A Life You Love — Margaux Joy DeNador

Is There a Book in You?

On October 19, 2010 I went to the Media Center in Palo Alto for the filming of a Toastmaster Time TV show. Being filmed for the show was exciting and fun! It will be shown on public TV stations in the East Bay during the month of November but you can also see the show on the internet.

 

Here is a link to Toastmaster Time TV to watch the show on the internet:
Toastmaster Time TV

Once you are at the Toastmaster Time TV website you'll see links for the October 19, 2010 show. You can view the whole show or watch either of the speeches that were on the show that night. I've found it's best to let the show – or the speech – play through before your try to watch it because that way it goes more smoothly on the computer. 

The show is 30 minutes long and my interview and speech are in the second half of the show. The first speaker is an inspiring woman named May Kiara. Her speech is about a trip she made to visit her home in Kenya. May's speech is about ways to enjoy the feelings she had during her vacation – even if you can't go on one yourself.

 

My speech is about 5 1/2 minutes long. The show itself is 30 minutes in length so you'll need more time to watch the whole thing. (My interview and speech follow May's.) I hope you'll watch the whole show so you can hear May's speech and also hear both my interview and speech!

My speech, on the Toastmaster Time TV show, is called, "Is There a Book in You?"

Being interviewed by Karen Owoc was a great experience. Karen was fun to talk with and she wanted a copy of my book so I gave her the copy we used for the show.

If I were to ask you, "Is there a book in you?" what would you say?  My answer was YES!!!

How would you answer the question? In my opinion everyone has at least one book inside. How about you? Do you have at least one book in you?

I hope my speech will inspire you to write a book or decide to go for one of your most exciting dreams!

 

Written by Margaux Joy DeNador – November 1, 2010

 

"When You Are Inspired…"

Today I woke up thinking about inspiration — the feeling and the quote by Patanjali — so I've decided to share both the printed version I've created of it and also the audio of me saying it. 

Inspiration reminds me of some of my most treasured friends — you know who you are — and also of my family, especially my husband, son, sisters, brothers, and my mom. Inspiration also reminds me of my treasured teachers, mentors, and guides. I greatly appreciate all of the people who inspire me!!!

As it says below, "When you are inspired… dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive." 

Feeling inspired is feeling fully alive. It is a wonderful, magical, and joyful feeling. 

Following is a recording I made of me saying "Inspiration." I love the way I feel when I say it, hear it, and read it. How does it make you feel? Does it inspire you to allow your dormant faculties and talents to become alive? My guess is YES!!! 
 

Inspiration Patanjali.L

Who inspires you? Where do you go to get inspired? How do you inspire other people? 

I hope you will tell the people who inspire you that they do inspire you and that you appreciate them. I think you'll find that the more you appreciate the people in your life, the more inspired you will feel. 

Enjoy reading, hearing, and sharing "Inspiration" by Patanjali. 

I wish you love, hugs, laughter, fun, sunshine, creativity, joy, and inspiration in all you do today — and always!!!
 
Margaux :)

Written by Margaux Joy DeNador – Posted August 21, 2010

Book Review: Experience Your Good Now!

Louise Hay's newest book, "Experience Your Good Now!" arrived at my home April 23, 2010. I feel honored to have been asked to do a review of the book and I appreciate the complimentary copy sent by Hay House. 
 

As someone who has read (and re-read) Louise's books, I found her new book, Experience Your Good Now!, to be a very special addition to my collection of her work. I love the book and the CD that comes with it!

 

 

In this book Louise writes clearly and with great passion about what "doing affirmations" really means and what affirmations can do for you. 

 

After my first reading of her book I was already getting better results from "doing affirmations." 

 

The book includes a CD with Louise's warm, kind, and joyful voice giving us even more understanding of how to "do affirmations" and WHY they work as well as HOW to make them work for you. 

 

Hearing Louise's voice makes me feel good. I enjoyed listening to the CD —which isn't just her reading the book. The free CD has many additional insights to go with, and enhance, what's in the book. 

