Tag: Essential Oils

5 Ways to QUIET the Mind

by standinlovejen, posted in Brain Health, Essential Oils, Health & Wellness

It’s no secret.  I am, admittedly, a learn-a-holic.  I derive ridiculous amounts of pleasure from the mere absorption of information.  The unknown becomes known.  That may explain my insatiable appetite for Anthony Bourdain’s traveling series, Parts Unknown.  His distinct gift of documenting the lives, flavorful fare, and vibrant cultural traditions of  the world’s unrevealed places bolsters my intense passion for and longing to understand the world and the nearly 7.5 billion people in it.

Inquiring minds ask a lot of questions, and yes, I am without question, a questioner.

This morning while enjoying a quick walk in the outdoor inferno, I listened to an insightful  Kwik Brain podcast.  Jim Kwik is an expert on all things brain-related, particularly accelerated learning.  You may recall his name from the 6-part series I shared on Brain Health and essential oils last spring.   You can find them here, in case you missed them.    I had the pleasure of meeting Jim in Las Vegas at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, thanks to an introduction by a dear friend and behavior design expert, Linda Fogg-Phillips.

In this morning’s bite-sized dose of brain-expanding learning, Jim shared tips for calming the mind by way of the user-friendly acrostic “Q.U.I.E.T.”, (which by the way happens to be an awesome book on the power of introversion by Susan Cain), to help listeners turn off their incessant internal chatter.   He said, “Your brain is not designed to work at full steam all the time.  Regular simmering down with these tips and hacks is a brilliant move for your wellbeing in life and career. ”  

Q: Question

By asking ourselves questions like, “Who am I right now?” and “What do I live for?“, we are able to tap into the present moment and help focus the mind.  Try asking, “What do I really need right now?“, or “What is the most delightful thing I have seen all day?”  Ask yourself better questions. Asking questions, Jim says, directs our focus and helps us concentrate on what’s most important.

U: Unplug

Get into nature. Opt outside.

There is plenty of scientific evidence showing the positive effects of spending time in the great outdoors.  Surrounded by nature, our bodies naturally relax and our brains release feel good chemicals like serotonin.   A tip I picked up on another Kwik Brain podcast suggested using the first and last hour of each day to our advantage.  These are the hours we are typically less distracted, and have the highest ability to control.  (Hint:  avoid grabbing your phone and reacting first thing in the morning as well as responding to work emails late at night when you could be reading/ relaxing in your bed setting your brain up for much needed time recovering).

I: Integrate

By integration, Jim is referring to the integration of our 5 senses: touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell.   He notes, ” Scientists can now show it’s possible to regulate how aroused you are through the five senses, as well as through the vestibular system.”  The vestibular system is our sensory system controlling things like our forward and backward motions, as well as working in tandem with our body awareness sense, proprioception, to provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation.  These are often referred to as our sixth sense.  By activating any one of our senses,  we are able to step out of our minds, and into our bodies.

Here’s where aromatherapy shines!  By activating our olfactory system (sense of smell), we are able to get our of our heads, and into our bodies!  As I write this post and share with you, I am diffusing Cilantro essential oil and am enjoying the steady mist of this fresh, herbaceous, and incredibly cleansing essential oil.  Cilantro essential oil is used to help support the body in detoxing from heavy metals and free radicals, and is especially helpful in reducing anxious feelings.   Here are some other key benefits of using Cilantro essential oil. 

In addition to activating your sense of smell to initiate a quiet mind, you may try integrating other senses by:

  • dimming the lights
  • sitting under a weighted blanket ( this is a ritual for me)
  • listening to nature sounds
  • forward folding postures
  • balancing on 1 leg
  • rocking in a chair
  • deep breathing
  • sipping essential oil flavored water
  • inhaling your favorite essential oils in the palms of your hands
  • and for the guys out there… try fly fishing, or swinging a golf club!

E: Exercise

Movement.  Shakes things up and gets blood flowing!  According to a Harvard Medical School Journal, aerobic exercise may boost the size of the hippocampus- the part of the brain involved with verbal memory and learning.   You can read the full story here.    In addition to supporting your heart and lungs, exercise boosts endorphins and is a form of meditation in motion.   The effort given to a particular motion, whether it’s hiking, cycling, walking, running, fishing, golfing, or playing tennis helps take our minds to a different place and often frees us temporarily of our troubles.   I find that chopping fresh vegetables has a similar relaxing effect on the mind, and of course, so does enjoying my favorite sweet treats at night!

T:  Transcendental Meditation

Jim’s final suggestion in Q.U.I. E.T ing the mind is Transcendental Meditation.  You may be thinking, “What is it? and “How exactly do you do this?”  In a simplified explanation,   TM, as it’s commonly referred to, involves the use of a mantra for 15–20 minutes twice per day while sitting with the eyes closed.   This may be a particular phrase, affirmation, or sequence of words on which you choose to focus.    Close your eyes, and repeat the words or phrasing over and over in your mind and allow them to come into laser focus.  Don’t worry if you don’t get it right or if it feels like it’s just not your thing.

Like most things in life that are good for us, quieting the mind is a habit, and according to my dear friend and behavioral design expert Linda,  habits begin as seedlings and  through practice, consistency, and a favorable environment, they grow into thriving behaviors.

 

Here’s to discovering a little more QUIET in your world.

