Julie Christiansen - "The Anger Lady"

Anger Solutions Boot Camp - Basic Training

2011-08-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Join me at Anger Solutions Boot Camp! On September 27, 2011 from 8:30am to 5:00pm at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. In participating in this basic training program, you will learn methods to ensure positive and successful results. Please fill out the registration form above and send it with your cheque/money order or complete credit card information to:

Leverage U
73 Royal Manor Drive
St. Catharines, ON.
L2M 4L2

or fax to:

1-866-568-4694

Hope to see you there!!

Getting Past Your Past with Julie Christiansen and Barbara Grumme

2011-02-23T13:55:00.001-08:00

Business Trends: Productivity - Are You Trendy?

2011-02-15T16:08:00.000-08:00

Research from the last few years shows some alarming trends in the business world, proving that sometimes, it pays in dividends to swim against the current. For example, did you know that since 1997, the average payout in employee health benefits has experienced an increase from 6% to a whopping 14% per annum? Private health insurance and disability expenses, including workplace compensation currently costs US business $1 trillion dollars per year! You read that right - $1 TRILLION dollars!

The National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD, found that employees with diabetes miss an average of 8.3 days per year compared to non-diabetics - which constitutes a loss of 14 million lost work days per year in the US alone. Staggering, isn't it? Did you know that the stress response causes the body to produce blood sugar, putting people at higher risk for developing diabetes? And would you believe that between 1990 and 1999, Canadian EAP programs reported a 220 percent increase in stress cases!

Consider this: consulting firm, Watson Wyatt Canada estimates that most companies spend 2 to 3 percent of their payroll on short-term disability claims, half of which may be stress-related. In contrast, most companies don't even spend 1% of their payroll budget on employee development. Kinda makes you wonder if there could be a link there...

At Leverage U, we are Team Productivity consultants, with a focus on team effectiveness, communication, anger resolution, and stress management. You may wonder, what does our mandate have to do with the price of cheese? We understand the link between mental/physical health issues and your bottom line. The secret to business efficiency lies in understanding the link between stress, mental health, and productivity - and putting practices into place to reduce workplace stressors. I say it is time to buck the trend, and build a mentally and physically healthy workplace that maximizes the efficiency of its human resources, enabling both the employees and the businesses they serve to function at the peak of their performance.

Learn about what we can do to Leverage yoUr team into peak performance and productivity. Visit my website at http://www.juliechristiansen.com/ or drop by www.angersolution.com/coaching.php to learn all about our corporate coaching packages.

Getting Past Your Past with The Anger Lady a Big Hit

2011-01-28T10:31:00.000-08:00

Many thanks go out to Barbara Grumme (http://www.barbaragrumme.com/) for inviting me to keynote the first session of her 2011 "Love Your Life" series. The topic was Getting Past Your Past, and together with an audience of about 40 people, we explored the processes that are involved in overcoming one's past and moving forward with optimism. Here are a few of the comments from participants after the event:

1. Speaker: Very thought provoking much to think about
2. Speaker: Very articulate & knowledgeable. Easy to relate to.
3. Speaker: Very good
4. Speaker: Excellent
5. Excellent and Professionally delivered
6. Welcoming and inspirational
7. Very Good
8. Inspiring
9. Good Advice. Well Spoken
10. Good
11. Very Good
12. Fun & Informative
13. Very Good
14. Very Friendly
15. Julie was Great- Looking Forward to her Presentation for IAAP
16. Very Good
17. Very Informative
18. Great Saw her last time
19. Amazing
20. Too short

Watch for the youtube video of the event coming soon!

Kids Need Help to Resolve Anger and Stop Bullying

2010-08-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

This just in from Naomi Drew, of the Philadelphia Examiner, National survey results: Kids want solutions to bullying and conflict
August 14th, 2010 5:07 pm

Eight to twelve year-olds across the country revealed, in a recently-released survey, that bullying, conflict, and meanness weighed heavy on their hearts and minds. 2171 kids throughout the US were asked to share their personal stories of bullying and conflict in a survey conducted by Naomi Drew in conjunction with Free Spirit Publishing. Across the board, what the children shared was surprisingly frank, sometimes heartbreakingly so. “I try to ignore conflicts, but if I can’t I just hurt,” said a 5th grade girl. A 6th grade boy who was cornered by a gang of kids in his school hallway wrote: “They ripped up my science book, took my hat, and laughed at me. I was so mad I went to my locker and sobbed.”

An overwhelming number of the students surveyed expressed their desire for positive change. 80% said they wanted to learn ways to end bullying, avoid fights, get along better with peers, and work out conflicts. Many felt overwhelmed by the meanness of their peers. An 11 year-old boy who was being bullied daily said, “It just makes me want to die.” With the spate of recent youth suicides that have been in the headlines, words like these can’t be ignored.

73% of the kids surveyed said other kids are somewhat to very mean. “I’ve been through a lot,” wrote a 4th grade boy. “Kids don’t like the way I look. They call me names and kick me. I am so sick of being picked on.”

