Mind Body Spirit Blog

Power of Positive Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 06:08:00 +0000

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale is one of the most powerful books of all time about the law of attraction and how we can choose how to direct our minds. I am currently writing a book about the keys to happiness and one of the main keys is learning how to focus our thoughts on things that strengthen us.

If you are searching for greater happiness in your own life - make sure you read The Power of Positive Thinking. It's a must-read!

Spa Gift Certificates

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:47:00 +0000

This past weekend I was able to have a quick getaway and enjoyed a day at a beautiful spa. Surrounded by clutter and confusion in life along with the stress of searching for a job, trying to earn money, striving for balance in family, health and other ventures... it is important to take a step back once in a while and re-evaluate life and priorities. (FYI: Last minute deals are available at Sandals Resorts!)

As I sat in the sunshine, enjoyed a nice workout and spent a bit of time in the steam room, I was able to unwind and let some of the daily stresses fade into the background. For those of us without a lot of money, receiving spa gift certificates can be a huge blessing - not only as an opportunity to be on the receiving end of a gift, but also to feel nurtured, pampered, and have a few moments to become centered again.

If you're looking for a gift that anyone will enjoy - think about giving spa gift certificates - or even buy some for yourself to use during those times of extra stress.

This blog has moved

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:01:00 +0000

This blog is now located at http://blog.body-spirit.org/.
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Mind Body Spirit Books

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:07:00 +0000

I'm finishing up my newest book about finding happiness and am considering the publishers of mind body spirit books. I am leaning towards Hay House as the publisher as I feel like my book would fit best there. But are there other publishers of mind body spirit books that would be a good fit? If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share...

Reiki

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:01:00 +0000

Everything You Wanted to Know About Reiki!

By: Taggart King, Reiki Evolution

If you are wondering what Reiki is all about, here would be a good place to start.

Imagine that you have gone along to a Natural Healing Exhibition and you are going to sit in on a talk about Reiki. You will find out what Reiki is and where it comes from. You will discover what it is like to give and receive a treatment. You will hear about the effects of Reiki treatments and come to understand how being attuned to Reiki can change your life.

So, get yourself comfortable in your chair, and let's listen in on the talk.

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Welcome
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Hello and welcome to an introductory talk about Reiki. My name is Taggart King, from Reiki Evolution, and I am a Reiki Master, which just means that I can teach Reiki. Over the next half an hour or so, we are going to be talking about lots of different things to do with the 'Usui system of Natural healing', as Reiki is also known. Reiki has the potential to bring
some wonderful changes to you and the people around you, so if anything we say strikes a chord with you, if you can see yourself making Reiki a part of your life, if you feel that this is the right direction for you. then do get
in contact with us later and we can maybe take things further.

To start off with, we'll talk a little bit about what Reiki is and where it comes from. Then we'll move on to find out what it's like to give and receive Reiki. We'll find out what Reiki can do for you whether you have a course of treatments or whether you decide to learn Reiki for yourself. And
finally, you can hear all about using Reiki to treat yourself, and Reiki as a spiritual practice.

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What is Reiki?
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Well, in the way that it is presented in the West, Reiki is a bit like a Japanese version of spiritual healing, though it has completely different origins. A man called Mikao Usui was responsible for developing it, he was a Tendai Buddhist, born in 1865 and died in 1926. Reiki is based on Channelling energy, working with energy. The energy is quite often called
chi, which is the energy that underlies oriental medicine, so when you practise acupuncture and you use needles to encourage energy to flow through a person's meridians, you are working with the same energy that you channel when you practice Reiki. If we think of Tai Chi, the energy cultivation
technique, where the various graceful movements that you make serve to build up your body's personal reserves of energy, you are again talking about the energy that you channel when you practice Reiki. You could call the energy prana, the energy that you work with when you practice yoga, but it's the
same stuff. Now, from the Oriental point of view, chi doesn't just flow through us, but it surrounds and engulfs us too, so you'll have heard of feng shui, where you arrange your living environment to allow the better flow of chi through your household. So when you practice Reiki you are
connecting to and channelling an external source of chi that flows through you into the person you are treating. And you can also connect to and use the energy for your own personal benefit.

