Don’t Go to the Gym – Do a Detox Program First!

(Excerpts from “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days”) Series 3

Did you know that many people will start the New Year off by joining a gym and by the month of March (some by Valentine's Day) they will already be out of there?

 Why You Should Engage in a Detox Program?

If you are apparently overweight with very low energy, then don’t go to the gym but instead engage in a detox program first.  This process will take anywhere from 1 to 2 to 3 weeks depending on the type of detoxification program you choose from a health food store. 

Remember your health begins in your colon so a colon cleanse (detox) should be a priority while you work your way up to a liver and kidney detox.

Detoxification (detox for short) is a natural healing process needed more than ever in today’s toxic world. Just as the outer environments in which we live can become polluted with trash, violated with industrial chemicals, our inner environments (our bodies) can become filled with toxic garbage as well.

Many of these toxins come from our diets, drug use, and environmental exposure.  By engaging in a detoxification program we are actively assisting and supporting the body in its own natural cleansing actions to help in ridding the body of substances that may be detrimental to our health.

Learn how to find all the health food stores in your neighborhood and the type of detoxes you should purchase by reading the article at the end of this article or the health book.

Couch Potato Lifestyle

It’s estimated by many experts that this will be the first generation that WILL NOT outlive their parents.  The main reason is Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) found in 90% of foods in grocery stores which have no nutritional value and leading a sedentary (sitting posture) lifestyle.

A sedentary lifestyle or “the couch potato lifestyle” has contributed to over 200,000 PREVENTABLE deaths a year.  The leading causes of death for people with heart disease, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes are most strongly influenced by lifestyle.

What to Do Before Starting an Exercise Program

Before starting any type of regular exercise program see your doctor first to make sure your body can take working out.  Remember to always start off slow (start off walking) then work yourself up over the next few weeks and months to a more intense form of working out, if and only if, you are in shape for that type of workout.

If you have been sedentary for some time, try exercising in water.  Water aerobics are excellent for those who are overweight or who find walking or running difficult.

Some easy ways to add physical activity to your daily routine include:

• Park the car farther away from your destination.
• Get on or off the bus several blocks away.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
• Take fitness breaks instead of cigarette or coffee breaks. Walk, stretch or do some office exercises.
• Perform gardening, yard work, heavy house cleaning, or home-repair activities.
• Exercise while watching TV.  For example, use hand weights, a stationary bike or treadmill, stretch, or perform body-weight exercises such as crunches, push-ups and squats.
• Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office. You’ll be ready for activity wherever you go.
• Walk while doing errands.

Know the Dangers of Working Out in a Gym

Many people will start the New Year off by joining a gym and by the month of March they will already be out of there.  Why?  Because they should have engaged in a detox program first so they could gain the long-term energy they will need to pace themselves.

Did you know you can freeze your membership at most gyms if you don’t plan on attending for a while?  Fitness gyms have memberships for $20 or $30 a month and you don’t have to sign a contract (LA Fitness, Gold's Gym, YMCAs, etc.).  But be careful when working out in a gym.

Some of the dangers of working out in a gym include:

• Underqualified staff or physical trainers (untrained staff members pretending to know what they are doing)
• Bacteria on equipment (including exercise mats so bring your own or clean off mats) and in showers (always wear shoes)
• Faulty equipment (many persons have been paralyzed from using faulty equipment at gyms so pay attention and don’t exercise when you are sleepy or too tired).

Wear the Right Equipment to Work Out

It’s very motivational to have on the right equipment when you are working out especially your shoes.  If you plan on starting a walking program then invest in walking shoes.  

Sports Authority has a great selection of workout clothes and tennis shoes for under $60.  If you have a foot injury then chances are you will stop working out altogether so invest in expensive socks so your feet can feel comfortable.   

If you plan on starting an aerobic program then buy cross-trainer shoes.  If you plan on running everyday then invest in running shoes.  

Don’t forget that water bottle so you can sip water throughout your workout.  Wearing the right equipment will help you feel good about yourself and will help you get results even sooner. 

