Carin Rockind, Author at Carin Rockind

September 13, 2017 By Carin Rockind Leave a Comment

Making A Difference: How To Be A Change Agent

When I felt stuck in my career, I yearned to make a difference. My heart ached to do something that mattered. But I had no idea what to do, and any idea I had felt too BIG and too out of reach – so I did nothing. Maybe you can relate.

But since then, I've learned that you can make a difference right here, right now, starting where you are. It doesn't have to be “big” for you to be a change agent.

Last week, I realized how simple being a change agent can be. I spent my birthday doing 43 Acts of Kindness (one for every year of life) and it felt amazing. Here's what we did:

– Wrote a thank you note to our mail carrier who is the BEST and she always gives treats to (our dog) Charlie! – Made 8 PB&J lunch bags with water, fruit and a snack and gave them to homeless people
– Left cupcakes and a note at the fire station
– Made a care package for Houston hurricane survivors
– Dropped off new winter hats and socks at a shelter
– Passed out 20 flowers to people on the street
– Gave nearly 100 free hugs
– The best free hug was with a 14 year old from Miami (pic below) whose family had escaped the hurricane and it was the girl's bday too!
– Bought birthday donuts for the family from Miami
– Posted affirmations in toilet stalls and all over a public market
– Passed out ring pops randomly on the street. Note: Starbucks employees love ring pops!
– Gave thank you notes to cashiers and the deli guy at the supermarket
– Wrote a note of love to my stepson
– Sent flowers to my mom thanking her for birthing me
– Posted appreciation on a few people's FB walls
– Brought sorbet to a sick friend
– Put money in the meter for 10 cars that were expired
-Took Charlie to the park
– Sent lots of prayers to hurricane survivors and people who are discriminated against
– Forgave some grudges I was hanging on to, including toward myself

It's that easy to make a difference. Being a change agent starts with you.

Perhaps you've wanted to be a change agent as your career. Perhaps you're craving making “big” change in your life or in the lives of others.

I get it. Years ago, I craved this too and so I got my Master's degree in Positive Psychology, the science of happiness and human flourishing. Positive Psychology gave me the foundation of knowledge to be a change agent.

If you crave knowledge to become a change agent too, then I invite you to check out the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology program (CAPP). This 6 month training will give you the tools and information you need to immediately become a change agent in your work, community, at home, and globally.

In CAPP, you'll learn:

How to transform negative thinking into the positive
How to have a growth mindset for success
All about your brain to use it to your advantage
How to use your strengths and teach it to others
The benefits and applications of mindfulness
The principles of healthy relationships
How to uncover your life purpose and help others do the same
Best practices in goal achievement and changing habits
The facets of a vital, healthy body

Plus, you'll learn in a community of like-hearted change agents who all want to make a difference. Having graduated 800 change agents globally, I promise in CAPP you'll find your tribe. In fact, it was CAPP's founder who gave me the idea for birthday acts of kindness, so if this resonates, you know you'll fit into CAPP!

Class meets for one weekend monthly and every week online, so you can take CAPP anywhere, even if it's not offered where you live. In fact, I teach CAPP in Miami so I can have warmth all winter long! 🙂 I'd love to have you join me in Miami, or you can join one of 11 other cities this Fall. All the teachers are great!

As a teacher, I also can offer you $150 off, so if CAPP resonates with your heart, then just use this code: carinr27 and you'll get the discount!

Check CAPP out here. Feel free to email me any questions you have. Again, use carin27 to get a discount.

And whether you choose to join CAPP or not, remember that being a change agent is easy, and it starts with you. We're all capable of making a big difference in this world.

With so much love,
Carin

September 11, 2017 By Carin Rockind Leave a Comment

Starting Over

Hi friend,

You can start over again.
You can decide that today is a new day.
You can choose what you do and how, no matter what's going on in life.
You can love yourself and your life right now by APPRECIATING WHAT IS.

That's the message that came through loud and clear on my birthday last week. Two days beforehand, I was rushed to the ER, thinking I was having a heart attack. Fortunately, all checked out and I'm super healthy, but it was definitely a wake-up call for me.

It made me ask:

How do I want to live?
What matters most?
What is all this for?

This isn't the first time I've asked these questions, and it probably won't be the last. We go through spirals in life – ups and downs and curves – and we often have to get off track in order to begin again more strongly.

