How to Step Up and Stand Out with Confidence, Courage and Creativity

Georgia Varjas is the bestselling author of “The Rule Breakers Guide To Step Up & Stand Out” and “Rule It! How To Step Up & Stand Out”.

In our recent interview, she divulges how she developed her 3 C’s – Confidence, Courage and Creativity during her career in showbiz and how you can use them in your life.

How to Step Up and Stand Out Georgia-Varjas-Style

How to Step Up and Stand Out with Courage Confidence Creativity

Georgia:  I think my experiences in showbiz, but particularly in the music business gave me these three very powerful words, which I write about and speak about and are in my books:

  1. Confidence
  2. Courage
  3. Creativity 

I call them the three big C’s. 

Being in the music business, you had to be confident. You’re going to go up on stage and you’re going to play from your heart sometimes from memory, but mostly improvised. 

So you had to have confidence. You had to have courage and you had to be creative with it. 

And so there were very big lessons in life, not just doing my art, my music, but also communicating with people in show business in the music business. Cause it was tough as a woman.  It was very much part of my life to develop these wonderful three big C’s as my skills.

Lauren Kinghorn: Would you like to give us three tips that you would give a young fempreneur, woman entrepreneur, who is just starting out, how to step up and really shine.

Georgia Varjas:  I think one of the most important things is to recognize that we have two fabulous communication tools available our voice and our pen.

Georgia Varjas is the bestselling author of The Rule Breakers Guide To Step Up & Stand Out. In this interview, she gives 3 best tips on how to step up and stand out. #howto #stepup #standout #interview I encourage young women to develop that confidence, the courage and the creativity to use their voice and their pen to:

  • spread their message
  • their point of view
  • their expertise
  • their experience
  • their wisdom
  • their knowledge

Use these powerful tools and learn to redefine confidence for yourself.

Because for women, it is quite different, especially courage. Courage is not about Spider-Man and firemen. It’s about how we as women define our own type of bravery. It’s not about saving lives. It’s a very special thing. And I think women need to really redefine that.

Creativity, yes, we are very creative but we can also think creatively and that is a powerful message for young women.

I think the second tip I would offer is about decision-making. We’re not really taught or encouraged to make big decisions in our life. We make little ones like what we should wear and what we should drink and which road and bus to take.

But the big decisions in life, we often hesitate and turn to other people for expert advice. When we know if we tuned into ourselves and learned to make good decisions for ourselves, had more self-confidence, courage, and creativity, we would make better decisions and stronger decisions and recognize that we have the ability to do that.

And the third thing is very much about self-belief and self-love and bigging yourself up. 

Some cultures frown upon boasting and showing off when you’re talking about yourself, but self-love and self-belief are crucial.

Nature does it all the time, she shows her most beautiful colours. Why shouldn’t we?

And when you’re selling something, you’re going to sell it in its most beautiful and perfect condition. So why shouldn’t we be showing and sharing our talents and skills in the most positive way? 

So confidence, courage, creativity.

You can find the rest of this interview over on Fempreneurs Unite

And more below…

Lauren: What do you do for a living? 

Georgia: I am a Book Writing Coach

Lauren: What is your zone of genius?

Georgia: Helping my clients see their genius and the bigger picture.  My USP is I have experience in many genres.

Lauren: How did you come up with the idea?

Georgia: It was staring me in the face! 

I have been writing plays, poems, short stories, scripts for speakers MC’s and myself and of course, I have published 4 books and contributed to 6 anthologies.

Lauren: What has been the number one highlight of your career? 

Georgia:  So many. 

As a creative person, I have moved from writing and producing plays to spending many years as a professional saxophone player and as a  Spoken Word artist.

I loved the music business, I loved my Spoken Word career and now watching writers turn into satisfied and fulfilled authors is just as exhilarating for me.

Lauren: What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome in your career?

Georgia:  The glass ceiling

&

Lauren: Do you have any daily rituals to maintain a work-life balance?

Georgia:  I can’t sit for too long. I have to get up and move my energy.

Either I walk around the garden and snip a few plants, or do some stretches, lunges or downward dogs…dance a little and even do a household chore.

Lauren: Do you have a message you would like the world to hear?

Georgia:  Several! Our voice and our pen are our 2 most powerful tools of communication. Grab your confidence, courage and creativity and use them.

Lauren: Is there a book that has had huge significance or meaning in your life?

Georgia:  I re-read and dip into Danielle LaPorte White Hot Truth 

Because she is discerning and not judgemental, she has humour and experience and shares generously. She talks about the paradoxes of wisdom and I wrote about them a lot myself in my books. Use And instead of But.

She says…Don’t just get what you want, BE what you want.

I like that!

Lauren: What advice would you give someone just starting out as an entrepreneur? 

Georgia Varjas is the bestselling author of The Rule Breakers Guide To Step Up & Stand Out. In this interview, she gives 3 fab tips on how to step up and stand out.Georgia:  Keep learning and listening and turn all your mistakes into future fun stories.

Lauren: Is there anything you wish you knew when you started out as an entrepreneur?

Georgia: Not to be scared of tech stuff!!!

Lauren: What have you gained by becoming an entrepreneur?

Georgia:  I realise that the more I learn, the more I have to learn and that gives me the energy to grow.

And, I believe it is super important for women to be financially independent.

Lauren: Who has been enormously helpful to you? 

Georgia: My VA!

Honestly, all the amazing things she does behind the scenes for me!

I have always loved working in a team, so first credit goes to all team members paid and unpaid.

And people often come into your life just at the time you need more guidance or knowledge.

Lauren: Do you have mentors in business?

Georgia: With all the member groups and networking events online, I have been involved in I have come across some wonderful brainstorming sessions…these people, mostly women are my real mentors.

Lauren: Are there any courses or studies you feel have been essential to your success? 

Georgia:  Having first hand and recent experience as a writer and author has given me essential professional knowledge and wisdom for teaching and training new authors.

Also, the Women’s Writers Circle, which is a group program I run for women writing their first book.

It is absolutely inspirational to me, not just how they support each other but how they offer their best wisdom to each other too! 

Book a Virtual Seat on Georgia’s Women’s Writers Circle

Work with Georgia Varjas

Lauren:  If there was any way I could help you, what it would it be? 

Georgia:  I think you already are Lauren.

When we give generously and share our platforms with each other, you never know who is going to benefit from hearing or reading what you offer.

Lauren: Who is your target market? If I were to give you a referral, who would I be looking for? 

