The solar eclipse in Mercury-ruled Gemini on Sunday marks the peak of this week where mental functions will be emphasized.Variety is a key concept for Gemini and we’ll see plenty of that.

Thursday, the Moon in Aries opposes Saturn in Libra putting focus on the me-we axis. So many want to be “on their own” (Aries) but supported by others (Saturn in Libra). People want to be independent, but not alone and balancing this is the job of the day.

Friday, the Moon joins the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter in Taurus. Mars is in Virgo and Pluto is in Capricorn so this is an earthy situation. People tend to feel calm and move slow when there are a lot of planets in the Earth signs. It’s a good day to put a pot of stew on the stove, to let it cook slowly, or perhaps you can break out the crock pot.

Saturday is a repeat of Friday. Many will take a day off to lie around the house.

Sunday morning brings a scene change as the Sun leaves Taurus for Gemini. Venus is also in Gemini and Mars is in Mercury-ruled Virgo so this is recipe for brainstorming. The solar eclipse takes place in the late afternoon when the Moon follows the Sun into Gemini and they form a conjunction @ zero degrees.

It’s notable that the eclipse squares Neptune. This is not a recipe for crisp mental clarity, however I think we’re going to see a good, if not excellent result from this eclipse as outlined here.

Monday people continue to strive to solve problems as Mars in Virgo squares the Moon in Gemini. Potentials here are very good. Tuesday, people are still thinking and talking a lot.

We wrap up the week on Wednesday with the Moon in Cancer in hard aspect to Uranus and Pluto. This reminds us of the cracks in the foundations of our lives that threaten our security. It’s not a good feeling but you can’t address a problem if you’re oblivious to it.

If you want to talk about these issues or anything else, please schedule a phone appointment or contact me for an email consult.

I also have a variety of astrology reports for just $10. Check them out here. Follow on Twitter.

Thanks and best wishes for a great week,

Elsa P.

Busy Bee Blogs, 88 Sterling Place, Apt 1, New York, NY 11217, USA

What Is A Community of Purpose

and

Why Do YOU Need One?

Purpose is the only sustainable way to create value. Purpose also makes and sustains profit because it is the only true driver of our greatest potential.

 

 What is a Community of Purpose?

 

Whether you want to build a happy life, a successful enterprise, small business or professional practice; YOU need a community of purpose.

Your community of purpose can be a small group or team, it can be a few people or just a valued and trusted coach or advisor… developing that community of purpose is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, the actualization of your potential and the potential of those you lead and serve.

We all need communities of purpose, because it can be terribly lonely at the top, and it is lonely in the middle and at the bottom too. Loneliness, isolation, lack of trust, lack of solid personal and career relationships…lack of communities of purpose can break even the best and brightest among us, or leave us spinning in overdrive or stuck in stasis.

 

Why do YOU need one?

Success is sustained by a community of purpose. Like minded people who share values and goals have the ability to reach past what is and create what can be. The heads, hearts and souls of many can together make a difference that can move a life, many lives, organizations and ultimately our world. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community of like minded people to create and sustain any successful venture.

Our potential to DO GOOD is as real as the threats that we face; the threat of narcissism, greed, fear, negativity and all those ugly contagions of destruction that lurk in the shadows of our minds, our lives, our workplaces….our world. Surviving and thriving is about reaching past self imposed and all barriers to actualize our potential and the potential of others. Staying focused, healthy, happy and able to meet and greet challenges and opportunities that will continue to hit us on the face harder and faster than ever before demands a community of purpose.

How can you build a Community of Purpose?

 
Open your mind, open your heart to likeminded people who can be partners in your success, and you in theirs. Reach past the din of noise, negativity, narcissism we all face and look for people who stand up, stand strong. Focus on finding people you can count on and those who can count on you. And, remember what you focus on grows! Look not at the number of social media followers you have, but rather pause and ask yourself about the people you know, the people you communicate with who can be part of your personal or professional/business community of purpose.

Who will you reach out to?

What can you accomplish together?

Take this moment to reach out to simply one individual who can be a part of your community of purpose; you will be pleasantly surprised when they reach back. And, if they do not reach back, move forward and look for members who will become your community of purpose.

Copyright © 2012, Irene Becker

 

©Irene Becker | Just Coach It-The 3Q Edge™ | QBlog Helping smart people & organizations communicate & LEAD forward smarter, faster, happier

Spiritual Quan Yin

 

The Most Exact Science

 

Quan Yin or Kuan Yin is known to be the Protector of Women. She hears the cries and grants the requests of pregnant women, childless women and mothers.

A woman once told me an interesting story pertaining to Kuan Yin. This woman had been married for several years without children. The couple’s greatest desire was to have a child. She had gotten pregnant a few times, but only to have a miscarriage in her first trimester.

After various miscarriages, she felt defeated and without hope of ever becoming a mother. One day, she met a woman who transformed her life.

During a conversation, the woman said that she noticed a great sadness in her eyes. Instead of confirming the woman’s observation, she told her that she was fine. When the woman asked her if she had any children, she was unable to conceal her true feelings. When she told the woman she had none, a tear rolled down her face.

The woman told her to pray to Kuan Yin. Additionally, she said that Kuan Yin was very merciful, and had helped many women. Although she was aware of Kuan Yin, she never thought of praying to her.

She began praying to Kuan Yin, and soon became pregnant. Afraid of having a miscarriage, she prayed faithfully everyday. Nine months later, she and her husband became the proud parents of a baby boy.

After twenty odd years, she, as well as her husband, remain faithful devotees of Kuan Yin.

 

Quan Yin

“It’s not that I invented the Quan Yin Method; I just know it. This method has existed since the beginning of time, when the universe was first formed. And it will always exist. It is not a method; it is like the way of the universe, a universal law that we must follow if we want to get back to the Origin, back to our true Self, back to the Kingdom of God or our Buddha nature.” In her book The Key of Immediate Enlightenment, it is said that those who recite her name would become elevated.

The Quan Yin Method, which is purported to exist in various religions under different names, as the “best, easiest, and quickest” way to get enlightenment. The method involves meditation on the “inner light and the inner sound of God”, or the Shabd that she claims is also referred to in the Bible and said to be acknowledged repeatedly in the literature of all the world’s major spiritual traditions.

The Quan Yin Method requires two and a half hours of meditation per day and adherence to five precepts borrowed from the Five Precepts of Buddhism:

• Refrain from taking the life of sentient beings.
• Refrain from speaking what is not true.
• Refrain from taking what is not offered.
• Refrain from sexual misconduct.
• Refrain from the use of intoxicants.

 

Initiation

 
Master Ching Hai initiates sincere people longing to know the Truth, into the Quan Yin Method. The Chinese characters “Quan Yin” mean contemplation of the Sound Vibration. The Method includes meditation on both the inner Light and the inner Sound. These inner experiences have been repeatedly described in the spiritual literature of all the world’s religions since ancient times.

For example, the Christian Bible states, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) This Word is the inner Sound. It has also been called the Logos, Shabd, Tao, Soundstream, Naam, or the Celestial Music. Master Ching Hai says, “It vibrates within all life and sustains the whole universe. This inner melody can heal all wounds, fulfill all desires, and quench all worldly thirst. It is all power ful and all Love. It is because we are made of this Sound, that contact with it brings peace and contentment to our hearts. After listening to this Sound, our whole being changes, our entire outlook on life is greatly altered for the better.”

The Inner Light, the Light of God, is the same Light referred to in the word “enlightenment.” Its intensity can range from a subtle glow to the brilliance of many millions of suns. It is through the inner Light and Sound that we come to know God.

The initiation into the Quan Yin Method is not an esoteric ritual or a ceremony for entering a new religion. During the initiation, specific instruction in meditation on the inner Light and inner Sound is given, and Master Ching Hai provides the “Spiritual Transmission.” This first taste of Divine Presence is given in silence.

Master Ching Hai need not be physically present in order to open this “door” for you. The Transmission is an essential part of the Method. The technique themselves will bring little benefit without the Grace of the Master.

