Jealousy

We have all felt jealous at one point or another, and most likely, we have all had to deal with the jealousy of other people, too.

As humans, it is in our nature to get jealous when we feel that someone else has something we feel should be ours.  Instead of recognizing the emotion that makes us feel hurt, we lash out.  Often times, jealousy stems from fear- the fear of being unworthy, disliked, or of being disrespected.

So how do we stop ourselves from feeling jealous in the moment?  And how do we combat the jealousy of others when they lash out at us?  It all comes back to being mindful.  When we are mindful of our thoughts and actions, we will have an easier time shifting our focus away from jealousy.

Here are some tips for overcoming your own jealousy:

1)  Recover Personal Power so that you can gain control of your emotions and refrain from reactive behavior.

2)  Shift Your Point of View so that you can step back from the story in your mind. This will give you a gap of time in which to refrain from a jealous or angry reaction and do something else. 

3)  Identify the Core Beliefs that trigger the emotional reaction.  

4)  Identify the Underlying Emotions that you may be feeling.  Are you being driven by fears?  Are you over thinking about the situation because of these fears?

5)  Become Aware that the beliefs in your mind may be over exaggerated, and try to take an objective perspective.  

6)  Develop Control Over Your Attention so you can consciously choose what story plays in your mind and what emotions you feel.

View the full article HERE.


Here are some tips for how to deal with others who are jealous of you:

1)  Avoid Taking it Personally- Know that when a person is jealous of you, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.  Be confident in yourself.  Don't allow a jealous person to affect your confidence or to create self doubt.  

2)  Ignore the Jealous and Hateful Comments- Although it's hard to do, ignoring mean comments from jealous people tells them you are not going to validate their feelings.  

3)  Address it Head On-  When ignoring someone is not an option, approaching the situation directly may help release the jealous tension.  Have a positive conversation to confront them about their behavior.  

4)  Reduce Your Negative Interactions With the Person-  If you can change your environment or social dynamics it will reduce the jealous person's ability to influence you.  

5)  Set Boundaries-  Set boundaries to distance yourself from the person and their negativity.  Make a mental time limit for how long you will engage with a negative person, and them politely excuse yourself from the conversation.  

6)  Let the Person Know That You Don't Appreciate the Negativity-  While you don't want to be rude and upset the person further, making them aware of how they are making you feel may cause them to change their behavior.  

View the full article HERE.    


Everybody is effected by jealousy, whether it be internal or external; it is human nature.  Being mindful of your thoughts and feelings and the thoughts and feelings of others can help you to overcome the situation.  If you are having problems with your own jealousy, or having trouble handling a situation where others are hurting you out of jealousy contact me at mkr@mariekrusso.com for a free consultation.  

5 Ways to Make Your Brand Stand Out

The way you brand your business can help you stand out amongst competitors.  Here are 5 simple pointers to help you get things off the ground.

1)  Develop a Brand Story:  Turn the values of your business into a story so that you will have something to hook clients, welcome newcomers, and use in marketing.

2)  Create a Memorable Logo:  Logos are key in visual representation and advertising for your business.  Iconic logos need no explanation.

3)  Pick Primary and Secondary Colors:  Using these colors can help in visually standardizing company products while fostering familiarity through advertising.  

4)  Start a Themed Campaign:  Choose socially responsible topics that directly relate to the core of your business.  Be creative with the execution!

5)  Establish an Online Presence:  The fastest way to build up your brand in the modern marketplace is through intensive use of online platforms that can significantly extend your outreach and amplify your key messages.

Click HERE for the full article.

If you or your company is looking for a business coach or consultant, contact me at mkr@mariekrusso.com for a free consultation.  

The Mandala

The word "mandala" means circle.  Mandalas represent wholeness and connectedness between the soul and the universe.  They symbolize infinite life and spiritual health.  They are used in meditation for the purpose of becoming one with the universe.  When meditating on a mandala, the visual appeal of the design is thought to clear the mind and elevate the consciousness, enabling one in the moment to obtain inner peace and internal awareness.  

Coloring a mandala is soothing and promotes relaxation of the body and the mind.  Sometimes, people create mandalas that symbolize their life path or a significant experience they had.  

If you are interested in learning more about mandalic meditation, check out my UPCOMING EVENT or email me at mkr@mariekrusso.com to set up a free consultation!

Ancient Recipes: Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This recipe was created over 900 years ago by the first ever recorded naturopath, Hildegard of Bingen, who believed in a simple eating regiment to good health.  

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups spelt flour
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Mix butter, brown sugar, flower, and cinnamon together with fork until crumbly.  Take out one cup of mixture for crumb topping.  Then mix together the egg, baking soda, and buttermilk.  Add this to the dry mixture and put in a greased 9 x 15 inch pan.  Sprinkle a little additional brown sugar over the dough before adding the reserved crumb topping.  Bake at 400 degreed for 20 minutes or until done.  

For more information on this recipe and other ancient recipes, check out this resource! 

Attitude is Everything!

Believe it or not, attitude is directly related to the quality of your life.  If you have a positive attitude and choose to look at the bright side of things, you will feel happier and lead a more meaningful, energized life.

