Improve Your Health? Get a Dog

Posted on May 9, 2019 by Beth Terry — 5 Comments ↓

A Little Dog Inspiration:

©2015 Beth Terry, EverybodysLost.com Xena Chihuahua — My little Xena Princess Warrior – 5 pounds of sweet long-haired Chihuahua charm, RIP

With so much trouble in the world, it helps to occasionally focus on simple gifts offered by our angels in fur coats. Having a rough day? Cast your eyes on their sweet face. More than half the households in America own one or more dogs. Many Americans clearly rely on four-legged inspiration and loyalty to make it through our day. We call it unconditional love. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

Sure, cynics believe our dogs only love us because we’re their food source. Or maybe they lick our faces because they like salt. Most of us don’t care why they’re so excited to see us, we’re just glad someone is!

If we could chill out and be more like our four-legged friends our lives might be more peaceful. Dogs are just who they are. No excuses. They unabashedly flop down on the floor and fall asleep wherever they are. We scold them and they still love us. If they could talk, I doubt they would say, “Does this collar make my face look fat?” They usually can get along with dogs of different colors and “races” with no problem at all. Then again my Chihuahua thinks she’s a Rottweiler, so she does have to make sure you know who’s boss. Indeed, Dorothy Hinshaw captured that when she said, “Even the tiniest Poodle or Chihuahua is still a wolf at heart.”

Here’s an assortment of quotes showcasing why we love them…

Starting with a wise quote by Harry Truman who knew about Washington, DC better than most:

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.
– Harry Truman

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
– Aerosmith song

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
– Will Rogers

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.
– Roger A. Caras

Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that
you are wonderful.
– Ann Landers

There is no psychiatrist in the world
like a puppy licking your face.
– Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you

Olive is ready to play, Beth's Chihuahua-French Bulldog — Wanna Play?

more than they love themselves.
– Josh Billings

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.
– Mark Twain

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
– Andy Rooney

I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.
– Doris Day

Ever wonder if other dogs think poodles
are members of a weird religious cult?
– Rita Rudner

If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.
– Woodrow Wilson

If your dog is fat, YOU aren’t getting enough exercise.
– Dr. Randy Aronson, Pet Vet

My dog is worried about the economy because
Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That’s almost $21.00 in dog money.
– Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us?
We come back from a grocery store with the most amazing
haul – chicken, pork, half a cow.
They must think we’re the greatest hunters on earth!
– Anne Tyler

Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it watching for us to come home each day.
– John Grogan
~~~~~

If you have a dog, hug it. Bring it to work if you can. If you have no dog, volunteer at a shelter and soon you will have a dog, or two, or three.

Enjoy your day and your life! To a dog you are an alien that lives forever. Cherish that gift!

Blessings,

How to Write Better Speeches Faster

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Beth Terry — No Comments ↓

Need to write a speech?

We have a Live Zoom Meeting or In Person Training for you!

Beth Terry How to Write Better Speeches Faster — We can provide this webinar for an individual or for your own team! Contact us to schedule a training program!

Here’s What You’ll Learn

How to use The Pearl Framework to create a speech outline in minutes instead of hours.
A simple analysis tool to quickly determine what your audience needs to hear.
The “Three points and a poem” – an insider’s guide to making your information fresh and memorable.
The Seven Questions that will enable you to write a compelling close that moves your audience to act.

Three things to remember when using humor in any presentation.
A Pro Speaker’s secret to staying on track and avoiding the dreaded tangents
A great little tool for staying within your time guidelines, and why you shouldn’t use your cell phone
One sentence you can say to yourself before getting on stage that will help allay the jitters.

This webinar was recorded. Click on the link above to go to the information page.

Purchase of this webinar includes:

A personalized live recording you can watch unlimited times
The PowerPoint slides
A template for writing all your speeches
A project management form
A needs analysis questionnaire to help you form the main points
A checklist for running a meeting to make sure it’s a success

Contact us and we’ll set up a program for you on Zoom. It lasts about an hour and we’ll take time for questions. If you sign up for a zoom-inar, you can send your speech ahead of time and Beth will work directly with you on that speech.

See you soon!

Blessings,

Beth

How to Remove Obstacles in Your Life

Posted on March 5, 2019 by — No Comments ↓

Are you creating your own obstacles by not letting go?

Hyacinth in glass showing roots, BethTerry, Obstacles — The cords that bind us resemble these Hyacinth roots

My Hawaiian teachers taught me how to let go of obstacles. Their wisdom still applies, perhaps even more so.

I spent the bulk of my adult years in Hawaii. It’s still the home of my heart, my family and my friends. While there, I learned how to let go of the past. I learned, “Forgive and Remember.” Release emotional pain, but don’t try and suppress or repress it. Remembering helps you to not repeat what got you in trouble in the first place. It helps you keep people at arm’s length if they harmed you.

One of my Hawaiian healers used to speak of energies we all have that become attached to other people and/or to things that have impacted us. Look at the roots in this Hyacinth plant above. It’s helpful to imagine that’s what your attachments look like. Each person you love, hate, have argued with, have been attracted to, or have worked for… all those people are attached to you in some way. All those experiences are banging around in your head, sometimes bothering you more than you want to admit. Some attachments may be a slim thread. Some may look more like a trunk line the size of your leg.

The wonderful thing I learned from my teachers in Hawaii was that I can choose which to hold onto and which to sever. I used to teach this in my seminars. I recommended imagining you have a pair of garden shears. Look at each of these attachments individually, and see yourself cutting them loose.

You can go deeper, though! In meditation the other night I had a different thought. Instead of cutting those connections, look further. I had been out in the yard pulling weeds and pulled this guy out of the ground. You can’t tell, but it’s 3 feet long!

Think of those attachments in your heart and memory as weeds that you can pull out

Obstacles need to be pulled out by the root!

And it hit me – if I cut a weed off at ground level, the roots still remain and I’ll have that weed problem again!

I made a list of all the things, situations, and people that still bothered me. I sat quietly and imagined pulling each of those attachments out by the root. The relief I felt at the end of 20 minutes of this process is indescribable!

I had been blocked and unable to finish a simple project for my upcoming webinar series. I couldn’t figure it out. Now I’m rarin’ to go and the webinars will be up and running soon.

Look, this isn’t about being all airy-fairy. This is a healthy psychological tool to release things that block you so you can go forward and do what you were meant to do in this world. It’s also a reminder from someone who has always been a self-motivator that everyone needs healing and clearing of blockades from time to time.

Don’t you have your mechanic flush your car radiator? Do you clean your gutters and clear the path in front of your home when it snows? This is no different.

Flush your brain. Clean the rain gutters in your head. Clear the path in your heart. Try it and let me know how it works! Spring is as good a time as any to do a little Emotional Spring Cleaning!

Good luck and Happy Spring!

Blessings,

@ 2021 Beth Terry Events • Please share with friends • Ask about a Zoom-inar for you or a room full of your friends and colleagues!

What do you need to STOP for the New Year?

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Beth Terry — 4 Comments ↓

Instead of Starting Resolutions – How about knowing what to stop?

@EverybodysLost.com ©BethTerry.com — Sometimes it isn’t what to start, but what to Stop that counts.

Ten days into the new year and people are rushing around starting their New Year’s Resolutions. Friends are eating healthier, the gyms are packed, people with their Fitbits™ are speedwalking past my office as I write this. Is it always about starting? Or is there genius in knowing what to stop?

It’s a heady time, those first weeks of any new year. Everyone is intent upon doing better and being better than last year.

