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Anxiety, stress, and depression drive thousands of people to take powerful medications that all too often come with serious unwanted health risks. Now many people are looking to alternative natural remedies to avoid adverse side effects. But can something as gentle as your sense of smell match the potency of modern medicine?

Is it possible to sniff yourself into a happier life? Can particular scents comfort and calm you? Are certain aromas capable of decreasing depression, reducing emotional pain, or easing away stress?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Smell plays an important role in mental and physical health, emotion, and relationships.

In general we don’t think to much about our sense of smell. It’s something that is taken for granted. In fact, when people are asked which of their five senses they would be prepared to do without if necessary, smell most often comes out at the top of that list.

While we may not pay much attention to our sense of smell, it is the sense most closely tied to mental health and happiness. Smell brings richness and depth to life, increasing the quality every moment.

Your sense of smell serves and uplifts by:

• Warning you of danger
• Triggering memories
• Providing comfort and relaxation
• Providing about 75 percent of your ability to taste
• Bringing feelings of security and well-being
• Reducing stress and promoting relaxation
• Altering and influencing moods and behavior

Helen Keller stated, “Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.”

How to Use Smell to Improve the Quality of Life

Smells really can help reduce your stress and melt tension away. To start enjoying the benefits of smell therapy, try one of these easy tips.

Frankincense Incense

For thousands of years, burning incense has been used in religious ceremonies across the world to bring harmony and peace to the mind, body, and soul. Now, researchers (ScienceDaily May, 2008) suggest that burning frankincense can act on the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. Frankincense comes from the sap of the Boswellia tree and is available in incense form at many whole food stores and online shops.

Stop And Smell The Roses

Soothe Your Senses With Lavender

 The fragrant oil in lavender’s small, blue-violet flowers is often used in baths to help purify the body and spirit. It is also considered a natural remedy for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and stress. Aromatherapy with lavender produces calming, soothing, and sedative effects. When you’re needing to relax and slow down the activity of your nervous system, lavender aromatherapy baths, lavender infused lotions, or massage with lavender oils may result in reduced anxiety and improved relaxation.

Invigorating Rosemary

Need an invigorating boost to uplift your mood? Try smelling the fresh scent of rosemary. Rosemary is derived from an evergreen shrub and emits a fresh, camphor-like scent that can stimulate the brain, improve mental clarity and alertness, and lift mood. In aromatherapy, rosemary oil can be used in burners, potpouri, or in sachets. For a natural Green Earth, hands on approach, grow rosemary in your garden and pluck a fresh twig whenever you need a boost.

Plain Vanilla

Vanilla has also found widespread use in aromatherapy, for being soothing to the nervous system and mind  In a study conducted at Manhattan’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the scent of heliotropin, a sweet vanilla-like scent, was shown to help reduce stress due to claustrophobia 63% during MRI scans.

Scents, fragrances, and aromatherapy alone will not cure your sickness, conquer depression, or make your insomnia miraculously vanish. However, there is a wealth of research published in scientific journals to show that when you’re depressed, feeling stressed, anxious, of fighting the blues, increasing your olfactory pleasure can strongly and quickly lift your mood, you’re your pain, and help reduce stress levels. Take action on any or all of these tips and help lift your mood today.  

Let us know about your favorite aromatherapy suggestions. We’d love to hear from you!

About the Author: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Dr. Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.

How to Feel Proud and Self-Trusting as You Embrace Your Dreams and Achieve Your Goals

“The way to develop confidence is to do the thing you fear.” ~William Jennings Bryan

I understand how easy it can be to get frustrated when we move forward on our dreams and goals. Because no matter how exciting everything seems at the beginning of new adventure… things take as long as they take, exacerbating obstacles arise, and aggravating challenges happen. Sometimes it seems as if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong.

With all this going on, it’s not uncommon to become impatient before achieving success, and wanting to give up just a moment too soon. Who hasn’t felt self-doubt and stress when things just don’t seem to be coming together?