Conflict is another major issue for kids. Almost 50% see conflicts happening often, every day, or all the time. 68% said being teased or made fun of is the number one source of their conflicts in their lives, and 64% listed name-calling as the cause of their conflicts. A 10 year old girl wrote, “Kids called me names every day. It got uncomfortable to be at school.” How about these break-your-heart words from a 9 year-old, “People call me names and make fun of me because I don’t have a mom.”

It’s clear from the survey that kids want and need change. Teachers want change too. A fourth grade teacher from New Jersey who responded to the survey wrote, “Anger and bullying are among the major issues I see as a teacher.” With character education programs being cut left and right, and No Child Left Behind turning our schools into testing machines, it’s time for priorities to shift. We need to stop focusing so much on test results, and do a lot more to help kids learn in an atmosphere of peace and emotional safety. In the words of a 10 year-old survey participant, “I wish there was a way to clean up this mess and find a way to make peace.”

Anger Solutions for Kids (AS4K) is a tool that was developed for precisely this purpose - to help teach school-aged children how to resolve anger and conflict, and to minimize the impact of bullying. Visit our website: http://www.angersolution.com/angersolutionsforkids.php to learn more about the program if you are already a Certified Anger Solutions Provider, or contact us at 1-866-754-6169 to learn how you can become an Anger Solutions for Kids Facilitator.

See the original version of this story at http://www.examiner.com/bullying-in-philadelphia/national-survey-results-kids-want-solutions-to-bullying-and-conflict-1

Writing and Ad Copy Samples - Julie Christiansen

2010-07-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Samples of my editorial and advertorial copy...

Click on the graphic to see a larger version

Kids for Change: Tanzania

2010-02-23T12:17:00.001-08:00

Join us for an intimate gathering to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Africa. The proceeds from this event will go directly to funding Kids for Change: Tanzania. Working in partnership with Day Spring Orphanage, we are ensuring that the orphaned children of Morogoro, Tanzania have a quality life and education, and hope for a productive and successful future.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010

7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ~ Tickets $40.00

White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa

253 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Featuring:

Live Cultural Performances
Yummy signature drinks
African inspired Hors D'Oeuvres
Silent Auction and Dessert Auction

More Exciting Details to Come!

CELEBRATE African culture with us at the Imperial Lounge and enjoy an evening of fabulous eats, entertainment and education. We can create positive, radical, lasting change together, beginning with the youngest generation. The Kids for Change - Tanzania project will provide Conflict Resolution and Communication Skills training to the orphans and students of the Day Spring Orphanage and School in Morogoro, Tanzania.

DONATE. If you want to help beyond the event, to either fund the project or offer items for silent auction, dessert auction, or gift bags, please contact us at info@angersolution.com to make your contribution. All donated items will be auctioned for purchase with 100% of the proceeds going to fund this much needed initiative project. Tax receipt available for cash donations (some restrictions apply) over $20.00.

Together we can create a conflict free world. It starts with the children.

KIDS FOR CHANGE: Tanzania. Help us make a difference!

To purchase tickets: go to http://kidsforchange.eventbrite.com

Solutions for Sinking in Debt

2009-11-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

It wasn't that long ago that my husband and I were sinking deep in debt. We owed $248,000. We were homeless. He was jobless. We had lost our house, our car, our social status, and our sense of who we were as a couple. We call those days the "Dark Ages". It was 12 years ago that our life fell apart - and we found ourselves starting over with absolutely nothing but faith, hope, and love.

Imagine yourself, a young couple still in your 20's, with three young kids to take care of, and nowhere to call your own. Imagine having no money for first and last month's rent, and no one to buy the house you can't afford to keep. Imagine wondering if you will have to sleep in the car - wait a minute... you sold that to pay down your debt. Imagine... looking around your community and wondering where would be a safe place for you and your family to stay.

Imagine applying for government assistance only to have them tell you they can't help - your mortgage payments are too high - your house is worth too much. See yourself trying to explain that the house value is dropping by the day, and you can't attract any buyers. Hear the welfare worker apologize and say she wishes she could help - here's a few hundred dollars for groceries and diapers. After that, you're on your own. Imagine not knowing where to go for help. And imagine yourself trying to keep up the pretense of "everything being okay" to the outside world, while your life is shattering into pieces around you.

This was our story. Perhaps it is your story too. Debt has a way of pushing you down, oppressing you until you feel you can't breathe. I have written an E-Book that shares our story, and shows you how in less than 6 years, we were able to become entirely debt free so we could re-build our life. I wrote the E-Book because I remember how lost we were. And how proud we were. We didn't want people to know what we were going through or how bad it was. We were embarrassed that we were losing everything we had worked so hard for. We were afraid of what it would mean if people found out.

That fear prevented us from reaching out, asking for help, doing research, and a host of other things that could have saved us from financial ruin. I hope that by sharing our story and showing you the steps we took to save ourselves, that you will learn from our mistakes, follow the advice we share, and avoid the heartache that we experienced.

For Email Marketing you can trust

If you're in the thick of it right now, contact me and put your name on the wait list for the E-Book. If you need the E-Book, don't worry, it isn't going to cost you an investment of $179 like some other "get rich quick" folks will charge you. Not $99, or even $59. You will be able to get this E-Book for less than $10. Why am I doing this? Why am I offering it so cheap? Because I know what it is like to have to choose between a pair of stockings and a bag of milk for the kids. I know what it is like to have to pray that money will come from somewhere, anywhere - to help us from situation to situation. I know that if you REALLY need this E-Book, it would be wrong to ask you to sacrifice $179, $99, or even $59 when you could use that for next week's groceries.

