Written by:
                           Betsy Karp,
                     The Colour Coach

Turn the key to your life and open up to all that is inside of you.
Listen, listen and LISTEN more to your inner voice. Follow your heart, your passion and your dreams and you will find the success you are truly looking for. It’s all right inside of you.

Don’t be afraid anymore. Do you have thoughts that keep running through your mind over and over again, like a broken record? Is it that you feel you’re not talented enough, smart enough, pretty enough or worthy enough to do or have what you desire?  Well, it’s time to get out of your own way and stop the self–bullying. It’s spring and new beginnings are here for you, so follow your heart and that inner voice and let it guide you right to where your new ventures and opportunities are awaiting. Take it slow, step-by-step and you will get there.

Surround yourself with the color EMERALD GREEN. It helps with overcoming fears and blocks, and creates calm to your inner being. It also helps to increase your self-esteem; it attracts abundance and restores healthy energy. Spring is here, so get outside and go to a park or a lush garden and take in all of the beautiful greenery around you. When you’re not outside, imagine yourself in a field of lush grass just playing, being free and wandering and let go of all of the self–doubt. Feel the GREEN lift your spirits. What else can Color do for you? Click here to learn more.

So are you ready to do it? It really is as simple as believing you will be successful. It’s a shift in your mindset, of feeling worthy that you can have it all and that you deserve it all. There are many forms of success. One can say that success is about having a good paying job, owning a home, having a large family and a few vacations a year. Another might say success is solely about how much money they have. To me, success is more spiritual. It’s about owning my self worth and living as it has already happened.

It’s not about how you appear to others that makes you successful. Not to your family, not to your friends, not even to your boss. It’s all about how YOU feel and what moves and truly inspires YOU…your being! THAT is success.

I was at a dinner party the other night and I asked everyone at the table, “What is success to you?” One person answered, “Success is paying my bills and feeling good about what I do every day.” Another replied with, “Success is the creation of my child.” Still, another responded with, “Success is my way of being.”

My life is now filled with connection from so many different venues. I feel successful in who I am… just as I am. To me success = being peaceful inside and I am peaceful right now. It’s taken me a while to get here and it is a daily journey. I don’t feel this way every day, but I appreciate the days that I do. I revel in them. Every day is a gift and a new beginning for success! Life wants us to thrive, so it’s up to us to choose to believe it. Do you?

Share with us your idea of what success has been to you up to now and how this article will shape your view of success for the future. Turn the key, unlock the blocks and find your success. It’s right there; it always has been.

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Have a Colorful Day,

Betsy Karp,
The Colour Coach

Over 28,000,000 people have watched this video, it will be worth your time.  It is a beautiful reflection on why we have to say and feel...i adore me.

                               Written by:
                               Betsy Karp,
                         The Colour Coach

Are you speaking your truth, walking the walk and talking the talk or are you hiding behind your truth?

I was having coffee with a friend and she asked, “How do we find that confidence in ourselves when we don’t feel it?” I said, “I believe that confidence is a mixture of competence and trust in who you are and what you know. It’s stepping outside of your comfort zone.”  When we play in the arena of life, it gets messy and we screw up.  The answer is in NOT being perfect, which is what makes you REAL. It’s being authentic and just being who you are, as you are.

Confidence is the quieter you. It’s not boasting or bragging. It’s being humble. It’s living life, experiencing everything…most importantly, being OPEN. Let go of the way you want it to turn out. It’s funny, but sometimes we really don’t want to admit how much we like surprises. If we knew it all we would be so bored.

I find when I surround myself with the color ORANGE everything shifts in my world.  I feel happier and more grounded. I bought a card today for ME, which was odd and funny but felt great. This gorgeous, hand painted, orange card says, “Courage (small steps, big heart)” on the outside. On the inside it says, “As you move forward, know that I am here for you.” I inscribed it, “To Betsy, I believe in all of you just as you are,” and I signed my name. I read it when I’m feeling alone, frustrated and wanting answers.  It helps me to just be and appreciate who I am. It was an act of love for myself. It makes me smile every time. Orange is the color of courage...to learn more about Orange, click here.

