Vicki Miller - EzineArticles.com Expert Author Bio

Report this author if you suspect they are involved in any fraudulent practices.

Suggest a topic or article headline you would like the author to write about.

Vicki Miller - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

As a Life Transition Coach, I teach my clients the Five Steps to Creating Abundance Now. One of the steps revolves around identifying and removing obstacles that stop the flow of abundance. Would you like to know more about these steps and bring clarity and focus to your dreams? What's the most important thing you would like to ask a coach? Call (254-694-6865) or email me, (vicki@thrivingthroughchange.com), to set up a complimentary, no obligation ... [More]

[View Vicki Miller's Extended Author Bio]

[Display Categories] Sort By [Title] [Newest] [Oldest]

Vicki Miller Email Alerts

Zero Complaints
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Have you ever thought about what happens when you complain? Complaining is talking about what's wrong in your life or what's wrong in the world around you. It's focusing on what you don't want. And if you've been reading my newsletters for awhile or heard about the Law of Attraction, you know that what you focus on expands.

How Strong is Your Personal Foundation?
[Self-Improvement:Personal-Growth] One of the topics that many of my clients want to talk about is how to juggle all the "stuff" that is going on in their lives. A universal statement I hear is that there is never enough time for exercise, self-care, relaxation, relationships, fun or adequate rest. This is a favorite topic for me since I used to say the same things. I know what it's like to "burn the candle at both ends" and to feel that your life is not your own.

Second Chance
[Self-Improvement:Personal-Growth] As Steve told me his story about losing his job and retirement savings, (of 20 years), when the corporation he worked for went bankrupt, I was impressed by the fact that there was no anger or resentment in his voice. When I remarked on this fact, Steve said that he viewed what happened as "just a turn of the wheel" and that how a person deals with change is all "up here" (pointing to his head).

You Decide What Events Mean
[Self-Improvement:Personal-Growth] You are faced with opposition everyday and you decide what meaning to give it. You can either choose to see opposition as a way to grow spiritually or as an adversary to struggle against. Your choice determines what you create in your life, what will you choose?

Are You Thriving Or Striving Right Now?
[Self-Improvement:Empowerment] Everywhere we turn each day, there's negative news about the government, financial markets, the job market, increasing crime rates and mounting stress levels. We talk about the economy as though it is something nebulous "out there". What we fail to realize is that we are the economy. If we want the economy to improve then we are the ones to make it happen.

Changing Perspective - One Simple Change Makes All the Difference
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Replace the words 'have to' with 'get to'. "This simple word swap can change your mind-set and your approach to work and life. It turns a complaining voice to an appreciative voice, and acknowledges that life is a gift - not an obligation" states Jon Gordon.

Are You an Enlightened Leader?
[Self-Improvement:Leadership] Truly enlightened leaders get results by setting the example. They create space for their team to be inspired and to achieve their own greatness. Think about individuals you are leading. Are you allowing them to share their own thoughts about the career path they see for themselves as opposed to trying to force them into a pre-determined mold?

I'll Be Happy When "This" Happens
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] How many times have you heard or used the expression: "I'll be happy when. . .?" We've all said it. I'll be happy when I have more money, when I find the perfect partner, when I change jobs, when I get a promotion, when I get a new car, when I have a new home, when I lose weight, when my child graduates, when I retire, when I live in a different location, when I can take a vacation. The list could go on and on...

What Are You Unconsciously Teaching Your Team?
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] Recently I was speaking with a direct selling leader about her business. She was sharing with me some of the struggles she was having professionally. As I listened to her describe her situation, I could see that she was "stuck" in focusing on what was "wrong" in her life rather than focusing on what was "right". And not only was she locked in on what was wrong with her personal situation, she also could only see what was not working with her team.

What's Dragging You Down?
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] What you are currently putting up with in your business and life in general? What's draining your energy right now?

Who's in Your Inner Circle?
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] Are you spending your valuable time with the best and most successful leaders in your business? Or are you "hanging out" with "complainers" and co-horts that focus on what's not happening in their business as opposed to positive things that are working? Take a honest look at your five closest business relationships (your inner circle).