So why am I charging you anything at all? Why not just give it to you for free? Because I also know that when you pay for something, it demonstrates your need, as well as your willingness to follow through. It means you are taking ownership for your problem, AND you are showing your commitment to finding a solution. So don't worry - it is affordable, and it is filled with sound advice from one who was once buried in the trenches, and fought her way out.

Contact me today and sign up for the E-Book wait list. Let me know you want a copy and I'll be sure you are at the head of the pack when the E-Book is released in about 10 days time.

Your partner in creating lasting solutions,
Julie Christiansen

For Email Marketing you can trust

Correction: the tax issue

2009-09-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

One slight correction - the AS Audio Book is a CD so I must charge PST on it as well as GST. Sorry! Blame the Provincial Government...

This also applies for AS4K - I must also charge PST on the CDs, but only those. This will show as a minimal charge on the invoices. Again, sorry - blame the province.

Ciao for now!

2009-09-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

New Anger Solutions Resources Available Now
Hey everyone - I'm beyond excited to announce that the CD Audio version of my book, Anger Solutions is now available! This is a 4 disc set that is a FULL - not an abridged version of the book. That means you get every chapter, word for word. Even the exercises at the end of each chapter are included.

The only bit that was not included is the Appendices - that would be like reading Bible geneaology for me, and even less fun to listen to for you. However, the final CD contains two bonus tracks - the full program entitled, "Anger Solutions: Releasing Residual Anger". These tracks include a brief overview of the Anger Solutions method for resolving anger, as well as a complete exercise to help you release residual anger and to promote a return to your baseline.

This product is too new for the web - I have not uploaded it to my store as yet. But you can still get copies right now, for the introductory price of only $29.99 (plus GST if applicable) and shipping. Call me toll free at 1-866-754-6169 or email me (julieATangersolutioncom) to request a copy. Be sure to leave your name, mailing information and a phone number so we can confirm your order! Thanks :).

The second resource I am equally if not doubly excited about is our Anger Solutions for Kids (AS4K) Program. This resource is for Certified Anger Solutions Facilitators, Coaches, and Trainers ONLY! If you have not already invested in AS Training - at this time you may not have access to this material. The reason being is that we wanted to keep the price affordable, while maintaining program integrity. Therefore, there is no training outside of a 1 hour tutorial and the Facilitator's Guide - our Certified Facilitators, Coaches and Trainers already have all the basic training in AS philosophy and methodology so they can hit the ground running without additional investment in time or money for more training. Anyway - now that I have openly stated the disclaimer, here is what you get with AS4K:
1. a full colour Facilitator's Guide
2. a CD Rom Master Packet with handouts, activity sheets, power point images, and take home sheets that you can print direct from your computer or photocopier. All the craft templates are also included in this file. This disc also includes a BONUS file: AS4K Outline that you can print and distribute as part of your marketing/promotion for the program
3. an audio CD with the "What Sound is It" Activity for the Listening Skills module
4. a tutorial on how to convert YouTube video clips into WMV files so you can insert them into Power Point (yes, I teach you how to do that, too). The tutorial also has a short list of age-appropriate movie clips (with exact titles) that you can search on YouTube to demonstrate assertive, passive, and aggressive behaviours.
5. Great packaging! Jellybean colours (choose from blue, pink, orange, or green)

This program is licensed. Since only AS Certified professionals will be using the program, the license is non-renewable. This means, that when you renew your annual AS license, there will be no additional renewal fee for the AS4K Program.

AS4K is now available and moving fast out of the gate. All of what you see listed here for only $279 plus GST and shipping.

Again, this resource is too new for the web store, so if you'd like a copy please call the 1866 number or email me: julie AT angersolution.com.
Enjoy!

Impacting Tomorrows Leaders Today

2009-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

I am writing this blog from the campus of Fordham University where I am facilitating Leadership Programs with tomorrows leaders. This is both an exciting and humbling experience - one I do not take lightly. Being blessed with the opportunity to contribute to the lives of young people is awesome; knowing that something I say or do over the next few days could have lifetime value for them is sobering.

We had our first opening ceremony last evening, and the energy in the room was palpable. There was an air of anticipation, apprehension, and expectation for what might happen over the 10 day process. Only time will tell what will come out of my time here.

Last year, Lisa Nichols challenged me to say "yes" more. She encouraged me that great things may happen when I learn to risk more, to expand my own limits, and to just say YES when opportunities arise. This is what I did for this event - I know that something good will come of it - I know this for certain. What that something is though, depends on my willingness to see the risk through. You see, I could just stay in my room during the off hours - not walk the campus - not spend down time with the conference delegates; or, I could play full out - hang out with the delegates, take the subway into Manhattan, explore the sights on my own or with a newfound friend, and expand my horizons here in the city.