Georgia:  Women (or men)  with a message to share, with expertise, experience and wisdom that could really make a difference to someone else’s life.

And of course a few good stories.

How to Step Up and Stand Out – Working with Georgia Varjas

Georgia has two Coaching packages available for those who are ready to write their books.

    1. The Premium Package, a 12-week one-on-one book writing program
    2. The Women’s Writers Circle- an 8-week group program.

Visit Georgia’s Website

https://georgiavarjas.com/

Follow Georgia

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If you’re ready to write your book, schedule a free book planning call with Georgia.

Schedule a Call with Georgia

Enjoyed this interview? 

Check out our previous featured digital entrepreneur, Elizabeth Batalla and Learn How to Level Up Fast

77 Inspirational Quotes for Healthcare Workers (with Slideshow)

These 77 inspirational quotes for healthcare workers are dedicated to all healthcare workers, those brave souls who lay their own lives on the line every day for their patients.  (Scroll to the end for a slideshow presentation of all the quotes.)

I’m thinking of those who tend to our physical wellbeing as well as those who help us cope mentally and emotionally with the confusion, fear, anxiety, overwhelm, sadness and grief we are facing due to a pandemic of this magnitude.

These inspiring quotes are also a tribute to all those who work behind the scenes in the healthcare industry, ensuring that our systems work and our services are delivered on time and all those working for the greater good.

These motivational quotes are also for the thought leaders, spiritual leaders, politicians, authors, poets, actors, musicians, comedians, inspirational speakers and healers who help ease our fears and keep us positive during this crazy, awful, emotional period in history.

We salute you. We honour you. We thank you for your service to humanity.

Inspirational Quotes by HealthCare Workers

Inspirational Quotes by Healthcare Workers

Hippocrates

Greek Physician Famous for the Hippocratic Oath

Make a habit of two things: to help, or at least to do no harm.

Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.

Marie Curie

Nobel Prize‑winning Chemist

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

I am one of those who think like Nobel, that humanity will draw more good than evil from new discoveries.

Donald Berwick

Former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

I think health care is more about love than most other things. 

If there isn’t at the core of these two human beings who have agreed to be in a relationship where one is trying to help relieve the suffering of another, which is love, you can’t get to the right answer here.

William J. Mayo

Physician and one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic

The aim of medicine is to prevent disease and prolong life; the ideal of medicine is to eliminate the need of a physician.

Ewa Kopacz

Polish Prime Minister and Minister of Health 

I am a doctor— it’s a profession that may be considered a special mission, a devotion. It calls for involvement, respect, and willingness to help all other people.

Maxim Gorin

Founder of MGME Consulting and Co-Founder of LifeLine Ambulance

A great team isn’t defined only by its leader… a great team must have the ability to meet any challenge that comes it’s way. By collaborating, we can bounce ideas off one another and see what is most likely to make sense in the real world.

Abraham Verghese

Medical Doctor

In an emergency, what treatment is given by ear? Words of Comfort.

William Osler

Physician

It is much more important to know what sort of patient has a disease than what sort of disease a patient has.

Giorgio Baglivi

Armenio‑Italian Physician and Scientist

Let the young know they will never find a more interesting, more instructive book than the patient himself.

Danielle Ofri

Physician

The awe of discovering the human body. The honour of being trusted to give advice. The gratitude for helping someone through a difficult illness. These things never grow old. 

Rawsi Williams

Nurse and Attorney at Law

To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through – that is what it is to be a nurse.

Inspirational Quotes for Healthcare Workers

Inspirational Quotes for Healthcare Workers

Vivek Murthy

American Physician and Surgeon General

Our health care workers are the heroes of the Covid-19 response.

Stephen Ambrose

American historian

It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly.

George Michael

Singer-Songwriter

Nurses, doctors, teachers: these are the people who deserve the credit these days.

Sara Moss-Wolfe

Author

Nurses: one of the few blessings of being ill.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bodybuilder, Actor and Politician

Teachers and nurses get the best seats in heaven.

Joseph Campbell

Author

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

Inspirational Quotes Thought Leaders

Inspirational Quotes by Thought Leaders

Albert Einstein

Physicist

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Marcel Proust

Illness is the most heeded of doctors: to goodness and wisdom we only make promises; pain we obey.

Margaret Mead

Anthropologist

Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.

Jeff Bezos

CEO Amazon

We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.

Helen Keller

Author and Disability Rights Activist

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.

Maya Angelou

Author and Poet

They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Poet

The first wealth is health.

Lewis Carol

Author

One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.

Anne Frank

Author

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world.

Inspirational Quotes by Spiritual Leaders

Inspirational Quotes by Spiritual Leaders

Mother Teresa

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. 

I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

Dalai Lama

In this beautiful interview, the 14th Dalai Lama expresses his gratitude to healthcare workers:

So, regarding this illness, noble doctors, nurses, are even willing to sacrifice their own life. I really appreciate. Wonderful.

Selfish, think just (about) yourself is narrow. Shortsighted. …So altruism is (the) ultimate source of happiness…Altruism, that really brings inner peace, inner strength.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Real compassion comes from seeing the suffering of others. You feel a sense of responsibility, and you want to do something for them.

There is one aspect to our experience of suffering that is of vital importance. When you are aware of your pain and suffering, it helps you to develop your capacity for empathy, the capacity that allows you to relate to other people’s feelings and suffering. This enhances your capacity for compassion towards others.

As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

Reverend Edward Everett Hale

Author, Historian and Clergyman

I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

Never bear more than one trouble at a time. Some people bear three kinds – all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.

Marianne Williamson

Author –  Excerpt from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ 

Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God. 

Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

 We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Buddhist Monk

Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos – the trees, the clouds, everything.

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.

People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom.

There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way.

Inspirational Quotes by World Leaders


Inspirational Quotes by World Leaders

Theodore Roosevelt

American President

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.

Mahatma Gandhi

Indian Lawyer and Politician

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.

Where there is love there is life.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.

Nelson Mandela

South African President

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.

There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.

Inspirational Quotes by Comedians

Inspirational Quotes by Comedians

I’ll close this post off with some humour because I’ve found that when I’m not feeling my best laughter truly heals.

Related: How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Enjoy these wise words by Hunter Doherty Adams, better known as Patch Adams.  You may remember the wonderful movie in his name, where Patch Adams was played by the late great Robin Williams.

Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams 

Physician, Comedian, Social Activist and Author

You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.

Remember laughing? Laughter enhances the blood flow to the body’s extremities and improves cardiovascular function.