Stand In Love,

Jen

 

 

 

 

Is Finding Balance Fiction?

by standinlovejen, posted in Essential Oils, Health & Wellness

Do you ever wonder if there is such a thing as achieving balance?   Do you ever feel pulled in so many different directions you doubt balance is possible?   Between family responsibilities, the kids, work deadlines, bills, friendships, exercise, eating right, cleaning, and shopping,  where on Earth is the time to find the elusive sense of balance we are encouraged to locate?

As I sit Indian-style in my office chair tapping away on my laptop, inhaling the gorgeous diffused aroma of patchouli, lime, and frankincense,  I wonder if my body  (physical, emotional, and spiritual) is appropriately balanced?  Yesterday at a luncheon with our local dōTERRA community we listened to Dr. Sarah Johnson, DC and cervical spine specialist,  share tips on the subject of achieving balance naturally.   Her words, and more importantly her questions, linger inside my head and heart today and have created a desire to share with a larger audience.  Do you listen to the silent words spoken by your body each day?

Let’s take a moment together to close our eyes and feel deeply inside of our bodies.  Do you sense pain or discomfort anywhere?  Are you carrying around repressed emotions? Stuffed feelings? Unconfronted numbness?  Is that tension in your neck and shoulders due to carrying around a heavy burden for years that you have just allowed to become the new norm?  How about that nagging discomfort in your lower back or hips?  Is that from lifting inattentively, or is it a conglomeration of unaddressed emotions pooling together in a little circle trying to grab your attention, begging for release?

Our bodies are masters of adaptation.  They are built to respond to stress, and habituate. The risk of this adaptation is that when we keep pushing a new normal on all three levels (mind, body, spirit), the body, out of self-preservation,  keeps going until it no longer can resulting in dis-ease and discomfort.

Feelings Buried Alive Never Die

This week, I have been digging feverishly into Kathy Truman’s insightful book, Feelings Buried Alive Never Die, and have come to some powerful realizations surrounding the  origins of feelings and emotions, as well as the unique space they take up in our bodies.

Put simply, feelings and thoughts are made of energy and energy is matter.   Physics teaches us that matter is never destroyed, but can be altered.  So what happens to our thoughts and feelings since they are virtually indestructible?

Feelings are born moment-to-moment and what we choose to do with them profoundly impacts our overall health and wellness.  Please re-read that sentence.  Let’s think of emotions like grains for a moment.  Is it your tendency to toss feelings into the storehouse of your mind or heart, unconsciously collecting them one-by-one and allowing them to accumulate unaddressed?  Every kernel of hurt, every ragged rejection, every bit of anguish, pain, confidence-snatching humiliation, breath-taking overwhelm, every slicing condescending comment thrown our way, and every grain of grief.  What happens when these storehouses get filled to the roof?  One of two things may happen; We start a second storehouse, or the lid bursts unexpectedly on the overfilled one.

I would like to suggest a third option:  Sift through the grains.  Sort the emotions, one by one.  Take away the prison-like power of negative emotions, break the stronghold by walking straight into them.   Wait, you may be thinking, “Well, that’s painful and will cause heartache Jen. ”  Yes, it will hurt.  Yes, it will sting, often unbearably.  Yes, you may shed oceans of tears.  Yes, you may have to go places (metaphorically speaking) you prefer not to, but what is the alternative?  Allow the undigested emotions to destroy the cells in your body causing symptoms of dis-ease?

Defining Positive and Negative Emotions

In Dr. Joan Borysenko’s book, Minding the Body, Minding the Mind, she describes feelings this way:

“Positive Emotions create bodily sensations of openness and expansiveness.  They invite the world in.  The body feels relaxed, even though some emotions such as joy are very energizing.  In contrast, negative emotions create a tight, contracted feeling.  Everything pulls inward.  The world is pushed away.  Positive feelings invite unity.  Negative feelings invite isolation.  Becoming a skilled observer of your own emotions allows you to make a conscious choice between love and unity, or fear and isolation. ” 

I want to choose love and unity every single time.   I believe we have the capacity to reject fear and isolation.   A line from one of my favorite songs goes like this:

“FEAR is a LIAR.   He will take your breath, stop you in your steps.  He will rob your rest, steal your happiness.   Cast your fear in the fire, cuz fear, he is a liar.” 

Essential Oils for Emotions

The fascinating thing about essential oils is that they have the capacity to support individuals on both a physical and emotional level.   The beauty of nature and creation is such that our bodies receive the chemistry of essential oils on the cellular level via cell receptors.   With a variety of Certified Pure, Therapeutic Grade essential oils to choose from, there are several solutions to meet your emotional needs.

A favorite for emotional support is the Emotional Aromatherapy Kit, containing essential oil blends specifically formulated with balanced chemistry to deliver the desired outcomes.  With names like Peace, Forgive, Cheer, Passion, Motivate, and Console, they are designed to touch right on the epicenter of our emotions.

What if all we had to fear was LOVE?  Would that bring us into balance?

Until next time my cherished friends,

Stand In Love,  Jen

 

To learn more, or to bring these natural treasures into your home today, please start here. 

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas-based dōTERRA Wellness Advocate, Speaker, and Marketing Consultant.  She volunteers as a Community Partner for global nonprofit BeadforLife, whose mission is to provide entrepreneurial training to 1 million impoverished people globally by 2027.   Click here for a listing of upcoming events, or Follow her on Instagram or Facebook @standinlovejen .  To begin your natural health and wellness journey today with essential oils, click here .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Essential Oils Every Woman Needs to Reduce Stress

by standinlovejen, posted in Essential Oils, Health & Wellness

According to recent American Psychology Association research, “women are more likely to report physical and emotional symptoms of stress than men, such as having had a headache (41 percent versus 30 percent), having felt as though they could cry (44 percent versus 15 percent), or having had an upset stomach or indigestion (32 percent versus 21 percent) in the past month. The same survey also reported that women are more likely than men to report that they eat as a way of managing stress (31 percent versus 21 percent).”