Self-confidence can often be at a low-low place when we are in the midst of making important changes. The question becomes how you learn to trust yourself to continue moving forward even when things aren’t going as effortlessly as anticipated? Below are four powerful ways to regain confidence when it looks like you’ve almost lost it altogether.

Breathe and Release Stress Levels
Stress = self-doubt. It’s a myth that stress or worry is the best way to move through difficult situations. Stress happens when we believe that we do not have the time, experiences, or resources to deal with a challenge or situation. Feeling pressured and anxious about a perceived unsolvable or impossible situation, our bodies release adrenaline and gear up for a fight or flight response to handle the immediate danger. Stress equal self-doubt because it takes you into an internal perception that your only two alternatives are to fight the problem or run away from it.

Taking a few minutes of alone time to breathe and calm down helps bring new perspective that while the situation at hand may be undesirable, it is not a life or death situation. With relaxation comes a new ability to be at ease with yourself. And with ease comes the ability to tap into inner resources, grasp valuable insights, and find new innovative, creative solutions.

Be With Your Own Feelings
Taking time alone creates space to relax, clear out the world, and be with no one else’s feelings but your own. By stepping away from all the outside noise and busyness, you allow new opportunity to clear confusion and sort out your emotions and feelings. Once your head is clear, you can simply take a deep breath, and ask, “What is it I need to know about this situation?” or, “What will move me one step closer to what I most want?” Then be willing to trust that yourself and open to receiving the quiet guidance of your own creative spirit.

Open to New Possibilities
Your goal or pursuit may currently be wildly frustrating, but remember that your dream is important. Just because you’ve hit a few snags doesn’t mean it’s time to throw in the towel. To bring back your enthusiasm and confidence, try this experiment. When something is troubling you, just sit with it. Don’t do anything to logically fix or solve the problem. Instead, just sit, place your intention on allowing the best possible outcome, and breathe. Momentarily step away from the negative thoughts circling with frenzy within your head. Welcome your creative self to offer new insights and potential solutions to your situation. Your job is to stop fretting and stressing with the problem, and instead place your focus on being open to amazing new possibilities. Insights and creative solutions may not be apparent in the exact moment. Instead, be receptive and open for creativity to show itself however it wants and whenever it’s ready.

Slow Down and Soften Up
Confidence increases as we realize our ability to be inventive and full of resourcefulness. By tapping into our inner creativity, we can become aware of solutions we hadn’t considered before. When you have a challenge or an issue you want resolved, learn to slow down and let down your defenses. Relax, let go of your stress, and breathe. Slowing down and softening your body allows your creative insight to make new connections, see things from a new perspective, and notice things you hadn’t noticed before.

Of course, we all want to know the exact route to reach our destination, and plan things perfectly so we move forward with no unexpected surprises. But odds are that every worthwhile journey leads down some major unexpected side roads. We may even get lost along the way.

Confidence is not about leaving point A and arriving at point Z in perfect, non-eventful fashion. Instead, confidence is discovering that you can trust yourself. You do know the general direction you are heading toward. You do when you are off course. And you can trust yourself to allow your imagination and positive actions to point yourself back in the right direction. Follow the four steps above and watch your confidence grow as you regain trust in your own ability to step forward - one step at a time - into your dream.

Want to awaken new self-confidence and gain more self-trust? Check out the NEW Audio CD Confidence To Love Your Life by Dr. Annette Colby to learn how to be more confident and start living the dream life you’ve always wanted. www.AnnetteColby.com

Being alone in life is one of those experiences – if we can survive – that can bring us into the core of our very being, knowing and loving ourselves better than we ever have before.

After experiencing divorce several years ago, I found myself living alone for the first time in over 20 years. Quite to my surprise, it was astonishing how difficult this transitional period was. My mind told me that this was a new beginning, a renewal, and a time to recreate my life. However, my heart was not yet rejoicing at the prospect of starting a new life.