Laughter boosts the immune system and helps the body fight off disease, cancer cells as well as viral, bacterial and other infections.

Laughter releases endorphins and other natural mood-elevating and pain-killing chemicals, improves the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to internal organs.

Please live a healthy life – medicine is an imperfect science.

Oh, and as a parting shot, here’s a final quote by Patch Adams that seems fitting right now – this one goes out to anyone waiting in a long queue to have their vaccination.

Waiting in line is a great opportunity to meet people, daydream, or play.

Inspirational Quotes – Healthcare Workers from Lauren Kinghorn

What is Electronic Waste Recycling and Why Do it?

A question on many people’s minds these days is what is electronic waste recycling and why do it?

What is Electronic Waste Recycling?

Electronics Recycling is the process of transforming e-waste and turning it into reusable materials. It is an essential activity that is beneficial to the environment and businesses.

We live in a world where users keep upgrading or changing their electronic devices and invest in faster and more effective products. This means more waste is produced that is not biodegradable.

Massive amounts of electronic appliances, phones and other electronic waste (e-waste) are ending up at landfills every day, despite most of them being recyclable.

E-waste involves anything that you can plug into an electrical outlet that you no longer have a use for. This includes refrigerators, cell phones, old televisions, lights, and even hearing devices.

Every electronics recycling effort at home or at the workplace makes a difference, and this is why.

5 Benefits of Electronic Recycling

Benefits of Electronic Recycling

1. Protecting The Environment

Electronics Recycling keeps an array of toxic materials out of the environment. Lighting such as lamps and fluorescent tubes contain harmful mercury that can seep into waterways when it is discarded at landfills.

However, when lighting equipment is recycled, the mercury is salvaged and safely utilized to produce products such as dental amalgam. The same applies to batteries, where cadmium, lead, and mercury is retrieved.

For instance, when you recycle a lead-acid battery, both the toxic lead-acid and the plastic casing is recycled, while the sulphuric acid inside is neutralised and transformed into sodium sulphate for making detergent and fertilizer.

Massive amounts of electronic waste (e-waste) are ending up at landfills every day, despite most of them being recyclable. Here's what needs to be done about it and why.2. Lowering Business Expenses

E-waste recycling is not just beneficial for the environment, but it could have a positive impact on your business finances too. Most governments are banning dumping or charging exorbitant prices for dumping. Your business can also benefit from non-tangible dividends by reducing future costs of non-renewable materials and uplifting staff morale and retention.

3. Supporting Non-Renewable Recycling

The ever-growing demand for electronics means an increased demand for metals and nonrenewable resources that must be mined and processed. But, electronic devices like appliances, cell phones and other e-waste can be salvaged and reused.

These resources include aluminium, gold, steel, and copper, not to mention the substantial amounts of plastic that can be used for making new products.

E-waste recycling means these materials can be re-used, providing more resources to manufacture your next TV or laptop.

4. Showing the World Your Business is Environmentally Friendly

Staff members increasingly prefer to work for companies that support the community and care about what happens to the environment.

Recycling is an easy and tangible way to show your business’s commitment to environmental and social values, and reinforcing these principles to your staff members.

More and more companies nowadays are playing their part by promoting green and sustainable practices.

5. It has Never Been This Easy to Recycle E-Waste

Recycling electronic waste doesn’t take a lot of effort but it reaps tremendous rewards. There are many places and waste companies that are more than willing to accept your old printers, TV’s, laptops, phones, or unwanted gadgets that you no longer have a use for.

Conclusion

I hope that this post has been useful and that it has convinced you to consider electronic waste recycling as a way to create a better world and doing your bit to save the planet. 

Related:  Sustainable Energy Facts You Need to Know

Top Ways to Empower Women in Business

Ways to Empower Women in Business

When you think of ways to empower women in business, it’s pretty hard not to think of the opposite, the people or circumstances that disempower women.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking of women as victims, sidelined or overlooked by men in power, marginalised, underpaid and more prone to hitting that glass ceiling.

Yet, if you’re a woman, empowering women starts with empowering yourself.

How to Empower Yourself

How to Empower Yourself

Empowering yourself starts with breaking out of that victim mentality and believing in yourself.

It’s not about the system, we know it’s broken, but we also know there are many, many women who rise to the top.

It’s not about them.  It was never about them.  It’s about you, who you are, what you want and what you’re prepared to do to achieve success.

When you believe in yourself, you will have the faith that opportunities will come your way and be ready for them when they do.

When you believe in yourself, you will get educated.  You will find a business mentor and accept their mentorship.

Related: Here’s Why Your Career Needs You to Keep on Learning

You will create a vision for your future, figure out your goals and put an action plan in place to achieve them.

You will commit to the hours and the weeks and the months it will take to see your vision become a reality.

And once you’re empowered and take on a leadership role in your business, you’re in the best place to empower other women.  Because empowered women empower women.

Now, YOU can become a business mentor. Now YOU can make a difference.

Why Focus on Women Empowerment in the Workplace?

The primary motivation to prioritize women empowerment in your business is, in many cases, varied organizations are often more successful. This is because women leverage many different perspectives, are innovative and offer deeper insights into their customers.

In our article below, we share 4 top ways to empower women in your business.

4 Top Ways to Empower Women in Your Business

Top Ways to Empower Women in Your Business

1. Connect Female Employees with Female Mentors

An efficient way of changing the way women think and provoking action is by introducing them to strong female role models within the industry and your company.

For instance, if a female employee is just starting her career, introducing her to more experienced female employees like entrepreneurs or women in leadership roles can be advantageous in assisting her with defining her career path.

A strong mentor-employee connection could also help with building trust among female workers in the company and their own ability to thrive in their profession.

This is especially true in a workplace that is predominantly male-dominated. Introducing them to women in senior roles can give them the confidence boost they need to work hard towards landing influential positions going forward.

Women leaders like Nancy Etz are all about giving women the tools to empower themselves by mentoring young women as well as by offering various scholarships.

2. Remind Female Employees They are Valuable

When you think of ways to empower women in business, it's pretty hard not to think of the opposite, the people or circumstances that disempower women. Read on. #howto #empowerwomen #waystoempowerwomen #empoweryourself #empoweredwomenempowerwomenWomen in workplaces that are mainly male-dominated often feel intimidated to voice their viewpoints, for fear of being dismissed or viewed as being too outspoken.

It is essential to remind women that their opinions matter and that they are valuable team members. There are various ways that your company can incorporate values.

The first step is bias awareness and training since you will not know what you are doing wrong until your actions are addressed head-on.