But this isn't the only way that the energy is viewed. Many people prefer to see the energy as having divine origins, and they see the channelling of Reiki as drawing down divine light or divine love. This ties in more with the point of view of conventional spiritual healers, who draw down divine
light. And because Reiki is not attached to or allied to any particular religious belief, it should be acceptable to all people whether they have no religious beliefs or very strongly held beliefs.

So is Reiki chi, or is it divine light. well it seems to be a bit of both:
Reiki is spiritual chi.

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Where does Reiki come from?
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A Japanese-American lady called Hawayo Takata introduced Reiki to the West in the 1930s. And when she started teaching it, it was probably the worst time in human history to be teaching a Japanese healing technique in America, with thoughts of Pearl Harbour still fresh in everyone's minds, and the population generally hating and despising anything to do with Japan.
Along comes Mrs Takata to teach Reiki, and so she felt prompted to put together a story about the history of Reiki to make it acceptable to a potentially hostile American public. So out goes Mikao Usui the Tendai Buddhist, and in comes Dr Mikao Usui, Christian theologian, and we were told a story about him travelling the world, studying theology at various
universities, to try and find out about the healing powers that Jesus displayed. This was said to culminate with a 21-day period of fasting and meditating on the top of Mount Kurama, near Kyoto, when Usui saw symbols in bubbles of light, and Reiki was born. Unfortunately most of this story is complete fabrication, put together for good reasons no doubt, but we can
move on from this story now. The real history of Reiki is a lot more interesting and makes a lot more sense.

Usui's Reiki is rooted in lots of existing Oriental traditions that were carrying on in Japan in Usui's time. Reiki draws on Martial arts and energy cultivation techniques, and Usui Sensei was well versed in both these disciplines. Reiki draws on an ancient tradition of Japanese Palm Healing,
called teate. It uses empowerments (connection rituals) coming from Tendai Buddhism - a mystical form of Buddhism that's practiced in Japan - and involves ways of controlling the energy that come from Shintoism, the indigenous religion of Japan. So Reiki isn't new, though Usui Sensei does seem to have put together different existing traditions in a new way. He
does seem to have had some 'moment of enlightenment' after a long period of fasting and meditating on Mount Kurama, and this moment of enlightenment does seem to have contributed in some way to the development of Reiki. But he didn't go up a mountain and come down with Reiki, as we were first told.
His various studies and experiences culminated in the development of Reiki, but it was rooted in existing tradition.

Usui also did not develop Reiki in isolation. He was a member of what you might call a group of spiritually advanced people, all of whom were going in different directions but were keeping in contact with each other, swapping ideas, sharing experiences. He was good friends with a man called Ueshiba who developed Aikido, he was in contact with a man called Deguchi who was responsible for developing a new religion called Omoto kyo, there are even
connections between Usui and the people who developed the spiritual system called Johrei. So Usui was one of a group of people who were all developing energetic and spiritual methods, which crystallised and as Reiki, a spiritual path / healing technique, as Aikido, a very spiritual and compassionate martial art, and in a new religion based on the use of ancient
Shinto mantras.

Whereas Usui's Reiki was a path to enlightenment, with healing others as a part of what you did along that path, in the West we have been presented with Reiki basically as a treatment technique. This is because of a historical quirk. One of Mikao Usui's students was a man called Dr Hayashi,
a retired surgeon commander from the Imperial navy, a Christian. Dr Hayashi wasn't so interested in the 'spiritual path' side of Reiki, and he concentrated on Reiki as a treatment technique. Dr Hayashi taught Mrs Takata, and Mrs Takata brought Reiki to the West.

It is only in the last few years that Western Reiki people have had a chance to find out what Usui's original system was all about, so this is a very exciting time to get involved in Reiki! For the first time we now have a chance to follow more the system that Usui set down, rather than the
unrepresentative version that came through Dr Hayashi and Mrs Takata. This more traditional way of practicing Reiki is part and parcel of the courses that we run at Reiki Evolution. It 'fills the gaps' that there are in Western
Reiki.