Getting out of our own way challenges us to grow and learn, experiencing it all. When we break down the barriers of fear, isolation and shame, we move forward and grow in our lives. It’s saying, “I’m ok in my own skin. I like me.” When you truly like you, you are the real deal!

The biggest relationship we have in life is the one we have with ourselves. Yes, we have mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and lovers and children and friends, but we are brought into this world alone, as one, and we go out as one. Along the way we share it with many people, but when we really get down to it, the relationship that makes our lives work is the one we have with ourselves.

If you are true and honest, not only talking-the-talk but walking-the-walk (because only you know when you aren’t really being honest with yourself), well, then you are the real deal. You kind of know it when you are. Anyone can become the real deal. So speak your truth and live your truth!

Another way I live my truth is by reading and re-reading Don Miguel Ruiz’s “The Four Agreements.”

The agreements are:

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don’t take anything personally.

3. Don’t make assumptions.

4. Always do your best.

These agreements are something I practice and preach every day. It’s not about gaining the approval of others, but learning to love and approve of oneself.

So where do you fit in this picture? Do you see yourself as the real deal? If not, be honest with yourself. Take time for you and make yourself happy. Relax and don’t be so hard on yourself. Learn to meditate, breathe, let go and accept yourself for who you are! This makes you the real deal! It’s okay to just be YOU… Say out loud to yourself, “I am ready to live, learn, screw up and just be ME!”

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Have a Colorful Day,

Betsy Karp,
The Colour Coach

                           Written by:
                          Betsy Karp,
                  The COLOUR COACH

A friend recently wrote this to me in an email. See if it applies to you as well:

"Ah! WHY are we doing all that we are doing??

Now THAT'S a question to ask oneself! I often ask myself that same question and the answer often is...because I don't know how to get out of it! When that's not the answer, then the answer is often...because it needs to get done and no one else is going to do it!

The other question that I ask myself a lot is 'why am I NOT doing so many things that I used to do and enjoy?' Like yoga. And ballet. And reading The Sunday Times. I still don't have an answer for that one, except that...I'm doing everything else!"

Please participate below and comment with the answers to these questions:
What are you doing that you don't like to do?
What are you not doing that you want to do?
What's stopping you?
Is it you?
Is it your current life/situation?

Have a Colorful Day,

Betsy Karp,
The COLOUR COACH
Creator and Founder of i adore me

                    Written by: Betsy Karp

My entire family and I went to go see one of the last shows of “War Horse” at Lincoln Center in NYC. I’m not sure what all the hoop-la was all about. We found it very hard to sit through and six out of the eight of us really had a hard time keeping our eyes open. My mother and father managed to stay awake even though this was their second time seeing it. How they did that, I don’t know. So many people loved it. I found it to be painful and boring.

We went to go eat afterwards at P.J. Clarks and had the perfect table downstairs in the back. It was a round table with a red and white checkered tablecloth that sat all eight of us. I was telling everyone about the workshop I went to and how we were asked to name one thing or one person we were grateful for. Scott, the eldest grandson who adores my father, blurted out with great enthusiasm, “Papa, you are caring and generous and you always put everyone before yourself. There isn’t anybody that can say ONE negative thing about you. You are the most well rounded person I know and I love that!”

Marc, the youngest grandson, chimed in, “Papa, you are my role model and you give and give without ever taking. You are so generous, caring, hardworking and intelligent and you are the best grandfather I could ask for.“

My mom had tears rolling down her face and I saw my father’s eyes swell a little. My dad said, “See sometimes going to a bad show brings out the best in all. Thank you!”

My sister interrupted and said, “Wait! I have something to say. Thanks Dad for always being there. You are my friend, my mentor and my hero. I admire and respect you, and love you with all my heart. I am proud to be your daughter.”

So then it was my turn and I stated, “Dad you are Remarkable! You are the most devoted, dedicated and compassionate father, as well as the hardest working, honest, and warmest man I know. Actually, I think you are getting younger than older in your years and I adore you.”