Everyday opened a Pandora’s box of moods including guilt, relief, fear, sharp emptiness, loneliness, boredom, and depression. After all the hard work of ending a marriage, I was unprepared for the equally hard work of gaining a renewed and redefined sense of who I was, what I enjoyed, and what I was capable of doing.

A Warm Body Is Not the Answer

After what seemed a “reasonable” amount of time, I logically decided it was time to begin dating again. It seemed a good idea. (Yeah, I’m amused now at my retrospective insight.) I reasoned that with another person in the picture, the fear, sadness, and loneliness would disappear. However, as we all know, grabbing onto the first warm body that comes along is nothing more than a temporary band-aid solution at best. After a few comically odd dates, and several ill-fated relationships, I came to my own conclusion that happiness is not found in another person.

Epiphany! It was time to take charge of my relationships – and my first priority was to regain trust and peace within myself. No emotional involvements with another person before reaching a clear center within myself. I made a decision to be alone until I had fully adapted to my new situation with renewed self-confidence. I would find a way to come into acceptance and harmony of who I was as an “alone” person.

Coping With Loneliness

My time alone wasn’t all smooth sailing. I felt everything most divorced people feel – a new lack of self-confidence, an uncertain view of my life’s choices, and an emotional and physical exhaustion beyond description. Who was I, where was I going with my life, did I even care to move forward?

I cried often and expressed my feelings in a journal. Mostly, I couldn’t find any meaningful, creative activity in which I felt alive. Not knowing what else to do with myself, I took many long lonely walks. In the mornings, I would rise before the dawn and sit with the rising sun. In the evenings, I would take myself for extended walks through the various parks and trees. At night, I would sit alone in my favorite secluded spot by a creek where no one would see me.

Those times were agonizingly lonely. Yet, as I reflect, this was an important time to allow the hopelessness and loneliness to fall away before I could begin living again with joy passion and purpose.

The Beauty of Life

Despite the sharp loneliness, there was such exquisite beauty in the air, in the stillness, in the water, and in the Earth herself. Being alone, quiet, and outside for so long allowed a secret peek into the often hidden side of life.

One evening as the sun left the sky, I found myself sitting silently on the bank of a creek. Quite suddenly, two bright green parakeets caught my eye. I felt elated, like a two-year old seeing something new and amazing for the very first time. These two parakeets were obviously either released or escaped after being pets. Yet here they were, miles away from the comfort and safety of their caged homes, living out in the wild. They were alive, colorful, noisy, and happy. Somehow, they had not only survived the outdoor city life, but they had also thrived and found happiness. If tropical parrots could somehow survive life, then surely I could find my way also.

On yet another long summer evening, a full-sized Texas storm began to gather. It was one of those rare intense tornado-potential storms, oppressive and looming, pregnant and imminent, foreboding with heavy impending doom. Irresistible and inviting, I ran out to sit sheltered beneath a clump of old trees lining a creek.

My mind could hear the warnings of parents and sensible people, but my soul promised to keep me safe. Clutching my sweater tightly to keep myself warm and loved, breathing in deep gasps of moisture-laden wind, I sat beneath ominous green clouds. Wind howled and the lightening crashed overhead.

In the midst of this wicked storm, my agony unleashed itself. Grief and suffering erupted from my body and I thought my agony would never end. And then, at my very lowest point, a giant owl swooped from the sky, landing heavily on a tree branch two feet above my head. Our eyes met, for one brief glance. In that moment, in the middle of a dangerous storm, with an owl perched above my head, I knew I was safe. I knew I was going to be okay. My life began once again.

Author Resource: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.

Motivation is a mysterious process. It involves the ability to link a desire to begin a new adventure with the energy needed to take the first step. Then it involves the ability to keep the flames of determination kindled throughout the entire journey.

