• Beauty, Fashion & Health Vendors
• Figured Fashion Shows
• Beauty & Spa Services
• Bra fitting, Body shapers & Speakers
• Learn How To Live A Healthier Lifestyle
• Maintain your Curve Appeal

Hosted By: Chenese Lewis

For additional information visit, ProjectCurveAppeal.com.

I knew she was wheelchair bound. I knew she was CEO of a company, Sunshine Project H.E.L.P, that provides help and training to those with spinal cord injuries. Sometimes her organization may help others with getting equipment.  I knew she had a modeling troupe of models who were also wheelchair bound, Sunshine Models on Wheels. I knew they put on shows and did fundraisers. I was even aware that they had participated in  Baltimore Fashion Week last year (a first). What I didn’t know was how she got there.

Recently my client, Sunshine King, sent me a friend request on Facebook. I accepted it of course but I did what I normally do, go look at the info page. I was shocked when I read that it was her husband who had shot her twice and one of the bullets is what put her in that wheelchair. It made me admire her even more. It made me want to introduce the world to such an incredible woman. When you speak to her, she is just as funny and nice as can be. You don’t hear an ounce of self pity or anger. You hear how much she wants to help others and let those with spinal injuries know that the wheelchair can’t stop you from doing what you want to do – even modeling!

Sunshine (such an appropriate name) is also an actress, dance and model instructor, fashion consultant, makeup artist, choreographer, massage therapist and of course a survivor of domestic violence. She even has a fitness program for those with spinal injuries. She wears more hats than an able bodied person.

This is only a brief glimpse and I plan on doing an actual interview. When you get a chance venture over to her website where you can even donate to such a great cause.

• Beauty, Fashion & Health Vendors
• Figured Fashion Shows
• Beauty & Spa Services
• Bra fitting, Body shapers & Speakers
• Learn How To Live A Healthier Lifestyle
• Maintain your Curve Appeal

Hosted By: Chenese Lewis

For additional information visit, ProjectCurveAppeal.com.

Take a moment to envision where you want to be in life. Where do you want to live? What do you want to look like? How do you want to feel emotionally? What kind of car do you want to drive? How much money do you want to make? What do you want the state of your business to be? What do you want for your family?

Now, think about the thing or things that are holding you back from where we want to be. If we are completely honest with ourselves we will admit that our largest obstacle is often the person that we look at in the mirror every day.

There are several ways that we get in our own way. The most obvious is not believing in our own abilities thus allowing fear, doubt, negative self-talk and procrastination dictate our futures. If we do that, we know it…but I want to call out some of the other hidden and sometimes subconscious things that we do to sabotage ourselves.

1. Burning the Candle at Both Ends and In the Middle!

When you have a vision or a goal that you’ve set for yourself, it’s a natural tendency for those that are driven to want to grind and give it all we’ve got. The problem is that sometimes we go so far as to give it what we don’t have as well.

I remember the first and only time that I ever ran out of gas in my car. I was ripping and running all day, and I actually had the money. I was just so busy pushing my agenda to the limit that I never set aside the few moments that it would take to refuel. So as a result, there I was, in the middle of the freeway, at midnight, out of gas. So now, not only was I held back, I was brought to a screeching halt. I went from doing too much to not being able to do anything at all.

There are two things to keep in mind if this sounds like you. First of all, you won’t be good to anyone or anything if you are burnt out mentally, physically and emotionally. That purpose or calling that has been placed on your life will be placed on hold and you will be placed on a stretcher or a hospital bed. And finally….challenge God and allow him the opportunity to show you all that He can do for you. Trust that He’s right there next to you on the battle field of life. Faith takes work, but even God rested.

2. Spending Time Talking About What You Can’t Do and Doing What You Don’t Want to Do.

I went to see author, ReShonda Tate Billingsley speak the other day, and one of the many things that she said that stood out to me was, “Every minute spent talking about what you can’t do is a minute that could be spent doing it.” This rings so true! We spend SO much time talking about what we can’t do and why we can’t do it. Those minutes, hours, days and weeks could be spent taking action on the plan that is burning inside of us.

On the same note, we often spend just as much time doing things that we know we don’t want to do. Perhaps it’s that job that you hate and you know that deep down in your heart, if you step out on faith and leave it, God will have something even greater waiting for you. Maybe it’s all of those things that you do to help others reach their goals and realize their dreams…which is great…but what about you?

