Being Independent

What Owns You?
When you live below your means, you can build your Nest Egg for Freedom. Here are three principles to keep in mind.
When you agree to make payments, your new possession becomes a member of the family. You gain satisfaction -- but you also limit your future options. I know people who insist a dog or cat is too much responsibility, while they blithely sign on the dotted line for jeeps, pick-ups, boats and custom furniture.
When you enjoy your career and your life, you usually spend less. Many of my friends and neighbors have embarked on second careers as artists or writers. And many of us stopped our cable television service because we are too busy living our real lives to watch shadowy figures on a screen. Shopping is no longer a recreation. Who has time or motivation? We're fulfilled by our work and our life.
What Owns You?

Deciding For Abundance
You're facing a tough decision. Leave a comfortable career, where money falls effortlessly into your savings account. Maybe you buy a new car every two years, enjoy a splurge-filled vacation each year, or give generously to your favorite charities.
Your abundance symbols often hold the key to your successful career change. You may find that your symbols cost almost nothing -- or cost a great deal. Once you've identified your own symbols, you will most likely find that you can make a more enlightened decision, leading to a successful and fulfilling new career.
Deciding For Abundance

Seven Tips For Moving Without A Job
Do you have fantasies of moving to a new part of the country or even the world? Want to quit your job and start over? Hold on tight to your chair. Force yourself to stay seated until you have an action plan, preferably in writing. Here are seven tips to get started.
Seven Tips For Moving Without A Job

It's Ok to ...
It's Ok to say no. Nobody wants to be around a crabby Yes-sayer, anyway. If you say Yes when you want to say No, you will find yourself unhappily going through the motions of life, giving control of your time, energy and spirit to anyone who asks for it. Free yourself by learning to quietly assert your boundaries.
It's Ok to ...

Reasons To Say "NO"
This month I said, "NO, I'm not going to write a feature article this month, I want to work on my book instead." As soon as I said that, I realized that there might be some learning (AND an article!) in that decision. Here are the top 10 reasons to say "NO," in service of your creativity and self-care.
Reasons To Say "NO"

What To Do If Your Boss Asks You
To Do Something Unethical or Illegal
Recommended Book from Amazon

Controlling People: How to Recognize, Understand, and Deal With People Who Try to Control You
By
Patricia Evans
You're the new secretary and your boss asks you to become a Notary Public. He then walks back into his office and you can hear him on the phone talking about a contract he wants out of, and the fact that he's going to falsify a date and signature -- "No problem, my secretary will do it."
It happened to me, has it happened to you? Here are some steps you can take.
1. Think beforehand about what you would do if this happened so you can think rationally when and if it should occur.
Emotions will come into play when and if it does that may confuse the issue for you. Intimidation, fear of losing your job, confusion about just what is ethical and what isn't, fear of authority, anger if you refuse to do it, trying to rationalize to justify your boss as a good person, wishing to avoid conflict.
What To Do If Your Boss Asks You
To Do Something Unethical or Illegal

Trust In The Moment, And Trust In Yourself
You ARE capable. Give yourself the opportunity to excel by trusting in the moment and trusting in yourself. Wait calmly, and you will find that the necessary answers appear before you. Little by little ... with lots of practice ... and endless patience. Only move when the moment is right. Breathe deeply and begin at the beginning.
Trust In The Moment, And Trust In Yourself

March to the Beat of Your Own Drum!
Each of strives to honor our optimum rhythm, or pace for life, because we know it brings greater joy and more success. How do you stay in sync with your own inner pace for life? A pace that energizes, rather than drains you? It may be time to strengthen the beat of your inner drum, heard faintly in the background of phone calls, e-mails, meetings, sales pitches, reports, websites, workshops, house chores, social events, and family.
March to the Beat of Your Own Drum!

Anger Means Your Power is On!
When you feel lost and confused, it is easy to give your power to anyone who appears on your doorstep -- a coach, a counselor, even a good friend or relative. People in transition, who are seeking direction, are especially vulnerable to anyone who offers help. The US government has developed programs to protect newly-bereaved citizens who are vulnerable to claims from funeral services.
But if you have let your intuition lie dormant or you have responded passively to events around you, anger is a sign that you are getting your power back. You are turning on the juice. Your intuition is beginning to overpower the wet blankets, the poison darts, and the well-meaning-but-misguided mentors. Recognize, welcome and manage your anger. You are almost certainly ready to take action and experience your own power once again.
Anger Means Your Power is On!

Owning Your Power
Owning your power, your power to be real, to be who you really are, is really about owning your freedom. Consider how your reasons for not being yourself may have been to get the love or approval of others. Then, you have given others the power to decide your way of being, and thus keeping yourself from being free. In many ways, you have been giving away your power/freedom by your ways of speaking and thinking, and being.
Owning Your Power
