Karen Knowler * The Raw Food Coach

The Four Juiciest Secrets - Call Recording and Handouts

The response to my call last week has been truly incredible. I promised that the content would be life-changing, and it was.

For those of you who missed it and would like to hear it, you'll find the details below together with the handout that you may well want to use to take notes in a useful and structured way.

But first a selection of feedback we received after the call, whose authors have kindly agreed for their comments to be published:

“Dearest Karen – I just wanted to personally thank you for last night’s call.  After I got off, I made a decision to quit my job of 12 years and devote myself full-time to my company, Rite Food and Company.  I’ve been trying to run my company part-time for months now and have been really struggling... mainly because I was pushing back/ denying/ silencing my ‘inner voice’.  Thank you for reminding me that I’m powerful beyond my wildest dreams.” ~ Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt, Rite Food and Company, New Gloucester, Maine, USA

“Hi Karen, you are amazing....your breakdown was actually your breakthrough.  You have changed my raw food journey. Thank you from my entire green heart, mind, body and soul...a true convert.” ~ Reina Ocasio, New York, USA

“That recording is a gem, a masterpiece, or mistresspiece, it is awesome.  I'm on the net a lot, for over 12 yrs, and that is one of the very best things I ever, ever experienced by way of the net.  You are real, you are truly concerned, you have something of value to contribute, you are willing to put it out there, you are speaking from the truth of your being, you are a pioneer in life, in raw, in marketing, in being love - thank you.  I’m so happy to see you sold out, as is appropriate.  I know that your contribution will be returned to you multiplied.  Thank you; know that you have made a difference in lives all over the planet that will then touch others and others and others, wow - just wow!” ~ Dr. Dianne Jennings, Costa Rica

Gabriella Goddard's Gulp! Virtual Book Tour

Regular readers of my blog may recall how a couple of months ago I purchased a book called "Gulp!" by Gabriella Goddard. I explained how I had worked with Gabriella a year previously when I was a client of hers seeking to brand myself as "The Raw Food Coach" - but I wanted to do it right. So it's largely thanks to Gabriella that the look and feel of TRFC that you see today (and that's finally going live on my web site this weekend) exists, as she was brilliant at encouraging me to find my own authentic style and be 100% me through my brand. Yes it did mean binning a £1000 logo, but hey! Needless to say I'm very grateful for that advice as I now have a brand that is completely me, that feels very right and others seem to love too!

So after purchasing Gabriella's first book recently, which, incidentally has nothing to do with branding (!), I once again became one of her biggest fans! This time Gabriella's theme of being authentic is running through life itself, encouraging people to go for it with their biggest and boldest hopes, dreams and desires.

And I do have to say it: quite simply this book is brilliant - both in the way it is written and the way it has been all pulled together into a framework that really works! As such it's fantastically useful and an invaluable tool for anyone contemplating making changes in their life - big or small.

So it gives me great pleasure today to welcome Gabriella here to The Raw Food Coach blog at 10:30am, Friday 1st September 2006. This is one of a few stops Gabriella's making on her Gulp! Virtual Book Tour and it really is an honour to have her here with us. So welcome Gabriella :)

And seeing as many raw fooders are familiar with the concept of change - and often more than a little (!), I have decided to interview Gabriella on the ultimate shift - that of living your biggest dreams, so our subject today is "Making your dreams come true - and the consequences if you don’t!".

Let's see what Gabriella has to say...

Valentine's Special: Show Me the Love!

So it's Valentines Day. Had you noticed?!

But I'm not here to wax lyrical about red roses and angelic archers, although I guess we could have some fun with that... instead I'm here to remind you today that the most important love is the love you have for yourself. Yes, it's time. It's time to feed yourself the best of the best emotionally, not just physically. Today's the perfect day to take a look at that. And here's why.

1) You can only give what you have to give; if you don't love yourself first you are drawing from an empty well. If you want to love others in a big, love-them-large kind of way, then you have to love yourself large first. Period! Where do you start? See later.

