>&#8221; and since then I have been in &#8220;<strong>No Guts No Glory</strong>&#8221; mode.</p>
<p>In between these two stages rests one of the most important moments of my whole life. A special pocket of time where it felt like time was slowing down; my heart and mind and soul were wide open to receiving &#8216;the message.&#8217; I was at an Anthony Robbins event and eighty to a hundred people surrounded me, chanting, screaming, jumping up and down all in support of me breaking this one-inch board with my bare hand. I was one of the last and my hand was pulsing with pain from previous attempts.</p>
<p>You see, my board had something very important written on it. My <strong>limiting belief</strong> was written in black permanent ink in big letters: &#8220;I am not good enough.&#8221; It pained me to even read the words because of how deeply and how long I believed them.</p>
<p><strong>But this was my moment</strong>. My pocket in time in front of all these people, cheering me on, to shatter this belief and never look back. And that is exactly what I did in that room, in my 22nd year of life.</p>
<p>Turns out, this is one of the most common beliefs in the world. When, where and why did we all get this idea that we are NOT good enough?! Not good enough for that promotion, to earn a six-figure income, for the man of our dreams, for a better relationship with our parents or siblings, for our child&#8217;s respect, for _______. Where?</p>
<p>Since this happened to be a critical time in my life, I&#8217;ve given MUCH thought to this concept and how it shows up in our lives. If you are just trying to be good enough <strong>for others</strong> then you are really setting yourself up for disappointment and that feeling that you are a loser and not of high value. BUT, if you challenge your thinking and ask, &#8220;Am I good enough <strong>for myself?</strong>&#8221; then you are on a whole new playing field.</p>
<p>When you constantly check in and ask, &#8220;Am I good enough for myself?&#8221; <strong>you will constantly grow, achieve more success and find love everywhere you go.</strong> I found myself no longer needing to be &#8216;good enough for a relationship.&#8217; I was happy with who I was as an independent, successful, loving, honest woman and you know what? I attracted the partner who saw those same qualities and feel in love with me. But, had I tried to be all of those things FOR someone else, I wouldn&#8217;t have landed in the same spot.</p>
<p>Another example: When I asked, &#8220;Am I good enough for myself?&#8221; in business, I started becoming the best little worker bee I could be. I wasn&#8217;t in business hoping to be good enough to get clients or more sales &#8211; I wasn&#8217;t operating based on scarcity or fear mode. Instead, I became a master organizer, efficient, fast, results-oriented and ALL about my client&#8217;s success because that is how I wanted to show up for me. That is how I knew I would sleep like a champ at night and knew I was making a difference in the world. I knew the clients would pour in as <strong>a result of ME being the best person I could be.</strong></p>
<p>There isn&#8217;t a day that goes by where I&#8217;m not running through the list of every single client I&#8217;ve worked with and thinking about how I can add value to their lives and their business. Just today I was thinking about a creating 3 new programs based around teaching people <a title="How to Build and Thrive in Your Online Business" href="http://insightfuldevelopment.com/21-questions-to-evaluate-your-efforts-of-building-your-online-platform.html">how to build and thrive in their online business</a>. When we operate knowing we are constantly trying to become the best version of ourselves FOR ourselves and no one else, <strong>the whole world sees your heart and your light and is attracted to you.</strong></p>
<p>So for this New Year and new beginning, I invite you to shatter your limiting belief that you are not good enough for others. Focus on asking yourself, &#8220;Am I good enough for ME?&#8221; If you work on loving yourself and respecting yourself you won&#8217;t even be able to believe all of the fortune, love and luck that comes your way.</p>
<p>If you thought this post was helpful, I would love your help in sharing it with your community on Facebook and Twitter. I have such a passion to help build others up and <strong>remind them of their natural beauty and gifts</strong>. Help me remind others today and for the New Year. Thank you in advance for your help and support.  <img src='http://www.consciousdivas.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		<title>Catapult Your Personal and Business Success! Here&#8217;s How&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/catapult-your-personal-and-business-success-heres-how</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/catapult-your-personal-and-business-success-heres-how#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindful Exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[being aware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business success and happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[give thanks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[live in consciousness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[live on purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal success and happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stay balanced]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trust]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=5450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Though I&#8217;m only a budding 28 year old, I realized a breakthrough mentality in my life and just had to share it with you! If you&#8217;re a regular reader, by now you&#8217;ve heard my story of being a completely lost and depressed teen. You know the type that ate lunches along, cried most nights in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Though I&#8217;m only a budding 28 year old, I realized a breakthrough mentality in my life and just had to share it with you!</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re a regular reader, by now you&#8217;ve heard my story of being a completely lost and depressed teen. You know the type that ate lunches along, cried most nights in bed and felt largely friendless? I had NO CLUE why these feelings of confusion and depression overcame me, <strong>or how long they would take up residence in my life</strong>, but they sure ate away at me.</p>
<p>From there, with a whole lotta faith and perseverance, I discovered the tools of business success in my tool box. I was 19 and attending college when I started working with a huge national marketing company. Life started to return. The recognition and achievements at my work was all I needed to start to turn my life around. Being lonely and small no longer served me &#8211; but BOY did that serve an important purpose.</p>
