The Battle of Self Confidence and Stereotype

Women used to be Queens and Rulers of Matriarchal Societies, Medicine Women and Warriors. Today we are Good Girls, Superwomen, Trophy Wives or a Bitch. Today's women are more likely than men to underestimate their mental capacities, down play their successes and take less credit for their own contributions. In general women never allow themselves to find out what they are fully capable of or have a sense of their power but are unwilling to assert it for fear of being labeled. It has been shown women have less self confidence than men and that confidence counts toward success as much as competence does. Where in the shift from Ruler to ruled by stereotypes did we lose ourselves, our self confidence and our power and exactly WHO is perpetuating women's stereotypes? It's easy to blame society for our fall from grace. There's the pressures to act like a lady. The image in media and Hollywood of the perfect body. Pinterest, blogs and social media portrayals of the perfect life and family, being able do it all and with a smile. A woman's personal power and self confidence is constantly undermined by stereotypes and those who break from the norm face criticism not only from society, but especially from their own ranks. Even the thesaurus defines weakness using feminine words like effeminate and womanly. Society's influence on women begins at an early age and even though women and attitudes toward women have been liberated our actions still speak otherwise. OUR actions. Those of women. Not Men's or Societies but OURS. Are women really to blame for our own stereotypes? Women are both victims and co-conspirators. After a child is born there is an announcement. "It's a girl!" Immediately she is labeled and hitched with the roles and responsibilities of a girl. She is dressed in pink and given a doll, that we can say is society. However, it then becomes a question of nature vs. nurture. That sweet little girl is most likely raised by a woman and carefully observes Mommy in her role. Mommy is a woman, Mommy is the caregiver. Woman = Caregiver. Fast forward through more pink and more dolls; being told to act like a lady and stay out of the mud and being coddled and comforted when she is emotional. In school she'll see other girls doing "girl" things. Her likes and dislikes are dictated by gender roles before she even knows what gender roles are. No one said it was wrong for her to like cars but none of the other girls liked them. Already she is conditioned with stereotypes she didn't choose but were given to her from another woman. This girl now becomes a woman. She is ready to take on the world. Her inner voice booms, but she hesitates because she was always told to keep her voice down. Her self-confidence falters. She wants to be a good girl. To do what she is told, to not make too much "noise". She wants to be her true authentic self but she was told there are certain things she must be and do to be good and so she holds back. Doubt creeps in. She becomes less of who she truly is and more of who she's been told to be. She becomes less confident in herself and trusting her inner voice. In time she stops hearing her inner voice all together. Her stereotypes are reinforced and unless she meets another woman who is challenging the norm, they perpetuate without counter. In the battle between her self confidence and her stereotypes, her self confidence suffers another loss. Fast forward again to her first career. The cattiness in the office. Women competing with other woman. If a woman exerts her power she is labeled a Bitch. Another woman finds success in manipulation or playing a victim that needs saving. Both of these women may reject the part of themselves that is strong and powerful. Thus growing further and further away from her true self confidence and authentic self. Another loss in the battle of self confidence vs. stereotype. Women may feel the most loss of self confidence in the battle of the perfect body. There is an on going message heard loud and clear. A woman's worth is tied to her physical appearance. Women's magazines written by women for women portraying the air-brushed ideal. An impossible image women work tirelessly to achieve. She's got the perfect body, now she's been conditioned to get a man. At this time she may find herself in a relationship. The future holds marriage and the decision to have kids or a career or both. Her husband has found himself a Trophy Wife and she falls right in step. She marches further and further from her true self. With the kids and/or the career she is exposed to the Superwoman stereotype. This may be the final blow to her self confidence and true self. The Superwoman sets the impossible standard for everything from body image to homemaking to professional success. It includes all areas of a woman's life. In our liberation we were told we can have it all. We believe this. We have these expectations, and we lead other women to believe we are actually succeeding. In reality, Superwoman is just a comic book character. However, the failure to be everything to everyone is a huge battle lost. Is there any hope for a woman's true self confidence? When the underdog wins they call it a Cinderella Story. This may be one instance where being associated with Cinderella is a positive. Not only do women need to have an awareness of the limiting effects of stereotypes, they need to take actions against perpetuating them. No one has the power to make us less than who we are. Only we can give away our power or let someone take it from us. Stereotypes limit our potential. We can free ourselves by seeing them as interesting perspectives. Simply stories told by other women, not OUR story. When we write our own story self confidence wins. A woman is no longer ruled, she again takes her rightful place as Ruler.

