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Well 2012 is here… time  for a change! I no longer teach at Universal Class… but here is the good news, I will be creating more courses right here on Authentic Mama!  I plan on adding both video and audio. Before I start I would like some of your feedback. Anyone who helps me out will receive FREE access to the first course I create- a $150.00 value! Just leave your answers in the comment below and send me a personal email with your preferred contact email (link in the upper right hand corner of the blog). As soon as the course is created I will send you an email with the course log in instructions.

My course will be centered on home herbalism. My goal is to guide you so you can have the confidence to share your knowledge with your family (and community if you wish), and make medicinal plants and wild foods part of your everyday life.

In case you are wondering if one of my classes is worth your time… here is some feedback from a prior student: “What a difference Herbalist 101, and Angie Goodloe made in my life. 1 and 1/2 years ago I was sitting at my accounting desk, taking herbalist 101 tests during my lunch break. Today, I am an artist and Holistic Practitioner, with knowledge in Herbalism, Folk and Food remedies, Supplements and their benefits, (or not), Wellness Coaching, and I have taken a nutrition course as well. To top it off, I am being Yoga cetified on the 19th of this month and my artwork has started to sell very well. This, I credit to the teaching style and wonderful soul of Angie Goodloe. If I had not taken her class first, I do not think I would have continued my education like I did. Of all the classes I have taken thus far, hands down, Herbalist 101 was the best. Angie truly cares, you are not a number, she wants to hear from you always, and instills a confidence in her students. She reads everything you write in your assignments. It is this quality in her that made me continue to educate myself, confident enough to eventually quit my day job, and do this. You will benefit from just know her. Sincerely, Laura Cantrell”

If you haven’t read some of my prior students comments about my courses you can read them HERE.

I envision a world with a family herbalist in every home.

The questions:

1. What is the single biggest fear you have when it comes to engaging in hands-on work with medicinal herbs or collecting wild plants and foods and using  them for yourself, your family, and your community?

2. What is the single biggest frustration you have when it comes to learning how to practice working with medicinal plants and foods at home or with others?

3. What happened as a result of your frustration?

4. What have you tried so far that hasn’t worked (when it comes to learning about how to work with medicinal plants and wild foods- or stepping out to start practicing herbalism in your community)?

5. If you had a magic wand, what would be the ideal solution for you (when it comes to the perfect online learning to help you achieve your goals- more support or mentoring for example… or something else)?

6. What is the single biggest question you have when it comes to practicing home or community herbalism?

7. Are there specific herbal classes you would like me to create with a more narrow focus (for example, herbs for children, herbs for women -postpartum/ pregnancy, Stress/ burnout, first aid etc) Any ideas welcome!

Thank you so much for your time!

*Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates (in the box at the top of the blog with the ‘subscribe/ sign-up’ area).

This offer expires January 31st 2012

Be authentic, but don’t be self righteous about it.

” Too often we get hung up on the form of our growth, trying to find the “right” way to do it and then being self-righteous with others about our personal approach” From Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken: Transform Your Life with the Power of Authenticity

It’s pretty exciting when we are learning and growing and it really seems to be working for us. Whether it is a new spiritual path, a form of parenting style, or a lifestyle change, when we have that ‘ah ha’ moment it is tempting to tell everyone we care about it so they can experience the joy too.

There is nothing wrong with sharing what you know and your enthusiasm, and there is nothing wrong with setting boundaries if others cross the line.

However, as I mentioned in my self awareness post When it comes to being truly authentic, the intention is bigger than being ego driven (comes from our true authentic self- not based on seeking approval).

How many times have you met someone who ‘found’ a new spiritual path, diet plan, or parenting tactic and all of a sudden they are putting you down for your lack of following it- they must be right no matter the cost! By them being right it affirms that what they are following is okay, and they must have your approval. If you don’t agree with them then there is something wrong with you (even though just last year they were cheating on their husband in the back seat of the family minivan behind the pub- but now they have seen the light, and it is their job to judge you).

You may be asking ‘what about constructive criticism? ‘ well, if it is not asked for it is not welcome. Even when advice is asked for getting to preachy can be a big turn off. People are not going to be shamed into changing, and it is not going to inspire them to embrace your ‘right’ views.