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What is it like to give and receive Reiki?
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Well, if we talk about being on the receiving end of a Reiki treatment first, while it can vary a great deal from one person to another in terms of what they feel when they're having a treatment, you can generalise about the sort of things that most people will notice. The 'big three' sensations when
receiving Reiki are (1) deep relaxation, (2) heat from the practitioner's hands, and (3) seeing colours.

Reiki treatments make you relaxed: deeply, deeply relaxed. Most people who receive Reiki end up drifting in and out of consciousness, they lose track of time and sometimes an hour on the treatment table can feel like only 15 minutes. Some people - particularly men - seem to fall asleep completely.
It's very common for people to feel a lot of heat from the practitioner's hands, sometimes really intense heat. heat so intense that it's simply not possible for hands to get that hot. It seems that the body can't feel the energy in a distinctive way, and the best approximation it can come up with
is to feel the energy as heat. Another common experience is to see colours against your closed eyelids as you are being treated. Sometimes a random rainbow light show, sometimes colours that change depending on what hand-position is being used. It is quite common to see blue, lilac, violet,
purple.

Now those three experiences: deep relaxation, heat from your hands, sometimes seeing colours, seem to be about the limit if men's experience of Reiki, assuming they can stay awake long enough to notice them! All the more subtle sensations seem to be noticed by women, though of course I am generalising here.

So what's it like to give a Reiki treatment, then? Well most Reiki people will feel either heat or tingling in their hands as the energy flows; some people feel a bit of both. Some people have heat as their main sensation, and if a lot of energy comes through then they start to feel tingles; some
people have tingles as their main sensation and if a lot of energy comes through then they start to feel heat. Tingling isn't so much like pins & needles, but more of a fine 'fizzing' in your hands. There is a whole range of different feelings you can have though: throbbing, pulsing, heaviness,
magnetic feelings, coolness, or even a breeze blowing under your hand.

Giving a Reiki treatment is a lovely experience. Particularly if there's a lot of energy coming through, you can really 'merge' with the energy. Your mind empties of its own accord and it turns into a beautiful meditation. And because you're not giving out your own energy, you aren't depleted or drained at all at the end of the session. In fact you get some benefit from
the Reiki that has come through you, so you'll feel so calm and content. It's a lovely experience.

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What Can Reiki Do for You?
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One thing that Reiki seems to do for most people, whether they've come for a course of treatments, or have learned Reiki for themselves, is to produce what I call 'the Reiki effect': Reiki helps you to feel more calm, content,
serene, it helps you to feel more positive, better able to cope, and you're not so affected by stressful people and stressful situations. So people might come for a treatment with everything from depression to a pain in their big toe. and they all go away feeling more calm and content, more positive, better able to cope, less stressed. and this effect is also something that you should start to notice once you've been attuned to the
energy. Not necessarily a great big overnight transformation, but usually something that builds up in you gradually, or perhaps it is something that you start to notice with hindsight. You realise that you are thinking and feeling about things differently, or maybe your family and friends start to
comment that you seem to be less stressed, less bothered by things.

If you read books about Reiki, or look up Reiki on the Internet, you'll keep on reading that 'Reiki changed my life', 'Reiki changed my life'. And the way that Reiki seems to do this is by giving you a sense of clarity. It helps you to cut through all the rubbish that surrounds people's lives nowadays and focus on the things that are really important to you, your real
priorities. and for some people the first stage of that can be to work out what your real priorities actually are. The energy seems to give you a 'kick up the backside' and helps you to make some changes if you need to, to get your life more in line with what's really important to you.

Sometimes the energy can make you dissatisfied for a while. You doubt your job, you doubt your relationships, you look carefully at different areas of your life. and sometimes you may decide that yes, you are happy with that, yes, you are going in a direction that feels right for you, but sometimes
you may make some changes, and Reiki seems to give you the strength to do that too.

