Author Archives: cgretreats

Change Begins Today!

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Have you ever wanted to make a powerful change in your life? Perhaps you wanted a new job, or needed a new place to live. Maybe you were looking for a new relationship. Or you needed a new car. Yet as much as we desire something new, it’s far easier to make no changes at all, and just keep on dreaming.

This mindset is a consequence of reactive living – rolling with the punches. We are pulled in many directions by our boss, our clients, and our families. We are so caught up in the details of today, that attaining something better gets pushed off into “tomorrow.”  Before you know it, the same old routine, the old same rut, defines your life.

We expect big change to require big effort; and sometimes it seems impossible to live up to the ideals in our mind. So how do you harness positive change?

By making the changes you can make, within your own power, today. Small change is better than no change. Perhaps you can’t immediately change the fact you’re in debt; but you can start putting a little money aside every paycheck.

Perhaps you won’t meet the new love of your life tomorrow, but you can get ready to do so, by taking better care of your image. Try a new hairstyle; buy a new blouse. Smile at people.

Perhaps you can’t move out of your apartment tomorrow, but you can start sorting through your things and giving away the stuff you don’t need. If you want to move, why not get packing?

You can change your life. Sometimes we hear these incredible “rags to riches” stories and think it all happened overnight. In reality, those cases are extremely rare. Changing your life takes vision and commitment. It also takes action! Make the positive changes you can make, today. Every day. Small is better than none at all.

What will you change, today?

 

Inspire a Generation

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America’s best athletes are the embodiment of our nation. At the Olympic Games, we see the physical manifestation of American pride: strength, grace, determination, perseverance. The achievements of our medalists are shared victories for us all.

The theme of the 2012 Olympics, “Inspire a Generation” reminds us that children who watch the Olympics today may represent our nation in future years. Today, a child learns to somersault; tomorrow, they may stand among the most gifted gymnasts in the world.

It is widely agreed that the discipline required in sports enables our youth to succeed as adults. From learning how to work within a team, to developing confidence and leadership skills, sports participation provides numerous mental and emotional benefits. From physical fitness to lasting friendships, the positive impact of sports enables our children to reach their full potential.

Will you help us give Chicago youth this opportunity?

The “Expect a Miracle” Foundation offers assistance to the children of working, single parents. These parents work hard to provide necessities to their children, but they cannot afford the costs of extracurricular activities. Sports fees, equipment costs, uniforms, lessons – it’s simply too much for many single parents. This is where we come in. Whether a child seeks to take a tumbling class, or play football, or learn to play an instrument, we provide the means to make these childhood dreams come true.

Each year, we receive more requests for aid than we can feasibly honor. It saddens us to say “no” to so many deserving children. We’re hoping you can help us say “yes” to a few more.  Our annual fundraiser is underway right now and here’s how you can help!

Please join us for fun and sportsmanship at the Brunswick Zone Deer Park in Lake Zurich, IL on August 11 for our Cosmic Bowling Fundraiser! Bowling skills are not required – take it from us, the worse you bowl, the more fun it is. Food, 3 games of bowling, equipment and raffle tickets are included for $35 per person or $70 per couple. Register by calling us at #847-545-1157. Bring the family, or come as a party of one, you’ll make plenty of new friends!

If you are unable to attend, would you please help us by making a donation? We are a 501(c)(3) organization and your donation is tax-deductible. Any amount is welcome and sincerely appreciated! You can make donations online, and learn more about us by visiting our website at http://www.expectamiraclefoundation.org/.

Thank you for being a miracle maker!

Carolyn Gable

Power of Positive Change

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You Have the Power of Positive Change!

A week ago, our life-changing retreat brought together women from all walks of life, from different areas of the country. Many of you had private hopes, fears and doubts, not certain what to expect, but willing to take a chance.

By making the choice to spend last weekend with us, you created a powerful force in your life – positive change!

Our first guest speaker, Jaime Laurita, shared his unbridled energy with us, along with his keys for attaining the life of your dreams:

1. Listen. Pay attention to the world around you! Messages can come through music. There can be a reason for what you see as “coincidence.”  Don’t just hear words – truly listen, and receive.

2. Truth. Be true to yourself! Be true to others. Always be truthful – in a good way. Living your authentic life begins with living by truth.

3. Energy. Life is all about giving and receiving energy! When you give attention to someone, you’re giving them energy. When people interact with you, they’re giving you their energy. Think of live concerts and the energy behind the music. Surround yourself with positive energy!

4. Sensitivity. Be a dreamer! Open up inside. Listen to what your heart, gut and soul are telling you. Tap into your own intuition and learn to trust it. Put your heart into life! Share your heart.