 

I am now on my second time through both the book and the CD and I love what I feel when I read what she's written AND when I hear her voice as I drive my car. I can also imagine walking and listening to Louise's CD — in fact as I write this I feel inspired to take a walk while I listen to the CD. 

 

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you need to hear something said in a slightly different way to REALLY get it? 

 

In her new book, "Experience Your Good Now!" Louise Hay says some new things that really helped me get the point that EVERYTHING I say is an "affirmation." Whether what I say is about what I want, what I love, what I enjoy, what I hate, what I fear, what I'm angry about, what I'm jealous about, or what I feel resentful about — EVERY thought we think — or say out loud — is an affirmation!!!

 

While reading "Experience Your Good Now!" I got it. Now I will always pay close attention to what I choose to say, what I choose to think, and HOW I say things to myself and others!!! 

 

As Louise Hay says on the back cover of the book: "It takes some time to go from a seed to a full-grown plant. And so it is with affirmations — it takes some time from the first declaration to the final demonstration. Be Patient!"

 

Have you read any of Louise Hay's books? Have you heard her warm, loving, and inspiring voice? Louise Hay is a treasured teacher in my life and in the lives of people all over our planet.The world is a happier, brighter, more creative, and fun place thanks to Louise Hay.  

 

Do you like to take books with you when you travel? The small size of this book makes it a perfect size to take with you wherever you go.  
 

 

You can purchase Louise Hay's new book by clicking on the following link:
 

Whether you are new to Louise Hay's work, or have been a fan for years, I highly recommend buying her new book! 

 

Book Review: The Shift by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

 

 

 

 
 

 

I am happy to announce that I have been asked to be a book reviewer for Hay House Publishing! 

 

The first book Hay House has asked me to review is Dr. Wayne Dyer's book The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning. In this 112-page book, Dr. Dyer takes us behind the scenes and explores some of the ideas and stories shown in his movie The Shift. I enjoyed the movie which shows Wayne Dyer meeting people while at a beautiful resort on the coastline of California. During the movie several of the people make a shift in their thinking — from ambition and ego to meaning and spirituality — that causes them to feel happier and more fulfilled after talking with him. 

 

Because I liked the movie so much, I was curious to read the book. I found it so enjoyable that I finished it in one sitting. In the book Dr. Dyer suggests that at a certain point in life we begin to want to feel life has meaning. He calls this shift moving from the "morning" of life to the "afternoon" of life. The shift in our thinking also causes us to act with humility and feel a greater connection with other people and all of life. If you feel you're one with the Universe, you feel connected with everything instead of separate or apart as the ego sees it. This leads to humility, forgiveness, and meaning which creates a shift in our focus from what we can get — to what we can give. 

 

Here are seven things Dr. Dyer says we will experience as we shift from ambition into a life of meaning:

 

1. We shift to personal empowerment.

2. We see ourselves connected to everyone.

3. We are motivated by ethics, serenity, and quality of life. 

4. We shift to the possibility, even the expectation, of miracles being part of life. 

5. We pursue a meditation practice. 

6. We begin to recognize ourselves in nature's beauty and intricacy. 

7. We are less judgmental, and we easily understand and forgive. 

 

As Dr. Dyer writes, on page 71, of The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning, "By taming the ego, we elicit the support and assistance of our own originating spirit, and we come to notice synchronicities happening in our life. The people we need appear, circumstances come together in a way that assists our Dharma path, financing becomes available that was never there before, and so on."

 

I love Patanjali's quote about inspiration, and in this book Dr. Dyer included the last part of it which says, "Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."  It is inspiration that causes us to come fully alive and use all of our talents. When we allow ourselves to be inspired life can feel like a magical and meaningful journey. 

 

 
 
 

If you are a fan of Dr. Dyer's work, I am sure you will enjoy this book. In my opinion, the book can stand alone or be read as a companion book to the movie. I like the fact that it is a small book and can be easily taken with me as a reminder to shift my thinking. As Dr. Dyer reminds us, shifting from ambition to a life of meaning and purpose allows us to enjoy life more and can also improve our relationships with the people we love. 