Because you may hear the inner Sound and see the inner Light immediately upon initiation, this event is sometimes referred to as “sudden” or “immediate enlightenment.”

Master Ching Hai accepts people from all backgrounds and religious affiliations for initiation. You do not have to change your present religion or system of beliefs. You will not be asked to join any organization, or participate in any way that does not suit your current life-style.

However, you will be asked to become a vegetarian. A lifetime commitment to the vegetarian diet is a necessary prerequisite

The initiation is offered free of charge.

Daily practice of the Quan Yin Method of meditation and the keeping The Precepts are guidelines that help you to neither harm yourself nor any other living being. These practices will deepen and strengthen your initial enlightenment experience, and allow you to eventually attain the highest levels of awakening or Godhood for yourself. Without daily practice, you will almost certainly forget your enlightenment and return to a normal level of consciousness.

Master Ching Hai’s goal is to teach us to be self sufficient. Therefore, She teaches a method that can be practiced by everyone, by themselves, without props or paraphernalia of any kind. She is not looking for followers, worshippers, or disciples, or to establishing an organization with a dues paying membership. She will not accept money, prostrations, or gifts from you, so you do not need to offer these to Her.

She will accept your sincerity in daily life and meditational practice to progress yourself towards sainthood.

HOW to Get Most Blessings

http://suprememastertv.com/blessings/

A Celebration of Women

is elated to Celebrate the Life of yet another trail blazer in the world of women.

This special soul have risen above incredible circumstance in both private and professional life. Reaching for the stars through her own challenges, this powerhouse is now here to help the Women of our World.

If you are seeking the way to reaching your dreams, feel stuck and see no way out, this is the woman that you want to see.

In her own words, she tells us ‘I have always been “a Woman of Action” & I would love to help you take A Celebration of Women forward!’

“Transformational catalyst” is the favorite term to describe this wealth of pure talent.

WOMAN of ACTION

Irene Becker

Described by clients as a “transformational catalyst,”, Irene has helped executives senior managers, professionals, entrepreneurs, writers, human resource professionals, speakers, trainers, coaches, teachers optimize talent and performance in high stress, high change environments while also developing a new relationship with challenges, ambiguity and crises that drives and sustains a better business and human bottom line.

Her work is a repertoire of customized peak performance services with a unique 3Q™ focus that has been instrumental in helping clients optimize, humanize and monetize passion, purpose and potential in their work and their lives.

Rainmaker, trailblazer and road warrior, Irene’s journey has taken her from dreams of becoming an academic, to becoming the first woman CEO of a steel company in Canada, working in Canada, USA and Europe, pioneering consulting on entrepreneurship and mentorship in Canada, financial consulting and achieving trailblazing results in the community at large.

Professional Highlights

- First woman CEO of a successful multi-million dollar steel company that achieved 90% market saturation in its area of specialization during her tenure as President and CEO.

Irene has worked internationally in Canada, USA and Europe, and thrives in a global arena of cultural diversity and challenge.

- One of ten top business women and professionals chosen by the Federal Development Bank of Canada to develop the first mentorship program for businesswomen in the country, “Step Up” in 1988. Irene was the first woman Rotarian in Canada, Rotary Club of Montreal, and did the first consulting for Royal Bank of Canada on entrepreneurship.

- Professional fundraising and active board memberships in cultural and community organizations including UJA, YMCA, The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, The Montreal Board of Trade, Starlight Foundation, Enterprise Toronto, West Island Chamber ofCommerce, American Chamber of Commerce in Canada.

- In 2000, she was personally selected by Mark Victor Hanson as one of his first one hundred millionaire eagles; then coaching found Irene, or she found coaching.

- One of the stars in her coaching certification program, Irene launched Just Coach It in 2003, and subsequently did a certification in coaching emotional intelligence with a psychologist and expert in the field.

- Developed a 3Q™ optic and skill set that drives peak performance at the speed of change, in the face of challenges, transitions, even crises.

Smart and Fast Are Not Enough

The Importance of Increased Emotional Intelligence to the Success of Your Mediation Practice and Your Life
Building a mediation or a dispute resolution practice of professional excellence and success requires more than skill, intellect and training. It requires the ability to manage and regulate the emotions that create transparent communication and trust. IQ may get you the job, but EQ will get you the promotion.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI) is a hot topic today. The reasons for its importance are threefold:

1. Emotional Intelligence is recognized to be one of the most important predictors of personal, business and professional success.
2. With appropriate education and training, Emotional Intelligence can be developed throughout our lives.
3. In a world of unprecedented change and challenge it is our ability to increase our EQ that will help us build the leadership, transparent communication and collaboration to lead better lives, do better business and contribute to a better world.

Like most human competencies, Emotional Intelligence is best increased in the learning and the doing, and that is why EQ focused coaching is so powerful, helping clients not only learn about EQ but integrate strategies and solutions that increase EQin their lives and careers.

We believe that awareness is the most important of EQcompetencies because it is the building block upon which our emotional intelligence can grow and thrive, as such this article is divided into four parts that will help you become more aware of:

1. What Emotional Intelligence is.
2. How the human brain is constructed to be Emotionally Intelligent.
3. The basic components or competencies of Emotional Intelligence.
4. The critical importance of Emotional Intelligenceto building a successful mediation/dispute resolution practice and a successful life at the speed of change.

PART ONE: WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?
Emotional intelligence (EQ or EI)is a set of abilities or competencies that enable us to understand and manage ourselves and our emotions effectively. EQ also helps us understand and effectively relate to others. Stress tolerance, leadership, communication, collaboration, social responsibility, problem solving, creativity and self-actualization all require high EQ. With appropriate education and training, EQ can be developed over our lifespan.

“In a study of skills that distinguish star performers in every field from entry-level jobs to executive positions, the single most important factor was not IQ, advanced degrees, or technical experience, it was EQ. Of the competencies required for excellence in performance in the job studies, 67% were emotional competencies.” Working with Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman

Whether Americans are by nature attuned to fighting for what they perceive are their rights; or the amount of litigation that is done in the United States reflects the need for the increased emotional intelligence competencies that can mitigate dispute, no one will argue with the fact that the United States is a very litigious nation.

America has 281 lawyers for every 100,000 people, compared to Britain with 94, 33 in France and a mere 7 in Japan. Conflict resolution and mediation are fields of practice that will continue to grow as the demands and stressors of a changing world fuel the lack of communication that creates disputes, and because there is a growing recognition of the financial and emotional cost of going to trial and engaging in adversarial litigation. Emotional Intelligence is a requirement for successful mediation or dispute resolution.

IQ may get you the client, but your EQ skills will help you keep the client and build a growing practice.

Why?

Because, while human beings like to intellectualize their decisions to purchase a product or a service, the bottom line remains that we buy services and products from those we trust and like. It is our ability to trust and like another person that makes us feel comfortable with the relationship and propels the desire to have or to purchase something from them. And, in a situation where we need to mediate a dispute, the desires to feel good and to feel validated are the primary drivers that help us select a mediator or dispute resolution specialist.

• How many clients come to mediation or dispute resolution somewhat inured or skeptical at the very concept of a win win situation because they are so full of anger, frustration, fear, or any combination of the three?
• How much of the process of successful mediation compromised by clients whose feelings of mistrust, acrimony and the pervasive sense of invalidation overtake reason and make it difficult for them to even conceive of a win-win situation?

How can those who mediate conflict use the very emotions that have created the conflict to bring both parties to the table, to start to ignite the transparent communication that will set the stage for successful mediation? By increasing, expressing and modeling your EQ competencies and coaching your clients into an emotionally intelligent platform of communication that helps them increase their own EQ competence.

To get a better understanding at the power of emotional intelligence lets take a look at how our human brains are constructed to be emotionally intelligent.

PART TWO: OUR BRAIN CONSTRUCTED TO BE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT
What we call the oldest part of our brain is the Reptilian Brain. It is a bulb that sits at the top of the spinal cord. This brain is several hundred million years old. It controls very rudimentary things — breathing, swallowing, and heartbeat, the visual tracking system that a frog uses to snap up flies, or the startle reflex that human infants are born with.