All you have to do is meet my father to see what everyone is talking about. My Turkish friend Sumru recently met him and said, “your father’s warmth radiates from him and his being. He is even warmer and nicer than you described”.

My father has taught me so many invaluable life lessons and he is the one person I look up to and always want to make proud. He, in turn, makes all of us so proud and we are grateful that he is our Dad and Papa too!

Who are you grateful for in your life? Reach out and make that person feel great today too!

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me

                    Written by: Betsy Karp

This is your year to be totally honest with yourself and to tell the truth.

Your truth…

We all know deep within ourselves what that looks like, but somehow most of us our afraid to really reveal it.  Start believing in the saying,“ the truth will set you free,” because it will. When we honor our true feelings, everything starts to shift. We can open up, be real and start moving forward with integrity. Ask yourself these questions: “Am I being honest with myself? Am I living in integrity? Am I telling my truth?”

I spent New Year’s Eve with someone from my past that I love very much. I was honest with my feelings, and myself, as well as with him. I have no idea where things will go and what will be, and how the Universe will intervene. Maybe we are just two passionate, loving souls sharing space and time in life. I really don’t have all of the answers yet. But what I do truly know is that it feels so great that I was honest with my emotions and myself. I told the truth. My truth. Life and love are complicated and yet when we are truthful with ourselves, everything seems to be a little simpler and a bit freer.

Let your heart steer you in the course you need to go in 2013. Trust that a pure heart will bring you just rewards. Look within and listen to your heart. The heart never lies. It is the truth. Don’t let your head bamboozle your every move. Our mind-voices can make us crazy and turn everything upside down.

Envision and create this New Year to be a year of honesty, and integrity with everyone in your life, but most importantly yourself. Adore yourself and tell your truth so that you can be the change YOU want to be in 2013.

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp
Founder of i adore me

I found this beautiful video on YouTube. It is an inspiration to me. There is a famous poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer entitled, "The Invitation," and it is incorporated in this video below. It was uploaded onto YouTube by CreativeRain. I invite you to not only watch this video but read the poem underneath the video. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me!

Hugs,

Betsy Karp

The Invitation
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Canadian Teacher and Author  

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
 
© 1995 by Oriah House, From "Dreams Of Desire"
Published by Mountain Dreaming, 300 Coxwell Avenue, Box 22546, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4L 2A0

                    Written by: Betsy Karp

Have you asked yourself this question lately: “Who am I?” I love the synchronicity of the universe and how it all works. Everywhere I have gone in the last two weeks, the phrase “Who am I” has come up and brought forth an inner awareness within me.

I was gifted two tickets this week to see the Broadway show, “Cyrano De Bergerac.” It is a tragic love story of a man and his unrequited love for the beautiful Roxanne. Cyrano is a duelist, a gifted, romantic poet and a brilliant, passionate man. He has, however, a disfigurement that causes him terrible, life-long self-doubt. He was born with an obtuse nose, and from that moment, his own mother wanted to give him back, because of his fated flaw.

Cyrano ‘s inner self-doubt and lack of “Who am I” prevents him from expressing his need for true love. He feels that his ugly nose shouldn’t even allow him to be loved by an ugly woman.

Many of us have flaws, imperfections and self–doubt. Why is it that we hide and mask many things about ourselves? There should be no crime or shame in this, but only a true learning and gracious understanding in accepting and honoring the flaws within us.

There is so much beauty in all of us, including our imperfections. As I ask myself, “Who am I” and continually grow into whom I truly am, I have learned to appreciate my flaws and the weaknesses that make me “ME.” No one wants to be a perfectionist. Yes, it is true that we all want things to go well and have success, but there really is no such thing as being perfect.

I have been having my own sense of self-doubt and fears lately, as so much of my life is all about new ventures. I am stepping out of my comfort zone big time and challenging myself like I never have before. I am really showing up for me while staying present every day.