One thing I am wondering is how I would feel had I first been introduced to Dr. Dyer's work with this book as opposed to one of his earlier books. It seems to me that if you've never read any of his books, you might want to start with watching the movie or perhaps reading one of his earlier books first to better understand his philosophy. Here are a few of my favorites: Ten Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, The Power of Intention, There is a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. As I write this, I feel inspired to re-read some of Dr. Dyer's earlier books myself.

I found this book interesting and inspiring. I recommend buying a copy.  

Dr. Dyer's book, The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning, will be available March 1, 2010. To find out more about the book, and to purchase a copy of it, please click on one of the three links below:

Hay House  
Amazon
Barnes & Nobel

I would love to hear your thoughts after you read The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning. Please send me a message or post a comment on my blog or on my facebook wall. 

Love & Joy, 

Margaux

What Would You Do…?

  

If you knew it would be Fun?

If you knew you could do it?

If you Believed in yourself and Believed in your Dreams?

If you knew it would Feel Good?

If you knew it would help even one person feel more JOY?

If you knew people were waiting for you to do it? 

If you knew it is how you will feel the most JOY?

If you knew it was the easiest and most joyful way to attract $$$$$$$$…?
 

If you knew it would allow you to spend more time with people you love, in places you love, and doing what you love to do? 
 

 

How would you answer each of the questions above? You're answers will help you know what will help you enjoy your life and give what you are here to give. One of my answers — that still keeps showing up — is that I would write and publish my book, The Art of Living a Life You Love. It is published and available on amazon. Now I am in the process of checking the audio recordings for my book. My intention is for my book to help people go from feeling OK — or even depressed — to feeling good and then to feeling fully alive and blessed with a life of love. 
 

I hope you will ask yourself the questions and give yourself the gift of answering them on paper. When you get clear on what you want — and why — answers for how to do it will begin to show up. Will you answer the questions? I hope so because I wish you ALWAYS a life you love to live — a life of love, creativity, and joy. I wish you a life where you feel fully alive, enjoy each day, and are able to give all you want to give and live the life you most want to live. 
 

Love, Hugs, and Joy,

:) Margaux
 

Happy New Year & New Decade!

 

Let's begin 2010 with a clean slate — it's a New Year, a New Decade, and we are all ready to begin a new way of looking at life — we are all ready to be who we are born to be — to believe in our biggest DREAMS and to move toward them one step at a time. "Show Up" for your DREAMS and they will come true — at exactly the right time and in exactly the right way. 

 

What would your best life look like? Who would be part of your life? What would you see? What would you hear? How would you feel? Are you happy? Do you love your life? 

What did 2009 teach you about how you want to live your life? 

A treasured teacher of mine, Cheryl Richardson, wrote a message about some key things she wants to remember as life lessons from 2009. What she wrote about in her list — of life lessons to remember from 2009 — are all things I learned from it as well. If you would like to read Cheryl's list of lessons from 2009 click here. 

What about you? What did you learn from 2009? What life lessons do you want to remember?

What colors would you like to choose to paint your reality beginning with this year? I hope you will decide how you want to feel — and what you want to be real for you.

My book The Art of Living a Life You Love can help you create a life of love, creativity, and joy.

Will you join me in making this the most joyful year — and the best decade — you can imagine? 

If you have any questions about my book, or about any of the messages on my blog, please email me. 

Enjoy being YOU. ♥

Wishing You a Joyful & Fun Holiday Season!

 

My birthday is on Christmas Day and I love it. Over the years I've heard many people say, "Oh, you poor thing!" when they hear it — but I love it. Maybe it's because my mom always made me feel great about having my birthday on Christmas. She loved to tell the story about how "Silent Night" was playing when they took her into the delivery room and when she came out with me she heard "Joy to the World." 

My mom always made me feel like I was her "Christmas Joy" and it is one of the reasons Joy is my chosen middle name. I also like the name Joy because it reminds me to look for the joy in everything I do, see, hear, and experience. Just hearing the word JOY makes me focus on joy and feel good.

  

Santa and me — when I was three.

