The Dart Maker Blog

One of the things we life coaches do is keep our eyes open
for coaching that comes from unusual places, and in this
case it was the final episode of the Apprentice. Certainly
television can be used to provoke intelligent dialogue about
ethics and principles. Did you see The Apprentice the night
Randall was hired and Rebecca wasn’t hired? Randall took a
stand. He said, “No” when directly asked by Donald Trump
whether Rebecca should be hired the same night. He was
clear. He was living within his beliefs and values. He had
a choice. As do you. We always have choices.

As life coaches we are often asked to support our clients to
make new choices. Often these represent significant changes
from the way they used to do things, and these new actions
may seem awkward or out of the blue, especially to our
loved ones. Yet, when we define our values and personal
standards and chose to make choices based upon those, our
life moves forward with much more ease. That awkward phase
lasts only a short time as we step into the new way of being
and behaving.

Try on these words as you think about the professional and
competent behavior demonstrated by Rebecca and Randall
during The Apprentice:

•Alert
•Clear
•Courageous
•Empowering
•Flexible
•Focused

You have a choice and can decide to adopt some of these
words to describe how you will behave the rest of the
week…the rest of the month, or all year. You can design
your own degree of competency whether visiting a spa for
relaxation and rejuvenation or preparing to deliver a
motivating and inspiring presentation to your colleagues.
The choice is yours; it always is. You are on this earth
to add your unique piece to this puzzle called life and you
have opportunities to turn every obstacle into a chance for
greatness much as you saw Rebecca do during her time on The
Apprentice.

Randall was put on the spot, took a stand, made a decision.
It’s proven to be a controversial one and probably
responsible for propelling Rebecca into a very desirable
position she wouldn’t otherwise have had if Randall’s answer
been “Yes.” So, bear this in mind when you get a ‘no’ from
one of your colleagues or family members. It could be a
‘yes’ in disguise and the start of a fantastic new
beginning.

Questions to ponder:
•What no can give that is actually a yes?
•Are you willing to ask for support to making a change?
•Do you have something you know you’ve been wanting to do,
yet keep postponing?
•Are you aware that there is a contribution that only you
can make?

As coaches, one of our favorite reminders is the following
sentence: “The best way to get somewhere is to let yourself
go.” It’s time. You can go. With
support from a coach or this article or your own inner
courage, you, too, can take a stand and design the life of
your dreams. Yes you can!

Lifestyle Catalysts Kristine Carey & Leslie Gebhart are
certified life coaches who ask: Are you tired of people
telling you that’s just how it is? Be a part of their
complimentary conversation the first Monday of each Month
and discover how it can be:
http://www.lifestylecatalyst.com/register.shtml. Action
creates change; what choice will you make today?

Ever run into that situation where you absolutely must get rid of an acne breakout as soon as possible? I’m talking about that zit or pimple that shows up hours before prom starts or the morning of your wedding day or on the day of your first big job interview. Situations such as those just mentioned are stressful enough without the added excitement of a skin blemish developing at the worst possible moment.

Unfortunately there is no 1 or 2 hour cure for acne. Oh sure, you can camouflage or hide your acne with a healthy dosage of makeup but that’s only a temporary solution which will work to help you out of your short term jam but what about actually eliminating the acne blemish itself? Since there is no short cut or golden path to getting rid of acne you will have to rely on a variety of home acne remedies and for the worst cases of acne perhaps even laser acne treatment.

For many of these home remedies and zit treatments the actual elimination of your acne and skin blemishes will take place over time and sadly not overnight. The good news is if you’re patient you will start to see some excellent results and your acne will disappear in a few short weeks, sometimes even in a few days.

In the event that you do see some acne solutions that make claims of curing your acne within a day or heaven forbid within a few hours you should probably be cautious in regards to using them. Chances are good that they have a stronger then normal dosage of acne fighting chemicals which could actually harm your skin instead of eliminating any pimples, zits or blackheads you may be suffering from as a result of a skin blemish outbreak.