Every moment – even the challenges – is for purpose.

Often, the challenges show us how strong we are, how resourceful, resilient and capable we are. Often, challenges make us appreciate what we have even more.

I've been watching the hurricanes and praying for the survivors, sending money and packages, wondering how people will rebuild everything. And then this weekend I met a family who escaped Miami with nothing but their passports, their wedding photo, and a whole lot of gratitude that they were alive, together, and able to afford to get away. They knew they could start again.

And here we are on 9/11, an anniversary that reminds us of how resilient we are, and shows us that we can not only start over, but that the challenge can empower us to rebuild higher and become stronger.

I was teaching this concept in a workshop at PBS headquarters last week, and we all realized that we have done this in our lives and can do so again. You can do this, too. You can look at any challenge you're having as a catalyst for growth. From going off of your diet, to overwhelm with kids going back to school, to a parent's illness, to abandoning your dream of being a writer, you can start again. You can use it as fuel for growth and let desire consume your mind so that you choose for this to be a moment of purpose.

This is not to minimize the pain or suffering, or to say, “Just get over it.” You must feel all of it, being gentle with yourself and allowing grief. And then you can grow.

Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) is rising to a new level of functioning as the result of adversity. In other words, it's growing not “despite” challenge, but because of it. Researchers Tedeschi and Calhoun found that we all can experience PTG and not just start again, but start better, stronger, and more alive.

So what challenge are you experiencing? How can it help you grow? Here are a few questions to journal about:

What does this experience show me about my strength and courage?
What do I now appreciate as a result of this?
Which relationships can this help me to strengthen?
What wisdom do I wish I had known? (Said another way, what would I now share with a 20 year old to help them manage this?)
What would it look like to choose a new way?

So my love, what do you need to do this afternoon or tomorrow to start again? How will you choose to treat a new day? What will you promise to love about yourself and your life right now, as is? I'd love to hear from you.

With so much love,
Carin

PS – If you're struggling with overcoming a current or past challenge, email me. It's my honor to do a 30-minute call with you and identify what you want and where the blocks are.

If you want to discover who you are and your true purpose… if you're ready to claim your birthright of joy and self-love, if your heart is calling for transformation this fall, then I invite you to email me now. I can't wait to connect with you!

August 21, 2017 By Carin Rockind Leave a Comment

Making Changes

Good morning friend!

If you could change anything in your life, what would it be?
So what's stopping you?

I'm typing to you from a Bed & Breakfast where I'm hosting a client for a VIP Intensive to help her step into her full power. When we planned this months ago, I had no idea that today would be the solar eclipse, but I'm so glad it is.

This is a powerful week of change and it's already begun. This past week broke my heart. As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I'm a proud Jewish woman. My grandparents (and millions of other Jews, Catholics, Gypsies, Disabled, and many others) suffered at the hands of HATE.

If you're like me, the events in Charlottesville left you confused, angry, sad, and frustrated about what you can do about it.

You have the ability to make change and it starts with YOU. You becoming the brave, bold, purposeful person you were born to be.

With the eclipse – the moment when the moon (feminine energy) moves over the sun (masculine energy) – it's the perfect time to awaken the fierce warrior of love within. We all have feminine and masculine energies within us. The masculine is the “DOing” and the feminine is the “BEing”. The divine fierce feminine is the place of:

Unconditional love and acceptance
Compassion and truth
Passion and creativity
Protection like a lion over her cubs

Whether you're a man or a woman, change begins by allowing yourself to express the powerful feminine within and here's how.

3 steps:

1. CLEAR: We all live with a lot of clutter – in our homes, at our desks and in our minds – and in all that chaos and noise, you can't hear your heart's desire or soul's purpose. A lot of our clutter represents the past – clothes that no longer fit, underwear that should have been thrown out long ago, and regrets or worries about what you should have done or what someone else did (or is doing/will do) to hurt you. During this eclipse, clear out the old and make space for new changes. Physically clear space in your closet or desk. Mentally, write a letter of forgiveness (even if you never send it) or make a list of the nasty thoughts in your head and burn it. Take time this week to clear.