 

I feel LUCKY to have such a special day as my birthday. I always get to be with my family for my birthday. I am thankful to have my birthday be such a fun holiday and to be able to spend it with people I love.

Last year I received a note from my husband that said, “I want to thank you for being born on Christmas. You have re-infused Alex and me with the spirit year after year!”  What a great way to start my day! I left the note up to remind me how my love of the season can help others enjoy it more too.

 

My husband, son, and I have written and recorded a beautiful Christmas song. The song is called "Merry Christmas" and was recorded by our treasured friend Robert Berry, owner of Soundtek Studios, in Campbell. My husband, Dudley, sang the song and played guitar. Robert Berry did a masterful job on the keyboards and the recording of the song. 

I would love for you to hear our Christmas song — so please click on the link to read the lyrics and hear to hear the song. Merry Christmas, The DeNadors' Christmas Song

 

 

 

 

Several years ago, Wayne Dyer sent me a copy of a little book he wrote called “Happy Holidays!” and in the book he talks about how much he loves the holiday season and has lots of reminders of how we can enjoy them more as adults by being more like a child. 

 

Here is a quote from “Happy Holidays!” by Wayne Dyer:

"If you can get back to that time of your life when you were a child, enjoying every aspect of this glorious season, you can rid yourself of the 'holiday blues' permanently. As a child, the shopping was something that filled you with excitement, and you were able to ignore the crowds. The time you spent decorating, wrapping, celebrating, worshiping, and being with your family was a pure delight."

Children view the holidays as a positive, fun, and joyful time of year. It is possible to change the way you look at the holiday season and have more fun, more joy, and actually look forward to it each year.

Here are some reminders that help me feel more joy at this time of year:

* Look for ways to make it more fun than ever before

* Look for ways to give to others besides buying them expensive gifts

* Be thankful for all you have and your ability to give to others

* Enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations in the stores

* Stop and really look at the holiday lights and enjoy them

* Take time to enjoy your shopping experiences

* Find something to like about every gift you receive

* Allow children's joy and laughter to remind you to lighten up and be playful

* Laugh more — watch some funny movies and play games

* Enjoy the fantasy of the stories, movies, and decorations

* Be willing to be more spontaneous and have flexible plans

* Take time to relax and recharge your body, mind, and spirit

* Savor your present moments

* Create memories that you will treasure

* Appreciate the people in your life — enjoy spending time with them

* Give the gift of your time and love — and enjoy receiving time and love

 

The common themes for all of the ways of celebrating the Holiday season are time with people you love, a feeling of connection with people who may be far away, gifts of love, and time with people we love. In my opinion the Holiday Season is for giving and receiving the gift of love and having time with the people who matter most to you. 

The holiday season is a time for giving, loving, savoring, magic moments, beauty, wonder, believing, receiving, and having fun. It is an opportunity to share the gift of love and create memories that you will treasure. 

 

What are your favorite ways to spend your time during the holidays? Do you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa — or a blend of one or more traditions? What reminders would you add to my list? I would love to hear how you enjoy spending the holidays!

 

 

Here are a few last reminders for more holiday joy:

Give yourself the gift of love — take great care of your Self.

Give yourself the gift of time — with the people who matter most to you.

Give people you love the gift of your love, time, attention, and appreciation.

 

I wish you Love, Laughter, Hugs, Fun, Joy, and time to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends!

 :) Margaux

PS: Following are links for lists of Books, Music CDs, Audio Books, DVD Movies, and Art, Jewelry, and Sculpture. There are many great gift ideas in these lists. Just click on the links, below, to take a look:

Books

Music CDs

Audio Books

DVD Movies

Art, Jewelry, and Sculptures

An Outstanding Environment for Children

 

 

While our son was growing up I began to wonder, "What is an outstanding environment for children?"  I decided that, for me, it is an environment where children feel loved, appreciated, feel good about themselves, are helped to explore their interests, and feel inspired to keep learning. Then I began to ask myself, "How can we help create an outstanding environment for our child?" 