The quick acne treatments on the market may be able to clear your acne up quickly but for long term results and hopefully permanent results you need to focus on acne treatment products and solutions that are designed with the intent to eliminate acne for good. One other thing to consider when debating whether or not to undergo the use of quick acne treatments is the higher cost for their treatments and solutions. If you truly need to get rid of an annoying zit or pimple in the shortest amount of time then perhaps the quick acne fighting solutions are for you but remember they only cure acne for a short time period.

Acne is a skin blemish condition that can cause you some grief for a short amount of time but if you purchase the right long term acne fighting solution that fits your skin needs then you will be able to win the fight against acne and all of the zits, pimples and blackheads that come with it.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Clear-Skin-Solutions.com He provides more acne clearing solutions, remedies and quick acne treatments that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

These tips on caring for your new Yixing (sometimes called Zisha) teapot will help you enjoy your tea and your pot to the fullest. There are many schools of thought in the tea world, but people who know and love these clay pots will agree that your pots should be properly initiated before preparing tea in them.

Traditionally Yixing pots are used to prepare oolong tea, but they can be used for any tea if you don’t mind breaking tradition. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the pot should be used for just one kind of tea. If you use it for black tea, don’t prepare white tea in it. You get the idea.

Yixing pots are so much fun because they take on the tea’s flavor. After years of use your tea pot will add another dimension to your tea. It has been said it’s like brewing tea in tea.

I have one pot for white tea and one for green tea.

Follow these simple guidelines.

1. Decide which tea your pot will be drinking for its life.

2. In a large pot boil water enough to more than cover your teapot (plus any cups or other Yixing teaware which may be part of your set).

Here’s the way I do it.

I use a big stainless steel pot that I also use for steaming vegetables. I sit the teapot on the steamer basket so that it will not be sitting directly on the bottom of the pot. When the water starts to boil, I turn off the heat and lower the teapot (and whatever other clay teaware you are initiating) in and put the lid on, leaving it there overnight.

3. The next day I remove the tea pot and rinse it under the tap. I gently rub my fingers over the pot inside and out while rinsing. These clay pots can have some dusty residue. No need to dry the teapot for the next step.

4. Heat fresh water in the same pot with the steamer basket in it. Again I turn off the heat, lower the teapot into the hot water and this time I add the tea that I’ve decided my pot will be spend its life drinking. I estimate the amounts and add extra. The tea will steep and flavor the pot. HINT: If your teapot is drinking green or white tea, be sure not to boil the water. Green and white tea take water just before boiling.

5. Now, you can remove the teapot after a few minutes. Personally, I cover it and leave it overnight again because I want the pot to soak up the tea as much as possible. Some folks may disagree with this but it’s what I do.

6. Rinse the teapot and let air dry.

IMPORTANT
Don’t ever put Yixing teaware in the dishwasher!
Don’t ever put soap in your Yixing teapot or teaware!

The main thing is to have fun! Don’t worry about doing it perfectly or messing up your teapot’s first feeding. As long as the pot is soaking in its favorite tea, it will be happy.

There is plenty of information on initiation methods for your Yixing teapots so that you can experiment. If you handle your pot with love and care and steep only one kind of tea in it, you are safe.

Enjoy!

Freelance writer and tea promoter Terry Calamito publishes the free ezine “Start Sipping.” If you’re a tea lover or just want to find out about tea’s health benefits and maybe slow down a little to have a cup, subscribe for free at http://www.switchtotea.com.

Many people make their New Year’s resolution to lose weight.
While they start out with good intentions, far too often the
weekly drudge of sticking to a diet can wear thin quite quickly
and before they know it their good diet intentions have fallen
away. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to stick to
your diet resolution without giving up before the excess weight
goes away.

One of the most important things you can do to ensure that you
stick with your weight loss goals is to write a contract with
yourself, promising to stick with the resolution that you have
made. If you want to lose a specific amount of weight within a
certain amount of time, be sure to include this in the contract
along with what you specifically plan to do to lose the weight.
Post the contract somewhere you’ll be sure to see it everyday.

Setting goals is an excellent way to make sure that you stay on
track with your weight loss plans; however, it is important to
ensure that your goals are manageable and not too broad in
scope. Due to the fact that dieting can become tiresome very
quickly, you may find it helpful to energize your diet with a
new goal each week. This gives you something to work on, and
even look forward to, each week. Examples of small goals you can
set for yourself include starting an exercise routine, cutting
out sodas, drinking more water, etc.