5. Nutrition. Food is energy! Freshly prepared food is better for you. Organic food is better for you. What you put into your body matters because it affects your health and your energy. Pay attention to what you feed your mind! Power yourself up with good nutrition and good thoughts.

6. Evolution. Life is change! Embrace it, live it, be excited by it. Remember that what you experience in life, what you taste, hear, see and feel, can change you. Don’t fear change – seek out positive, bold, even daring experiences and let yourself grow! Always dance while you have the chance!

Jamie’s energy and no-holds-barred approach to living (and speaking!) blew the roof off the ballroom at the Lake Lawn Resort! Remember to keep enthusiasm in your own life. If you feel yourself getting down…then get down with some music and dance away the worry! Positive energy creates positive energy.

We will continue to share recaps from the retreat, along with gems of inspiration on our Facebook page. “Like” Carolyn Gable’s Life Changing Retreats to stay connected! We encourage you to share your own discoveries, insights and miracles with us!

Invest in Yourself

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There are two things we never have enough of: money and time. As women, we go to great lengths to take care of everyone else, from our spouses and children, to our parents and friends. The roles of mother, wife, caretaker, chef, housekeeper, counselor, household secretary and breadwinner have been bundled into a single, efficient, low-cost unit: YOU!

We fall into these roles as our lives change, and think nothing of the personal sacrifices we make to fill them. As long as our spouse, kids, parents, and everyone else is happy, we’re happy. And if we’re falling short somewhere along the line, there’s magazine articles telling us how to be better cooks, more exciting lovers and better parents.

But without investing in yourself, the well eventually runs dry. Men are baffled when their sweetie does all the domestic chores for months, or even years, without complaining and then suddenly she explodes. BOOM! Kids, too, can find themselves blindsided by a Super Mom who abruptly turns vigilante over a dirty room, a bad report card, or coming home too late. POW! Well-meaning friends can get caught in the crossfire when a social invitation is met with a vehement “I don’t have time/money for that!” MEOW!

Investing in yourself is important, and here are 5 reasons to do it:

1. It’s your life. You deserve to have time for yourself. This isn’t selfishness; this is self-preservation.

2. You can’t be there for everyone else if you let yourself go. Losing focus on your own health and emotional well-being is a disservice to you and to the people who count on you.

3. Your self-image affects your personal confidence. It’s one thing to cut back on hair salon visits, but another to completely give up spending money and time on your appearance. It affects your self-esteem, and it can impact your career and your relationships.

4. If you sacrifice everything for others, resentment and exhaustion can build up to a breaking point. This isn’t healthy for you or for your loved ones. Having a balanced life makes more sense than giving your all until there’s nothing left.

5. Having a sense of personal control in your life empowers you to tackle the tough challenges as they come up.

Isn’t it time you did something just for you? Join us at the “It’s All About Women” retreat at Lake Lawn Lodge in Delavan, WI. And before you say you don’t have the time or money, please contact us for details about the sponsorship programs that enable all women to attend. Come for the weekend, April 27-29, or for our Saturday-only program April 28. We can help you make it happen!

Ever Been Down in the Dumps?

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If you’ve ever been “down in the dumps,” you probably had help getting there! We all have friends, relatives, co-workers who can change our mood in record time, simply by stopping by and unloading a barrage of negativity. No matter how good of a day you might have been having, suddenly the world is piled high with garbage.

What’s the natural reaction? Share back! Before you know it, the lid is off your personal trash can, and you’re dumping out your personal negativity. Boy oh boy, now it’s your turn to talk about how bad you have it, right? Check this out! *SPLAT!*

The funny thing is, you may not feel much after that exchange. Itemizing what makes you unhappy rarely makes you any happier. And now you’ve got somebody else’s moldy thoughts piled on top of your own.

Even if you can hold yourself back from exchanging woes, it’s hard to defend yourself against the negativity of other people. It’s natural to be sympathetic, to lend an ear, but there’s a fine line between sympathy and becoming a carrier of someone else’s load.

And it’s even harder to avoid dumping on others when you’re troubled.  You may err on the side of silence, deciding to hold it all in, rather than burden a friend. Or perhaps you naturally fling out all the bad points of your day, not realizing your listener is staggering under the load!

Fortunately, there is a positive way to deal with negativity, and I happen to know an expert on the subject! I’m excited to have David J. Pollay joining us at the “It’s All About Women” retreat! As a syndicated columnist, author, and business consultant, David Pollay has helped people around the world overcome the cycle of negativity. His book, “The Law of the Garbage Truck” is an international sensation.  It’s truly an honor to have him among our keynote speakers!

