This is Marlene Shiple, Ph.D., the Life Coach Dr., and I am glad that you came by today to visit!  I’m pleased that you found your way to this page!

Would you do me a favor and sign up for our feed?  In this way, you will receive automatic updates of articles and techniques, seminars and Special Reports that we offer.  In addition, I hope you will give me feedback about ways that I can better serve you and help you make changes in your life.

For now, I invite you to take your time and look around.  I am pleased to offer you many valuable resources with the hope that you will use them to help make YOUR life better!

Enhance your quality of life — it is a MOST worthy endeavor. Have you ever wondered how to go about doing so?

Wonder no more! Here are 3 tips for success in enhancing your life quality:

1. Live consciously each day. Stay connected with yourself daily. Be mindful. Remain aware. Enhance YOUR Life Quality.

Ponder how you relate to your family members. Think about how you fulfill your role at work. Consider what you eat and drink, what you say and do each day. Live life with a purpose! Strive to identify what that purpose — the life purpose that is unique to you — might be.

2. Put all your effort into what you do during the day. If you’re going to engage in a task, focus on it, think about it and complete it. Make an effort. Put your heart and soul into it. Also, strive for improvement in whatever you do.

3. Know what makes your heart sing. Be connected with your own feelings, wants and needs. What makes you feel truly happy? No matter what it is — listening to music, spending time with your kids or talking on the phone with a friend — make room for those things that fill your heart with joy.

NOW you can get your own copies of Dr. Shiple’s latest writings:
a) Arthritis Pain … FREE!:  Heal Arthritis Naturally!
b) Hypnosis Essentials:  Power Up Your Life!

Learn about the special healing aspects in each of these special books today — just follow the link (click on the title, above)!

NEW Video – Hypnosis Essentials!

This new video is designed to introduce you to our new book, Hypnosis Essentials:  Power Up YOUR Life and to the incredible tool that Hypnosis is!

Hypnosis is a state of mind.  In the state of Hypnosis, your body is relaxed and your mind is alert and aware.  In this mode, your subconscious mind — the deep part of your mind — is more accessible.  Your subconscious mind accepts the affirmative statements that it is given …  it, then, carries these out when you are back in your fully-awake state.

So, what can Hypnosis be used for?  You can undergo hypnosis for weight loss, hypnosis to stop smoking, confidence hypnosis, public speaking hypnosis, anxiety hypnosis … and much, much more.  Hypnosis is GREAT for facilitating  habit change.  Would you like your life to be better?  Hypnosis is the tool to help you create this outcome!

To learn more about the uses of Hypnosis and see how to get started using it yourself, read our new book, Hypnosis Essentials:  Power Up Your Life! Watch our video to get started today:

[hana-flv-player video='/coach/vids/211_MarleneShiple.flv'/]

.

211_MarleneShiple

.

.

The holidays are nearly upon us and already we’re getting sucked into the whirl of activity that characterizes this time of year.  With so much to do and so many people to see, it’s no wonder that many of us get more stressed than ever during what is traditionally supposed to be the season of peace and goodwill.  Follow my tips on 5 ways to relieve stress during the holidays, however, and there’s an excellent chance you’ll come through smiling and stress-FREE.