I have chosen the latter route. Sunday, I walked 30 minutes to church, and experienced what it is like to fellowship with people of the same precious faith, but within a very different cultural context. I ate NY style pizza off campus, and had a very intelligent political conversation with my NY Yellow Cab taxi driver (who is from Ghana) about the state of affairs in Africa and other predominantly black nations. I met a delegate who is here with another conference and while we have not yet exchanged names, we have already agreed to look out for each other in the cafeteria so we can get acquainted. Tomorrow, I am taking the subway into Manhattan to see the sights and to visit with my cousin and his wife (whom I have not seen in 18 years). Am I nervous about navigating NYC on my own? Yes. But I'm going to do it anyway. Besides - I want to go shopping. :)

I say yes to expanding my horizons and trying new things. As this process continues over the next few days - I'll keep blogging and sharing the outcomes of my experiences.

Even the "Experts" Misunderstand Anger

2009-07-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 9, 2009
COMMENTARY

Wendy Dolber is an Option Method practitioner and owns Dialogues in Self Discovery LLC, dedicated to teachings in the Option Method. The Method is a personal growth and development tool, and is not a psychotherapy. You can find out more about her at www.TheGuruNextDoor.com. Read her full article about anger at www.newjerseynewsroom.com - posted July 7, 2009.

Wendy recently published an article in the New Jersey News Room.com, and as an expert in the Option Method, she shares some valuable insights about anger, beliefs and choices. However, like many so-called experts on anger, she also misses the mark by a longshot in one key area. Read on - see if you can catch it.

"Anger doesn't change anyone. It doesn't make your kids listen to you. Or do their homework. Or stop texting at dinner. It doesn't make your spouse or significant other love you any more than they already do. Or guess what you want. Or put the toilet seat down.It doesn't make your boss give you a promotion. Or listen to your great idea. It doesn't make traffic, checkout lines, or kids on a school morning move any faster. It doesn't make the car start when it won't. It doesn't stop the dog barking, or chewing or jumping on your elderly parents.

Anger doesn't change you. It doesn't make you smarter, slimmer, younger or stronger. It doesn't make you stop smoking or start exercising. It doesn't erase your mistakes or take back your words.

Anger doesn't find anything. Not lost keys, or where you parked the car. Or airline tickets, when you only have ten minutes to leave for the airport.Anger doesn't change the world. Or the weather. Or the price of gas. Anger doesn't change anything."

Wendy goes on to ask some questions about why there is so much anger in the world:

"Anger makes things happen, doesn't it? Or do we just believe it does? When you want to move to get what you want, to make a difference, to change something, to speak out, how does anger make that happen? Does anger open your mouth to speak or move a muscle in your body? Does anger make your brain remember or create solutions? Does it sit down with your kids or your spouse or your best friend to figure things out?"

Great questions!

She continues on making a great case for what happens when anger develops - explaining that often anger rises because of a mismatch between our perceived experiences and our expectations. But... listen to this...

"We suspect it's (the anger is) not really good for us, but it feels inescapable. As if it were a direct result of what's happening to us or around us. It also feels justified and necessary... Being angry is like being in a maze and constantly going down a dead end... Suppose anger is what we do when we believe our caring or our desires or our passion isn't enough to motivate us to change ourselves or the situation(?)"

Do you see it? Did you hear it? What is the implication in these statements?

Let's clarify by exploring the first two myths and realities of anger (from the Anger Solutions program) and see if you catch it then:

1. Anger is a BEHAVIOUR - can you hear it in her statements above? "Anger is what we DO when..." The reality is that anger is an EMOTION - behaviour is what we choose as a method for expressing that emotion.

2. Anger is BAD - you can hear that too... "We suspect it's not good for us... but it feels inescapable." The reason that anger is inescapable is not because it is bad - but because it is a natural emotion that all human beings experience! Emotions are not bad - they should not be judged as such. Sometimes the choices we make end up with bad results, but we need to stop judging anger as though it is some sort of disease.

While Wendy has some valid points to make about beliefs and behaviour; responses and outcomes; and the fact that we can choose to pursue the outcomes rather than get lost in our emotions, her allusion to anger as behaviour rather than emotion muddies her argument. Not sure you agree with me? I encourage you to go back to the top and read the first few paragraphs of her article again - within the context of anger as BEHAVIOUR then read it in the context of anger as FEELING or EMOTION. It changes the meaning, doesn't it?

You may think that this kind of analysis is "splitting hairs" but I beg to differ. As long as people continue to perpetuate the myth that anger is something we DO rather than something we FEEL, I do not believe that we can ever get to the root of resolving it. When you only address the behaviours, this is anger management. It doesn't stick - more and more anger management practitioners are recognizing this and trying to find the reasons why. When you address the emotions of anger as well as the beliefs that are driving the ensuing behavioural choices, now you are looking at anger resolution. This sticks.

Anger Solutions enables people to effectively examine their emotions, the beliefs they have about each event in their lives, to assess and determine what kind of outcome they want, and the best way to achieve that outcome for all concerned. This is more than managing behaviour - this is an enlightened way to resolve what can often be perceived as a volatile emotion.

Which would you prefer? Managing behaviours and leaving the emotions to run unchecked? Or, acknowledging your emotions for what they are, and finding safe, appropriate ways to resolve the issues that created the emotions in the first place? You choose.