2. STILL: Your life will control you unless you take charge to control it. Your mind will run crazy unless you decide to focus it. You must slow down and get still to hear what's in your heart. Something in you wants more. Something in you yearns to make a difference. Something in your heart is calling you forward. Today and this week, take 10 – 15 minutes every morning to breathe, meditate, stretch your body and journal. Here's a link to one of my meditations to help you. When you journal, ask your heart questions, like “How do you want to feel?” “What matters most?” If your mind answers, tell it thank you, and then get back to your heart.

3. PASSION: Now is the time to awaken the divine purpose within you. You have strengths and talents and wisdom that the world needs now. What cause have you wanted to get involved in? Who could benefit from your story? You have a unique Purpose Power that is yours alone and it's inside of you. Let yourself take action this week – action from a place of love (not fear), passion (not apathy), and compassion (not hate).

Here's to your making changes from your Purpose Power!

With so much love,
Carin

August 9, 2017 By Carin Rockind Leave a Comment

She Finally Feels Happy

“And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” – Unknown

Have you ever had an experience so incredible that it was hard to put into words? An experience so beautiful and profound that it opened your heart and elevated your soul, but the English language is horribly insufficient for such awe?

That's how I feel about this past weekend.

This weekend, 25 loving, inspiring, courageous women joined me and Taylor Strecker for Goddess Girls Retreat, and our lives are forever changed.

Imagine feeling safe to share your deepest fears, most secret truths, and greatest hopes – things you haven’t even shared with close friends or family because you’re too afraid of their reaction – and receiving unconditional love, encouragement and support for it all – a hand on your back, someone passing you tissues, hearing that you’re going to be okay.

Imagine sharing your biggest dream – the one that seems silly and impossible and irresponsible – and hearing how AMAZING you’ll be at it!!

Imagine others seeing your truth – seeing your strength when you feel weak, seeing your sweetness when you feel judgmental, seeing your wisdom when you feel broken – and being loved for being yourself.

Imagine laughing for hours with friends for life as you run into the ocean with your clothes on, dance under the moon with abandon, and sip champagne by the pool.

Imagine the kind of sisterhood you’ve always wanted!

As one woman shared, “I've never made such deep friendships in one day before! I truly feel like they're sisters for life.”

Each woman was different – and the same. They had different stories, but similar hearts. One wants a divorce, another struggles with her daughter, and another is finding herself after her kids are out of the house, but under the fear, shame and guilt is the same beautiful spirit wanting to feel alive and free and happy again.

As one woman who lost her job and went through months of struggle shared, “I was driving home and just smiling. I realized I feel happy… just happy.”

You too have a Goddess within. Being a Goddess is being adored for who you are. It's walking with self-confidence, knowing and listening to your heart, and allowing yourself to pursue your desires. It's adoring yourself enough to put your heart first, knowing that when you take care of you, you better take care of others.

And they're already seeing changes in their lives – feeling more patient with kids, being more present at work, feeling confident to end an unhealthy relationship or to start a new career.

This level of growth is possible for you too. All it takes is an open heart, a hopeful spirit, and a supportive Sisterhood.

Something magical happens when women come together in openness, vulnerability, mutual support, and a desire to grow into the empowered women they were born to be. This kind of growth is ONLY possible in Sisterhood.

While Goddess Girls 2017 is over, you can still have this kind of sisterhood, support, love, and expansive soul growth this year. Beginning September 1, I'm launching the next EMPOWERED Sisterhood. EMPOWERED is my premier program for women who want to change their lives from the inside out. You will get clarity on who you are, you will remember your deepest desires, and you will claim your power to go after every dream in your heart. Click here for information and to register.

EMPOWERED is a 4 month journey to your soul's purpose. Through 2 retreats, weekly group calls, 1:1 support from me, and transformational workbooks, you will create a path to live the courageous joyful life you desire.

Jill, a recent EMPOWERED graduate from Illinois says, “Carin looked in my eyes… I wanted to look away, to hide, but she saw me… the real me, the me that I have spent most of my life hiding. She introduced me to an amazing group of women and encouraged me to see them and let them see me. Carin and my Empowered Sisters accept me, encourage me, support me….. they lift me up everyday, each in their own unique way. I accept them, encourage them, support them…. I lift them up everyday, in my own unique way. Imagine what is possible when you are no longer hiding…. when you are EMPOWERED!!!”

TZhe freedom you want is waiting for you. If this speaks to you, let's connect. I'd be honored to do a free 30 minute coaching call with you to determine your path forward and if EMPOWERED is for you. Contact me for a free call.