Even if what you are doing is working wonders for you, it may not be ‘right’ for everyone else. A big part of being authentic is being compassionate and accepting of others, even if you don’t agree.

When you place your focus on others you are taking the focus off yourself. When it comes to self growth, what others are doing is not really that important.

What is important and what you should be asking yourself is:

• What do I need to deal with and heal inside myself in order to be the best version of myself I can be?
• How can I create the best environment or circumstance in which my growth will be supported and enhanced?
• What do I need to be fulfilled?

Choosing to grow and REALLY knowing yourself is hard stuff- for some it is a lifelong journey. We are all growing and changing, we can support each other with compassion without being judgmental.

Have you ever had someone judge you when you try to be more authentic? Leave your comments below I would love to hear from you!

Related articles

• Mike Robbins: Seeing Adversity As Happening for Us, Not to Us (huffingtonpost.com)

Hello everyone! I thought I would post a little excerpt from one of my courses. Below are some thoughts on holistic mothering. This time of year our children often pick up colds and even the flu. It is important to remember that sickness is a normal part of life and to be easy on ourselves as mom’s (not react out of fear but instead support and nourish our children). There are many natural ways we can support our children when they do become ill- reaching for the over the counter stuff is not the only way we can comfort our kids.

There are many herbs I keep around the home and use on a daily basis- too many to post! So I thought it would be a great idea to include a herbal spotlight at the end of every post I write up. I have also posted a lot about both single herbs and blends on my herbalist Path  blog, so I will be doing some linking back to those as well in case you missed them.

Course excerpt:

There are traditional, safe, and gentle natural therapies a parent can use to preserve and renew children’s health. It is empowering to discover that as a parent you can take charge of your family’s health. With all of the advancements in today’s society disease is on the rise; obesity, autoimmune disease, allergies, diabetes, just to name a few. Clearly something is not working. It is time to get back to the basics, give your children the gift of natural wellness. Clean air, clean water, a healthy emotional environment, & nourishing herbs & foods.

Although Traditional Western medicine is necessary and often life saving, it often ignores the mind body connection and its role in healing. With the assistance of gentle natural treatments, the body has an amazing ability to heal itself. The goal should be to nourish our children so their bodies can heal, not attack disease. Sickness is not the enemy, we should strive to teach our children that sickness is a natural part of life and not something they have done wrong.

Balance is the key to health. Being a fanatic about health is just as damaging as not taking responsibility. This does not teach our children to relax and feel good about their bodies, or to be confident about their body’s ability to heal. Please follow this link for further information on this topic Holistic Wellness And Our Kids

Sickness is not necessarily that horrible, all children become ill in their early years. Once you start educating yourself and becoming empowered when it comes to your families health, you can pass these wonderful lessons on to your child.

Even the healthiest child will become ill, in fact it is essential to experience some common illness to build up a healthy immune system. (However, clean air, laughter, love, good food, nourishing herbal teas, breastfeeding can support the child’s growing body and make them more resistant)

According to Robert Mendelsohn MD author of How to Raise a Healthy Child… in spite of your Doctor, ‘the vast majority of childhood illnesses do not require medical attention and that when they receive it needlessly, the treatment given may do more harm than good’.

The more educated you become about your families health the easier it will be to make an informed decision when it comes to doctor visits. The body has an amazing ability to heal itself with the support from holistic treatments.

The above is an excerpt from my course Holistic Herbal Remedies for Children Join to learn more about making herbal remedies for your family!

Herbal Spotlight Chamomile & Honey

Chamomile is excellent, children love the flavor, it is good for tummy aches, stress and nervous tension. For more in depth post on chamomile Click Here

Stock up on raw local honey! A must have for this time of year.

• Honey: Use local raw honey if possible – use herbs with high volatile oils (mints family plants are excellent- also certain flowers like rosemary or thyme) Simply pour your honey over a jar full of leaves or flowers, let infuse for a few weeks and strain. (spearmint honey is my personal favorite)

Honey has powerful antibacterial properties, it is great to use topically for sores and cuts. Added to other formulas (especially for the respiratory system) it actually increases the medicinal effect- you can add tinctures directly to hot water and honey for a medicinal tea (or use dried herbs). It is soothing to the gastrointestinal tract and gives extra energy – it also helps maintain electrolight balance (excellent if you have diarrehea and vomiting).

