Beloved Friend,

Well, I apologize for the long delay in between newsletters... but it is finally here – thank you for your patience.

A few months ago I was going through a period of agitation and frustration, lamenting the nature of modern-day life in Southern California. I was spending twelve hours a day in a high-rise building, and another two hours commuting in a car. I had ridiculous and constant deadlines that were impossible to meet. I was exhausted.

“This is not life!” I uttered internally. “Who lives like this” “This is ridiculous! Inhumane! Horrid.”

And I don't think I am all wrong in my description of most modern-day urban living. Hours spent in traffic. Hours spent in offices and staring at computer screens. Ridiculous deadlines that need to be met or else you will lose your job. The rising prices of just about everything. Cellular phones that you need a technical degree to operate. Air that is so polluted it is not particularly safe to walk outside during hot weather. These are the facts of life for most modern-day urban-dwelling Americans. And there is much that can be complained about.

In my state of agitation and general dismay, I went to speak with my beloved teacher. He is an extremely practical guy (not my natural forte, I must admit, although I am improving in that arena…)

As soon as I sat down to speak with him, I began to vent the same list that I have shared above. He cut me off and said quite simply, and of course quite sagely, “It's just a mood.”

“It’s just a mood?” I queried. I thought the whole world was the problem, and you are telling me it is just a mood? Hmmm. Interesting.

He went on to point out that I had had these moods my whole life, that all living organisms of every type have moods, and that as one matures in life, and on the spiritual path, the moods have less and less of an impact.

It made me think how much of my life had been spent being tossed and turned by moods. How often did I think everything was wrong with the whole world and everything in it, and it was really just a mood that was bantering me about?

The very best part of the story is that simply by him stating, “It's Just a Mood”, my spirits were lifted. Believe me, I still detested the long hours in an office and in the car, but I was able to remain calm. I was able to remain calm and not react too quickly out of emotion. And with this calmness I was able to begin the process of making needed changes to my life.

May this article help you find some freedom from those moods that we all pass through.

With love always,

Sarah Maria
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Can you imagine what life would be like if you could ride its waves without being tossed to and fro quite so much?

Have you ever stopped to reflect on how your moods might affect you?

Have you ever watched your moods?

As you have probably noticed, people come in all different types. There are some people who are naturally even-tempered. Whether they are happy or sad, you wouldn't know it except for the slight upward or downward turn of their lips. I have always marveled at these people. And then there are those of us, well, those of us, shall we say, slightly more dramatic types. Those of us who are rarely bored and only even-tempered after years of practi ce. Those of us who are just a little, shall we say, untamed, whose emotions tend to move more like a river, as opposed to our more even-keeled colleagues whose emotions are like a still lake on a calm day.

The great advantage of us more dramatic types is that dull is rarely an issue. Dull and bored are not our challenges. Drama, however, can be a challenge, especially when it amplifies an already difficult life, making it harder than it otherwise would be.

Drama can be defined as an extreme emotional response to everyday occurrences. An everyday occurrence is extremely broad: standard events that happen to every human being as a regular course of being alive. This includes many things that are dreadfully unpleasant: illness, injury, divorce, death, loss of retirement savings, loss of loved ones – and many other minor and major events. Certainly some major events warrant a strong human emotional response.&n bsp; I lose someone I love, I am going to experience deep grief. I get very ill, I will experience a whole range of emotions.

The unnecessary difficulty comes when we have these strong emotional responses to the more common and truly every day events: being stuck in traffic for two hours, getting in a fight with your spouse or significant other, gaining the ten pounds you just lost, having your child throw a tantrum and say he hates you. When we have overly strong emotional reactions to these more mundane and every day events, it makes life more difficult than it needs to be. It is like living life with the volume turned up so that music is blasting in your ears. Imagine if you could turn the volume down, just a little bit, and hear a soothing tune, as opposed to heavy metal music on full volume.

Imagine how much better you would feel. Just think about how much more relaxed you could be, if you could simply turn do wn the volume just a little bit.

Take a moment and reflect: how much have your moods been running your life? Have you been tossed to and fro by unwieldy emotions? Do you find yourself having strong responses to the everyday events of life? If so, gently remind yourself: it is just a mood. Moods will always come and go. Circumstances will also come and go. Remind yourself that every mood passes, always. There is no such thing as a mood that stays around forever. Simply reminding yourself that it is a mood, and that it will pass, can help lift the fog on a dreary day and prevent your emotions from taking you on a wild ride.