You can also promote a safer work environment where everyone feels confident to voice their concerns or challenges. Promote an open-door policy where female employees can turn for assistance.

3. Accommodate the Personal Needs of All Employees

Everyone has lives outside of the business. It is essential to encourage them to pursue their interest and needs, irrespective of their gender.

For instance, permit parents to knock off early when necessary, support an overall work-life balance of fellow employees, provide competitive parental leave, and be flexible wherever it is possible.

When employees flourish in their personal lives, they are more grateful to work for a company which in turn boosts productivity and loyalty. Don’t just encourage it, but be proactive about it. Organize family days and team-building exercises.

4. Vote for Female-Related Initiatives

It is essential to empower the women in your company by striving towards gender equality and enhancing the future of the work culture in your business.

Women are significantly under-represented in various sectors of the working environment. Hiring an equal gender workforce is a sure way to make a positive difference in your business, showing that both women and men employees are equal and valued team members.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed these 4 top ways to empower women in your business. I encourage you to start implementing them to create a better workplace for everyone.  Just remember to start with yourself.

This post was sponsored by Nancy Etz. All opinions are my own.

What’s Healthy Eating About… Really?

What’s Healthy Eating About?

The first time I started questioning whether I really knew what healthy eating was about, was almost 30 years ago. I moved to a small town in the Klein Karoo called Montagu and met the renowned fruitarian, Essie Honiball.

At the time, Essie was 67-years-old and the picture of health, a joyful, sociable lady with boundless energy. She would come down to the hot springs, where I worked, to swim with her friends.

Essie told me she felt and looked younger than she did in her 30’s when she was dying of TB (Tuberculosis). She firmly believed that switching to a diet almost exclusively of fruit, nuts, and seeds was what saved her.

Essie Honiball lived to the age of 89.  Here’s an interview with Essie at age 86.

What Do We Need to Eat?

In Biology and Home Economics class at school, I had been taught we all needed to consume a varied diet of meat, fish, starch (grains), dairy, vegetables, and fruit.

The lesson was clear. If you’re not eating a balanced diet consisting of all the recommended food groups, you won’t get all the nutrients you require for good health.

  1. Proteins
  2. Carbohydrates
  3. Fats
  4. Fibre
  5. Vitamins
  6. Minerals
  7. Antioxidants
  8. Water

Yet I discovered that for some people, it was possible to live on fruit alone.  This idea blew my 20-year-old mind.  I didn’t become a fruitarian myself, though I’m sure it must have encouraged me to eat more fruit.

I went through my own health challenges in my late 20’s and started tuning into what my body needed. I started juicing and doing fruit and veg cleanses. I discovered that my body functioned best on fresh fruit and veggies.

It was while I was cleansing and juicing that I felt my healthiest, my energy levels were always through the roof, I was slim, happy, sleeping well, and free from pain.

Yet, for years, I kept following the healthy eating guidelines we were taught at school.   Eat all 5 food groups, have everything in moderation, drink 8 glasses of water, sleep 8 hours a night.  I knew the drill.

That’s what I was taught at school and so I believed it was the truth.  But is it?

Related: Aligning All 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

What are We Designed to Eat?

On 9th September 2020, I made the switch to a wholefood plant-based diet.  My friend Mariana called me from Joburg for a catchup chat and encouraged me to look into it.

Mariana had been suffering from debilitating bouts of rheumatoid arthritis and found that she was able to virtually reverse her condition if she ate a plant-based diet. When she slipped back to eating normally, her symptoms would flare up again.

Mariana sent me some YouTube links to videos by Doctors who advocate a plant-based diet and I found the information so compelling, I decided to join Mariana in following a plant-based lifestyle.

One of the segments I found really interesting, was this. Humans are not designed to eat meat. We think we are because again, we were always taught at school that humans are omnivores, but it turns out we are not.  When you look into our physiology, it appears that we are actually natural herbivores, plant-eaters.

If you look at our jaw structure, we are not built to be carnivorous. We can’t kill an animal and tear it apart with our teeth.

Would we eat these piglets?And instinctually, we don’t want to.

If you saw a little rabbit or piglet with a broken leg on your path, what would you do?  For most people, our natural instinct would be to comfort and do what we can to save the wounded animal.

What would a dog or cat do in the same situation? Pounce!  And gobble it up. Because they are natural carnivores, meat-eaters and happy to prey on defenceless creatures.

The thing is, that by the time we see fresh meat in freezers at the grocery store, it’s been neatly chopped up, cleaned and packaged and we don’t think of it as a creature at all. We didn’t have to kill it ourselves so we don’t spare a thought for the life of the animal we are about to eat.

What is a Wholefood Plant-Based Diet?

It’s kind of like a vegan diet because it’s mostly vegetables, fruit, and grains but the emphasis seems to be more on eating plants and whole grains for optimum health.

You can call yourself a vegan and eat fried chips and loads of processed vegan delicacies.  That’s not the idea with a wholefood plant-based diet.

On the other hand, you can call yourself wholefood plant-based and sometimes eat eggs, dairy, fish, poultry or meat, from the best possible sources, such as organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised or wild-caught.

We were taught at school to eat a balanced diet of meat, fish, dairy, grains, fruit, and veg but what's healthy eating about, really? What were we designed to eat? And which foods makes us feel best?Why Eat a Plant-Based Diet?

I’ve found that people choose to live a vegan or plant-based lifestyle for three compelling reasons:

  1. To protect animals from harm
  2. To protect the environment
  3. To protect themselves from preventable diseases

What to Eat on a Plant-Based Diet?

So, what do people consume on a plant-based diet?

  • Vegetables – in season, fresh and organic where possible
  • Starchy vegetables – such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut
  • Fruits – including berries and melons
  • Nuts – ideally raw, unsalted macadamia, walnuts, brazil nuts and cashew nuts, almonds and nut butters
  • Seeds – such as pumpkin, flax, chia, sesame, sunflower and hemp seeds
  • Whole grains – such as rolled oats, brown rice, quinoa etc.
  • Legumes – chickpeas, lentils, peas, peanuts, black beans, etc.
  • Unsweetened plant-based milk – soya milk, almond milk, coconut milk etc.
  • Healthy Fats – avocado, coconut oil, olive oil
  • Plant-based protein mushrooms, tofu etc.
  • Herbs and Spices – including seasonings like nutritional yeast
  • Coffee, Tea, Herbal Tea

How to Eat More Fresh Fruit and Veggies? 