Addiction: Disease or Choice?

2009-06-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

This just in - MacLean's Magazine (http://www.macleans.ca/) - page 19, Charlie Gillis interviews Harvard psycholgist, Gene Heyman on why drug or alcohol addiction is not a disease, but a matter of choice.
Heyman's findings are not really so earth shattering as we might think at first glance. I find it interesting that he began by reviewing existing research and just looked at it from a new perspective - with fresh eyes so to speak. He says in the interview that his initial goal was to learn how drug use morphed from voluntary behaviour to involuntary, but what he found was that addicted people, "stopped using the drugs... because of family issues, or there was a choice between their children and continued drug use, or they were moving on to an environment where it was disapproved of. In other words, the kinds of things that influence all of our everyday decisions were influencing people ... to stop using."
Heyman says that behavioural disease is marked by compulsivity, meaning it is "beyond the influence of reward, punishment, expectations, cultural values, personal values." He says that the epidemiological evidence more strongly supports addictive behaviour as a choice as opposed to disease as described above.
I love what he says when asked about the billions of dollars spent annually, trying to treat the "disease" of addiction. He says, "It's possible that the reason we're not making much progress is that we're not treating decision-making directly." This is so key to all behaviour change in my mind! And this is what we talk about in Anger Solutions (http://www.angersolution.com/) all the time... that the secret to producing lasting, radical change in people with "anger issues" lies in teaching them a better decision-making model that will help them to choose behaviours that will get them the best short and long-term outcomes regardless of who or what caused them to feel angry.
Heyman's argument lends scientific support to some of the amazing outcomes we have seen in Anger Solutions when it is applied to individuals who are struggling with anger and addictions, who after completing the program found that they no longer needed or wanted to abuse alcohol or drugs - either because they had better coping strategies and methods for expressing their anger, or because the emotional intensity had subsided to the point where they no longer felt the need to self-medicate with substances like drugs or alcohol.
I urge you to get the June 1st issue of MacLean's magazine and read this article for yourself. I believe you will find the implications in Heyman's message incredibly empowering.

Transformation and a Biological Analogy for Agents of Change

2009-05-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

WOW! I just read this post and had to share it - This article is entitled, Biological Analogy for Agents of Change, and was posted on 2009-04-07, by John Ringland. This powerful analogy demonstrates how painful the process of personal transformation can be, but how beautiful it is when the final outcome has been achieved. I am not sure I can add any comments to this - so I'll let you read and come to your own conclusions.

Read the original article here: http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v550/__show_article/_a000550-000077.htm

It can be difficult being an agent of change. Here is an anology to help you understand what it means to be an agent of change and how to go about it effectively. Below are some quotes about caterpillar / butterfly anatomy and the vital role of imaginal cells.For the most part, the cells that comprise the caterpillar are not the cells that will become the adult (butterfly or moth). The caterpillar has imaginal discs within its body. Different clusters of these cells will develop into different adult body parts. For example, one cluster will develop into the adult's compound eyes.” (Caterpillar Anatomy)

“[T]he butterfly’s cells, are distributed at different locations within the body of the caterpillar. Small clusters of tiny cells, called imaginal buds, embody the blueprint of the butterfly. The caterpillar’s immune system recognizes these as foreign and tries to destroy them. (“You’ll never get me up in one of those things,’’ one caterpillar is rumored to have told another as they watched a monarch ascend from a cocoon in early spring.) As the buds arrive faster and begin to link up, the caterpillar’s immune system breaks down and its body begins to disintegrate.

Still, the butterfly doesn’t 'compete' with the caterpillar. There’s no battle for dominance; the butterfly is not an alien organism developing within the caterpillar. The caterpillar/butterfly is a single organism, with the same genetic code. Through a powerful, devastating process it is no longer a caterpillar. It is transformed and reborn as a butterfly.

People who experience being engaged with a powerful force that seems to lift them beyond themselves seldom fully understand what happens in such moments. Nor do they find it easy to talk about the experience. Something has been annihilated. Something extraordinary has been born. ” (Butterfly)

“The caterpillar does not simply shrink a bit and sprout wings. Instead, it sort of disintegrates into a puddle of ooze within the cocoon. If we were to open the cocoon halfway through the process, we would not find a half-caterpillar half-butterfly type creature, but a blob of goop... The original ooze cells are NOT changing into these new cells, but rather the new cells seem to come out of nowhere.

These new cells are called imaginal cells and they are so completely different from the original ooze cells that they are thought to be a virus or some other form of enemy so the ooze cells begin attacking the imaginal cells. However, even though the imaginal cells are being killed off for not fitting in, they still keep showing up, more and more of them. Eventually, the imaginal cells begin to find each other and cluster together. Like attracts like, and the clusters begin to join up with other clusters. The original ooze cells still keep attacking them but the imaginal cells continue to multiply and cluster together.

Eventually, they become a large community and they switch gears from simply being a group of like-minded cells into the programming cells of the butterfly. Some imaginal cells start changing into wing cells, some start changing into antenna cells, some start changing into digestive tract cells, and so on. They are no longer imaginal cells but become butterfly anatomy cells. As we all know, if left alone to do his thing, the butterfly eventually emerges as a completely new entity from the original caterpillar.