For reptiles, it is a life of simple choices: Do I eat it? Do I ignore it? Do I run away? Do I mate with it? Creatures like reptiles do not have emotions; they act without thinking. They live a life of reflexive action… they live a life that is propelled and compelled by the Reptilian Brain.

Survival reactions (as opposed to emotions) come from our Reptilian Brain and they are stronger than those based on thought processes because we need them to survive. If, for instance, someone shoves a knife in your face, your reaction is going to be extreme. Your brain doesn’t want you to think; that would slow you down. When you sense the knife being shoved into your face, your reptilian brain kicks off an all-systems-go alert, because it needs you to act immediately without thinking. When a human being perceives what they believe to be a danger or a threat to their wellbeing or survival, the Reptilian Brain kicks into action and pushes us to act without thinking.

The next part of the brain to evolve in human beings and other mammals was the limbic brain. The limbic brain can be expressive and can intuit, but it doesn’t reason and it isn’t logical, and it doesn’t respond to our will. It can be influenced but that’s about it. The role of the limbic brain is pivotal to human functioning because it is what makes our relationships possible. It is this part of our brain that helps us bond with our mates, care for our young, desire companionship, sing, or create vocal communication and play.The ability to create art, poetry, symbols, metaphors, parables and to feel responsibility, morals, duty, ethics and social responsibility probably reside in this part of the brain also… because all of these relate to our attachments and bonds with others. Less evolved, non mammalian creatures like reptiles do not have a limbic brain. They are therefore unable to process feelings, bond, care, desire companionship, create vocal communication, sing or play.

The functions of the Reptilian Brain and the Limbic System are involuntary, and values are neutral. This means that our bodies and our Reptilian Brain and Limbic System respond chemically and instinctively in ways that we do not fully understand, whether we are consciously aware of them or not. While what a healthy, well balanced person does with his/her feelings is under their control, the actual emotions that we feel are not.The Reptilian and the Limbic System will not take orders, rather they work to send us signals about our feelings so we can tune into these signals and stay safe. Of course, we all know that just because you feel something doesn’t mean it’s always beneficial to act upon it. If a person has trouble controlling his or her impulses they need to seek professional help.

The ability to control behavior and actions in the face of very strong emotions is created in the third part of the brain, the Neo Cortex.

The Neo Cortex is the largest part of the brain and it weighs approximately three pounds. Neo means “new” and the Neo Cortex is the most recently evolved part of our brain. It is the seat of our thinking, logic and reasoning. This brain is not only large, but it has two hemispheres – right and left. The left hemisphere or “left brain” makes linear, logical, step by step plans. The right hemisphere or “right brain” generates ideas, language and creative thought. The Neo Cortex is the only part that can use abstract symbols like math and words.

This part of the brain, the Neo Cortex, is the one most people are most familiar with, so we tend to think of it as the brain. Western civilization has almost worshiped logic and reason for centuries–well at least since the Age of Reason. We have put so much emphasis on education through words, ideas, and logic that we tend to forget–if we ever knew–that these things mean nothing to 2 brains out of our 3.

The Neo Cortexis the center for all our higher-level, “civilized” functioning – language, physics, math, analysis… It can modulate feelings and integrate them, and it can talk about them. However, to solve problems, we need the Reptilian Brain, Limbic System and Neo Cortex to be working together. Making good decisions means engaging the emotional intelligence, and that demands getting in touch with our feelings and using the Reptilian, Limbic and Neo Cortex in coordination:

- Reptilian = instincts (involuntary) – Limbic = emotions (involuntary) – Neo Cortex = thought (voluntary)
It is the human ability to align instincts, emotions and thoughts that gives us the capacity to increase our emotional intelligence. And it is the human ability to use the changes, challenges and even crucibles we face to develop self awareness, emotional management and regulation that helps us feel better, lead better, communicate better and succeed better.

PART THREE: UNDERSTANDING THE GENERAL EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMPETENCIES
Here are the major emotional intelligence competencies that make up a fully integrated personality as well as a sample of a state of the art assessment that measures EQ:

1. Emotional Self-awareness – The degree to which you are able to notice your feelings, label them and attribute them properly.
2. Emotional Expression †“ The ability to express your feelings and gut-level instincts. Emotional expression is an integral part of your day.
3. Emotional Awareness of Others – The ability to hear, sense or intuit what other people may be feeling from their words, body language (non verbal) or other direct or indirect clues.
4. Creativity †“ Tapping into the multiple non-cognitive resources that help us envision new ideas, frame alternative solutions, and find effective ways of doing things.
5. Resilience/Flexibility/Adaptability. The ability to bounce back, be flexible, and retain curiosity and hope in the face of adversity, change or challenge.
6. Interpersonal Connections – Creating and sustaining a network of people with whom you can be your real and whole self.
7. Constructive Discontent – The ability to stay calm focused and emotionally grounded in disagreement or conflict.
8. Outlook/Optimism – Being positive and optimistic.
9. Compassion/Empathy – The ability to be empathic, appreciate and honor others’ feelings.
10. Intuition – The ability to notice, trust and use your hunches, gut-level reactions, and other non-cognitive responses produced by the senses, emotions, mind and body.
11. Intentionality: Saying what you mean and meaning what you say; being willing to forego distractions and temptations in order to be responsible for your actions and your motives.
12. Trust radius – Believing people are “good” until proven otherwise-Alternatively overcoming being too trusting.
13. Personal Power – Believing you can meet challenges and live the life you choose.

PART FOUR: THE ROLE OF EQ IN SUCCESSFUL MEDIATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The engagement of increased EQ drives successful dispute resolution and conflict mediation. Excellent mediation means modeling the clients’ EQ competencies and further to help the clients increase their EQ where lacking and create anew transparency of communication, trust and collaboration – that will make win-win solutions possible.

While all the EQ competencies are important to dispute resolution and mediation there are three EQ competencies in particular that can make or break the process: Flexibility/resilience, Creativity and Intentionality.

While flexibility/resilience, intentionality and creativity are the building blocks of dispute resolution and mediation they are also the most difficult to attain just by virtue of the fact that they are thwarted by fear and anger. Unfortunately the emotions of fear and anger that perpetuate dispute and conflict also distort and deflect communication and resolution because they are stronger than reason and related to our Reptilian Brain. When we are overcome with feelings of anger and fear our reason is clouded and the very anger and fear we feel takes us farther and farther away from a rational point of view.

We like to think we’re rational beings, but most decisions are made on the basis of how we feel about the facts we’ve uncovered. Emotions, not facts, move people. Hence the key abilities are to use the changes and challenges at hand to understand and be aware of what really matters to the client, how they need to be validated, what they really want and what can make them feel that using their ability to be more flexible, embrace more creative solutions by remembering their basic intention or goals.

“Motivation” and “emotion”come from the same root and both are contagious. The ability to model empathy (an EQ competency) while also demonstrating management and regulation of emotions (an EQ competency) is one of the strongest ways that we can mediate conflict. Modeling empathy, management and regulation of emotions is important because emotions are contagious and have the ability to move us either away from our desired goal or towards our desired goal faster than a speeding bullet.

Keeping your pulse on what is really happening means more than understanding the logic of what is being said or proposed, it means being able to get into the client’s skin if you will; being able to understand the feeling behind their communication, the true desire behind what they feel they need and using what they are feeling to create to mastermind a resolution to conflict.

PART FOUR: THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING AN EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PLATFORM FOR A BETTER CAREER AND A BETTER LIFE AT THE SPEED OF CHANGE

Successful mediation or dispute resolution requires knowledge, training, professional excellence, integrity, agility and creativity of thought… but, of equal import, it requires the engagement of high emotional intelligence competencies that help both the mediator and clients tap into the emotions, thoughts and actions that create a resolve to perceived discrimination.
EQ competencies:

1. Emotional Awareness of Self.

2. Emotional Awareness of Others.

3. Emotional Expression.

4. Creativity.

5. Resilience/flexibility/adaptability.

6. Interpersonal Connections (communication).

7. Constructive Discontent.

8. Optimism.

9. Empathy.

10. Intuition

11. Intentionality.

12. Trust Radius.

13. Personal Power.

And the good news is that not only can EQcompetencies be increased, but your ability to increase, model and express high EQ will be pivotal, not only in setting the stage for better professional results, but in helping you build a better life at the speed of change.

