http://venusvision.com Real Women, Real Beauty Thu, 17 May 2012 22:38:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Today on my VenusVision Facebook page, I reposted an article by Beauty Redefined Why "Fitspiration" Isn't So Inspirational which discusses the negative impact of “fitspiration” or images and quotes that are supposed to inspire us to fitness. Based on some of the response, I wanted to offer an extended reply ... http://venusvision.com/does-fitspiration-motivate-or-encourage-self-hate/ Before I get into the nitty gritty of this piece, I want to say, this post is not about religion. It is not about god. It is about the search for deeper meaning of life, connection, and what it is to be here, however one chooses to define that. I ... http://venusvision.com/what-is-spirituality/ Ever since leaving the breakfast event I attended yesterday featuring Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery, I can’t stop thinking about one part of the discussion that centered around “finding your thing”. Throughout the Q&A session (which lasted about an hour longer than was allotted for!), many of the issues brought ... http://venusvision.com/whats-your-thing/ [caption id="attachment_3027" align="alignright" width="590" caption="Amanda Doyle (aka 'Sister'), Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery, and Michelle Cantrell of VenusVision"][/caption] This morning I sat in a room full of women, most of whom had come for the opportunity to see Glennon Doyle Melton, the blogger behind Momastery who recently skyrocketed into the blogging ... http://venusvision.com/a-morning-with-glennon-doyle-melton-of-momastery/ by Michelle Market, LPC You can use the principle of intention with respect to planning meals and snacks or even generally applied to your food relationship. Weekly intentions might take the form of incorporating healthy snacks, packing your lunch to work, and/or having meals planned throughout the week. The reality is ... http://venusvision.com/introducing-the-art-of-intention/ As many of you may already know, I am in a graduate program for mental health counseling. In one of my recent classes, we were given the assignment to discuss a time when we learned a new skill, the journey we went through, and how we felt about the journey. ... http://venusvision.com/the-perfectly-imperfect-life-of-a-mother/ Every time I go to Old Navy (which is more often than I care to admit), there is an older Middle Eastern looking man in the dressing room who unlocks the dressing room doors for you, and takes whichever clothes “didn’t work out” when you’re done to put them back ... http://venusvision.com/opening-your-eyes-and-ears-to-the-world-around-you/ (submitted as a final paper for Advanced Human Development, College of Education and Human Development, Counseling and Development Program, GMU, Fall 2011) Abstract In 2010, Americans spent nearly $10.7 billion on 9.5 million cosmetic procedures (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2011). Since 1997, the first year in which the American Society ... http://venusvision.com/the-normalization-of-cosmetic-surgery-and-its-impact-on-society-and-human-development/ After nearly three years of work, my novel, Confessions of a Failed Anorexic is finally available! Here is the description as it reads on Amazon: Sarah Thompson went on her first diet when she was seven years old, and has been on a dieting roller coaster ever since. Longing for what ... http://venusvision.com/confessions-of-a-failed-anorexic-has-arrived/ The other day I told someone that I had applied to graduate school and that I was “cautiously optimistic” that I would get in. We hear that phrase a lot: “cautiously optimistic”. We think something good might happen, but we don’t want to get our hopes up in case it ... http://venusvision.com/are-you-cautiously-optimistic-about-life/