Warm It Up

Make sure you warm up before exercising. Your warm-up is just as important as your workout, however, with busy schedules, people forget to stretch and heat up their bodies. Many just settle for a few toe-touches which can leave them in pain or injured.

A good warm-up will provide increased flexibility and will activate the necessary muscles for training and competition. It also speeds up your blood flow and causes your core temperature to rise, which will prepare you to train at your highest levels. Good preparation makes for a great workout.

Preventing Soreness When Exercising

Getting sore after exercising will not only keep you from continuing to exercise, it might make you stop all together.  Therefore, to prevent soreness remember to use natural remedies for soreness versus the over-the-counter creams that can leak into your blood system and cause your body to become toxic.

For instance, always keep Epsom salt by your bathtub to use when you go home from the gym and for muscle cramps rub pure, unprocessed olive or flaxseed oil into your muscles before and after strenuous exercise.

The Right Way to Lose Weight

In order to lose weight, you must exercise.  When you look at the people that are successful at losing weight and keeping it off, they are active, plain and simple. 

Being overweight is caused most often by overeating and under-exercising.  Excessive weight can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, diabetes, and gallstones.

Get Some Type of Cardiovascular Exercise

The more fit you are, the longer you are likely to live.  Being fit usually means you engage in some type of “cardio” or “cardiovascular” exercise.  Cardiovascular exercises are any type of exercise that gets your heart rate up and keep it up for at least 20 to 30 minutes.

Everyone should be engaged in some type of cardiovascular exercise (fast or power walking, running, aerobics, swimming, bicycling/spinning, etc.) at least 3, 4 or 5 days a week for 30 to 45 minutes.

Learn more by reading my health book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days” (available as an e-book or paperback book at www.AngelsPress.com) or read the e-article below.

How To Engage in A Complete Detoxification Program 
– E-article by CathyHarrisSpeaks.com

Amazon 
http://www.amazon.com/How-Engage-Complete-Detoxification-Program-ebook/dp/B00AU8C6KY/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386188192&sr=1-2&keywords=Cathy+Harris

BarnesandNoble.com 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-engage-in-a-complete-detoxification-program-article-cathy-harris/1114040052?ean=2940016148427

Smashwords.com 
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/269815

The Best Birthday Present Ever…Loving Your Inner-self

Hello Everyone: 

Last weekend, Oct. 6, 2013, was my 57^th birthday.  Most women will receive presents from others and even buy themselves something special during their birthdays. 

In the past I have bought myself a new item such as a piece of jewelry, clothing, or something else to make me look pretty or feel good about myself on the outside.  But as I age gracefully one thing is clear in my life, looking pretty and feeling good is all about giving my insides what it really needs. 

This year I gave myself the best birthday present ever when I decided to give myself a LIVER DETOX.  A few months back in order to make sure my kidneys were running properly, I gave myself a kidney detox and before that I had my regular colon cleanse or detox.

After conducting extensive research a few years back on how the human body operates, I found out that there are 3 organs that cleans out the entire body.  So to keep looking good and feeling good, I realize for the rest of my life, I can’t ignore these organs.  They are my colon, liver and kidneys. 

I make sure I am feeding these organs what they need to ensure my body continues to run like a well-oiled machine.  Many people don’t understand what detoxification is.  Instead of springing out of bed everyday like most people should, they have yet to make their health a priority in their lives so they get out of bed everyday and complain about feeling weak, sluggish and run-down. 

Most people have no idea what is going on when it comes to their health.  Many of us push our own health problems to the background and we engage in overwhelming activities in order to help and assist others. 

Detoxification is a natural healing process needed more than ever in today’s toxic world.  With the onslaught of chemicals in our food, air and water, we can all do with undergoing a specific program of periodic cleansing.

Just as the outer environments in which we live can become polluted with trash, violated with industrial chemicals, and covered in sickness-causing smog, our inner environments (our bodies) can become filled with toxic garbage as well. 

Many of these toxins comes from our diets, drug use, and environment exposure, both acute and chronic.  Internally, free radicals and other irritating molecules act as toxins.  Poor digestion, colon sluggishness and dysfunction, reduced liver function, and poor elimination through the kidneys, respiratory tract, and skin, all add to increased toxicity. 

