Lifestyle

Lifestyle manifestation mental health personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

By Theresa Birmingham Fearless friendships enrich everyday life and encourage us to embrace ourselves fully. In the very modified words of Jane Austen, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an individual in search of a tribe is inevitably seeking long-lasting relationships that enrich, excite, temper, and lift them up.” Fearless friendships are those we’ve cultivated from being ourselves, and not having to fear the judgments of others. Overcoming relationship fears Where does our fear of relationships come from? Here are some common fears when it comes to relationships and furthering our tribe connections. The unknown Sometimes, our fear is the result of newness. We don’t know where we stand with these new friendships we’re building. Instead, we tend to better understand who we are alone—our Netflix-loving, silent-hiking, solo-traveling,...

Living fearlessly successfully requires self-knowledge

Living Fearlessly: finding freedom from within

June 7, 2018

Career, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

Contributing authors: Kimberly Marsh, Jonathan Dury, Danielle Rose, and Theresa Birmingham Living fearlessly successfully requires finding freedom from within and understanding your strengths and weakness as well as your passions. Outside your comfort zone Are you merely existing, going through your daily motions with apprehension and timidly? Or are you living boldly, abolishing fear and conquering life with an unquenchable thirst? To live fearlessly is to make commitments outside of your comfort zone, to seek out experiences that may scare you—and may also change you. How can you get to a place where you look fear in the face and boldly move forward? How can you work toward living life fearlessly and accomplishing things that help you grow? For the month of June, we’ll explore ways to do...

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Passionate living is how to be successful

May 31, 2018

Career, Currency, Lifestyle, Relationship

In order to truly have success in your life, you really do need to follow your heart, your mind, and your passions because spirited lifestyles precede prosperity. By Libby Reilly What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “passion?” Perhaps you think of the color red, a romantic night with a lover, or someone who is following their dreams. The truth is, there is no wrong way to look at passion. It can be about love, work, or just what makes you who you are. Passion is whatever makes your heart sing. Diving into a passionate future This month, we dove into passion in many different forms. From entrepreneurs taking a leap to make their dream comes true, to getting passionate about health,...

do what you love Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

Five tips to set your world on fire and find your passion

May 29, 2018

Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

Contributing Authors: Marla Funez, Danielle Rose, Theresa Birmingham, Marisa Goudy, Kerstin Zettmar and Jessica Laudati Although it can be difficult discovering or rediscovering passion, you can jump-start healthy harmonious passion in your life. No one can tell you what you love to do. You must figure this out on your own. Your tribe may give you direction or even encouragement, but following someone else's passions or letting another individual live out their passions through you will be your greatest regret in life. Why, you might ask, does passion matter? Passion is the animator, just as Dr. Frankenstein’s corpse was brought to life with lightning. Your passion distinguishes you from that of a zombie walking through life in search of that spark. According to a 2009 study...

do what you love Lifestyle meditation mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self tips & tricks

Genevieve Ryan talks success. Success is many things, and for this Massachusetts native, it's having her cake and eating it too.

Stories of Success: Author and Professor Genevieve Ryan keeps trailblazing

May 25, 2018

Career, Lifestyle, Newsbreaks

By Theresa Birmingham Professor, published mystery author, and Massachusetts native, Genevieve Ryan talks success in this month’s passion issue for Mind Key. The Professor Genevieve Ryan, Gen, is not only a published author, she has a Masters in Forensic Psychology and Legal Studies, and she is currently in the process of writing her dissertation. Upon completion of this, she will obtain her Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology. Mind Key/Theresa: Tell us about what you are doing with your life. Genevieve Ryan/Gen: I am a full-time psychology professor at an all women’s college and a writer. I am legitimately finally in a spot in my life where I am living my dream! I am a mood writer, so I haven’t written in a while. [However] I am so blessed to...

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Tribe friendships nurture generativity and further promote our foundation for passion and legacy.

Six ways your tribe supports your legacy

May 24, 2018

do what you love Lifestyle manifestation mental health personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

This is part two of the third article in a series of six on how to build your tribe and includes a discussion on how to find your guy or gal pals, and how to go deeper with yourself and become more vulnerable. Each article will focus on a different area of friendship and intimacy in order to not only build that tribe, but to create long-lasting bonds that transcend a game night. You can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends and the best kind of friend is the one who becomes family. You can find part one here. By Theresa Birmingham Erikson, your tribe, and finding your passion Tribe friendships nurture generativity and help build our legacy, as we learned in part one of...

Your tribe, your legacy

May 18, 2018

do what you love Lifestyle manifestation mental health personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

This is part one of the third article in a series of six on how to build your tribe and includes a discussion on how to find your guy or gal pals, and how to go deeper with yourself and become more vulnerable. Each article will focus on a different area of friendship and intimacy in order to not only build that tribe but to create long-lasting bonds that transcend a game night. You can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends and the best kind of friend is the one who becomes family. You can find part two here. By Theresa Birmingham Strong tribe friendships foster generativity and promote passion and purpose. Without our need for generativity, we would be aimless. The term, generativity,...

