Category Archives: Spirit

Do You Have A Spirit Spot?

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Do you have a “spirit spot” or what I also like to call a “place of peace”? 

This morning as I was meditating, praying and writing in my journal, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for my “spirit spot”. I knew I had to share this with you on this beautiful Sunday. Seemed appropriate. When I started on my spiritual journey about 12-13 years ago, I found that early morning was the perfect time for me to pray, read and seek God. I am naturally an early bird so it was easy. As I began to see how this practice was transforming and strengthening me, I became addicted to my special morning time. On the mornings I was rushed and skipped it, I would be cranky, short tempered and anxiety-ridden the rest of the day. Now, I do not give up my morning ritual for anything or anyone! With all the people and responsibilities we have, it’s vital to start the day in peace (not frantic with anxiety) and equipped to handle it all.

 My “spirit spot” ended up being the couch in the living room complete with a comfy blanket, coffee, candle, Bible, books, journal, highlighter and my furry daughter, Zoe. Now, I realize that this spot works for me because I don’t have kids. A “spirit spot” can be any place YOU can get quiet, connect and feed your spirit. This could be a specific room in the house, on the patio overlooking the pool, a park bench or even in the shower or on the yoga mat.

One of the first things I discuss with my lifestyle mentoring/coaching clients is how they start their day. A common theme I have found among women who need my help, are disconnected from their spirit and constantly exhausted is that they jump out of bed to screaming kids or they hit the snooze button a million times.

If this is you- do you feel a rumbling of anxiety in your gut for the rest of the day? 

Then, I highly recommend getting up a bit earlier than your family. Even just 15 minutes earlier will transform how the rest of your day goes. I PROMISE! Is there a spot in your home where you feel calm? A spot where the minute you sit down you exhale and feel the stress drain off. This could be the perfect place of peace for you. If not, create one. Place things around you and in your view that create a sense of joy, peace and comfort in you. My spot in the living room has things that stimulate my senses in a positive way….

  • Furry blanket that is comforting, safe and cozy. (I skip this during the heat of Summer, of course!)
  • My baby girl Zoe, loves to lay in my lap which creates love and connection.
  • An aromatic candle which creates a calm zen atmosphere.
  • Fresh flowers- usually an orchid- which represents love, luxury, beauty and strength.  
  • Photos of my family and dearest friends which always reminds me to pray for them & send them positive thoughts. 

 

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Remember, it’s just as important what we feed our physical body as what we’re feeding our spirit. When you feed your body junk- ice cream, cookies, fried foods, preservatives- you become overweight, sluggish and become a breeding ground for diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and more. You become what you eat. 

What you feed your spirit- YOU BECOME. Do you feed your spirit junk like too many violent/sexually immoral shows & movies, trash mags, too much voyeuristic time on social media and surrounding yourself with gossipers/backstabbers/criticizers?  Trust me– I am not perfect at this and indulge in some ridiculous, mind-sucking reality shows from time to time — but, I am cautious of how much time I spend on things like that. It’s important to be so in tune with your spirit, that you notice when these things are altering your character, behavior and your manner of speaking becomes negative.

Again, this is why it is crucial you begin the day filled up on positivity and peace. As the day goes on, we are bombarded with negative images, tragic news and perhaps a gossipy friend. If you begin the day depleted, whoa- no wonder so many women battle anxiety. I did for a long time!  Sistas, it’s no way to live. 

Please share your TWO CENTS on this subject and make a comment!

Share, tweet, like this post if you found it inspiring.

Love, Tiff xo

 

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STRESS: Make It A Manageable Beast

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Question- What’s your stress level on a regular basis?  You are probably wondering, “Tiff, what does that have to do with beauty, style or inspiration?”…well, it has a lot to do with how healthy, vibrant, aware, sharp, peaceful and powerful you feel.  Constant stress is carried on your face and will dull your light and not to mention over time it can cause serious dis-ease in your body. So, let’s discuss this because I am personally checking in with myself and my own stress levels on a regular basis and I find everywhere I turn people are just out-of-their-mind STRESSED OUT!  This is no way to live ladies. LIFE IS SHORT!