At a time when the World Health Organization is forecasting that stress will be the major cause of disability by the year 2020, understanding, increasing and engaging your emotional intelligence and developing your ability to coach EQ is not only critical to the excellence and success of your mediation or dispute resolution practice, but it is an investment in the quality, excellence and success of your life.

By Irene Becker, CCTA, Just Coach It – Executive and Personal Coaching at the Speed of Change, for the American Society of Conflict Resolution, November 2005

Irene Becker, CCTA, runs the Coaching web site ‘Just Coach It’ at http://www.justcoachit.com

- Passionate about social justice, human rights and servant leadership; Irene led a successful campaign helping to change the environmental laws in the Province of Quebec 1986, and also won a landmark case for the rights of child victims of parental abuse at the Ontario Court of appeal in 2003.

Available for download now.

- Co-author of the book, Exploring Coaching, as well as a number of published articles; Irene is an exceptional coach, speaker and writer whose dedication to the integrity of her work and her clients is outstanding.

- Keynotes for top organizations like EDS, Purchasing Manager’s Association and the Canadian Institute of Management of Canada, Loblaws, HFTP and Digital Eve.

- One of the top Canadian consultants who have contributed to The Executive Roundtable publications; she is also a mentor for a cutting edge American Organization mentor executives and senior managers, EQMentor-www.eqmentor.com.

- Recently quoted in a Wall Street Journal blog/article on career success; Irene’s candor, enthusiasm, integrity and insight make her a riveting speaker, writer, coach, confidante and career advisor who works dynamically with her audience and clients on a profound and a transformational level.

PASSION POINT with Irene Becker

FIND IRENE HERE:

Just Coach It – The 3Q Edge™ | A Leader in Peak Performance Solutions

Helping smart people work smarter and happier

60 Bloor Street West, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON M4W 3B8 Tel: 416-671-4726

www.justcoachit.com

 

Testimonials

Peak Performance, Communication & Career Solutions
Irene Becker is one of the World’s best motivational resources. Her client list spans from Canada, the USA and Europe. CEO’s who are at the top of the mountain, and people who were struggling at the bottom or the middle. They are all smart, fast, forward thinkers. She is an accomplished writer, coach, and motivational speaker. She has an understanding of human nature and an unsurpassed organizational talent. She has what it takes to unlock the talents of others so that they can move forward – consistently and with force.
JT, Senior Manager HR, EDS Toronto

She is what you are looking for as a person that will help you and your business grow. I love this woman. Open, honest, high integrity, futurist in thinking as well as having her feet planted firmly on the ground.
-Hart Davidow, New Dynamics, LLC

I was impressed by this fascinating video of Irene Becker, first female CEO of a steel company in Canada, where she shared her personal story of great achievements and losses. Her experience uniquely positions her as an expert on the topic of the relationship between happiness and success.
-Jesse Lyn Stoner, Bestselling Author, Full Steam Ahead, Leadership Expert & Speaker

Her depth and breadth of experience and knowledge account for her indomitable spirit and masterful ease in transforming the lives of others. She is authentic, poignantly empathic and altogether unforgettable.
-Esther Benezra, Ph.D., B.C.L., LL.B. Senior Executive, Board President and Psychologist

She’s unique among executive coaches. Irene Becker was instrumental in helping me successfully navigate a crucial period in my career-one where I was able take a formidable leap. I deeply value my sessions with her. I recommend her highly to those who want to unleash their best selves to the world.
-Wahn Yoon, Senior Strategist, JWT, Toronto, Canada

Extraordinary. She has an uncanny ability to diagnose the issue,prescribe the proper treatment and see you through whatever is holding you back from achieving your goals. You won’t find a better person and coach….anywhere!
-Todd Rhoad, Engineer, MBA, Career Expert, Author of the book, The Blitz Approach, USA

I can attest to Irene’s knowledge and her ability to present on matters of change management and in collaboration with partners towards success in skills training and execution. She is a ready participant and an active listener, able to reach out to a group or individual as she demonstrates the value of her skill as a leader, a mentor and a coach. Not only able to lead a group or session with you in mind, she also instills the leadership capabilities that allow you to take the next step, to move forward,to succeed. Thanks, Irene.
-Jerry Sheremata, Category Manager, Royal Bank of Canada Procurement, Toronto, Canada

Irene is an exceptional coach whose dedication and expertise in career marketing and management, personal branding, communication, leadership and EQ/EI are outstanding. Irene is my coach and I recommend her services to anyone who wants to achieve success at the speed of change!
-Eldar Mandil, General Manager, Sears, Newmarket, Canada

Six months after working with Irene I was promoted from a middle management position to the C suite, increased my income substantially, and my business and personal relationships have never been better. Thanks, Irene,you are terrific! -ST, Senior VP, HR Houston, USA

I recommend her services highly. Irene has consistently displayed dedication, compassion and tireless effort on my behalf as I sought to rebrand myself during a tough economy. Irene’s well honed career marketing, personal branding and management strengths resulted in a solid marketing campaign with my own unique brand, thereby providing a strong positioning in the market place rendering positive results. Without her support, guidance, knowledge and dedication this would not have been possible.
-JV, Executive, Information Technology, Toronto, Canada

You could never find a better advocate for yourself. It is difficult to imagine how there could be anywhere in the world a better success coach than Irene Becker. She is worth 14 therapists, and yet is not a therapist. She deals with your own raw talent and helps you focus it in the direction where it will be maximally effective.
-Richard Rotman, Professor of Media Relations, Humber College, Founder, PR Writer Extraordinaire, Toronto, Canada

The world needs people of uncommon courage, uncommon leadership, Irene is one of these. I can say without any reservation that any client of Irene’s will dramatically improve their effectiveness as a leader. Her humanness and empathy are such powerful skills, I know you will benefit significantly from having her as your coach and I encourage you to give her a call.
-Ron Hurst, MBA, Leadership Coach, California, USA

“Irene gives me the coaching excellence I need to achieve greater passion, purpose, potential and success in my life and career.”
–Milton E. Fletcher, President of Great Minds Incorporated,
Professor of Business, Spring Arbor University,
Former Manager of Global Human Resources at General Motors, Michigan, USA

Incredible! Her 3Q™ program accelerates success, and helps people get results well beyond what they imagined. She is enthusiastic, creative, and puts her all into everything she does. I highly recommend Irene as a coach, a business woman, and someone you will want to know and work with.
-Susan Bagyura, Executive Coach & Author of the Amazon Bestseller, The Visionary Leader

“Irene is one of a kind. She has truly been amazing since taking over my career campaign. The excellence and confidentiality of her work has helped me move forward faster and better, and I am now negotiating an offer as VP operations. She is absolutely motivating, and has brought a greater level of focus in defining a clear road map for me over the months that lie ahead. She is tireless, and I feel as though she is as fully committed to my personal success as I am.”
-JC, Director Operations, Toronto, Canada

“It’s the small companies like Just Coach It that are leading the way, and Irene Becker is one of the finest runners in the race. She is a highly evolved human being. Her coaching capabilities are peerless, and she knows how to guide people into a way of thinking that brings back their inner smile.”
-Leon Benjamin, CRM Expert, Author of Winning by Sharing, London, England

“Irene is one of the top life, leadership and success coaches. She has the ability to help you meet the challenges in your life, your business and in your everyday world. She has the tools and the ability for the 21st century to ease your stress and help you achieve all your goals.”
-Ed Kleinman, Sales Leadership Expert, Objective Management, USA