We’ve got so used to reaching for yummy goodies loaded with unhealthy sugars that we forget to eat our fresh fruit and veg.

Here a few quick tips to help you get in more fruit and veggies on a daily basis.

  1. Buy a variety of fresh, fruit and veggies, including berries, melons, nuts and seeds
  2. Begin each meal with raw, fresh fruit or veg or salad
  3. Aim to eat at least 5 different colours at each meal
  4. Begin or end your meals with veg and lentil or bean soup
  5. Make fresh smoothies or juices as snacks

Related: What is Health and Wellness About?

What Not to Eat on a Plant-Based Diet?

  • Fast food and fried foods – pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, fries
  • Refined Foods – white bread, pasta, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, biscuits
  • Packaged and convenience foods – crisps, biscuits, health bars, frozen dinners
  • Processed animal products:  bacon, ham, macon, etc.
  • Processed vegan products – such as vegan meat, butter or cheese
  • Artificial sweeteners – and food or sauces containing artificial sweeteners

What to Avoid on a Plant-Based Diet?

Many plant-based advocates follow a vegan diet but if some feel they need to supplement their diets with animal sources, for whatever reason. If you’re going to introduce some form of animal product into your diet, follow the guidelines below.

  • Meat – eat very rarely, and if you do, make sure the animals are grass-fed, pastured and treated humanely, where possible
  • Dairy – as above
  • Poultry – free-range, grain-fed and organic, where possible
  • Eggs – as above
  • Seafood – wild-caught from sustainable fisheries, where possible

What’s Healthy Eating About?

So, what’s healthy eating about… really?

For me, it’s a wholefood plant-based diet, because of what I’ve read and researched about the many health benefits. And also because of how I feel when I’m eating loads of fresh fruit and veggies.

Essentially, you get to decide what healthy eating is about for you.  We are all different and our bodies respond differently to what we eat.

What I can tell you, is that your taste changes very quickly when you make the switch to a plant-based diet. Foods you thought you could never live without (like cheese, cream or meat) no longer hold their appeal.

I invite you to try it out for a week or two and see how you feel.

This post was sponsored by Anti-OxidantFruits.com. All opinions are my own.

Aligning all 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

8 Dimensions Health Wellness

Health and Wellness have been a big focus in my life.  I started teaching Aerobics when I still in High School and took over my Mom’s gym shortly after I finished school.

A couple of years later I also started studying and practising a number of different modalities, including Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Shiatsu.   I became particularly interested in holistic health and healing.  I was fascinated by how the mind, body and spirit are all connected.

I delved deep into every aspect of health and wellness over the years because I wanted to know how every secret on how to live long and prosper.

And yet, it took Harold at Bodybuilder Solutions to introduce me to the idea of the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness. Have a look at this post: https://bodybuildersolutions.com/the-best-resources-for-mental-health-and-physical-wellness/

And, here they are.

All 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness

I’ve placed them in the order that makes it easiest for me to remember, starting with the 4 that align with some of the chakras (or energy centres in the body).  I used their corresponding chakra colours on the infographic below.

There is a tremendous benefit in aligning all 8 dimensions of health and wellness. Because that's when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being. Do you know all the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness? If not, discover them in my latest post as well as keys I've learned over the years to help me align them. This post was sponsored by Bodybuilder Solutions. All opinions are my own. #8DimensionsHealthWellness #8DimensionsWellnessChart #8DimensionsWellnessInfographic #health #wellness #wellbeing #selfcare

1. Physical (the base or root chakra)

2. Emotional (the sacral chakra)

3. Intellectual  (the solar plexus)

4. Spiritual (the crown)

The last 4 are not energy centres in our body but relate to aspects of our daily lives that can impact our health and wellness.

5. Social (Relationships)

6. Occupational (Work)

7. Financial (Money)

8. Environmental (Surroundings)

Related: What is Health and Wellness About?

While it’s virtually impossible to be focusing on all 8 of these all the time and have them all in perfect balance, it’s certainly something worth striving for.

You might put so much of your time and energy into mastering one aspect of your life that the others go out of kilter.

On the other hand, when you achieve success in one area it may give you the confidence and motivation to tackle other areas of your wellbeing.

And there is a tremendous benefit in aligning each dimension of health and wellness and feeling they are all working together in harmony. Because that’s when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being.  A feeling that all is right with your world and you’re doing just fine.

In this post, I’ll aim to give you some of the keys I’ve learned over the years that have helped me achieve this alignment in my own life, in the hopes they help you too.

Let’s take it from the top.

1. Physical Health and Wellness

Physical Health and Wellness

Deep down I think we all know the answers to this. They are simple to learn, but not easy to implement.

  • Exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes, at least 3 or 4 times a week)
  • Eat nutritious foods (especially plenty of fresh fruit and veg)
  • Get enough sleep (6 to 8 hours a night)
  • Drink enough water (around 8 glasses a day)

Those are the basics.  We all know them but we get caught up in what this expert claims and what that diet promotes and what that organisation recommends.

Related: Natural Ways to Support the Immune System

Here are my personal keys to making these work for you.

Exercise

You’ll only do it regularly if you love it and can incorporate it into your life. So find something you really enjoy doing. For me, right now, it’s walking my dog and jumping on the trampoline with my son, because that’s all I have time for.   But at other stages of my life, it’s been swimming, gym, dancing, yoga, pilates.   What moves you?

Nutritious Foods

I recently went wholefood plant-based which means I mostly eat a healthy vegan diet. Though I know that’s a big ask, so if this just sounds too extreme to you, please start adding more fresh fruit and veg into your diet and avoid eating overly processed foods and especially processed meats.

I have discovered it’s a brilliant lifestyle choice, especially if you are overweight or have heart disease, Type 2 diabetes or any other preventable health condition.   But don’t take my word for it. I’m just following the experts.

Here’s a great overview of plant-based nutrition by Dr Anthony Lim

Disclaimer: Please note that none of the recommendations in this post is intended to replace the advice of your Medical Doctor. Please consult a doctor or registered health practitioner if you have any health concerns.

Sleep

Stop all digital activity, including watching TV at least half an hour before you go to sleep to have a good night’s rest.

Hydration

Water or tea is best.  One or two coffees a day is fine. A glass of wine a night (or your favourite drink) is fine but don’t overindulge too often.  In my book, sodas are a no-no.  I could go into the long explanation of why but then we’d never get to the rest of the post. 

2. Emotional Health and Wellness

Emotional Health and Wellness

We all want to be happy and free from anxiety, yet, sadly, most people aren’t.  We live in a world where millions of people are suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia and nervous tension and have resorted to medication for relief.