Detoxification involves dietary and lifestyle changes which reduce the intake the toxins and improve elimination.  Avoidance of chemicals, from food or other sources, refined food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and many drugs helps minimize the toxin load.  Those lifestyle changes are a direct result of choices you make in your life. 

By engaging in a detoxification program we are actively assisting and supporting the body in its own natural cleansing actions, to help in ridding the body of substances that may be detrimental to our health. 

Organic fruits and vegetables are essentially good for detoxification.  The goal is to begin to transition to a diet rich in fresh, raw, organic fruits and vegetables with very few cooked or processed foods, to help keep your digestive system free of mucus plaque.   

The goal is “bad stuff out and good stuff in.”  Regular and easy elimination will be the rule. Toxins will not build up and foods will be fully digested and utilized.   

Detox diets are hard to start but at the end you will have more energy and vitality.  Since it was a process of years or decades to get the body so full of plaque and toxins, it will be a process to detoxify and get your body pure and back to its highest possible state of health.  

Face it…if you are materialistic and rather spend money on the outside of your body instead of the inside, you are going to have a hard time healing your body and moving toward your optimal level of health and happiness.   

To learn more about the detoxification process, read my health book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days” which is available as an e-book and paperback book at www.AngelsPress.com or my low-cost article “How to Engage in A Complete Detoxification Program” at:

Amazon.com - .99

http://www.amazon.com/Engage-Complete-Detoxification-Program-ebook/dp/B00AU8C6KY/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381430204&sr=1-2&keywords=Cathy+Harris

BarnesandNoble.com - $1.50

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-engage-in-a-complete-detoxification-program-article-cathy-harris/1114040052?ean=2940044231559

Smashwords.com - $1.50

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/269815

Good luck!!!

Cathy Harris, Non-Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Health and Wellness Expert, Follow me on my 6 months Florida tour at http://www.CathyHarrisSpeaks.com.

Business Success 101

April 15, 2013

Hello Everyone:

I haven't posted a blog post in a while because I am on the road with my 15 statewide humanitarian tour.  I named this blog post "Business Success 101."

What are you willing to do to become a successful business owner? Would you travel across the country and tell your customers and clients that you have a product or service that can potentially be life-changing for them? Or will you simply sit back and try to build a local audience that you have outgrown and that no longer value what you have to offer?

When I decided to take my business on the road on Jan. 2, 2013, I knew upfront that my Empowerment Company, Angels Press, had the potential to deliver 'life-altering' information to those who need it the most. After all -- I had spent years building the business so now my only goal was to deliver.

Everyone asked me why would you get on the road in the dead of winter and travel up north to do something that you could have done in the south? My response was"you can never wait for the perfect conditions in your life -- to change your life." 

At some point, you need to get out of your comfort zone and step out on your faith especially if you are trying to build a successful business.

Being successful as a business owner means one thing - 'passion.' Being passionate about your business and especially your customers and clients is what will propel you into business success.  

Business success is about making money - that's clear and simple. If you are not making money as a business owner, then you are simply building a 'hobby' - not a business.

To launch and build a successful business, I realized early on that you needed to be dedicated and committed. You also need to be a self-starter, have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, have self-discipline and will power. However, just because you don't have those characteristics doesn't mean you won't obtain them as you move forward and build your business.

Remember as you have heard from some of the great speakers in the past, "You don't have to be great to get started - but you have to get started to be great." Have you started your dream yet? What are you waiting on?

More than anything to be successful as a business owner, you need to have a 'vision.' Before anything can happen in your business life, you first need to have a vision of things to come.  

To visualize your dream of being a successful business owner, will require that you engage in daily meditations and seriously explore from the inside out what is happening in your personal and business life. 

It also requires that you live a balanced life. That's not always easy because most people are overwhelmed with life -- so balance will be the key to bringing business success into your life. No business owner becomes successful overnight so the goal is to pace yourself and stay focused.  Keep your eyes on the prize.