Do they hold the same memories, life lessons, and consciousness? Who knows? One would think that for survival of the species, the butterfly would still retain whatever knowledge the caterpillar had learned before entering into the cocoon state.

Being one of the very first of the imaginal cells can be a painful road to travel. It is different later on down the road as your cause begins to gather steam and becomes more popular. Imagine what the first women who were fighting for our right to vote went through compared to what we go through today trying to get equal pay and respect for a job well done... Minority groups often feel like a cluster of imaginal cells being wrongly attacked just for being different. The masses assume that they must be the enemy; why else would they be so different? Being an outspoken lone wolf with a vision for big change away from the status quo can be scary and even dangerous.
If you are working for a company that is growing stagnant and is not willing to adapt and grow with the times, then maybe your energy and brilliance is wasted on trying to fix them or change them. Maybe you should move on to another company, start your own business doing things ‘right’ according to your new vision...

If you are an imaginal cell in your family, in your workplace, in your community, in your political system, in your spiritual viewpoints, in your global world; know that you are not alone and know that what you do to improve life for your fellow man does matter and it does add weight to the collective consciousness of humanity. You may feel like you are completely alone in your battle, but know that there are others who agree, who are also dying for your cause, or who are so inspired by seeing you put it all on the line that they are finally brave enough to step forward making their agreement with you known.

If the imaginal cell is a quiet little thought somewhere in the back corner of your mind telling you that you could make huge changes in yourself to become less like the caterpillar and more like the butterfly, then know that you are not alone. Many people have done it before you and many more will follow your lead. You will know if you are meant to grow, morph, and change into some new and improved version of yourself by the reoccurring theme of those tiny little imaginal cells creating inspirational thoughts within your mind. The reoccurring thoughts will both haunt you and inspire you. They will cluster together creating themes of healing change, themes of growth, and themes of becoming something completely different then who you used to be. Fear not, for you are simply undergoing the butterfly’s experience. You too will feel alone in the dark unsure of what is you and what is not you. You too will have to claim that which is beautiful within and you too will have to fight your own way out of your self-imposed prison to strengthen your wings so that you can fly for the entire world to see, inspiring others to look within at their own imaginal cells. ” (Imaginal Cells)

Study finds that Smokers Need Anger "Solutions" to Quit

2009-05-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Anger management may help smokers - originally posted on IrishHealth.com.
[Posted: Sun 26/04/2009 by Olivia Fens]

Anger management classes may help smokers to quit, a new study has indicated.Researchers from the University of California looked at the reactions of people playing a computer game – once while wearing a nicotine patch and once while wearing a placebo (fake) patch.The study found that when the participants were not wearing a nicotine patch, they were more likely to react angrily.The researchers believe this is because nicotine affects the part of the brain that controls emotion.“Moreover, the findings suggest that nicotine may critically regulate brain areas that are involved in the inhibition of negative emotions such as anger,” the researchers said.“Behavioural treatments, such as anger management training, may aid smoking cessation efforts in anger provoking situations that increase withdrawal and tobacco cravings,” they concluded. The study was published in the Behavioural and Brain Functions journal.
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If you are a follower of this blog, you already know what my stand is on anger management. Do you want your anger managed or do you want the problems that evoke your anger SOLVED? Anger Solutions practitioners everywhere may want to consider incorporating smoking cessation as one of the benefits of participating in our program.

We already know that CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) is documented as the best option for providing traditional anger management "therapy", with a success rate of approximately 67%. We also know that anger management programs use all sorts of models, and many of these approaches are not studied or documented or regulated. So we have no idea if they work at all.

Anger Solutions on the other hand, has a documented success rate of over 80% in group and 100% in one-on-one coaching. The use of the program is closely monitored throughout our network, so we can ensure consistency in approach and in methodology. Anger Solutions tackles the underlying causes for poor choices (beliefs) and in challenging those beliefs, it opens up opportunities for participants to choose better outcomes. We do not take a cookie cutter approach to clients - we flex the program to suit the client's needs.

How does this all apply to smoking cessation? We might start with the underlying belief that "smoking calms me down". Challenging this belief is the first step. Closely followed is challenging the belief that "I can't quit". How about the belief that "If I quit smoking I'll get fat." We would use the pleasure/pain principle to balance out these patterns of thinking and then replace the limiting beliefs with empowering ones and leverage the participant into new behavioural choices that create more positive outcomes (i.e. smoke-free living, more money to spend on other things). And - to top it off, the participant walks away with a solid decision making model so that when the cravings crop up because of anger or any other trigger, s/he knows how to process each experience and choose the right response.

Curious to know how Anger Solutions can assist in your smoking cessation? Visit our website at www.angersolution.com.
Julie Christiansen
Anger Specialist and Master Anger Solutions Trainer

Don't buy the Anger Lady's Books from Amazon

2009-04-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

It turns out that my first book, Top Ten Lists to Live By is a pretty popular little item on the Internet these days. On the advice of one of my book marketing gurus, I decided to run a little search on Amazon.com to see if my book is being re-sold anywhere on the web. Check this out:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ - a re-seller has this book posted for 17.68 in British pounds.

http://www.amazon.ca/ - a re-seller has Top Ten Lists posted for $35.33.

http://www.amazon.com/ - you can buy a pre-owned copy from anywhere between $18 and $20 plus shipping and handling.

