Monday Magic Freebie Cheryl Richardson's New Book

by Tess on May 10, 2009

If you receive this on Sunday vs Monday it’s because I will be out of town and posted early!

Let’s Celebrate Magic Monday!

Last weeks winner is Jocelyn .

The person who leaves the best comment today will receive an autographed copy of Cheryl Richardson’s latest book! Is that generous of this busy woman or what? So take bold action and leave a comment today!

This life-changing handbook by best-selling author Cheryl Richardson offers you 12 strategies to transform your life one month at a time. Designed as a practical, action-oriented program, each chapter challenges you to alter one behavior that keeps getting you in trouble.

Each chapter includes a relevant resource section that offers books, Websites, audio programs, podcasts, and more should you want to explore a particular topic further.

Cheryl Richardson is also the author of The New York Times bestselling books, Take Time for Your Life, Life Makeovers, Stand Up for Your Life and The Unmistakable Touch of Grace.

Check out Cheryl’s coaching column in Body & Soul Magazine and her radio talk show — Coach on Call — on the Internet at www.hayhouseradio.com. The show airs live on Mondays at 5pm ET (2pm PT) and is replayed throughout the week.

Be sure to check out Cheryl’s website and grab a copy of her newsletter!

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What does self care mean to you?
How do you take extreme care of yourself?
What gets in the way of your self care?

Leave the best answer and win your autographed copy of, “The Are of Extreme Self Care.”

{ 26 comments… add one }

Positively Present May 10, 2009, 1:44 pm

Sounds like a great book. Right now, in terms of self care I’ve been focusing a lot on my mental health through blogging, reading books and articles and other blogs, and going to therapy weekly. It’s not always easy, but it’s really been great to learn more about myself lately.

Positively Present’s last blog post..wind beneath my wings

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jenn May 10, 2009, 6:32 pm

Great book and it would totally rock to have a copy of it! Selfcare to me, means putting myself first (which is hard) and taking care of my emotional, physical and mental self. Its finding that balance. I’m a reflexology practitioner so I tend to take care of myself by getting treatments in the natural health field such as reflexology, massage, naturalpathic. I also try to carve out 20mins every day to either do some mediation or self improvement reading I try to sneak in some 30min walks at least 3-4 times a week. This helps me keep a balance and in focus. What gets in the way? Life gets in the way. I’m a mother, wife, friend, PTA mom, hockey mom, baseball mom, reflexologist and run a household. I’m always trying to find the balance and not feel guilty about it. Why do we struggle with guilt when we do something for ourselves? Its that super mom attitude that has to go. I always struggle with it.

jenn’s last blog post..Mother’s Day….

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Helen May 10, 2009, 7:28 pm

When I am in tune with taking care of myself, my world is in much better balance. A perfect example today: beautiful, MI spring day, and I know that communing with the earth is an awesome way to take care of myself. My perennial beds needed some work, and by the time I got done, I had worked myself almost all the way through my gardens. I can get so lost in feeling the soil, and smelling the lilacs, and seeing what has sprung up recently. What gets in the way of self help is my sometimes inability to believe that I deserve it. I then haul out my list of mantras; today’s is “I am worthy”.

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Hilary May 10, 2009, 11:24 pm

Hi Tess ..thanks for pointing us towards Cheryl and her outlets .. also pointing out that she has resources listed in each chapter ..sounds like an excellent book and she obviously a great deal of knowledge.

Thanks – Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters

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Jocelyn at I TAKE OFF THE MASK May 11, 2009, 3:59 am

Self-care is being able to unconditionally love and accept myself And also to unconditionally love and accept other people. What we do not realize at times when there seems to be a conflict between the two is this: that whenever we fail to be kind to others, we have also failed to be kind to our own selves.

Jocelyn at I TAKE OFF THE MASK’s last blog post..Courage Is Not Attracted, It Is Built!

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Suzi May 11, 2009, 6:34 am

What a lovely reminder, to finish out our Mother’s Day weekend!

To me, self care is learning to let go of being responsible for the behavior of other people, and building myself as a human being. There are so many avenues by which I am learning self care, and all of them weave together to make up the fabric of my new and richer life: Fitness training, sugnificant sustained weight loss, counseling, natural health care, massage therapy, expanding and reveling in my singing opportunities, increasing and exploring my photography, opening my heart and being vulnerable to the man I love, laughing, feeling the wind on my skin, traveling, writing real letters to friends, fishing, snuggling deep in the covers and staying there as long as I want, getting up early to watch the sun rise and greet the freshness of a new day!

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Stacey / Create a Balance May 11, 2009, 8:14 am

To me, self care means living the most authentic, happy, and energized life possible. It means finding time for silence, getting focused on my passions, taking action towards living my dreams, connecting and socializing with friends and family, connecting with my authentic self, giving and contributing to the world by using my natural gifts, honoring my body by having fitness goals, and enjoying some time away from my daily grind.

Having a copy of “The Art of Extreme Self Care” would be priceless!

Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Authentic Happiness Series – Part Four (Career)

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Tess The Bold Life May 11, 2009, 11:35 am

Positively Present,

Therapy weekly had one of the greatest effects on my life. I’m forever grateful to Tom Hartwick and Julie Gotlieb! Of course I had to put in the work, they were channels.
It influenced me so much I got an MA in counseling pyshc and had a private practice until moving to AZ a year and a half ago.

Jenn,
You have a power packed life! About the guilt as a mom it’s in our cells to put others first! It’s sounds like you have a great plan and do well with as much balance as you possibly can. Guilt is wasted energy. So go ahead and give yourself a break and let the rest go. Keep up the good work and enjoy the kids! These moments and days are priceless!

Helen,
Flower beds, soil, lilacs?!? I miss these moments of spring. Especially the lilac tree that must be blooming in my old back yard! Thanks for the memories. Yes you are worthy and you do deserve great self-care. We all do.

Hillary,
I’m glad I could be of help. Cheryl is a way shower for the rest of us. A very generous gift she has given in the midst of her incredible busy life.

Tess The Bold Life’s last blog post..Monday Magic Freebie Cheryl Richardson’s New Book

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Tess The Bold Life May 11, 2009, 11:41 am

Wow Jocelyn, I love that last line. “whenever we fail to be kind to others, we have also failed to be kind to our own selves.” That is book worthy. I hope writing one is in your future!

Suzi,
What an amazing life you’re creating for yourself. An example for all of us.
I love this line, “self care is learning to let go of being responsible for the behavior of other people, and building myself as a human being”

Letting of being responsible for the behavior of others will give you back your energy and own life. Rock on!

Stacey,
Your answer is a reflection of the gifts you offer to others on your blog. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your wisdom!

Tess The Bold Life’s last blog post..Monday Magic Freebie Cheryl Richardson’s New Book

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Liara Covert May 11, 2009, 2:53 pm

After learning about Cheryl Richardson’s books, I joined a blog forum on her website to participate in some great discussions with fellow readers. She truly inspires and empowers people. This is a very meaningful initiative.

To transform lives, I take steps to raise consciousness and share personal and universal experiences. This encourages people to listen to their core selves and realize that they always have the power to change from within. Life is all about transformation. It begins and ends inside each soul.

Liara Covert’s last blog post..Raise your frequency & redefine success

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Michele (ScrappinMichele) McGraw May 11, 2009, 4:10 pm

Self care means taking care of me before taking care of others. I struggle with this every day because I feel like if I do that, then I am being selfish. I spend most days teaching my kids not to be selfish and then when they become adults they will have to learn to be selfish in some ways. It is difficult finding that balance. I try very hard to get a few moments of peace for ME every day. And some weekends I say to my husband, “I need a break for ME” and I pretend I’m at a spa with no kids and no husband and take care of me with a full home spa treatment and reading and watching “chick” movies and doing whatever I want.

I think often my biggest barrier to self care is me. It’s easy to say it’s the kids or family, but when it really comes down to it, if I wanted it to be a priority, then I would make it a priority.

Michele (ScrappinMichele) McGraw’s last blog post..

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Tess The Bold Life May 11, 2009, 5:16 pm

Michelle,
Everyone with children struggles with not enough “me” time until they really get they are better parents when they have it. I agree you are your no.1 priority!
Thanks for stopping by.

Tess The Bold Life’s last blog post..Monday Magic Freebie Cheryl Richardson’s New Book

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Tess The Bold Life May 11, 2009, 5:17 pm

Liara,
I agree our transformation begins within our soul. Amen!

Tess The Bold Life’s last blog post..Monday Magic Freebie Cheryl Richardson’s New Book

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Patricia May 11, 2009, 7:24 pm

Richardson’s books have been a wonderful resource for one of my daughters. She stopped looking at what her peers were doing and choices they were making and began to see what she was made of and what she did well – she is now studying to be a Information Services Professional (Librarian – specializing in working in schools) and just loving her choices. My hats off to Richardson’s great style and perspective.

Patricia’s last blog post..I Love Flowers

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Tess May 12, 2009, 3:25 am

I’m learning about self-care all over again after experiencing a severe burnout in 2007 and almost having a relapse earlier this year. Part of that learning is reading this blog and ones like it and trying to put some of the ideas into practice. Being a mother and a teacher it is very hard to put myself first.

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LifeMadeGreat | Juliet May 12, 2009, 5:08 am

Hi Tess

I ensure I have lots of me-time – cause that’s what introverts need. But it comes at the expense of anything that involves a mass of people e.g. shopping. The state of my wardrobe is shocking!
I need to hire a clothes-shopper for myself.

Juliet

LifeMadeGreat | Juliet’s last blog post..Coping With Praise

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Tess The Bold Life May 12, 2009, 5:48 am

Patricia,
What a wise daughter you have. Of course look who her mother is! Parenting is the most difficult job I ever had and when we see our children shine it’s such a reward and joy.
Yes my hat’s off to Cheryl as well!

Tess,
I like your name! I attended Catholic schools for 11 years. What a tough job you have!
I wish you well and hope you continue to put yourself first everyday!

Juliet,
It’s so much better to have your mental health than new, nice clothes. I’m glad you’re you!

