NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year to the Heartwood Community!

I would like to thank all of you who turned out on December 4th for our wonderful Open House celebration. With over 500 people attending it was truly an amazing evening and so much fun to dance late into the evening together.

If you missed the festivities and opportunity to visit our new center, please consider coming by for a visit this month. We are easily accessible in our new location and — with over 50 highly skilled teachers and practitioners — we are ready to assist with your many healing needs. At least once a week someone rings our doorbell and says they were just driving by on Dempster, saw our sign and wondered if they could take a look around. We love this and welcome you to do the same!

If you are looking for community in your life for 2011, we can offer you a warm, peaceful and light-filled place to explore your healing. Check our website regularly for new workshops, classes and more fun festvities and come join the Heartwood community.

Wishing you excellent health and much joy in 2011,
Nancy Floy, President
Heartwood Center

Dear Heartwood Community,

We're happy to share our Heartwood Newsletter with you! Please take a look at the first articles of the new year in our monthly holistic health series: "Visioning for Your Life" by Diane Testa and "Yoga: A Beginner's Guide" by Ellie Pickering.

and ...We always invite you to peruse our web site to view our latest news, announcements and information about classes and practitioner services at www.heartwoodcenter.com. If you know someone who might like to receive our newsletter monthly, see our link at this top right of this page.

With best wishes,
Diane A.Testa, Leadership Coach
Marsha Smith, Psychotherapist
Heartwood Center practitioners

Visioning for Your Life

by Diane A. Testa, MA

2011 marks the beginning of a new decade. We appear to be moving into a world that is more open to the concepts of spirituality and co-creating, encouraging us to leave behind anger and struggle. Acknowledging that we were meant to create in all ways is important at this time. We are most radiant and alive when we are creating because in that mode, we are most connected to ourselves / souls. It is when we are the happiest as well. While the ground work is being laid in this new decade, it will be up to each of us to embrace our unique and critical role in shaping the future.

It is a time to remember that we each make a significant difference in this world and that we have a purpose.

• What are your gifts and talents and how can you share them?
• What moves you?
• Where do you find joy?
• Are you living where you want to be?
• And with the people you love? Are your relationships working?

Ponder the big questions and acknowledge your desires. This is the first step in creating a vision for your life.

I know people who have spent months planning a vacation and very little time on the creation of their own life. Yes, a vacation is one fun and important event, but a small slice from the pie of life. Claiming what you desire for your life can be scary. It may mean giving up some of the routines you are use to or some major changes that are uncomfortable. The reality is that your comfort zone is a place to rest, not live. Most people's number one fear is having lived a meaningless life. So why not step away from the “doingness” of our lives that can distract us from what we really want? Stop all of the “to do list” and tasks for a brief moment in the timeline of your life. Take a couple hours or even a day to reflect on what you really want (family, work, health, spirituality, friendships, sleep, self-care, giving back) for your life.

After you decide what you want, clearly visualize it. Better yet, write it down and describe it in detail. Write your desires in the present tense as if it has already happened, using powerful and vibrant words. This will anchor it to reality. Have you heard about how Olympic athletes train to win the medals? ...discipline, applying thoughts and energy with great determination, preparation, concentration, joy, and visualizations that include every detail — minute by minute around winning a medal — what it feels like, the sounds of the crowd, the music, the smells, etc.

Have fun with the visioning process and dream a little. The possibilities are limitless. Think about all the times your dreams have come true. Have faith to know that much of what you want for your life is possible. Put a stake in the ground and claim it. Remember that all significant changes and inventions begin with a vision!

Diane A. Testa, MA, is a results-driven Leadership Coach and Management Consultant with more than 25 years experience in marketing, sales operations, corporate training and business development. In addition, she has been through Path Coach Training and her mission is to enable people and organizations to live their purpose and move forward with clarity, courage, and strength. For more information, please visit Diane's web site or call her at 847.971.6829.