You can jettison healthy weight change and still have a good time.

3 Tips for staying passionate during weight loss

May 16, 2018

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By Jessica McWhirt Staying Passionate During Weight Loss Deep down, we’re creatures of habit; however, knowing that our habits are making us unhealthy may be enough to jettison healthy weight change. It’s difficult and challenging to drop fat. If you want it bad enough, though, there are ways to make changes. That being said, a lot of us are set in our routines, and change is hard. If losing weight was easy, everyone would be doing it. In high school, healthy eating and exercise weren’t on my radar. I didn’t care about them and thought it was for the birds. Then, I found cycling and fell in love with the sport. It completely changed my life. I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been and I’m passionate about staying healthy. Yes,...

This month’s passion issue has us looking at all sorts of characters. Mallory Harte Underwood talks success.

Story of Success: Mallory Harte Underwood

May 15, 2018

Career, Creativity, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Libby Reilly Stories of Success Mallory Harte Underwood talks success as we delve into this month’s theme of passion. One common thing that comes to mind when thinking about passion is someone who has chased a goal or dream, and is now living their passion through their work. Mallory, the powerhouse entrepreneur behind Hartewood Professionals, a unique virtual assistant business, has done this. Mallory and her family of four reside in Phoenix, Arizona and strive to soak up all that life has to offer. Through her previous work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, meditation and yoga practice, several cross-country moves and now raising two children, there were many instances that lead to her taking the leap into entrepreneurship. In this interview, Mallory shares the scoop on...

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Vocational happiness rewards wallet bottom lines and allows you to fulfill your purpose.

Turn your passion into a career

May 14, 2018

Career, Currency, Lifestyle

By Joseph Gonzalez Vocational happiness rewards wallet bottom lines, but more importantly, allows you to do what you love and still care for yourself and those you love. Do what you love How does the saying go? “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This saying is true for a number of reasons, with the most important one being that work shouldn’t feel like work. Your career should be something that, at the very least, you enjoy. But this isn’t always the case. A 2016 study by Gallup found that 51% of full-time employed Americans are not “engaged” in their jobs. This means that the people are essentially just there to pay the bills—there is no passion involved whatsoever. This mindset is bound...

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Uncovering passion in your own life can lead to following your soul’s purpose.

A life of Passion: Tackling your soul’s purpose

May 1, 2018

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By Theresa Birmingham At Mind Key, we believe each individual has the potential to discover not only the infinite possibility that exists within them, but we also believe the individual should work on uncovering passion in their life. The difficulty arises in getting to that point. The process. The rigor and effort behind the passion. But here’s the kicker—if we are truly following our passion, our soul, our internal fire, there is no fear. And without fear, the rigor and effort become second to the actual purpose we are fulfilling. Mind Key editor Libby Reilly knew a girl in college who, instead of wasting time with small talk, would ask, “What are you passionate about?” Not, “What’s your major?” Not, “Where are you from?” These questions are...

Finding focus is essential to growth and becoming more self-aware.

Flow and self-discovery: Moving forward with new Focus

April 27, 2018

Career, Currency, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Theresa Birmingham Finding focus and chasing after your best life In truth, finding focus is an effort, but it is an effort worth undertaking. Whether you’re tired of the same-old, addicted to social media, need a recharge with friends, or are struggling with financial focus, it’s important to understand that there are resources and help available. You want the best life you can have. For yourself. For your loved ones. Even for your clients and associates. But much of the business in today’s world is space-filler that we not only don’t need, but that inhibits our growth and ultimately, our ability in finding focus. Self-awareness in finding focus Yes, greater focus does equal being more self-aware. This month, we discussed how practicing self-aware spending can help you focus...

do what you love finances Lifestyle mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

Relationships give us power and help us discover new focus.

Building your tribe: How your crew can help you discover new focus

April 24, 2018

do what you love Lifestyle manifestation mental health personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

By Theresa Birmingham The need to discover new focus can be a difficult task to take on by yourself. But with good friends—whether time-tested or just starting out—you can successfully navigate the waters of life. Discover new focus in your tribe It’s been a long week. So long. Too long. Sometimes exhausting. And when you’re exhausted, you might be the tearful exhausted. Or maybe you’re the angry exhausted. Or maybe you just detach from the world entirely. Because of that exhaustion, you just can’t seem to focus. That dream you have, or that task you need to complete, falls to the wayside. You can’t seem to get to where your heart and mind need to be to get stuff done. Enter your tribe and their inevitable shenanigans. Whether you’re...

Is your glass half full or your glass half empty?

Focus on Relationships: From glass half empty to a full life

April 19, 2018

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by Vera Remes Glass half empty My husband used to be a “glass half empty” guy. Being a police officer, this served him well and kept him alive, I suspect. As a glass half empty guy, he was always thinking how a situation could go sideways when confronting an unknown. When we retired, his glass half empty mentality remained. No matter what was going on, he continued to look at the less positive side of things. That was, until recently, when his focus changed. I’ve learned over the last 28 years of marriage that confrontation does no good and that, if left to marinate, my husband will eventually figure out for himself how glorious life is. That said, I still suffered the initial cringe when I could focus further...

