In This Issue:
Hobnobbing, Comfort Foods, and the Power of Intention

Wow! What a head-spinning few weeks it has been!

Besides accomplishing the task of cleaning my office (yes, intention-setting DOES work, and I even learned a few valuable lessons in the process, see full report below) I have been busy meeting some real movers and shakers who inspire me to pursue my dreams.

I learned about the bittersweet journey of success and value of persistence from Rosario Marin, the 41st Treasurer of the United States, received some unforgettable fashion advice from "The Queer Eye's" Carson Kressley (who-da thunk it!), and was BOWLED OVER, not to mentioned inspired, by the wisdom and deserved success of Kendra Todd, the 2005 winner (first woman) of The Apprentice. So my sails are full at this point with inspiration and sound advice from people who have broken out of their comfort zones (otherwise known as misery zones) to pursue and realize their dreams. They say an overnight success usually takes about 15 years…and even in Kendra’s case that may not be too far from the truth: she has been working hard to self-improve from as far back as 14 years old.

Now even though most of us won’t probably reach the fame and fortune of these people (and won’t even aspire to) we can certainly learn important tools for success in building our own dreams; tools such as persistence, seeing obstacles as opportunities, keeping a positive mental attitude, and never allowing any apparent societal barriers deter us from being recognized and heard as leaders. The truth is, all excuses are equal…“CAN’T” is a lie (there’s always a way) and “TRYING” is lying (planning to fail).

The good news is that you don’t EVER have to do it alone…I know that I can’t. The Beatles said it best: “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Please allow me and any of the BTF services help you to achieve your dreams. Just let me know how we can help.

Love, Tricia

Dear Ask It:

When I’m down, lonely or overworked, I reach for sugary, starchy foods like pastries, ice cream, cookies and chips. I call these my “comfort” foods. Can you please tell me why these foods are so comforting?

~Hungry in Huntington Beach

Dear Hungry:

My favorite foods were sugar, starch and fat and I always had radar out for those foods that conveniently combined all three ingredients! There is actually a physiological reason for this: when we have a lack of serotonin reserves in our brains we reach for carbohydrates to give us a serotonin boost. Even though this boost gives us a feeling of calm and sedation it doesn’t last. We soon experience a “crash” effect which leaves us craving another boost which we habitually seek in carbohydrates. This is why so many compulsive eaters are addicted to carbohydrates.

There are healthier ways to “feel good”; they just take more effort and discipline than downing a bag of chips! The key is to get off of the injurious carb-cycle by eating more good fats and proteins (fish, raw nuts and seeds, avocados) and lessening stress. Try meditation or yoga, especially after work and before dinner, and begin a daily “check-in” with a nurturing friend to feed the emotional hunger you’re seeking to fill.

*Do you have a question you'd like to have answered? Write me at askitbasket@betotallyfree.com.

(Please forward to everyone you know!)

A Little Help from My Friends

The amazing thing about setting an intention is that it initiates change -- in us and in the universe. We set our intention for changing something or achieving something in our lives by writing it, speaking it, and then moving toward it with purpose. Remember the words of Goethe: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

I want to share with you the blessings I received from setting my intention to clean my office a few weeks ago. Now, if anyone knew how messy my office had become, they would have doubted that two weeks would have been enough to accomplish my intention of cleaning it! After I declared to the world (well, at least to the readers of my ezine) that in two weeks it would be fully organized, I wasn’t really sure how this was going to happen. You see, I also had 2, 2-day conferences and 1 networking event to attend, a book chapter to write, coaching hours with clients, a Tele-class to prepare for and teach, not to mention our Metasteps work with individuals here in Los Angeles, keeping up with family and friends AND taking care of myself (meditation, prayer, reading, exercise, good wholesome, organic salads etc.). So fitting in some quality cleaning time in my office that looked like a series of tornados blew through didn’t seem feasible. But since my mentor, Roy, told me many years ago: “The WHAT is up to me, the HOW is up to God”, I knew not to worry.

What happened? A dear (organizationally minded) friend read my ezine and offered to help me clean my office. Wow! I didn’t hesitate for a minute to accept her kind offer. Two days later she showed up at my home and we went to work. She gave me some great tips for filing and eliminating clutter, did some work on that closet (how did I ever let it get like that?), and stood by me as I found a new home (like the trash can) for every paper on my desk. It was her moral support and willingness to help that made the biggest difference for me. The amazing thing is that it only took us 2 hours!! Imagine that…months of self-lashings and working in an environment that would have caused any Feng Shui expert to keel over— all cleared up in 2 hours!!

What have I learned?

• To state my intention as clearly, loudly and to as many people as possible
• To be open and receptive to whatever solutions come my way
• To be humble, instead of resistant or ashamed, when receiving help from others
• To express gratitude when the help is given
• To get busy setting a new intention!
  

Our thoughts and intentions are incredibly powerful to change our reality. What intention for change in your life can you set right now? Write it down and tell it to the friends and family members who will support your success. Thank God and the Universe in advance that it is done. What action can you take toward your success? Who can you ask for help? This may be just the opportunity you need to realize that you are not alone, that there is a vast pool of resources available to you. Do you know what Kendra Todd’s greatest lesson from winning The Apprentice was? Teamwork.

Tricia Greaves now offers private "Heal Your Hunger" coaching sessions for those desiring "weight loss from the inside out". For a fre*e 20 minute consultation, email Tricia at tricia@betotallyfree.com

Eating the right foods and minimizing stress are major by-products of Be Totally Fre*e's services. Check out our website for more information.

March 12th - 6 week TRANSFORMATIONAL TELECLASS begins: Breaking Fre*e from Emotional Eating--Mondays at 5:30 pm Pacific/8:30 pm Eastern. For more information and to register, click here.

Register now for your RISK-FRE*E TRIAL MEMBERSHIP of University of Masters and receive your first fre*e motivational CD plus hundreds of $$ in e-books and downloadable audio's. Your introductory price is only $3.50 (regular price is $19.99). You will have access to 30 phenomenal classes each week (and audio's 24/7) on manifesting, NLP, motivation, spirituality and more by the World's Master Teachers, including me!  Once on the page, click on "Enrollment" and put TRICIA in the referral box: www.universityofmasters.com/350.html

After overcoming her own lifetime battle with compulsive eating, drinking and weight-without the use of diets, pills, medication or excessive exercise-Tricia Greaves founded Be Totally Fre*e!, a non-profit organization that offers a unique and permanent solution for overcoming all addictions. To learn about the hope we offer to those who have tried everything to stop, visit www.betotallyfree.com.