Whether you are a naturally high-energy individual, a professional in a high-stress environment, a mother juggling multiple to-do lists, or all of the above, this post is for you.

Turns out, there are two types of stress: positive and negative.  Positive stress, eustress, is produced during heightened states of arousal, and is commonly linked to a specific goal.  Negative stress, distress, is similar to free-floating anxiety, and unlike eustress, which stops cortisol production as soon as the desired goal is complete, sends our body into the proverbial fight-or-flight stress response.  The cortisol has no place to go, and wreaks havoc on our bodies.

If left unchecked, stress can and WILL disrupt the following:

  • memory/ learning
  • endocrine system – mood/ hormones
  • immune system
  • digestive system – gut health
  • cardiovascular system
  • circulatory system- high blood pressure
  • muscular/ skeletal system

Wow, that’s pretty much every inch of our physical bodies, not to mention spilling into  every millimeter of our neurosystem.

Stress Management Protocols

  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Understand stress triggers
  • Social Connection
  •  Laughter/ levity
  • Music
  • Aromatherapy

Yes, eat your fruits and veggies, limit fat and sugar intake, and move your body.   Sounds familiar, right?

Well, what about time spent with friends and loved ones?  According to author and friendship expert Shasta Nelson, lacking intimate relationships with friends is equivalent to smoking several cigarettes a day!  If you are interested in learning more about building awesome friendships, check out this post.  Additionally, I highly recommend reading her book full of mind-blowing research Frientimacy:  How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness.    

So that brings us to my area of expertise- aromatherapy and using essential oils to boost mood and reduce stress and anxious feelings.   As a perpetual learner, this subject has been my central focus for the last 18 months and continues to impress upon me fresh insights that I simply MUST share with the world.  (Isn’t that what we do when we LOVE something so much? )

Why use essential oils? The short answer is this:  THEY WORK.

Which ones you ask?

Let’s start with Jen’s Top 5 Essential Oils for Stress Reduction

  1.  Clary Calm– every woman’s best friend.  This proprietary blend supports raging hormones, hot flashes, and extreme irritability.  (ps. Men benefit from this too!) I have a couple of roller-bottles of this blend and prefer to apply topically to my abdomen, wrists, or over the heart for emotional flare-ups.
  2. Balance–  or the “Grounding Blend” mixes peace, harmony, and tranquility all in one!  As the name suggests, this is a simple way to bring balance into each day.  Start with a drop or two on bottoms of feet each day before beginning the day, and use throughout day as needed on pulse points, and back of the neck.
  3. Elevation–  also known as the “Joyful Blend”, this essential oil blend artfully combines mood-boosting florals like Ylang Ylang, Melissa Leaf, Lavender and Osmanthus with deeply calming oils like Hawaiian Sandalwood and Lemon Myrtle. This essential oil is heavenly diffused in the home!  Try diffusing in the kids’ rooms in the morning to promote positive feelings for the start of each day, or diffuse after a long stressful day to help relax and unwind.    I like to proactively use Elevation in situations that would typically activate a stress response by applying a few drops behind my ears and on my wrists.
  4. Neroli–  this prized essential oil sourced from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees of Egypt is a surefire way to reduce anxious feelings and instantly lift mood.  This essential oil has been extensively researched for its ability to provide users with a calming and positive experience.  Bonus benefit, it is great for the skin and blemishes.   Personally, I wear this beauty as fragrance and often mix with Jasmine.  YUM!
  5. Peace–  called the “Reassuring Blend” for its inherent ability to reassure even the most overwhelmed individual.   As someone who struggled for years with anxious feelings, Peace was like discovering that long-lost friend you have waited for your entire life!  This essential oil blend does exactly what the name suggests:  creates a state of inner peace, composure, and gives you a dose of reassurance in each drop.

For all the times we feel overwhelmed, burdened, burned out, or simply at our wit’s end, there are natural solutions to support you.    Think of essential oils as partners in your wellness journey.  Full of chemistry, completely diverse, and always there when you need them!

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas-based dōTERRA Wellness Advocate, Speaker, and Marketing Consultant.  She volunteers as a Community Partner for global nonprofit BeadforLife, whose mission is to provide entrepreneurial training to 1 million impoverished people globally by 2027.   Click here for a listing of upcoming events, or Follow her on instagram or Facebook @standinlovejen .  To begin your natural health and wellness journey today with essential oils, click here .

 

 

 

Jen’s Essential Oils for Spring Renewal

by standinlovejen, posted in Essential Oils, Health & Wellness

As we celebrate the first day of Spring today,  let us remember that Spring is a time for renewal and rebirth.  Poet Pablo Neruda said it best, ” You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”

The clock is forward, the days are getting longer, and you’re thinking about summer plans and all the changes you’re ready to make!  Springtime is the natural season for cleaning, weeding out, preparing and planning!

Whether you have plans to green clean your home, reorganize your garage, drop that stubborn 10 pounds, or increase the vitality in your interpersonal or professional relationships, the following essential oils will support you naturally in your efforts!

Renewing Oils

I love using Basil, Peppermint, Arborvitae, Serenity, and Motivate to help me with energy and renewal.  Each oil has specific properties that help us renew on 3 levels: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.