Now I have to ask you, why would you want to purchase a book that is STILL in print for more than its listed retail price? I have to ask, how do these folks get away with it? Perhaps it is because no-one has set the record straight about what they're doing... So here I go. There are three reasons I can think of that one might search for a book on Amazon and pay more than the suggested retail price: the book is incredibly special (e.g. the author is very famous, dead, or is no longer writing), is out of print, or is a rare item on the book market.

Top Ten Lists to Live By was the first book I ever published. I suppose that makes it special, but only to me and perhaps to my mother (God rest her soul). I can't imagine that anyone else is so excited about obtaining the first published work of Julie Christiansen that they should pay more than it is actually worth (in terms of retail price). I am definitely not dead yet, and as you can see by this blog, I am still writing.

Top Ten Lists to Live By is not out of print. It is still in print and is available for purchase - autographed - directly from me, or not autographed from the publisher, who will ship it direct to the purchasor. The listed retail price of Top Ten Lists is only $14.99 CN or $9.99 USD. Anyone who has paid more for this book through Amazon should be asking for the difference in a refund.

Top Ten Lists is not a rare book. It has been a poorly marketed one. That's not the same thing. If you would like to get a copy of the book, I would encourage you to contact me directly via my website: http://www.juliechristiansen.com/ or purchase directly from my publisher's online bookstore, http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/. Search by title or author (Julie A. Christiansen), and the title will come up right away for you. The publisher, Infinity Publishing, will process your purchase and ship your book to you within a couple of days, and you will get a brand spanking new, unspoiled copy of your very own. I don't think Amazon can beat that!

Listen - don't trust these charlattans who think they can fool you into purchasing a "rare" copy of my (or any other author's) book on Amazon. Before you buy, go to the source and see what the writer is selling them for.

Is Anger Really a Problem?

2009-03-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

It is common these days to hear about people with "anger management issues". I even saw a blog the other day about "reverse anger management". It occured to me that perhaps this is a good time to clarify exactly what anger is, and when it becomes a "problem".

First, lets start with the definition of anger. Anger is NOT as many would like to believe - a behaviour or set of behaviours. Rather, anger is an emotion. It can range in intensities from mild irritation to red hot rage, and occurs naturally in every human being. Anger is a natural emotion, as natural as is happiness, sadness, and fear.

Anger serves a purpose - it is an indicator that there is something in our lives that is not right - that requires change, improvement, or attention. Anger has been the catalyst for major positive change in the world - take the Civil Rights Movement as an example.

Anger as an emotion is not something that can or should be managed or controlled. You don't manage love or joy, do you? Do you try to manage fear? Sure you do, but how successful are you with that effort? Emotions cannot be managed. They exist to be felt and experienced. Trying to manage anger is like trying to convince an empty belly that it is not really hungry.

Anger only becomes a problem at the point of decision. Let me explain. Whenever you experience an emotion, you make a choice about how you wish to express that feeling. When you're happy you may laugh or you may cry. You may even do both. When you are afraid, your body's physiology will respond accordingly, but you may choose to fight or you may choose to flee. When you experience anger, the same is true. You will experience the physiological response, but you will also make a choice about what do do with your feelings.

Some people bottle up their emotions in an attempt to "control" them. This approach may work in the short run, but often results in serious illness as the body reacts to the extended containment of negative energy. Some people allow their emotions to spill all over - with tears, or with cursing, and other aggressive behaviours. Most of these choices occur at the subconscious level - thereby causing the average person to believe that anger and the behaviours that accompany it are one and the same.

This much is clear: that what people do with their anger is not the same as the anger itself. Anger only becomes a problem when the people experiencing it make poor choices about how to express it. Then, those people do not need a crash course in how to "manage" their anger; they need to be taught a decision making model so that they become conscious about their feelings and the choices they make around expressing those emotions. An ancient proverb says (and I'm paraphrasing) - if you take a man fishing, he will eat for a day; if you teach that man to fish, he will eat for life. Anger Solutions is about teaching you to fish. We teach you how to evaluate each anger-inducing situation; how to make right decisions; and how to behave in ways that will generate positive outcomes.

Want to know more? Visit our website: http://www.angersolution.com/ to learn about Anger Solutions - the single best alternative to traditional anger management in the world.

Time for Anger Solutions in Sport

2009-03-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

This Just In From http://www.rugbyleaguelive.com/:

Dominic Brock 11/03/09

Roosters forward Anthony Cherrington will face court on his 21st birthday to be sentenced for assault as rugby league’s horror run with the law continues.Cherrington is undertaking anger management classes and counselling after pleading guilty to an assault from last year.The 20-year-old forward admitted to striking Monique Mears in the face and on the body, before threatening her with a knife. He then smashed her sunglasses, mobile phone and car mirrors 10 days later.Cherrington paid Ms Mears $3000 to cover damage to her property after the attack, and is now obtaining a psychological report to present at his sentencing hearing later this month.Fellow Rooster Setaimata Sa will appear in court next month to appeal a conviction for fracturing a man’s skull in a pub fight more than 12 months ago. He received 250 hours’ community service.

