16 Powerful Ways to Feel Comfortable in Your Own Skin
August 9, 2011 by Karen Fagen · 2 Comments
I have coached hundreds of women over the years that have struggled – or are currently struggling and in pain with body image issues – feeling uncomfortable in their body. The truth is, they are not living the life they really want to live. It’s really holding them back from living a life with passion blocking them from going after what they want and keeping it!
I completely feel their pain. I really understand it, as I hid for many years behind my body image issues that left me feeling so uncomfortable in my own skin.
It took me a long, long time to fully understand that the struggle with my body image was keeping me from growing and expanding my entire life. I realized, in the process of struggling with my body image issues, I was just distracted in the un-truth and disconnected from my personal power.
If I had been connected to my truth and personal power, I would not have been critical of myself and my body at all. I would have honored myself and only noticed my beauty and wonder. I would have taken action like nobodys business to create my most yummy life.
Instead, I stayed in pain and missed opportunities for fun, love, and adventure.
My BIG turning point was when I realized my body images issues were nothing but a BIG DISTRACTION keeping me in hiding, preventing me from taking risk and living the life I really wanted to live. My body image issues thoughts, feelings, and actions –were creating the exact things I didn’t want in my life.
I deeply began to understand that obsessing about my body was a big decoy, because what I was really afraid of were the following:
- Not being enough
- Failing
- Not measuring up
- My ability to receive love
- My life change… and so on, and so on.
I NOW know how to live a life Free from struggling with body image issues, and I want to help you find this Freedom, too. Its very empowering and life changing to feel vibrant and amazing in your skin.
I learned a huge reason why we struggle. Struggling only keeps us in the same place. Struggling keeps us from expanding our life, health and business. Body image issues constrict us (at every level) and deplete and drain us, and keep us imprisoned. It blocks true intimacy with life, keeping us from savoring or experiencing it fully.
When we obsess about our body, it is a huge indication that something is out of alignment within our heart, mind and life. It shows us we are disconnected from our truth and personal power and are hiding from what we are really afraid of.
Many women I have worked with have struggled with their body image. It breaks my heart, because I know these women really desire a full and bodacious life with complete emotional and financial Fr*eedom.
Body image issues are a big distraction, keeping you confined from taking action and fully creating the life you want. Think about this for a moment – Who would you be and what would do if you werent struggling with body image issues? Would you be confident, happy, blissful, and really successful?
Here are ways to Free yourself and move away from body image issues and into full Fr*eedom. Where you love your body, have sweet love for you and allow much bigger success to come to you:
1. Your body is completely beautiful allow yourself to own this and stop denying it. It may not be where you want it to be, but you have the power to change this. For now, see your beauty.
2. Your body is brilliant and takes care of all things for you. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it and listen to it.
3. Create a list of all the wonderful things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often. Example: I love my legs because they take me great places and I get to see so many wonderful places with them.
4. Make peace and be Free. Your body is a beautiful vessel that carries your soul.
5. When you obsess about your body image, ask yourself this question: “What is it that I really want in my life that I do not yet have and why am I holding myself back?”
6. Visualize feeling amazing in your body and skin. Fully connect to it. This will instantly empower you to make better choices for you.
7. Re-focus on something that you really love about your body (you will find it if you are willing to look with love). If love seems too much – then start with what you like.
8. Reflect on all the things you really want to accomplish in your life and business. Realize that if you shift your focus away from negative thoughts about your body, you’ll move into beautiful thoughts of achieving your true dreams and desires. This shift will instantly make you feel better and motivate you to take action to go after what you want.
9. Make a list of the things you have put off due to body image issues, then go and take action on one item. Notice how fantastic this feels.
10. Write a Sacred Contract letter to your body with your commitment for honoring it starting today and include a thank you for all its wonder and beauty.
11. Rest and nourish your body like royalty. Rest, replenish, stretch, massage, hydrate, and moisturize it. Stop pushing so hard rest.
12. Exercise because it makes you feel better, connects you with your personal power, and makes your body healthy, strong, and shapely.
13. Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body and connect to this feeling again. You will take inspired action from this feeling state.
14. Write a list of at least 10 positive things about yourself and add to this list daily.
15. When you find yourself being harsh on your body, get curious and find out what you’re really afraid of.
16. Please, release attachment to the way your body used to be. Meet yourself where you are today – so you can be Free of struggle and this will empower you to take the action you need for the changes you desire.
Doing even one of these action items will shift your energy, have you feeling much better in your own skin, connect you with your beautiful body, and move you into a place that allows more abundance in your life.
Pursuing Pleasure is a Game Changer
August 2, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
Please listen closely. I want to let you in on a big and very well kept health secret. Ready? Here it is… Being a women in pursuit of pleasure—and the ability to allow yourself to experience and receive it—are essential in creating and maintaining ultimate health. Please read that again.
Now take a moment and answer this question: When was the last time you completely let go and allowed yourself pleasure?