There are many natural ways to be happy and free from worry and I believe it starts with choosing happiness.

Once I made a conscious decision to live a happy life, the natural ways found me.

Here are some of the things that make me feel happy and at peace.

  • Guided Meditation or Visualisation
  • Being out in nature
  • Being in contribution
  • Caring for loved ones
  • Playing with or reading to my children
  • Caring for pets
  • Dancing, singing or listening to music

But what about those stubborn or particularly heavy emotions you just can’t seem to shake?

I’ve found Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping) to be most useful in helping me release unwanted emotions.

For example, here’s a tapping session I did on Disappointment.

Once you know the basics of how to EFT, you can tap on any emotion that’s upsetting or depressing you.

The deeper you go, the more relief you feel, which could mean working on childhood wounds or past hurts that have stuck with you for years.

Related: How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

3. Intellectual Health and Wellness

Intellectual Health and Wellness

To be healthy intellectually, it’s important to use your mind by doing things like:

  • reading
  • study
  • research
  • travelling
  • and other intellectual pursuits that broaden your mind

It’s equally important to clear your mind of stress, worry and limiting beliefs.

I read a funny meme at a coffee shop the other day.

It said: “Give me coffee to change the things I can change and wine to accept the things I can’t.”

I’ve discovered that what causes most of our pain, suffering and stress is believing things should be different than they are.

So my best piece of advice for a happy life is to accept those things you can’t change and change the things you can.  i.e. Do your own inner work.  Let go of all those thoughts about what others did or should have done, what they said or should have said.

Instead, turn your thoughts to who you are, who would like to be around and what you would like to do with your time. Be in your own business.

Again, easy to say, not so easy to do. Until you meet Byron Katie and use her simple technique to unbundle those stresses and beliefs and turn them around.

Byron Katie designed a process of questioning your stressful thoughts, called The Work.

Here’s Katie doing The Work with someone on How to Have a Clear Mind and Healthy Body.

The Work is a great way to get clear on the thoughts that have been holding you back or dragging you down, sometimes for years.

I’ve found the best breakthroughs in my own life have come when I start out by doing The Work and then shift into EFT if big emotions come up.

These processes sound simple but they are life-altering. Try them out for yourself, especially on your most painful experiences and you are likely to see what I mean.

4. Spiritual Health and Wellness

Spiritual Health and Wellness

Our spiritual journey is deeply personal and a path only we can walk. This journey is usually ignited by the religion, faith or path we have followed since childhood.  For me, that faith was Christianity and it led me to A Course in Miracles.

Learning and teaching A Course in Miracles has given me tremendous peace.

Here’s one of my favourite lessons in A Course in Miracles.

Lesson 47, God is the strength in which I trust.

The spiritual perspective is that pain and suffering are caused by believing we are separate from God.

In a sense, this is the same concept Byron Katie teaches, just in different words. Where Katie might call it questioning what is or questioning the truth, on a spiritual level, when we question what is, we are questioning God.

When you draw nearer to God in…

  • prayer
  • praise
  • meditation
  • stillness
  • communing with nature, or
  • when you give love, and
  • forgive yourself and others..

you access your God-mind where you can safely embrace the peace that passes all understanding.

Related: Mama, When Last did You take Care of You?

5. Social Health and WellnessSocial Health and Wellness

Social health and wellness relates to our relationships.

We all know that if we are in an abusive relationship, whether it’s a parent, partner, child, work colleague or friend, it can take its toll on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

We also know that when our children “get in the wrong crowd”, their health can suffer.  Peer pressure and social pressure can drive people to do things they would never do on their own.

Just as unhealthy relationships can be devastating for our personal wellbeing, healthy relationships can turn our health around.There is a tremendous benefit in aligning each dimension of health and wellness and feeling they are all working together in harmony. Because that's when you feel a sense of peace, satisfaction and well being. #8DimensionsHealthWellness #8DimensionsWellnessPin

In my life, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have wonderful parents as role models.  My Dad was a Minister so I grew up in the Church. That really helped me build a strong healthy social structure within a loving community.

That foundation helped me seek out healthy role models at school and in the workplace.

It is far more difficult for children who grow up with unhealthy role models at home, to make healthy choices in their adult relationships.   This is where public service becomes important.

Our relationships with those in authority are extremely important, especially when we are younger and still building our strength and courage to stand up to authority when needed.

One amazing Grandmother, one child-centred Teacher or one caring Sunday School Teacher can change the trajectory of a child’s life and make the world of difference in a community.

If we want to see a healthy society, the responsibility falls on each one of us to give back to the community in whichever way we can.

6. Occupational Health and WellnessOccupational Health and Wellness

For me, occupational health and wellness have always started with being passionate about your work.

Job satisfaction is a huge part of your overall happiness as well as your health and wellbeing.  After all, most of us are working for the greater part of our day.

What’s interesting to note is that job satisfaction seems to have increased in 2020, according to this article: https://legaljobs.io/blog/job-satisfaction-stats/.

Perhaps the pandemic is creating a happier workforce because more people have been able to work at home or perhaps it’s because people value their jobs more now that so many jobs have been cut during the pandemic.

My best advice on the work front is similar to my advice on exercise. Find something you love to do, something that makes your heart sing, something that makes you jump out of bed in the morning.

Get to know your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses and be your biggest advocate.

7. Financial Health and Wellness

Financial Health and Wellness

Our relationship with money is usually complex.

Financial wellness is not only about how you make money, spend money or save money but also how you think and feel about money.

We grow up with a number of beliefs around money and they are not always healthy.

If you faced lack in childhood and you don’t address your money beliefs and money blocks, you may be facing lack in adulthood too.

So I would start by doing the internal work.

  • Examine your money beliefs and create new healthy beliefs.
  • Figure out why you want to make money
  • Where you want to spend your money
  • How much you want to keep and
  • Where you want to invest your money
  • And then you can turn your attention to the how.

If you’ve been hitting a few money blocks, you may find these money afformations helpful.  Afformations are much like affirmations, except they are questions rather than statements.

Isn’t it interesting how all these dimensions tie-up?  When you look at one dimension, you can see how each plays into the other.

  • Your work affects your finances.
  • Your thoughts and feelings affect your finances.
  • Your relationships affect your finances.
  • Your physical health can affect your work which in turn can affect your finances, etc.

And of course, vice versa.  Each dimension of health and wellness impacts the other.

8. Environmental Health and WellnessEnvironmental Health and Wellness

Your environment can affect your health in many ways.

