Only one wish…

I would like to wish you Happy Holidays.

May all your prayers and wishes come true.

I have only one wish for you and it is the wish of health. May you be as healthy as can be. Whether it is mentally and physically.

The gift of health is the greatest gift of all. Without our health, nothing else matters. We can often see in others or we even share for ourselves when we are ill. It’s easy to see when someone has a cold or has a broken foot. What we can’t see in others and we often don’t share about ourselves are the internal struggles we face. Yes, I am talking about mental illness.

There are many levels of mental illness and it can go from feeling uncertain about our lives and experiencing anxiety to a person who is schizophrenic. Unfortunately, when we hear the words mental illness, we might imagine the worst of the two. It’s often not the case.

Last summer, I read a 6-month study report, on mental illness in the workplace conducted by Morneau Shepell and the Globe and Mail. It was conducted in Canada in 2017 and it collected 1575 responses.

Here are some of the findings.

One in five Canadians experiences a mental health problem or illness within a given year.
One in two Canadians under the age of 40 will experience a mental health problem or illness by the time they turn 40 years of age.
These numbers also have a direct impact on the workplace, as every week 500,000 Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems or illnesses.

Mental health is not a binary outcome. It lies along a continuum and it can change depending on the challenges we face. Canadians manage their mental health on a daily basis as it moves back and forth between good mental health, strained mental health, and mental illness.

The people who took the survey reported that the primary cause of their mental health problem or illness was workplace stress, with depression and anxiety being reported as the top two issues.

They also reported a high level of concern regarding the potential impact of their mental health problem or illness on their career, work experience, and job performance. The majority of employees surveyed reported they believed their mental health problem had or would negatively impact their careers.

It was also found that mental health problems and illnesses were the primary reason for missing work, this can range from missing work for a few days to two or more months.

More than half of the people are able to talk with their family and friends about it and the majority are reaching out to professional in order to manage mental health.

At this point in time, you might feel that you are one of those who are struggling. I want to let you know that you don’t have to face this stress alone. I would like to offer you a complimentary Step into Serenity Session. It’s a no-obligation session that will assist you in an area of your life where you are struggling the most. We will spend 30-40 minutes talking and finding solutions that can empower you to feel more peaceful and serene.

Fill in the form below and share your contact information with me. This is 100% confidential and private.

Also, if you know someone who could use a little lift, please pass this information to them. That could be the greatest gift you give them.

Until next time… be kind to one another.

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018

On your mark… Get set…

… GO

The race to the holidays has officially started. After surviving Black Friday and Cyber Monday it is now time to the countdown to Christmas.

I don’t think that it really matter whether you are a Christian or not. In North America, we are inundated with the Spirit of the Holidays. Anywhere we go from now on, we will hear the music, see the decorations and we will be tempted to shop until we drop.

This is also one of the most stressful time of the year. There are so many expectations for us to partake into this frenzy of buying, gifting and receiving. And let’s not forget attending parties, receptions, dinners, and hosting events too. People are running around all month long trying to get everything done before the sound of midnight on December 24th.

Here are a few good tips to consider to help you alleviate stress.

Tip 1. Shop so you don’t drop. Start your shopping in the first week of December. Take a morning off and hit the shops. This way you will skip the frenzy and the crowd. The stores are not really busy at this time and you will be able to get all that you need in one go.

Tip 2. You don’t have to do everything. Make a priority list. Start by making a list of the events you either have to or want to attend and prioritize. Don’t forget to add some time off for yourself too. Schedule some downtime and relax. It could be a morning walk in the park and a quiet lunch with your loved one or soaking in a nice relaxing Epson Salt & essential oil bath.

Tip 3. Lowering your expectations. Things don’t have to be exactly how you have planned them to be. Expect some irritations and imperfections, then relax and have a good time in spite of them.

Tip 4. Don’t do it alone. (Part 1) It’s ok to delegate and ask for help. If you have kids, it might be better not to take them to the mall with you. Ask a friend to invite them for a play time so that you can be more efficient while shopping or doing other errands.

Tip 5. Don’t do it alone. (Part 2) The holidays are also a time where people feel lonely and depression sets in. Get proactive by connecting with family, friends, even others who face similar isolation. Reach out to others and create your own gathering of single people.

Tip 6. Give the gift money can’t buy. Give the gift of time and help others in needs, Find a Soup Kitchen or a Mission and donate your time to those who have nothing. The greatest pleasure comes from giving back and it will make you feel good to donate your time. There are also people in hospitals whom don’t have many visitors and I am sure they would appreciate a short visit. Reach out to your local hospital and register to become a volunteer.

I hope these tips will help you go through the holiday seasons with ease and serenity.

Have an amazing week.

Until next time… Be kind to one another.
Denise

June 3, 2018July 18, 2018

Community Living Radio Show Interview

I had the honor to be interviewed by Micheal Rubin for on Community Living Radio 100.3 FM.

Here’s the Radio interview. See, below the interview, I have done a breakdown of the questions that Micheal asked me. This way you can go to a section that interests you the most. I personally think that all sections are interesting… LOL. I have to admit that I am a little bias.

1:42 – Q1: What does it mean to be a Serenity Expert and how does that help with the healing coaching?
2:40 – Q2: How did you get down the path of serenity yourself?
6:49 – Q3: How much of it was changing your mindset to something much more positive and helping to eliminate the stress?
10:35 – Q4: How do you help people recognize the stressors in their lives? Here I tell the story of how and why I broke my ankle… Listen to that one!
21:45 – Q5: How do we know what changes we should start making in our lives and how do we know who is the right coach for us to start those changes? I explain how stress becomes tend to become the NEW normal.
26:45 – Q6: How to deal with the fight or flight situation in our lives or all the stress people are experiencing?
32:00 – Q7: Explain how a coach can be helping achieve goals?
35:45 – Q8: How does serenity start to look like for somebody? Part 1
42:20 – Q8: How does serenity start to look like for somebody? Part 2
44:55 – Q9: Explain more about self-love?
47:10 – Q10: How do grief and serenity come together?
49:50 – Q11: How can people reach you? Get your free gift!
51:50 – Q12: What is a diamond and nugget the listeners can go away with?