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Experiencing Writer’s Block? Laugh It Off

CinnamonThere you are: sitting at your keyboard after eliminating every distraction known to man. You’ve exited out of email, LinkedIn, facebook and even twitter. Coffee and snacks by your side, you’re ready to go. Except. Well. No words are flowing.

Your mind has gone blank and your fingers are hovering over the keys, waiting for that profound thought, any thought, to get your piece started.

It’s time to get recharged and rejuvenated – a relaxing vacation on the beach, or maybe an adventurous rafting trip down the Colorado would do the trick. Okay, let’s get back to reality; the trip might be in the planning stages, but you’ve got to get some writing done today. What to do? Get your silly on and bring back your creativity:

  • Step away from the keyboard for an immediate stress reduction.
  • Take a deep breath. Yes, this really helps.
  • Go outside – alone with a co-worker, a friend, a pet – for a change of pace and environment.
  • Find something that brings out your inner child and makes you laugh.
  • Not sure how to get yourself laughing? No problem, there’s a link for that.

Taking yourself too seriously is the perfect way to sabotage an otherwise great day. Lighten up, laugh it off and the words will find you.

Experiencing Writer’s Block? Laugh It Off was last modified: June 26th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

Life-Changing Moment: Exploring New Territory in Nutrition

 

It still amazes me that such a simple, straight forward phrase would change my life:

Interestingly, it is impossible for cancer to develop in an alkaline environment;

When I came across these words in Brandon Brazier’s  book Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life , I was surprised that there was no footnote or reference to research substantiating this bold claim.  I folded the page over; and while I continued reading, this phrase had piqued my interest and I couldn’t let it go.

So I read on – books, newspapers, blogs, and more. What has happened since has been a remarkable turn of events in my life. I’ve read book after book after book about the impact of nutrition and lifestyle on cancer and other chronic illnesses. My bookshelf now houses a wide variety of books about nutrition and cancer; a stranger entering my office and glancing at this collection might conclude that I am a nutritionist or physician rather than a storyteller. These books provide countless examples of just how powerful our bodies are at healing illness when given the proper tools: psychological and physical environments, nutrition, and exercise.

As I learned more about the ability each of us has to heal our illnesses, I realized that if I were facing a cancer diagnosis I would want to know ALL of the treatment options available to me – yes, there’s more than surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Drawing on one of the guiding principles of the Lance Armstrong Foundation – Knowledge is Power – I’m writing a book that highlights people who have modified their diet and lifestyle after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Some people have done this in conjunction with conventional medical treatment, while others have selected lifestyle changes as their sole method of treatment.

I hope you’ll join me for this journey and all of its wonderful twists and turns.

Life-Changing Moment: Exploring New Territory in Nutrition was last modified: December 1st, 2016 by Deb Nelson

Three Tips for Sharing Your Story: It’s All About Your Audience

Places You'll GoLead Big or Go Home. Draw your listener in with the unexpected. A young man who was in treatment for substance abuse got the attention of his audience with his opening statement: “I come from a very loving family.” That was the last thing this group expected to hear as an opening line; and by the time the young man finished speaking, the audience members had laughed, cried and cheered him on.

Get to the Point. Leave the meandering to all of us who go for a leisurely stroll through the park. Your job is to have a clearly-defined and concise beginning, middle, and end to your story. Knowing the difference between building suspense and rambling aimlessly is a valuable skill.

Take Your Audience on a Journey. We all love adventure. Now that you know the importance of being concise, make sure your story includes enough detail so that your audience is experiencing exactly what you’ve experienced: joy, excitement, pain or suffering.

Follow these tips and your audience will become your advocates; your story will become their story as they spread your word throughout their circles.

Three Tips for Sharing Your Story: It’s All About Your Audience was last modified: June 14th, 2012 by Deb Nelson