Happiness Archives - Jovanka Ciares

How to Have Your Best Year Yet

For many, New Year’s resolutions are a “fresh start” with which to set renewed goals for self-improvement.

Maybe to save for that new place? Or maybe you want to learn that second language?

Whatever your end-of-the-year resolutions, there is one thing you can’t miss: MOTIVATION But as we all know, that is not easy. Check out my 5-step plan to help you stay motivated.

1. Got at it in small steps

Setting realistic goals can lead to a higher chance of success.

2. Be specific and use details in your planning

Setting goals is not hard, we often set goals without a clear idea of how to execute them. The problem (and the solution) is in the “how”. Get concrete and actionable actions to both establish and implement your plans

3. Get a buddy (accountability)

Keeping accountable (with a buddy) will keep you on track and motivated.

4. Rethink failure

If things don’t go as planned, find a time to pause, reassess, rethink and make a change.

5. Have clarity about your long-term goals

New year’s resolutions don’t work because we somehow believe that our behaviors and mindset can magically change with the stroke of midnight on December 31^st. Instead of focusing on new year’s stuff, focus on how you want to feel and become in a semester, a year or 5 years from now. Then create a detailed plan from day one.

10 Rules to Live By

Have you ever been curious, really curious, about the rules, traditions and dogmas you follow? Have you ever take time to analyze or think through some of the “rules” given to you by your school, your parents, your religion, your society? Do these rules work for you? Do they make you a better, kinder, happier human? Do they negatively affect others around you (who deserve as much happiness and peace as you do)?

I ask myself these questions regularly and come up with my own set of rules to live by based on my experiences and the curiosity that makes me ask others about their own. I truly believe that natural curiosity makes me a more compassionate and understanding member of the human species.

Here are the 10 ones I have been contemplating for the last few months and wanted to share them with you, in hopes they help you build your own. Enjoy!

Rule 1: All living creatures deserve happiness and safety

Rule 2: Take responsibility (for your actions, your thoughts, yourself)

Rule 3: See both sides of the argument before making a judgment call

Rule 4: Great achievements involve great risk, an a healthy dose of fear

Rule 5: Embrace your fear, not the other way around

Rule 6: Practice the 2-1 rule, listen twice as often as you talk (two ears for one mouth)

Rule 7: Change is part of you, and it’s a darn good thing

Rule 8: If things don’t go your way, take a step off, regroup, re-plan and redo

Rule 9: Don’t hold anger for others in your soul. That anger only hurts you

Rule 10: Be a lifelong student. Every day, find a new lesson to enrich your life.

A Time of Rest and Contemplation: Thanksgiving 2018

Most of my family doesn’t celebrate or observe this weekend in the traditional way. Instead, we use it as a time for remembrance, rest and contemplation. And a chance to honor and give an offering on behalf of someone or something important in my life.

This year, I decided to dedicate this time to my cats: Sage and Blackjack, who came into my life to remind me never to judge a book by its cover and give all creatures a chance to show who they truly are before passing judgment.

Sage and Blackjack both passed on a few months ago. I’m still totally heartbroken about it, but I get stronger with each passing day.

Looking at pictures of my kitties have become a sort of routine for me, a way to remember their magnificence and unconditional love.

So, for this time of thanksgiving, I honor their memory and with it, the memory of all sentient beings that came before them and gave their loved ones their all (humans and animals alike).

Thank you for watching the little memorial video I created for them.

May this weekend be filled with all the joy and laughter your heart desires.

7 Principles to Health and Wealth as a Business Woman

I have a special treat for you. Back in November of 2016, I gave a speech in front of 800 business women in my native San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Animus Summit (considered the biggest women conference in Latin America), featured 2 dozen amazing speakers, including US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (an amazing honored to be included in her company).

The conference organizers shared the video of my speech and I couldn’t wait to share it with my community. The topics was “Principles to Health and Wealth as a Business Woman”.

You’re a woman entrepreneur that feels like you need to split in 3 to get things done. And too often you’re overwhelmed and exhausted. You know your body can be better and that you need to do something but don’t know what, when or how.

Want to share your thoughts about this speech? Please leave a comment below!

The Secret to Being “Holistically Slim”

The process of slimming down starts in our minds and soul. It begins with a realization that our bodies deserve to be treated like luxury vehicles, like 5-star hotels. Very often, in my coaching practice, I help people change the internal conversation and create habits that lead to gratitude and happiness within, regardless of what the outside package look like.

So, in many ways, I teach my clients that weight loss and slimming down is as much about mindset and emotional wellbeing as it is about the foods that you eat.

Fellow coach and founder of Holistically Slim, Sarah Anne Stewart and I sat down to discuss our approach to a healthy diet and shared our views with you here. Check out the video:

Below the video, tell me: what does it mean for you to be Holistically Slim? Let me know!