For a few weeks after being attuned you may have a bit of a rough ride. You may have some emotional ups and downs, up and down like a yo-yo. you may feel dissatisfied with things, you may have some physical symptoms coming to the surface like a cold or some headaches. The energy can get to you all the
time, and it is starting to bring things into balance, and part of the process of bringing things into balance involves releasing things: thoughts, emotions, physical things.

Health benefits can come from simply being attuned to the energy, without having had any treatments at all. For example, some people I've attuned have found that long-term painful conditions have partially or completely resolved: the pain of scoliosis, plantar fasciitis, long-term back pain.
Reiki will gently work on you in the background once you've been attuned, and you can increase the beneficial effects by focusing Reiki on yourself in different ways.

In terms of treatments, there's no proper scientific evidence to back up claims about the effectiveness of Reiki. They haven't taken a big group of people with arthritis, say, split them into two groups, with half of them being treated by Reiki people, and half of them being treated by 'pretend' Reiki people, and comparing the results. There's nothing like that as far as
I can see, so most of the evidence is anecdotal, and as far as Western science is concerned, that isn't enough. So although anecdotally Reiki has done some amazing and incredible things, even in very serious and life-threatening conditions, there's very little 'proper' scientific evidence to back up such claims.

So when I talk to people about the effects of Reiki, I talk about my personal experience of treating people, and I have found that Reiki has produced some amazing results: with long-term pain, stress, low energy levels, sleeplessness, with emotional blocks and long-term emotional issues.
all those unresolved things that we keep well hidden, all that stuff that is grinding away under the surface that we don't want to deal with. Reiki takes the lid off these things and allows us to release them, and that allows us to move forward. Reiki works on all levels. It deals with physical problems;
it works on the mental and emotional levels too. It takes a person as a whole and helps to bring them into balance.

So you can share your Reiki with your family members, you will be able to make a real difference to their lives by treating them, and you will benefit from the treatments that you give too. What a wonderful gift we have in Reiki.

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How Do You Learn Reiki?
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The strange thing about Reiki is that although you can find out it by reading books, you can't actually 'do' Reiki until you've been 'tuned in' by a Reiki Master (teacher). The Reiki 'attunement' connects you permanently to the source of energy, and once you're attuned then the ability will never
leave you. You don't have to be a very spiritual person to learn Reiki, you don't even have to believe in it. You simply need to go on a course and it will work for you. Isn't that wonderful?

People notice many different things when they are attuned. Some people feel very little; others have profound experiences. But what you notice when being attuned isn't a guide to how well the attunement has 'taken': Reiki works for everyone.

Reiki is taught at different levels: you start with first Degree and then after a while you move on to Second Degree. This can be seen as 'practitioner' level. We do not recommend that you take Reiki first and second degree over consecutive days, because we believe that you need to have a chance to put Reiki into practice for a while. You need to do some self-treatments, and you need to get your hands on some real people so that
you feel comfortable with treating before you move on to the next level. You also need to give yourself a chance to get to grips with the new energy that you are connected to, and let everything settle down a bit before moving on.
Most people nowadays go on to take Second Degree level, and then a few might decide to move on to Mastership.

When you become a Reiki Master, one of the things you learn is how to connect others to Reiki. To be able to pass on Reiki to others is a wonderful gift. And Mastership isn't a final destination: it's just the first step on an exciting journey! You can't become a Master of anything by going on a two-day course, so real Mastery comes through dedication and
practice.

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Making Reiki Part of Your Life
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Once you've been attuned to Reiki the ability never leaves you, but how clear a channel you are for the energy depends on how regularly you use it. Reiki isn't something that you just learn about: Reiki is something that you practice. Now the best way to make sure that you're going to be a strong channel for Reiki is to carry out energy exercises every day for 10-15
minutes. We teach you energy exercises called Hatsu Rei Ho, which come from Japanese Reiki. As well as doing your daily energy exercises, it is a good idea to treat yourself regularly too. This will again clear your energy channels, and it will increase the beneficial effects that Reiki has on you.
Though Reiki works on you slowly and gently in the background all the time,the more you work with it, the more it will work on you.