<p><strong>I think some of the coolest times in my life were months or years after a period of lostness when the &#8216;ah ha&#8217; moment finally comes, and you realize why you were so tortured.</strong></p>
<p>For the past nine years I have grown tremendously in business and have literally landed my dream job &#8211; working from home coaching speakers, authors and entrepreneurs to build their online business and online platform. I get to work with the most UNBELIEVABLE, FABULOUS men and women from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles. I attract (note key word: attract) exciting opportunities every day practically. <strong>I am living on purpose.</strong></p>
<p>In my personal life, I&#8217;ve rummaged through the same lost to found journey. A rollercoaster which included being with men that totally &#8220;didn&#8217;t get it&#8221;, to a &#8220;good enough&#8221; relationship turned marriage turned divorce, to a backtracking dance, to finally saying <strong>ENOUGH!</strong></p>
<p>It was 14 months ago that I picked up my belongings and pets and took a 2-week trip to Tucson (within an hour of getting the idea) and spent that time having my own rushed &#8220;Eat Pray Love&#8221; experience. I decided I would no longer sacrifice me to be in a relationship. I was going to use my voice, I was going to be balanced, I was not going to lose myself in another &#8216;ok&#8217; relationship that I secretly knew &#8211; but wouldn&#8217;t admit it out loud &#8211; was not right.</p>
<p>I drive back from my trip feeling serious and strong, but also a little scared. I avoided the thoughts of, &#8220;Well, <em>what if you&#8217;re alone?</em>&#8221; <strong>Trust.</strong></p>
<p>Wouldn&#8217;t you know it&#8230; just days later I went to a pumkin carving contest party that my best girlfriend of seven years was hosting with her boyfriend, and there he was. My nickname for him was Firefighter Jason and I can tell you fourteen months later that he is every single thing I asked for when I took that &#8220;leap&#8221; and went to Tucson for 2 weeks.<strong> I am living on purpose.</strong></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5479" title="Live on Purpose by Amber Ludwig of Conscious Divas" src="http://www.consciousdivas.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amber-ludwig-live-on-purpose-conscious-divas-300x138.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="138" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>So, how does one skyrocket their personal and business success?</strong></span></p>
<p>How can you <strong>go from where you are to where you want to be? </strong>Where you <strong>DESERVE to be?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I will tell you what has worked for me and I would invite you to give it a whirl for a month and see what can unfold in your life.</p>
<p>First, I <strong>live on purpose.</strong> Gone are the days that I just wake up and see what happens and hope it all works out ok. If I am unhappy in an area of my life, I do the work to figure out why I&#8217;m unhappy about it. If I decide that thing (work relationship, friend issue, bad eating habits!, etc.) is no longer serving me, I exit, but with integrity and authenticity. If it can still serve me, I work on fixing it. Doing the work to face your fears, own your faults, and celebrate your gifts &#8211; that is a huge part to gaining mountains of success and happiness in your personal and professional life.</p>
<p>Second, I take the word &#8220;<strong>gratitude</strong>&#8221; more seriously than any other word I can think of right now. This word is thrown around a LOT these days <em>for a reason!</em> Every night when I&#8217;m in bed (especially when I am restless or struggling to fall asleep) I take count of all of my blessings. I really FEEL the thanks I am giving for my wonder, amazing clients, my family, my friends, my beautiful house, my relationship, my dog, anything that comes to my heart. I sleep so well the moment I start this process and it warms my heart each time. I know for a FACT this is a main reason I keep attracting more of what I desire. I just know it.</p>
<p>Third, I live with <strong>awareness and consciousness</strong>. When you are aware and conscious, you see clearly when you are overstepping bounds, when you are needed or not, when you should enter or exit a situation. It feels a lot like going with the flow to be honest. You become more in tune to the needs of others, then when you fulfill that, tremendous reward follows. Being aware in my relationship allows me to be the best partner in crime I can be. Being aware for my clients leads to a great retention rate and to lots of word of mouth business. It just goes on and on&#8230;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>If you found this post to be inspirational or useful</strong>,  please help me share it with the world. Let’s get the ball rolling and  help as many people as we can! Thank you in advance for your  thoughtfulness.</p>
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		<title>Is Your Thinking Aligned with the Majority, or the Minority?</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/is-your-thinking-aligned-with-the-majority-or-the-minority</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/is-your-thinking-aligned-with-the-majority-or-the-minority#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conscious choice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Create a better life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create more opportunity in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life at your highest potential]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life for today]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living in fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[make a conscious choice to be in balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[making more money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[power of intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stay focused]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stay Present]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stop living in fear]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=5158</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I heard a study that only 9% of people polled in the US are earning the same amount or more income that the previous year &#8211; everyone else was making less or jobless. This is very concerning to me and makes me question what people are thinking and feeling. I wake up and see the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I heard a study that only 9% of people polled in the US are earning the  same amount or more income that the previous year &#8211; everyone else was  making less or jobless. This is <strong>very</strong> concerning to me and makes me question what people are thinking and feeling. I wake up and see the latest news announcements about how the world is in a very delicate economic state and how we might be headed for a major hit. Company stocks are plummeting which gives us FEAR, families are living on a shoestring budget and feeling STRESS, and relationships are experiencing TENSION due to all the pressures we face.</p>