I know you may not even remember, because it’s been that long. Often, women become disconnected from experiencing pleasure and have a hard time answering the above question. This is so common because most women have been so busy and overwhelmed keeping up with the demands of life – that they have completely forgotten what it is that actually brings them pleasure.
I so get this – as there was a time in my life in which I forgot what pleasure was and what it meant to my soul to give it pleasure – not just occasionally but on a daily basis. I didn’t even know how to go about experiencing pleasure (never mind asking for pleasure).
This is when I became a pleasure-seeking woman!
When I coach my private clients, I have found these top three beliefs to be what most often keep them from experiencing ultimate pleasure in their life:
- They think they’re too busy to experience pleasure.
The thought of pursuing pleasure as an important goal makes them feel guilty. (The term guilty pleasure comes to mind immediately, right?) Here is the deal: As women, we do not allow ourselves enough pleasure and it’s time to change the game.
2.They don’t feel confident or comfortable in their bodies, so they create more pain than pleasure.
3. They give more pleasure to others than to themselves.
Here’s the truth – pure and simple:
We are pleasure seekers from birth. Think about when you were a child – all your thoughts and energy were about play and fun, and that resulted in pleasure. Just watch children and you will witness the pleasure seeker in them. They are curious and follow their bliss.
When there is lack of pleasure in one’s life, there is lack of health and wealth as well. If there is lack of vibrancy in your health, body, and finances – it’s a wakeup call that you are not experiencing enough pleasure. Our health, our body, and our finances reach the ultimate level, when we are happily pursuing pleasurable activities, or thinking pleasurable thoughts.
Pleasure is wonderful. It feels amazing and it connects you to sensual energy, bringing out the woman you were born to be, and creating much more intimacy in your life. (Plus, it’s super sexy!)
No more denying yourself pleasure – deal?
1. Create Pleasure in Your Day-to-Day life (and do it like a pleasure seekers business!):
When our life is devoid of daily pleasure there is unhappiness – such as carrying extra weight on our body, wearing clothes that feel uncomfortable on our bodies, denying ourselves our true desires and the beauty we crave in our life, having struggles in relationships with ourselves and others. Not to mention that constant struggle with our bank accounts. Simply put, lack of daily pleasure results in having a lot of unsatisfying experiences.
The only way to achieve a feeling of optimal well-being within your body is by including regular doses of pleasure in your day-to-day life! Get clear about what brings you pleasure. It doesn’t have to be extravagant – it can be quite simple. Determine your pleasure and start adding this into your life now – from the moment you wake up each day. I teach my private clients how to do this and this one step alone is a big positive game changer!
2. Make a Commitment to Your Pleasure:
Understand that all sustainable pleasure requires, is the honoring of your happiness each day. Do this with joyful discipline, courage, and practice. If you want more happiness and enjoyment in your life, pleasure must become something you do – just like breathing. Have the discipline to catch yourself indulging in “negative pleasure” – and stop.
3. Name Your Bliss and Follow it:
To know sustainable pleasure, you must know what you desire – what fires you up! And you must also learn to trust those desires. I believe that our souls speak to us through our desires, and we discover our unique gifts and talents only by allowing ourselves to follow our bliss. After all, desire is what created our bodies in the first place. We were conceived with an orgasm – the entire universe started with a big bang (funny right? And true!)
Verbalizing and owning your specific desires and then manifesting them uplifts the entire planet. Let’s get as specific as possible. Make a list.
- Do you want to wear beautiful clothes?
Then first, you must let go of all that does not serve this. Get rid of the closet full of clothes that do not fit you. Make a committed decision to finally lose the weight you have been struggling with. Or, perhaps it’s about wearing the beautiful clothes already in your closet, and realizing that just wearing them adds pleasure to your life.
- Maybe you desire to be surrounded by beauty. Then you must first remove all that is un-beautiful for you. Don’t think about it – just do away with it.
- Do you desire new lingerie with beautiful lace? Then go get some! And wear it daily even if you are single.
- Do you crave morning calmness without chaos? Then wake up earlier with a cup of your favorite coffee and do some inspirational journaling, or move your body and allow yourself to indulge in your morning pleasure.
4. Schedule pleasure into your life with the same regularity as you schedule brushing your teeth.
Do this now! Don’t hesitate – grab your calendar and make pleasure your priority, or it will never happen. Schedule pleasure into your life with the same regularity as you would brush your teeth.
5. Pleasure Begins With Your Thoughts.
Pay Attention to Them:
Change the ones that are not pleasurable – the minute you notice them. (Remember, this is a discipline that takes practice.) Here’s why this is so important. Thought plus emotion equals belief. Your beliefs are what create your reality and your state of health. Beliefs, which are felt primarily in the heart, transform your world either positive or negatively.
Every thought you think creates a specific biochemical reaction in your body and also attracts specific opportunities and people into your life.
Give this pleasure thought a whirl.
Think this thought: “I am a highly desirable, sexy woman.”
How does that thought feel in your body? Alive, Sexy and Good right?
Now contrast how that feels with this thought: “I am unattractive, getting older and have so much weight to lose why bother. It’s too late for me to feel sexy or happy.”