“It is a pleasure to recommend Irene. She has been an incredibly positive influence for my career advancement, and finding a new position. She has not only provided the appropriate framework and approach, but also she helped me realize what my long term goal is and what are the correct steps to achieve this.”
-AR, Senior Account Manager, Toronto Canada

“My personal life and career were skirting disaster. I felt like I was ready to sink. Irene helped me soar! After three short months of weekly coaching by telephone with Irene my income has gone from negligible to over $10,000 a month, my personal life is great, and I have discovered that I can USE my strengths as well as my stressors, changes, challenges and even difficult stumbling blocks to achieve peace of mind, happiness, personal growth, and excellence in my career and my personal life. Irene you are not only a great coach, and a wonderful human being, you are a transformational catalyst. Thank you SO much!”
-Leslie Jordan, Entrepreneur, Toronto, Canada

“Irene, you are not only a terrific coach but also a wonderful human being who loves to help people. Thank you for your support, dedication and skill in helping me maximize my potential and create the life and the business I want. When you get a super duper coach like Irene, she makes work seem like fun.”
-Nina Menezes, Founder Interdream Designs, Toronto, Canada

Inspiring Keynotes & Training
Irene Becker is an OUTSTANDING keynote speaker! Irene’s first-rate presentation at the Joint Canadian Institute of Management Dinner Meeting consisting of members of the Toronto, Hamilton and Grand Valley branches provided several key management tips that will help us lead more effectively. The capacity crowd was treated to a highly energized speech on “Stop Rework. End Overdrive or Stasis. Re-charge, Re-focus, Re-power”, which proved to be very valuable and thoroughly enjoyed by all attendees. If you want your next event to be a huge success, hire Irene Becker!
Phil Russo, President, Canadian Institute of Management, Toronto

“I found Irene to be an excellent facilitator because she embodies that charismatic, value driven leadership that is so rare and unique.”
-Salimah Bhanjee, IQ Partners Inc., Toronto, Canada

“Wow, you are a brilliant speaker! I think my daughter Trish summed it all up when she said that she “envisions herself as a speaker like you” when she gets older. We were both really impressed. I wish we could attend more of your talks and courses. Sincere thanks, Irene.”
-Pat Sheridan, Owner NTI Consulting Inc, Toronto, Canada

“Effective presentation skills are for Irene a natural talent! Her ability to quickly relate to her audience and to make a personal contact with them was delightful to observe! I have had the opportunity to hear many presenters and I am always pleased when I see someone who has an admirable delivery and an obvious propensity for relating to clients and satisfying their needs.”
-Sharon Morgan, Human Resources and Development Canada, Scarborough, Canada

“Irene, you are certainly one of the stars. Best wishes with your proposal to NCCAE and with all your other endeavours. You’re doing great!”
-Will Craig, Former President, International Coach Federation, President and Founder, Coach Training Alliance, Denver, USA

“AGAINST ALL ODDS” ~ Irene’s Inspiring Story

Against All Odds-My Story of Personal Triumph
By Irene Becker, Chief Success Officer, Just Coach It, www.justcoachit.com

The deepest questions, insights, awareness and answers rarely come when we are sitting at the top of the mountain of success feeling like the keys to the kingdom are in our right hand. No matter who we are, no matter what we have acquired and accomplished; our success, satisfaction, sense of personal power, value and fulfillment can change in a blink.

My greatest challenge, and greatest life, leadership and success lesson began on my 40th birthday way I was thrust from the mountain of success into a very dark valley. My birthday represented a giant fork or rut in the road of my personal life and my career. It was a time when the gold I had created by the sweat of my brow had turned to dust. I had not done anything to justify what had occurred. My birthday came to pass far,far away from the success, financial security, social capital and material comforts I had worked so very hard to achieve and acquire.

Far, far, away from my former success as CEO of a successful multi-million dollar company, and the accoutrements of success I had taken for granted. I faced a life crucible, an event of nightmarish proportion, that took me from the mountain of success to ground zero where I had to start my life and my career again. While I had overcome incredible hurdles to build a formidable career, the hurdles that I faced on my 40th birthday took me to the abyss where survival itself was in question.

I spent my fortieth birthday in a dark valley that was my greatest challenge and my greatest teacher, doing the most menial of jobs… cleaning toilets. A life crucible, a crime, a tragedy had thrown me from the mountain of success to a very dark valley. With $100 dollars and a credit card in my pocket, and mop in my hands I vowed to find a way to show my two young children that with faith, courage, integrity one could transform even the greatest darkness into the greatest light.

Why is my story important?

Because, if you are a smart, fast forward thinker you know that being smart, fast, and well trained are no longer enough. The changes, challenges and crises we face today demand a different way of thinking, leading and living that can help us inspire, engage and lead the best in ourselves and others when the going is very tough…and even when the tough are not sure how to get going!

It was at ground zero, doing the most menial of jobs that I learned a secret, a truth, a lesson that changed my life. Inevitably, whether by old age or a twist of fate…all the glitters is never gold. The greatest power we hold is not in what we have, but in who we truly are when we choose to ignite, engage and unleash the leader or hero within. Our greatest power lies in our ability to use what is to create what can be in our self, our lives, our relationships, our leadership and our work.

The worst life crucible; the cruellest of treatment, abuse, humiliation, the greatest of failures, the pain of dealing with a threatening illness, or a personal stumbling block cannot steal the faith, hope, courage, potential and determination that burns inside us, unless we let it. The greatest success we can ever achieved cannot be measured by things that will be irrelevant when we leave this earth, but rather by our ability to live, lead and succeed to purpose. It is our ability to live, lead and succeed to purpose, our ability to truly self actualize by unleashing our true potential that can move molehills and mountains in our life and in the lives of others. It is this purpose, this passion this potential that creates value for others, and creating value for others is the timeless formula for success and fulfillment.

Because, it is our ability to see past what is, and create or re-create what can be that determines our ability to drive our greatest intentions forward, and reclaim our ability to live, lead and succeed to purpose. For when we are on purpose, we also discover our joy factor. When we are on purpose there is a sense of profound happiness,
fulfillment meaning and empowerment that helps us unleash our best thoughts, emotions and actions. The pilot light that connects us with our highest power and our greatest potential, the candle that can help us heal, restore and rebuild a life, a career, an organization can be found and it can be re-engaged and re-ignited.

It was in the valley, at a time when all seemed lost, that I discovered my greatest power-my 3Q Edge™. It was in the valley that I learned to love and accept myself for who I was, rather than measuring my worth by what I had acquired or accomplished. It was in the valley that I discovered how to use my strengths AND my stressors, my changes AND deepest challenges to build my greatest advantage and potential by developing my 3Q™’s.

I learned to optimize my strength and skills while transforming the very difficult and gut wrenching challenges, challenges and crises I faced into breakthrough results that accelerated and sustained my IQ (mind power-whole brain thinking, greater focus, quicker ideation, creativity, action-ablity), EQ (emotional intelligence-emotional
management and mastery) and SQ (spiritual quotient- the power within).

Today, I have dedicated my career to helping others build their 3Q Edge™ because I believe in the power of human being better, not simply living and doing faster. I believe in our ability to unleash the business, personal and inter-personal leadership we need to live, lead and succeed to purpose in our lives, our relationships, our workplace…our world. I believe that our greatest strength, success and satisfaction cannot be sustained by what we command, control or acquire, but from what we contribute. It is the relationships that we build and sustain, our ability to inspire, engage and lead the best in ourselves and others that help us make our contribution. And, we all have a special contribution to make; no matter how large or small every contribution counts now more than ever before.

When we do find our true power, when we build our Q strengths and potential, we come home. August 1998 I came home, and thankfully I have been there ever since. I am honoured and grateful for the gift of life, and for the ability to help other rainmakers, road warriors and trailblazers open a new pathway, a critical pathway to their best work, best relationships, best leadership, and best lives by building their 3Q Edge™.

I am honoured to help my clients come home by living, leading and succeeding to purpose, because together we can make a difference. A difference that builds engagement, empowerment, communication, action-ability, leadership and growth in real life, real work and real time.

