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Lori Bruton

Author | Writer | Lifestyle Blogger |Speaker

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Hi, I'm Lori.
Author, Speaker, Coach, Ghostwriter

5 Ways to Fill Your Cup

April 20, 2023 by Lori Leave a Comment

Self-Care is Essential
Self-Care is Essential

Self-Care is Essential

What comes to mind when you think about self-care? Spa days and soaking in a deep tub surrounded by bubbles? Those are lovely options, but wait, there’s more. Self-care and self-love are more than just occasional pampering.

Creating regular routines and practices are a sustainable way to a happier, healthier you.

Why is self-care important? Let me count the ways. First of all, it’s been proven that the benefits you can reap are more happiness, confidence, and productivity.

Love Yourself First

Neglecting self-care can lead to feeling anxious and burned out. Have you ever heard the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup?” It’s nearly impossible to run a home and a business, take care of a family, or even be a great friend if you are running on empty. Taking care of yourself first gives you the energy and love to be able to best support your kids, your partner, your friends, and your colleagues.

Anything you do to nourish your physical, emotional, and mental health is considered self-care.

5 Self-Care Strategies:

1. Be your own best friend

If you’ve ever found yourself saying or thinking things about yourself that you’d never dare say about another person, it’s time to implement positive self-talk. Replace negative thoughts about yourself with positive ones.

Easier said than done, right? To help you get started, write down a few things you love about yourself and read them every day; several times a day, in fact. Add in words of gratitude. Speak those words out loud and smell or diffuse an essential oil, like Believe, Valor, Transformation, Gratitude, Grounding, or Motivation, for example. Explore your options here.

2. Choose Good Nutrition

Feeling good about yourself and caring for yourself starts from the inside out. Your daily eating habits have a long-term impact on everything from your immune system and gut health to the quality of your sleep.

Keep your nutrition simple by drinking plenty of water, eating the rainbow, and getting in some good fats and lean protein. If you feel like you’re still not getting the nutrients you need, I can guide you and make recommendations! Also, get the extra nutrition support with the right supplements.

3. Give your brain a break

With endless to-do lists and demands on your time and attention,  it can put your brain on overload. Take a few minutes to stop, pray, and meditate on God’s Word. Let God fill your heart. Allow His peace, strength, and love flow in and through you.  Taking time for this has many benefits, you will be anxious for nothing, which will boost your mood and reduce stress. Even if you find it difficult to calm your racing thoughts at first, just sitting and taking a few deep breaths will do wonders to help you relax physically and mentally.

4. Make movement a priority

Whether it’s a walk around the block, a dance party with the kids, or a powerlifting session at the gym, the health benefits of moving your body, and negatives of sitting all day, are too great to ignore. If you’re out of practice with movement, start small with 10 or 15 minutes a day and pick something you love or something easy to work into your schedule. Walk the kids to school instead of driving, dance while you cook dinner, or do a 15-minute video before winding down for the evening.

5. Embrace the art of slow travel

Vacations are an important part of self-care, but have you ever come back from one and felt like you needed another vacation to recover from it? If you often experience travel fatigue, then slow travelling may be just what you need. An alternative to traditional tourism, slow travelling is all about pacing yourself for a more immersive experience.

For example, instead of cramming your itinerary full of tourist spots, slow down and get a taste of what day-to-day life is like for the locals. Stay in a home with character; eat at small, family-run restaurants; and spend time exploring your surroundings without feeling pressured to document it on social media. When you let mindfulness and self-care guide your itinerary, you’ll come back from your vacation more refreshed and ready to share your best self with your friends, family members, and the world.

As I write this, I will be travelling to Cancun soon. If you want to know how to travel better without breaking the bank, including daily, local perks, check out this wholesale affiliate option.

No matter what you do, take time for you.

Let me know how I can help.

(*Note:  This blog was inspired by partner company, Young Living, and my own experience. Also, tech challenges – even if the hyperlinks look crossed out, they do work when you click on them.) Thanks for reading.

Much Love,

Living The LORI Factor kayaking in Outer Banks NC
Lori Kayaking in Outer Banks NC

 

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: art, believe, confidence, dance, essential oils, faith, God, happiness, health, meditation, music, nutrition, pampering, productive, relax, self-care, self-talk, spa, speaking, spiritual, supernatural, the lori factor, transformation, travel, vacation, walk, wellness, writing, young living

Eat the Dessert First: Start Living Life on Your Terms

August 8, 2022 by Lori Leave a Comment

Bread Pudding Dessert @drdepot photo by Lori Bruton

I agree with this Helen Keller quote, “Life is short and unpredictable. Eat the dessert first.”