Which thought connects you to more “feel good”? I’m sure you know, without a doubt, it’s the first.
Your power to live a pleasurable, prosperous life lies in your willingness to focus your attention on thoughts, people, places, and events that are joyful, fun, sexy, and uplifting.
6. Allow Yourself to Receive Pleasure and You’ll Have Even More.
One of the most meaningful and (pleasurable things) I have done in my life was learn how to receive and ask for pleasure.
Receive Pleasure:
What this means is if someone wants to give you a compliment, receive it rather than dismiss it. When you see something that is pleasurable, take a moment and enjoy every morsel of it. The more pleasure you spread around, the more you feel yourself. Allow yourself to invest in more pleasure – this may mean hiring a coach to help you achieve a pleasure in your body, life and finances or to indulge in wonderful bath salts, a regularly schedule massage, or a nice luxury meal.
Ask for Pleasure:
It is your divine right to be satisfied. If you are out to eat and you order a meal that is not pleasurable, do not feel guilty asking for a new dish that will bring you pleasure. If you have a massage and you want the masseuse to massage deeper then ask! If you want to experience better loving making and sensual orgasms, ask to be pleased – decide to stop denying this.
When you take care of yourself with pleasure, your influence creates abundance in your well being, body, relationships, and career – and even with money. The world is depending upon your happiness, your joy, your pleasure. You have nothing to lose by following your bliss except your suffering (so you see it is highly worth creating pleasure). And when your own suffering decreases, your pleasure increases. You will probably lose a few extra pounds too and will display a new radiant health and well-being to the world!
6 Tips to Confidence and Calm
July 26, 2011 by Karen Fagan · Leave A Comment
6 Tips to Confidence and Calm
Part of being a confident, strong, successful woman is living from a place of calm and fully connecting to your inner rhythm. Doing away with drama, chaos, worry, self-criticism and such behaviors will allow you to instantly feel a sense of calm in your life.
Being free from everything that is not authentic to you will give you a sense of calm so you can get clear and take action on the things you’ve been secretly dreaming about.
1. Confident women have no interest in interpreting the actions of others (big energy zapper).
Let go of the need to worry, especially about what others think or meant when they did this or said that. Release the need to ruminate on what happened, what you did or didn’t say or what others did or didn’t do. Completely release worrying from your life and about what others think. Worry doesn’t bring happiness.
The truth of the matter is we have no idea of and we have no control over what others think. When we spend time interpreting the actions of others, it depletes us and distracts us from our life; these distractions usually leads to self-sabotaging behaviors. Let go today of the habit of interpreting others’ actions and put this energy into living out your desires and creating the most meaningful life.
Make a sacred commitment today to free yourself for good from analyzing the actions of others. Replace this energy with dreaming BIG – you will instantly feel better!
2. Confident women choose a life free from worry.
Worrying about the things from the past, future and things we can’t control, never provides a helpful solution or contributes productively to our goals and dreams. Worry is a big distraction, holding us back and keeping us from taking consciousness and meaningful action in our lives.
Make a list of all the things you worry about on a daily basis and replace this worry with something that positively and powerfully fills your soul instead. You will feel so much better and feel more alive.
3. Confident women enjoy every moment in life – even the difficult ones.
Confident women know how to savor every morsel of life. They believe themselves to be strong, resourceful and creative, even in when things become challenging. They know that through challenge, there is growth.
Allow your self to move in the flow of things and let go of resistance. This is key even when things are most challenging. Staying connected to your good flowing energy, even in the most challenging moments in life, means looking for positive and creative solutions. You must let go of critical or negative thoughts so you are able to find the perfect opportunity in the challenging moment.
4. Confident women feel connected to themselves, others and nature.
The more you love yourself and the more connected you feel to yourself and with others, the more you give and receive.
Spend time each day whether it’ s journaling, taking a walk in nature, meditating or drinking a cup of tea, in quiet and begin to connect with yourself again. Dig deep into your soul and connect with you dreams and desires. Get to know yourself well, so you can begin to create the life you want and share your best self with the people in your world.
5. A confident woman smiles with her mouth, heart and eyes.
Your eyes are the pathway to your heart and soul – smile with them. Really practice this right now go to the mirror and smile at yourself with your eyes. Smiling brings feel-good energy and is very contagious. Smiling is a reflection of inner happiness and is a gift you can share with the world wherever you are.
6. Confident women act spontaneously and are not paralyzed by fear.
Please don’t let fear from the past, or fear of what could happen, stop you from being authentic and real right now. The past is the past, and we all have things from the past we would rather forget. The future hasn’t happened so fearing what could happen really isn’t the best way to engage in your life. If you allow yourself to give your power to the past or the future, this will hold you back. Allow your self to learn and grow, so you move on from the past and live in the present.
5 Things NOT to DO – EVER!
July 5, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
1. Avoid Money
Money loves your attention and understanding. The more attention and understanding you give to your money, the 
more you have of it – it’s that simple.
Money does not have power over us. It only has power over us when we relinquish our power to it.