2) When self-love is lacking, everything dumbs down. We make poorer choices, we neglect ourselves, we ignore our body, mind and spirit, because, well, Who Cares? The truth of the matter is, if you don't, probably no-one else will - or at least nowhere near as much as you AND you'll be impossible to reach anyway. So care. "Because you're worth it!" (And the world needs you - all in one lovable, huggable and gorgeously grand piece!)

3) When you learn to love yourself you learn to see the innate goodness in yourself and consequently others. You become more human, more forgiving, more nurturing, more real. You are more sensitive to others pain because you have felt your own and have lived to tell the tale. You become more fully alive, more raw, and infinitely more attractive and lovable too! So dive in and explore all you have to offer, so that we can benefit from it too. Self-love is the ultimate act in selflessness, in spite of your first suspicions!

Today's Raw Coaching Challenge #1: Make a list of 10 Great Things you can do for yourself today. Even if you can't fit them all in, write them in your diary and commit 100% to doing them. Top Tip: Think holistically and think of 2 different things for your mind, body, heart and soul and then throw an additional 2 in for good measure. When you cover all 4 bases like this you feel even better. More rounded, more whole, more loved.

Looking for inspiration? Here's mine.

1. Wake up to harmonious music (soul)
2. Do the sun salutation yoga sequence (body)
3. Have a hot soapy shower using the most decadent (but safe!) shower gel and hair care products (body)
4. Spend time writing in my journal feeling what needs to be felt (heart/mind)
5. Take time getting dressed and emotionally poised/aligned, ready for the day (heart/mind)
6. Walk to work instead of driving (body/soul)
7. Ask a deep and meaningful question and draw a Goddess or Self-Care Card (heart/soul)
8. Eat only whole, fresh, ripe, raw foods that lift me up and make me feel like a million dollars (body)
9. Buy myself a special Valentine's present... red roses? white lilies? a new top or new bag? Or whatever takes my fancy, really ; )... (heart)
10. Reflect on the day in a hot soapy bath thinking how I can take this self-love thing forward ongoingly (mind)
11. And one for luck - an early night to give myself the chance to read, dream, fly (!), etc.

Today's Raw Coaching Challenge #2: Ask yourself: "What would be the most self-loving thing I can do for myself today?" Top Tip: DO NOT think small! Are you in a job you detest? Then quit, or at least plan your escape. Seriously! I have done this 3 times in my life and it's the best 3 moves I ever made. Life is too short and YOU KNOW IT! Don't pretend you're not here for a reason - it's time to find your blueprint and step into it. What are you waiting for? Don't you realise you're holding the rest of us up?! Need help with this? Email me! If you're short on courage, I have it in bucket loads - use me!

Are you working too hard and playing too little? Then stop what you're doing and take yourself off to somewhere that means fun or relaxation for you - and yes, without an ounce of question, judgement or guilt. You can stick those in your locker, if only for today. If you can't do it for yourself then take it as coaches orders! I'm watching you : )

Today's Raw Coaching Challenge #3: Aside from what you can do for yourself today, consider deeply: "What will I NOT do today?" How about stopping that negative self-talk for one, about how you're this, that or the other (that you're really not), or buying that coffee on the way to work that you don't really want or enjoy anymore. Or feeling obligated to call/write/email someone because it's expected (but you really don't want to). Or what about the automated pre- or post- work TV habit that's now so entrenched that the remote control seems as much a part of your body as the hand it's resting in?! I think you know what your own little 'not in my best interests' are!

And finally, when you've completed all 3 coaching challenges and feel sufficiently loved-up within then take that lovin' feelin' out into the big wide world and spread it all around. Pay compliments, donate time, money or energy, let the tractor driver pull out in front of you even though you're in "a helluva hurry", give up your seat on the tube, cuddle your son/daughter, cousin, neighbour for more than seems "appropriate". Tell someone you love them - it matters. We're "a long time dead". You can't go back. Live today while you're still alive. I mean, really live.

Happy Valentine's x