Watch my YouTube video about David, and learn more about our very special weekend! Please join us at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, WI on April 27-29! Space is limited, so sign up today for the “It’s All About Women” retreat !

Your Money and Your Life

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What kind of relationship do you have with your money? Are you on good terms? Or are you headed in opposite directions?

If your relationship with money isn’t what you’d like it to be, the problem could be beyond your income and your debts. It may have to do with your core beliefs and feelings about money.  Your emotions about money can affect how you attract it, how you spend it, and how you invest it.  Your emotions about money can influence the outcome of your endeavors!

Think about it: we often get what we expect in life. After you’ve heard “money doesn’t grow on trees” and “there’s never enough money”, often enough, it becomes an accepted truth.  For too many families, money is a struggle. Money is something wrestled with, fought over, and agonized about. In these situations, money is not a friend. Money is a fickle, evasive creature that can’t be counted on to stick around, even if it shows up once in awhile. You learn to distrust it, and doubt it, and doubt your own ability to ever have as much as you need.

Eventually, you resign yourself to thinking that you just weren’t meant to have money. You weren’t born into the right family. You didn’t go to the right school, didn’t major in the right subject, didn’t have the right connections, or you’re not as smart, or talented, or…

Stop! It doesn’t have to be this way! Everything you believe about money could be wrong!

What’s more, it’s not your fault. And there is something you can do about it. You CAN change your relationship with money!

I feel strongly about helping other women improve their lives, and that’s why I’m thrilled to have author and financial planner Julie Murphy Casserly join us at the “It’s All About Women” retreat in Delavan, WI! Julie will share her insights and proven methods for building wealth from the inside out.  Julie’s ground-breaking strategies have been featured on CNBC ‘s “On the Money” and Oprah and Friends radio, and the Lifetime television network.

We are truly privileged to have Julie Murphy Casserly as a keynote speaker! Watch my YouTube video for more about Julie! And please, don’t miss this opportunity to change your life for the better! Space is limited, so sign up today for the “It’s All About Women” retreat at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, WI, April 27-29, 2012.

Staying Positive in a Negative World

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Much has been said about the power of positive thinking. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”  It sounds easy enough, but we only need to listen to the news, or get stuck in traffic, or have a bad day at work, and it seems all of our positive thoughts to go flying out the window.

Sometimes we don’t even make it that far. We can get out of bed with the best of intentions, but then something goes wrong. You can’t find your car keys. The dog had an accident on the rug. Your child can’t find his homework. Your spouse can’t find his cell phone. For a day that dawned bright with promise, it’s amazing what a stressful morning can do to it.  What happens then? Do we soldier through with a smile?

Or do we chalk it up as already being a “bad day” and decide to just get it over with, and hope for a better tomorrow?

The truth is, none of us have an unlimited number of days, and very rarely does a day turn out to be “perfect.”  Learning how to cope, how to laugh, and how to gracefully handle the custard pies in your face is an art. Easier said than done, yes, but here is a tip for staying positive. It’s one of the sayings painted on the Miracle Fence in Lake Geneva, WI.

“Love is the answer.”

We know that gratitude plays an important role in a positive attitude. Add love to it for a powerful remedy against the negativity of the world. When you get up in the morning, instead of yelling at your school-age child to get up, tell him or her how cute they look when they’re sleeping and how much you love them. Tell your spouse he’s adorable and you wouldn’t want to wake up next to anyone else in the world. Pet the dog, even if he did mess the rug. You may need to be the cheerleader for the household, until this infectious, positive attitude catches on, but here’s the amazing thing…

…you’ll already feel better yourself.

Wherever your day takes you, bring love along. Compliment a co-worker, sincerely, on something good they’ve done, or on how neat their desk is! Say good morning to your boss. Yes, you might still get some cranky phone calls or other workday stresses, but so what. An abundance of love truly conquers all.

Take steps to share love and show gratitude each day.

Would you like to learn more about empowering yourself and changing your life for the better? If your self-love needs a boost, or you want to soak up some positive energy and have fun, then join us at the “It’s All About Women!” retreat in Delavan, WI! Gather up your girlfriends, bring your mother…bring your mother-in-law, she needs love too, right? And join us for a life-changing weekend at the beautiful Lake Lawn Resort, April 27-29, 2012.

Gratitude – It’s Makes All the Difference

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Do you celebrate what you have? Are you thankful for the positive aspects of your life? Often times, we take for granted many aspects of our lives and don’t give them the attention they deserve, and find ourselves focusing on what we don’t have.

In this video, Carolyn explains the importance of focusing on gratitude. When we are grateful for the positive in our lives, our entire mindset changes! Watch the video and try it out for yourself!