Keep visualizing your dream, stay balanced and set goals. The goal is to set 30 day, 60 day, 90 day, 6 months, 1 year and 5 year goals around your health, your finances, your business and career.  Put yourself first in whatever you do while you take care of your family and others that you deeply care for. Your motto should be "Self, Family, and Community."

As a business owner, once you make your customers and clients successful, you too in the process will become successful. Being successful means different things to different people so don't let anyone define success for you - define it for yourself!

At the end of the day it all boils down to what are you willing to do to become a successful business owner?  It's all about bringing joy and happiness into your life while you live a balanced and fulfilled life. Good luck! 

Transformation 101 - “Out With the Old and In With the New”

Happy New Year everyone and I hope 2013 truly brings you and yours the happiness and joy that you so deserve.  Well we are still here and the world did not end on December 21, 2012, as many had predicted.  Instead, we have entered a new era in our existence -- a new beginning – a  renewed enlightenment and spiritual awakening.  

We have entered a time of peace and harmony, hope and change, love and understanding and a time of desire and ability to take back what has been taken from us. . . our dignity as human beings.  We will no longer be subjected to tyrannical governments and human degradation. 

We will stand as one against evil and injustice and pursue our right to exist in a free and just world.  The time has come.  The time is now!  The scales have tilted and the power is now with the people.  

First of all we need to make New Year Resolutions and set personal goals in our lives. Setting goals are what motivates people into action.  One of your main goals should be to obtain regular physical activities.  Remember your body is meant to stay in motion.  

It’s estimated by many experts that this will be the first generation that “WILL NOT” outlive their parents.  The main reason is genetically modified foods which have no nutritional value and leading a sedentary (sitting posture) lifestyle. 

A sedentary lifestyle or “the couch potato lifestyle” has contributed to over 200,000 PREVENTABLE deaths a year. The leading causes of death for people with heart disease, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes are most strongly influenced by lifestyle.

People who get regular exercise are healthier -- mentally as well as physically and spiritually, than people who don’t! They live longer! They’re happier! Their brains even work better!

The more fit you are, the longer you are likely to live.  Being fit usually means you engage in some type of “cardio” or “cardiovascular” exercise.  Cardiovascular exercises are any type of exercise that gets your heart rate up and keep it up for at least 30 minutes or more. 

Everyone should be engaged in some type of cardiovascular exercise (fast or power walking, running, aerobics, swimming, bicycling/spinning, etc.) at least 3, 4 or 5 days a week for 30 to 45 minutes or more. 

We all remember seeing Tom Hanks, in “Forest Gump” taking those long strides as he ran across the country and making that famous line “I was just running.”  All it took was receiving a pair of tennis shoes from his mother and having nothing else on his schedule to become a runner.  He wasn’t running for “World Peace” –he was just running.

Like Hanks in the movie, running to me always meant not just clearing my mind but releasing my inner-soul.  As I look back on what has happened in my life this year, despite making great headways in my business by completing 18 empowerment books at http://www.AngelsPress.com - which can be read by 12 year olds and above, my greatest personal accomplishment, however, has to be the fact that I started back running again. 

After years of participating in cycling and fast walking at the gym and outdoors, I had so desired to become a runner again and this year I made it happen!  I transformed my body from being a “walker” into being a “runner” again.  Wow, what an accomplishment! 

You see I had been a long distance runner early on in my life.  As a long distance runner, even when I was in the military, I usually came in fourth or fifth even when running and training alongside of men.  Running always brought me pleasure and I guess you can say at this point in my life, I have the same mindset and feeling of accomplishment, pride and joy that I had at that point in my life when I was running.

Because I live a natural and holistic life, my brain has never worked better.  But my transformation was not overnight.  For the past 4 years, I used my own body as a “guinea pig” to see what worked and what did not work.  Sometimes the things that did not work landed me on medications or caused my numbers to be out of range -- but still I was able to figure out “how the human body actually works” -- and how to reach your highest level of health. 

 

The end result has been a complete transformation of my mind, body and spirit.  The good news is that “Y-O-U” don’t have to wait 4 years to transform your life, but you do need to understand it will not be an overnight transformation! 