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It is possible to multitask successfully if you focus on splitting up tasks consciously.

Consciously shifting your focus: Successful multitasking

April 13, 2018

Career, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

By Marla Funez What is multitasking? Can humans multitask successfully? To what extent is it efficient? What are our limitations and when is multitasking not the best option, based on these limitations? The simple definition of multitasking is to complete more than one task at a time. Multitasking, however, is much more than that. It is about getting the most done efficiently and in the least amount of time. According to this 2017 study, multitasking is only truly considered multitasking when it is done consciously. This means even tasks that you do not want to do can be multitasked. The choice is in whether or not the tasks will be done simultaneously. Choosing to do multiple, different tasks at once means focusing on different subjects or actions at...

Focus on your inner awareness using the physical with soft eyes.

Using your Soft Eyes: Envision the big picture and find your center

April 12, 2018

Energy, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Vera Remes Focus, focus, focus—or maybe not When it comes to focus, inner awareness is essential. As a follower of horse trainers Sally Swift, Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance, I am familiar with the principles of grounding, centering, breathing and “soft eyes.” Sally Swift describes the essentials of soft eyes in her book Centered Riding as “wide-open eyes and peripheral awareness, awareness of your entire field of vision and feeling sensations from within.” Grounding, breathing and centering can relate to meditation and other metaphysical pursuits. I use those principles in Reiki, energy healing and my everyday life, but I never thought of using “soft eyes” in the same way. Now I have. Using soft eyes in life may be antithetical to the typical advice given for success—to focus, focus,...

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full potential comes from building the new

Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want

April 10, 2018

do what you love Fitness Food & nutrition Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress

By Barbara Steingas From the time we are born, we are taught our limitations and we are broken of our full potential. Our parents and caretakers, although well-meaning, tell us what we can’t or shouldn’t do in hopes of protecting us. Even though this is intended for our benefit, it teaches us to focus mainly on our limitations. Rather than focusing on our full potential and what we want to have happen, we instead focus on what we don’t want. For example, we are often told, “Don’t forget (something),” rather than, “Remember (something).” We also have the word “no” said to us an incredible amount of times by the time we are about ten years old. The book What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by...

Focus on Finances: Practice self-aware spending

April 9, 2018

Career, Lifestyle

By Joseph Gonzalez Having money is something that has been proven to make people feel better about themselves, but the ability to gain financial focus is not an easy task. Money not only enables us to essentially do what we want, it gives us a sense of security, as well. However, focusing on saving money is often easier said than done. Xinyue Zhou’s research article, The Symbolic Power of Money, which was published in the Journal of Psychological Science, explains that money provides a feeling of self-sufficiency. In this mindset, people are less likely to ask others for help. We teach those going into adulthood to be dependent on themselves. So, asking a family member, or anyone, for money at any point could cause insecurity about...

addiction business finances Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

Hone your focus; April astrological focus

April: A month of energy and a time to refocus

April 3, 2018

Energy, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Seshat Clairvoyant Our April astrological focus finds us highly energized. With the arrival of April, there is also a shock and energy that none of us know where to focus. Our attention last month was captured by so many different things happening that we’re wondering what to do next. Should we run and never stop? Should we disappear altogether? Perhaps we should just remain quiet and let this month happen without saying anything? Yet, the truth of the matter is, we have to deal with whatever shock was delivered to us in March. We can’t run and hide. We can’t disappear, and of course, we cannot remain silent. Remember we are still in retrograde energy this month. Two more planets will be retrograding this month...

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inward focus is key; outward focus is the door

Learning to focus on that which best serves

April 2, 2018

Career, Creativity, Currency, Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Newsbreaks, Relationship

New life and reflection Spring is a beautiful time of growth, inward focus, new life and reflection. There’s a reason we often participate in spring cleaning—the harsh winter is behind us. With the sun and sprouting life comes the desire for a fresh, clean start. With this new start, we allow ourselves the optimum opportunity and setting to enjoy the welcomed season. Spring also allows us to reflect on so many areas of our life. If we are wise, we can use this time to look inward and do a self-spring clean. We can rid ourselves of the habits, attitudes and relationships that are as harsh or unwelcome as the desolation of winter. By turning our focus to the important and beautiful things in life, we...

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Getting a handle on your ego

March 30, 2018

By Libby Reilly During the month of March, we spent time exploring ego, learning to better understand and accommodate our egos. This exploration into the ego has allowed us to better analyze our relationship with others, our relationship with ourselves, and the important— and sometimes ornery— role ego plays in our lives. Do you have a handle on your ego or is it running your life? Learn more about the ego, how it works in our lives, and how we can use it to our benefit, rather than our detriment, in our feature story entitled Who are you? A look at Ego and Personality Development. Check out our other great ego-driven stories this month, as well. God Job In this article, Vera Remes talks about our “God...