<p>Yep, this is the way I see the majority thinking and it <strong>makes me want to put on my Super Woman cape on</strong> and save the world.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I have prided myself on taking the road less traveled, especially in the past year. As I reflect on where I was a year ago, compared to where I am today &#8211; in relationship, career, friendships, love &#8211; I see a HUGE difference. My business has DOUBLED in growth, I have never been closer and happier with any relationship partner, I&#8217;m closer with my friends and family &#8211; even the air smells more rosey!</p>
<p>Do you know what is entirely responsible for this change? My <strong>focus</strong>, <strong>intention </strong>and <strong>perception</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>I do not buy in to the fear</strong> that our news and chatter projects. If Greece falls, and the Euro falls and Asia is hit and the US is in trouble&#8230;. <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em>living in fear will do nothing but create more opportunity for fear in my life</em>.</span></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Instead, if I choose the road less traveled &#8211; if I step into the minority &#8211; I can choose to &#8220;hear&#8221; the news, but not let it affect my behavior or life choices. I can focus on building my business instead of being scared that more business might not come due to the economy. I focus on the kindness I see in people instead of focusing on the guy that is unaware and cut me off in traffic.</p>
<p>It is not that I&#8217;m being unrealistic or fru fru. It is that <strong>I make a conscious choice to be in balance, to live for today, to make the very most out of my life and live up to my highest potential.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is not a new concept. It&#8217;s the Law of Attraction, Staying in the Now, the Power of Positivity. It required, what felt like, a tremendous effort to stay focused on the right things at first. Once <strong>I conditioned my mind</strong> (just like you condition your muscles when you work out) it became a breeze. I have a &#8220;character building&#8221; day maybe once every two or three months. Not to say I don&#8217;t experience temporary pockets of frustration or stress &#8211; that&#8217;s human! &#8211; but I do not let it last all day and affect mt relationships with the people around me.</p>
<p>Today onward, I invite you to <strong>make the conscious choice</strong> to stay focused and <strong>make your situation better</strong>. Whether that means giving your relationship partner a break instead of having a conversation about ever little thing. Whether that means changing your perception and knowing that upset client isn&#8217;t attacking YOU, but looking for a different outcome. Whether that means no longer charging your credit card for items you don&#8217;t need with the focus of paying down your debts. It is a conscious choice and daily effort. One that I have taken very seriously every day and the positive outcome of my life is <strong>proof-positive this idea works!</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Take a stand and commit</strong></span><strong> to create a better life circumstance. If you&#8217;re with me, please share this post with as many people as possible. Share the love.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>What To Do When Someone Disappoints You</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/what-to-do-when-someone-disappoints-you</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/what-to-do-when-someone-disappoints-you#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:32:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Connection To Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forgiving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[get over disappointment from someone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to forgive and move on]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to handle disappointment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learn to be patient in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learn to forgive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learn to overcome disappointment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome disappointment in someone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome hurt feelings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[role of victim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stop being a victim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stop playing victim]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=4785</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When someone disappoints us it kind of feels like you’re standing still and not sure what to do. Anger, fear and sadness mix together. Questions start popping up all over the place. “What did I do?” “Was this my fault?” “Am I not good enough?” “Do I tell the person how I really feel?” “Should [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When someone disappoints us it kind of feels like you’re standing  still and not sure what to do. Anger, fear and sadness mix together.  Questions start popping up all over the place. “What did I do?” “Was  this my fault?” “Am I not good enough?” “Do I tell the person how I  really feel?” “Should I never talk to them again?”</p>
<p>It is very easy to slip into the role of victim here and point your  finger at them in judgment. So let that be our first example of a route  you could go down. It wouldn’t be that difficult to talk about them  behind their back, stew in private and write them off.</p>
<p>I personally believe this would catch up to you. I am the person who  believes, “treat others the way you would want to be treated” – I’m  extremely patient – and arguably too forgiving (if that is possible). I  constantly remind myself ‘we are only human’. We are capable of pissing  some people off, breaking promises, lying, cheating, gossiping, etc. We  are also capable of expressing our love and appreciation as often as we  want, staying faithful, doing good deeds, forgiveness, trusting in  others, not judging, etc.</p>