Maintaining motivation doesn’t mean that every moment of the journey from start to finish is exciting. It’s common to find yourself…

• Lacking motivation to continue forward with your goal
• Bored with the everyday responsibilities required to achieve success
• Tired and dulled by the unanticipated length of time it is taking to achieve your goal
• Sluggish, uninspired, and overwhelmed to complete the job

How do you regain that inner spark to continue moving forward even when the required tasks are difficult, tedious, or tiresome?

Below are four practical strategies to overcome feeling lethargic, bored stiff, or distracted and regain the necessary motivational juice needed to focus on achieving success.

1. Take Ten

Feeling tired and unmotivated? Give yourself a ten-minute energy break by moving your body. Light exercise fights fatigue and boosts energy. Often, when we’re feeling lethargic, exercise is the last thing we want to do. But if you’ve been inactive, sitting all day, or solely focused on your goal, a little activity will provide renewed spark. Movement will enhance your blood flow, bringing more oxygen to your body which will increase your energy. Exercise also enhances the endorphins that make you feel great and help you relieve stress. Next time you’re feeling sluggishly unmotivated, go for a brisk walk in the fresh air, get on your treadmill, or just do some jumping jacks. Often, a little bit of movement can leave you revived, refreshed, and ready to refocus on your most important goals.

2. The Reward System

What enhances motivation? Being able to focus on success and acknowledge success leads to more success. Make sure to acknowledge and reward all your positive behaviors and efforts soon after you notice them. Without recognition and reward, it is easy to become frustrated and even cynical about your ability to effectively reach your goal. Find rewards that ignite an inner sense of satisfaction, enthusiasm, competence, and empowerment. Then use that positive energy to keep going!

3. Surround yourself with Support

Motivation comes from within – but often books, tapes, CD’s, and accomplished people can help uncover factors that are holding you back. When you’re feeling bored and uninspired, the right message at the right time can help boost your motivation momentum. However, don’t spend all your time learning. As soon as you notice your motivational energy is flowing again, shift your attention back to your goal and take the right action for the amount of energy that is present.

4. Manage Stress

It’s a common myth that fear is a great motivator. While it is true worry, self-criticism, yelling at yourself, or pushing yourself to succeed can get you started on your journey, it is also true that fear is only useful in the short term. Over the long haul, those behaviors generate stress. Stress creates confusion, a feeling of a lack of control, a loss of focus, and feelings of overwhelm. Excess stress exhausts your mind and body, and it’s difficult to have high levels of motivation if you’re exhausted. The bottom line – stress works against motivation. To beat stress get enough rest, drink plenty of water all day long, take breathing breaks, and get some physical activity.

If your goals have turned dull and monotonous, used these four powerful strategies to regain your motivation. Once your motivation is fired up again, you’ll have renewed drive to complete your project!

Author Resource: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.

What a grand day to be on Earth being human! If you sit and listen quietly, you can hear the beauty that is all around you – in the air, in the rain or sunshine, in the land itself. In this moment of stillness, you can also hear your divinity – the joy of who you really are.

Take a pause now and celebrate life and your being alive. What’s that you say? You’re feeling overwhelmed with stress and worry? You’re creativity is plugged up and your dreams are buried?

Not to worry. It’s easy to get your joyful energy flowing again by taking a moment to stop and breathe. Just fill your nostrils with an easy, slow, deep breath of sweet air. Let it flow deep into your belly and open up your lungs. Hold for a moment. Then slowly release through your mouth. Repeat until the stress begins to melt away and your head begins to clear. Feel yourself more peaceful and calm.

Breathing brings you back into the present moment. Once you’re in the here and now, it’s easy to connect with your heart, make new decisions about what is important to you, and decide to take action on activities and ideas that enlarge your joy.

Take time out every day to sit alone quietly and breathe, even if it’s only for one minute. It helps you to focus on how you’re feeling at the moment. If something is off, you can refocus your creative energy before the problem becomes too big.

When choices are made from the heart and when your creative energy is allowed to flow, that is when you feel the grand celebration of your life.

Author Resource: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.