Yours in service and with gratitude,
Irene

A Celebration of Women

welcomes this powerhouse into our Alumni of WOMEN of ACTION with open arms and Celebrates this Mind.

Brava Irene!

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Attitudes are the evaluations and associated beliefs and behaviors towards some object. They are not stable, and because of the communication and behavior of other people, are subject to change by social influences, as well as an individual’s motivation to maintain cognitive consistency when cognitive dissonance occurs–when two attitudes or when attitude and behavior conflict.

Attitudes and attitude objects are functions of affective and cognitive components. It has been suggested that the inter-structural composition of an associative network can be altered by the activation of a single node. Thus, by activating an affective or emotion node, attitude change may be possible, though affective and cognitive components tend to be intertwined.

Emotion-based attitude change

Emotion plays a major role in persuasion, social influence, and attitude change. Much of attitude research has emphasised the importance of affective or emotion components. Emotion works hand-in-hand with the cognitive process, or the way we think, about an issue or situation. Emotional appeals are commonly found in advertising, health campaigns and political messages. Recent examples include no-smoking health campaigns (see tobacco advertising) and political campaign advertising emphasizing the fear of terrorism.

Important factors that influence the impact emotion appeals include self efficacy, attitude accessibility, issue involvement, and message/source features. Attitudes that are central to one’s being and highly resistant to change while others that are less fixed may change with new experiences or information. A new attitude (e.g. to time-keeping or absenteeism or quality) may challenge existing beliefs or norms so creating a feeling of psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. It is difficult to measure attitude change since attitudes may only be inferred and there might be significant divergence between those publicly declared and privately held.

 

 

Self efficacy is a perception of one’s own human agency; in other words, it is the perception of our own ability to deal with a situation. It is an important variable in emotion appeal messages because it dictates a person’s ability to deal with both the emotion and the situation. For example, if a person is not self-efficacious about their ability to impact the global environment, they are not likely to change their attitude or behaviour about global warming.

Affective forecasting, otherwise known as intuition or the prediction of emotion, also impacts attitude change. Research suggests that predicting emotions is an important component of decision making, in addition to the cognitive processes. How we feel about an outcome may override purely cognitive rationales.

In terms of research methodology, the challenge for researchers is measuring emotion and subsequent impacts on attitude. Since we cannot see into the brain, various models and measurement tools have been constructed to obtain emotion and attitude information.

Measures may include the use of physiological cues like facial expressions, vocal changes, and other body rate measures. For instance, fear is associated with raised eyebrows, increased heart rate and increase body tension. Other methods include concept or network mapping, and using primes or word cues.

Components of emotion appeals

Any discrete emotion can be used in a persuasive appeal; this may include jealously, disgust, indignation, fear, and anger. Fear is one of the most studied emotional appeals in communication and social influence research. Dillard (1994) suggests that “fear appeals have been thought of as messages that attempt to achieve opinion change by establishing the negative consequences of failing to agree with the advocated position” (p. 295). The EPPM (above) looks at the effectiveness of using fear and threat to change attitudes.
 

 

 

 
Important consequences of fear appeals and other emotion appeals include the possibility of reactance which may lead to either message rejections or source rejection and the absence of attitude change. As the EPPM suggests, there is an optimal emotion level in motivating attitude change. If there is not enough motivation, an attitude will not change; if the emotional appeal is overdone, the motivation can be paralyzed thereby preventing attitude change.

Emotions perceived as negative or containing threat are often studied more than perceived positive emotions like humour. Though the inner-workings of humor are not agreed upon, humour appeals may work by creating incongruities in the mind. Recent research has looked at the impact of humour on the processing of political messages. While evidence is inconclusive, there appears to be potential for targeted attitude change is receivers with low political message involvement.

Dillard (1994) suggests that message features such as source non-verbal communication, message content, and receiver differences can impact the emotion impact of fear appeals. The characteristics of a message are important because one message can elicit different levels of emotion for different people. Thus, in terms of emotion appeals messages, one size does not fit all.

Attitude accessibility refers to the activation of an attitude from memory; in other words, how readily available is an attitude about an object, issue, or situation. Issue involvement is the relevance and salience of an issue or situation to an individual. Issue involvement has been correlated with both attitude access and attitude strength. Past studies conclude accessible attitudes are more resistant to change.

Dual models: Depth of Processing in Attitude Change

Many dual process models are used to explain the affective (emotional) and cognitive processing and interpretations of messages, as well as the different depths of attitude change. These include the elaboration likelihood model and the heuristic-systematic model of information processing.

Heuristic-Systematic Model of Information Processing

The Heuristic-Systematic Model of Information Processing describes two depths in the processing of attitude change, which includes systematic processing and heuristic processing. In this model[16] information is either processed in a high-involvement and high-effort systematic way, or information is processed through shortcuts known as heuristics. For example, emotions are affect-based heuristics, in which feelings and gut-feeling reactions are often used as shortcuts.

Systematic processing

Systematic processing occurs when individuals are motivated and have high cognition to process a message. Individuals using systematic processing are motivated to pay attention and have the cognitive ability to think deeply about a message; they are persuaded by the content of the message, such as the strength or logic of the argument. Motivation can be determined by many factors, such as how personally relevant the topic is, and cognitive ability can be determined by how knowledgeable an individual is on the message topic, or whether or not there is a distraction in the room. Individuals who receive a message through systematic processing usually lead to internalization, and thus resulting in longer and more stable attitude change.

According to the Heuristic-Systematic Model of Information Processing, people are motivated to use systematic processing when they want to achieve a “desired level of confidence” in their judgments There are factors that have been found to increase the use of systematic processing, which these factors are associated with either decreasing an individual’s actual confidence or increasing an individual’s perceived confidence. These factors may include framing of persuasive messages in an unexpected manner; self-relevancy of the message.

Systematic processing has been shown to be beneficial in social influence settings. Systematic reasoning has been shown to be successful in producing more valid solutions during group discussions and greater solution accuracy. Shestowsky’s (1998) research in dyad discussions revealed that the individual in the dyad who had high motivation and high need in cognition had the greater impact on group decisions.

Heuristic processing

Heuristic processing occurs when individuals have low motivation and/or low cognitive ability to process a message. Instead of focusing on the argument of the message, recipients using heuristic processing focus on more readily accessible information and other non-content cues, such as the authority or attractiveness of the speaker. Individuals who process a message through heuristic processing does not result in internalization, and thus any attitude change resulting from the persuasive message is temporary and unstable.

 

For example, people are more likely to grant favors if reasons were provided. For example, a study shows that when people asked, “Excuse me, I have five pages to xerox. May I use the copier?” held a positive response of 60% whereas, “Excuse me, I have five pages to xerox. I am in a rush. May I use the copier?” held a 95% success rate.  “SPEAK UP, in detail.”

Heuristic processing examples include social proof, reciprocity, authority, and liking.

Social proof is by the means where we utilize other people’s behaviors in order to form own beliefs. Our attitudes change towards in following the majority’s response when a situation is uncertain or ambiguous to us, when the source is an expert, or when the source is similar to us. In a study conducted by Sherif, he discovered the power of crowds when he worked with experimenters who looked up in the middle of New York City. As the number of the precipitating group increased, the percentage of pass-byers who looked up as well increased.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity is to return a favor someone has done. People are more likely to return a favor if he or she has a positive attitude towards the opposing party. Reciprocities also develop interdependence and societal bonds.

Authority plays a role in attitude change in situations where there are superior-inferior relationships. We are more likely to become obedient to authorities due to factors such as the authority’s expertese and potential rewards we may receive. A famous study that constitutes the difference in attitude change is the Milgram experiment, where people changed their attitudes to “shocking their partner” more so when they followed authorities whereas the subjects themselves would have not done so otherwise.