 

In his Nightingale-Conant audio CD program, "What Do You Really Want for Your Children?" Dr. Wayne Dyer encourages parents to become role models of the kind of behavior, beliefs, values, and attitudes that we would like our children to develop. While listening to Dr. Dyer my husband and I were reminded that children model what they see their parents do and what they hear them say.  

Dr. Dyer’s funny stories about raising his own children helped me realize that as parents we can make the choice to become a better role model for our children in the areas where we feel we need to set a better example. 

Learning that my son would be modeling my beliefs and behavior inspired me to pay attention to my current set of beliefs and my own behavior. I took a good look at myself and I realized that there were plenty of ways I could be a better example for my son. I began to work on goals to help me be a better mom and be a better role model for him. 

Following are some questions that have been helpful to me in becoming a better role model for my son:

1. What BEHAVIOR do I want my child to model?

2. What BELIEFS do I want my child to model?

3. What VALUES do I want my child to model?

4. What do I want my child to SEE me do?

5. What do I want my child to HEAR me say?

What do the children in your life see you doing? Do they see you reading? Writing? Learning? Exercising? Eating healthy foods? Giving your time to help others? Doing work you enjoy? Making a positive difference in the lives of people who know you?

Do they see you as someone who decided you knew it all once you finished school? Or do they see you as someone who enjoys learning and intends to be a life-long learner? 

What do they hear you saying? Do they often hear you comparing what you have (or don’t have) with other people?  Or do they hear you talking about how grateful you are for all that you DO have in your life?

Dr. Dyer also believes in “catching kids doing things right.” He suggests that parents give MORE attention for a child's good behavior than for bad behavior. (He says that too often kids get MORE attention for behaving badly than they do for good behavior.) What gets more of your attention?

Kids who get attention for behaving badly will continue doing things that get them attention because even negative attention is better than none! We have found it to be true, as Dr. Dyer says, that if parents notice and reward good behavior their children will enjoy the positive attention and they will want to do more things that get them the positive attention that feels so good. 

 

Teachers who love to teach can also be positive role models for children. They can help children enjoy learning by providing a positive classroom environment that inspires and encourages children to do their best. 

 

Because we have found Dr. Dyer’s advice to be the best we have received as parents we donated copies of his book, and the inspiring audio program, to the libraries in our son's elementary and middle school. 

Dr. Dyer’s advice has helped us feel amazing amounts of love and joy as parents. Even now I sometimes listen to the CDs while driving in my car. The CDs are full of reminders to do what we know in our hearts will make a difference for us — and for all of the children in our Circle of Influence. I am glad we listened to Dr. Dyer's advice and have kept looking for ways to be a better example for our son.

 

We can each make the decision to do what we can to help create an outstanding environment for children. Think of the difference it makes for children to have positive role models at home, in school, in sports  and in other community activities as well. Feeling good about themselves helps children learn and it helps them enjoy life.

 

A child’s environment — especially the people in it — greatly influence the mental, emotional, and social development of the child.  Positive attitudes, beliefs, and habits greatly increase a child’s success in school and they can also help children have better relationships with the people in their life — now and in years to come. 

An interesting thing to note is that an outstanding environment for children is also an outstanding environment for us as adults. The people we spend time with continue to influence us and we continue to influence them. I encourage you to spend as much time as you can with people who have a positive influence on you.

What helps create an outstanding environment for everyone? 

Here are a few things we can choose to do: 

• Encourage and inspire others to explore their interests

• Tell the truth with courage, kindness, grace, and love

 

• Catch them doing things right

 

• Show them the benefits of a positive attitude

 

• Be an example of someone who likes to learn and enjoys life

What will you do to help create an inspiring and outstanding environment for the children — and adults — who are in your Circle of Influence? 

Happy Birthday Louise Hay!

Today I am celebrating Louise Hay's birthday. Happy Birthday Louise!!!

Louise Hay has been a treasured teacher and mentor for me ever since I first read her book, You Can Heal Your Life, in the first part of 2005. It was in 2005 that I bought my mom a copy of Louise's book in the gift edition. My mom loved the beautiful illustrations and the loving words of Louise Hay. I had a copy of the book on my shelf — that I had purchased because it was so beautiful — but I hadn't read it because I was thinking that my life was already "healed" and as happy as possible. Then, while my mom began to read the book, I decided to read my copy of it each night before going to sleep. What I discovered right away is this: We can all "heal" our life because it is infinite how healthy and happy we can be. 