<p>That is where our loneliest spot on Earth exists – the spot where we  can choose. I can’t nudge into that spot with you to help you out. Your  parents and friends can’t. That spot is only for you and you can choose  any reaction or course of action you want! Knowing all the while that  you are the only one that will have to live with yourself for whichever  decision you make.</p>
<p>If you decide not to speak with a family member ever again, ok. If  you decide to go to college when everyone else in your family didn’t,  ok. If you decide to stay in a relationship that fulfills you or not,  ok. Others may make passing judgment, but you will inevitably live with  your own judgment until you take the difficult road of rectifying the  situation.</p>
<p>All that said, I am advocating you take a step back from the  situation and really think about it before reacting. Take a few days if  you need to. Think if you <em>did</em> do anything to cause this person  to disappoint you. We all have a role. Is this person important to you?  Have they shown up for you before? <strong>Why did this hut you so badly?</strong> Ask as many questions as you can think of. Only then can you logically  work out the core issues and figure out what your best course of action  is from here. Most often, we are disappointed because we had high  expectations. Sometimes people just do hurtful things (but they almost  never do it intentionally).</p>
<p>Another thing to consider in moment of decision… Can you imagine what  the other person will feel like, or how they will react, to your next  actions? I do not make a decision based on this, but I do think about  it.</p>
<p>Once I feel I’ve really looked at the situation from all angles and  perspectives, I may even phone a friend or family member and ask advice.  This is normal when this is a major disappointment and there are  strings attached. I’m not sure what to do or if I’m ready to separate  myself from the situation. When seeking counsel try your hardest to  listen objectively. Take what all sides say, then really think about  which parts feel true to you.</p>
<p>After carefully reviewing the whole situation I’ll react. That could  mean I send a letter agreeing with the breakup, but thanking them for  the good times. I could react by letting the person know they really  hurt my feelings with x decision or comment and I had to let them know  in hopes of finding common ground once more. There are a million  different routes we can go down.</p>
<p>I just try to be fair, always come from my highest truth and lead by  example. If I do those 3 things, at the end of the day, I know I did my  best. I did the right thing. And the other chips will fall where they  may.</p>
<p>We cannot be all things to all people all the time. But we can stand  up for what we believe in. We can admit fault. We are human.</p>
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		<title>The Million Dollar Secret to Overcoming Resistance</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/the-million-dollar-secret-to-overcoming-resistance</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/the-million-dollar-secret-to-overcoming-resistance#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:27:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Connection To Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[can I reach my goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to overcome depression naturally]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to overcome resistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to reach my goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to set and reach goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Million Dollar Secret]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[no more procrastination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[over come depression natural]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Overcome Depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome depression the natural way]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome procrastination in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome resistance in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome resistance in your life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Overcoming Resistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procrastination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reach Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stop and Go]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=4549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you been feeling very&#8230; stop and go lately? You are feeling an all time high one moment &#8211; motivated, getting stuff done, jazzed about opportunity. The next (almost within an instant sometimes) you feel just the opposite &#8211; discouraged, feeling like a loser, unsure of yourself. There is a resistance that just won&#8217;t let [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Have you been feeling very&#8230; stop and go lately?</strong> You are feeling an all time high one moment &#8211; motivated, getting stuff done, jazzed about opportunity. The next (almost within an instant sometimes) you feel just the opposite &#8211; discouraged, feeling like a loser, unsure of yourself. There is a <strong>resistance</strong> that just won&#8217;t let you stay on that &#8220;high&#8221;.</p>
<p>Once the awareness comes in that maybe there is resistance, we ask ourselves <strong>why is it so hard to do the smallest of tasks?</strong> Where is that coming from? Am I sabotaging myself from reaching my goals and what I truly want out of life? <strong>What can I do</strong> to get rid of this blockage?</p>
<p>These are tough questions to ask oneself. To look inward and fight for your life essentially. I honor your strength to find the answers to these questions.</p>
<p>I encourage you to <strong>think of this &#8220;stop and go&#8221; experience in a new perspective</strong> today. Visualize yourself standing in front of a great, tall door frame. There is no &#8220;door&#8221;, just the frame. You stand in front of this door frame knowing everything you want is on the other side &#8211; that relationship, that new job, peace &#8211; whatever it is. You want it so badly.</p>
<p>The few inches of space surrounding the door frame represents all of the fear, anxiety, depression, confusion &#8211; every emotion that comes up when you &#8220;stop&#8221;. This &#8220;door frame&#8221; is just framing your resistance. I usually imagine it as almost a slight haze to where I can see the vibrancy of my desires on the other side, but it&#8217;s sort of clouded by this haze.</p>
<p>Then there&#8217;s you, standing before this frame. Can you picture it?</p>
<p><strong>The million dollar question is &#8230; </strong>what does it take to get to the other side?</p>