Wellness Smackdown Live in NYC

The first ever Wellness Smackdown Live Event is here. I’m beyond excited, humbled and honored to bring this labor of love to you! So here are the details:

The EVENT

This 4-hour intimate experience has been designed to help you break old habits, build new, healthier ones and stick to your healthy living goals once and for all!

With Jovanka and her wellness expert guests, you will learn:

Ways to remove old patterns and behaviors that have been holding you back for years.
Learn Jovanka personal beauty and detox practices to promote energy, vitality and health.
The mindset techniques that bring you mental and emotional peace and joy.
The unique principles of the Wellness Smackdown™ that have helped Jovanka and hundreds of her clients look and feel their best.
How commit to investing in your health and longevity once and for all!

Is this EVENT for YOU

Do you ask yourself questions like:

Does food affect my hormonal balance and state of mind?
How do I eat for balance in body as well as mind/soul?
How do I remove old patterns and behaviors that have been holding me back for years?
I’m ready to commit to a better diet and a better lifestyle. Where do I start?

*Ready to join us? Click Here to Get Your Ticket and Use Discount Code: 2FOR1WS to get 50% off our ticket.

Meet our PARTNERS

My team and I have curated a list of amazing partners from vegan treats and to green juices, to essential oils and a clean beauty line. All curated with you in mind! Check out out partners here:

And btw, our goodie bags rock! Sponsored by Daily Greens, you’ll get juices samples, essential oils, even organic cotton underwear samples TomboyX. You’re going to love all our fun products.

So come join us on the first Wellness Smackdown Live on 2/27 in NYC!

Bring a friend and you’ll each get 50% off the price of entrance. Use Discount Code: 2FOR1WS

https://wellnesssmackdownlive.splashthat.com

Produced by The Lifestyle Lounge

How To Use Palo Santo To Cleanse Your Space

Spiritual cleanses are as important as physical/nutritional ones. And they often go hand in hand. Just like going deep to cleanse your body is key to weight loss and overall health, going deep and addressing our emotional, spiritual and mental home is key to getting rid of behaviors that don’t serve us, clear them out and replace them with ones that help us grow and evolve.

Many years ago in my native Puerto Rico, I discovered a wonderful bark that has been used for centuries in South America for its energetically cleansing and healing properties and now it’s becoming more and more popular in the rest of the world: Palo Santo (Spanish for Holy Wood).

Check the video below to learn the benefits of Palo Santo and how to use it!

How To Cleanse The Home With Palo Santo

This is the easiest and safest way to use Palo Santo to clear the energy of your home or work space:

Burn 1-2 sticks at a time. Hold the bark at 45 degree angle and ignite the sticks. Let them burn for 45 seconds then blow out and allow the smoke to spread.
Close all doors and windows to keep as much of the smoke indoors.
Set your intentions for the energy clearing of your home. Recite your favorite prayers, mantras and/or chants out loud.
Move around your space (including bathrooms, kitchen and dens). Place close attention to the windows, door entrances, pipes and any other areas with access to the outside of the home/space.
When done, place the remaining stick in a fire proof bowl (metal or clay) and leave to smoke in a safe area (away from loose fabrics or furniture) overnight.
In the morning, open all doors and windows, to allow the excess of smoke (shouldn’t be too much) to take away any lingering heavy or negative energy.

International Left-Handers Day

It’s International Left-Handers Day 2015. I’m kinda proud of being left handed but life wasn’t as easy for lefties in the past as it may be now.

This video was a lot of fun to create, check it out to find out why!

Think about it:

In the dark ages, left handed people were considered evil and burned or imprisoned
The bible has 25 mentions of left or being left-handed, all negative
Old paintings depicted the devil as a lefty
Children as late as the 50’s were hit with wooden sticks or their left hands were tied to prevent them from writing with their left hand (this from my father’s own stories)

Still in today’s society, the word “left” implies weak or no good, while the word right or righteous, means often positive things.

Left in Italian is Sinistra, the root word for “sinister”
The word left comes from the Anglo Saxon Lyft, which means weak or broken

Some trivia about the history of lefties is a little bit more positive

The Incas believed left handed people possessed healing powers
Some Natives of North America believed that being left-handed was a sign of luck

Some facts are silly and funny:

More likely to pursue creative careers
Left handed college graduates go on to become 26% richer than right handed graduates
Better at multi-tasking – well, of course

Then, there’s the crazy, bizarre trivia surrounding lefties, like:

More likely to have allergies, headaches or migraines
Three times more likely to become alcoholics
Tend to reach puberty 4 to 5 months later than right handers
More likely to suffer from stuttering
Twice as likely to be men
39% more likely to be homosexual
Adjust to seeing underwater quicker
Less able to roll their tongue than a righty

The trivia and “facts” are endless but hopefully these will entertain you for now!