In its original form Reiki was a path to enlightenment, and this spiritual aspect has never really left Reiki, though it is usually presented to us as a treatment technique. So for many people, Reiki helps to fill that 'spiritual void', it can help you to find your true life purpose. It can help you to feel more connected spiritually no matter what your religious beliefs might be. And because Reiki is not attached to any religion, it is not attached to any belief system, then it should not conflict with anyone's beliefs.

To finish our talk, I want to share with you a few simple 'life principles' that Mikao Usui recommended his students follow, and for me these principles encapsulate some of the beneficial changes that Reiki can bring to you.
These are his 'precepts':

Just for today do not anger,
Just for today do not worry,
Be humble,
Be honest in your dealings with people,
Be compassionate towards yourself and others

Reiki has the potential to make a wonderful difference to you and the people you care about, it can fill the spiritual void that so many people feel nowadays, and it helps to bring things into balance on all levels. If anything I have said feels right for you, if you like the sound of what you have heard, if you can see yourself learning a simple and powerful energy
technique, then let us know and we can have a chat about it. You won't regret it!

Thank you very much for your time.

About the Author

Reiki Evolution is a Reiki training organisation in the UK that provides small scale Reiki training throughout the country. The Reiki Evolution web site is a very useful resource for people who wish to find out more about the Reiki system, and for Reiki practitioners and Master/Teachers who are interested in developing further with Reiki.

The web site offers free Reiki guides, a free ezine and loads of interesting and inspiring Reiki articles written by Taggart King. You can order professionally printed Reiki manuals and books, download ebooks and self-help guides, and order Reiki CDs or MP3s with commentary and guided meditations.

We teach a form of Reiki that is close to Mikao Usui’s original system, rather than the ‘Western-style’ Reiki that is found on most Reiki courses, and our approach is based on information coming from a group of Mikao Usui’s surviving students.

We are one of the few people in the world to be offering high-quality Reiki home study courses that are the equal of live training, with one-to-one e-mail support, quality manuals, CDs and DVDs, and detailed course instructions. So you can train with us no matter where you are in the world. www.reiki-evolution.co.uk

(ArticlesBase SC #475342)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Everything You Wanted to Know About Reiki!

Acne Remedy

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:34:00 +0000

If you are searching for natural remedies for acne, you can find a lot of herbal treatments and ingredients that can assist you and be a good acne remedy for you.

You may have to test to determine if you have sensitivities or allergies to specific ingredients. Some popular acne remedies include zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B & E, Echinacea, tea tree oil, honey, cinnamon powder, nutmeg with milk, orange peel, garlic, lime juice, mint juice, fenugreek, and Vitamin C.

Tea tree oil helps to eliminate bacteria which inflames and infects acne. Dietary changes can be made which also can assist with breakouts.

Here are a few acne remedies you may wish to try:

Ground nutmeg and warm milk - mix into a paste and apply over acne for 1-2 hours.

Paste of honey and cinnamon powder. Apply at bedtime and wash it off the next morning. Repeat each night for 2 weeks.

There are lots of other remedies which do work, but to find the right acne remedy for your skin type and situation, you will need to test them out. You may also wish to go with one of the most popular remedies in America - Proactiv. (Get free shipping plus bonuses at Proactiv. )

Health and Wellness in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:15:00 +0000

As we have entered the new year, many of us seek to gain more health and wellness in our lives. This is a great time to set some goals, find new ways to put health as a priority and setting aside time to meditate. Consider your life and how it could improve this coming year. Then make yourself a priority. You are the only one who can take time to exercise, eat right, get enough sleep, ponder, meditate, and create more wellness in your own life. Good luck on your new year and cheers to better health and wellness in 2010!

Healthy Fruit Smoothies

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:52:00 +0000

If you want to learn how to make smoothies and get great healthy fruit smoothie recipes, check out www.howtomakesmoothies.net. Share your favorite recipes there as well.