Coprophagia

O.k. I know this is totally gross. I am warning you now. Don't read on if you have a weak stomach. I took a serious soul search before writing this cause I believe the post could be written effectively without the following included, but I left it in because I believe it makes a strong, memorable point, and I want you to think outside the box. I encourage everyone to ask questions and think for themselves instead of just going along with the status quo. Basically to pull our heads out of our butts! (You'll see why this is relevant in a sec.!)

Coprophagia or coprophagy is the consumption of feces, from the Greek κόπρος copros ("feces") and φαγεῖν phagein ("to eat"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprophagia

Recently on the news I heard there was feces found on people's cell phones. This is gross yes, but I want to make a point that the real dangers of germs ect. lie elsewhere and I wanted to bring attention to those dangers, not to encourage consumption of DooDoo. In certain circumstances there are actually medical benefits to it. The risks listed in number 3 below are more easily contracted elsewhere and that's the point of this post. I can also think of better ways to heal than the below prescriptions,(Say, Probiotics...) but that's a whole seperate post!

Medical aspects of Coprophagia according to Wikipedia.
1. Centuries ago, physicians used to taste their patients' excretions, to better judge their state and condition.[6]
2. Fecal bacteriotherapy is when feces from a close relative or spouse are given to patients suffering from intractable diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile. The purpose is to repopulate the intestines with the normal gut flora (intestinal bacteria) to decimate the clostridium. The healthy stool is administered by nasogastric tube, enema, or in a capsule.
3. Consuming other people's feces carries the risk of contracting diseases and bacteria spread through fecal matter, such as E. coli, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, pneumonia, polio, and influenza. Coprophagia also carries a risk of contracting intestinal parasites.
4. Lewin (2001) reports that "... consumption of fresh, warm camel feces has been recommended by Bedouins as a remedy for bacterial dysentery; its efficacy (probably attributable to the antibiotic subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis) was confirmed by German soldiers in Africa during World War II."[7] The introduction of foreign bacteria into the human GI tract via infusion of fecal enemas is, moreover, an established medical practice in cases of ulcerative colitis, especially where the patient's own intestinal flora has been significantly depleted by antibiotic therapy applied for other maladies.[8]

Remember, germs are generally benign. In fact, according to Scientific American:"Most bacteria are well-behaved companions. Indeed, if you are ever feeling lonely, remember that the trillions of microbes living in and on the average human body outnumber the human cells by a ratio of 10 to one. Of all the tens of thousands of known bacterial species, only about 100 are renegades that break the rules of peaceful coexistence and make us sick."

A test done by NSF International for CBS news, swabbed 30 surfaces in 22 homes - that's 660 tests in all - to check for germs in the bathroom, the kitchen, and on everyday household objects.
The germiest spots in your home? According to NSF:
1. The kitchen sponge
2. The kitchen sink
3. Toothbrush holders
A particular families toothbrush holder tested had over a thousand times more coliform bacteria than their toilet seat! CBS Co-anchor Chris Wragge observed, "It's disgusting to think that you'd be safer to basically brush your teeth in the toilet bowl."

According to Germaphobes Beware: The Dirtiest and Germiest Places in America “Clean clothes” is a whopper of an oxymoron. Anytime you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you’re going to get E. coli on your hands. Just one soiled undergarment can spread bacteria to the whole load and the machine. Wash underwear separately (there’s about a gram of feces—a quarter the size of a small peanut—in every pair of dirty underwear), and dry for at least 45 minutes.

So. First and foremost. WASH YOUR HANDS. Use soap and warm water. (Preferably not anti-bacterial soap - Post for next week.) Lather and scrub all surfaces for 20-30 seconds. (Sing the Happy Birthday Song Twice.) Rinse hands under running water. Dry throughly. Turn the water off with the paper towel if available.

Remember, germs are everywhere. Most of them won't harm you. The ones that can are in places other than your cell phone, just ask anyone who's been to a hospital lately.

