The Dark Side of Success? How Elizabeth Gilbert Dealt with Fear after the Success of Eat, Pray, Love

If you have ever self-sabotaged your success, doubted your abilities to achieve your goals, or thwarted your creativity in the name of “playing it safe,” then you need to watch this video. Really.

This video is a fascinating take on how we can change our relationship to our creativity or our own “genius” so that we can really achieve the success we want – and not go crazy in the process. Uber-successful author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert shares with us her fears about how she goes on after she’s already “made it big.” How can she possibly top the huge success she’s already had? Her insights on her own vulnerabilities tap into some of the most universal challenges of the human experience – and shed light on how we can make it all better.

Poetic, inspiring, and fascinating. Well worth the watch for anyone wanting a blissed out life. Enjoy and pass it on!

Who is to Blame for All of Our Problems? Blame Canada, of course!

Sheila: Times have changed
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse!
Sharon: Should we blame the government?
Liane: Or blame society?
Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
Sheila: No, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada

...

The Laughter and fun
Must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before somebody thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!!

The Gospel According to South Park

Although I have never been a dedicated South Park fan, this song from the South Park movie Bigger, Longer, & Uncut from 1999 struck a cord with me and has stayed with me over the years.  I find that though it is silly, it is a good reminder of how we all love to play the blame game -- namely, that it is always easier to fault someone else for the problems in our lives.

Just look at the world of politics:  The Democrats blame the Republican policies of the Bush Administration; the Republicans blame Obama for doing all the wrong things.  

Or the world of finance:  Main Street blames Wall Street for being greedy, Wall Street blames Main Street for taking out the loans they couldn't afford.  Government blames the Regulators for allowing the financial crisis and we all blame the Government for not getting the economy back on track fast enough.

The Problem with the Blame Game

The truth, however, is that blaming others, while cathartic, doesn't really help us or change anything.  And it also doesn't focus on the one person whose attitude and decisions we can influence -- YOU!

Externalizing blame is easy because it places the responsibility for change on 'someone else'.  But, it doesn't acknowledge that YOU are the greatest common factor and the least common denominator in both the successes and failures of your life.  YOU have the ability to control both your actions and reactions to every situation in your life. 

Techniques to Try:

So, the next time something in your life doesn't go the way you want it to go, try one of these techniques:

1.  Be compassionate:  It may be that the person you are blaming doesn't even know what/understand why you are feeling pain.  If you were the one to blame, you would sure appreciate it if someone was willing to be compassionate to your point of view.

2.  Be the change:  Try "being the change you want to see in the world" rather than blaming the world/your boyfriend/your boss for the problem. Taking action to change your situation often feels a whole lot better than playing the victim or doing nothing at all.

3.  Take responsibility:  Honor yourself by being honest with yourself.  Sometimes when we blame others it is because we are also angry with ourselves for letting something 'bad' happen to us.  Looking inward towards what we contributed to the situation can help us avoid repeating the same mistakes again.

Of course, if all else fails, you can just Blame Canada!  Now you can see why the song almost won an Academy Award, can't you?

Wanna Be Famous? 10 Inspiring People Teach Us the REAL Secret to Success

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

Yes, the secret to success is persistence. It's not glamorous. Or edgy. Or easy. But it works! In our own lives, when the going gets tough, we often just go somewhere else. Looking at famous (or infamous) people in the media today, it seems like raw talent, serendipity, and/or a good publicist are all you need to succeed in life.

But, you may be surprised at some of the famous people who credit or demonstrate that persistence in the face of adversity was the key to their success. Here are ten great examples:

