Make Your Good Life Better

25 Self Honoring Things To Do For Myself

If someone is in a serious accident, our first question is, "Will he be able to walk?" And yet most of us who can walk just fine do it as little as possible.
-Victoria Moran

Self-honoring is doing things for yourself that make you feel better. Therefore your life will be better. Women are good at nurturing others and often neglect or self-abuse themselves.

When was the last time you did something that was self-honoring? If you want to make your good life better make a list of 25 things you can do to honor yourself. Then put them in you schedule as an important appointment. Continue your list until it reaches 100.

You might even think this is overindulgence. It's not. Overindulgence is too much of a good think. Self-honoring is respecting yourself. Abuse is neglecting to take good care of yourself.

1. Take a walk.
2. Eat right.
3. Get a massage.
4. Keep a journal.
5. Create rituals.
6. Garden.
7. Try yoga or dance class.
8. Visit the zoo. (alone!)
9. Give or get manicures and pedicures.
10. Buy fresh flowers every Friday. A single gerbera daisy will do.
11. Stick to your budget.
12. Go to a concert.
13. Buy one expensive piece of chocolate.
14. Take a long bubble bath.
15. Wear a new color lipstick.
16. Drink plenty of water.
17. Phone a friend you haven't talked to for a long time.
18. Walk your talk.
19. Keep your car clean.
20. Declutter.
21. Wear a different perfume.
22. Help someone today.
23. Go one day without carrying your cell phone.
24. Forgive someone.
25. Smile when you talk.

So go ahead and make your good life better. You will feel differently. People will notice. You will be happier.

I am in the process of changing software. If you want to continue getting Tess'Happiness Tips please opt-in again when you get an email telling you to do so!
Stay Happy. Tess Marshall
If you need a coach I'm available, my number is 616-460-6729.
If you need a speaker go to www.TessMarshall.com
If you love silver go to www.mysilpada.com/tess.marshall

7 Principles For An Extraordinary life.

blessing of nature
Originally uploaded by ichiro kishimi

Happy Sring!

Change is in the air!

Spring changes everything...are you ready to make changes as well?

I have been reading "Mastering the Seven Decisions by Andy Andrews.
(Yes someone named their son Andrew Andrews)!

Andy Andrews is a master storyteller and life traveler. He has sought out what separates an ordinary life from the extraordinary. During a difficult time in his past he read between two and three hundred biographies of happy, successful, influential people who changed the world.

Andy discovered 7 Principles that anyone can apply to live an extraordinary life.


The Seven Decisions

1. The Responsible Decision
I will take 100% responsibility for my life. No more blaming and complaining. I am where I am because I put myself here. My past doesn't determine my future.

2. The Guided Decision
I will seek wisdom through books, people and service. Be a continuous learner in life.

3. The Active Decision
I am a person of action. If you want to get where you are going take continuous action. Be willing to make mistakes. Learn from them and continue taking action.
Be brave. Be bold.

4. The Certain Decision
I am passionate about my vision for my future. I pay no attention to criticism, condemnation and complaining. I pursue my passion. I have a decided heart.

5. The Joyful Decision
I make a choice to be happy. My life circumstances do not have the power to make me unhappy. I choose unhappiness. I can choose again.

6. The Compassion Decision
I am willing to forgive. I set my heart, mind and spirit free.

7. The Persistent Decision
I will not give up. Faith has no limits. Tomorrow is only limited by my doubt. Persist without exception.

Andy tells the story of Jimmy Dean. Jimmy says, "being knocked down is part of life--getting up is also a part of life. I have no use for people who cannot bounce back from a temporary setback.

Jimmy speaks of his grandfather, W.J. Taylor, " My grandfather was the most successful and wealthy man I ever knew, and I doubt seriously that he ever made more than $10,000 in any given year. But he was the best farmer in Hale County, Texas. he knew that. He had the straightest fences, the cleanest end-rows. he had the neatest barn and the neatest house. he raised nine kids. He had a great relationship with the man upstairs and a wonderful inner peace. To me, this is success and wealth.