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Healthy ego development and the blank slate

Parenting without ego: from Blank slate to Healthy self

March 29, 2018

by Cris McCullough Is a child’s mind a blank slate or are children driven by their egos? When it comes to the word “ego,” there are two definitions. As a noun, it describes “a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance.” It implies the cultivation of self-worth, self-respect, self-image, and self-confidence. In the realm of psychoanalysis, it describes “the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.” Our Children—Blank slate, or ego-driven? As a parent, one can blur the lines between the need to inspire our children to develop a healthy ego, which will help them navigate the reality of their world without harm, and our own ego’s need to be bolstered by the...

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Parenting without ego: Living and teaching our children safety and authenticity

March 27, 2018

family & kids Home Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality stress tips & tricks transitions

By Danielle Rose If our ego is a guidance structure that we created for ourselves as children, then the best way to ensure our children create their own healthy guidance system is through conscious parenting. That means parenting without ego. That means seeing our ego for what it is, and not coloring everything through that lens. It involves facing the fears of parenting, of your own youth, of your future and the future of your children. It involves taking steps to become whole and forgetting what others have to say about the matter. Parenting without ego also involves incorporating all of our inner voices into one coherent direction. Sound overwhelming? Well, so is parenthood. The good news is that, as always, we’ve got the keys to...

Life a life of adventure no matter where you are

Ten Ways to Travel With Less Baggage

March 23, 2018

adventure and travel do what you love Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self tips & tricks

By Theresa Birmingham Many of us could do with a little less baggage. We’ve all got things we can’t help but bring with us, however, so how do we find that balance? This month, we’ve discussed ego in its many forms, but one thing that is clear is that in relationships, we bring everything we’ve got. Sometimes, what we bring is good, clean, and useful. But other things we bring can be harmful. Just as in relationships, our life and world travels, we need to be aware of how our baggage is healing or harming us. In my own life, I’ve broken a lot, mended a lot, lived a lot…and as a result, I’ve accumulated a lot. My own all-consuming drive for adventure has brought me many...

Exhaustion: It’s time to tell a new story

March 19, 2018

alternative healing environment family & kids meditation mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality stress transitions

As a woman, as a parent, as simply a person living in today’s fast-paced environment, we could all use more rest and better sleep. Not to mention, better sleep results in better focus. Author and women’s wellness advocate, Karen Brody, has created a 40-day yoga nidra program that makes yoga meditation relevant and accessible to women around the world. In this article, she shares how our ego-driven perspective on rest can be the one factor that keeps us from finding truly healing sleep. By Karen Brody Let's face it, women today are tired. I support busy women leaders, and here is what they tell me all the time: "I spent years getting educated and now I don't have any energy to work." "I love my work, but my kids...

Who do I listen to in here?

March 13, 2018

Energy, Lifestyle, Relationship

In this article, Wendy Watson-Hallowell, The Belief Coach, explores how our inner voices can often offer conflicting views. Our inner voices being what drives us toward action and growth. Indecision and goals become intertwined in a quagmire of stuck-ness when our inner compass is out-of-whack in this way. This is often compounded by the very human desire to find answers outside of the self. However, our intuition, inner child and ego have all the answers we need. Bringing these very different, yet ultimately self-serving voices into alignment can help us better understand our path. This can also show us to achieve our wellness and success goals. By Wendy Watson-Hallowell We each have a variety of voices inside our minds that take different positions and drive us toward...

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Learning should never stop: How learning supplements the ego

March 12, 2018

family & kids Lifestyle mindfulness personal development relationship with self

By Marla Funez The common phrase, "you learn something new every day " often gets taken for granted, especially when it comes to discussing learning and how education balances ego. However, learning is an ongoing process that continues as a person ages. The ego is a filter for how we live our lives, and it continues to grow the more you learn and supplement it with knowledge. The benefits of constantly educating yourself include better decision making, confidence in your decisions, and the ability to balancing the ego. The ego has a strong hold on our perception of the world and therefore, how we interact with it. Even though people cannot control what happens around them, decisions can be controlled. By first having as much information possible...

How to let go, be vulnerable, and build your tribe

March 9, 2018

do what you love environment family & kids Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress transitions

By Theresa Birmingham This is the first in a series of six articles on how to build your tribe and includes a discussion on how to find your guy or gal pals, and how to go deeper with ourselves and become more vulnerable. Each article will focus on a different area of friendship and intimacy in order to not only build that tribe, but to create long-lasting bonds that transcend a game night. You can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends and the best kind of friend is the one who becomes family. One of the most difficult tasks in this inundated digital age seems to be the ability to build your tribe. Why it’s hard to build your tribe Perhaps it’s hard to...

do what you love Lifestyle mental health personal development tips & tricks

Defining personality, building healthy ego

Who are you? A look at Ego and Personality Development

March 5, 2018

Creativity, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

by Danielle Rose and Libby Reilly Defining personality and how your ego forms can be a confusing task. This is because, at its heart, personality is who you are. What you are is a daughter, a son, a grandma, a teacher, a friend, a fill-in-the-blank. But who you are is the base of your being. Strip away all the labels and the emotions. Strip away anything but a given situation and how you react to it—that is your personality. Why are we talking about personality types in an issue on ego? Because our personality is part of what shapes our ego, and how we perceive and interact with the world. How do you interact with the world? How can a better understanding of who you are...