Do you have any herbal remedies you love to use with your kids? I would love to hear about your experience!

In case you missed it, go to my the Cold’s and Flu page on this blog to download your free MP3 course!

Resource: Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health

Related articles

• Home Remedies for Earache (brighthub.com)

Sometimes negative feedback is valid. However it is not always what you say but how you say it.

When is negative feedback valid?

Sometimes a child needs to hear the truth. Would you be doing your child any favors if he/she made it all the way to high school graduation never learning an important skill they needed because everyone was afraid to hurt their feelings?  Or worse because they were dismissed based on an invalid judgment? Being told you are not doing something right does not always feel good but taking the criticism and asking yourself  ‘is the core of this valid?’  is a necessary skill to master if you are going to learn from your mistakes.

You can teach your child to accept and consider the valid part of the criticism without having to take in the opinion part of it (the sarcastic  comments, “how many times do I have to tell you” the exaggerated body language and gestures some people use etc).

Let’s face it, some people are really harsh. Your child may need some constructive criticism when learning a new task, but it is not always given in a good way. Depending on how the person is feeling that day (or their personality in general) there can be negative body language or sarcasm involved even if they do not come right out and say that your child is stupid (or some other invalid label).

I will never forget the day in sophomore English class when my teacher said to me ” how did YOU know that?” after I proudly raised my hand answering a question correctly about a Shakespeare lesson that we had just read. I was humiliated so instead of clarifying how I knew the answer I just sank in my chair. I ended up not participating in class after that day.

I was a ‘problem child’ in high school, and I was/ am dyslexic (this was before spell-check or computers) so the teacher probably assumed I cheated to get the answer. To be honest this bothered me for YEARS (because I really did like Shakespeare!), if someone would have given me some tools to use to ask the right questions, I may not have carried around the label of ‘stupid’ for so long. He could have meant anything, but I presumed instead of clarifying.

On the flip side of that, I wish someone would have noticed the dyslexia early so I could have taken steps to improve both my writing and math skills. It was only years later, in college when a math professor picked up on it. I failed at my first attempt at college. Determined, I bought a ‘math magic’ and spelling program to study at home on my own. When I learned I was dyslexic and was able to tell my professors this, they were less likely to just dismiss my work- they gave me constructive feedback and tools.  My second attempt at College was a success and I graduated with honors.

Back to the sophomore English teacher, how different would it have been if I would have asked the teacher what he meant by that statement? Who knows, I could have been wrong and it would have saved me years of grief.  If he talked about how horrible my spelling was for example, perhaps we could work toward getting some extra help with that (instead of expecting me to just take a hint- or writing me off as stupid).

Tools:

Explain to your child that someone else’s negative opinion about them is not important (it is usually more about the other person then the child anyway). What is important is looking past that and asking yourself if the criticism is valid.

Ask your child “is that how you feel about yourself?”. Do some empathetic listening to get to the bottom of how your child really feels.

Give the child some ‘come backs’  they can use such as:

• “thank you for your opinion”
• “Thank you for the negative feedback” – Quote Rita Davenport
• “Thank you, you may be right”

From I Need Your Love – Is That True?: How to Stop Seeking Love, Approval, and Appreciation and Start Finding Them Instead

…or simply ignore the invalid criticism and take in the valid part and learn from it, for example:

• ” Thank you, I will attempt to improve ____”

Teach your child to shrug off the emotional perspectives of others and focus on the facts.

There will still be times when your child’s feelings are hurt (especially if the criticism comes from a close friend or relative) but over time the child will learn that all the emotional stuff attached when people are giving criticism is indeed more about the other person.

Can you think of other constructive ‘come backs’ to shrug of subtle put downs without getting defensive? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Related articles

• How to Manage Criticism Effectively (sixrevisions.com)
• Getting further with feedback (leadershipfreak.wordpress.com)

Someone recently asked me ” Are there things that you do that are not mothering related that help you with your mothering?” You bet! In fact without these things I just might loose my mind! I find if I don’t nourish my creative side I am not a very nice person to be around, the day becomes too bland… I feel something is missing. I love art and crafts of all types- here are some more ways below.