<p>Some experts will say things like, &#8220;It takes a plan &#8211; a serious plan you MUST stick to&#8221; or, &#8220;You must improve who you are, change your bad habits and grow into the person you are meant to be!&#8221;  :-/</p>
<p>I have a different answer and it&#8217;s one I think it worth a million bucks.</p>
<p><strong>Q. What does it take to get to the other side? </strong><br />
<strong>A. It takes picking up your foot and taking one step forward, over the door frame, into the other side.</strong></p>
<p>Some of you may get upset at that answer. After all, we all have a habit of over-complicating everything. But, I swear to you it really can be that easy. <strong>You don&#8217;t need a 30 day plan.</strong> You don&#8217;t need to work yourself to death to change. You just need to take that one step forward.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve stood in front of this doorway dozens of really scary and difficult times in my life. But you know what? One day I realized the secret I just shared with you. I trusted and I took that step forward. Guess what?? It worked! Then the next time I was faced with a challenge, I pictured that doorway. I resisted and resisted &#8211; completely torturing myself &#8211; until one day, I remembered the secret. I then took a step and before I knew it I was through to the other side. I swear to you this works and it forever changed my life!!</p>
<p>Next you may ask, but <strong>what does it mean to take a step? </strong>You&#8217;ve heard that famous quote by Confucius, &#8220;<span>A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.&#8221;</span> It&#8217;s anything that gets you one step closer to your goal. Picking up that phone when it&#8217;s hardest, setting up that appointment or meeting, running an errand you&#8217;ve procrastinated on. Taking action.</p>
<p><strong>It is the mental hurdle you are battling</strong> &#8211; by visualizing your taking the step through the haze into the other side of that door frame, you will pick up that phone and make that call. Before you know it, you&#8217;ve started this chain of events that all collectively work toward achieving your goal.</p>
<p>Years ago, I felt that resistance for months and months (sometimes years!). Now I recognize it within a few days to a couple weeks. Then I laugh out loud as the realization comes in, &#8220;Oh! I&#8217;m at that door again!&#8221; Then I laugh as I visually jump through that door way and never look back.</p>
<p>People tell me all the time how they can&#8217;t believe how wise I am, or how much I&#8217;ve accomplished for my young age. It&#8217;s all because I am like an efficiency windup doll. I always want to know the fastest way to achieve a goal &#8211; and NO shortcuts, ever! I applied that idea to my emotional experiences and my personal growth. <strong>I am shaving years of depression and confusion off my life </strong>all because of this idea of taking a step. <strong>What could it do for you?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>How to Lighten Your Load During Heavy Times</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/how-to-lighten-your-load-during-heavy-times</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/how-to-lighten-your-load-during-heavy-times#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:24:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amber Ludwig]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[collaborative era]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lighten Your Load During Heavy Times]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce frustration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stress reduction]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=4116</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you experienced a shift lately? Where you feel anxiety, a little lost, and mostly frustrated? If you have, today&#8217;s post is to tell you you&#8217;re not alone. I have clients and mentors all feeling like they are hanging on by a thread. At times, I&#8217;ve even used the analogy that it feels I&#8217;m being [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Have you <strong>experienced a shift</strong> lately? Where you feel anxiety, a little lost, and mostly frustrated? If you have, today&#8217;s post is to tell you you&#8217;re not alone. I have clients and mentors all feeling like they are hanging on by a thread. At times, I&#8217;ve even used the analogy that it feels I&#8217;m being tossed under the ocean by a wave. At moments throughout each day I get to swim to the top and take a big breath, but then I&#8217;m smacked by another wave. It&#8217;s not to say I&#8217;ve been unhappy &#8211; not at all! &#8211; but I&#8217;ve felt an enormous sense of pressure and frustration. Come to find out, I&#8217;m far from alone.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s no news here that the world as we know it is changing. We&#8217;ve heard the 2012 scare &#8211; the end of the world. We&#8217;ve been pumped with fear &#8211; thanks media. We&#8217;ve been working overtime to protect our pure hearts, our loving families who have saved us time and time again during fearful spurts, and protect our futures the best we can. It is ok to acknowledge and talk about what&#8217;s really going on inside of that head and heart of yours.</p>
<p>In the old days (pre-whatever this time is), we held our heads high and didn&#8217;t really talk about our financial issues or our fears. We sort of stuffed that down and put on a &#8220;I can&#8217;t do it all&#8221; face. Ah how times have changed. If you are still in that mode of trying to hold everything up solo, you must be exhausted by now! It has become almost impossible to hold it all together, all the time (in fact find me one person who has!). This should become a relief to you. You&#8217;re not alone.</p>
<p>We are being humbled. We are seeing what truly matters. We are getting closer to our communities.</p>
<p>You may have realized you can&#8217;t do everything all by yourself &#8211; at least not the way you could before &#8211; but now we are seeing a shift into a &#8220;<strong>collaborative era</strong>&#8220;. As time goes on you&#8217;ll more adapt the idea that two heads are better than one. And while two people need to &#8220;split the profit&#8221;, you&#8217;ll gladly accept that fact in exchange for the peace of mind and heart you&#8217;ll get by sharing responsibilities.</p>
<p>Collaboration also means we are coming together to solve problems and offer solutions. The point is, we must get over old ideas and adapt to the new feelings that spur up inside us. If you are feeling scared, don&#8217;t tell yourself you need to toughen up. Ask a friend for help and then you will feel better naturally.</p>