 

Liking has shown that if one likes an opposite party, the individual is more inclined to carry out a favor. The attitude changes are based on whether an individual likes an idea or person, and if he or she does not like the opposite party, he/she may not carry out the favor or do so out of obligation. Liking can influence one’s opinions through factors such as physical attractiveness, similarities, compliments, and contact and cooperation.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

The Elaboration Likelihood Model  is similar in concept to and share many ideas with other dual processing models, such as the Heuristic-Systematic Model of Information Processing. In the Elaboration Likelihood Model, cognitive processing is the central route and affective/emotion processing is often associated with the peripheral route. The central route pertains to an elaborate cognitive processing of information while the peripheral route relies on cues or feelings. The ELM suggests that true attitude change only happens through the central processing route that incorporates both cognitive and affective components as opposed to the more heuristics-based peripheral route. This suggests that motivation through emotion alone will not result in an attitude change.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory and Attitude Change

Cognitive dissonance, a theory originally developed by Festinger (1957), is the idea that people experience a sense of guilt or uneasiness when two linked cognitions are inconsistent, such as when there are two conflicting attitudes about a topic, or inconsistencies between one’s attitude and behavior on a certain topic. The basic idea of the Cognitive Dissonance Theory relating to attitude change, is that people are motivated to reduce dissonance which can be achieved through changing their attitudes, beliefs,or behaviors (Actions).

Cooper & Fazio’s (1984) have also added that cognitive dissonance does not arise from any simple cognitive inconsistency, but rather results from freely chosen behavior that may bring bring about negative consequences. These negative consequences may be threats to the consistency, stability, predictability, competence, moral goodness of the self-concept, or violation of general  ‘self-integrity’.

 
 

 

Research has suggested multiple routes that cognitive dissonance can be reduced. Self-affirmation has been shown to reduce dissonance, however it is not always the mode of choice when trying to reduce dissonance. When multiple routes are available, it has been found that people prefer to reduce dissonance by directly altering their attitudes and behaviors rather than through self-affirmation. People who have high levels of self-esteem, who are postulated to possess abilities to reduce dissonance by focusing on positive aspects of the self, have also been found to prefer modifying cognitions, such as attitudes and beliefs, over self-affirmation.

A simple example of cognitive dissonance resulting in attitude change would be when a heavy smoker learns that his sister died young from lunch cancer due to heavy smoking as well, this individual experiences conflicting cognitions: the desire to smoke, and the knowledge that smoking could lead to death and a desire not to die. In order to reduce dissonance, this smoker could change his behavior–stop smoking, change his attitude about smoking–smoking is harmful, or retain his original attitude about smoking and modify his new cognition to be consistent with the first one–”I also work out so smoking won’t be harmful to me”.

 

 

Thus, attitude change is achieved when individuals experience feelings of uneasiness or guilt due to cognitive dissonance, and actively reduce the dissonance through changing their attitude, beliefs, or behavior relating in order to achieve consistency with the inconsistent cognitions.

A Celebration of Women 

says to the Women of our World:

 ‘This is Your Life, don’t wait until the kitchen is too hot to make the changes needed in Your Life.  

‘Changing Yourself for Yourself’ is the Key to peace, health and joy.’

Take Action!!!

BE THE CHANGE ALLIANCE

INFORMATION, thanks to Wikipedia.

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A Celebration of Women

is elated to Celebrate the Life of this powerful force to be reckoned with….a true inspiration showing the Women of our World that with persistence and a ‘will’ for truth, everything is possible.  This woman has devoted her Life inside the United Nations, seeking Justice for Women around our World. 

Celebrate with us, one of her amazing victories, an arrest of the Leader, a Mai-Mai commander, known as as Lt. Col Mayele of the DRC for alleged mass rape and more….

 

 

 

WOMAN of ACTION

 

  

 

Margot Wallström

 

Margot Wallstrom, who is visiting the country, said the arrest by the UN mission in the DR Congo of the self-proclaimed Lieutenant Colonel Mayele, one of the commanders of the Mai Mai Cheka is good news for the people there. She characterized it as a ‘victory for justice’, especially for the many women who suffered rapes and other forms of sexual violence. Ms. Wallstrom said the numerous criminal acts committed under his command cannot be undone.

However, she added, that his arrest should be a signal to all perpetrators of sexual violence that impunity for these types of crimes is not acceptable and that justice will prevail.

  

Zaina Niangoma who was raped along with her 15-year-old daughter (not pictured) by three members of the Hutu rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

 

The UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo said that the Mai-Mai commander,

 known as as Lt Col Mayele, was being held in Goma,

the capital of Nord-Kivu province.

 

Margot Wallström (left), the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, speaking with women of the village of Kampala in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week. Photo: Gwenn Dubourthoumieu/AFP

 

 Lt Col Mayele is suspected of being one of the commanders in the mineral-rich Walikale area from July 30 to Aug 2 when between 250 and 500 people in five villages were repeatedly gang raped.

The UN has been criticised for failing to stop the attacks after it took days for help to arrive, even though the villages are 12 miles from a camp of UN peacekeepers from India. The UN said a peacekeeping patrol drove through one of the villages while it was being held by the fighters, but said peacekeepers took no action because no one told them what was going on.

 

 Rape has been increasingly used by various groups of fighters,

 in eastern Congo to intimidate, punish and control the population,

especially in the mining areas.

 

Dr Chris Baguma, of the Los Angeles-based International Medical Corps, said that he had seen many, many rape victims in the area “but I have never seen anything so planned, so systematic, so animalistic.”

 

 

According to the UN announcement, the mass rapes and human rights violations are said to have been committed by about 200 Congolese Mai-Mai rebels, rebels from the Rwanda-led Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR, and elements loyal to former Congolese army Col. Emmanuel Nsengiyumva who was also a rebel in the former Tutsi-led People’s National Congress or CNDP.

 

 

The UN force said a preliminary report identified 303 civilian victims – 235 women, 13 men, 52 girls and 3 boys.

 

Margot Wallstrom, who is responsible for UN efforts to combat sexual violence in conflict, welcomed Lt Col Mayele’s apprehension, calling it “a victory for justice, especially for the many women who have suffered rapes and other forms of sexual violence.”

The arrest of a leader of the armed group accused of mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been welcomed by the top United Nations official dealing with sexual violence and armed conflict.

 

RADIO INTERVIEW….Margot at Work.

Justice for the mass rapes that took place in a string of villages in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is being demanded by two senior UN officials. 240 people were raped in North Kivu province between July and August. Athule Khare, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, was recently in Congo where he was investigating the crimes. In his briefing to the Security Council, he Calls for Action against the leaders of armed groups behind he attacks.

Jocelyne Sambira reports: KHARE: It is essential that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice. Rapid and exemplary punishment would deter others who might repeat similar criminal acts.

NARRATOR: The Security Council already has travel bans and asset freezes on members of the rebel groups. Margot Wallstrom, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict wants the Council to go a step further and “black-list” the rebel chiefs.

WALLSTROM: We already have some names such as Colonel Mayele, the Mai Mai Cheka Chief of Staff, and Colonel Serafim of FDLR who was present on the scene. And these names are starting point and constitute leads and leverage by which we may also identify some of the other participants in and architects of the mass rapes in Kibua.

NARRATOR: But for the Congolese Permanent Representative to the UN, Aleki Atoki these measures will have no effect on the rebels.

ATOKI: Some of your delegations will be tempted to seek the easy way out, that would be to establish an entire series of sanctions that in actual fact in the depths of the Equatorial forest will have no impact, and will be entirely ineffective, and would not be able to bring relief to us from this horror that we the men and the women of the Congo have been in, that is horror which is our daily lot, and a horror which has become commonplace.

NARRATOR: After the mass rapes, the spotlight fell on the UN peacekeepers stationed some 30km from the area for not being able to rescue the population. Athul Khare was made several recommendations to improve communications and response.

KHARE: While the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians lies with the State, its national army and police force, clearly, we have also failed. Our actions were not adequate, resulting in unacceptable brutalisation of the population. We must do better.

NARRATOR: Khare’s recent investigation uncovered more rapes in the North and South Kivu, in the last two months, bringing the total number of incidents between July and August to 500. Margot Wallstrom believes it is time to put an end to this.