I love the "wonderful inner peace" idea. Think about when you give away your peace of mind? Do you give away your inner peace when you think about the price of gas, the President or presidential candidates, rude people, you boss or co-workers?

Andy Andrews book is refreshing. Andy promises your life will be full of miracles if you practice these principles. I believe him!

Order his book today at www.Amazon.com you will be happy you did. Take out your journal and write down answers to his questions. Continue to make 2008 the best year of your life.
Stay Happy!
Tess Marshall
616-460-6729
www.TessMarshall.com
www.mysilpada.com/tess.marshall

How To Stay Sane In A Crazy World!

"Can it be that the penchant for violence is so deeplyembedded in our genetic heritage that we can't stop it? Of course not." -Dianne Morgan

No matter what is going on in the world, the elections, or the war it's our job to continue to fill our personal world with love, joy and hope.

Rev. Margaret Stortz, a minister in California says,"It's up to us to to be as valuable as possible to life.

Ernest Holmes message in a lecture in 1953 was, "Let us love one another; let us love the world. Let us serve simply anddeeply, leaving the shout and the tumult to others."

I think this is still a great idea 55 years later. But how? Personally one of the methods I use is affirmations. I write them on index cards with bright magic markers.

I refer to them often. On low days...quite often.

I encourage you to make your own. You can also put them in your journal or on post it notes on a mirror, on your desk or where ever...

Some of my current favorites are:

"I get up each morning expecting good things to happen."

"I may have heard no 1000 times. I ask again."

"I have joyous appreciation."

"I embrace the place I am today. God is in control."

"No big deal. I'm going to let it go."

"I am full of potential."

"I take action in joy."

"I miss 100% of the shots I never take."

"Most things aren't as serious as I make them out to be."

"I recognize what's happening and I choose to change."

"I nurture my mind, body and soul."

"This too shall pass. It always has and always will."

Go ahead and change your life by changing your thoughts. You owe it to yourself and the world needs you!

If you need help following your life's plan for 2008 I'm available for coaching. Call me at 616-460-6729.

Stay Happy!
Tess Marshall
http://www.tessmarshall.com/

2008 Make it your best year yet!

Why coaching for 2008?

As your life coach I can provide you with the support you need to take you from where you are to where you want to be.

Would you be willing to do whatever it takes to create the life you want, even if it meant doing things differently than you're doing now? If you answered yes let's talk about coaching…

Coaching is easy, convenient and confidential.

Benefits of working with a Coach:
Increased Confidence
Self-Acceptance & Awareness
A Clear Vision
Ability to Focus
Healthy Relationships
Balance & Energy
Support & Guidance and Accountability &

Your best year yet!

What I do: As your coach, I will help you to step out of your comfort zone. I will offer you helpful tools and techniques for facilitating change and incorporating new skills into your life.
I will be your biggest fan!

My intention is for you to see yourself as limitless with the ability to bring into your life your greatest desires. Let's close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

Think of me as your wise confidant.

I would love to work with you, hear more about you, your dreams and your desires for 2008. I listen with compassion and without judgment!

Payment: We meet on the phone for 30 minutes each week. My fee is $25 per 30 minute phone session. Payment is made prior to the first in a series of four half-hour appointments by credit card, check or Paypal.

Still not convinced? Call me for a complimentary 20 minute session. Let me know a couple of dates and times you are available. During the call you can tell me what you'd need to focus on to make 2008 the best!

You will get a feel for my style, who I am and if we are a good fit.
Call Tess at (616) 460-6729 or Email: TessMarshall@TessMarshall.com

Due to my busy schedule I reserve only two days per week for coaching. If these two days are full you will be put on a waiting list. Call today!

Give it all you've got!

"No one has ever become poor by giving." Anne Fraink, diarist, 1828-1945

Photo taken while volunteering in Mississippi

Marian Morissey says there are 3 levels of giving:

1. Give to get. This type of giving is 50/50. If I give you a Christmas present you better give me one. It better be equal in cost as well. Giving to get is spiritual immaturity. You cheat yourself.