Every time you avoid looking at your bank account, avoid opening your bills, keeping them instead in a pile, or tossing them into the trash unopened, you spend more money than what you actually have – due to avoiding your reality. Each time you do this, you are choosing to continue on the path to more struggles with money, instead of creating your abundance. There is no way to avoid this truth – you must take new action if you are to bring more money in.
Every single time you avoid money, you demonstrate to the universe that you believe in lack. You are demonstrating that you cannot handle more money, because you struggle to handle the money you have now. This avoidance is blocking the flow of money into your life.
The amount of money in your life today is a true reflection about what you believe you can or cannot have – that is it.
You deserve to give your attention and understanding to money. Choose to honor yourself right now and look at your money today. Write your expenses and income out on paper, look at your banking statements on line to see where all your money is going to and get clear about what you need to change within so you can create and have more money in your life.
2. Settle for LESS – In any area of your life.
“Suffer not one exception” -unknown
Often we settle for less and don’t even realize we are doing it. I want you to really think about this. Think about how it applies to your life, and decide to move yourself – today – to get clear about where you are settling for far less than you deserve in your life.
Are you in a relationship that brings you down, rather than bringing out the best in you?
Are you in a marriage that you are settling for because you are afraid that you can’t survive on your own, financially?
- Do you believe that you can’t lose weight, or create ultimate health in your life?
- Are you unhappy in your current career?
- Do your children show you disrespect?
- Do you have chaos and clutter in your life?
- Do you choose to do nothing to change your life, instead of empowering yourself, and getting the necessary support to transform your life?
- Do you tell yourself you want to decorate your house, travel, take a dance class – but then never do?
We often settle for putting our needs on the back burner, for less money than we deserve, for sex that is unfulfilling, for clothes that make us feel uncomfortable, for broken and unrepaired things, and for waiting until tomorrow to do what we need to do today. We even settle for feeling like we are flawed, or less than acceptable in some capacity.
3. Be Uncomfortable in Your Body
You deserve to feel amazing in your own skin I promise you there is nothing that tastes, or feels better than this!
We can be uncomfortable in our bodies for a number of different reasons. The most common, is when we don’t speak out in truth. Or perhaps, for you it is when you are not living life on purpose, lacking passion, unwilling or unable to ask for needs or wants. Maybe you are saying yes when you mean no, carrying extra body fat and feeling uncomfortable in your clothes. Let’s face it, when we are uncomfortable in our bodies, we don’t take risks. We hold back from doing the exact thing we so desire to do, because we unconsciously hold back from fully revealing ourselves to others, thereby keeping people at a distance.
When you embrace and address why you feel uncomfortable in your body – you can than empower yourself to change it by getting the support you need, plan in place and the
Where do you feel uncomfortable in your body and why?
4. Anything Less than Impeccable Self-Care – Will never do.
When you create impeccable self care in your life not only to you feel amazing but you have so much more to give to the people you love your career and you have the energy to do the things you really want to do.
- Self-care is about honor yourself and your needs.
- Do you take at least 30 minutes for yourself each day?
- Do you feed yourself and your soul with fuel, love, happiness and nourishment?
- Do you brush your teeth before you go to bed and have a bedtime ritual?
- Do you have positive self-talk or is your talk filled with self-punishment?
- Do you prioritize your work schedule? Do you have a start and end time, or do you work around the clock never really creating or completing anything – yet always feeling like you are working.
5. Allow Distraction and Procrastination
Distraction and procrastination keep us living in a very small version of who we were born to be. It often leaves us in indecision mode – avoiding the decision we know we need to make…the exact decision that would change our life in a positive way. What is important to know is that if your life is filled with distractions and you know you are procrastinating, you have the free choice to decide to do something about this – unless of course you like living your life here.
I know you don’t – and I also want you to know that you have the power to change your life, get what you want (and keep it)!
Most distraction and procrastination is a result of not having a clear plan, not believing you can, and not moving beyond the blocks that keep you stuck here.
Do yourself a big loving favor and please stop:
- Focusing on what everyone else is doing, or not doing.
- Eating sugar, or foods that serve your body – because of fear.
- Thinking, even for one second, that you can’t do something.
- Hiding behind your computer.
- Hiding out in your life.
7 Ways to Sky Rocket Your Energy
June 28, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
1. Understand Your Body’s Natural Energy Flow
Understand your natural ebb and flow of energy throughout the day so that you feel a sense of peace, calm and overall 
‘feel good’. Doing this, and aligning life with your natural energy flow, will increase your energy level on a daily basis.
Perhaps you are full of energy first thing in the morning, or maybe your energy level increases in the evening. Knowing when your energy peaks is helpful when planning to do the things that you normally resist, or put off doing. Scheduling these when your energy is higher is going to make a huge difference in your productivity, happiness, self-confidence, and joy.
Once you understand your natural, daily energy rhythm, you can work on the important tasks during your peak hours, and avoid “trying” to do these tasks when your energy level is too low.
2. Organize Your World
A scattered world leads to a scattered life – which depletes our energy level and only leaves us feeling less than productive. Let’s face it, when our lives our scattered we end up procrastinating and turning our back on the very things that need our attention.