1. Have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee /tea with a good friend. The best is at my favorite coffee shop( Mountain Moka) or pub ( Mcmenamins in Troutdale) listening to an outdoor concert. Or sitting by a fire in the backyard or camping- eating, telling stories, drinking and being merry! As I have mentioned in other posts I don’t have a lot of help with the kids, so when it comes to my adult friend time w/o the kids, boy do I cherish it!

2. Read books- I confess, I am a bookaholic. I love non fiction, fiction, and young adult books. I also love mythology and fairy tales! Read poetry- I especially love  Emily Dickinson.

3. Dance (when was the last time you danced?) I turn the music on full blast and just let go! Hey don’t get the wrong idea, it’s not ‘Dancing With The Stars’, but I sure ROCK in my mind:)

4. A hot bath. I love baths! Especially herbal ones. I wrote a post about herbal baths HERE

5. Audio books. I do consider audio different than reading actual books. There is something about connecting to the author by hearing their actual voice that makes all the difference. I love listening to storytellers and poets Clarrisa Pinkola Estes and John O Donohue are a few of my favorites at the moment (there are many).I should also add I like  movies too- just got back from Harry Potter 7, LOVED IT!

6. Getting out in Nature. I do this with my kids as much as possible, but getting out alone is an absolute must as well, this is my soul nourishment and where I feel closest to God. Of course there is my beloved forest and Mountain (the Columbia River Gorge in Troutdale where I was raised  and Mt Hood where I live now) – but my favorite is the Ocean (about an hour and a half drive away) I used to live at the Oregon Coast at the boarder of Nehalem and Wheeler- I try to make it back at least a few times a year. By the way, if you ever make it through Wheeler on Hyway 101 (if you blink you miss it) there is a liquor store there that is owned by an Herbalist- they sell bulk herbs and give free advise if you ask! Great little town:)

7. Working with the plants. This should be no surprise to the people who know me. When I get a volunteer plant in my yard or discover a new species that I have never seen before while out on my daily walk, my heart races, it is my absolute passion. Yes I talk to the plants when I garden! Oh, and Naked Gardening is out as of 2007- or at least that what the ‘law’ says…

What nourishes you? Leave your comments below!

Related articles

• Are You “Toxic” or “Nourishing?” Take this Quiz and Find Out (psychologytoday.com)

Greetings Everyone!

When I decided to bring Authentic Mama back as a blog, I really did a lot of thinking about what I wanted to focus on. There is so much ‘self help’ and ‘self improvement’ info out there, I did not want to come across as a blog that was about ‘fixing’ yourself- I wanted it to be about NOURISHING yourself, REJUVENATING yourself, and BECOMING yourself.

Too many people think that there is some big ‘secret’ out there, you can get just as addicted to information as you can to other substances, never living your own unique path.

My intention is to empower others to be THEMSELVES, not change into someone else (certainly not be like me!). This blog is a process on my journey too, I hope  that some of the information I share can help you be the best version of yourself you can be!

I will be sharing some of the things that help me to return to center- with all the distractions in life it is easy to get thrown off from your soul’s true path. I believe that everyone was born with a purpose and we can get past the obstacles that seem to be in the way (Author Natalie Goldberg calls it the Guardians At The Gate) we can be the Hero’s/ Heroines of our own life’s journey.

SIDE NOTE: In fact some of the obstacles are there for a reason, to teach us and to make us stronger… yet another post!

As I said in the past post this is not about ‘fixing’ yourself or being ‘perfect’ it is about BECOMING your true self.

Some ‘imperfections’ are actually gifts, just because someone else does not like some of your ‘imperfections’ does not mean that you need to change- the only things you may need to consider changing are the things that are holding you back from being authentic.

I am not asking you to look at every little ‘imperfection’ about yourself and fix it, as long as you are not hurting yourself or others some of these could be celebrated and in fact make us unique from everyone else.

For example if you are not ‘good’ at housework or organization, maybe surround yourself with someone who is and you can enhance their lives with things that may not be part of their unique personality but things you are naturally good at and enjoy.

This is why I think that self awareness is so important, when you recognize these things and evaluate how you feel about them, you can stop beating yourself up about not being ‘good enough’, stop trying to control things and focus your energy in the wrong direction.