I’m about to keep it very real here…

In the past I lived in a constant state of high anxiety because I had not healed through my issues and like many people I numbed myself with drugs and alcohol. A friend convinced me to see a doctor and of course, they put me on anti-depressants, anti-anxiety pills and ambien to sleep because I would be so amped up from the other pills.  WHEW! It’s a vicious cycle with this stuff and I couldn’t function long on all these RX’s.  For me, the only thing that worked to calm the nerves was to turn to God, begin red flagging my stressors and begin a serious spiritual practice of prayer & journaling. As I began to crack open my spirit and face my issues, I was more in tune with myself and the things, situations and PEOPLE that stressed me out. Learning to manage your stress will change your life and the lives of those around you!  It truly effects every area of our lives:

  • Sleep Difficulties
  • Loss of Appetite or Over-eating
  • Lack of Concentration
  • Sloppy performance on the job
  • Anti-social Behavior
  • Abusing Alcohol or Drugs
  • Nervous Habits
  • Short Temper
  • Poor Memory

Does that sound about right? Make it a priority to check in with yourself on a regular basis and deal with the stress so it doesn’t grow into an unmanageable beast.

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Here’s 20 tips I have found to help:

  1. Do not keep things bottled up! Talk to someone you trust to help you work through it.
  2. Spend time daily doing an activity you love. (I clear my head with a long powerwalk)
  3. Improve your diet! Eating vitamin rich foods and avoiding junk with preservatives will keep your nervous system functioning properly. Add a B complex supplement too!
  4. Simplify! This is so important but very difficult for “busy bodies”. Stop taking on too many activities at once. You know the popular saying, “my plate is so full”. Well, change that!
  5. Stop rushing! When you feel panicked or rushed, STOP- sit quietly, take a deep breath and regain your composure.
  6. Keep a zen-like peaceful environment at work and at home.
  7. Be present! Don’t put too much thought into the future or the past. Enjoy the NOW!
  8. Avoid unrealistic expectations on yourself and others! Whew- this will alleviate a ton of stress.
  9. Get enough sleep!
  10. Exercise  more! It produces “feel good” chemicals.
  11. Take note of your moods! Ladies, we have those pesky hormones to deal with so be aware of how you’re feeling emotionally and cut yourself a break when you need to.
  12. Explore relaxation methods: Yoga, walking, journaling, listening to soothing music, hiking, etc.
  13. Express yourself! If you feel sad, allow yourself a good cry. If you’re angry, express it constructively. (Breaking plates not allowed)
  14. Love people and use things! Not the other way around. Walking in love is a huge stress reducer. Drop the ego.
  15. Take a techno break! Unplug the phone, stay off the computer, don’t watch TV. Often these things bring major stress into our life and we don’t even realize it.
  16. Learn the power of saying “NO”.  This brings tons of stress on many woman. Being a ‘people pleaser’ will ultimately stress you out and build resentment!
  17. Do not use crutches! Food, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol will also ultimately add to your stress instead of the temporary relief of it.
  18. Avoid boredom! Period.
  19. Surround yourself with positive peeps!  Stress and negativity are contagious so hang out with positive, uplifting friends.
  20. Get in touch with the little kid inside you on a regular basis!  Try to have more fun and find things that give you a good belly laugh every once in a while.

Most important thing of all – GRACE!  It gives you the strength and power to get done what you need to even when you think you can’t. Tap into it.

Have a beautiful weekend sistas!

Love, Tiff

EASTER- New Beginnings, New Life!

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Easter is a miraculous time of new beginnings and new life.  So, I would like to start off wishing all of you who celebrate it…. A Very Happy and Blessed Easter!  I love this time of year for so many reasons, but especially on a Spiritual level.  Everywhere you look there are signs of new life from the greener grass to the budding flowers and trees.  The birds are singing again and the squirrels are playing.  How amazing is God’s Creation!?  On my powerwalk a few days ago, I was thrilled to see the blooming Jacaranda trees (one of my favorite trees) lining several streets in Beverly Hills.  The bold purple color always takes my breath away and  I am filled with excitement that SPRING HAS OFFICIALLY ARRIVED!