It’s an arbitrary thing, isn’t it? Like I said last post, you can make any day of the year your “New Year.” People going through AA and NarcAnon do it all the time.

How about approaching the rest of the year with a little different focus?

Instead of listing dozens of things you’re resolved to do, focus on three to five things you’ll stop doing. Look with objective eyes at the obstacles in your life. Maybe stop getting in your own way. Maybe stop worrying what others think. You may find a diet is hard, but choosing to stop eating sugar for a month is easier. (I discovered when I stopped sugar and salt for a month I no longer craved them and it was easy to keep that habit going.)

My colleague Marshall Goldsmith did a retrospective several years ago on this idea. If you’re a leader or manager, it’s worth looking at what he has to say. Here’s a short YouTube™ video from him. The essence is quoted above.

Aristotle reminded us more than 2,300 years ago that habits are the most effective pathway to success:

“We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, it’s a habit.”

As you pursue your New Year of excellence and success, what habits will you develop? What can you stop? What can you start? Be gentle with yourself. Don’t make a list of 50 things. Small bites work. Challenge yourself a little at a time. You didn’t develop bad habits all at once. You won’t rid yourself of them all at once.

Try this:

Pull out that list of things to do and see if you can change the wording ~

I will lose 10 pounds by April 15. I will stop eating sugar for one month.
I will get more exercise and walk more. I will stop sitting on the couch watching TV for 3 hours a night and start dancing more.
I will spend 3 hours each morning making calls. I will stop relentlessly checking the news and my emails as a way to avoid making those calls.
I will work with my team to increase productivity this year. I will stop micromanaging my team and trust them to do the work I hired them to do.
I will get into the office one hour earlier this year to get my day started before the others arrive. I will stop making a Starbucks run every morning and wasting my time and money in lines for over-sugared bad coffee. (sorry, Starbucks fans! <grin>)

See how this works? Instead of some flowery resolution that means nothing, you are actively attacking the real problem. It’s not that your people are underproductive, it may be that you are overly involved in the details. It’s not that you need to lose weight, it’s that you might want to rethink your sugar intake.

These are mine… what are yours? Let me know your New “New Year’s Resolutions!”

And have a wonderful, productive, happy, healthy, prosperous 2019!

Blessings,

PS – I have openings for three more speech coaching/mentoring clients! Call now! 602-743-9296!

What do you need to STOP for the New Year?

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Beth Terry — 2 Comments ↓

Instead of Starting Resolutions – How about knowing what to stop?

It’s a heady time, those first weeks of any new year. Everyone is intent upon doing better and being better than last year.

It’s an arbitrary thing, isn’t it? Like I said last post, you can make any day of the year your “New Year.” People going through AA and NarcAnon do it all the time.

How about approaching the rest of the year with a little different focus?

Aristotle reminded us more than 2,300 years ago that habits are the most effective pathway to success:

“We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, it’s a habit.”

Try this:

Pull out that list of things to do and see if you can change the wording ~

I will lose 10 pounds by April 15. I will stop eating sugar for one month.
I will get more exercise and walk more. I will stop sitting on the couch watching TV for 3 hours a night and start dancing more.
I will spend 3 hours each morning making calls. I will stop relentlessly checking the news and my emails as a way to avoid making those calls.
I will work with my team to increase productivity this year. I will stop micromanaging my team and trust them to do the work I hired them to do.
I will get into the office one hour earlier this year to get my day started before the others arrive. I will stop making a Starbucks run every morning and wasting my time and money in lines for over-sugared bad coffee. (sorry, Starbucks fans! <grin>)

These are mine… what are yours? Let me know your New “New Year’s Resolutions!”

And have a wonderful, productive, happy, healthy, prosperous 2019!

Blessings,

PS – I have openings for three more speech coaching/mentoring clients! Call now! 602-743-9296!

What do you need to STOP for the New Year?

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Beth Terry — 2 Comments ↓

Instead of Starting Resolutions – How about knowing what to stop?

It’s a heady time, those first weeks of any new year. Everyone is intent upon doing better and being better than last year.

It’s an arbitrary thing, isn’t it? Like I said last post, you can make any day of the year your “New Year.” People going through AA and NarcAnon do it all the time.

How about approaching the rest of the year with a little different focus?

Aristotle reminded us more than 2,300 years ago that habits are the most effective pathway to success:

“We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, it’s a habit.”

Try this:

Pull out that list of things to do and see if you can change the wording ~

I will lose 10 pounds by April 15. I will stop eating sugar for one month.
I will get more exercise and walk more. I will stop sitting on the couch watching TV for 3 hours a night and start dancing more.
I will spend 3 hours each morning making calls. I will stop relentlessly checking the news and my emails as a way to avoid making those calls.
I will work with my team to increase productivity this year. I will stop micromanaging my team and trust them to do the work I hired them to do.
I will get into the office one hour earlier this year to get my day started before the others arrive. I will stop making a Starbucks run every morning and wasting my time and money in lines for over-sugared bad coffee. (sorry, Starbucks fans! <grin>)

These are mine… what are yours? Let me know your New “New Year’s Resolutions!”