Basil

Most of us are familiar with using basil as a dried or fresh herb in salads and recipes, but did you know that basil essential oil helps support you if you are under a great deal of mental strain?  Basil essential oil is used to bring energy rejuvenation after long periods of burnout and exhaustion.   Anyone relate to that?  How about using basil to help you give up those substances you turn to for false support…. like food, alcohol, drugs, or negative behaviors.

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Speaking from experience, I tend to turn to sugar.  It has always been my default comfort support when weak, weary, exhausted, or emotionally spent.  I’ve learned new and improved ways to support myself naturally using essential oils to modify behaviors, and diffusing basil is an intentional habit I’ve created.   Try rubbing a few drops of Basil essential oil on the middle portion of your back- directly over your adrenal glands.

Arborvitae

Grown in the beautiful forests of British Columbia, Canada, this incredibly complex essential oil assists with renewal on many levels.  Arborvitae works on the cellular level to generate vitality and cell turnover and emotionally helps us let go of our forced efforts and the need to control everything in life.  Arborvitae’s Latin name means “to sacrifice”, inviting us to sacrifice our personal will and ambitions for a far more fulfilling way of living.    What a beautiful way to step into spring, letting go and trusting in the flow of life and the divine purpose God has for us all!

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Serenity

We all know how vital sleep is for renewing our bodies, especially the recovery of hard-working muscles, tissues, and cells working 24/7 for our benefit!   While some people are blessed with a genetic mutation affording them the ability to survive on 4 hours of sleep, most (the other 99% without the mutation) of us need 7-9 hours of sleep to allow for proper recovery and renewal.

Serenity essential oil blend is a heavenly mix of Lavender Flower, Cedarwood, Ho Wood Leaf, Ylang Ylang Flower, Marjoram Leaf, Roman Chamomile Flower, Vetiver Root, Vanilla Bean Absolute, and Hawaiian Sandalwood.

Try this oil in a diffuser at night to promote calm and relaxation, allowing for deep, restful sleep.  Topically,  rub a few drops of Serenity on the bottoms of your feet, the back of your neck, or on pulse points.   This essential oil blend is a TOTAL game-changer and it will quickly have you singing its praises!

How to Start Using Essential Oils

If you are just beginning your journey of natural wellness and interested in learning more about bringing these precious CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) essential oils into your home, please click here.    I LOVE love LOVE sharing my passion for natural wellness and look forward to connecting you and your family with the many diverse benefits for your body, mind, and soul!

Happy First Day of Spring!

xo,

Jen

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas-based dōTERRA Wellness Advocate, Speaker, and Marketing Consultant.  She volunteers as a Community Partner for global nonprofit BeadforLife, whose mission is to provide entrepreneurial training to 1 million impoverished people globally by 2027.   Click here for a listing of upcoming events, or Follow her on instagram or Facebook @standinlovejen .  To host a dōTERRA essential oil workshop with your friends or family,  please email: standinlovejen@gmail.com .  

 

 

 

Stand In Love Jen Healthy Heart essential oils

Essential Oils for Happy & Healthy Hearts

by standinlovejen, posted in Essential Oils, Female Entrepreneurship, Health & Wellness, Passion

Essential oils are precious natural gifts given to us for physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits.   I like to think of them as pure and potent aromatic kisses in a bottle!

Let’s appreciate our amazing hearts for just a minute!  Our heart is the workhorse of our cardiovascular system, pumping blood to organs, tissues, and trillions of cells in our body.   Now that is a tough job!  Even more astounding is the fact that if we lined up all the vessels in our cardiovascular system end to end, they would extend for about 60,000 miles, which is far enough to circle the planet more than 2 times!

In honor of heart health awareness month, I invite you to learn about a few of my favorite essential oils that promote feelings of relaxation and reduced stress in our busy lives.  The combined benefits of reduced stress along with balanced diet, exercise, and a reduction in our toxic load is great for our hearts and overall vitality!

Cypress

This gorgeous conifer essential oil sourced from the branches of tall evergreen trees has been known to promote proper circulation and blood flow throughout the body*.   I love to use a homemade blend I call no more veins to help promote blood flow and reduce the appearance of spider and varicose veins.  (tip: it’s good for men too!)

Uses:

  • Prior to a long run, apply to feet and legs for an energizing boost.
  • Apply two to three drops to chest before gardening to promote vitality and energy.
  • Diffuse with Lime essential oil for an invigorating scent.
  • Mix together Cypress and Grapefruit essential oil with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil for an invigorating massage.
  • Add one to two drops to toner to help improve the appearance of oily skin.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang Ylang essential oil is derived from the star-shaped flowers of the tropical Ylang Ylang tree and is used extensively in making perfumes and in aromatherapy.  In aromatherapy, Ylang Ylang is used to lessen tension and stress and to promote a positive outlook, and we know that reduced tension and stress helps keep our hearts healthy!

Uses:

  • Put Ylang Ylang into an Epsom Salt bath for relaxation.
  • Refresh your skin with an aromatherapy steam facial using Ylang Ylang essential oil.
  • Put on your wrists for a sweet, floral perfume.
  • Add Ylang Ylang to Fractionated Coconut Oil for a deep hair conditioner.
  • Take internally for antioxidant support.*

Bergamot

Oh Bergamot, I love you so!  This gorgeous citrus plant grown in Italy is known emotionally as the Oil of self-acceptance.  It’s cleansing aroma combines a little bit of citrus, spice, and a hint of floral.  The name Bergamot is derived from the town Bergamo, in Lombardy, Italy where it is extensively cultivated.   I use this oil when doubts creep into my heart and I need to excavate limiting beliefs.  Try rubbing a couple of drops directly on your chest over your heart and take a deep breath of gratitude for all your heart does for you every day.  This oil has the powerful ability to turn our awareness to positive, hopeful thoughts.