Understanding Ego and the Self

March 1, 2018

By The Mind Key Editorial Team This month, we look into understanding ego and the self. As February comes to end, so do harsh winter days. With March comes the first instances of Spring, along with waves of hope and encouragement for self-reflection. March feels like the perfect time to reflect on the Ego. The Ego, much like a plant, is nurtured and feeds off its natural surroundings. Many things are affected by your Ego such as everyday decisions, some personality traits, and especially your desires! The Ego should never be ignored. And that is what we hope to convey during the month of March. We hope to show you, through a series of articles and meditations, that you can become more aware, and perhaps learn...

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Gain Perspective through Healthy Patterns

February 28, 2018

do what you love family & kids Fitness Lifestyle meditation mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress tips & tricks

by Theresa Birmingham One of the most difficult skills in life is the ability to gain perspective and to not only gain it, but to hold on to that hard-earned skill. Basically, just like anything else in life, perspective is not a once-in-a-life “Oh, I’ve got it” type experience. In order to truly gain perspective, one must understand that each day is a gamble, and we choose how we will react, how we will understand, and how we will move forward in a given situation. Triggers We’ve learned that sometimes those flaws we see in others are actually flaws that are within ourselves. When we change our perspective, we can understand that everyone has a path. With this understanding, we often find that our judgments are many times...

Nothing like a good challenge to shift your view of life

February 12, 2018

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By Barbara Steingas We all need challenges to help us grow and expand our thoughts and beliefs. We tend to get caught up in limiting perspectives in life and can remain victims of our circumstances. When faced with tumultuous situations, we have an opportunity to see things in a new and different light. Challenging perspectives can change what we previously thought was impossible, to possible. Challenging perspectives, and expansion of thought This is what happened to me when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and was told my condition was incurable. Initially, I believed this to be fact. Then I was faced with a crossroads decision: my doctor wanted to put me on an immunosuppressive drug. He advised that the medicine would shut off my defense mechanisms, and I...

God’s Greatest Gifts Are Unanswered Prayers: How perspective changes everything

February 5, 2018

by Vera Remes What is your perspective on the New Year? Are you feeling positive, or are you needing to find a positive perspective for a seemingly negative situation? Even if you are welcoming the opportunity to improve in 2018, are you feeling that 2017 was less than satisfying? Have you made a resolution for 2018 that reads well but seems unreachable? Perhaps you are being affected by the winter blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real, even if I myself have trouble understanding it. I welcome the short, darker days of winter as a change from the longer sunbaked days of summer. For me, snow and freezing temperatures as a cleanser for the earth to get it ready for spring. I want to live where...

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Change your perspective and tackle the season

February 1, 2018

growth In this issue Lifestyle parenting personal development perspective relationship with self seasonal depression

by Theresa Birmingham The holidays are over. January is past. All your pesky resolutions are either in play or in the gutter. So, how has your perspective changed? Now that you have some perspective on the new year, is it shaping up to be different than previous years? Or have you found yourself in the rut of bad habits you struggle in shedding? This month we will discuss how when you change your perspective you can change your life. As we move into the short but cold month of February, The Daily Key will be examining how Perspective can open new pathways of healing, help us survive the winter, and better love yourself. We’ll also be looking at everything from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) to reexamining our...

Sometimes gratitude means nothing: The art of non-gratitude

January 22, 2018

Is it okay to experience non-gratitude? After a life-changing experience, tragedy, or diagnosis, people often comment on what they’ve learned and the good that came out of the experience. Do people go through hard times in order to gain a lesson? Is there always a purpose to trials? For Jessica McWhirt, that was not the case. In a very scary season of her life, she discovered that sometimes things are just hard — and there’s no need to be grateful for them. By Jessica McWhirt Non-gratitude is an art. I was eighteen. It was the size of a bean. And that bean-sized thing meant nothing to me. This was the beginning of how I came to understand the art of non-gratitude. People always discuss how grateful they were for something awful happening to...

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Big companies give back: Primal gives back to the Cycling Community

January 17, 2018

Currency, Health, Lifestyle

By Jessica McWhirt When big companies give back with a product that is a cut above the rest, they make huge strides in changing the way the world works. Primal is a cycling clothing company that offers an opportunity for businesses that have a greater vision. These businesses want to make a larger impact on the world. Mind Key is truly grateful for companies such as Primal, which strive to bring people together and make a difference in a tangible way. Primal’s give-back program Primal offers organizations a chance to take part in their Primal Gives Back program. Through this program, Primal donates 15% of the money made through clothing sales back to participating organizations. For example, anytime someone buys a product through Primal for say, the American Heart...