My empowerment company, Angels Press, (www.AngelsPress.com) is available and offers a line of empowerment products and services that can help anyone get back into the driver’s seat and transform their lives in regards to their family life, business and career. 

My business covers topics such as family empowerment, community relations, health, business, writing/publishing, workplace discrimination, whistleblowing, domestic and international traveling, law enforcement, politics, car buying, selling and maintenance.  Make your motto in 2013 “Excuses Begone.”

Getting back to doing something that you love can truly be a rewarding and exciting time for anyone in their lives.  For me it took wearing the right type of shoes and clothing to get that motivation going again.  Many people who work out or who try to engage in working out -- don’t understand how the right type of equipment can make all the difference in the world. 

For instance, if you will be engaging in running, then you need to buy running shoes; aerobics - aerobic shoes; spinning - then spinning shoes - not shoes for other sports.  You also need to wear clothing and other equipment that will excite you everytime you step outside of your home.

If something as small as engaging in an old activity (or even a new activity) can excite you – like it did me -- then what are you waiting on?  It is never too late to set goals and do the things that you truly love and can appreciate.  Everyone has something that brought them to a certain place in their lives and brought about a certain amount of fulfillment and joy – like running have for me. 

So keep moving -- but be excited about your life!  The goal is everyday that you get out of bed, move into the direction of your dreams by doing whatever brings excitement and joy into your life. Be grateful that you woke up and that you were able to spring out of bed --because eventually it won’t be so easy especially in the third or fourth stage of your life. 

So don’t forget to stop now and “spell the roses” while you squeeze every ounce of joy and happiness out of your life!  

 

CathyHarrisSpeaks.com -- Don’t forget to live, love, and enjoy! 

It's All About Balance

October 1, 2012

Hello Everyone:

I grew up reading my horoscope and somehow felt what was written was somehow connected to what was really happening in this universe. 

As I got older and wiser in my life -- more things just made sense. Most of my co-workers and friends use to tell me that I should have been a lawyer -- I guess because I knew how to challenge my superiors and still remained on the job.

Others told me I should have been a writer because most of the ways that I challenged my superiors were in writing. As most of you know I am a writer and at this point in my life -- I don't have any desire to become an attorney.

My birth sign is a Libra and my birthday is on October 6. People born between September 23 -October 22 are called 'Libra' Individuals. 

The Zodiac Sign of Libra is the only zodiac sign represented by a non-animated object, a scale. Most other Zodiac signs are represented by either humans or animals.

There is probably a good reason why a picture of a law scale looks exactly like a 'Libra' scale. It makes me believe that there is a connection to what my life has been about and who I really am.

Libras are born during a time when summer is ending and it is time for harvest. This time of the year is considered quite calm and brings balance between the season. This balance plays an important role in the character development of the Libra individual.

Balance is something that is often mentioned in personal development and well-being circles. It is said you should eat a balanced diet, live a balanced life and seek a good work/family balance. But what truly is balance?

Balance to me has always been about setting and accomplishing personal and business goals. We all start out the New Year setting goals but for many those goals are never completed. These days everyone is overwhelmed with their lives but there is more to life than just the daily grind. It is all about balance! 

Today's hectic lifestyles can be a challenge and can leave a person feeling depleted and stressed out -- and the last thing you need is a guilt trip! Most have responsibilities to their families, their workplace or schools, their kid's sports, social activities or their communities.

I did one of the hardest things of my life over the past few weeks. I completed two -- not one -- but two books on "workplace discrimination" -- "Discrimination 101: The Complete Guide to Recognizing and Surving Discrimination in the Workplace" (Volume I and Volume II).

I had seriously worked on the books over the last month but had been pecking away at the books for over 10 years. For some reason the books were extremely hard to write but after finishing the writing projects, it was such a big relief off my shoulders - a job well done - a dream that was one of my goals for 2012.

I wanted to finish the books not just for myself but for others who are currently suffering in the workplace from workplace abuse especially women which I address in detail in Volume II of the books.

It was more of a challenge to write these books compared to the books containing my own story "The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice" (www.TheCathyHarrisStory.com) and "The Failure of Homeland In-Security: The Government's Dirty Little Secrets from an Insider."   