However, if this kind of Sisterhood speaks to you, you need to act quickly. I only have 3 spots left for EMPOWERED and they will go soon.

No matter what you do next, know that you are worthy of self-love and capable of every dream that you've buried. Know that you have a Goddess within and allow yourself the safe space and community to live it.

With so much love,
Carin

July 25, 2017 By Carin Rockind Leave a Comment

Don’t Let Your Dreams Die With You

7 years ago, my friend Ed drowned to death, and I couldn't save him. I dedicate this post to him.

It was a beautiful July morning, just 5 weeks before I was heading off to graduate school for Positive Psychology to finally pursue my dreams. My friend Ed had never been on a boat, and had never been in Lake Erie either. I couldn't wait to take him out.

So a week later, he met me at the dock and we began taking on the free waters. He laughed and shouted with joy. I'd never seen him so happy!

We then anchored and with a huge smile on his face, Ed dove in. I immediately saw that he was struggling, so I turned the boat to be a bit closer to him. He didn't move so I started throwing him a rope screaming, “Ed, get the rope!!! ED, GET THE ROPE!! EDDDDDDDD GET THE ROPE!!!!!

Seconds later, his head fell below the surface of the water, and he never came back up.

After weeks of trauma wanting to give up on school and life, I finally learned that Ed's body had been chock full of cocaine. Apparently, after being rejected from the military two weeks earlier, he turned to heavy drugs to numb the pain. It's like he had a death wish.

Ed's death is a constant reminder of why we must live our purpose WHILE WE'RE ALIVE.

What are you waiting for?

Why aren't you going for it fully? If you're like me, you're scared. Years ago, I sat on my KNOWING that I was here to inspire and support you because I was too afraid of leaving my safe job. I was too afraid of being rejected. I was so afraid of failing. So I stayed stuck. And then the pain of being stuck became so bad that I got sick until eventually the pain of staying stuck became worse than the fear of possibly failing. I knew that if I came to the end of my days without ever trying to live this purpose, I'd regret it forever.

Do you want your dreams to die with you like Ed's did? Why do you have painting talent if not to share your gift with others? Why do you have ideas about politics, if not to help your community? I know it's scary, and I know that your brilliance is not meant to die.

Your purpose is bigger than you. If you have a book idea, then those words are meant to help someone else. What good do those words do sitting in your journal and dying with you in the grave? If you dream of starting an animal shelter, it's because there are puppies in mills who need your help. Do you want to die with them?

This may sound dramatic, but having survived being robbed at gunpoint and having lived through Ed's death, I know too well how short life is.

Do not let your dreams die with you. And if you don't know what your dreams are, and you only know that you feel stuck and lost, then let this be your wake up call to start the process of figuring it out.

Find a mentor, join a mastermind, do a program to get clarity on who you are and what you want.

No matter what you do, take action today. For Ed. Ed's legacy lives on through us following our hearts. Sending so much love to Ed's family.

With so much love,
Carin

PurposeGirls on Fire – Real success stories of people who are going for it!

Brigid had always wanted to be an artist. She just loved painting and had always loved the stroke of a brush. But as a young girl, she kept seeing commercials for “starving artists.” She didn't want to starve, so understandably, she gave up painting. Brigid went on to start a successful printing business with her partner, but twenty years into her business and life as wife and mother, she lost her spark. Life took over and she became depleted. She heard about my offer for a free 30-minute call and within moments of talking, she declared her desire for change. She joined my EMPOWERED program and within our first two weeks of working together, Brigid remembered her first love: being an artist. She came home from the first EMPOWERED retreat so light that everyone at home noticed a change. She started painting at home and began to feel alive. She then started bringing her art talent to her business, and she felt on purpose. Doing graphic design, creating new project ideas, and bravely sharing her talent with clients, for the first time in a long time, Brigid fell in love with life. She knew she needed more space to create, so she asked her partner if they could get rid of the futon in the spare bedroom so that she could set up a studio. Just a few weeks ago, Brigid not only set up her studio, but she also sold her first painting! No “starving artist” for her!! I love this photo of her painting with the woman who bought it, and I love this picture of the FIRST (but not last) check she's received for her painting talent. Join me in CONGRATULATING Brigid on being a kickass woman on purpose. To learn more about her and her graphics arts, painting and printing business, check out Creative Characters here.