If you are interested in individual coaching to assist you in navigating strong emotions and moods, or could use one-on-one support, please visit the coaching page or email < a href="mailto:info@sarahmaria.com">info@sarahmaria.com.

You can also visit the Break Free Beauty online product page.

August Special Savings! Limited Time Offer: Purchase the complete Renew Yourself Audio Series at a 30% discount!  Normally $75, I am offering the complete 6-call series for $50. Become who you long to be! To help you learn to love your body and yourself in the New Year, you can learn from all six audios at a fraction of the usual price!

You can break free from unwanted patterns, habits, and behaviors. You can break free from needless anxiety, fear, and overwhelm.

The Renew Yourself Audio Series includes 6 recordings covering 6 different topics, all designed to encourage, uplift, and assist you in your journey.

Discover what is truly possible for your human lifetime, which I guarantee is more than you could ever imagine.  If you are ready to make a commitment to yourself to discover who and what you truly are, take advantage of this brand new product. You can also purchase calls individually for $17 each.

Take advantage of the August Special (only $50 for the entire series) today!

Do Are you ready to live your Unlimited Potential?

Are you ready to realize the Greatness that you already are?

Learn how to live a mythical life! Do you feel trapped in negative beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors? Learn about ancient archetypal figures from the eastern tradition. You can harness the power of the feminine to transform your life on every level. Discover which myths and stories resonate with you, and harness their power to live with love, beauty, and grace.

Within each one of us, there is a power, a profound power, that if we allow it to flow through us, it will transform our lives in ways we never imagined possible.

In this digital audio course, I will introduce you to the notion of archetypes. You will discover that you can learn to consciously embody archetypal energy in your life. You will learn about the mythical gods and goddesses of ancient India, and discover how to invoke and embody their powers to transform your problems and challenges into opportunities.

Connect to your source of Power today.

It’s time to love the skin you’re in!  If all you see when you look in the mirror is cellulite, wrinkles, or worse, you’re not seeing what—and who—is really there. 

A whopping 90 percent of us are dissatisfied with our bodies.  These self-destructive thoughts and behaviors are ruining our lives—but it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Learn how to feel good about your body—and celebrate its strength, vitality, and beauty.  Complete with exercises, case studies, and testimonials, you’ll learn how to stop obsessing over food and your body and achieve permanent peace with both.

Do you long to love your body and love your life?

Purchase Love Your Body, Love Your Life today.

Do you love your body?  Honestly, do you?

If you can't answer YES to this question, you may be suffering from Negative Body Obsession, or NBO.  Negative Body Obsession will rob you of your vitality, your joy, and your love.  But it doesn’t need to be that way.  

Love Your Body Now! is a downloadable audio CD, complete with music and guided instruction, designed to help you break free from Negative Body Obsession and live a life that you love.

It includes 16 MP3 Tracks, full of exercises and visualizations, designed to help you love your body and love your life.  Life should be a love affair – learn to live the love that you are starting today.

From the back cover of the CD:

“Living in this day and age, it is all too easy to believe that we are not good enough.  We are not thin enough; we are not toned enough.  We are not young enough; we are not healthy enough.  We are not beautiful enough.  In a culture that worships thin, young, fit, and perfect, few of us can measure up.  And this fixation with that we are not extinguishes the joy and vibrancy of who we are.

But there is a way out.  It is possible to love and respect your body, be at peace with your natural urges, and live without constant fear of gaining weight or growing old.  If you are ready to reclaim your creativity, your vibrancy, and your passion, this CD will help you overcome Negative Body Obsession and unleash the power of your potential.

Order your copy of “Love Your Body Now!” today.

Are you longing to transform your relationship to food and your body? Use 2010 to create the change you desire. Learn how to love your body, while improving your eating habits and eliminating your negative body thoughts. Take advantage of this extensive package of healing support.

You will learn how to love and appreciate your body with Sarah Maria’s Love Your Body Now! CD, improve your eating habits with guided meditations lead by Holistic M.D. Malynn Utzinger, and break free from your negative body thoughts and self-talk through discovering new strategies provided by Psychologist Clare Mann.

The Break Free Beauty Introductory Package includes:

... And now all of these valuable tools can be accessed in an easy-to-download format!