For example, living in the city is considered more dangerous to your health than living in a small town out in the countryside. Not just because of the faster pace, traffic congestion and added stress but also because of the smog and noise pollution.

Cities bombard and sometimes overload our senses.

Your home or work environment can also affect your health. Most people find living or working gin a chaotic or cluttered environment to be more stressful than a clean, well-organized home or office.

And then there’s our impact on the environment, how we contribute to the health of our environment.

We all know by now that we can make simple lifestyle changes to improve our environment:

  • Recycle
  • De-clutter
  • Conserve Water
  • Plant trees and flowers
  • Use natural products
  • Consume less (minimalism)

But did you know that the single most impactful thing you can do for the environment is to stop eating meat?

Animal agriculture is having a devastating effect on the environment.

This video explains how the meat and dairy industry works.

Here are just a few ways eating a vegan or plant-based diet, positively impacts the environment:

  • Saves water (because our livestock consumes a lot more water than we do)
  • Reduces greenhouse gases, the leading cause of climate change
  • Reduces air pollution
  • Protects the rainforests
  • Protects endangered animals

Of course, the choice is always yours.  It’s not easy to stop doing something you’ve done all your life, especially if it’s something you enjoy, like eating meat or cheese.

I have found that when I find enough compelling reasons to make a change, I make it.  And it sticks.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy implementing some of my key pointers on the 8 Dimensions of Health and Wellness into your life.  I invite you to play with these ideas.

Try one or two of them on and see if they fit.  I’d love to hear which ideas resonated with you. Feel free to leave a comment below.

This post was sponsored by Bodybuilder Solutions. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is not intended to replace the advice of your Medical Doctor. Please consult a doctor or registered health practitioner if you have any health concerns.

How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Let’s face it, since the onset of the global pandemic, it’s not always been easy to stay positive. What with lockdown, social isolation, and having to use hand sanitizer and wear face masks all the time.

Yet we all have to do our bit to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus.  Because people are hurting, hospitals are packed to capacity and many of us have either battled Covid-19 ourselves or lost loved ones to the disease.

In this post, we will be sharing our tips on how to stay positive during the pandemic and remain as comfortable as possible.

Mask Ally for Comfort

Invest in Mask Ally to Make Wearing a Mask More Comfortable

Some of us who work in industries that deal with lots of walk-in customers are forced to wear masks all the time.  As well as teachers and pupils, lecturers and students and everyone in the medical field.

It is often not very comfortable with your glasses fogging up, having trouble with breathing, and your lipstick clinging to your mask, not to mention your face overheating.

But, these are just some of the discomforts we have to face until the pandemic blows over.

Here’s some good news.  If you have to wear a mask all day, there is a way to stay comfortable. We have come across an excellent product that can do just that.

Mask Ally is a mask holder that you wear inside your mask to create some breathing space between the mask and your face.

The Benefits of Mask Ally

      • 3D Mask holder support that allows you to breathe easier.
      • Extra room that avoids your glasses fogging up
      • Made with superior food-grade silicone that is washable, safe, and reusable
      • No more lipstick smudges in your mask
      • Prolonged mask life
      • Increased airflow prevents your face from overheating
      • Keeping your mask cleaner for longer with less contact

Mask Ally is offering a special discount. Scroll down to the end of the post for details.

Combat your Stress Levels through Relaxation

Stress can be very bad for your emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing. Stress can lead to all sorts of health effects like headaches, anxiety, fatigue, social withdrawal, chest pain, and more.

Making time for yourself to relax can assist with reducing these side effects and allow you to reboot and refocus your energy on positive thoughts.

Connect with Loved Ones

Connect with Loved Ones

We all try to avoid social contact and opt for staying confined in our homes, but you can still connect with friends and family online. You can video chat with them on your phone or laptop and share your experiences. Sometimes all you need is to talk to your best friend or a loved one to feel better and to cope with your current situation.

Exercise Frequently

Looking after yourself and your body is essential, now more than ever. Exercise is not just beneficial for physical wellbeing but also emotional and mental wellbeing. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that help you with feeling more positive. You can go for a family walk or do stretches and exercises in the garden. Don’t forget yoga is an excellent exercise for body and mind.

Tips on how to stay positive and remain comfortable during the pandemic. Sponsored by Mask Ally, a mask holder that creates breathing space inside your mask. #howto #staypositveduringthpandemic #maskallyTake Breaks from the News

I know it is easier said than done but reading, watching or listening to the news can be upsetting when you are reminded repeatedly of what we are facing currently.

Keep yourself informed but remember to only look for updates on the pandemic on reliable sources. Fake news can do a lot of damage and with situations like these, you are bound to come across plenty of it.

Accept what You Can and Cannot Control

There is only so much that you can do to control the situation and to remain safe. Remember to focus and acknowledge the feelings you are having and make the most of situations and safety measures that are within your control.

Conclusion

We hope that you have found this article helpful and that we have done our bit to assist you with staying more positive during the pandemic.

What’s kept you the most positive during this last rather unusual year? Feel free to share in the comments below.

This post was sponsored by Mask Ally. All opinions are my own. 

Mask Ally is offering you 35% off AND free shipping via this link.

Sustainable Energy Facts You Need to Know

Sustainable Energy Facts

This post was sponsored by Douglas Healy

When the term “renewable energy” is mentioned, most of us instantly think about energy sources like the wind, water, solar or geothermal energy, and while it appears to be of importance, many people often overlook exactly what a major impact renewable can have on the lives of millions of people as well as the planet and our environment.

Have a look at these interesting sustainable energy facts to give you a better insight into why more companies and individuals should invest in renewable energy sources.

Take a look at these interesting sustainable energy facts to give you insight into why more companies and individuals should invest in renewable energy sources. #sustainableenergyfacts #renewableenergy #sponsoredpost

1.       Renewable energy equals clean energy

Sustainable energy is a type of clean energy which is generated by natural resources in nature.

2.   The primary varieties of sustainable energy are…

  • Wind
  • Hydro
  • Solar
  • Biofuel
  • Geothermal

The best thing about these resources is that they are continuously replenished.

3.     Five times more jobs are created through renewable energy, in comparison to fossil fuels

When clean energy jobs are compared to those of gas and coal, the sustainable energy industry has generated five jobs for every one job in the fossil fuels sector.

4.     China is the leader when it comes to generating wind power

Did you know that China has extensive coastlines and a substantial landmass, of which they take full advantage to capitalize on cultivating wind energy? In 2017 alone, they’ve managed to install 19.7 GW of capacity, manufacturing and erecting two wind turbines each hour.