<p>Other things to consider to &#8220;lighten your load&#8221; during heavy times:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Clean out your Inbox.</strong> If you subscribe to a bunch of lists or get a hundred spam emails a day it IS adding to your stress. At the bottom of each email there&#8217;s an unsubscribe link. Click those suckers and you&#8217;ll feel the weight melt away.</li>
<li><strong>Sleep.</strong> When we are well-rested we can take the day on and not let it weigh us down. When we are tired, that&#8217;s when we feel like every little thing goes wrong. And when every little thing goes wrong we feel a pile of weight on our shoulders which is tough to let go of.</li>
<li><strong>Know when to stop. </strong>If you don&#8217;t know when to stop you&#8217;ll keep cleaning that house til it&#8217;s done, or you&#8217;ll keep running errands til they&#8217;re done. When we have a lot of &#8220;spiritual to-do&#8217;s &#8212; work on ourselves&#8221; we don&#8217;t factor that in as a HUGE task we are faced with daily. By tackling 1/3 of the house each day for 3 days, we are allowing for a more lax schedule which makes each day a little easier.</li>
<li><strong>Exercise and/or write it out.</strong> When we feel heavy inside, it&#8217;s because we<em> are</em> heavy inside! We must get that heaviness out, and fast, so it doesn&#8217;t cause health problems. Ten minutes of exercise or two pages of journaling can do wonders in lightening your load.</li>
<li><strong>Over-exaggerate the good moments. </strong>When something exciting or happy comes up during the day, I suggest proclaiming that joy more than normal cause hey, we need all the joy we can get! By being extra grateful for the small things we find we are better equipped to experience the more difficult things.</li>
</ul>
<p>These are just a few examples to consider each day. The most important thing here is YOU. Yep, you read it right, you. Without you, your world doesn&#8217;t keep spinning. Crank up the volume in your life, get help and enjoy the small things. You will feel your &#8220;old self&#8221; coming back. You will reach that next level in your life you&#8217;ve been manifesting. You will reach the mountain top and roar once more. It all starts with one step at a time &#8211; one day at a time.</p>
<p><strong>ACTION STEP: </strong>For today, I invite you to lighten your load so your trek to the top isn&#8217;t so tough on you. What I&#8217;d loooove is for you to take a minute and scroll down to leave me a quick comment. I&#8217;d like to know what you are going to commt to doing today to lighten your load!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Are You Paying Attention?</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/are-you-paying-attention</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/are-you-paying-attention#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:30:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change what you pay attention to in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to be present]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to focus on the right things in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to pay attention to the good direction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to pay attention to the important things in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to stay present]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to stay present in my day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to stay present in your day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to stay present in your life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pay attention to a good direction in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pay attention to in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peaceful Warrior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reduce stress and distraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce stress in life by your vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stay present in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stay present in your day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staying present]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Take out the trash video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What do we pay attention to in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[what we focus on expands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=3634</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There sure is a lot out there to distract us, isn&#8217;t there? I talk to more people that feel they are barely staying above water with all they have to do, than people who feel relaxed about life. On my constant quest to understand life and make the most of it, I ponder this idea [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There sure is a lot out there to distract us, isn&#8217;t there? I talk to more people that feel they are barely staying above water with all they have to do, than people who feel relaxed about life. On my constant quest to understand life and make the most of it, I ponder this idea &#8211; what are we paying attention to?</p>
<p>I fear we are paying attention to our debts, our never-ending stack of work, our fears over the &#8220;end of the world&#8221; scares, our stresses that there is never enough time, how tired our bodies feel. It is easy to get stuck in a thought pattern like this because the reality is, we are simply overwhelmed with the changes of the world. We are learning to adapt to a new way of living. And &#8220;adapt&#8221;, we must do.</p>
<p>On May 21 I held a birthday party for some close friends and family. I told everyone I did NOT want any gifts &#8211; that was not what the party was about. It was about community, pulling people out of that &#8220;thought cycle&#8221; and allowing everyone space to enjoy themselves. We played in the pool, talked in the sun and grilled burgers. I looked around many times and thought, &#8220;This is the life.&#8221;</p>
<p>What was interesting to me is that 4 people were about to cancel last minute. They had &#8220;so much going on they didn&#8217;t think they could slip away.&#8221; We can all relate. It&#8217;s funny because they all individually told me, &#8220;but we just couldn&#8217;t allow ourselves to do that &#8211; it&#8217;s <em>Amber</em> we&#8217;re celebrating.&#8221; Of course my ego felt all good about it, but more, those people took a moment to truly &#8220;stop&#8221;. The stress they felt wanted to keep them on this hamster wheel. The love in their hearts overpowered and allowed them to enjoy the weather and conversation at this wonderful party.</p>