Drugstore.com Sale

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:39:00 +0000

Quote: Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:48:00 +0000

"A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth." -- Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life", Ensign May 1996

Health Risks for Steroid Injections

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:35:00 +0000

So a few years ago I had an accident which resulted in 6 herniated disks in my back and neck. In December I had a steroid injection in my neck and now I'm suffering the consequences. The 2 injections I had in my lower back did help with the pain for which I was very grateful. The injection in my neck not only has not impacted the amount of pain I experience, but now I have severe daily migraine headaches, my eyesight is constantly blurred and now I have discovered that the injection can trigger diabetes (for which I am at risk). Wow. I wish my doctors (any of the various doctors) would have asked about my family history for diabetes and at least told me that was a potential side effect. I have also been told that because the injection skyrockets blood sugars, that could be why my eyesight has been affected.

So, to all of those out there who are considering the injection route. Yes, it can be helpful in some cases (albeit temporary relief), there are also many side effects that most doctors will not explain. It is up to you to research and determine if this is the direction you want to go.

Oh -- I forgot one more thing. I've basically been sick since the injection and I have found that steroid can hamper your immune system as well. Nice.

I'm not complaining - just recognizing again how important it is to not just take any medication prescribed nor participate in any procedure before really knowing the risks. Now back to drinking more orange juice, taking my vitamins and trying to get some sleep to hopefully boost my immune system so I don't keep catching every cold or flu that comes along. :)

Potential Life-Changing Reality TV Show with Tony Robbins

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Just learned about a new TV show that has been picked up by NBC. The new series will star Tony Robbins - life coach and strategist. It actually sounds pretty good and I predict will be a hit.

Variety Magazine recently posted an article about the series.

NBC has picked up eight episodes of a new reality series starring famed life strategist Tony Robbins.

Show, from "The Biggest Loser" producer Reveille, reps the first major unscripted series at the net greenlighted by new Peacock alternative chief Paul Telegdy.

In joining NBC at the start of the year, Telegdy zeroed in on the success of "Loser," which is one of the few reality franchises currently exhibiting ratings growth.

"This was one of the first things I was pitched," Telegdy said. "We were looking for shows complementary of each other, and this fit in thematically with 'Biggest Loser.'�

The as-yet untitled show (tentative title: "Breakthrough with Tony Robbins") will follow Robbins as he takes participants and helps them face personal challenges; the pilot, for example, focused on someone who was a lifelong stutterer -- and who, by the end of the episode, was speaking in front of a public audience.

For each segment, Robbins will create a 30-day program for the individual to get their life back on track. Cameras will capture that evolution throughout the month, documentary-style.

"My goal is to not make this the Tony show, but to put the focus on the people who are transforming," Robbins said.

Segments will also feature some of Robbins' friends, such as Quincy Jones and Donna Karan, as they spend time mentoring people.

Robbins said he had been pitched several TV ideas through the years, but most were of the daytime TV talk variety. When Reveille came calling, the company's success with "Biggest Loser" gave him hope that there was an audience for something more life-affirming.

"I want to do something that has impact, something real and raw," he said.

Robbins noted that some auds know him because of his infomericals -- and that "you're known by the company you keep, and I'm next to the spray-on tan guy." As a result, Reveille and NBC are making sure that the primetime show will look "radically different," Telegdy added.

"This is not an infomercial for any of Tony's methodologies," Telegdy said. "But the reason why Tony makes a lot of money is the tools he sells are good, and he's going to be unpacking a lot of those skills in broadcast TV for free."

Robbins will exec produce along with Reveille's Howard T. Owens, and Mark Koops. Bruce Beresford-Redman is also an EP. Meanwhile, Robbins said his regular business and foundation work will continue.

Renewal of House and Home

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:22:00 +0000

At times it seems that a small and simple change in our homes may be just the boost we need. Something as simple as a new bed cover, a painting, some throw pillows, a new rug or even a new coat of paint on the walls.

It doesn't have to be much and in our economy it seems that small changes may be all most of us can afford. I've found some great deals at Overstock.com and Walmart that I thought I'd share with you.

