The Feminine Superpower of PAUSE

Let’s be honest, the way we normally approach the beginning of our new year is exhausting, unrewarding and tired. Unmet resolutions, goals that we always fall short of, and well intended intentions that never become a priority over day-to-day life.

What if this year, instead of trying to do it all and do it all yourself, you tapped into your feminine super power of PAUSE so that come December 2010, you can celebrate that you’ve accomplished what was truly important to you, made your goals and dreams realities and that you did it without having to exhaust yourself to ‘get it done.’

Begin your 2010 with a new, sustainable approach toward New Year's planning...and Life!

Live the Power of Pause! Christine Arylo will guide this workshop, a full three-hours where you will benefit from reflection and pause by...

• Starting the New Year (and every year from now on) with intentions that stick and that matter vs. resolutions that get forgotten or goals that create stress and fatigue

• Getting more done every day by doing less, just by refocusing 10 minutes of your day

• Finding time for yourself, and everything and everyone else you love, without spending all of your personal energy to make it happen.

Learn more about this illuminating, fun and interactive New Years workshop!
Reclaim you approach toward the New Year.

Early Bird discount til Christmas Day - 12/25: $10 Members, $20 for non-members
Regular Price: $15 Members, $25 non-members
Volunteer for this workshop (5 spaces available): Attend for FREE
Contact Koy Hardy, misskoy@aol.com to Get Involved

About Christine Arylo

Christine Arylo is an inspirational catalyst and the leading self-love expert for today's woman. An m.b.a. and former marketing executive, Christine traded in building images for big brands like Gap and Visa to teach women how to break free from the images they feel pressured to fit into.

A self-admitted, but recovering, achievement junkie and doing addict, Christine is a teacher, writer, coach, speaker, and sought-out expert with the media on the topic of today's woman and her struggles with life and love. Since the release of her book, "Choosing ME before WE, Every Woman's Guide to Life and Love," she has appeared on E! Entertainment, CBS, ABC, and FOX, over 100 radio programs, and in publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and the Daily Om. When not talking or writing, you can find her teaching her "Dare to Be Loved" and "Feminine Super Power" power-shops around the country.

In 2008, Christine launched Madly in Love with ME, a self-love movement that includes an international holiday (Feb 13th), a line of apparel and jewelry, and events in major cities around the world. She also created Self Love Studio, a series of up close and personal tele-conversations on the topics of self-love with the wisest and most real women of our time.

YWSE's Take On ... I'm my own PG & E

by Vera Devera

What comes to mind when you think of women and money?

Shoes.
Prince Charming.
I can save later.
I don't have enough.

That last one is sticky. How many times have we heard it, from ourselves or from our friends and family? The reality is, we all do have enough and are in position to be prosperous if we think about money differently.

That's what was so empowering about the YWCA of Oakland/Berkeley's Young Women and Money Conference that I attended with YWSE on December 5. We heard from three distinguished and inspiring keynote speakers throughout the day: Veronica Dangerfield (Inspirational Speaker and Marketing Manager at Patelco Credit Union), Valerie Coleman-Morris (former Business Anchor at CNN) and Kathleen Ronald ("Queen of Business Networking" and founder of Speakacular). The overall theme woven through each of their "pep talks" was that we all have the power within ourselves to take control of our money and that saving money is easier than you think -- as long as we put our minds over matter.

For some of us, dealing with money is like dieting. You slip up once and say to yourself, "Well, I screwed up so I guess indulging again today isn't going to make a difference -- I've already lost the battle." To make yourself feel better, you treat yourself to a new purse, a $30 meal, or a pair of jeans "on sale" and charge it to your card. Emotional spending, like emotional eating, is dangerous! Before making any impulsive purchases, ask yourself, do you really need it, or do you want it? Why do I want or need this?

By being honest with yourself, you will be taking the first step towards sound financial health. Even more importantly, if you do make a mistake, don't beat yourself over it. Forgive yourself for missing a credit card payment or opening another store credit card. Many women beat themselves over failure and fall into a vicious cycle of letting the failures pile up instead of looking at mistakes as guidelines to success. It's never too late or too early to start a healthy financial life, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just learn from your mistakes and move on.

Another recurring theme was self-reliance: "Pay yourself first." For every paycheck that you earn, be sure to put a percentage of it directly into a savings account that you cannot easily withdraw from. That way, you can start building your savings without really ever knowing you "had" that money. Or you can start as simply as saving all your loose change or a $1 a day. When you pay yourself first, you are investing in your future financial success.

Valerie Coleman-Morris shared these guidelines, which she called "Muddisms," or pearls of wisdom from the mothers in her life:

• Be deliberate
• Set small goals
• Achieve a them and set bigger ones
• Learn to function in chaos and you will finish in style

Valerie's tips coupled with Kathleen Ronald's advice to dare to dream, build a team (such as recruiting the support of friends and a certified financial planner)  and have faith, were very inspiring. It all went back to what Veronica Dangerfield called "ashay," an African term that means we've all got the power within to make our dreams come true. Veronica made us repeat many times,"Today, I've got ashay and I am my own PG & E." Although we can certainly seek support and resources to achieve what we want, that desire is powered by you! If you want to own your own home, build your business, or have a great nest egg when you retire, it's all possible as long as you realize you are your own "PG & E" and that money doesn't give you power, rather you give it power to achieve your dreams.

If you missed this conference, don't fret. Go out and get a certified financial planner, open a savings account (separate from your checking), start saving, be conscious of your spending habits, and dare to dream and reach for them. With faith in yourself, you'll begin to live a prosperous life.

Here are some additional resources:
The Thin Pink Line
Practical Money Skills
Jean Chatky's: The Difference

About Vera Devera: Vera Devera is a do-gooder by day (Account Executive at Donordigital, an online fundraising and advocacy nonprofit consultancy) and also moonlights as a special event planner (Va de Vie Events). She is a featured Weddzilla.com bride blogger and FoodBuzz featured publisher, and also blogs about her $10,000 wedding at "A Splendid DIY $10,000 Wedding."

Holiday Party + Member Marketplace

Let's Celebrate Together: Join us Sunday, December 13, 2009, and enjoy warm company, delicious food, celebrate the successes of your 2009, and MORE...

Member Marketplace:  This year, in the spirit of giving and sharing, we're adding a new element to our party -- a Member Marketplace! It's simple to participate and open to young and well-established businesses.  We're eager to support your products/services in any stage of development -- the YWSE community would love to share ideas, support you, and give feedback!  Interested in participating? Contact Jacqueline del Castillo at jackiedelc@gmail.com with "member marketplace" in the subject line. [Note:  it's not too late to participate -- even if you already registered for the party.]

Start Celebrating our First Ten Years:  Yes, YWSE turned ten years old this November!  We'll be bringing you a year of communications and events to celebrate this momentous anniversary.  We would love for you to join in the ten year celebrations and to honor your contribution to our rich community.  Your first opportunity is to attend this Holiday Party + Member Marketplace.  At the Party you'll hear from our YWSE founding members, get back in touch with the story of YWSE, and learn other ways that you can join the celebration.

This will be a fun and memorable evening.  We can't wait to share it with you!  Register Now.