<p>My point is when we are distracted, we often miss what&#8217;s happening all around us. If you are clear and paying attention &#8220;in the present&#8221; it is THE most incredible experience. Time slows down. Color is brighter, scents are stronger, we can hear everything. We can hear our intuition and desires. We can know what is right and wrong. We can show up for people the way we are meant to. Life happens in the present.</p>
<p>I&#8217;d like to invite you now to watch a very short snippet from one of my favorites films, <em>Peaceful Warrior</em>. Nick Nolte plays a sort of spiritual mentor to a very accomplished young adult named Dan who is holding himself back from being his greatest self&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/are-you-paying-attention"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Once you have finished watching this video, please tell me, what message did you hear? How did this make you feel? And what ultimately did this remind you to do&#8230;?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>How to Be There for Your Teen While Also Giving Space</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/how-to-be-there-for-your-teen-while-also-giving-space</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/how-to-be-there-for-your-teen-while-also-giving-space#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 16:30:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conscious Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Most Recent Juicy Wisdom & Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[be there for your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[can I be a good mom to my teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[can i be there for my teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[give space to teens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[guiding teens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to be open for your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to be there for your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to be there for your teen but also give space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to give space to your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to treat your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to understand your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mother teen relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parent communication to teens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting teens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[talk to your teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen mother relationships]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[You may or may not know by now that I hold a strong passion for opening communication between teens and parents. Wow oh wow did I push and pull my parents in every possible direction as a teen. &#8220;I need you&#8221; &#8230; &#8220;No, get away&#8221; &#8230; it must have been so incredibly confusing for them! [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You may or may not know by now that I hold a strong passion for opening communication between teens and parents. Wow oh wow did I push and pull my parents in every possible direction as a teen. &#8220;I need you&#8221; &#8230; &#8220;No, get away&#8221; &#8230; it must have been so incredibly confusing for them! But I couldn&#8217;t help it, I was an emotional roller coaster.</p>
<p>I was confused to the max about the pressures I felt surrounding me. Who did I want to be? How did I want to show up in the world? I constantly analyzed how others showed up and compared myself to them. I fell flat on my face a LOT, but I was trying to grow into an adult and it was damn hard!</p>
<p>Through my writings about &#8220;A Teen From Lost to Found&#8221;, I actually get quite a few parents sending me private messages asking for help. I have never, nor will ever, claim to know the answers. I&#8217;m not even a parent yet. But, I did go through that horrible growing stage more recently and I can bring some insight into what I needed. It may or may not work for all parents, but I do believe it will work for some.</p>
<p>Today I have chosen to share some of these insights into teen-parent communication. I would love to know your thoughts and feedback!</p>
<p><strong>The big question</strong> always seems to be, &#8220;I can tell my son or daughter is pulling away. I want to prove I&#8217;m here for anything he/she needs, but I also want to give him/her space to be where they need to be right now. How do I balance this?!?&#8221;</p>
<p>I can tell you that for me, all I needed to know was my mom was there IF I needed her. Now, I tried to be tough, but I knew she was there. I spent a lot of time locked in my room listening to rock music or rap music. I spent a lot of time crying or feeling depressed.</p>
<p>The DAY I graduated high school I started to snap out of it. High school was an awful experience for me only because I didn&#8217;t feel like I fit in anywhere. I didn&#8217;t feel accepted and I don&#8217;t think I wanted to be. Once I graduated and started college I was free and I felt free. It wasn&#8217;t long before I totally and completely let my parents in and we&#8217;ve been extremely close ever since. I&#8217;ve actually just recently moved to Arizona to make up for lost time and be with them for a few years!</p>
<p><strong>So, what does it mean to &#8220;be there&#8221;&#8230;</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Ask questions</strong>. &#8220;How was your day?&#8221; &#8220;Any struggles you want to talk about?&#8221; &#8220;If you could pinpoint the biggest hurt/insecurity/fear/emotion, what would it be?&#8221;</li>
<li><strong>Give space</strong>. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re in a time where you want some space and that&#8217;s ok with me. I&#8217;m here anytime you want to go on a walk, go to a move or just chat. This is a tough time for all young adults and I want to give you the space you need as long as you don&#8217;t abuse it. I know we&#8217;ll be close again someday soon, but I want to give you the space to be where you are. I&#8217;m close by.&#8221;</li>
<li><strong>Invite them on a date</strong>. Ask your daughter out for mother-daughter dates every once and a while. Ask your son to a basketball game. Even if they say no, they know you&#8217;re there and TRYING. This counts for a lot &#8211; I can promise you that.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you have concerns, you absolutely, without a doubt need to tell your teen. Young adults think they always know better. Any time your teen wants to do something that is a big step in your mind and you feel your son or daughter is headed in a scary direction&#8230; but they think they are headed in a RIGHT direction&#8230; caution.</p>