5.     Just one wind turbine can make a significant impact

Apart from providing electricity nationwide, small local communities can also reap the benefits of wind energy. A single wind turbine of 2.5MW can produce sufficient energy to power more than a thousand four hundred households per year.

6.       Major tech corporations are taking the lead when it comes to the green movement

Large technology firms such as Facebook, Apple and Microsoft are all competing to help generate a greener internet. They are all committed to incorporate green operations and business initiatives through green energy. All three global brands were categorized A in the clean energy directory.

7.     Itaipu Dam generates electricity for Paraguay and Brazil

The largest dam worldwide, the Itaipu which is nearly two hundred metres tall and spans a massive 7919 metres across, is contributing seventy-six percent of Paraguay’s electricity while also producing seventeen percent of Brazil’s power each year.

8.     Portugal can supply the entire country with electricity through renewable energy alone

During 2016, Portugal was powered via a combination of hydro-generated, wind and solar energy for four consecutive days, a memorable clean energy milestone for Portugal to meet the EU’s sustainable objectives for 2020.

9.     Iceland, the largest energy generator per capita in the world

Iceland has an abundance of geothermal energy thanks to the string of volcanoes surrounding it. One hundred percent of the country’s electricity is generated through hydropower and geothermal resources.

10.   In some countries, sustainable energy is more cost-effective than fossil fuels

Renewable energy is far more affordable in some countries due to their capability of harnessing resources of energy that are predominant to their locations.

11.   Sunlight could meet worldwide electricity demand if harnessed properly

The sunlight that falls on earth for an hour is enough to power the energy demands worldwide for an entire year if only it could be appropriately harnessed.

12.   Biomass is presently the largest renewable energy source in the US

Biomass has more than two-hundred plants in the US, delivering energy to 1.5 million American homes.

Hope these sustainable energy facts help you dream up ways you can make a difference in this space.

Tapping on Disappointment (Video)

Over the last couple of months, I’ve started introducing you to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) on my YouTube Channel and my tapping videos are proving to be quite popular.

My most loved video so far is my video on the Money Afformations I outlined in my post, How to Clear Money Blocks.

In my latest video, I’m tapping on disappointment.

I found this quick EFT session completely transformed how I felt about the upcoming year.

Before doing this EFT session…

Feelings of inadequacy had been coming up for me towards the end of 2019 because I was focusing on what I hadn’t accomplished last year instead of what I had accomplished.

It felt like I had so many plans for the year that I didn’t follow through on – the main one that was bothering me was that I didn’t create any online courses even though that was something I set out to do.

After the EFT session…

After the session, it dawned on me that, although I didn’t create online courses, I did start moving in the direction of courses. I built a bank of videos on YouTube and this gave me heaps of experience in being in front of the camera.   And I did create my first video tutorial at Wealthy Affiliate.  

And I also did a ton of training on video courses, how to set up a training, which platforms to choose etc.  So I’m much more qualified to set up my first online course now.

I’m ready now.

Everything happens in its own perfect timing.

So if you’re feeling disappointed about how 2019 unfolded for you, try this EFT session.  Tapping on disappointment may be the cure for you too.

Wishing you a stunning 2020!

Here’s to Your Success!

Feeling disappointed about anything that you didn't get around to doing last year? Try out this EFT tapping seFeeling disappointed about anything that you didn't get around to doing last year? Try out this EFT tapping session and let me know how it works for you. I found it made me feel worlds better about 2020. #tappingondisappointment #emotionalfreedomtechnique #EFT #EFTTapping

 

Is it Time to Go Off the Grid with Solar Energy?

I’ve been looking into solar energy and other ways we can go off the grid lately. Not because we have chosen to live in some remote exotic location but because our little corner of the world, Cape Town, South Africa is turning into one.

Our basic amenities and services are becoming less and less reliable.

South Africa is still considered to be one of the developing countries of the world (although to many of us it seems to be undeveloping – if that’s a word).

By the way…

This post was sponsored by Rusty Tweed Solar.  Rusty Tweed supports an amazing solar project in Hawaii, the Kuikui Foundation, which has established a renewable energy initiative to help homeowners save money on electricity.

* Writing and publishing sponsored posts is one of the ways I earn income as a blogger. All opinions are my own.

Is it time to go off the grid? Let's start with solar energy. Post sponsored by Rusty Tweed Solar. #GoOfftheGrid #SolarEnergy #SolarPowerSystems #renewableresources #RustyTweed

Living in a First World City with Third World Challenges

The infrastructure in the cities appears first world but we still have many third world challenges and large parts of the country are still completely undeveloped (no access to running water or electricity).

Water was a massive problem last year when we experienced one of the greatest droughts in our history – we learned how to conserve water and installed a wellpoint.  The cost of municipal water has risen and flow-shedding is now a daily part of our life.

*Flowshedding: When the water pressure is so low that water doesn’t flow freely from the taps – ever tried washing long hair in a trickle of water?

Internet is slower here than the Western world and intermittent in many areas – although they say that the introduction of fibre and LTE is changing that – hopefully, they are right.

However, we’ve learned the hard way that when the electricity goes down the cellphone towers seem to be affected too because it’s only a matter of time before even cellphone internet options go down too.

Electricity is a continual problem – for a week or two in December we had electricity load-shedding for 2.5 hours 2 or 3 times a day, making it really difficult to work online (or cook).

Which brings me back to solar energy.

We live in SUNNY South Africa – we can harvest the energy of the beautiful sun. And wind, for that matter – there’s plenty of wind around these parts.

We’ve lost most our precious gold, diamonds and minerals, we’ve used up most of our coal… why are we not making the most use of our renewable resources?

The answer seems so simple.  But, unfortunately, it’s not.

The Cost of Solar Energy

Most South Africans cannot afford to install solar power in their homes, especially if looking to go entirely off the grid.

According to Property 24, a solar power system will cost you R63,000 for an 80 square metre house, R110,000 for a 250 square metre house and larger houses would need a 10KW system at R 190,000.

With an average monthly salary of R 6,400, it’s no small wonder that Solar Power is out of the range of most South Africans.

I was chatting to a friend of mine the other day who has gone fully solar at home. She wasn’t willing to share the costs of installing solar but said that it would take 20 years to pay off the costs with the savings they make by not paying for electricity.

How about you? Are you looking to go off the grid with solar energy? And are you doing it to save unrenewable energy resources or to save yourself from unreliable services?