Just the other day I was internally beating myself up, causing a lot of anxiety. It was bringing up feelings of, “Am I good enough? Do I have what it takes? Am I worthy?" And then I had a dream that helped me to break the blocks and move forward in my own sabotaging beliefs. In my dream, I was in a beautiful Indian palace filled with luscious colors, wall hangings, pillows and velvet colored furniture, but there were no bathrooms. In the dream this palace wasn’t a great place to be when I had to go, but when I awoke from the dream, I realized I was creating the blocks within myself.

Once I was wide-awake, I realized how grateful I was to have a bathroom in my apartment. The dream helped me to let go of the perfectionism in me and to know that I am enough. I then reached within my heart and brought out my inner love for me. I repeated the mantra, “I AM ENOUGH…I AM ENOUGH AS I AM,” and as I said this, everything shifted in me.

Cyrano spent his life in denial and wasn’t brave enough to confess his love to Roxanne, his soul mate and true love, due to his heavy tormented self–doubts. Don’t be a victim like Cyrano. Be the victor of you and start to live your life today by saying, “I AM ENOUGH…I AM LOVE …I ACCEPT MYSELF AS I AM.”

When we allow our pasts and our own self-doubts to take away the beauty of self-love and all that we can be, we lose our authentic selves. When we are honest with ourselves, we look inside our hearts and find the courage and strength to say and admit our truth.

Stand up for what you believe in… flaws and all! BE BOLD, BE BRAVE, BE COURAGEUOS! Ask yourself, “Who am I?” and honor that!

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me

Right now I have a lot of hope in my heart. I have hope for our country. I have hope that we can move forward as a united nation now that the election is over. I have even more, positive hope that President Obama will do what he set out to do 4 years ago. I have hope that my dreams and my passions of i adore me’s success will come to fruition. I also have a deep hope and courage within myself to keep going, never giving up. What do you have hope for?

Please enjoy this video. I hope it will inspire you as it has in me…

*Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me

             Written by: EDWIGE GILBERT

Have you ever wondered what the true definition and meaning of the word emotion is? As women we are often accused of being too emotional, and often we simply agree, wishing we weren't. The real problem, I believe, is not having too many emotions, but actually is not knowing how to have our emotions flow in harmony and balance. Consider changing your perspective and looking at the word emotion as “E-motion” meaning "energy in motion." Look at it this way, and you can see that too much E-motion can create an excess and imbalance of energy in the body, which in turn directly impacts our health and leads to “dis-ease”, thus the ease of the body is dis-rupted.

We all agree that we cannot avoid our responsibilities and obligations in our lives. We also agree that we are constantly bombarded with challenges, which in turn throw us out of balance and create excess ‘E-motion’. We have now entered a complete vicious cycle: from emotions to stress, and from stress back to more intense emotions, looping around again and again...

Let us ask ourselves this question now. Does all this mean that the perpetual emotional roller coaster ride we experience will condemn us to suffering and sickness? No! What we need to learn is how to get off the roller coaster ride and understand how to return to a safe place within, to a state of emotional balance and optimum health and strength.

In my Fresh Start program I teach my clients how to achieve this result, by teaching them how to transform stress into strength with a fundamental two step process called “The Clearing and Creating formula”:

1. ”Clearing” the present from any anxiety or fears that hold you back, then accessing a quiet place within, where you can relax and feel safe.

2. ”Creating” the future, imagining the person you would like to be with and the life you would like to live.

You can also learn to change your beliefs about what happens to you. For instance, you could start believing that you have the power to transform your life and to imagine that the universe tests you at times, to see how you will respond to conflict and challenge. Have you ever questioned what would happen if you chose to welcome every challenge as an opportunity to develop courage, discover your inner strength and resiliency? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you chose to feel victorious instead of victimized? This choice is yours and yours alone, and will determine the state of your well-being.

Having said that, let’s find out what practical steps you could take every day to reach, and most importantly, to maintain this emotional balance in your multitasking, hectic life. I have created a series of rituals and exercises that I promise, if practiced daily, especially for the first 21 days (necessary time to create a new mental conditioning), will have a very powerful and positive effect in your life and will simultaneously create more “Joie de vivre" (French for joy).