Small goals are also a great incentive to work your way up to
larger goals, an important component of sticking to your diet
plans. Rather than saying you plan to lose weight this year,
instead make it a point to commit to losing a specific amount of
weight within a definite time frame. This helps to ensure that
you do not put off your weight loss plans indefinitely.

As with any major change in your life, it’s generally always
easier to accomplish your goals when you have the help and
support of friends and family. Make a point to inform those
close to you that you are dieting and what you hope to
accomplish. In addition, it’s always a good idea to let them
know exactly what you’re doing to lose weight so they do not
unintentionally sabotage your diet plans. The presence of a
weight loss buddy who can keep you on track and motivated will
significantly decrease the chances that you’ll give up before
accomplishing your goals.

Most people function well under a rewards system and losing
weight is no different, provided that you ensure your rewards
support your diet and do not undermine them. While you may look
forward to enjoying an ice cream sundae after reaching a weight
loss goal, think of other rewards that you would enjoy and keep
your diet intact. Consider rewarding yourself for every
milestone you reach, such as every five pounds lost. Positive
reward examples include a manicure, massage, new book/CD/DVD,
new shirt, etc. Significant weight loss goals, such as 25 pounds
or 50 pounds, could warrant a larger reward such as a weekend
trip or something else meaningful.

Many people would like to invest in stocks or Forex but are not really sure of the difference between the two and don’t know which is the right choice for them. There is little doubt that there are many options out there for you. But, it is hard to say which the right choice is until you gather some information about them and then make the right choice.

Stocks? Forex?

Stock trading is similar to owning part of a company or organization. You purchase the stocks so that the company can then use this money to reinvest to increase their profits. Most people know about the stock trading market and have a basic understanding of how it works.

On the other hand, though, not many realize what Forex trading actually is. Forex trading is a type of investing that deals with currency trading. In its basic form, you cash in US dollars for the currency of another country. You cash out when you make a profit or to cut your losses short. The Forex market is a truly global marketplace where billions of dollars are traded everyday. Here, you can make a lot of money and lose a lot of money fairly quickly.

Making The Choice

Forex trading is a relatively new method of investing. It is a good choice for someone who is willing to take greater risk for a greater reward. In stock trading, you can make smaller profits in the short-term and only in the long-term can you make a significant profit.

It is often wise for the beginner to dabble in stocks trading before looking at Forex trading. It is an excellent way to get your feet wet without a whole lot of risk.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that anyone that is a beginner in the field of investments should pay close attention to details here. It is important for both types of investments that due diligence is paid in order to make any money. Study both forms of investments and do some paper trading. This simply means you make decisions to buy or sell but don’t put any ‘real’ money down. The key here is to track results like you would do for a ‘real’ trade. Initially, you will make mistakes so, go easy on yourself. With experience you will start to make profits on a consistent basis. When this happens, start putting some money on your trades.

Good luck with your investment efforts.

Mike Singh is a successful webmaster and publisher of financial websites. He provides stock market help and articles on how to read forex charts .

Aromatherapy for Adrenal Support - Using Essential
Oils to Help Adrernal Fatigue

Are you feeling tired all the time? Morning
esspresso not giving the same lift it used to?
Getting that feeling that you’ve been worn thin
by your busy schedule, and you’re just not
recovering? These may be signs of depleted
adrenal glands - a syndrome known as Adrenal
Fatigue. Thankfully, a few commonly-available
essential oils can offer support in regenerating
over-tired adrenal glands.

What is the syndrome of Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenal glands are your body’s most
important part of the endocrine system for
dealing with stress. These tiny glands, each
about the size of a walnut and the weight of a
grape, sit atop each kidney. These glands produce
important hormones such as cortisol, a controller
of your energy output, and pregnenolone, the
precursor from which the body’s steroid hormones
are made, including DHEA, progesterone,
testosterone, and the estrogens. Pregnenolone is
has been shown to be a powerful memory enhancer -
it will make you smarter (possibly), it also
brings about feelings of well-being (hopefully)
and can enhance your ability to deal with stress.
Low-output adrenal function can have a variety of
common health symptoms, including insomnia and
depressed immune system function.