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Gratitude and your cup of tea: bringing in abundance, gratitude and peace

January 12, 2018

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Jessica Filkins is a health coach and owner of Jahmu Chai, a healing turmeric ginger tea. Each month, she shares a tea meditation that can be done quickly and easily during your morning cup of coffee or tea to bring more peace, abundance, joy and healing into all areas of your life. As we look forward into 2018, this gratitude tea meditation helps us recognize all that’s come before to bring us to this place, so we can continue to grow forward. By Jessica Filkins A daily meditation practice can increase your happiness, hone your focus and improve your health. Despite the growing body of scientific research on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices, most Americans do not incorporate meditation into their daily lives. However, most...

Life after heartbreak: From a bleak diagnosis to a miracle network of friendship

January 10, 2018

There is hope for life after heartbreak. Mind Key's New Jersey editor, Kelly Rockey, tells her personal story of turning heartbreaking news into a great story of love, friendship and fresh perspectives. When Kelly discovered her son was blind because of a genetic retinal disorder called Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), she found a support system of parents who had walked this road before. This support system soon became Kelly's best friends, and lifeline during difficult times, instilling in her gratitude and appreciation for things that may initially seem like bad news. We hope that these incredible stories of gratitude and growth during difficult times will help others see that there is hope for a better life after heartbreak. By Kelly Rockey The best Christmas gift At the very end...

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Practicing gratitude as a way to heal, grow and manifest

January 8, 2018

Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Oneyda Salazar As doable as it may seem to practice gratitude, it can be difficult to instill in your day-to-day life. The word gratitude is considered a noun because the intent behind the word is to be in that state of mind. In order to show gratitude, one must apply it as an action. You can't simply be "grateful" without incorporating gratitude into your behavior. Once you practice gratitude more regularly, you will notice how much you appreciate a lot of things in life. This includes very negative moments, sometimes also known as lessons...

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Exercise: It’s not just movement, it’s vibration

December 12, 2017

adventure and travel do what you love environment Fitness Lifestyle mindfulness relationship with self

Ian Rose--Mind Key intern and Senior at the University of Rhode Island Vibrations are a complex phenomenon that cannot be easily defined. When giving or receiving Â positive vibrations, you'll certainly know. The same is true with negative energy. Much debate focuses on how one can improve these energies and cultivate positive vibrations into the greater world. Physical activity in the natural world is directly linked to the raising and tempering of our vibrational frequency, which makes raising your vibration with sports a great option for those who want to cultivate good vibes in a very real and comfortable way. Starting with the simple things, the ones that bring you the most enjoyment, is the easiest path to expressing positive vibes. For many, the best way to begin...

ultrablue, a story of success by Eric Bunk

Music Knows No Timeframe: Meet Eric Bunk

December 10, 2017

Career, Creativity, Lifestyle

PROFILE OF SUCCESS Each month, Mind Key shares the story of one person who is successfully striving for, or has achieved, the life they were meant to live. We love sharing stories of adventure, life lessons and people who took life by the horns and forged ahead. We're excited to introduce you to Eric Bunk, a musician from West Milford, NJ who recently raised his vibration and released a meaningful song he wrote more than 20 years ago, making Ultrablue, a story of success. Tell us about what you're doing and your life path. My life path is really just to try to get the most out of life. Music helps me express some of the energy I have stored up over time. I work a regular job,...

do what you love Lifestyle music Profiles of success transitions

Music is more than a pastime: it’s medicinal

December 7, 2017

Creativity, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

by J.T. Nash, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ In a modern society, consumed by psychiatric appointments and psychoactive medications, it is essential to realize that a mere choice of song can provide a sufficient therapeutic effect to remedy some of our psychological afflictions. Music: The vibration of humanity Parents traditionally play classical music for their children to absorb while sleeping--music is a vital element of humanity, serving as a catalyst for our behavior. Due to the profound, impassioned influence that symphonic stimulation supplies, most cultures of the world use music to improve moods, deliver focus, or lull a person into a meditative state. "Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity," musical icon Moby states in an interview with Thought Economics. In...

Lifestyle mindfulness music relationship with self stress

Are you reacting or responding?

December 5, 2017

Lifestyle mental health personal development relationship with self spirituality transitions

INTRO: Eleanora Amendolara dives into the difference between reacting and responding to help you bring a peaceful grasp on each situation you find yourself in. How can you mindfully approach things that seem thrown at you, ensuring to first take care of yourself and your unique process of writing your own song? Reacting or responding: How to master the two By Eleanora Amendolara If I had one wish for you, it would be that you would find the tools and concepts to write your own song. It all begins with how you receive input from the world around you. Do you know the difference between emotions and feelings? Are you able to recognize when you are reacting and when you are responding to a situation? Both emotions and reactions are...

Allow an attitude of gratitude to be your roadmap this month

November 5, 2017

Energy, Lifestyle

By Seshat Ixchel The days grow shorter as they get colder. Everyone is preparing for the holidays. This is a month of gratitude for everything that has transpired throughout the year. As we get closer to finishing the year, reflection starts to set in. What are we truly thankful for? Did we accomplish everything we set out to do this year? As the days get colder our, minds wander to our personal relationships. Are we even happy being around the people in our circles? November's astrological report will offer guidance on how to take the current shifting energies of the universe and turn them your way through the simple act of feeling grateful. Full moon: bringing gratitude for life's unwelcome lessons November 4th is the full moon in...