You can organize your world in big and small ways. A small way would be to create an intentional plan for how you will use your time each day. Create this plan first thing in the a.m. A big way to organize your world may be to rid the clutter that drives you nuts! This could be achieved by scheduling time on your calendar to finally organize your home or office.
You deserve to live a non-chaotic life. There is nothing that feels better, or raises your energy level quicker, than the organization of your world. When your world is organized, you don’t have to expend mental energy to keep track of “a million things”.
Make a decision now about what top three things you need to organize in your life, and then complete the process, so you can have more energy each day.
3. Move Gym Time to the Morning
I know, firsthand, the power of exercising first thing in the a.m. And, I have committed to doing this, not only for the amazing energy it gives me, but because I give more to everything I do and to the people in my world, family friends, clients, when I work out early. This one step will transform your entire life, if you do it and do it with consistency.
A lot of people go to the gym after work, and this is often because it is something they dread and end up blowing off. Instead, allow yourself to experience all of the amazing benefits of exercising first thing in the morning. This is YOUR time. A time for you and you ONLY. When you start your day off like this – your energy will soar!
Exercising in the morning gives energy that lasts all day – PLUS it increases your level of self-confidence and overall ‘feel good’ energy.
Sure, you will have to wake up an hour or two earlier, but I guarantee you are so worth it! After you create this new morning ritual, it will simply become something you just do –
like brushing your teeth.
4. Do Away With Low-Value “Things & Tasks”
To live a Bold, Brilliant and Rich Life (and get these kinds of results in your life) you must do away with anything that is low in value. Move your energy, thoughts, and actions toward the things that bring the highest level of value to your life.
This means doing away with participating in, or spending time on, anything of a lower nature. How do you know if it is of lower nature? The answer is, you will feel it in your body. Your energy level will be low. It’s that simple!
Some steps to eliminating low value things in your life can include:
- Stop eating low value foods that you know do not serve your body, but rather deplete your energy
- Refuse to participate in someone else’s drama. Remember, even listening to it can drain your energy.
- Do away with low value tasks. Be fully aware of which activities are bringing you the highest return in your life – and spend more time doing them.
If you have a ridiculously long to-do-list that is simply impossible to get all the way through, and you feel tired just thinking about doing those items, here are some tips that are sure to turn your to-do-list (and energy level) around:(I highly recommend that you look at each item on your to-do-list and ask yourself the following questions):
- 1. Is doing and completing this item going to add to the value of my life?
If you answered YES, go to question number two. If you answered NO, free yourself of the struggle by knocking it off your list right now! Just be done with it.
- 2. If doing this item is going to add value to your life, ask yourself this: Are you the only person that can complete the task, or is there someone you can delegate this task to?
(When we delegate we free our energy both mentally and physically so we can put into more of the things we love.)
Next, add the following to your to-do-list.
5. Schedule a massage & take an Epsom’s Salts bath.
Add this to your to-do-list. A to-do-list should always include personal care items, like a massage and special bath time. Both will help you let go of any stress you are holding in your body that is zapping your energy. It is a wonderful way to nurture your body, mind, and soul and regain an increased sense of well- being and clarity.
Decide to make getting massage a normal part of your life so you do this regularly. It may seem like it’s too much of a luxury at first, and you will probably tell yourself why you “shouldn’t “ do it, but once you allow yourself to experience all of the wonderful benefits a massage offers, such as more energy in your life, you will want to do it regularly.
Adding a weekly Epsom’s salts bath to your routine is an inexpensive luxury! I do this at night – and I can tell you that the nights I do this are the nights I sleep so well, and awake so refreshed the next morning.
This is what happens when we take impeccable care of ourselves! We have more energy, feel more gratitude and abundance, and have so much more to offer the world.
6. Empowerment Dressing is incredibly energizing.
When we put beautiful clothes on our bodies we feel better, and our energy levels go up! You don’t need to spend a fortune on clothes to look and feel like a million, either.
If you are in a rut – wearing a lot black – begin to throw some brighter colors into your outfits – this is a natural energy lifter.
Dressing up naturally makes you feel better about yourself. It has a magical way of giving you more energy and connects you to your feminine sensual energy.
When you wear clothes that are so/so, you end up feeling so/ so, and honestly your self-confidence and what you accomplish ends up being so/so, as well. Make a commitment to wear clothes that uplift you and make you feel good.
–Put on some make up. A little lip-gloss can make the difference between feeling like a rock star and feeling like a frump. Putting on body lotion that invigorates your senses and soul will stir your internal energy. Do this and you will be amazed at how empowered you feel.
7. Plan to fuel your body with high quality fuel foods.
I often talk to women who tell me that their energy level is so low. Sure enough, they come to find out that their nutritional intake is way too low and they are not drinking enough water. They just aren’t eating enough to fuel their body!
Consistently eating 5-7 small meals of lean protein, good carbohydrates, vegetables, fruit, and good fats will make a huge impact on your energy level and physique.