How much time is wasted trying to master something that is not right for you but was someone else’s idea of what you should be doing? This is not living with integrity, you are lying to yourself and to others.

I will talk more about approval seeking in another article, when you do some introspection you may find that these things you were trying to ‘change’ about yourself really don’t need to be changed at all. BUT if you are repeating behaviors that are hurting yourself or your family, keeping you from being authentic, read on!

This post is a continuation of Authentic Empowerment Step 1

Authentic empowerment:

If your goals are to have a positive impact on others, be of service while at the same time living from a place of authenticity and integrity, then self awareness is the first step.

There are a few definitions of impact- one is to strike against (by force) and the other is to have a positive effect. We can gain power by striking against someone with aggression or yelling. This approach does work (most of the time)  in the short term- it is sometimes quick and effective, but you will have to suffer the consequences.

Most people who are forced to do things by aggression retaliate eventually, or even retaliate in the moment- heck you may have someone who is still waiting to get back at you if you use this method often. If you have a habit in doing this in relationships at work or home people will likely talk behind your back, spit in your burrito, or sue you the second they realize you have enough money for them to make a buck- you become the enemy and as soon as they see you at a weak point, they will strike.

I have a pretty loud voice naturally, the tone of it just carries- and this is in regular speech ( at least I don’t need a microphone:) When I let myself get burned out and tired one of my weaknesses is to lash out. The other day the kids were buck wild, one of the kids ran into me full blast with one of their wood toys, hitting me pretty hard in the side of the leg- I yelled “get out!” .

You may ask what the first reaction from daughter was. She stood frozen on the edge of the kitchen as if to say “hey, don’t yell at me or I will not move”. As I have mentioned in past post I was raised in a family where there was quite a bit of dysfunction.

My intention of course is always to improve and raise my children differently, but lashing out and yelling, while it does not come up often, is something I find myself having to consciously work on, simply because this was the norm in my family growing up and it became a reactionary habit.

If I am having an extra bad day, I now recognize my feelings.  If I get bitchy and snappy I always apologize in the moment.

It is a process… I won’t say that I am not ashamed when I let this happen, but I always remind myself that no mother is perfect and I am doing the best I can to recognize and to improve (I don’t let guilt and shame eat away at me- instead I make a plan). I also take this as a signal that I need to learn to ask for help (another one of my weaknesses) I am working on it:)

When I do mess up I see the results, I don’t feel good, the kids do not feel good, it is simply not effective to have a fun and functioning household. I am not empowered (or I wouldn’t be reacting) and the kids are not learning a good way to live their everyday lives. There is a better solution that is usually more of a win/ win.

Authentic empowerment is based on;

1. A high degree of self awareness

2. Based on self responsibility

3. Intention is bigger than being ego driven (comes from our true authentic self- not based on seeking approval)

Using self awareness to move toward a more authentic life.

There are a few things you can do to become more self aware.

You can either journal this (writing down is a really good method because you can track your progress)-or take some time when there are no distractions or interruptions to evaluate the situation.

When an event happens where you feel dis-empowered (or you find yourself wishing you would have reacted another way), take some time for reflection and do an analysis what happened and your reaction to it.

• Did you speak /express your authentic self fully -without blaming or judging- more on this HERE?
• What are your ‘triggers’.
• Do you notice a pattern?
• What purpose did your reaction serve (For example, were you trying to protect your ego by not feeling ‘stupid’, were you trying to fit in, were you trying to control?)
• What was your TRUE intention? Maybe your needs are not being met- a description of needs HERE
• What will you attempt to change next time?
• What were your immediate thoughts? For example; do you find yourself blaming others or taking responsibility for your part in the conflict?
• What were your feelings (both physical and emotional)?

The reactionary dysfunctional patterns are learned behaviors that have probably sabotaged you in more ways than one- they are not part of your authentic soul. If you notice a physical response (sweating, rapid heart beat, stomach pains) this is stress.

Stress can cause multiple health issues that can hold you back, or even shorten your life. For this reason alone I think it is worth it to learn how to deal with everyday situations confidently and with integrity. When you are telling your truth clearly a compromise can more easily be made when there is a conflict- this makes it more likely to be a win/ win.