How Constellation Therapy Can Affect Your Weight, Health And Happiness

There’s a unique type of detox (or cleanse) work that is more energetic and has to do with family dynamics.

Your relationship with your family can affect your weight, health and happiness. I’ve interviewed here a Family Constellation facilitator and therapist Natalie Berthold to learn a bit more about this powerful type of work.

Check out this amazing video and learn how constellation therapies can affect your health and happiness.

Interested in learning more about Natalie’s course? Click Here For Details!

Click Here For The Discount!

The Power Of Words

Do you words have power? Is there some truth to the claim some people make about the power of words? Most people have strong opinions about this and I was one of them.

But after watching a documentary about water, where a scientist (dr. Masaru Emoto) that explains how your words and even your thoughts (positive or negative) can affect molecules of water. I was curious, even fascinated. Then, a few months ago, I saw a Facebook post from Danielle Laporte about an experiment she did with her son. So I set out to recreate the exact same experiment on video and see for myself.

Here’s what my experiment looked like: I cut out 1 apple in half, sealed each half in an identical Mason jar and stored them in the exact window sill for approx. 21 days.

Every day for a month I said negative and demeaning words to what I called the “bad apple”. Things like “you’re nasty, fat and ugly. You’re stupid and incapable. You can’t do anything right. Why do you even try! You suck and I hate you”.

The other half, the “good apple” heard beautiful words of encouragement. I told her things like: “you are so smart, amazing, sweet and gentle. You are amazing and I am in awe of you, you are the best, I love you”.

The first 7-10 days not much was happening… but then things started to change.

Check out the video above to learn the results.

Natural Insomnia Remedies

You can’t sleep and this is awful! Lack of sleep can be disrupting at best and deadly at it’s worst. All creatures on earth sleep, if you don’t sleep, you can get very ill. You gain weight, you get wrinkly, you suffer from anxiety… you know it, because you suffer from it every damn day!

Apart from the average things you already know: establishing consistent bedtime routine, eating a clean diet, avoid caffeine and large meals at night, there are a couple of supplements and this one awesome herbal remedy that you can use to help you get a good night sleep! Check out the video below.

Do you have any other tips that help you fall and stay asleep? Have you tried these remedies? Which one has helped? Leave a comment below and let’s start a conversation.

The ONLY Thing That Helps Me Stay Organized In A Crazy Busy World

Are you overwhelmed with all the stuff going on (or not) in your life?

Is it so overwhelming that it leads to expert procrastination?

Even a little clutter or lack of organization can quickly turn into overwhelming clutter that may lead to constant stress. And this constant stress is now known to increase your risk of issues like insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, obesity, heart disease and depression.

I’ve tried many systems to stay organized and disciplined and was always left looking for more. On this video I’ll show you the ONLY thing that has been effective for me and now it is used by my entire team!

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

The Food For Thought Summit Coming Soon!

For the last 4 months, I’ve been working on a little project that I’m really excited about and now I’m ready to share with you!

It’s called Food For Thought: The Mind, Body, Spirit Summit!

From April 14th-18th, I’ll be interviewing top wellness experts (doctors, nutritionists, therapists, coaches, best-selling authors) on how they manage to sustain a healthy lifestyle. All interviews will be available online at the Food For Thought website.

Since I know you’ve been searching for practical ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle, the Food for Thought Summit is here to help you!

The #1 reason why people struggle to keep a healthy lifestyle is overwhelm. There’s just too much information out there! This summit will help you cut through the clutter, learn ways to stay motivated and create your own personal wellness revolution!

Click Here to check out the website and more details!

As a loyal member of my community you have immediate access to the summit and the Facebook Group Absolutely FREE!

SHARE this post with your friends so they too get FREE access to the summit.

Watch Me Get Hypnotized!

In this follow up video about the topic of hypnosis, I actually went a little crazy and agreed to let Grace hypnotize me in front of the camera!

I thought it would be awkward and that I’d have to delete the video but the experience was very very sweet. Check out my mini-hypnosis session and see for yourself what it is all about!

What did you think? Mumbo Jumbo or inspirational? Let me know in the comments box below!

The Power of Hypnosis

Do you believe in hypnosis? I must admit I didn’t until I met the woman I’m interviewing on this video.

In fact, I tried hypnosis as part of a therapy session years ago and I thought it was a bunch of bologna! But when I met Grace, she was very graceful (and patient), explaining to me what hypnosis was and more importantly, what it wasn’t!!

Check out this interview to learn more.

What’s your opinion about this controversial topic? Did we convince you to at least do your own homework and find answers? Let us know by leaving a comment below!