2. Give with strings attached. This is about judgement. Who is worthy of my gift? Ask yourself, "Am I giving to impress?" Do you find yourself saying, "He or she doesn't deserve it?"

3. Give to live. This is the highest form of giving. Giving is joyful. My mother is a joyful giver.
Give service. Give random acts of kindness. Give to your favorite chairity. Give your energy.

Become a joyful giver. Give the benefit of the doubt. Give praise. Give without keeping score. Give to those who won't or can't give back. Give with a heart filled with love for the receiver.

Quotes on giving:
"Think of giving no as a duty but as a privilege." John D. Rockefeller Jr. (philanthropist)

"Giving presents is a talent: to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly and well." Pamela Glenconner, (writer)

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchhill

"You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that." Ludwig van Beethoven

"Scatter joy." Ralph Waldo Emerson

It will come back to you and you'll sparkle!
May all your holidays be merry. Shine on!

Tess Marshall
http://www.tessmarshall.com/
www.mysilpada.com/tess.marshall

Uncommon Gratitude

"I am grateful for sisters!" Cher,Tess & Roe, Ann Arbor Art Fair!

Whatever trouble or problems you are experiencing today know that you will find solutions. You will survive. You have solved problems in the past and by using your gifts, your talents, wisdom and help from those you trust. You will continue to do the same in the future.

Aren't you ssssoooo grateful for that?

Be grateful for the people you depend on to help you solve your problems.

Be thankful for your problems. They help you to grow, trust, reach out and become a better person.

Become thankful for the opportunity to reinvent yourself. If something no longer works in your life you have the freedom to do something different.

Appreicate the availability of gasoline even though it's not the price you want it to be.

Be thankful for difficult people. They give you an opportunity to rise higher.

Be thankful for the elderly population. They have paved the road for you. Because of them your life is easier.

Be thankful for yourself and all you have done for others. The world wouldn't be the same without you.

Become grateful for all the love in your life and the opportunity to share it with others.

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Good Idea from my friend Laurie Nuyens:

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

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Go here to see "do" the gratitude dance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9z2ELaBVJY

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Tess Marshall

http://www.tessmarshall.com/

www.mysilpada.com/tess.marshall

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Ghandi

The economy is scary, the war is heating up and many people are depressed. It's easy to focus on the negative. It's easy to whine and complain that life's not fair.

It's easy to point a finger and blame others. And I believe that at times everyone does some of these things and that's human.

I believe the answers to our personal problems and worldly problems all come from within ourselves. There are things each and everyone of us can do. The question is are we willing to do our part?

Everyone is likely to be involved in a personal war with someone and everyone would like a better income less stress and more happiness.

The following is a quiz to evaluate how you are "being & doing" in the world. The personal changes you make within yourself effect everyone. When you are tempted to believe there is no hope for yourself or your world I suggest you make one tiny change. It will have a ripple effect.

*You can refrain from complaining most of the time

*Refuse to condemn or criticize

*Let go and let God...for the next 24 hours

*Be happy for the success of others

*Do something creative and relax

*Grieve your losses and move on

*Choose to have inner peace

*Forgive someone today

*Leave someone a generous tip

*Pray

*See the good in others and ignore their flaws

*Go out of your way to help one person today

We have the power to make the world a better place at least for the people around us.

This will have a ripple effect that will touch the lives of people we will never know.

Don't ever give up hope and have faith!

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I still have a couple of dates open if anyone is interested in having a Silpada

( silver jewelry) "Girls Night Out." You can earn free jewlery for the holidays!

Or...
Are you looking for a unique fundraising idea to earn cash for your child's team?

How about your child's school?

Your favorite Charity or your church?

Rather than ask for a cash donation, consider hostessing a Silpada Show or doing a Book Show.

You can earn Cash instead of Free Jewelry!

Click on the link below for more information

I will be in MI from Thanksgiving Day through the fourth of December.

Call me 616-460-6729 or email me for more information at TessMarshall@TessMarshall.com