Astrological Report Lifestyle mindfulness relationship with self spirituality transitions

Student’s academic performance can heavily rely on sleep

October 24, 2017

By Toyreh Blacknell, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ Time is short. The not-long-enough 24 hour cycle of light and dark is one of the most prevalent patterns we experience as humans. College and high school students alike struggle with how to use those 24 precious hours a day to balance social life, extracurricular activities, and their studies often among family and work duties. Sleep, which should take up 1/3rd of that cycle, is usually the first element to drop from the equation. Unfortunately, lack of sleep only serves to interrupt other physical, mental and emotional patterns, becoming the silent cause to many common ills. This fact has many parents wondering what exactly is sleep's effect on academic performance? How much do students actually...

do what you love Energy mental health relationship with self

Overcoming the High School Bullying Problem

October 20, 2017

alternative healing do what you love Fitness Food & nutrition Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development tips & tricks

by Joseph Gonzalez, a fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ The typical American high school environment can be just as enjoyable as it is toxic. In a sense, high school represents the last four years of your life before entering adulthood. Some might argue that it's the best four years of your life, but I would say otherwise. High school bullying takes its toll on everyone, but it doesn't always have to manifest as stolen lunch money, or black eyes. High School Bullying: Through a student's eyes Think back to ninth grade when you found yourself sitting alone at lunch or in class-- we all know this has happened to everyone at some point. You then hear two strangers having a conversation about "Jersey Shore," a...

current events family and kids relationship with self

Wash your clothes with confidence—Understanding Your Washer’s Cycles

October 16, 2017

Lifestyle

By Lizbeth Fabian Whether it's bright colors, flannel sheets, or jeans you're washing, throwing them all in the same load would be a mistake. It would be like treating all of your kids the same way, and we all know that can become not only counterintuitive, but also a disaster. Just like children, each article of clothing should be treated with specific and individualized care. If you're frustrated about laundry washer cycles, and are ready to throw in the towel, then it's time for a new spin on things. Since this month's theme is about cycles, we thought this the perfect time to share this life-tip, courtesy of A&B Family Appliances in Wakefield, RI. Understanding Washing Machines Each setting, cycle, and wash temperature determine the vibrancy and life...

clients family and kids Lifestyle sustainability

From “hard on yourself” to “supporting yourself”

October 12, 2017

Health, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Dr. Doni Wilson, N.D. offers simple tips for making positive changes in your life – and how to break the cycle of being hard on yourself so you can start to rely on yourself. Gain support for breaking bad habits through these simple tips for breaking the cycle. Support for breaking bad habits By Dr. Doni Wilson Making a change in your lifestyle can be challenging. We get into habits that are hard to break. For instance, when helping patients change their diet, they often tell me that they can be very “hard on themselves” when they eat something they know will make them feel worse. Have you experienced the “hard on yourself” vicious cycle? As you can imagine, it doesn’t do you much good. I encourage my patients to...

The Hamster Wheel of Self-Sabotage Patterns

October 11, 2017

mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self stress transitions

By Barbara Steingas We all have goals and dreams we want to achieve--or hope to achieve. However, hoping for something is like chasing a carrot we will never catch. Usually we start off confident and empowered about our goals and dreams, especially if the path to those goals are facilitated by someone or something, like by a seminar leader, or by making a dream or vision board. Consciously we really want these goals and dreams and initially feel motivated to achieving them. However, the self-sabotage pattern sets in after scratching the surface of a goal. Self-sabotage is when we say or do something that ruins our success and happiness. We often don't achieve some or many of our goals and dreams because subconsciously, we don't feel...

Tips and tricks to making good habits stick

October 10, 2017

Lifestyle

By Joseph Gonzalez Like everyone else, your new year’s resolution was getting a gym membership, and sticking with it. With your daily commute to the city, and two kids at home, you struggle to even find the energy to walk on that treadmill in the guest room that’s gathering dust. So what’s the trick to making a new habit sustainable? Baby steps: The first step in making new habits sustainable If you want to start a new habit, you should consider the factors that would get in the way. What’s stopping you from starting it? And what can you do to change that? The fact is that if you want to start a new habit, you’re most likely willing enough to find alternative methods for it. For starters, Tiny Habits...

career do what you love Energy Fitness Health relationship with self

Student’s academic performance can heavily rely on sleep

October 5, 2017

do what you love mental health personal development relationship with self

by Toyreh Blacknell, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ Time is short. The not-long-enough 24 hour cycle of light and dark is one of the most prevalent patterns we experience as humans. College and high school students alike struggle with how to use those 24 precious hours a day to balance social life, extracurricular activities, and their studies—often among family and work duties. Sleep, which should take up 1/3rd of that cycle, is usually the first element to drop from the equation. Unfortunately, lack of sleep only serves to interrupt other physical, mental and emotional patterns, becoming the silent cause too many common ills. This fact has many parents wondering—what exactly is sleep’s effect on academic performance? How much do students actually sleep? "According to...

do what you love Energy mental health relationship with self

The secret to success as a young adult is easier than you think!