1. Walt Disney: Billions of dollars in merchandise, parks, and movies later, Disney is known as a mega-mind behind some of the most creative storylines ever. Hard to believe at first that Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."
2. Thomas Edison: His teachers told him he was "too stupid to learn anything," and he was fired from his first two jobs for “not being productive enough.” When he finally went on to invent the light bulb, he described how he had over 1,000 unsuccessful attempts before he was able to “see the light.”
3. Orville and Wilbur Wright: Travel lately? Well maybe you wouldn’t have been able to if these guys didn’t buckle down again and again and give it their best shot. They fought depression, family illness; and countless unsuccessful prototypes for their “flying machine” before they proved to the world that amazing things happen when you dare to dream big.
4. Michael Jordan: His name is synonymous with being at the top of one’s game whatever the sport. But did you know he was cut from his high school basketball team? He stated, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Just do it indeed!
5. Oprah Winfrey: A television icon and so much more, Oprah is well known for her hard road to success, overcoming an abusive childhood and countless career rejections. In fact in one of her first jobs as a television reporter, she was fired and told she was “unfit for tv.” My how times have changed.
6. J.K. Rowling: The creator of Harry Potter conjured up this magical boy while on welfare, severely depressed, divorced, jobless, and trying to raise a child on her own. Five years later, she was one of the most well known authors and one of the richest women in the world. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is. Sign me up for Hogwarts!
7. Charles Darwin: Darwin’s dad told him he was “lazy and too dreamy.” Darwin writes “I was considered by all my masters and my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard of intellect." I’d say Darwin certainly surpassed such criticism and aced the test of “survival of the fittest,” don’t you think?
8. Soichiro Honda: When I get in my silver Accord each morning, I’ll have a new respect for the company founder of Honda. Turned down for a job as an engineer at Toyota Motor Corporation, Soichiro was jobless for quite some time. He started making scooters on his own, and with the encouragement of friends eventually started his own automotive business. The rest is history.
9. Harland David Sanders: Ready to double down? Well, you should know that before the Colonel’s secret chicken recipes became so famous, they were rejected a recorded 1,009 times before a restaurant accepted it. I wonder how many buckets have sold since then.
10. Albert Einstein: Now known the world over as one of the most famous geniuses, Einstein did not always receive such praise. Not speaking until he was four or reading until he was seven years old, Einstein’s parents thought he was mentally handicapped, slow, and anti-social. Later, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. Perhaps changing the face of modern physics and winning the Nobel prize makes up for his slow start?

Bottom line: There will always be excuses if you want to listen to them. Life has no shortage of obstacles along the way, and yes, sometimes life can be hard, very hard. But where are you going to choose to put your energy?

What if you suspended all your typical judgments and beliefs just for one day? How differently would you be living your life? Would you be closer to reaching your goals? What potential inside you is yearning to come to the surface? There’s only one way to find out. So, buckle up and get started. You’ve got some living to do.

Need a crash course in motivation and inspiration? Come join us for a week of bliss and get started on making your dreams become reality.

How to Live Life On the Edge...Without Ever Leaving Home!

I've jumped out of an airplane, bungee-jumped off a bridge, 'surfed' on a sand dune, and climbed Kilimanjaro.  You might think that this is what I'm talking about when I say I live my life on 'The Edge'.  But, the truth is that I am not an adrenaline junkie or a badass.  Not even close.  Frankly, I've come to realize that these crazy experiences were a cake walk compared with what I now know as true exhilaration and challenge of 'living on the edge'.

What is 'The Edge'?

'The Edge' is about pushing yourself literally to the edge of your comfort zone.  You know you are there when you are, well, a little uncomfortable.  It doesn't have to be a huge gesture to get on your 'Edge'.  It just requires paying attention to your actions and being willing to go where you haven't gone before -- sometimes through your actions, sometimes through your emotions.

Amy introduced me to the concept of 'The Edge' a few years ago when we first started working together.  At the time, I thought that the key to personal growth was to learn more, read more, and expand my comfort zone by traveling to new places and trying new things.  While there is nothing wrong with any of these actions, in my case (and I suspect that of many others), my efforts at growth centered on things where I was already strong.  For example, I can psych myself into trying just about anything once -- it is mind over matter, after all -- so there was really not much difference between battling the rapids on the psychotic Zambezi River and sliding down the snow-covered face of a live volcano on my bottom, at least from the perspective of facing my fear.  But, ask me to reveal something really personal or emotional -- that's petrifying!  Every week when I sit down to write my blog post, I am nervous both that you will and won't read what I have written and fearful of what you will think of it.  In the past, I would never have been able to admit this because doing so makes me feel unsettled and vulnerable.  That's how I know that this is on my 'Edge'.

Why Live Life on 'The Edge'

While it is true that some people can go through life without ever wanting to move outside of their comfort zone, the reality is that for many of us, there is real joy and exhilaration in being able to face a fear, release an anxiety or overcome adversity.  Doesn't that sound great?  Why not give it a try!

Five Ways to Try Living on 'The Edge'

1.  Do the Opposite

If you are a neat freak, let your home be messy for a little while.  If you are a pack rat, pick one room/closet/drawer to de-clutter.  If you are normally silent in meetings, speak up!  If you are a Crackberry addict, leave it at home for a day.  The more the action makes you feel uncomfortable, the closer to 'The Edge' it is likely you are.