<p>What I wanted most in situations like that was to be <strong>treated like an adult</strong> (even though I wasn&#8217;t one &#8211; not even close). I wanted my parents to level with me &#8211; explain to me their fears and what they were nervous about. If they tried to TELL me what was going to happen, I&#8217;d shut down and think they were wrong. Just because they made mistakes didn&#8217;t mean that I was going to make the same ones. In hindsight, they were right every time, but I HAD to explore on my own &#8211; this is part of growing up and <strong>you can&#8217;t be deprived of that</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>The most important thing in ANY relationship is communication</strong>. Without it, unexpected results will occur every time. The best way to maintain control without it looking like you&#8217;re a control-monger is to ask questions. &#8220;How do you feel about x?&#8221; or &#8220;I know you&#8217;re wanting to do x but have you thought about if y happens as a result? How would you react?&#8221; I think during teenage years I needed more of a &#8220;mentor&#8221; than a &#8220;parent&#8221;. When I abused my freedom, THAT&#8217;S when I needed a parent. Teens just get this itch to experience all that life has to offer WAY before they&#8217;re emotionally ready. As a parent, I watched how my mom allowed me the space I needed but I ALWAYS knew she was a second away anytime I needed her.</p>
<p>I&#8217;d also encourage parents to seek support &#8211; other parents who have experienced this transition or who are currently going through it. It&#8217;s awful!! But you will get through this, and so will your son or daughter. Most likely you&#8217;ll both make mistakes, but if it&#8217;s for the sake of keeping a good relationship, then it will always end up ok!</p>
<p>I hope at the very least this post gave you parents some comfort, ideas or things to think about. Again, I&#8217;d love some feedback on these insights. Do you agree? Disagree? Think I&#8217;m right on, or just plain nuts? Submit a comment below and speak your mind.  <img src='http://www.consciousdivas.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		<title>No Guts No Glory:  Understanding &#8220;The Shift&#8221; to Get You Where You Want to Go in Life</title>
		<link>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/no-guts-no-glory-understanding-the-shift-to-get-you-where-you-want-to-go-in-life</link>
		<comments>http://www.consciousdivas.com/amber_ludwig/no-guts-no-glory-understanding-the-shift-to-get-you-where-you-want-to-go-in-life#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amber Ludwig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creator of Your Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Living in Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manifestation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Separation of Conscious to Unconscious]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Great Divide]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.consciousdivas.com/?p=3132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Even with eyes half-open people are noticing a shift has occurred on the planet. To use terminology from &#8220;The Secret&#8221;, your thoughts are manifesting like rapid-fire these days. Simultaneously, accountability is stronger than ever and people aren&#8217;t getting away with anything that is not of their highest and truest self. Have you noticed this?? I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Even with eyes half-open people are noticing a shift has occurred on the planet. To use terminology from &#8220;The Secret&#8221;, your thoughts are manifesting like rapid-fire these days. Simultaneously, accountability is stronger than ever and people aren&#8217;t getting away with anything that is not of their highest and truest self. Have you noticed this??</p>
<p>I can&#8217;t say this is a new concept &#8211; many have been talking about this time coming. The &#8220;great divide&#8221; between the conscious and unconscious. Those that choose to be conscious or take the higher road are being rewarded like never before. I&#8217;ve noticed very clearly in my life the fruits of my efforts. If we listen to our gut instinct, live only in truth, and make decisions for the highest good of ourselves and others, there will be constant proof that things just &#8220;fall into place&#8221;. You won&#8217;t notice resistance from life &#8211; but instead, green lights ahead.</p>
<p>Now, don&#8217;t get me wrong, life is life. It can be extremely challenging and confusing &#8211; this is a constant. But, if you live a conscious life you won&#8217;t feel kicked down for every effort you make. You&#8217;ll find life is a LOT less stressful (even if you&#8217;re taking on more responsibility) and more manageable.</p>
<p>Others may not seem to fully grasp the concept of this great divide. They will continue down a path that may have worked before &#8211; not telling the full truth, taking shortcuts to fame or wealth, not staying true to their word and not living with integrity. I&#8217;ve already witnessed the result of these decisions in people that used to be in my life. The unconscious will live a life of isolation. It breaks my heart but I see their fighting fists up as they one-by-one ruin relationships they once had. You see, the conscious can&#8217;t live next to the unconscious because it&#8217;s not in alignment with the high road they&#8217;ve chosen.</p>
<p>If you allow these words to enter into your thoughts, then just be aware of how people are behaving around you, I believe you&#8217;ll start to see this same pattern I&#8217;ve noticed in the past 3-6 months. The shift started to occur in my opinion in late Fall &#8211; but we have all been pushed harder and harder toward this moment in time for about 2-3 years now. We&#8217;ve faced extraordinary challenges to test our strength and power. Within the past month or two, the shift has sped up and now it&#8217;s a matter of days before people are held accountable for their actions. It&#8217;s crazy!! But oh so refreshing as well.</p>
<p>I wanted today&#8217;s post to be about this topic so that you have the opportunity to see what&#8217;s happening on a bigger picture scale, then decide for yourself if this resonates with you or not. I like to be somewhat of a messenger for those who feel a stirring or shift but can&#8217;t identify its meaning. The messages always hit home at some point, it&#8217;s just a matter of when.</p>
<p>Today I&#8217;d invite you to evaluate what type of person you want to be today and moving forward. The past is in the past and at any time we are capable of change. I choose to live truthfully and with integrity. I love companionship and invite you along with me. Let me know your thoughts &#8211; add a comment below and share what you&#8217;ve seen in your circle!</p>
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