Authentically Joycelynn

Living Whole in the Kingdom of God

How To De-Stress

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Best Self Help Books for Women on Amazon

Best Self Help Books for Women on

Best Self Help Books for Women On Life, Love, & Health

I’m an AVID reader! I love self-help books, so I thought I would share my favorites. So, here is my list of 10 best self help books for women on Amazon and you can find them all on Amazon. Most are available by on Kindle, if you want something instant! (I LOVE to hold a book in my hands, but sometimes I want the book NOW)  The 10 Best Self Help Books for Women on life, health, and nurturing that I’ll be sharing, are my personal favorite and have make a huge impact on my life!

1. Eat, Pray, Love   by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I was given this book for Christmas when it first came out in 2007. This book was instrumental in my life as I was beginning to re-think the path I was walking along in regard to my career and what I really wanted out of life. This is NOT a “how to” book, but rather a simple book sharing the journey of Elizabeth Gilbert. She reached a point in her life where she was questioning her choices in marriage, career, and life in general. Every page was a genuine outpouring of her desire search for meaning and love. I’ve also seen the movie and Julia Roberts did a great job capturing the essence of the book.

2. You Can Heal Your Life  by Louise Hay. A great description from Amazon about this book, “Louise’s key message in this powerful work is: If we are willing to do the mental work, almost anything can be healed. Louise explains how limiting beliefs and ideas are often the cause of illness, and how you can change your thinking…and improve the quality of your life!”  This is a favorite recommendation as a one of my best self help books for women on healing your life.

3. Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar.  I’m an herbalist and aromatherapist, and this book is a great overview of using herbal help to support common issues that is particular for women. I own Healing Streams Wellness Center for women, and this is a reference book I find valuable in that center. I personally have experienced periods of stress and burnout in my nursing career, and this reference has been a great support for me.  Great herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Best Self Help Books for Women on

 

4. Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief   By far, this book gave me a great “ah ha” into understanding my own personal burnout experience. I felt like I was experiencing “adrenal fatigue” which I do know is not a “medically accepted” term at this time. I was experiencing extreme fatigue, exhaustion, and feelings of overwhelm. When I read this book, I cried. FINALLY, I found something that made sense to me and it explained my situation. I created teas and things like “adaptogen balls” that I could use to support and nourish my body.  I use Mountain Rose Herbs  for most of my herb purchases and really love their quality.

5. Mind Over Medicine  by Dr. Lissa Rankin.  I loved this book. This was about a woman’s journey, similar to Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love, except it’s about a physician, which is great, because since I’m a nurse, I felt I related specifically to her struggle in Western Medicine.  A very moving journey of Dr. Rankin. I found this to be a one of the best self help books for women on life journey.

6. The Wellness Workbook  by John W. Travis, MD was a textbook I used during my training as a Wellness Coach. This book was instrumental in helping me heal during a severe time of burnout in my life. I use it daily as a tool when sharing with others now as a Wellness Coach. This is the one of the best self help books for women on wellness that I know of! Truly one of my favorites!

best self help books for women on

 

7. Healing Your Family History: 5 Steps to Break Free of Destructive Patterns by Rebecca Hintze. I love this book. Let’s be honest. Many of us have “stinkin thinkin” and it can come from destructive thought patterns developed from childhood. I found this book to be very helpful to me personally as I worked through the “why” of my though patterns. I have found this to be one of my favorite self help books for women on working through destructive thought patterns.

8. One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer, Phd.  This is a nice little book that can be a life changer. When you learn you don’t have to do it all at once, or take huge impossible steps; you will be amazed at your progress in reaching goals! One of my favorite for sure!

9. Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone for Everything  This was a great book. Bitterness is as the root of so much stress and even physical problems. It’s imperative to explore this subject especially if we want to grow past what may be hindering us.

10. How to Hug a Porcupine: Dealing With Toxic & Difficult to Love Personalities Great book on learning to deal with the difficult people in our lives, and how to set boundaries.

11. Declutter Your Life: Reduce Stress, Increase Productivity, and Enjoy Your Clutter-Free Life  Clutter will destroy our peace! I totally believe this! It’s unreal what clutter does to compromise your peace and even productivity.  This is one of the best self help books for women on how to declutter.

I hope you enjoy my book suggestions for self help books for women! I certainly found them to be life changing.

Be Well!

Joyce
best self help books for women on

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Best In Home Spa Recipes

In Home Spa Recipes
DIY Home Spa

Using In Home Spa Recipes Can be SO easy!

Do you LOVE to DIY (do-it-yourself)? I love ideas for in home spa recipes.  Have you ever thought about creating products for a DIY home spa? The luxurious products and special pampering at expensive salons and get-a-way spa’s make it almost impossible for the average woman to seek out these services. I’m not the average woman! I LOVE the pampering and opulence. The only difference is, I Do-It-Myself! I host DIY Ladie’s Night Out Spas in my community. I share recipes with attendees, and we enjoy a chair massage, and foot scrubs and soaks, and other pampering products. I make them myself and teach others to do the same!