Click here for complete details and to learn more about each of these amazing resources.

Coaching is an opportunity to work one-on-one to transform your life on every level. Whether you're struggling to overcome suffering, or simply working to take your life to the next level, coaching will gently and persistently help you move in the direction you want to go.

Sarah Maria works with clients with any — and every — area of their life that they want to explore.  Here are a few examples of areas that she has covered with clients:

• Meditation
• Body image
• Weight
• Self-esteem
• Life / Work Balance
• Career Success
• Finding and Living your Spiritual Path
• Understanding Ayurveda to Improve Health
• Overcoming Loneliness
• Overcoming Depression
• Ending Anxiety
• Finding freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Is Coaching Right For Me?

Having a coach is an incredible gift. It is like having a trusted friend and advisor by your side. It is having someone in your corner, offering you the guidance, support, encouragement, to overcome any obstacles that you face.

Coaching FAQs:

1. How does your coaching work?
   
   All sessions are conducted over the phone.  They are 60 minutes in length.  Each session begins with a brief 10-minute period of silent meditation.  If you do not yet have a meditation practice, I will give you a mantra and instruction for an ongoing meditation practice.  After the silent meditation, we will discuss whatever is on your mind and in your heart.
   
   The coaching process is much less about me and much more about you.  I serve as a guide to help you discover and uncover what is already within yourself.
   
   If you are struggling with particular issues, those will come to the surface so that you can see and respond to them more clearly and appropriately.  If you are looking to grow or change in particular ways, this will become apparent as well.  All that is required is that you be willing to engage in the process.  If you are willing to show up, look at whatever needs to be seen, feel whatever needs to be felt, and process whatever needs to be processed, then it will lead you exactly where you need to go. If you are interested in coaching, you just have to ask yourself one question: are you willing to accept what is being offered?  Are you willing to transform into that which you truly already are?
   
   
2. How will coaching help me?
   
   Coaching will help you in whatever way is appropriate given your particular situation.  There is no set way – no one-size fits all – no cookie-cutter approach.  The reason it is called individual coaching is because it is exactly that – it is individual, customized entirely to your specific situation and unique needs.  As mentioned above, if you are ready and willing to change, then coaching will help lead you from wherever you are to wherever life wants you to be.
   
   
3. How do I know if coaching is right for me?
   
   Follow your heart.  This might sound cliché, but it is absolutely true.  Follow your heart.  If you have been reading my e-zines for a while, you have heard me talk about the heart being the seat of wisdom.  The heart is the master; the mind is the servant.  Often when you try to figure out what to do in your mind, you feel nothing but confusion.  But even when you feel confused in every way, your heart will lead you exactly where you need to go.  So simply ask yourself: do you feel called to coach with me?  Do you feel pulled to connect in that way?  If the answer is yes, then consider taking advantage of the Spring special and experience five sessions with me.  If the answer is no, then simply go where your heart tells you.  There are many teachers, many resources, many paths.  The best way to find your path, your teachers, and your guides, is simply through following the wisdom of your heart that is always there, quietly waiting for you to follow it.

Still have questions? Please feel free to email me at sarahmaria@sarahmaria.com or call 510-326-9610 to find out if coaching with me is right for you.

Sarah Maria is the author of Love Your Body, Love Your Life. The book outlines her 5-step process for helping you feel great in and about your body and yourself. Her work embraces the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, so that true and lasting healing can occur. Click here to purchase your copy and begin to love your body today. To learn more about Sarah Maria and her work, you can visit her website at www.BreakFreeBeauty.com.

Sarah Maria is a body-image expert and teacher who can help you discover the beauty that you already are so that you can create a body and a life that you truly love.

She has studied with the leading experts in health, spirituality, personal development, and success, including Deepak Chopra, physician Dr. David Simon (co-founder of the Chopra Center for Well-being in Carlsbad, CA), Dr. Wayne Dyer, Jack Canfield, renowned Ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad, and many others. She is a lover of eastern philosophy and spiritual wisdom and passionately shares these teachings that have so transformed her own life.

Before founding Break Free Beauty, Sarah Maria received her law degree from Stanford University and her Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University in NYC. She has lived and traveled throughout Latin America, and has also visited many countries around the world. Her greatest passion is helping people discover the beauty and the greatness that resides inside so they can live from this place of grandeur, transforming themselves and the world.