Tess The Bold Life’s last blog post..Monday Magic Freebie Cheryl Richardson’s New Book

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Alik Levin | PracticeThis.com May 12, 2009, 7:06 am

Tess, thanks for the pointer. I visited Cheryl’s web site – no blog. Does she blog? I’d subscribe

Alik Levin | PracticeThis.com’s last blog post..Apply 80/20 Principle – Focus On Stuff That Matters

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janice May 12, 2009, 12:40 pm

Cheryl’s Life Makeovers was the start of my journey out of low grade chronic depression and has a special place in my heart. None of her work has disappointed me since. Well done for highlighting her here, Tess. I’m looking forward to checking this one out.

janice’s last blog post..My Journey to Ithaka

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Mark May 12, 2009, 1:57 pm

Self care means to be self aware. When we are aware of our self and truly take the time to understand our purpose and our authentic self then everything else begins to follow. When we know that we are a soul with a body we then understand that the body is a vehicle for us to complete our mission while we are here and we take time for rejuvenation and we begin to become aware of anything that interferes with our rejuvenation periods because we know that if we are not practicing extreme self care then we are not in the best positon to fulfill our ultimate purpose of this leg of our journey.

Mark’s last blog post..“I” & “Me” – Change the Language We Use and Shift From Ego to Spirit

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Evita May 12, 2009, 4:45 pm

Hi Tess

Oh this is fantastic! I just saw Cheryl for the first time at the I CAN DO IT! conference and will be writing about her lecture on the Art of Extreme Self Care in Day 4. She was phenomenal!!!

I loved her topic because I feel that it is something that is missing in so many people’s lives today, but especially women’s, and especially women who are mothers. I see it all around me all the time. First come the kids, then the spouse, the house and ususally at the end of all that there is nothing left for “her”.

Self care to me is a very integral area to one’s life. I am happy to say that it is not an area I lack in one bit. I have always put things like proper sleep, proper eating above all else. Then of course having time for things that are pleasurable for me. This allows me to be the best that I can for others, and in turn I end up spending quality time with them, where I can be present to them and for them.

Some people think that the area of self-care is somewhat selfish, but if we cannot take care of ourselves, how can we ever truly take care of others?

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Jocelyn of I TAKE OFF THE MASK May 13, 2009, 6:08 am

Thanks so much Tess! Writing a book had always been very close to my heart

Jocelyn of I TAKE OFF THE MASK’s last blog post..Tips Before You Leave Your Job

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Kathy | Virtual Impax May 13, 2009, 8:18 am

I believe strongly in the power of “word pictures”. I read the following “word picture” in a book long ago and it’s helped me to define “self care”.

The author asked the reader to imagine that you’ve been called to help feed a village of starving people. You land in a plane laden with more than enough supplies. You set up the tent and make preparations to distribute the food. As the people line up with bowls in hand, you are overcome by the needs of these people.

When it comes time for you to eat – you pass. The food is needed by others – not you.

You continue your work – preparing and distributing the much needed food but soon you discover that you are starving too. Because you didn’t take care of yourself – now you are unable to prepare the food for others.

As a wife/mother/business owner I find myself “tapping into” that word picture often.

It’s SO EASY for some of us to focus upon feeding others and forget to feed ourselves – both physically AND spiritually.

Tess – BTW – I am ordering a copy of the book and counting it as an act of “self care”.

Kathy | Virtual Impax’s last blog post..#1 Rule for Social Media Marketing Success…

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Tess The Bold Life May 13, 2009, 11:41 am

Mark,
It’s so true, our bodies are what ables us to complete our life’s work.
I’m wallowing in your wisdom!
Evita,
So true and because you practice it so well it tells me you’re a wise woman!
Jocelyn,
You write so well I hope you do write that book and make it a priority. You have a gift!
Kathy,
Wow what a story! Powerful. I think a whole post could be written on that story alone.

Tess The Bold Life’s last blog post..Somebody’s Daughter

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Cheryl Wright May 14, 2009, 6:15 am

Over the years since I first saw Cheryl Richardson on Oprah, I’ve slowly incorporated self-care into my busy life.

It has come to mean an apologetic and uncompromising commitment to nurture myself – every crevice and fold and layer of my body, my mind and my spirit.

Silence and solitude to read, pray, meditate and journal are the staples of my self-care routine. However, when I am unable to retreat to my corner on the front porch for my self-care ritual, I have learned to take mental breaks from the noise of daily life, find my center, connect to God in prayer and gratitude which always, always eases the stress, washes me with calm and delights my spirit.

At one time, I’d grow frustrated when I life prevented me from stealing away to my corner on the front porch for my self-care session. But I’ve learned to find my quiet space right there in the midst of talk and laughter and movement. There, in that mental space, God guides me into a ritual of silent prayer, gratitude, emotional understanding and refreshinge and physical rest.

Cheryl Wright’s last blog post..Saturday Soirée – Go to your writing. Write your story

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Brian D June 5, 2009, 10:09 am

I am really eager to buy Cheryl’s new book. I have read her previous books they was awesome and I believe it will also best as previous books

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