Start thinking of your moments as money in a bank account that will disappear if you don’t spend it or invest it. Think of every hour as one million dollars. You get the same amount each day, Twenty-four million dollars, and how you use it is up to you. Will you use it wisely? Will you waste it? Or will you go too hard with it and fall into burning that candle at both ends and in the middle?

There are several other factors that contribute to you getting in your own way of that future that you want including the company that you keep, your willingness to give, how you manage what you are given and so on. I just wanted to give you the two above to ponder and digest. If they hit home for you take a step or two TODAY to make shift in a different direction. Take a path that is clear of obstacles. Get out of your own way!

Maya Angelou

The 2010 International Fuller Woman Expo takes place at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, MI on September 18, 2010.

Special Appearances Include:

• Actress, Comedian & Talk show host, Kim Coles
• Executive Producer of Full Figured Fashion Week™, Gwen DeVoe
• Biggest Loser Contestant, Carla Triplett

For vendor opportunities or to attend the 2010 event visit TheFullerWomanExpo.com for additional information.

The good news is that if you listen to your self-talk, you can hear the assumptions that trigger the unique stressful reactions of being a busy women with a hectic life.

ASSUMPTION #1: There is a right answer and it is mine

If you are the best and the one who knows, then you have an answer for every question about things that are important to you. Always being right not only hurts your relationships, your body triggers a ‘fight-response’ when your brain senses disagreement. Even if you have learned to manage your mouth, your belief will still trigger your stress. Can you let some other people be right sometimes too?

ASSUMPTION #2: No one can do the work as well as I do

Things will spin out of control or fail if they aren’t done by you. As a result, you will overwork, take on too many projects, and resist sharing your work with anyone else. This not only produces stress, you are often resentful and exhausted. Look for the times you can develop someone else by training and delegating, and allow others to learn from their mistakes as you have also done.

ASSUMPTION #3: I am disappointed, again

Whether it’s a job or a relationship, you start out excited about the possibilities, then you feel let down. This is due to the unreasonable standards you set up which no job or person can meet in the long run. If you don’t tone down these expectations, you will always focus on what is wrong. Try focusing instead on what is right and what is possible.

ASSUMPTION #4: I don’t need help

You are a strong, smart woman so you don’t need anyone to help you succeed. You can figure it out on your own. Unfortunately, this assumption is a horrible waste of your precious time. Letting other people help you is more efficient, it builds relationships, and you look stronger in the long run.

ASSUMPTION #5: I have to be great at everything I do

For the first time in history, girls are brought up to believe we can do anything. To make up for lost time, this message is being delivered with a vengeance. As a result, girls interpret the words to mean, “I must be great at anything I choose.” Then as a woman, the more knowledge and experience you gain, the heavier is this “burden of greatness.” When one accomplishment is complete, you quickly search for the next great thing to conquer. As a result, you may not enjoy your achievements as you busily, and stressfully, move on to accomplish something more.

About The Author: Marcia Reynolds, Psy.D., master coach and author of the groundbreaking new book, Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, June 2010), identifies the 5 stress-inducing assumptions that many women tend to make.

• Beauty, Fashion & Health Vendors
• Figured Fashion Shows
• Beauty & Spa Services
• Bra fitting, Body shapers & Speakers
• Learn How To Live A Healthier Lifestyle
• Maintain your Curve Appeal

Hosted By: Chenese Lewis

For additional information visit, ProjectCurveAppeal.com.

The 2010 International Fuller Woman Expo takes place at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, MI on September 18, 2010.

Special Appearances Include:

• Actress, Comedian & Talk show host, Kim Coles
• Executive Producer of Full Figured Fashion Week™, Gwen DeVoe
• Biggest Loser Contestant, Carla Triplett

For vendor opportunities or to attend the 2010 event visit TheFullerWomanExpo.com for additional information.

• Beauty, Fashion & Health Vendors
• Figured Fashion Shows
• Beauty & Spa Services
• Bra fitting, Body shapers & Speakers
• Learn How To Live A Healthier Lifestyle
• Maintain your Curve Appeal

Hosted By: Chenese Lewis

For additional information visit, ProjectCurveAppeal.com.