 

In 2005 I felt inspired to go to my first “I Can Do It!” conference in Las Vegas so I could meet Louise Hay and find out more ways to help my mom heal.  The conference was so inspiring that I decided to go again every year.  

 

 

 

My mom was inspired by the story of how Louise Hay had healed from her cancer.  She took the book with her to all of her doctor appointments and chemo treatments. Louise Hay helped my mom believe that she could heal from her lung cancer and it became reality — my mom was in remission from it during the last year of her life.  

My mom was one of the most unconditionally loving people I’ve ever known but it took Louise Hay to help her realize that unconditional love was the greatest gift she could give herself.  Seeing what it did for my mom helped me realize the power of unconditional love.  Now I truly believe unconditional love is the greatest gift you can give yourself.  

The photo of me with Louise Hay, above, was taken at the Las Vegas "I Can Do It!" conference on what would have been my mom's 76th birthay — May 20, 2007. Right after the photo was taken, I was interviewed for the movie they were making about Louise Hay. The interview didn't make it into the movie but I will always remember how good it felt to be able to tell the story of how Louise Hay helped my mom be as healthy and joyful during her last couple of years as was possible. I am so glad I had some time to talk with Louise Hay and tell her thank you in person. 

The last two years of my mom’s life were filled with joy and a large part of that was thanks to what we learned from Louise Hay.  I am very grateful for Louise Hay, her books, CDs, and her “I Can Do It!” conferences. Her company,  Hay House, publishes most of my most treasured teachers’ books. I am thankful that Louise Hay believed in her dream to publish her books and start Hay House publishing. Louise is a joy guide in my life and the lives of people all over our planet.  During the past few years I’ve felt more joy than I ever dreamed was possible thanks to Louise Hay and am very grateful for the joy she has helped me feel.  

If you would like to be as healthy and happy as you can be, I encourage you to read Louise Hay's book, You Can Heal Your Life. I also encourage you to watch her DVD movie, You Can Heal Your Life the Movie. 

 

Louise Hay wants us all to live a life of love. She wants us to be loving and kind to our own mind. She wants us to learn, grow, and share what we know. I know that Louise would join me in asking you to please give yourself — and everyone in your Circle of Influence — the gift of unconditional love, today and always. 

This is what I would like to say to Louise Hay today:

Louise, thank you for being a bright light shining your love on all who are in your always expanding Circle of Influence. Thank you for helping us love ourselves, heal our lives, and live with joy. I wish you a joyful and fun birthday celebration today!!! 

Today as we celebrate Louise Hay's birthday, please decide to love yourself and your life!

Visualize Your Desired Outcomes!

Yesterday I achieved an exciting long-range health and fitness goal. Here is what I've learned is true: By visualizing my desired outcomes I get inspired to take the actions that allow me to achieve my goal. 

To inspire me to take actions and "show up" for this long-range goal, I created a "vision board" for health and fitness. My "vision board" inspires me to exercise, track my "points" (which also means to watch portion sizes), and eat foods that help me look and feel my best. My vision board did help me achieve my desired outcome. Following is the "vision board" that helped me. It is a combination of photos, quotes, and reminders. 

Following are some quotes that also helped me achieve this goal: 

"Become the change you want to see. Those are words I live by."
— Oprah 

"What we believe becomes our reality."
 — Oprah

"A belief is just a thought and thoughts can be changed."   
 — Louise Hay

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."    
 — Wayne Dyer

"By visualizing my desired outcome, the perfect action is always inspired."
 — Abraham-Hicks

What would you like to visualize? What outcomes do you want to create? Would it help you to create a "vision board" to remind you of your desired outcomes? The "vision board" in this message inspires me to keep "showing up" for my health and fitness goals. What would you like to inspire yourself to do? 

Decide what outcomes you want and then — visualize yourself enjoying your desired outcomes!