The best time to buy....

November is the best month to buy what two things?
Pajama's/Slippers
Why: These popular Christmas gift items go on sale in November as retailers try to appeal to shoppers with well-priced packaged sets. Marked-down leftovers will be on clearance in January.
and
Wedding Dresses
Why:There are fewer weddings in the winter months than the summer months so stores reduce prices to keep sales up.

Get the best deals on everything from airline tickets to a car. It's all in your timing. Mens Health Magazine Posted Date: April 7, 2011

What: Airline tickets
When: 1 a.m. on Wednesday
Why: This is the best time to find a deal because airlines reset their fares every Wednesday just after midnight, says Peter Greenberg, Men's Health Travel Detective.

What: New suit
When: January or July
Why: The spring collection hits stores in January, so find a deal on fall suits; they'll be marked down as much as 30 percent. It's the reverse in July.

What: Gym membership
When: July and August
Why: New memberships plummet midsummer, so you might find a deal because gyms are in a negotiating mood.

What: Car
When: November and December
Why: Don't, as many experts say, buy the previous year's model in late summer when the new models hit. There's a year of depreciation on them already. Instead, buy next year's model late in the year, when dealers are antsy.

What: Caribbean vacation
When: March and April
Why: There will still be plenty of chilly weather at home to escape in early spring, and you'll save 25 percent or more by avoiding the peak season of December to February, says Orbitz travel expert Kendra Thornton.

What: House
When: October to December
Why: Real estate varies from place to place. But in general, supply exceeds demand in the fall, after the school year begins.

Grapeseed Oil and a Lesson in Fats

I am a HUGE fan of cooking with Grapeseed Oil instead of Olive Oil. I still keep Olive Oil on hand for mixing in dressings and things I don't cook, but for cooking it's Grapeseed Oil all the way because Grapeseed Oil is ideal for high temperatures. It may be heated up to 419'F without burning (toxic fumes).
I buy all my Grapeseed Oil from WildTree, their's is the highest quality. They have Natural AND flavored kinds. GARLIC GRAPESEED OIL = Yum!
You can contact Moe(click for the link) for all your Grapeseed needs. www.moe.mywildtree.com
Reposted here is a summary of Grapeseed Oil info taken from the Wildtree website.
Health Benefits
· There are NO preservatives such as TBHQ or BHT.
· It is NOT hydrogenated.
· There is NO sodium.
· NO trans fatty acids.
· NO cholesterol (it actually aids in cholesterol reduction).
· It has one of the lowest levels of saturated fats of all oils (see chart below).
· It is easily digestible and
· A good source of Vitamin E Alpha (an important anti-oxidant)(4.3 mg per serving).
· Highest concentration of poly (76%) unsaturated acid of any oil.
· Helps the body produce High Density Lipoprotein (HDL).
· High in Linoleic acid - and its health benefits:
-is a fatty acid which acts as a transporter for saturated fats - helps prevent accumulation in the arteries.
-also known as Omega-6 and in near identical proportions to mother's milk.
-vital to life and cannot be produced by the body alone.

Grapeseed Oil Vocabulary
Expeller Pressed - Expeller pressing is a chemical-free mechanical process that extracts oil from seeds and nuts. This method of oil extraction is an alternative to the hexane-extraction method used for many conventional oils. The temperature reached during pressing depends on the hardness of the nut or seed. The harder the nut or seed, the more pressure required to extract the oil, which in turn creates more friction and higher heat. There is no external heat applied during the expeller pressing. n-Hexane is a chemical made from crude oil. Pure n-hexane is a colorless liquid with a slightly disagreeable odor. It is highly flammable, and its vapors can be explosive. It is used in industry, primarily when it is mixed with similar chemicals to produce solvents. Common names for these solvents are commercial hexane, mixed hexanes, petroleum ether, and petroleum naphtha. The major use for solvents containing n-hexane is to extract vegetable oils from crops such as soybeans, flax, peanuts, grape seed, and safflower seed. They are also used as cleaning agents in the textile, furniture, shoemaking, and printing industries, particularly rotogravure printing. N-hexane is also an ingredient of special glues that are used in the roofing, shoe, and leather industries. N-hexane is used in binding books, working leather, shaping pills and tablets, canning, manufacturing tires, and making baseballs. Teach your children and teenagers the dangers of inhaling products that contain n-hexane. Keep products containing n-hexane (quick-drying glues and cements) out of the reach of children.