Many lifestyle factors can contribute to adrenal
fatigue, and generally these can be lumped into
the category of too much stress. Too little
sleep, poor eating habits, to little time for
play and family life, surgery, illness, injury,
and the excessive use of caffeine are a few
common causes. Modifying these ‘habits’ are of
critical importance for long-term regeneration of
the adrenal glands and returning their hormonal
output to normal levels. Thankfully, adrenal
gland-supporting essential oils can be helpful
in bringing balance and assisting in restoring
adrenal output in mild-to-moderate cases of
adrenal fatigue. Using these oils may enable
‘breaking the cycle’ of stimulant and sugar use
that created the problem in the first place.

The Essential Oils

Essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy
to support adrenal gland function. Some are used
specifically for adrenal gland regeneration, and
others are used to give a gentle lift when needed
during the healing process - again, these can be
of particular help when reducing stimulant
consumption. These essential oils are best
diluted in a carrier oil and applied to the skin,
and are not to be taken orally.

Spruce Essential Oil: Spruce (and also
Canadian Black Spruce) is thought by respected
aromatherapists to support depleted adrenal
glands, and is added to blends which can be
applied to the skin over the adrenal area, or in
lower dilutions in a body lotion.

Pine Essential Oil: Pine oil has been called one of the most effective oils for fatigue. This
oil can be blended with Black Spruce for a
synergistic effect on adrenal function.

Cedar Oil: Atlantic Moroccan Cedar can gently
stimulate the body’s metabolism without letdown.
Unlike the regenerating effect of the Spruce and
Pine needle essential oils, Cedar oil can provide
a long lasting stimulation without the side
effects of harsh stimulants.

Peppermint Essential Oil: Peppermint oil is
associated with many healthful effect; it’s aroma
is clarifying and uplifting. As with Cedar
Atlas, it is added to adrenal formulas for mild
stimulation and metal clarity.

Citrus Oils such as Orange, Bitter Orange, Lemon
and Lime - These oils cold-pressed from the peels
of these fruits are considered to uplift and bring
about a light attitude. These oils also have a
relaxing effect - this combination can lower
stress levels - the primary culprit of adrenal
fatigue.

Essential Oil Recipes for Adrenal Gland Support

This essential oil blend is to give regenerative
support without any actual stimulation. The oils
in this recipe are fine for continued use, and
may have an effect in a relatively short period
of time. For a 30 milliliter blend, use 1 and 1/2
black spruce and an equal amount of pine oil in
27 milliliters of hazelnut oil. You may of course
double all the amounts for more. To use, apply
topically to the kidney area one to three times
daily.

These same essential oils may be used in a
gently stimulating body oil blend: Three
milliliters of both spruce and pine essential
oils plus two milliliters of Atlantic cedarwood
essential oil and another two milliliters of a
citrus oil of your choice. Add this to four
ounces of hazelnut or other carrier oil of your
liking. Use this all over after a shower. Caution
should be used, however, as the citrus oils can
be photosensitizing; do not apply to areas that
will be exposed to direct sunlight in the
following two days.

Peppermint may be used instead of, or even in
addition to, the citrus essential oils. You may
enjoy this blend: six milliliters of spruce oil,
two and one half milliliters of cedarwood oil plus
one and one half milliliter of peppermint in four
ounces of hazelnut oil or your favorite carrier.
This combination, if used without the citrus
oils, will not be photosensitizing and can be
used all over the body.

Aromatherapy Can Help!

These aromatherapy blends have fantastic aromas,
and can provide support with mild and moderate
adrenal fatigue. The underlying causes of this
condition must be addressed at the same time for
long-lasting results. This usually means
reducing caffeine intake, dietary modifications,
and creating balance through exercise, friends
and family, and taking time for one’s self.

Misty Rae Cech, ND, has a private professional practice in the Denver/Boulder area. She untilizes essential oils in her practice, finding their wonderful properties to support her clients’ healing. She is the owner of http://www.anandaaromatherapy.com and http://www.anandaapothecary.com.