1.    Give to others by volunteering at a community project, center or event.  There is plenty of evidence to show that giving to others, especially at this time of year when the focus is so firmly on materialism, actually helps to relieve our own stress.  Connecting with others in this way raises your own self-esteem as well as that of other family members you may choose to involve such as your kids.
2.    Practice positive self-talk.  An excellent way to do this is to think up and write out your own positive affirmations that are appropriate to your situation.  You could, for example, write something like:  ‘I am handling the holidays perfectly with calm and good humor,’ and stick up little notes with your affirmation wherever you might see them.  Or keep a copy in your pocket to be referred to in moments of stress!
3.    Set priorities and stick to them.  All too often we become swamped by the million different demands placed upon us during the holiday season.  One good way to combat this is to decide what is most important to you and what, therefore, needs to be tackled first.  This could be something as simple as putting up the Christmas tree or could involve organizing all the travel arrangements over the holidays.  Whatever it is, prioritize, make a list and work down that list in order. You’ll find that you feel a lot less stressed out when you have dealt with what matters to you most.
4.    Remember to play.  Whether it’s a board game or something sportier like a game of tennis, taking part in a fun activity is a great way to relieve stress at this time of year.  The social interaction involved bonds us more closely with family or friends while the focus on something other than the hectic pace of life around you is a great stress-buster.
5.    Do something to replenish your spiritual reserves.  Examples of this include meditating, praying, reading a meaningful book or poetry, playing a musical instrument, visiting a place of worship, taking a walk in nature, or visiting an art exhibit or gallery.  It is important to refill your spiritual reserves so that they act as a buffer against everyday stress, reminding us that there is so much more to life and our existence than what are, in reality, petty concerns.

So there you have it – my top 5 ways to relieve stress during the holidays.  Now think up some of your own stress-busting techniques to help you get through the Christmas season.  Add some other activities you enjoy to the mix — such as exercise or a particular hobby or interest.  Just because it is the holidays does not mean we have to let go of our normal routines.  In fact, they can prove invaluable in helping us cope with the stresses and demands placed up us at this time.  A sensible combination of old and new will ensure a happy, relaxed time for you and those around you, allowing you to approach the coming year stress free and ready for anything!

.

.

This is a beautiful Healing Selection, entitled “April Colors”

(to hear this Healing Selection, just click on the underlined title in the line above)

OR click on the player, below:
.

.

.

.

For many people, Holiday stress is right up there with major life events such as moving house or changing jobs. The endless planning, shopping and cooking are both immensely tiring and stressful to an already overloaded system. To those folk already suffering from stress, the added stress of the Holidays can turn out to be the last straw, pushing them over the edge and into full-scale meltdown. In order to prevent this happening, you need to set up strategies well in advance of the festive season that will enable you to cope.

First and most important thing is to plan for everything while remaining flexible with your arrangements. This may sound contradictory but it really helps to have set up structures such as present buying lists, food shopping lists and a rough timetable of events while also bearing in mind that any and all of these can be adapted or changed. Keeping a flexible mindset reduces stress and anxiety and encourages you to let things flow over you rather than fight inevitable obstacles and changes to plans.

This ties up neatly with my other top Christmas stress busting tip which is to keep your expectations at a realistic level. All too often, we expect everything to be perfect at Christmas time. Why? Because the media bombards us with images telling us that is how it is meant to be. The trouble is that nothing is ever perfect and that is where problems arise. We place too much of a burden of expectation on ourselves and, when we fail to match up to those expectations, we become stressed.

Tell yourself firmly that all you can do is your best. The other key point is to understand that we can only control our own behavior and not that of other people. While you can try your utmost, those around you might not be so accommodating. Family squabbles, aggravating relatives and friends can all conspire to ruin Christmas if you let it. By adopting the right attitude, however, you can ensure that none of these situations stress you out.

The best way to do this is to remain detached from other people’s efforts to be disruptive. Again, simply let things flow over you and refuse to react. By not reacting you are showing the person concerned that their behavior does not have the desired impact upon you. Keep telling yourself that this is their problem and not yours and you will find it far easier to remain stress free.

Another great Christmas stress busting tip is to make sure you take enough time out for yourself, preferably on a daily basis. This can be something as simple as soaking in a hot tub or taking a walk or you can indulge yourself with a seasonal treat such as a massage or manicure. When it all seems overwhelming and you feel stress symptoms coming on then the only thing to do is retreat in this way. Remove yourself from the source of stress and you will be able to come back refreshed and able to enjoy all the joys of the holiday season. Which, after all, is what Christmas is all about!

Power Up Your Life!              Purchase Now!

By Marlene Shiple Ph.D.                                                                      

Book: HYPNOSIS ESSENTIALS

HYPNOSIS ESSENTIALS: Power Up Your Life! provides an in-depth description of the powerful experience of Hypnosis and a full workbook to guide you in your experience. Hypnosis — that mental state in which the you, as the subject, are physically relaxed, while your mind is alert and aware.