Decide today to eliminate all food that is of a lower nature and depletes your energy. Instead, choose foods of a higher quality to fuel your energy. If you do this, you are going to feel so amazing and empowered. There is nothing that tastes better than eating well!
Creating a succulent life!
June 14, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
Where in your life can you connect more with your passion, creativity, soul, greater purpose, and live a most 
succulent life? Scroll down for 30 delicious ways for Creating a Life, More Succulent!
Creating a succulent life is about fully accepting and expressing yourself without apology. It’s about connecting to your creative being. By experiencing every dimension of your brilliant and powerful self to the fullest, biggest, and deepest level, you will gain the confidence and knowledge that you deserve. As a result, you’ll begin to better understand that you are more than capable of achieving everything you dream of!
- Living a succulent life means being connected to your heart, standing strong in the woman you were born to be, and experiencing yourself and your life as the rare and divine treasures they are.
- Approve of yourself now and always. No matter what!
- Passionately love yourself; create radical self-love and your entire life will reflect
your positive change. - Own and claim your inner greatness; anything less won’t work for living the life you
truly want. - Stop tolerating and settling for less. It is your divine birthright to full-fill your true
desires. - Set your juicy intentions daily. Focus on what you desire.
- Share your brilliance with the world in a much bigger way.
- Do away with dismissing, hiding, and disregarding yourself and your needs. Speak up
And be heard. - Add color to your life where it has been dark.
- Speak your truth and set yourself free.
- Completely and deeply acknowledge your greatness daily.
- Commit to your excellence and ending self-sabotage. Take action to empower
yourself. - Get comfortable in your own skin. Eat watermelon naked.
- Dress yourself in a way that feels really, really good to you.
- Do more of what you want to do and leave the rest behind.
- Develop an attitude of gratitude.
- Break free from captivity, outdated self-images, and limiting beliefs.
- Love your body, your curves and even your stretch marks; see your body as divine.
- Create your own rules.
- Always say “Yes” to your wonderful self; be delicious!
- Exercise daily – both mind & body – and move beyond your own self-imposed
limitations. - Connect to sources that inspire you.
- Lighten up and have more fun.
- Do what scares your panties off. You will expand and grow for sure!
- Nourish and honor your body’s needs and desires.
- Find your true tribe.
- Do the exact thing you think you cannot do.
- Stop obsessing – great well being and wealth is about making your life bigger, not smaller.
- Surprise yourself and PUSH past your physical limits.
- Take charge of your own reflection. STOP letting the mirror win!
You are so worthy of re-creating your life to be the way you desire. It’s time to experience true succulence in your life. You must invest in yourself and your growth and have supportive people in your life, to reach the level of success that you crave.
Give yourself the permission to embrace all of you; there is no better time than now. Then – get ready for all the wonderful people, opportunities, and surprises that are sure to come into your life as a result.
June 7, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen,
I really love your energy and reading your face book and Twitter posts. Just reading them motivates me. Can you please share some tips on how you have this energy so I can get some of it in my life. I think it would help me make some changes in my life.
Thank you.
Jennifer, LA
Karen’s Answer:
1. Wake up early – I know most people want more sleep, but if you read and practice my other tips below, you will have more energy to wake up earlier. When you wake up earlier, create a morning ritual for yourself and only do things for YOU during this time.
2. Create a Ritual & Go to Local Farmers – Obtain a list of local farmers and local Farmer’s Markets in your area – preferably the organic farms. Plan a day to visit and do your shopping for greens, vegetables, fresh herbs, and meats. Make it an adventure and try a different fruit, vegetable, or other product. I have created a Saturday morning ritual and part of it includes visiting my Local Farmer’s market after an amazing workout. It truly is a satisfying and fulfilling experience to nurture my body, mind, and spirit – but it is also great to celebrate the local farmers and all their dedication and hard work (they are the best entrepreneurs!)
3. Power Up with a Green Smoothie: Green smoothies are my FAVORITE! Explore the power of greens! Making green smoothies is fun and will add a glow to your skin and vibrancy to your step…not to mention the improved mental clarity and focus! I can tell you from my own personal experience that there is so much power in drinking Green Smoothies – it’s a sure way to get your juju back – and instantly!
4. Drink lots of clean, purified water. You will be amazed at the difference in the way you feel when you are well hydrated. I replenish my body with a gallon of clean water a day and will never go back to less than this, because of the huge difference in how I feel – and I am all about feeling good! I know a gallon may seem like a lot, so start off with a ½ gallon of clean water and work your way up. Allow yourself the experience of feeling true hydration. The benefits are so wonderful – glowing skin, no more sugar or salt cravings, detoxification, and much more energy.
5. Good Fats: Good fats keep your metabolism on fire…burning – and this is good for your brain! It helps you feel satisfied. Be sure to include good fats each day. To do this, try Udo’s oil, avocado, or raw cod liver oil. Nuts are also a great source of good fat, however trade in the processed nuts and eat raw only – you will notice you will not overeat them, your digestive system will digest them with ease, and the flavor of raw nuts is very robust.