And have a wonderful, productive, happy, healthy, prosperous 2019!

Blessings,

PS – I have openings for three more speech coaching/mentoring clients! Call now! 602-743-9296!

Monday Morning Gratitude

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Beth Terry — 2 Comments ↓

Quick Gratitude Fix For Your Week

Gratitude Beth Terry — Gratitude instantly shifts Attitude

Gratitude Matters. We know this! “Say Thank You!” We’ve all heard our moms and dads push us to show gratitude for a gift from grandma or an aunt. It turns out there’s more to it than making grandma feel good. Our own mood and productivity will instantly respond to our grateful thoughts.

Focusing on gratitude doesn’t mean being Pollyanna. It isn’t about ignoring the craziness in the world around us. And it isn’t an airy-fairy-feel-good notion.

You will notice Gratitude and Forgiveness are often tied together. They show up a lot in this blog and in Cactus Wrangler.

I write about these topics because I want you to know you can instantly feel better when focusing on gratitude instead of negativity. You aren’t alone. We all go down that negativity rabbit hole from time to time.

This morning I used a time-tested technique. I grabbed a pile of blank Thank You cards and started writing thank you notes to everyone who has recently done something wonderful for me. Within ten minutes I noticed a dramatic shift in my energy levels.

If you’re having a tough Monday, try writing some notes. Don’t take the easy way out via email, instead, grab a pen and a card. The physical act of writing “Thank You” dozens of times has a very calming and positive effect on the brain and heart. You are telling your brain to call up positive experiences and transmit those to your hands so you can write them down. It’s almost magic how quickly it shifts everything!

The Neurological Benefits

After a quick search I discovered there are several wonderful neurological reasons Gratitude and Forgiveness are therapeutic. Psychology Today recently reported on a study done in Italy that quantifies and measures the life-changing, neuronal-path-changing and productivity breakthroughs of shifting our focus and forgiving. Rita Watson does a wonderful job of explaining this study and one by Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Karen Swartz, MD.

The important point is we can choose this behavior, this focus. Even when we don’t “feel like it” we can take a deep breath and choose to find a win or a lesson in the experience. What’s the Lesson? What’s the long-term benefit? Can I find a blessing in this?

When something bad happened that is now in the past, you harm yourself by focusing only on the grudge, the anger or the need for revenge and retribution. Think of it as carrying a bag of knives around and stabbing yourself with them each time the thought occurs to you. Letting old hurts and old grudges hold you back harms you, not the perpetrator! You do have choices here. Use them!

List Your “Gratitudes.”

Remember the good others have done for you.

Communicate your gratitude to everyone who has helped you along the way.

Be kind to yourself.

Bless Yourself, we need you!

PS – Don’t forget to check out my new book for Parents and those who need to Re-Parent themselves!

@2017 Beth Terry — Resilience can be shared and taught! Help your kids thrive!

Monday Morning Gratitude

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Beth Terry — 1 Comment ↓

Quick Gratitude Fix For Your Week

Focusing on gratitude doesn’t mean being Pollyanna. It isn’t about ignoring the craziness in the world around us. And it isn’t an airy-fairy-feel-good notion.

You will notice Gratitude and Forgiveness are often tied together. They show up a lot in this blog and in Cactus Wrangler.

The Neurological Benefits

List Your “Gratitudes.”

Remember the good others have done for you.

Communicate your gratitude to everyone who has helped you along the way.

Be kind to yourself.

Bless Yourself, we need you!

PS – Don’t forget to check out my new book for Parents and those who need to Re-Parent themselves!

Beth on the Radio Monday

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Beth Terry — 2 Comments ↓

Listen To Live Radio Or Log On After Monday For Podcast

Log on and listen to the live radio show from anywhere! Or log on later and hear the Podcast!

Resilience is defined as the inner capacity to cope with stressors in a positive way. If you are resilient, you have the ability to manage past, present, and future stressful events. You are able to use your inner resources to remain competent, skillful, and focused on your goals in the face of adversity. You also recover more quickly from illness and setbacks than less resilient people.

Join our guest, Beth Terry, a resilience expert who has been speaking on the topic for more than a decade and learn how to tap the resilience that exists within you.

Beth Terry, CSP, has recently written a new book called Resilience Not Included: How To Help Your Kids Bounce Back It is currently in pre-production and will be available by the first week of May. Pre-publication versions are available today in PDF format, or you may pre-order and indicate your preferred ebook style. Ebook orders will be fulfilled the first week in May.

For more Information, contact Westbridge Community Services. One Hour At A Time is a weekly radio show provided by Mary Todd. Mary covers issues relating to mental health, family issues, addiction and recovery.

Beth Terry will cover the importance of resilience in recovering from life’s challenges. Topics include the difference between Enabling and Empowering, along with hints on how everyone’s resilience can be developed. The early years matter, but it’s never too late to start improving your life!

Hope you join us!

Easter Blessings!

Beth on the Radio Monday

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Beth Terry — 1 Comment ↓

Listen To Live Radio Or Log On After Monday For Podcast

Log on and listen to the live radio show from anywhere! Or log on later and hear the Podcast!

Join our guest, Beth Terry, a resilience expert who has been speaking on the topic for more than a decade and learn how to tap the resilience that exists within you.

Hope you join us!

Easter Blessings!