Banish Unproductive Business Habits
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] Just think about it - the level of success you are experiencing right now is a direct result of your current habits. If you want to create more success in your business, then you will need to replace unproductive habits with new productive ones.

What's the Key to Your Business Success?
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] I had a sales and marketing coach tell me one time that asking someone to buy from you the first time you meet them is like going on a blind date and asking the person to marry you! Her words really hit home; it was something I knew but putting it in this context made the lesson memorable.

What is Your Recruiting Gap?
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] Imagine a large ravine with a potential new recruit standing on one side of the ravine. This person, (call her Lynne), wants to get to the other side of the ravine and is looking for a way do this. She wants to cross the "gap" from A to B but right now she can't see an easy way to do so. If you can offer Lynne a way to bridge the "gap" from A to B, then she might become your recruit.

If You're Serious About Your Business
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] So often we jump into setting goals without a clear vision of where we want to go. The vision is the inspiration that keeps you motivated when doubt surfaces. It's the preview of coming attractions in your life, it's the movie you are writing and producing just for your starring role. Without this movie script, there's no obvious direction.

Summer's Over - Back to Business!
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] During summer, we all tend to pull back from our businesses somewhat. The heat of summer, vacations, kids out of school, and so on, logically bring about a slower pace. We benefit, mentally and physically, from such time to recharge and rejuvenate. Sometimes though, it's a challenge to gear back up or to get your team in action again when summer's over. The biggest obstacle to getting back into business full-time is resistance.

Selling Or Recruiting Objections? Great!
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] We've all talked about how to 'overcome objections' in business. When I think about "overcoming" something, it sounds like hard work. It sounds like a struggle to convince the other person to see my position. I would rather take a different approach and look at objections as a wonderful opportunity to learn. Instead of "overcoming objections", shift to "seeking to understand".

What Does Passion Have to Do With Results?
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] Here's the bottom line to this story: The best tool you have for selling your products and recruiting is confidence in what you have to offer and passion for sharing this opportunity with others! It's your passion that makes others fall in love with what you have!

A Secret to Building Your Business
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] What seems to be the primary difference between the people who make millions and the people who struggle all their lives to get ahead? It seems to have everything to do with our ability to direct our internal communication.

Losing Recruits - One of the Biggest Challenges in the Direct Selling
[Home-Based-Business:Network-Marketing] There's a saying in direct selling: "Recruit quantity, promote quality." I have a slightly different philosophy and it goes like this: "Recruit ideal, promote ideal." Now you are probably saying "what does she mean by this?"

Being in the Now
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Where are you mentally right now? Are you stressing your mind (and body) with the burden of a hundred things to do in the future rather than focusing on the present? What would happen if you dropped that burden and put 100% of your attention on NOW?

What's Blocking Your Success?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Do you sometimes feel that you've done all the right things, (followed your company's training materials, read leadership and self-help books, listened to motivational speakers, devoted essential time to your business), and you're still not achieving the success you want? If that's the case, then you probably carry some self-limiting beliefs that block your success.

One Simple Thing to Positively Impact Your Life Forever
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Do you know that there is one simple thing you could do that would have a dramatic impact on your life and all the goals you've set for this year? One thing that would change your life for the better forever?

Why Worry?
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] Do you use this phrase, "I'm worried about..."? It's such a commonly used expression that we say it unconsciously. Big or small, we worry about it all! What's the result of all this worry? STRESS! Worry leads to more negative thoughts which lead to stress and then the stress leads to more worry. It's a vicious circle.

Stop the Insanity!
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] How many times have you repeated some behavior and expected the outcome to be different? This repetitive behavior seems to be especially true in relationships. We keep having the same conversations or the same arguments, but expecting that somehow the outcome will be better.

Asking the Right Question
[Self-Improvement:Leadership] If you are experiencing a lack of joy in your life and are attempting to fill that void with material things, take some time to reflect and ask "What can I do to bring joy to others?" Be guided by your intuition and pay attention to what shows up in the way of the right people, circumstances and means to fulfill your insight. The ego says we must have financial wealth, power, status, possessions, etc. to be important, valued, or respected, while the soul longs for connection.