6. Refined sugars and processed starches are the devil – dump them like a bad freaking habit. Give yourself five days to eliminate them completely and you are going to feel a huge difference in your body and a zest for life – guaranteed! When you do this, you will wake up ready for the day instead of hitting the snooze button. You’ll feel calm, and even begin to have more passion! Learn about the impact of refined sugar and processed foods on your health, acid/alkaline balance, and intestinal health. Add raw organic veggies, sprouts, green drinks, green smoothies, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals to your diet.
7. Move Your Gorgeous Body! Work up a sweat! You will release feel good endorphins and get your lymph system moving, which carries away the waste and toxins! Walk, Jump Rope, Yoga, Run, Trampoline, Bike Ride, take a dance class, or swim. Try something new – or reconnect to a form of exercise you once loved. Just do it!
8. Turn up the “Feel Good”! Find, and regularly commit to activities that help you feel good and renewed. Some ideas: meditation, gratitude journaling, guided relaxation or visualization CD’s, nature, bubble baths followed by lathering your skin in your favorite body lotion. The point is to renew, add more you time, and just de-stress. Often we hold more stress in our bodies than we realize.
May 31, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen -
I am an entrepreneur and professional photographer, and I am so glad I took the leap to start my own business! I love it! However, over the last 16 months of being in business my income has been all over the place. I wonder if it’s possible to have consistent income as an entrepreneur? I will have a flood of income come in, and then go through a dry spell financially. I really hate being in the “dry spell” and experiencing all the high and lows. My energy drops, I feel stressed, anxious about when more money will start to come in, and worst of all I begin second-guessing myself.
Will you provide some insight on the highs and lows so I can avoid them and reach my six-figure financial goals?
Julie,
Santa Monica, CA
Karen’s Answer:
Hi Julie -This is a great question! I often see a lot entrepreneurs go through this. They realize they need more clients, so they get to work creating marketing, they launch their program, fill it – and celebrate! Now that they’ve brought all the new clients onboard, they are super busy with all the new clients’ needs – and the focus shifts. But here’s the zinger – the cycle of the financial highs and lows is about to start all over again.
Why? Because, while they were super busy working with their clients they stopped marketing.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Well here is the good news – consistency. To avoid this money and energy draining cycle – consistency is key. You need to create ongoing marketing that runs whether you are busy or whether you’re at the beach! Here is a simple step-by-step system to cure your ailment:
Step 1: Create a Plan
Preparing a marketing plan is your first step. You’ll need to conduct some market research to determine who your ideal client is, what their needs are, how you can meet those needs, where to find the solutions you need to help your client, and the daily activities you need to do to keep your pipeline full. Some of these activities may include networking, speaking, teleclasses, and social media marketing. All of these are active forms of marketing that take time, unless you can delegate some of the activities or automate them.
Step 2: Implement the Plan CONSISTENTLY
Consistency is key in marketing. It does no good to have a plan that sits on your desk, cluttering it up. Consistent promotion keeps your service or product in the minds of your prospects and customers, and helps stimulate demand. Never let a day pass without engaging in at least one marketing activity. No piece of information (invoices, thank you cards, emails, mail, etc) should ever go out without your company contact information on it. Every communication outside your company is an opportunity for you to promote yourself!
Step 3: Measure Your Results and Make Adjustments
Without measurement, you cannot effectively manage. It is the difference between operating strategically and just doing “stuff”. Which one do you think yields better results? Set specific marketing goals every year and then review and adjust the goals on a quarterly basis. Each month, review your plan against the results you are getting. It does take time to see consistent results when you start a new marketing program, but if you have been going to the same networking meeting for 2 years with no leads…then stop!
Create consistency in your marketing program and not only will you stop the financial and emotional highs and lows, you will be assured a much greater level of success.
May 25, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Karen – help! It’s almost June (½ the year is gone) and I am not making any real progress toward my yearly goals. I don’t want this to be yet another year of not doing what I set out to do!
I am really frustrated and don’t want the year to come to an end and feel like a failure – once again. I want to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when this year comes to end, and truthfully, I am already dreading the disappointment and feeling of failure of another year ending without meeting my goals.
Can you please give me some tips for succeeding and having my vision and goals realized?
Cindy – Denver, Co.
Karen’s Answer:
I applaud you for reflecting and doing a bold assessment of where you are at with achieving your goals. It takes strength to face your weaknesses and reach out for support! It’s so great that you have the awareness about where you are and where you want to be – and are able to determine that there is a huge gap. You can accomplish all that you want before the end of the year – but your belief in yourself is key. Grab your goals and apply the four simple (yet profound) strategies I’ve listed below to get you moving in the direction you really want.
- Meaningful Goals – First things first! Reevaluate and take a look at the goals you wrote out in the beginning of January 2011. Are these goals really meaningful to you? Do they light your fire of passion in you? To be successful in achieving goals, they must be meaningful to YOU. In other words, for us to accomplish goals we need to be inspired by them or have a strong motivation for taking the action to achieve them. Get clear on the meaning of each goal and why it’s important to you. To help you get clarity around your goals: Imagine that it’s the end of December and you have accomplished all your goals – what would that mean to your soul, level of happiness, health, well-being, and bank account if this ? Write this out and be specific, to see it clearly.