When you are able to master your attitude, you will bounce back quicker from the struggles life throws your way and they will not have as strong of a negative impact.  Your thoughts are your reality, and when you are aware of your situation and choose to see the positive, you will avoid being consumed with your problems.

Learn to see the good out of every situation, look for the lesson in every mistake and learn from it!  Once you master your attitude, you will feel more in control of your life.  Keep your head up and remember: the grass is greener where you water it!

If you or a friend is struggling with a difficult situation email mkr@mariekrusso.com for tips on how to be the master of your own destiny and to set up a free consultation!

Tips for Success in Both Life and Business

Here is a list of tips for success that you can apply to both your personal life and your professional life:

1.  Add Value: Whether it means increasing cost to meet higher demand, or paying closer attention to your personal relationships.  

2.   Follow Your Passion:  In both life and business, if you aren't doing what you love, you are missing out on so much happiness! 

3.  Be Extraordinary:  Always do your very best, push yourself to reach your goals and give your all every day!  You will get noticed and achieve more success. 

4.   Start Now:  There is no better time to start something than now!  You may never feel 100% ready to embark on a new journey, so now is as good a time as any!

5.  Hunt for Good Mentors:  People with a lot of experience (in life or business) are so great to learn from.  They will teach you things that only come with experience, and they will help you to prepare for what's to come.  

6.  Build a Support Group:  It is always great to have people in your corner, whether it be experienced mentors, new coworkers, or family members!

7.  Personally Know Your Finances:  It is very important to be on top of your finances so that you don't overspend.  It is always good to have at least 6 months salary in your savings in case of an emergency.  

8.  Get Help:  No one can do everything alone.  You will stumble, you will bite off more than you can chew.  It is so important to be able to recognize when you need help, and then to ask for it when you need it!  

9.  Learn Sales:  The art of sales is simply persuasion.  Persuasion skills help in all areas of life, whether it be interviewing for a new position, or even dating! 

10.  Be Resilient:  NEVER GIVE UP!  Things will be hard at times, but you will get through them!  Remember to ask for help when you need it, and no matter what, always do your best!  

See the full article HERE!

If you or a friend is seeking a business management consultant or business counseling, contact me at mkr@mariekrusso.com to set up a free consultation.  

Exercise the Body, Mind, and Spirit!

Yoga is one of the best ways to improve the health of your whole being.  Research shows that it stimulates the production of oxytocin and increases serotonin levels.  This results in an emotional health boost because these are the hormones that correlate with love and happiness!  Medical studies have also found that yoga is an effective treatment for chronic pain and that it reduces the risk of heart disease.  Yoga also increases flexibility, strength and muscle tone, which leads to improved athletic performance.

Yoga is a great way to improve health and foster self-discovery, no matter your current athletic ability.

If you are interested in incorporating yoga into your life, contact me at mkr@mariekrusso.com and I will help you create a plan that works for you!

Ancient Recipes: Cookies of Joy

This recipe was created over 900 years ago by the first ever recorded naturopath, Hildegard of Bingen, who believed in a simple eating regiment to good health.  She believed these cookies should be eaten often to increase positivity and to maintain a joyful spirit.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup butter
• 4 egg yolks
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup honey
• 2 ½ cups spelt flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cloves

Directions:

Melt the butter under low heat and add the sugar, honey, and egg yolks, beating lightly; then gently combine and add the dry ingredients. 

Refrigerate the dough for an hour and then roll out onto a floured surface.  Cut with a cookie cutter or roll dough into walnut sized balls on a baking sheet.  

Bake cookies for 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden.  

For more information on this recipe and other ancient recipes, check out this resource! 

Being Present

Often times we worry so much about the future.  We get caught up in the "what if's," creating scenarios in our heads imagining the worst possible outcomes.  We worry about our jobs, our families, money, errands, and countless other little things.  In reality, worrying doesn't change anything; it only makes us feel upset and anxious.

When we focus on being present, it allows us to attend fully to the things that are going on right now. Work at letting go of unnecessary worry and stress for the future.  Meditate to allow yourself become more aware of your present mind.  Enjoy the little things and laugh at every opportunity!

If you or a friend needs support contact mkr@mariekrusso.com to set up a free consultation.

Mastering Your Mindset

Often times, we get stuck on a path of unconsciously focusing on the negative.  It is easy to get caught up in the chaos of life and to overthink everything that isn't going quite right.  In order to change your mindset you need to upgrade your thinking habits.  Focus on your goals and aspirations and continuously feed your mind with healthy messages and thoughts.  

A positive, strong mindset is essential to maintaining happiness and achieving success.  Once you are able to master your mindset, you will have more control over your life.  You will become more motivated and productive, and you will be better equipped to accept challenges and face your fears.  

“Mindset change is not about picking up a few pointers here and there.  It's about seeing things in a new way.  When people change to a growth mindset, they change from a judge-and-be-judged framework to a learn-and-help-learn framework.  Their commitment is to growth, and growth takes plenty of time, effort, and mutual support.” 
― Carol S. Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

If you are looking for support in changing your mindset to achieve greater success, contact me at mkr@mariekrusso.com to set up a free consultation.