Finding ingredients for making in home spa recipes can be simple. You only need to start with a few ingredients and most are easily found at the grocery or can be found on places like Amazon, or Mountain Rose Herbs and recipes! Here’s a great reference e-book you can get started with to create simple luscious products like soaks, scrubs, and body butters! Here’s a Guide To Creating Spa Products.  It’s even loaded with information about how you can use in home spa recipes for profit. That’s a win-win, isn’t it?

My favorite thing to make is body butter. Oh, the first time I whipped up this dreamy cream and rubbed it on my body right after a soaking bath…what can I say, I felt like I was pampered just like being in a high quality pampering day-spa.

Here’s an EASY sugar scrub recipe:

EASY SUGAR SCRUB

1 cup granulated white sugar—works best
1/2 cup olive oil
3-4 drops essential oil of choice
Pour white sugar into an empty jar with a tight fitting lid (a small jelly or condiment jar works great) Pour the
olive oil into sugar. Add essential oil and mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended. Or, screw
on the lid and shake to mix the ingredients.

In Home Spa Recipes

Here’s an easy body butter recipe:

½ cup Organic Shea butter

½ cup Mango Butter

½ cup Organic Coconut Oil

½ cup  Organic Olive Oil

Essential oils.  You can send me an email to joyce@theessentialnurse.com to find out about the essential oils I use and recommend and how you can purchase them wholesale!

I gently melt the Non-essential oils in a microwave bowl. They don’t need to get very hot/boil…just bring them to a melt. Stir well. Put them in the fridge. As they start getting cool, and begin to become solid (don’t let it get hard, just at the beginning of solid)  Take them out of the fridge. Get out your awesome mixer with beaters, and begin to whip it up! Whip for several minutes, and it’s going to start looking like whip cream.  Add 10-30 drops of essential oils. Continue to whip until nicely mixed up, and you’ve got the most awesome body butter! Place the mixture in a nice container. You will have enough to use a couple of containers. If your house is warm, you will need to keep it in the refrigerator. If not, you can leave it out in your bathroom or bedroom.

You can see how fun it is to create your own spa using your own in home spa recipes. It’s easy AND addictive!  Start with a few recipes.

Next is to create a nice fruit water. Nice clean crisp water in a pitcher and add lemon and cucumber slices with a hint of mint! Pour a nice tall glass before you get into that soaking tub!

In Home Spa Recipes

This Essential Nurse KNOWS the need for attention to self-care. I diligently set up my own spa at least once a week.  And Now… I will finish it with this:

In Home Spa Recipes

 

Enjoy that long soaking bath. Don’t forget that you can find more In Home Spa Recipes here

Be Well, Be Blessed!

Joyce@theessentialnurse.com

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Holistic Stretching: Body, Mind, & Spirit!

Stretching Yourself

 

 

Stretching Yourself

Waking up this morning I was reminded to stretch. Moving my office around yesterday I made the mistake of trying to re-arrange furniture that was too heavy.  The next morning morning only a faint reminder of uncomfortable muscles remained, and a good stretch really helped out.

Where do you need to stretch? There are several definitions of stretch, but this one on the free online dictionary is the meaning I am looking for: To extend or enlarge beyond the usual or proper limits. Basically I am talking about going outside of your box to stretch.

PHYSICALLY

Getting in a habit of moving when you haven’t been moving can be a STRETCH for many of you. Start by actually stretching when you first get out of bed. While you are cooking, consider a few deep breathing exercises followed by nice stretching Yoga poses. Stretch, and as you do: reach beyond the area that is comfortable for you. Get in the habit! This type of movement only takes a few moments. It adds up as you practice it more and more each day! It gets your blood flowing and the oxygen moving!

MENTALLY

STRETCH your mind! Get outside of your comfort zone and pick up a good book that will stretch your mind. Are you use to reading only fiction? Pick up a good personal development book. I am enjoying “Aspire” by Kevin Hall, a gift for Christmas. Each chapter is focused on a word that will really help you stretch your mind.

SETTING GOALS

Pick a few areas where you want to see growth and set goals. However, you need small steps in reaching those goals. STRETCH that goal. Make sure your plan to get there doesn’t become overwhelming. Remember, small steps can lead to permanent change! Get involved with a group coaching program for accountability!

EMOTIONALLY

What can you do to STRETCH emotionally today? Look around you and see what you can do for someone else. It can be as simple as giving an encouraging word to a friend on Facebook. Pick up the phone and be encouraging to someone who you know can benefit from encouragement. Look outside yourself. YOU may be going through a hard time but you will ALWAYS be encouraged when you give of yourself to someone else!

SPIRITUALLY

STRETCH yourself spiritually. Find that quiet place and spend time in prayer and meditation. Find a scripture that ministers to you and write it out. Place it where you can refer to it often today. Open up your journal and write what is on your heart. STRETCH yourself by writing! Share your article with friends. When you become authentic (being real), you never know who you will touch with the power of your words.

So the idea for today is STRETCH. Go just outside your comfort zone! It’s not a GOOD stretch unless you FEEL it! I would love to know what you are going to do today to STRETCH yourself! Please leave a comment below and share what you are going to do today to go beyond your box!