Uses

  • Diffuse in the classroom, at work, or at home when stress levels or tension is high.
  • Apply to the skin while showering and inhale deeply to experience its calming aroma while enjoying its purifying skin benefits.
  • Change regular tea to Earl Grey with the addition of Bergamot.
  • Apply to the feet before bedtime or use with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil for a calming and relaxing massage.

Passion- Inspiring Blend

This blend is simply irresistible! A blend of cardamom seed, cinnamon bark, ginger, clove bud, sandalwood, jasmine flower absolute, and vanilla bean absolute makes Passion one of my go-to oils when my heart needs a boost of excitement!  This oil is great for rekindling romance and helps you recover your long-lost mojo to try that next big something new in life!  Try it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed!

Uses

  • Diffuse in the morning to start the day feeling energized and enthusiastic.
  • Apply to pulse points and heart throughout the day to feel inspired and passionate.
  • Diffuse at work to spark creativity, clarity, and wonder.

 

These are just a few of my favorites of aromatic kisses in a bottle! To get yours, simply head over to www.mydoterra.com/standinlove and click Join & Save to get your wholesale account today! You will receive a welcome email from me with what to do next, along with an invitation to my private online support group with ongoing education, training, and mentoring!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas-based dōTERRA Wellness Advocate, Speaker, and Marketing Consultant.  She volunteers as a Community Partner for global nonprofit BeadforLife, whose mission is to provide entrepreneurial training to 1 million impoverished people globally by 2027.   Click here for a listing of upcoming events, or Follow her on instagram or Facebook @standinlovejen .  To host a dōTERRA essential oil workshop with your friends or family,  please email: standinlovejen@gmail.com .  

 

Cornerstones

by standinlovejen, posted in Ideas, Love, Passion

As I gaze out the kitchen window and fix my eyes on a beautiful Japanese blueberry tree in the distance, I feel summer’s end nearby.  I don’t know about you, but my heart is eagerly anticipating the change of season, bringing with it cooler temps and lively conversations around a circular fire pit out back.   Over the course of 8 weeks this summer, I had the unique opportunity to witness the incredible transformation of our back yard by a team of hard-working landscapers and talented masons.   Not only did they endure sweltering hours of oppressive desert heat removing overgrown Mesquite and African Sumac trees,  they skillfully and artfully arranged combinations of decorative flagstone into functional architectural features to be enjoyed by friends and family this fall.

The unanticipated gift from this experience was contemplating the importance of cornerstones and how their selection and level placement during the construction process affects the overall design and stability.

What is a Cornerstone?

Webster’s Dictionary defines a cornerstone as: (noun) a basic element : foundation. Digging a little further, ( yes, I admit freely I have a bit of an uncanny obsession with language and vocabulary)  I found this definition and enjoyed the depth of explanation:

cornerstone – the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained; “the whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture” . Synonyms:  fundament, groundwork, basis, foundation, base. 

It’s as though I had discovered this word, cornerstone, for the very first time.  It is likely I have uttered it without fully understanding or assimilating its meaning.   Sometimes it takes an experience to bring a word to light in our lives, and I just love the illuminating feeling that rises up within when that happens.

Who or What is Your Cornerstone?

Cornerstones are used ceremoniously to commemorate people or moments in time we would rather not forget.    They represent firm foundations and solid ground.   The level, the steady, the shaping element, the framework, and the fundamental, whose underlying base of support is perhaps taken inadvertently for granted.

What comes up for you when you think about the word cornerstone?  Is it a particular person or value?  Faith or spirituality?  In what are you placing your hope, your joy, and your trust?  Who is your cornerstone?  Who is your rock,  keeping you on solid ground, providing for you a firm foundation on which to build your hopes and dreams?

Take a moment to think about these cornerstones and appreciate them.   Allow your heart to swell with gladness and overflow into all you do, think, and say.

“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”

                                                                                                            – Wayne Dyer

What do you truly LOVE in this life?  What are you certain brings you joy, happiness, and a reason to get up and begin a fresh, new day?   What is that ONE thing that you just can’t bear to live without?  Are you feeling it? Living it? Doing it? If the answer is not a resounding YES, ask yourself why?

 

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer, speaker, and marketing consultant.  She works as a  Community Partner volunteer for global nonprofit BeadforLife, whose mission is to provide entrepreneurial training to 1 million women globally by 2027.   Click here for a listing of upcoming events, or Follow her on instagram or Facebook @standinlovejen .  To host your own BeadforLife marketplace or essential oil party this fall, email deboughjl@gmail.com

 

 

 

4 Back-to-School Tips to Increase Focus

by standinlovejen, posted in Essential Oils, Health & Wellness

Summer is coming to an early close for Las Vegas valley students.   Back-to-school ads fill the airwaves, while anticipation fills the thoughts of eager minds ready to begin a new school year.   As I write this, Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 fills my ears with relaxing melodies steadily soothing my mind.

I am often asked by friends and teachers for advice on how to help children increase focus both in the classroom and at home.   No matter what your age, these easy-to-implement natural solutions help support increased concentration, mental clarity, and alertness when you need it most.