WALLSTROM: We cannot turn back time for the victims of brutal acts of organized sexual violence. As we strive to help these survivors, we must do our utmost to ensure there are no more victims.

PRES: Margot Wallstrom, Special Representative for the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Producer: Jocelyne Sambira

www.un.org

Margot speaks: UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström says that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo “must and can do” more to stop the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. MONUSCO

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/unifeed/d/16127.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ungen+%28UN+gender+equality+news+feed%29

 

 

A Celebration of Women

sends our gratitude and honors to this Amazing Women.

 

 

 

Brava Margot!

 

MARGOT 2011

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When you Change Your Attitude,

 

your New Perception will

 

Change Your Life!

 

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Healing vs. Curing: Healing is an inside job
 

The Old Timer sat in his doctor’s office and pondered his future. “Tell me, Doc, if I give up smoking, sex, alcohol, salt, sugar, fat foods, and caffeine, will I live to be 100?” “No,” the doctor told him. “But it will sure seem like it.”

This old medical joke underscores the reality that longevity and well-being do not automatically walk down the street of life together, hand in hand. In fact, the longer we live, the more likely we are to fall victim to a chronic disease of one form or another.

A recent Reuters article reports that in 2005, 44 percent of Americans were coping with at least one chronic disease, such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, or heart disease. These chronic diseases are the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. Many Americans now have three or more chronic diseases. According to 2004 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 10 Americans has a chronic disease that causes major limitations in daily living.

Chronic diseases, as opposed to acute illnesses, tend to develop over a long period of time and linger longer than three months. Like acute illness, a chronic disease can have mild, moderate, severe and even fatal consequences. Most require the attention of a healthcare provider, and patients with chronic diseases are often prescribed multiple medications.

Unlike acute illnesses, which often resolve with or without medical intervention, chronic diseases are frequently here to stay. Many are, by definition, diseases without a cure. Chronic diseases demand a different form of healthcare delivery. The current healthcare system provides single-dimensional, segmented and episodic care that is institution-based and disease-oriented. Chronic illness tends to be multidimensional, ongoing, disabling and a very personal experience for each patient with the chronic disease.

What can be done to help those with chronic illnesses? If chronic disease sufferers cannot be cured, can they at least experience healing in one form or another? Indeed, they can.

Let’s start with definitions. The dictionary definition of a cure is an intervention that relieves the symptoms of a disease or condition by eliminating the disease or condition. Healing on the other hand restores and alleviates the distress and anguish of a condition, even though the underlying condition persists.

In reality, curing and healing are further differentiated by the fact that curing tends to be a passive process for the sufferer of a condition. Disease strikes. Care is then sought from a healthcare provider who prescribes a pill or procedure. The symptoms of the disease then resolve. The patient is said to be “cured.” But did the symptoms resolve because of the treatment? Or did the “tincture of time” simply result in the disease disappearing? The latter possibility may account for more healing than we realize as reflected in Benjamin Franklin’s observation that “God heals, and the Doctor takes the Fees.”

Healing, on the other hand, is an active process in which the bearers of a disease take steps to enhance well-being and to alleviate their symptoms and distress.

The stage is now set for a new concept of care, that of engaging “patient power” to achieve healing for the current chronic-disease epidemic that accounts for 70-80 percent of all physician visits and consumes 90 percent of every healthcare dollar spent. Patient power calls for the bearers of the illness to become full partners in their own healthcare by developing patient expertise about their conditions and assuming responsibility for managing their care.

Healthcare experts are now recognizing that about 90 percent of the care needed to manage a chronic disease must come directly from the patient.

This realization provides the cornerstone for a new movement of “patient self-management.” Chronic disease self-management programs are now being instituted and studied at many academic institutions. In general, these programs call upon patients to:

• Learn as much as they can about their conditions.

• Commit to following a care plan once one is in place.

• Actively share in decision-making.

• Monitor and manage their signs and symptoms.

• Manage the impact of their conditions.

• Adopt lifestyles that promote health.

The mortality of every disease and condition varies. The mortality for life in general remains steady at 100 percent. Perhaps the Old Timer seeking to live to be 100 by stopping things would be better served by starting to do things that would promote his own “patient power.”

On the Net: Reuters article on chronic disease: http://tinyurl.com/bjapml .

Ellen Taliaferro is a local physician, speaker and author. You can learn more about her work at www.ellentaliaferro.com and www.healthaftertrauma.com. To contact her about speaking to your group, please e-mail her at DrTSpeaks@gmail.com or call 650-393-3660.

by Ellen Taliaferro, M.D.

It’s An Inside Job! Author, Judy Taylor has 33 years of self healing from cancer and 23 years research as a lymphatic facilitator…Ms Taylor studied THE INNER OCEAN; THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM, the body/mind connection, our 7 trillion cells, humanity, and tells all about the advanced theories of what makes the lymphatic system the base of the immune system. Judy offers a journey of self-help, self-love, self healing… and 7 trillion reasons to embrace yourself, grow emotions, and achieve well-being.

“Highly recommended!” by John Gray, International Best-selling Author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.

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FIND BOOK HERE

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MORE HERE: www.poemsbycc.com

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It’s your time!

National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2012 is “It’s Your Time.”

National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages women to take the following steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases:

• Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings.
• Get active.
• Eat healthy.
• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

National Women’s Health Week

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health recognized May 13 through May 19 as National Women’s Health Week. This week-long health observance is an effort to promote women’s health.

For 2012, the theme is “It’s Your Time.”

One goal of National Women’s Health Week is to empower women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages women to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases.

Women who make their health a priority for themselves and their families make sure they:

• Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings
• Become more active
• Eat healthier foods and reduce their portion sizes
• Pay attention to their mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seat belt or bicycle helmet

Women may put off going to a health care professional due to lack of insurance or cost. In Cayuga County, women ages 40-64 who have limited or no health insurance do not have to put off preventive screening anymore! The Cancer Services Program provides breast and cervical screenings to eligible women. Annually, women should receive a breast exam performed by a health care provider, as well as a mammogram, pap smear and pelvic exam. The program also provides colorectal cancer screenings to women ages 50-64.

If you or a loved one is interested in learning more about the Cayuga County Cancer Services Program, call the health department at 253-1560.

Times have changed and the modern woman has less time for herself now. Daily, women juggle their careers and families, cooking and cleaning, leaving less time for a woman to exercise. Being active is important not only to the physical health, but also to the mental health of a woman.

An active lifestyle can lower health risks related to:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Unhealthy cholesterol levels
• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Colon cancer
• Breast cancer
• Falls
• Depression

Eating healthier does not have to be difficult. Small changes to your diet can have big results. Filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables at each meal is one way to make a change. You can save money and support local farmers by shopping for produce at your local farmers’ markets. Switching to low-fat (1 percent) or skim milk and low-fat dairy products is a healthy choice! Eating more grains, especially whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice, will help keep you healthy!

It is no secret to anyone, especially women, that smoking is an unhealthy habit that leads to many health conditions, including death. Smoking can make illnesses last longer, cause more wound infections after surgery, and make it harder to get pregnant. Quitting smoking is one of the best gifts a woman could give herself or her family. Your health begins to improve the minute you stop smoking, and you begin to lower your long-term risk of many smoking-related diseases.

Women should not feel bad about taking time out for themselves. Getting enough sleep each night is one way you can take time for yourself. Being rested allows you to focus better and helps to reduce stress.

For women to maintain their careers, family and household, women have to be healthy, both physically and mentally. Women cannot possibly give the best care to their family if they are sick. “It’s Your Time” to make your health a priority so that you are healthy enough to care for yourself and your family.

Elane Daly is the director of health and human services for Cayuga County.

She can be reached at 253-1560 or cchealth@dfa.state.ny.us .

*** MY physical is booked for tomorrow ***

Have you Take Action for Your Health ???

Read more: http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/health-week-stresses-need-for-women-to-take-care-of/article_d81521e8-1785-5b41-b747-8c62efcd3079.html#ixzz1uyXjT7al

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