Not only where the books painful to write because I had personally went through 10 years of workplace abuse myself -- but reading the collection of stories from others really took something out of me. 

 Personally, I don't like to see anyone in pain but those books not only contained a lot of pain but they brought back memories of a painful time in my life - a time I prefer to forget!

Everyone needs to learn a different way of handling their time and task management that can gently guide them to follow through on their priorities so their efforts are spent where it counts. 

They need a unique way to keep from getting side-tracked when things get hectic -- so they can stay focused on what is really important.

Writing and finishing the discrimination books were extremely important to me and now because I have completed the books, once again I have a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction in my life.

To truly stay focused on what is important to you in your life and if you truly want to stay balanced - watch what you eat! If your energy level tends to swing up and down, taking your mood with it, evaluate your diet.

Are you going for long stretches without eating, then making up for lost time by consuming big meals? Common sense should prevail here.

If you want to maintain high energy throughout the day, limit the sugar, cut back on the caffeine, eat smaller meals more frequently, and load up on natural stuff that comes from the ground while getting plenty of rest and exercise.

The solution is to create a positive outlet in the form of physical exercise. There's much you can do regardless of your current fitness level. 

Take regular walks or join a hiking group, ride your bike, join a yoga or aerobics class, lift weights, join the ranks of joggers, get a pass to the local indoor pool. 

If you're a couch potato, buy a stationary bike and get active in your living room. After all it is all about balance -- so try not to make any excuses! Good luck!

Finding Your 'True Purpose'

You Can Sit Back and Watch as the World Goes By --

Or You Can Find Opportunities to Make it Better! 

Cathy Harris

I was not able to write a blog post over the past couple of months because I was taking notes for Oprah's Life Class Lessons and formed my own Life Class Empowerment Discussion group on facebook.com.  

Last year because of Oprah's life classes I started my blog "Cathy's Purposeful Life Journey Blog" to document my life' journey. I do believe because of the life class lessons this year, I realized that I needed to get involved again in politics.

I realized that politics and economic empowerment goes hand-in-hand and if we are going to change the conditions in the community, we need to educate everyone about how things operated -especially politics. So I released a new e-book "Politics 101: How To Win Your Political Seat" and launched a new campaign "Campaign to Elect Honest Politicians."

During the life classes Iyanla Vanzant was at the top of her game and this sister has surely come back a long way. After losing her daughter to cancer then losing herself -she has definitely recovered with a strong message on "Stopping the Pain."

Over 70% of the audience members responded in that life class that they were in pain. Many people are in pain but they just don't know how to cure their pain. Like Iyanla said --they turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. and other destructive ways and for many they fall into years of depression.

I especially liked the message she gave about how we say things such as "Don't say you are broke" --instead say "I am temporarily out of cash" and for single mothers --stop saying you are single mothers --instead say "I am raising children without the benefit of a partner."

To get unstuck you have to redefine and reinvent yourself. Basically most people need to understand that many of the jobs that were lost will not come back --but eventually there will be other jobs. Meanwhile everyone need to look at their own talents and passions and reinvent themselves. This is a great time to look at starting your own business, going back to school and getting into another field.

Tony Robbins has always been one of my 'favorite' motivational speakers. Tony talked about "Living Fearlessly/Living Courageously." I know living fearlessly and courageously worked for me. As a former whistleblower "The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice" -- I have had to carry that title with me for many years. Your story can be one of 'defeat' or 'victory' and for me it was a "VICTORY!"

Like Iyanla -- Tony talked about why we needed to 'divorce the story' that we have been carrying around for years and create new stories. Create stories that empowers -- instead of putting you into 'victimhood.'

Women affirm women instead challenging them. People need to be challenged! Sisters need to step out of 'sistahood' and find someone who has mastered their 'fear.' This made me look at the women in my life in a new light especially my two daughters and challenge them even more.

I do believe in strategies because if you don't have a strategy for your life --then you are just drifting through life. Having a 'breakthrough' means creating a new strategy for your life. You can't be afraid to fail -instead let failure be a lesson in your life!