Frankincense

Renowned as one of the most prized and precious essential oils, Frankincense promotes feelings of peace, relaxation, satisfaction, and overall wellness when inhaled or diffused.  In addition to its notoriety in the New Testament, the Babylonians and Assyrians would burn Frankincense in religious ceremonies and the ancient Egyptians used Frankincense resin for everything from perfume to salves for soothing skin.

I love using this highly aromatic essential oil sourced from Somalia because of its inherent ability to awaken feelings of enlightenment, wisdom, discernment, and a connection to the truth.  Rich in sesquiterpenes, this oil has the ability to pass the blood-brain barrier for almost instantaneous transformative effects.  Simply inhale from the bottle, or rub a few drops of this comforting oil directly on your temples or behind the neck for direct access to your brain.

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Peppermint

The peppermint plant is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint and was described by Carl Linneaus in 1753. A high menthol content—like that found in the dōTERRA Peppermint essential oil—distinguishes the best quality Peppermint from other products.

According to a published study by the US National Library of Medicine, “Peppermint aroma caused improvement on tasks related to attentional processes, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor response. “

USES:

  •  Diffuse with Wild Orange during homework / home study.
  •  Place drops of peppermint in palm of hand, rub hands together and cup hands over nose and inhale deeply.  (avoid direct contact with the eyes!- ouch!)
  • Use during test preparation to promote alertness and active learning.
  • Bonus:  calms upset stomach (think pre-test jitters or classroom bullies)

 

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Rosemary

Rosemary is known as the Oil of Knowledge & Transition.  According to Emotions & Essential Oils, a go-to reference book for the emotional properties of essential oils,

 “Rosemary assists individuals who struggle with learning disabilities.  It brings expansion to the mind, supporting individuals in receiving new information and new experiences.  Rosemary aids in times of transition and change.  When a person is having  a difficult time adjusting to a new house, school, or relationship, this oil can assist. “

USES:

  • Diffuse while studying to maintain concentration.
  • Take internally to help reduce nervous tension and occasional fatigue.
  • use aromatically to support increase memory function.

In Tune-The Focus Blend

In Tune is a proprietary blend of essential oils carefully selected for their ability to enhance and sustain a sense of focus. No matter your age, staying focused on the task at hand is sometimes difficult. This is especially critical during the formative years when learning and growing create habits and a foundation for life.

The carefully selected essential oils in doTERRA’s In Tune Focus Blend work together, supporting efforts of those who have difficulty paying attention and staying on task. Sandalwood, Frankincense, and Lime promote a sense of clarity, while the benefits of Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, and Roman Chamomile are calming and soothing. The pleasing aroma of In Tune makes this essential oil blend an easy and delightful one to use.

USES:

  • Apply to the temples and back of neck when doing tasks that require concentration.
  •  Apply to wrists or back of hands and inhale deeply to promote a sense of clarity.
  • Use In Tune at work to stay on task or when feeling tired mid-afternoon.
  •  Dispense In Tune on a clay pendant and place on a desk or in other key areas in a classroom.

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CHEERS!  to a GREAT start of a new school year for students, teachers, and parents!

P.S.  Wish I had the In Tune Blend during my formative years…. maybe I would not have been tied with ropes into my desk in 2nd grade for wandering around the classroom.  😂

Stand In Love,  Jen

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas based writer, doTERRA wellness advocate, and business coach for global NGO BeadforLife.  Her passions include: Serving people, Inspiring ideas, and Living your purpose.  For more inspiration on beginning your essential oil journey, click here. 

The Best Sunburn Ever

by standinlovejen, posted in Adventure, Essential Oils, Passion

Hi Stand In Lovers!

July is in full swing in the Mohave Desert of Las Vegas!  We have been afforded a few days of cloudy, humid relief;  a most welcome respite from the 100+ degree temperatures that fill our dry, scorching-hot, summers.

Yesterday, while enjoying a fun-filled early morning lesson with my incredibly talented and passionate horse trainer Callie Klein, I inadvertently took in some extra sun! The sky was overcast, the air cool and breezy,  and the clouds hung low over the rugged Spring Mountain peaks rising in the Northwest.   I was so immersed in my groundwork lesson learning the fundamentals of natural horsemanship, that I neglected to put on my usual wide-brimmed sunhat and sunscreen.  It felt wonderful to be co-learning with King, my training partner and equine friend, that I even removed my long-sleeved sun shirt!  (This is the kind of joy a cloudy day brings to a native Chicagoan!).

Meet King.

We had a ball meeting each other for the first time becoming quickly acquainted in the round pen playing Parelli’s famous horse games like friendly game, porcupine game, yo-yo game, and driving game.   Our rendez-vous closed with several rounds of circle game in which I attempted to ask King to move in a particular direction of travel relying on nonverbal communication to do so.  Seems so simple as a spectator:  Ask your horse to travel in a circle in a small pen.  However, all things seemingly simple are more complicated than they appear.  It’s a talented horseman that makes it look so simple.  What is absent in these magical displays is the PROCESS it takes to get there.   I am just beginning to understand this process and have fallen head-over-heels in love.   Now, I just want to slow things down, and work on becoming the best partner, communicator, and friend I can be to King.    I am indeed in love and it feels so good.

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P.S.  You may get a sunburn in the process if you are having TOO much FUN! If so, try this awesome DIY that contains doTERRA’s pure CPTG grade essential oils.  Soothing, and refreshing as a skin freshener in the heat of a summer day as well as for sunburns!

Soothing Summer Skin Spray

INGREDIENTS:

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Mix together everything except the distilled water. Stir until well combined.
  2. Pour mixture into the spray bottle, and add distilled water. Shake to combine.
  3. To use, mist on skin as needed.