Recognizing and changing some things that may be holding yourself back from being your true authentic self is one of the best gifts you can give yourself, the  people you love, and the world.

If you notice mistakes you have been making, learn from them then focus on what makes you shine! The only ‘regret’ you should have is abandoning your true authentic self.

Has there been a time when you have felt dis-empowered? Do you  have some of your own strategies you would like to share? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Related articles

• Authenticity (psychologytoday.com)
• Self Confidence – 10 Simple Things You Can Do Now to Become More Empowered Tomorrow (socyberty.com)
• Shifts to Empowerment (defyinggravity3.wordpress.com)
• Your Personal Power-Up: Five Steps to Take Control of Your Life and Career (prnewswire.com)

Hello everyone! This is a big subject so look for a series of blog posts coming in the next few weeks on authenticity and empowerment, and how this can help you connect with others, become a positive role model, and live your true purpose.

Personal Awareness

You may have heard it 100 times before “the answer is within”, easy right? Now that you know the secret you should have no problem living your life authentically and being empowered right? Well, for most of us it is not that easy.

The best way I can describe acting from a place of self awareness is to mention it’s opposite- reactionary. Have you ever had the feeling that you were not yourself, that you reacted to something and regretted it? Do you find yourself having to lecture and explain yourself instead of just speaking your truth without blame or judgment in a confident and concise way?

Why is it that when we are seeking to be empowered and authentic, the skills that we are attempting to learn and use abandon us when we need them the most?

How many times have you left a situation that you know you did not follow your instincts- “I should have said this” or “I shouldn’t have agreed to do  ____” fill in the blank…

Why does this happen? The main reason is lack of self awareness at the time of the event. Some people refer to this as a ‘dear in the headlights’  moment or a reactionary moment. Instead of coming from a confident ‘knowing’ place we are simply re-playing old destructive patterns that do not work for us or bring us closer to being authentic. We lack the tools to respond because we are not in touch with our intentions, emotions, and/or our core beliefs and interpretations.

We all begin this life expressing our needs without a problem. Babies do not explain themselves, if they need something they let us know in no uncertain terms- they cry when they need to be fed or changed, and they don’t ask permission or make apologies.

The other day my four year old daughter Ella made me so proud I cried. To give a little background, up until a few months ago Ella was communicating mainly by sign language. She just began answering yes and no questions, as well as speaking in conversational sentences a few months ago.

Someone (I won’t mention names due to privacy reasons) said  to her “well you don’t have a choice” Ella’s reply was “yes, I do have a choice”. WOW! She did not need me to dive in and rescue her, that was the best response I have ever heard! Ella has not been conditioned to please others yet, she is coming from a place of 100% integrity (oh to be able to start out fresh at four years old!).

At some point from when we are a baby to when we are adults we learn to manipulate, distort, deny, repress, and lie to others and ourselves about our true selves and our true feelings, and slowly we loose our true selves in the process. We are conditioned to do this by society, our family, and others. We follow along to simply survive.

By the time it is our turn to be parents we can completely forget who we truly are, we have spent so much time pleasing and conforming in order to survive or fit in we lost our true selves somewhere along the way.

Most of us know what we don’t want, but how many of us, without a doubt, know what we DO truly want? If we begin to get a feeling for what we want (or the direction we want to go to follow our true purpose), our first reaction may be to ask our peers what they think, or do research.

Here is the problem, even though you may find no shortage of ‘good’ or ‘right’ advice from others (this includes books, the net, and seminars)- they really can’t truly know what is best for you! Only you know your true purpose and the only way your are going to find it is by true self awareness. Sure you can use tools to help you get there, but in the end it is up to you to follow your inner voice.

Thales of Milet, a philosopher in the sixth century B.C was asked ” What is the most difficult of all things?” he replied “To know yourself” when asked “What is the easiest in life?” his response was “Giving others good advice.”

Back to choice: The fact is we do have a choice weather or not we act from a place of self awareness or not. Some of the things that get in the way of this are:

1. Societies values: For the most part our society is about spending and consuming- this does not encourage self awareness.

2. Time: It seems that here in the USA many of us fill our schedule and don’t make enough time for self growth. We are burned out. We continue to live life on auto pilot.