Many people are fearful in their lives but like Tony said --you need to "Let Go and Let Life Happen." In order to create change you need to switch your fear to power. Power is nothing more than stepping out on your faith.

I was real skeptical going into the life class featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes even though I had friends who swore by the bishop's teachings and even family members who said they enjoyed him. I was a little turned off because of what had been happening around the world with some of the pastors - especially the sexual molestation of children.

Like others --I had what they call "church fear" --even though I was raised up in church in rural Georgia. As I grew older, I had found so many people who attended church regularly to be 'hypocrites' -saying one thing and doing another or a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess.

Bishop Jakes' message was about living your life on purpose. You are the highest, fullest, expression of yourself. Nobody is here by mistake. There is a reason you are here. When you leave here --you want to say "I did that thing" -you lived your "life on purpose."

Everybody life matters. Everybody has a calling. Your calling is a "sense of purpose" -an inner wooing. Purpose is your "life's passion." It's what drives you everyday. Your passion will help you ride into your purpose.

His message was right on point because I was already living my life on purpose. I do believe your passion will lead to your purpose. I have always been passionate about the community and helping others so I decided to become and Empowerment and Motivational Speaker. My desire and passion to help others lead to my life' purpose --which is to continue to uplift and empower others as a speaker and author.

I believe the biggest message from T.D. Jakes was that you don't always fit your dream perfectly but you can "ignite" your purpose at 'any age.' Going through pain can actually help you become the person you are meant to be. Embrace the pain -then embrace your life!

I believe one of the major issues that is holding MOST people back is not being able to forgive others. True forgiveness is 'unconditional.' You let go and move on! The past is in the past, the future is not here yet --so live each day to day.

We focus so much on what we did have -- or didn't have and we don't know how to forgive ourselves. Forgiveness means to give up the grudge so you can give more love to yourself and others.

When we are not forgiving -we are blaming, resenting another human being, etc. Not forgiving is like taking poison everyday. Unforgiveness poisons you and blocks you from taking the risk to love. It robs you of your future.

Deepok Chopra was so awesome when he said there is no life without a spiritual life. You are a spiritual being having a human experience. Spirituality is the essence of everything. Spirituality is an instinct, a choice, greater than yourself, consciousness, higher consciousness, spirit, openness, etc.

All your problems can be solved through spiritual solutions. Your mind is a conversation and your spirit is beyond that. You are not a prisoner of your thoughts. Most of the time people are not observing their thoughts. Thoughts come from past memories. What thoughts are you allowing to come into your life that is taking over your life? Change your thoughts and you will change your life.

For every action there is a reaction. Karma means you have to live with consequences of the actions you took in the past.

No matter what is going on in your life -don't concentrate on what you don't have. If you are grateful for what you have -you will end up with more.

Being grateful means transporting yourself into something much broader. No matter what the situation is -close your eyes and see what you are grateful for.

You have been given life which is "a gift." Gratitude is also a gift. Recognize that everything in your life is a gift to be internally grateful for.

You have to have people in your life that appreciates you. People will come in and out of your life and you need to say 'thank you.' Accept it with an 'open heart' -no matter what is going on in your life. Live, Love and Enjoy!

A Mother’s Love and Education - One Down, One To Go

Cathy with Youngest Daughter, Halloween 1992, Miami, FL

I can now safely look back on the year 2007 and look at it as one of the best and worst years of my life.  That was the year that I had --not one but --two daughters who graduated from college with Master’s Degrees. That was also the same year that I buried two of my best friends because of cancer.

When you hear the expression “one down one to go,” many may be referring to some type of goal in their lives.  It could be one of your children graduated from high school and you have one more to go.  It could be one of your children has finished with college and you have one more to go.  For the purpose of this blog I am referring to one of my daughters being educated about “how her body really works” and now I have one more that I need to reach.

Most of you should have read my health testimony by now entitled "The Awakening" (http://cathyhudson-harris.blogspot.com/2011/12/awakening.html). 

As I said in the testimony which has turned into my first health book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days” (www.AngelsPress.com/homepage.html) --I never set out to become a "Health and Wellness Expert." I guess you can say it kind of found me.