Stand In Love TIP:  I sometimes just add the essential oils directly to the aloe vera gel and apply the gel in a thick layer on my face 2x a day until swelling and redness is gone.  Of course, wear a hat and sunscreen until fully healed!

Until next time, stay cool out there friends! #standinlove

Jen

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas based writer, doTERRA wellness advocate, and business coach for global NGO BeadforLife.  Her passions include: serving people, inspiring ideas, and helping others live their purpose.  For more inspiration on beginning your essential oil journey, click here. 

Bringing HOPE to the World

by standinlovejen, posted in Connection, Essential Oils, Passion, People, Purpose

Thank you so much for joining Stand In Love today!  I am honored to welcome you if you are a first-time guest!  This is a place to connect with like-minded change-makers around the world intent on sharing light and love in order to serve humanity.

 Serving People.       Inspiring Ideas.      Living Your Purpose.  

I recently caught up with a girlfriend from my hometown of Chicago whom I befriended during my college days as a waitress in an upscale Italian Steakhouse.  She is currently traveling through India and Nepal as a missionary, delivering hope to victims of sex trafficking.   I sent her essential oil vials to take on the journey, in order to support both her emotions as well as those of the women and children she encountered on the streets.

Sex Trafficking Defined

According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex or forced labor. A 2011 Department of State report revealed the geographic locations with the highest percentages of sex trafficking victims include: Thailand, India, Mexico, Philippines, Honduras, and Nepal.  This is not to say that sex trafficking doesn’t exist in the United States, it does.   International travel-hubs like California and Texas host higher concentrations of immigrant populations and subsequently, have higher sex-trafficked victims.

Alarming statistics

According to research, over 20 million adults and children are bought and sold worldwide into commercial sexual servitude, forced labor, and bonded labor.  Almost 6 in 10 identified trafficking survivors were trafficked for sexual exploitation-98% of which are women and girls.

This is a criminal act in over 130 countries, yet sex trafficking is reported to be one of the fastest growing enterprises in the world.   This is unacceptable.  We must create awareness where there is none, and increase awareness where it is stagnant.

Why Share?

Last night while listening to some acoustic recordings by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, I reflected on my decision to join doTERRA as a Wellness Advocate earlier this year.  Why do I share essential oils with others? Why did I choose this journey?

The short answer is this:  People matter to me.

I learned that nearly 2/3 of the nations where these precious, potent, and pure essential oils are sourced are developing countries.  For me, the opportunity to share oils with the world is an educational platform.   My heart beats for the deeply impoverished, the lost, the forgotten, and the voiceless.  I am passionate about connecting with people and creating global bridges of understanding, and doTERRA gives me that incredible opportunity.

Each time I share a bottle of these highly aromatic oils, my mind is instantly transported to the British Columbian forests where Arborvitae trees stretch towards the sky, the vast Bulgarian lavender fields, and to the dry, dusty, and desolate stretches of Haiti where the Vetiver root is sourced and distilled.  The benefits of using these oils goes beyond personal health and wellness.  It is about coming into relationship with the human beings who helped in the arduous processes of harvesting, farming, and distilling.

Operation Underground Railroad.

doTERRA’s philanthropic arm, Healing Hands Foundation, has already made a huge impact in so many lives around the world.  The most recent partnership of the Foundation is an organization created to rescue children from slavery and from sex trafficking- Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R. Rescue).  Founded in 2013 by Tim Ballard, the rescue team is composed of former CIA, Navy SEALs, and Special Ops operatives that work together with local law enforcement to rescue children.  To date, O.U.R. has rescued 693 victims and assisted in the arrests of more than 300 traffickers around the world.   Read about his undercover and emotional journey in Haiti here.

Spreading HOPE.

You may be thinking, “How can I help?” or “How can the sale of one essential oil bottle help put a stop to sex trafficking?” 100% of the proceeds from the sale of every bottle of HOPE Touch essential oil are donated directly to the mission of Operation Underground Railroad.

Let’s join together and help spread HOPE to a world so desperately in need of our love, caring, and voices.

Learn More.

To learn more about Operation Underground Railroad and how your donations through the purchase of the HOPE Touch essential oil are helping children around the world, click here.  To purchase this oil, please click here.

For more information about the Healing Hands Foundation, click here.

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 Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas based writer, doTERRA wellness advocate, and business coach for global NGO BeadforLife.  Her passions include: serving people, inspiring ideas, and helping others live their purpose.  For more inspiration on beginning your essential oil journey, click here. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pillar 6 of Brain Health: Medical Health

by standinlovejen, posted in Brain Health, Essential Oils, Health & Wellness

“Every time you learn a new fact or skill, you change your brain; This is called neuroplasticity”- Lara Boyd, Ph.D

Welcome back Stand In Lovers!  It’s a gorgeous overcast morning in Las Vegas, and I am writing to you from a chic, local coffee shop in Las Vegas called Sambalatte enjoying a decaf espresso with a toothpick swirl of Italian-sourced lemon essential oil on the rim, European style! (One of many fringe benefits of running an essential oil business!).  The owner of the shop is Brazilian, and has incredible passion for coffee!   Enjoying some Balance essential oil on my wrists to keep me focused, grounded, and ready for the day!  My friend and memory expert Jim Kwik always reminds me: “When you win the morning, you win the day!”  

Congratulations for making it to the 6th Pillar of Brain Health!  Your brain is an amazing supercomputer, and my goal of sharing this 6-part series with you is to inspire you to think differently, challenge you to question the origin of your thoughts, encourage you to replace a habit that is no longer serving you, and to open up your mind to the endless possibilities this life has to offer right now if you simply allow your mind to accept the invitation.