HYPNOSIS ESSENTIALS: Power Up Your Life! gives an overview of Hypnosis, then details the way Hypnosis works with your subconscious mind to create powerful outcomes — outcomes of your choosing. Whether you want to lose weight, stop smoking, release fears, or make other changes in your life, hypnosis works with your subconscious mind to help you bring about these changes successfully!

HYPNOSIS ESSENTIALS describes the Myths and Realities of the hypnotic state. In addition, it stimulates the imagination with a section entitled, “9 Surprising Uses for Hypnosis”.

After describing how hypnosis can help you create positive changes in your life, HYPNOSIS ESSENTIALS relates the specific process to bring about the hypnotic state. So, if you want to get started with Hypnosis, this book tells you how!

Then, as though this weren’t enough, there is still more! HYPNOSIS ESSENTIALS: Power Up Your Life! includes a complete workbook — a resource to guide you in the process of creating your own hypnotic, goal-oriented change.

About the author:
Dr. Marlene Shiple has earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology. She is a life coach in private practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Shiple has provided life coaching, sex therapy and hypnotherapy to clients since 1975. She coaches motivated seekers to discover passion and joy in their lives and relationships!

For client care, Dr. Shiple designs practical problem-solving ideas and provides do-able solutions to life challenges. She has a passion to help people make desired changes — and she heartily enjoys seeing people grow and take strides in their lives!

Dr. Shiple brings this practical outlook to her writing, as well. She is both a multi-published author and an experienced seminar/workshop leader.

In office, Dr. Shiple utilizes traditional psychological coaching and psychotherapy techniques, hypnosis and self-hypnosis, hypnotherapy, EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), relaxation training, and other interventions. Emphasis is on working with patients to develop practical strategies that allow them to achieve their most-dearly desired goals. Her online resources can be accessed at http://thelifecoachdr.com

At home, Marlene enjoys reading, writing, playing instruments, spending time with friends and family, cooking, exercising, meditating, learning (almost anything), and attending to the “demands” of 5 rescue-kitties.

Purchase Now!

Meditating under Tree

Have you felt extremely frazzled lately? Have you told yourself, “This HAS TO stop!”

What happened?

Did you notice that your frustrated exclamation in and of itself did nothing? That’s right! After being that exasperatingly clear with yourself, still nothing changed!

Why do you think that is?

In order for something to change, you have to DO something!  In order for change to occur, you have to act in exactly those specific ways aimed at creating the change! If you do not act in these proactive directions, you just keep creating more of the same!  In other words, what had been going on in the past just continues!

On the other hand, when you ACT, something entirely different occurs.  When you act, you begin to direct yourself in more peaceful directions and stop the stress! How does that sound to you?

So, how might you do this? you ask.

Mindfulness Meditation is one of the most powerful actions to relieve stress and build peace.  Meditation allows the body to relax.  It encourages the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness Meditation helps you to learn to focus intently with an attitude that is singularly nonreactive and nonjudgmental.

When you are engaged in Mindfulness Meditation, you notice what is going on inside you and around you without judging or reacting to it. In addition, you pay attention to focus on the flow of your breath — deeply and slowly, in and out of your body.

Research has proven that Mindfulness Meditation creates lasting improvements in the brain.  This occurs as a result of the Meditation creating actual changes in the brain structure. Using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), researchers have studied the brains of people who practiced Mindfulness Meditation. These researchers found that there was growth in the areas of the brain responsible for memory, mood regulation, regulation of bodily functions and flexibility.

Frequent, consistent meditators report that meditation helps them to respond to previously-upsetting events more peacefully and experience the world more clearly.  This can be attributed to the physical brain-changes  that result from Mindfulness Meditation!

Is it time for you to start the habit of Mindfulness Meditation?

Could you commit today?

If not, what more do you need to convince you to be ready?