After retiring from my job in 2005, I started my own empowerment company, Angels Press (www.AngelsPress.com) and became a motivational speaker along with being a business coach.

Because I did not lead a balanced life and did not pay attention to my health as I did other projects, I became ill.  After becoming housebound and bed-ridden in 2008, 6 doctors failed to heal me, so while in the “eleventh hour,” --I had to self-educate myself and was able to successfully heal myself.

The true miracle of it all is that I was able to heal myself by shutting down and educating myself. After all I had no choice since I was in the eleventh hour of my situation.

Everyone should take a few weeks or months to really educate themselves on how their body really works. Remember it’s extremely important to set goals for your health, family, career/business and pay attention to all of them --equally. 

After losing my two best friends to cancer, and becoming ill and healing my ownself my mission in life became to share the newfound knowledge that I had learned first-hand…to try to save as many as I could especially those around me –my immediate family. 

Many of us are only responsible for ourselves but for mothers it’s our duty to try to get the point across to our children no matter how old they become –their 20s, 30s, 40s, etc. or how much education they have. Unlike my daughters, who are half my age, I went into the military so I did not attend college but I have a PhD in life.  Life and street experiences trumps “book education” –everytime.

I guess you can say I have one daughter down and one to go.  After becoming ill, one of my daughters learned first-hand about the choices she made when she ended up sick and like me was in the “eleventh” hour.

Once you learn the right information on what you really need to do to have a strong healthy body and live a productive life, it’s hard to go back to bad eating habits and a lifestyle that would bring nothing but illnesses and diseases. Her newfound knowledge will probably follow her the rest of her life –simply because she was ready for this knowledge. 

On the other hand, my other daughter is still eating the types of foods and living in the type of environment that I am speaking against today. So I have my hands full and another job to do…to educate her before it’s too late… and yes she is in a race against time whether she knows it or not.

It doesn’t matter how much money you have or what type of life you live…"You Can’t Be Wealthy If You are Not Healthy." All I hope for my daughter is that she doesn’t have to learn the hard way like I did… or her sister. Whatever I do and however I do it I know that I have to approach it with such an urgency because it doesn’t take long for anyone who is engaging in an unhealthy lifestyle to come down with some type of illness or disease.

What is so frightening and alarming is that many people don’t have any idea what it takes to become healthy --and many are just not “ready!” Becoming healthy takes “will power” and “self-discipline” --and unless you are ready to accept change into your life, you probably will not be successful. 

Being healthy is hard for everyone --so don’t beat yourself up if it’s takes time for you to bring your life and health into balance. I still struggle everyday to do the right thing in my own life -- to eat right, exercise and get enough sleep so that I will lead an energetic and vibrant life.

Remember diseases cannot exist in a healthy body! The goal is to look at your lifestyle (diet, exercise, sleep patterns, etc.) and your environment (inside environment and outdoor environment) and develop good habits that will give you a “disease-free body.”

The goal is “bad stuff out and good stuff in” which means that everyone should engage in some type of regular detoxification process of their colon, liver, and kidneys which are also the detoxification organs of the body. Then everyone should start eating “nutrient-dense” foods which are mostly raw, organic alkalizing green foods. The darker the green foods -- the better. 

Everyone should remember that “Your Health Begins in Your Colon.” Even with one bowel movement per day, you will still have at least three meals worth of waste matter rotting or decaying in your colon at all times. Two ‘easy’ bowel movements per day are recommended and if you have three movements --then you are really on the right path. Man’s body has not changed very much in the past several thousand years; however, man’s diet has certainly changed a lot. 

All the refined sugar, white flour, hormone/antibiotic-filled meats --we constantly ingest constitute an assault on our bodies. In other words, we are continuously violating our bodies by eating “The Standard American Diet” (SAD).

Last year after attending a series of webinars, I launched my own national health campaign on facebook.com, the National Non-Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Health Movement. 

My book "How To Take Control of Your OwnLife: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days" (www.AngelsPress.com) is the third book in a 3-part empowerment book series which provides powerful information on how to take control of your own life.  Read it today and save your life and those around you that you care deeply about.  Good luck!