- What Is Standing In The Way? Now it’s time to look at what is standing in the way of achieving your goals. Have you created the focus and time you need – each day and week? Are there naysayers in your life? Do you have a high level of stress – like financial, relationship stress – is there any drama or chaos you need to let go of so you have more time to work on fulfilling your goals? I encourage to be bold and eliminate the distractions. Doing this will give you energy and the focus you need to accomplish your goals.
- Each Goal Must Be Specific – but also, you must determine the action that needs to go into each one in order to actualize each goal. Having a goal is one thing - but if you don’t know what action is needed you will stay stuck. Determine the action needed for each goal – break it down and begin to take the necessary action – immediately!
- Support: Build your support team this week. My life has completely gone to another level, because I have amazing support and accountability in my life. But I had to create this kind of support. I have a high-level coach, team, family, and friends that all full-out believe in me and stretch me (at times) way more than I think is possible! I will always have this type of support in my life. I realize that without it feels like ‘death’ to me. Having the right support in your life is key. It’s the difference between achieving your goals – or the disappointment of not accomplishing all that you desire.
If you are telling yourself you can do it on your own and don’t need support, I must be really truthful with you – you can do it on your own – but it is going to take a lot (and I mean a lot) longer. Why not make it easier on yourself to achieve your goals and have the life you desire, by getting the support you need. I guarantee you will LOVE the results!
May 16, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen,
I feel like giving up! I am not making progress like I had hoped in my business and it feels like “making progress” is taking forever. I am starting to question if I made the right decision (or if there is something wrong with me) and maybe that is why I am not as successful as everyone else seems to be. I am working so hard – and the results are nowhere in sight.
Can you please give me some tips so I don’t give up?
Terry NYC
Karen’s Answer:
Now is not the time to give up, Terry! (Take a colored index card, write this down, and tape it onto your computer for a reminder, o.k?)
Often when we are working too hard, and pushing too much not seeing the results we desire – we become exhausted and begin to question ourselves – and we simply feel like giving up.
But now is not the time to give up! You have come way too far and to turn back now! Below are four simple tips that will help you create forward momentum, much better results, increase your level of happiness and put the bounce back into your step!
1. Give Yourself Permission
One reason that we get stuck, overwhelmed, and frustrated is because we suffer burn out and fatigue from trying so hard. I have a private client who has doubled her success by practicing my coaching instruction to simply give herself permission to rest and stop pushing. If you are like me, you want results yesterday! However, I have learned (and coach many women) to slow down when struggle sets in. Don’t push.
When we are pushing and tired our reality gets distorted. Instead of pushing and beating yourself up for what you have not yet accomplished, give yourself permission to take a break when you’re tired and everything feels like you’re going against the current. Fatigue is one of the number one causes for burnout. It causes second-guessing of oneself — one of the biggest reasons people quit! When you feel like you are spinning your wheels – allow yourself to step away – regain clarity – and get your prospective back. By allowing yourself to rest and connect with joy, you’ll be happier and more successful. Creativity flows and you will be more productive. Commit today to giving yourself permission to rest.
2. Let Go
When we are pushing rather than in an effortless flow – we just need to let go. When you become blocked and stuck, it’s time to check in with how attached you are to the outcome. You will know when you are really attached to the outcome because you will feel exhausted and ready to give up.
I have seen private clients attract more clients, land speaking gigs, land a great job, and find the perfect match – just by releasing their attachment to the outcome. Once you let go, you will find yourself being more resourceful, thinking out of the box, and seeing new opportunities. Your happiness level will sky rocket and you will achieve the exact results you desire – if not better.
3. Push Through the Dip
You may feel like you have hit a low, but really it’s the transformational point leading you to success. You may feel like giving up even though you’re doing all the right things. You are doing all the right things – just not seeing the results. Seth Godin wrote an amazing book called “The Dip” — the plateau that separates the average from the best in the world. Knowing what to do when you hit the dip is so important. If you have hit the dip and you can honestly say that going forward is the best decision, then you continue to move boldly ahead until you reach the other side. It might feel like the hardest you have ever worked, but once you make it, the results will be tremendous.
4. Give Yourself the Gift of Support
Support and (accountability) is everything! Sometimes, we can’t see our own blind spots and this often slows us way down, frustrates us, and we end up working even harder. When you are doing things in your life and business that you have never done before, having support makes all the difference in the world!
Working with a coach will not only support you and give you accountability, it will push you out of your comfort zone. All my private clients are so amazed that prior to investing in coaching with me, they thought they either didn’t really need a coach – or felt guilty about choosing to invest in coaching. Now, after being coached they are committed to always having this type of support in their life. Why? Because, left to our own devices we don’t do what we should or could. When we work with a coach, we make more progress and do it more rapidly. I personally know this – not just from coaching hundreds of women – but from investing in myself and having MY OWN private coach.