Subconscious Mind

Did you know your subconscious mind controls nearly 90% of your thoughts?  I recently attended a mind-challenging Breakthrough Belief Training with master NLP practitioner Roger Webb  and this point stuck in my head:  Your subconscious mind is a genie who says, “Your wish is my command” to every thought we feed it.  Translation:  Be mindful of your thoughts, because your subconscious mind will happily and automatically capture them and respond with “Your wish is my command!”.  Make your thoughts work for you, not against you!  #yes #youcan.

If you are joining Stand In Love for the first time, welcome!  We are SO glad you joined the community!  Over the past 5 weeks we have been exploring the Cleveland Clinic’s 6 Pillars of Brain Health learning tools to support our 3 pound universe.  While today is the final post in this particular series, I challenge you to go back and commit to considering a tiny behavior change in any one of the pillars!

Risk Factors

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a variety of medical conditions are strongly linked to the decline of brain function.   Below is an overview of the 7 Risks to be managed for increased vitality and overall  health and wellness:

( For my essential oil tips, please note: The official FDA disclaimer states: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.” )

Hypertension

• Cut down on salt (less than one teaspoon a day).
• Check your blood pressure regularly.
• Keep active.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Take your medication.
• Aim to keep blood pressure under 120/80 mmHg.

  • Stand In Love tip:  Try using essential oils like Ylang Ylang to help reduce the affects of daily stress and provide antioxidant support. * Massage a few drops onto the back of your neck or rub directly over the heart.  Bonus: this intense and incredibly complicated oil is part of a co-impact sourcing initiative helping create capacity for farmers and distillers in Madagascar! My husband enjoys this oil daily!

Diabetes/Obesity

• Avoid white sugar, white flour and hydrogenated fat.
• Eat more fiber.
• Eat some protein with every meal.
• Control portion size.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 times a week.
• Include aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance

  • Stand In Love tip: Try Slim & Sassy- the Metabolic Blend to help you manage hunger cravings, promote healthy digestion, and calm your stomach.*  I like to place a few drops in water daily to help manage undesirable cravings.  (I am an emotional eater, so this is SUPER helpful for me, and I think you will find the same to be true if you or someone you know struggles with this.) More on this topic in future posts, I can’t wait!

High Cholesterol

• Take cholesterol lowering medications when prescribed.
• Control other risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity as advised by your doctor.

  • Stand In Love tip:  Consider supplementing to get the proper nutrition, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant support commonly missing in the standard diet–even one that is based primarily on whole foods.   My husband and I have been using the Life Long Vitality program for over a month now and are enjoying the multitude of health benefits including increased energy, and an overall sense of wellbeing.   Truly amazing how supporting your body from the inside-out effects everything you do!

Head Injury

• Protect yourself from falls.
• Prevent injury from vehicle crashes by wearing your seat belt.
• Wear a helmet when biking or playing sports.

  • Stand In Love tip: Roll on some In Tune- Focus Blend before a hobby or activity that may have inherent risk.  The mix of Amyris, Patchouli, Frankincense, Lime, Ylang Ylang, Hawaiian Sandalwood, and Roman Chamomile help sustain a sense of focus, and supports those who have difficulty paying attention and staying on task.  (confession: This is me 150%- I should really consider showering in In Tune- ha!)

Depression

• Stay socially connected.
• Seek medical treatment.

  • Stand In Love tip:  Try one of the Emotional Aromatherapy oils. I absolutely ADORE these oils as they contain proprietary blends that target emotional health benefits.  Safe for the entire family and daily applications.  The best part of these oils is that they help balance and brighten your mood and help you change your state of mind.  Available in a convenient roll-ons diluted with fractionated coconut oil for easy on the go application, or in pure essential oil 5ml bottles.  I like to wear Peace- the Reassuring Blend daily as perfume.  Once you try these oils, you will have a hard time returning to perfumes or artificial scents.  They are truly gifts of nature for our enjoyment! The collection contains Cheer, Motivate, Peace, Console, Forgive, and Passion: They are expertly combined blends to support specific emotional needs. (Did I stress how much I LOVE these oils?).

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Smoking

• Quit.
• Cut down with a goal of quitting.
• Seek medical treatment or group support.

  • Stand In Love tip:  try a drop of Black Pepper essential oil under your tongue daily.  Not only can this oil be used in cooking applications, it contains important antioxidants, helps maintain healthy circulation, and soothes anxious feelings when diffused or inhaled directly. *
    *The official FDA disclaimer states: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.”

Neuroplasticity Defined

Did you know that your brain actually changes when you learn something new or try something different?  Watch this super short 11 second video below to see for yourself!  This is neuroplasticity in action! How cool is that?  Simply changing a habit or finding a new way of thinking actually creates new neural pathways in your brain and is GOOD for you! Please allow me to repeat this:  Switching the way you think, the way you work, the way you eat, the habits you have allowed – can all be changed, AND are good for your brain!  Behavior change is a SKILL and you can acquire it!  Want to know your brain health, take this quiz to find out!

 

Thanks for joining the conversation Stand In Lovers!  It’s so great having this community available for all to connect around the world!   #standinlove #share #love #together

 

Jennifer Miller is a Las Vegas based writer, doTERRA wellness advocate, and business coach for global NGO BeadforLife.  Her passions include: serving people, inspiring ideas, and helping others live their purpose.  For more inspiration on beginning your essential oil journey, click here.