Antioxidants - A group of compounds which combat free radicals (oxygen-species cause of diseases) in your bloodstream.

Saturated and Unsaturated Fats - Fats and oils are basically mixtures of fatty acids and are identified as "saturated" and "mono- or poly- unsaturated" depending upon which type of fatty acid is predominate. Fatty acids are basically chains of carbon that can react with other molecules. There are two types:
"Saturated"
- Have adequate hydrogen atoms, so they are chemically stable which means they stay fresh longer.
- The chain formation is straight, allowing the chains to pack into a solid form at room temperature (e.g. Crisco).
- Saturated fatty acids raise cholesterol which raises the risk of coronary heart disease.
"Unsaturated"- Are missing adequate hydrogen atoms, so they are chemically unstable and go rancid more quickly.
- The chain formation is curved and not able to pack so that at room temperature the fat is liquid oil.
The two types of unsaturated fats are:
Mono-unsaturated - missing 1 hydrogen atom. Liquid at room temperature, but start to solidify or turn cloudy in the refrigerator.
Poly-unsaturated - missing more than 1 hydrogen atom, making it even more unstable than monounsaturated oils. Liquid at room temperature and remains a liquid when chilled. Goes rancid most quickly. Unsaturated fatty acids help to lower total blood cholesterol.
Hydrogenation - The addition of hydrogen to fats to change a liquid oil (high in unsaturated fatty acids) to a more solid "saturated" form. This process also keeps the product fresh longer. The problem: recent studies suggest that hydrogenated fats may raise blood cholesterol.

Trans fatty acidsProducts of partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
· Adverse affects include:
· Raises "bad" LDL cholesterol
· Lowers "good" HDL cholesterol
· Lowers amount of cream(volume) in milk of lactating females, lowering milk quality
· Correlates to low birth weight in human infants
· Increases risk for diabetes due to effect of increasing blood insulin levels
· Lowers testosterone in males and increases level of abnormal sperm

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - An anti-oxidant-type "good" cholesterol. For those requiring a cholesterol free diet, HDL is not considered a "cholesterol".

Linoleic Acid - Is one of five essential fatty acids, vital to life and cannot be produced by the body alone. Also known as Omega-6 and in near identical proportions to mother's milk. It is also an antioxidant. Acts as a transporter for saturated fats, preventing accumulation in the arteries.

Flashpoint - the temperature at which an oil begins to smoke and burn - 419 deg F for Grapeseed oil and 375 deg F for olive oil.

Money - Loss Aversion

You gotta spend money to make money right? Why is this so difficult to stomach? According to Daniel Kahneman, Ph.D., a professor at Princeton and winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics, this suggests a deep-seated cautiousness, which he's dubbed "loss aversion." Loss aversion expresses itself as a lopsided response to a loss of money. To put it simply, we experience twice as much pain from losing $10 as pleasure from gaining $10. The same goes for other losing propositions. Some people work for years, in positions they don't like simply because they're afraid to own up to how much time and opportunity they've squandered. The longer they stay, the harder it becomes to face that loss.

What are you having a hard time facing when it comes to money?
Do you worry about money?
If you have it, will there be enough? Will you continue to get more?
Is there something else out there for you? Even in this economy?

Taste the Rainbow

Dr. Oz Tip #6
Taste the Colors
Foods with bright, rich colors are more than just nice to look at. They're also packed with flavonoids and carotenoids, powerful compounds that bind the damaging free radicals in your body, lowering inflammation. (Sadly, skittles do not count.) Eat nine fistfuls of colorful fruits and vegetables each day and you'll reap the benefits without having to give up other foods. Whenever I shop the produce aisle, I'm reminded that these foods are often more powerful than the drugs sold in pharmacies.

For 24 other tips, Read more: Men's Health Magazine

Time

Here's a question:
Do you SPEND your time? Or do you INVEST your time?
Do you see the difference? Who/Where would you be if you continually invested your time instead of just spending it?