Winter is a time when everything appears to die and lies dormant or is intentionally pruned back in order to grow bigger and better come Spring.  We can feel like that at times as well.  Have you felt pruned back at bit and are now ready to BLOOM?!?  Part of that pruning back is the “letting go” I spoke about a few weeks ago.  In order to bloom and become who you are truly meant to be and step into a new life, you have to snip some dead things off.   Grab those Spiritual gardening shears sista.  Cheers to a fresh start and new beginning!

A MUST SEE!

Are you watching The Bible Series on The History Channel?  I highly recommend it.  It’s a beautiful Mini-Series produced by Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel) and her husband, Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice).   It’s been the #1 rated show every week since it debuted.  Last week’s episode on Palm Sunday especially impacted me as we watched Jesus begin His journey to the cross.  The final episode is this Easter Sunday with the Crucifixion.  If you do not have cable, you can view it online at the same time as it would appear on TV in  your area.  They entire series will also be available on DVD. Go to http://www.history.com.

Here’s a sneak peek of the finale:

There will be no Sunday Affirmations this week instead I encourage you to celebrate the special day, celebrate your life, celebrate your family + friends and celebrate a fresh start + the opportunity to bloom.

Love, Tiff

 

LOVE YA LIKE A SIS: Women Need Women

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Hey Sisters,

As women, we thrive and function at our best when we have a supportive sisterhood of like-minded friends.  This all began for me when I was very little.  Whether it was playing with my cousins (who were all girls except for one) or my sports teams or cheerleading squads, I was always blessed to have a great group of girlfriends.  Back then, we loved throwing slumber parties and giggling about boys and dancing around my parents living room.  Not much has really changed.  If you catch a group of my girlfriends at my BFF’s house in Dallas….before the end of the night– the furniture is moved and the living room is turned into a dance floor!   When women connect, it does something differently to our spirit than connecting with our boyfriends/husbands or children does for us.  If we go too long without “girltime” or hashing out life over a cup of coffee with a dear friend, our spirit suffers a bit.  Don’t you notice how your spirit is lifted after a good dose of fun with a great group of girlfriends?  You have a pep in your step and that warm & fuzzy feeling resonates with your for a few days after.   Encouraging and supportive female energy is a mighty force that we all need in our lives. 

When I began healing and growing in my late 20’s, I went through a dark and lonely time.  I began to “outgrow” friends and was too emotionally raw to get out there and make new ones.  Of course, I am so grateful for this period in my life because that’s when I got to know God.  He truly is the greatest Positive Force, Friend and Father.  I also starting watching “The Oprah Winfrey Show” much more and noticed it gave me that “lift” I was missing.  I felt connected and that hour episode on TV had become my “girltime”.   I kept this in mind as I began to create my talk show ideas and figuring out how I could use the power of video to help women.  I knew if I felt lonely then there had to be so many women around the world who felt disconnected like I did.  One of the best comments I receive about my webseries, this blog, and the Facebook community is how it gives you Mom’s a sense of girltime once the kids are in bed and you have some time alone on the computer.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Over time, I was blessed to connect with new, like-minded, spiritually conscious girlfriends and have created deeper friendships than I’ve ever had before. Whether it is online with social media or offline in real life, I encourage you to connect and reach out if you are in that lonely space.  Ask about groups in your community or church.  If you can’t find one, start one of your own.  My girlfriends and I here in LA did just that and it has made a huge difference in all of our lives.  LA can be a very disconnected place because there is not the same sense of community as in more family-friendly cities.  We have done a great job of creating our own surrogate LA family/sisterhood.  We can get a brief shot of connection and friendship on Facebook, but nothing can take the place of feeling a friends hug, sharing a laugh (or cry) and making eye contact.  A sisterhood gives you a sense of belonging and a knowing in your spirit that “I am not alone”.  I swear, it has to help with your immune system and overall health & wellness too!