Your Choices Equal Your Results
[Self-Improvement:Success] Have you ever noticed that most star athletes, when they do not perform well, don't blame others, the environment, circumstances, etc. for their performance? To be really successful means giving up blaming others, circumstances and conditions for the failures (and successes) in our lives.

What Old Beliefs Are Stopping You?
[Self-Improvement:Self-Esteem] One of the most common beliefs or blocks that stop people from creating a fantastic life is the belief of not being good enough (or some version of this belief). From an event or series of events in childhood, we take what was said or done to us and create a story about what the event means about us. We then take this "made-up" story and convince ourselves it's true. And once this belief becomes the truth to us, we turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Less is More
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Take a look at your surroundings. Are you working hard just to cover credit card payments for more stuff or bigger and better things? Although we do need and enjoy a certain number of possessions, think about consciously decreasing your need to purchase more effects and instead of adding, see what you can subtract. There's great freedom in knowing your ability to be happy isn't dependent on how much stuff you add to your life.

Anger Or Fear?
[Self-Improvement:Anger-Management] The next time you feel yourself getting angry, take a few minutes to really analyze what's behind the anger. Ask yourself - "What am I afraid will happen? What need do I have that is not being met, (a need to be secure, appreciated, recognized, loved, valued, in control, informed, etc.)?" Once you've identified or named the fear behind the anger, it is much easier to resolve it, find a solution, reach a compromise or release it.

Do You Have This Important Success Factor?
[Home-Based-Business] One of the most important success contributors or detractors in a home based business is the working environment. If your home office is not an inspiring, uplifting environment that makes you feel good every time you enter the space, then you are not going to be eager to "get to work" each day. If upon entering your office or work area, you feel an immediate drain of energy, then your business is going to suffer.

How Much Better Can You Have It?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] "Complaining is the worse possible thing you can do for your health and your wealth." by T. Harv Eker. The truth of this statement really struck me, and the question I asked myself was, what would my life be like if I stopped complaining? Even though I make a point of expressing what I am grateful for each day, I do slip in a complaint or two! As terrific as my life is, the question is how much better could I have it?

Getting Comfortable With Change - 5 Easy Steps
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] When something happens to you that might be labeled as negative, how do you react? The initial reaction for most of us is to run or hide, look for someone to blame, come up with excuses, wonder what we could have done differently, shift into a fear mode or do all of the above.

The Best Gift Comes From the Heart
[Shopping-and-Product-Reviews:Gifts] More than any gifts you might select for a loved one - a gift from the heart in your words, of things you love and admire in them, will make a lasting impression. And not only will it touch the other person as no other gift can, it will also warm your heart. Who do you know that could use a bit of extra TLC (tender loving care) this holiday season?

Are You Free of the Opinion of Others?
[News-and-Society:Pure-Opinion] Just a few days ago someone who I had never met sent me an email, so hurtful that it caused me to doubt myself. This person had misinterpreted some communication from me and had jumped to conclusions without asking. While I appreciated this person's candor, my initial response was shock and to feel like I had done something wrong.

How is Procrastination Impacting Your Business?
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] Procrastination affects us all at some time and can become a major problem in both your business and personal life. Getting ready for April 15th is one of the biggest areas of procrastination but it impacts us in many other areas too. Some of the symptoms of procrastination are stress, anxiety, resentment, guilt and last minute frenzy.

What Needs Clearing in Your Life?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] What needs clearing or cleaned out in your life right now? What's draining your energy every time you think about it? Where do you need some lightness in your life?

What's Your Self Talk?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] If someone talked to us like we often talk to ourselves, we would avoid that person at all costs. Pay attention to the phrases you use about yourself each day. Would you say these same things to a friend?

Where Does the Time Go?
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] Did you get into direct selling thinking you would have more time for the really important things in life? But is that the reality you've actually experienced? Probably not, if you're like most people in business for themselves. Maybe you started with high hopes of a calendar with plenty of room for personal activities. But somewhere along the way of building your business, the personal activities you crave never happened - or at least not as frequently as you imagined.

Where's Your Focus?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Is there someone in your life, (child, sibling, spouse, partner, co-worker, friend, neighbor, etc), that you are thinking about from a negative point of view? Are you constantly pointing out to them, their shortcomings or talking behind their backs to others about them? If you had to make a list of at least ten positive things about this person right now, what would you write down?