2.  Even if You Feel Uncomfortable, Do It Anyway

Normally, we steer away from things that make us feel uncomfortable.  Next time you feel that way, take a deep breath and do it anyway.  You may find that whatever it is is not as scary as you thought it would be.

3.  Admit a Weakness or an Insecurity

We often want the face we show to the world to be perfect.  But, we all know that we are not perfect and sometimes just admitting that you are human can be an amazing feeling.  If you are not yet ready to admit it to a person, write it in a journal. 

4.  Feel -- Don't Think -- Before You Act

Some of us have a tendency to overthink everything we do.  The next time you fall into the pattern, listen to your heart, instead of your head.

5.  Choose Compassion and Empathy over Anger

We all get angry -- whether it is at our irritating boss or our child/spouse/friend who doesn't listen to us.  Instead of immediately getting angry, take a step back, try to see the situation from that person's perspective, and imagine how he/she may be feeling. 

We hope you found this post interesting and insightful.  Please share this link with you friends and help us spread the word about Bliss Out! Journeys and Inner Bliss.

The Ultimate "Girl Power" Song List - What Every Woman Must Have

Nothing like a good “Girl Power”song to get you out of a funky mood and connect you to your awesome blissful self. Whether you need an outlet for releasing some frustration or anger, or just want to bump your booty on the dance floor, there’s something for every mood on this list. We’re hoping to build the Ultimate “Girl Power” Song List of all time, but we need your help. Let us know what we forgot, and add it in the comments below. And remember to never stop grooving and celebrating you!

THE ULTIMATE GIRL POWER SONG LIST

A Woman's Worth - Alicia Keys
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
Believe - Cher
Better Be Good to Me - Tina Turner
Bitch - Meridith Brooks
Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera and Lil Kim
Dancing Queen - Abba
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Fighter- Christina Aguilera
Girls Just Want to Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
I Don’t Need a Man - the PussyCat Dolls
I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross
Independent Women - Destiny’s Child
Irreplaceable - Beyonce
Just a Girl - No Doubt
Man I Feel like a Woman - Shania Twain
Miss Independent - Kelly Clarkson
Reflections from Mulan
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Since You’ve Been gone - Kelly Clarkson
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce
Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves - Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
Stronger - Britney Spears
Survivor- Destiny's Child
This One’s For the Girls - Martina McBride
We are Family - Sister Sledge
You Gotta Be - Des'ree
You Oughta know - Alanis Morrisette


What else? We know there's more. Help us grow and improve this list, and keep on rockin!

The Wisdom of Star Wars -- Top 10 Quotes to Live By

The last few days here in NYC have been decidedly gloomy...at least from a weather perspective.  But, when the weather is glum (meaning I have no desire to walk outside and risk a bad hair day!), I take it as a sign from the universe that it is time to curl up on the couch and do nothing other than watch old movies.  This weekend, I was really in the mood to get my geek on and watch the Star Wars trilogy.  I mean, who doesn't like a glorious story about the fight for good over evil?  While I was watching, it occurred to me that behind the snappy dialogue, there is actually some pretty good wisdom to share.  It's funny how a flash of insight sometimes can come from the strangest places. 

So, with the help of the internet, I've compiled my top ten bits of wisdom from the Star Wars movies for your reading pleasure.  Enjoy.....and.....May the Force Be With You!

Wisdom from Star Wars

1.  Do or do not, there is no try.

2.  Anger, fear, aggression.  The Dark Side are they.  Once you start down the dark path, forever it will dominate your destiny.

3.  The Dark Side crowds everything.  Impossible to see the future it is.

4.  Named must your fear be before banish it you can.

5.  Many of the truths we cling to depend on our point of view.

6.  Already know that which you need.

7.  Remember, concentrate on the moment.  Feel, don't think.  Trust your instincts.

8.  You can't stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting.

9.  The more you tighten your grip, the more....will slip through your fingers.

10.  There's always a bigger fish.

We hope you enjoyed this post!  If you did, please do us a favor and share it with your friends or on your Facebook page.

Crazy Things You Need to Know About Orgasms

Every BLISSED OUT! woman needs to respect the "pleasure principle" in life and never take things too seriously. So, in honor of celebrating our sexy sides, here are some crazy fun and bizarre facts about orgasms. Enjoy! For more ways to BLISS OUT! your life, click here.


Via: Medical Insurance