Save up to 60% on Bed, Bath & Linens at Overstock.com!

Quote: Success

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:26:00 +0000

"If you want to be successful, be excellent. If you want the best the world has to offer, offer the world your best." -- Oprah

Being a Mormon

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:42:00 +0000

I wanted to share this great blog about being an LDS / Mormon woman in life today. It's a great place to start sharing thoughts about life and religion in our society. There are many anti-Mormon blogs and misunderstandings about being LDS -- we are somehow thought of as being associated with the Amish or polygamist cults. It's not accurate at all, and I think it's nice to get correct information to the public about what we believe -- as well as share our testimonies of Jesus Christ and his Atonement. I'm very happy to support this blogger in her efforts to share her thoughts and feelings - not just about being a Latter-day Saint - but about being a single mom, about coping and staying on top of things in a life that is filled with so many distractions. She also has a blog about simplifying and organizing which is fantastic.

Humor for the Day

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:14:00 +0000

Here is a very funny video clip for the TV show "Numbers" -- it's a parody of the PC vs MAC commercials. Thought I'd share. Enjoy!

Tribute to President Gordon B. Hinckley

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:43:00 +0000

I just came across a beautiful video tribute to President Gordon B. Hinckley. Thought I'd share it with you.

The Virtue of Patience

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:23:00 +0000

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell linked patience and faith together when he taught: 'Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best--better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His' ("Patience," Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28).

"We can grow in faith only if we are willing to wait patiently for God's purposes and pattern to unfold in our lives, on His timetable."

(Robert C. Oaks, "The Power of Patience," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 16-17)

Taking a Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:48:00 +0000

"It's time to take a vacation!" After the holidays are over -- don't you sometimes feel as though you need a vacation -- just to recover?

Recreation and renewal are extremely important to maintaining a balanced and happy life. I sometimes feel as though we get caught up in the "rat race" too much. I returned from a trip to Hawaii in mid-December -- and it became extremely clear that our society is out of balance. After stepping off the plane, I was just about run over by 10-15 people rushing this way and that with their luggage -- pushing and shoving. No one looking at each other or smiling. No happiness. No friendliness.

It felt very sad to me. Coming from the warmth and openness of the Hawaiian Islands -- back to the rush. What a contrast.

Anyway, I'm very easily caught up in the "thick of thin things" myself -- and have to remind myself to quit working at 10-12 hours per day rather than the 16-18 hours I typically work. So, for New Years -- I've set goals to have mini-vacations throughout the year -- to take breaks and have more fun. Otherwise, life just passes us by.

So, if you feel as I do -- you can change it -- take a vacation, take a step back, look at your life and really ENJOY!

Quote: Overcoming Shortcomings

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:35:00 +0000

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

Quote from Oprah

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:46:00 +0000

I really liked this quote -- and thought I'd share:

"It makes no difference how many peaks you reach if there was no pleasure in the climb." -- Oprah

Great Quote on Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:16:00 +0000

"Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy." -- Cynthia Nelms

I liked this quote so much I thought I'd share.

Quote: Spreading Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:53:00 +0000

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves." -- James Barrie

Quote: Good Attitude

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:19:00 +0000

"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude." (M. Russell Ballard, "Providing for Our Needs," Ensign, May 1981, 85)

Benefits of Vacations

noreply@blogger.com (RoMay J. Allen) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 04:37:00 +0000

Taking a vacation should be required for everyone at least twice a year. There are many benefits of taking vacations. It gives us opportunities to review our lives, take a break from our daily routine, get re-centered, and re-create. Europeans have the right idea -- they take summer vacations -- 6-8 weeks each year. I wonder what has happened in American society -- we work longer hours, take less time off, are more stressed out, have more health problems, and seem less relaxed than other cultures. Do we think we're going to get behind if we take a break? Probably. I've been there myself.

But the benefits of vacations are so great not only in mental and physical health, but also in emotional health and productivity.

So, take a break -- go on a vacation -- and relax. It will pay off in the long run!