September 22, 2017

Career, Lifestyle

By Lizbeth Fabian In The 8 Success Secrets: For Teens and Young Adults, author Azuka Zuke Obi offers suggestions for remaining positive, following routines, and giving yourself access to opportunities/role models to improve young adult work ethic. I first spotted the book on Mind Key’s Marketplace, and I couldn’t help but think this would be a great way to get out of my summer funk and right into work mode. As a young adult who’s still unsure on how to properly adult, I thought Azuke could offer a couple pointers to help my improve my work ethic. Work Ethic Being a college student, you have to be organized, diligent, and ultimately, prepared. But what many actual college students do is lose everything, forget too many tasks...

Watch your wishes come true with tested techniques

September 21, 2017

Energy, Lifestyle

By Vera Remes You can make your wishes come true in plenty of different ways. Techniques to grant wishes vary from the Silva Method’s Glass Water Technique to understanding right and left brained thinking. If you’ll like to know more about the creativity of wishing, read Don’t let manifesting get in the way of wishing. The Glass Water Technique The Glass Water Technique, part of something known as Dream Programing, reminds me of the experiments of Dr. Masaru Emoto where he used positive words and negative words to affect the formation of ice crystals. You pick a problem, like how to figure out why your printer won’t work. Then, just before bed, drink half of a glass of water while thinking, “This is all that is required to find...

Lifestyle manifestation personal development relationship with self spirituality

Faerie card readings with Danielle Rose: A review

September 13, 2017

Energy, Lifestyle

By Danielle Rose Krista experienced a faerie card reading with Danielle Rose back in August 2014. Since then, she has received a number of readings from Danielle. In this interview, Krista discusses her experience with Danielle and how her life has changed since then. All this as a result of card readings for self discovery. The First Time Where did you first learn about Danielle's readings? I was first introduced to Danielle Rose's readings through the Trinity Summerfest psychic fair in Sussex County, NJ. I saw a faerie card reader [Danielle], and being a long time lover of fae, I had to get a reading! What made you want to try it? Simply put: I love faeries and I love card readings. I was even more excited to find out the...

do what you love events Lifestyle mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality

September: the Month of Wishes

September 1, 2017

Energy, Lifestyle, Newsbreaks

By Seshat Ixchel The calm after the storm of eclipses and retrogrades has arrived, and with it a new set of energies emerge. August was a very intense month of purging, self realization, meticulous self-evaluation, and listening to your body. August gave us two eclipses which illuminated and activated us into proper action when it came to self-care. The month came and went on a steady pace, but with it came a lot of healing. This month, as we focus on wishes, know that the moon and wishes make a powerful pairing. We’ll offer some insight on how you can use the ever-flowing energy of the heavens to make those wishes come true in a solid and healthy way. Calm among shifting energy September starts with Mercury in...

Astrological Report

The Yin and Yang of Masculine and Feminine

August 18, 2017

By Penelope Rodriguez, WPUNJ student writer According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, there are two complementary principles of Chinese philosophy, those of Yin and Yang. They examine the principles that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites. Examples, provided by Dictionary.com, show that Yin Yang can vary from hot-cold, high-low, female-male, and positive-negative. Dictionary.com also defines Yin and Yang separately, stating that Yin is “negative, dark and feminine,” and Yang is, “positive, bright and masculine.” The interaction between Yin and Yang is thought to maintain the synchronization of the universe and to inspire everything within it. Yin and yang has fundamental philosophies behind history, culture, religion, government and business. There are plenty of differences between females and males through the principles of Yin and Yang. Yin and...

mindfulness

The Yin and Yang of food: Balancing the energies of what we eat

August 14, 2017

by Ana Valentin, WPUNJ student writer When was the last time you acknowledged where your body stood in relation to energy (also known as Qi)? When was the last time you chose to focus on the positive, or minimize negativity? Was it at a time of balance or imbalance? Perhaps it was with the goal of starting a new diet because the body felt broken down and sluggish? This represents a symptom of imbalance in the body. Energy and food go hand in hand to create balanced health. What if you were told balancing out these energies is as simple as eating more of certain foods? In Taoist belief, the concept of yin and yang represents balance. It is vital in every aspect of life, including...

environment Fitness food and nutrition Lifestyle

It’s about creating time, not making time

July 26, 2017

Career, Lifestyle

By Joseph Gonzalez Life can be easier when taking things one step at a time. But sometimes, we tend to bite off more than we can chew, and this can get in the way of doing what we love. Most of us tend to have busy lives, and it could be difficult to do what we love amid that chaos. Despite this, it’s crucial to keep in mind that it’s not a matter of finding time, it’s about creating time. It’s normal to realize you won’t be able to get to what you love to do immediately. That screenplay you’ve been wanting to write could be perpetually on the shelf because of your job, spouse, kids, and other engagements. It could be months before you are able...

do what you love Lifestyle manifestation relationship with self

Tips for battling anxiety and negative self talk

July 21, 2017