3. Approval seeking: Instead of acting from a place of authenticity, we wish to seek approval from others (this is mainly ego/ fear driven).

In the next post I will talk more about self awareness as well as give you some tools you can use to incorporate living from a place of self awareness in your everyday life (even when your buttons are pushed!).

These tools will help you to communicate with others better, and you will discover your true values and priorities so you can move toward the direction of living your true purpose. If you are reacting out of anger or fear and this is having a negative impact on your life, we will discuss how you can recognize your needs as well as learn to recognize and transform destructive patterns so you can come from a place of authenticity and empowerment.

In the meantime I want to mention this is not about being perfect! Everyone is reactionary from time to time, this is truly a process. In fact when you truly know yourself and your intentions you are a lot more likely to let go of control and be much more compassionate with yourself and others.

You learn to trust yourself and with trust comes understanding. The first step is awareness – you can recognize you ‘blew it’ and learn from it so you can hopefully do better next time around. Slowly but surely you can start to become more present, and choose your responses to others based on your TRUE feelings not old dysfunctional patterns you have been repeating.  There is no such thing as failure – only learning.

Where are you at when it comes to self awareness? I honor your responses/ comments and would love to hear from you!

Courage allows the successful woman to fail-
and learn powerful lessons-
from the failure-
so that in the end,
she didn’t fail at all.
– Maya Angelou

Resource: High-Impact communication skills with Susan Baile Volume 1 1992

Related articles

• Authenticity (psychologytoday.com)
• Mike Robbins: Seeing Adversity As Happening for Us, Not to Us (huffingtonpost.com)
• Integrity Right to the Core (LearnThis.ca)
• Self Confidence – 10 Simple Things You Can Do Now to Become More Empowered Tomorrow (socyberty.com)

Hello everyone! Just a quick not to let everyone know I decided to bring back the blog Authentic Mama!

I still have plans for a group/ website in the future, but in the meantime I miss blogging!

I am starting from scratch (blog has been down since July- lost all subscribers to my list/ newsletter) , if you subscribed before, or would like to subscribe as a new subscriber, please subscribe (or re-subscribe) on the green button sign up area on the top right of the blog ( simply add your name and email and hit submit). I will be giving away some exciting free gifts (to be announced )  and special deals only available to new list subscribers (who sign up in the gray sign up button area to the right) on my herbal/ mothering courses.

After you subscribe I will be sending occasional tips/ newsletter (once a month or so) that will keep you up to date on my events.

Be sure and check your spam box if you don’t receive a follow up email with your gifts after a few hours.

Enjoy!

* If you like this mp3 course don’t forget to sign up for my updates so you don’t miss any other great resources- the sign up box is on the right hand side of this page

Colds and Flu Audio Webinar

This webinar is from the course Kids & Herbs ~ A naturally simple course for parents

This Mp3 is a conversation between two parents (me and John Gallagher from Learning Herbs ) we talk about how we use herbs daily with our kids.

This MP3 audio is a casual webinar format, it is perfect for the busy parent- download and listen on the run!

Topics of the Mp3 include:

Download the Mp3 on the link below:

KidsHerbs-2

Disclaimer:

Related articles

• How to use and make your own natural herbal remedies for children- colds and flu (authenticmama.com)
• How to take charge of your childs health naturally (authenticmama.com)

Whewww! It is finally here! Today is the launch day for Kids and Herbs- a naturally simple course for parents! If you have not been following Learning Herbs list get more info HERE

This is what I have been working on for the past few months- AND the reason why you have not seen many posts!

 The coolest part of this is for one week only, Kimberly and John Gallagher the creators of Wildcraft are giving away a FREE Wildcraft game with the course! The launch is at 9 am PST this morning!

We had so much fun creating this course. I have to thank John Gallagher, L.Ac., CCH from herbmentor and learning herbs for all of the work he put into this, as well as putting up with my TOTAL ignorance when it comes to technology!

If you are not a member of the learning herbs email list, and you have not heard about this course, you can check out the details HERE (plus learn how to make Elderberry syrup just in time for flu season!). If you love herbs you should definitely sign up for the learning herbs list, the offer free recepies and videos, all about herbs and health- it is an awesome resource!

Please forward to any parents you feel may be interested!