  • CONNECT
  • REACH OUT
  • MAKE THAT CALL
  • JOIN A GROUP
  • START A GROUP
  • SCHEDULE WEEKLY COFFEE/LUNCH DATES

I’m filled with gratitude today for all the amazing women in my life including this SOS Sisterhood.

Love Ya Like A Sis,

Tiff

Sunday Eve Affirmations: I WILL…..

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Hey Lovely Ladies,

When you close your eyes and think of the word, ABUNDANCE, what comes to mind?  Here is Webster’s definition:

a·bun·dance [noun]
1.an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply.
2.overflowing fullness

This week, my wish for all of us, is that we stop and appreciate the abundance in our lives. It is not about how fat our bank account is or the “things” we acquire.  Abundance is feeling vibrant, alive and fully living each day with love and passion. It’s about enjoying the simple moments, the unexpected blessings that make life beautiful and most importantly, being grateful for what we have!  Life is short.  I watch so many people wasting their lives away trying to get more, do more and earn more money– yet they can’t maintain healthy relationships and their aging themselves too quickly because they are all work and no play.  I was one of those people and almost became a drug addict because of it.  My resume, the networks and producers I worked for, the size of my paycheck, the Gucci hangbag on my arm and the SUV I drove was my definition of abundance….BOY, did I have it all wrong! 

THIS WEEK, I WILL….

  1. Not lower myself by participating in gossip.
  2. Be an encourager instead of a critic.
  3. Get my glow on by eating a serving of blueberries every morning.
  4. Dance, paint, sing or do whatever that makes me feel free.
  5. Rock a dash of leopard print.
  6. Shine my light because the world needs it.
  7. Schedule my workouts as if they are an important meeting.
  8. Simplify my life + clear the clutter wherever it needs it.
  9. Drink a glass of lemon water upon rising before my coffee or tea.
  10. Say a prayer of gratitude for my abundant life.
  11. Release all fears + doubts and GO FOR IT!

{Daily Serving of Blueberries}

{Dash of Leopard Print}

{Shine On}

 

I would love to hear your comments on how these weekly affirmations have been effective in your life.

We’re in this together!

If you see a sister who’s spark is dim this week, help her out by fanning her flame and be an encouragement instead of a critic.

RADIATE LOVE,

Tiff

Be Healthy. Be Beautiful. Be Sane.

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Hi Beautiful Girl,

Happy Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?  I know I sound like a broken record, but I hope you find some time to decompress, recharge and calm your Spirit.  I won’t keep you from getting on with it so here’s just a few tips to help you feel healthier, more beautiful and hold on to your sanity!  I believe our inner beauty, health and wellness is much more important than the latest style and makeup tips.  If we don’t feel good on the inside, ultimately- we will not look good on the outside. 

The popularity of Green Tea has increased tremendously over the last 10 years. Have you incorporated it into your lifestyle yet? I encourage you to do so. There is a long list of health benefits including:

  • Increases metabolism (woohoo),
  • Lowers blood pressure,
  • Regulates glucose + insulin levels so it helps prevent diabetes,
  • Anti-viral,
  • Lowers cholesterol,
  • Reduces risks of cancer + alzheimers,
  • +PLUS+ the antioxidants help preserve the elasticity in the skin meaning LESS WRINKLES!

LATEST Q + A WEBISODE: No you aren’t crazy!

An important supplement I forgot to mention in the webisode (Brain Fart) is a great Vitamin B-Complex. I love it in sublingual form!  Helps with anxiety, depression, all symptons of PMS, fatigue, heart disease and more. 

FINAL TIP:  Enjoy nature. Take a walk. Stop + smell….

SOS TO THE RESCUE!

Giving you the tools…
to be free,
confident,
secure with yourself,
to embrace your quirks,
to own your unique beauty & style,
to walk tall in your fabulous-ness,
to be unapologetic,
to live life without restraints,
to realize your self-worth,
to truly take care of yourself, nurture your spirit and
to watch every single one of your dreams come to pass!

Love You Sister,

Tiff

Send me a TWEET and let me know how your weekend is going!