If you seriously want to be successful with this process, I suggest that you start believing that you can, that you are worthy of feeling good about yourself, that there is always light waiting for you at the end of the tunnel, and most importantly, celebrate every day as if it were your last:

• When you first wake up in the morning, stretch your arms above your head and declare to yourself:
                                ”I am happy to be me, I welcome the world of infinite
                            possibilities, I Can, I Do, I Will! Victory to me, victory is mine."

• When a difficult moment arises, imagine yourself holding a sword of fearlessness in your hand as you walk boldly forward to meet the challenge.

• When you feel very anxious, gently wrap your left thumb with the fingers of your right hand, hold it for 1 minute, and as you do, breathing deeply, imagining all your worries melting away.

• When you encounter a challenge, see it as an opportunity to test your courage and to develop your strength of character.

• When you want to experience some calmness in your day, take a deep breath in and say to yourself the word “calm." And as you exhale say the words “let go” and begin to imagine your mind like the silent bottom of the sea without a ripple of thought disturbing its surface.

• When desiring more confidence and energy, think of your belly as your power center, and as you breathe, gather all your energy supplies into that space and smile.

• When desiring change, release your will power, activate your subconscious power instead and imagine yourself the way you want to be.

Now – You are ready to experience joy, love balance and positive energy.

Merci,
Edwige,  Author of  The Fresh Start Promise

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are!"                            Joseph Campbell

Are you living your truth? Do you feel that you are truly being honest with yourself each and every day? What is it you can say about yourself that is “uniquely you?”

I believe that everyone has a true, special, unique gift to share with the universe. Most of us want to share something that we are passionate about or truly great at, but then we shy away with lingering doubts, continuously asking ourselves questions like, “Can I do this? Am I good enough? Do I have what it takes to make all of this work?” The answer is a BIG YES! But it takes guts, courage and a tremendous amount of persistence to make your special gifts a reality. Here is the thing one needs to ask oneself: “What can I do to serve?” It’s about this instead of what you will get.

There is only one you and you are worthy of happiness, doing what you love to do everyday. Embrace you, and learn to appreciate and love you. You have special talents and strengths that no one else on this planet has. It is your job, however, to find that gift. Follow your inner guidance, listen to your own spiritual GPS and be honest with yourself. Isn’t it time to get out of your own way, breaking down those walls of fear, isolation and shame, and start living your truth? Once you open up and let go, you will be amazed at what you see in your-SELF.

The biggest relationship we have in life is with ourselves. Yes, we may lucky enough to be loved and have parents, friends, lovers and children, but it is you that has to make your life work. You don’t need anyone’s permission but your own to make your dreams come true. What’s truly amazing is that once you step into your truth, you give yourself permission, you start to take action and the universe supports you. It has your back, door’s open, new opportunities arise and synchronicity begins to work it’s magic. 

It took me a long time to truly believe in myself and to have the guts and courage to start “i adore me.” It was something that was inside of me, yearning to come out. I knew I had to do this. I needed to do it for me just as much as I needed to for others. It was learning to self–love and to take care of me with love and respect. It’s an evolving process as well as a daily journey.

At first I had my doubts and fears. So many people thought I was NUTS! Many people said to me, “Really Betsy, i adore me? No one can really say and mean that. It’s too hard. It makes people sound so full of themselves.” My reply was, “I adore me is about feeling self-complete, not self-conceit”.  Again, people stated, “Just forget about it! It’s not going to work!”  But I had a deep feeling within my gut that this was what I had to do. It is my calling and my truth. I listened to me. I was in alignment with my mind, body and soul and I didn’t have a choice.

It's amazing how three simple words, “i adore me,” can cause such a reaction within people. I am so happy now that I am persevering and sharing my message and vision with the universe. It is a gift to you to say and feel the words “i adore me.” I am thrilled that others want to share their truth and stories through their own blogs within the “i adore me” community. It’s about creating a movement of self-love. It’s a journey of self-exploration in finding all that is great about YOU, and building on that while sharing your gifts with the world.

So please share what is “uniquely you” about YOU, and stand in your true power…


Please comment below and share with your friends.*

Hugs,

Betsy Karp,

Founder of i adore me