Look in the Mirror
[Self-Improvement] There's nothing wrong with having opinions or viewpoints. We all have them. However if you find yourself getting angry or agitated when someone does not accept your opinion or live up to your standard, step back and look in the mirror. Criticizing or judging another person usually means we don't like the same thing about ourselves.

A Good Laugh
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] When's the last time you had a really good belly laugh? Small children laugh on average around 400 times a day! Unfortunately, as we move into adulthood responsibility grows and laughter diminishes. Adults average only 20 laughs per day. What a tremendous change!

Inspired Intuition - Following Your Inner Voice
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] How many times have you had a hunch, inkling, a gut reaction or other display of intuition and failed to act on it? Sometimes our intuition is a warning; other times it's a nudge to do or follow something. What happens when you don't follow your intuition? Do you regret it later and say: "I knew that would happen!"?

Healing Old Hurts - Letting Go of the Past
[Self-Improvement] How many times have you had a strong reaction to something that someone says to you? Think about a recent time when you felt hurt, betrayed, worthless, rejected, inferior or angry. What emotional hot button was being pressed?

Making Space - Letting Go of Clutter
[Self-Improvement:Organizing] To make room for new things to come into you life, you have to create space for such things. If your environment or life is packed with things you no longer need or that no longer serve you, then you are holding yourself back. There's no room for new opportunities, new relationships or new ideas to enter.

Goal Setting - A Valuable Lesson
[Self-Improvement:Goal-Setting] What's the most important point to know about goals? Take a look at what goals you have set for yourself. Are you rigidly attached to a particular outcome?

Letting Go of Judgment - Finding Good (God) In Others
[Self-Improvement:Spirituality] Everyday we make thousands of judgments about people, places, situations and events. Judgment can protect us and keep us from making mistakes but judgment can also prevent us from seeing clearly. So how do we know the difference?

Life Or Lifestyle?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] What is a lifestyle and how is that different from a life? Lifestyle is expensive monetarily and personally, because it costs a great deal to keep up appearances and do what you think is socially acceptable. A Life is not expensive. Rather than draining personal or financial resources, a life generates energy and staying power.

The Best Stress Relief and It's Free!
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] Think back to some of the pleasant memories in your life. How many of them have something to do with nature? Nature offers beautiful things for us to see everyday, but most of the time we are too busy to even notice. What would it take for you to add one simple pleasure to your daily routine?

Showing Your Appreciation - How to Make Others Feel Special
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Is there someone in your life right now that needs a show of appreciation? Maybe a spouse, parent, sibling, child, friend or coworker? You could show support and caring with a phone call, a card, an evening out, a home cooked meal, time set aside to just listen, give them a break from their routine or a helping hand.

Thoughts Are Like Seeds - Are You Planting Flowers Or Weeds?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Every thought we have is a seed being planted. We can either plants seeds that grow into bountiful flowers or we can plant seeds that grow into weeds. We are all gardeners in our own lives. Only what grows in each individual garden varies dramatically.

What is Impatience Costing You?
[Self-Improvement] With our hectic lifestyles, it is easy to rush to get more done. Where is impatience working against you? Are you so focused on the result that you forget to enjoy the process?

A True Vacation
[Health-and-Fitness:Mind-Body-Spirit] I am amazed at how many people take so-called vacations and constantly stay in touch with work. Their mind never gets the rest and quiet it needs, and with out this quiet, the heart and spirit are drowned out.

Spontaneous Play
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] Where do you need a break in your life right now? Are there some opportunities disguised as problems? What would happen to your outlook, creativity and energy if you had a day or hour to follow your heart?

Forgiveness is the Antidote
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Why is it so difficult for us to forgive? It is a common belief that forgiving someone that has hurt us, (or we assume has hurt us), is the same as being a victim again. We hang onto our anger and resentment as an illusion of control. But instead of controlling the other person, we are harming ourselves.

Your True Self
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] If your identity comes from a title, a position, the size of your home, or the amount of your possessions, then this is false power or identity. This object-referred identity lasts only as long as the object is there. What happens when the title, position or possessions go away? Does that mean your identity goes away? NO! Because your true SELF never changes.