So tell me again why athletes don't need anger solutions? We tend to place people like athletes, models, actors, musicians, and even some politicians (e.g. Barack Obama) on pedestals. We assume that their power, authority, and/or fame somehow makes them better than the rest of us. This is our first mistake.

People are just people, people! Everybody makes mistakes. Everyone has flaws in their character. Just because someone is rich and famous doesn't mean s/he might not be messed up inside because of faulty thinking, poor upbringing, inability to cope with the pressures of the limelight - whatever.

In this case, we are looking at the sport of Rugby. Only a few weeks ago, Sean Avery of hockey fame was the poor sucker being lambasted for his lack of good judgement, as well as a severe case of "foot-in-mouth disease". Next week, it will be someone else, perhaps from the football or baseball walls of fame (sorry A-Rod) who will be sent off to "anger management" to help them deal with their choices of misbehaviour.

Here's what I think. First of all - we know that anger management is for the most part a band aid. We also know that band aids are only temporary measures. The principles learned and the skills acquired through Anger Solutions are lasting - we have the data to prove this. Anger Solutions has also been proven to work in the toughest settings (military, police, corrections, mental health, addictions, failing marriages, domestic violence, and more). Why is it so successful? Because we realize what I said earlier. People are just people. It really doesn't matter what their profession is, or where they find themselves because of their poor choices - we focus on the people first, and the problems second. BECAUSE - we know that if we help people to take the steps required to create radical, positive, lasting change, the problems will work themselves out in the process.

The sporting profession desperately needs to have a tool like Anger Solutions in place. It is time to get pro-active, realizing that athletes are people who are exceptionally skilled at a particular sport. BUT - they are people first. They come to the sport with their own personal histories, skeletons in their closets, emotional challenges, and flawed decision making models. Anger Solutions is a way to help athletes create change BEFORE they end up splattered all over the news sheets and Internet blogs (like this one). Think about the damaged reputations, the expense of hiring your own spin doctors to turn around the bad PR, the losses in endorsements, and the criminal charges that could be avoided if sports leagues ascribed to Anger Solutions in advance.

3 Reasons to Stop Stressing About the Economy

2009-03-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

I don’t know about you but there is only so much doom and gloom talk that I can take before I start thinking… Arghhhh! The media is obsessed with inundating us with bad news – and right now (for good reason) the economy is the flavor of the month.

I am currently reading (for the second time) Jack Canfield’s excellent book, The Success Principles, and just passed over his comment, “They’re having a recession, but I’ve chosen not to participate.” I like that kind of thinking. Last year while we were headed on an economical downward slide as a nation, I tripled my sales. Why? Because I was focused on creating abundance rather than “coping with lack”, or worse yet – “avoiding scarcity”.
And so, as we continue to plod through the recession, here are 3 good reasons to shift your focus away from our current economic crisis:

1. The first reason to stop stressing about the economy is the most important one: You Can’t Control It! Stressing over what you can’t control is an exercise in futility, frustration, and fatigue. This kind of stress is consuming. It will invariably lead to illness, depression, insomnia, and disease (all things which will interfere with your ability to be a peak performer). When you are in a state of poor performance, you will be less productive. Less productivity = less money. Stressing about the economy will guarantee fewer dollars in your pocket.

2. Reason number two: What you focus on is what you will achieve. When you spend all your time thinking about the recession, worrying about your portfolio, and watching the stocks fluctuate, your world will shrink to the size of your television or computer screen. When you focus on scarcity – that is what you will see all around you. I remember when I worked in the downtown core; the road I took to work went through a depressed part of town. Hookers frequented the street corners, the area was littered with crack houses and most of the unsavoury business that happens on all inner city streets took place in this area. It got so that I was beginning to believe that my whole town was nothing but a big slum because of this one little pocket within the core. Once I realized that my focus was beginning to colour my entire perspective, I made a simple decision: I changed the route that I took to work. By making that one shift in my actions, I was able to re-route my perspective back to a more positive outlook about my town and the people living in it. Now more than ever, it is imperative that you choose to focus on abundance – on gratitude – and on the blessings you currently have. Remember – you can’t control the markets, so focus on what you can control… that leads me to point number THREE.

3. Focus on YOU. That is the only thing you can control or change. You can’t change the government (until voting time comes back around). You can’t influence the markets either positively or negatively. You will not be able to change the numbers that are flashing across your television or computer screen. The only thing you can change is YOU.

Your efforts and your efforts alone will impact your personal economy and your net worth. Are you turning into a miser – because you feel like you need to “prevent any further losses?” Or are you doing what you know will work to keep the cash flowing in your life or business? I’m not saying you shouldn’t be careful in these turbulent times; I’m simply suggesting that you do so with the proper intentions. Keep your focus on the things you can control. You can control your spending and your choices for saving. You can choose to turn off CNN in favour of doing something constructive, fun, entertaining, or relaxing. Even in tough economic times, you can choose to creatively attract abundance into your life.

To learn about the Anger Solutions philosophy for dealing with stress visit http://www.angersolution.com/products.php.