In my book, The LORI Factor:  Live the Life You Were Born to Live, there is a chapter called, Lifestyle:  Start Living Life on Your Terms.

Are you living life on your terms?

I know I wasn’t, until I made different decisions. As a result, I stopped letting life happen to me. I stopped allowing other people’s opinions become my reality.

I remember when somebody mentioned something my mother said. I said I hadn’t talked to my mother that day. He said I meant your mother’s voice that’s in your head. Whoa! He was right. I loved my mother, but many words she said were not the truth. A phrase I kept hearing from her was, “You can’t do that,” and “Your sister would be the one to write a book.” Hearing that repeatedly programmed me to believe it.

Note:  Be careful who and what you believe, or you will be deceived.

Thankfully, I learned to tune into a higher voice of the One who taught me my voice matters and that I can do anything that I put my mind to, like writing books. Renewing my mind, changing, and upgrading my thoughts and words were the beginning of living life on my terms.

The Serenity Prayer says:  God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

It does take courage.

These powerful words made a big difference, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 NLT

Focus on the things you can control. You can’t control the past. Be present. Get unstuck. Instead of resisting change, embrace it.

That doesn’t mean accepting everything being dictated around you. Stand up for what’s right. Unmask yourself. Let your voice be heard.

I used to feel invisible and was taught to be quiet and not to interrupt until I got a LARGER vision of myself beyond what people told me and beyond my circumstances. It’s time to speak up and let my voice be heard because you need to hear this message of hope, encouragement, and empowerment.

By the way, it’s not a coincidence that you are reading or hearing this right now. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD, “They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Paint a picture in your mind of what your best life looks like. Hold that vision, write it down, and make it plain, as it says in the living Word of God in Habakkuk 2.

Keep it before your eyes.

When you can visualize the life you desire, it puts you in the driver’s seat. Visualization is a powerful tool. What do you love? Where are you? What are you doing? Who is with you? See it, hear it, taste it, smell it, and feel it.

Engage all your senses.

Be specific. Picture your dream vacation or dream car, for example. Soon your dreams become reality. Take action. I put myself in the driver’s seat on a boat recently. I have been writing more and getting articles published. I am a travel writer and am stepping into that lifestyle.

Driving Pontoon Boat
Drive the Boat

Start where you are. Take yourself places in your mind first. Do things in your own backyard that are local.

Explore. Take a road trip.

I live in the “gorges” Finger Lakes region where there are beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and parks. Watkins Glen is a must-see place. From Canandaigua to Ithaca NY, I got to experience accommodations, adventures, relaxation, and amazing food including:

Capt. Bill’s Dinner and Sunset Sightseeing Seneca Lake Cruise

Summit to Stream where I took out an ocean kayak on Seneca Lake

Keuka Watersports at Champlin Beach in a kayak on Keuka Lake

Bed & Breakfast at Oliver Phelps was the first B&B in Canandaigua

Rogues Harbor Inn is a lovely historical B&B near Cayuga Lake

Corner Pub at Rogues Harbor Inn has great food and service at the Inn

Ciao! Was had authentic Italian food with Tuscan flair and delicious dessert

Ithaca Massage Station was a relaxing, pampering experience

NaturLuxe & Stars is where I had my first glamping adventure in style

Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Co. has salads, Italian food & more

Nickel Pit’s BBQ has tender, tasty barbeque with warm service

True Love where I swooned over the schooner and talked to the Captain

Come sail away on the True Love Schooner on Seneca Lake Watkins Glen NY
Sail True Love

I made a decision. I found a way no matter what my bank account or circumstances looked like. No matter to those trying to set me up to fail or making assumptions. No more putting my life on the back burner and taking care of everyone except myself.

Commit to your goals and dreams. Create your life by design. Writing, speaking, wealth, wellness, travel, and more are possible. Get on the road, on the plane, or on the boat to wherever you desire to go.

Tiramisu dessert at Ciao! Ithaca NY
Tiramisu at Ciao!

 

Eat the dessert first.

Can you see the person you are meant to be?  Take the Journey to Hope and Transformation (which I talk about in my first book).

Get my book, The LORI Factor:  Live the Life You Were Born to Live, for more ideas on how to live life on your terms.

Tell me the actions you took. The first action was you read this blog. Thank you and congratulations. What spoke to you the most?

Let’s celebrate each step together. Let me know how I can help. Choose life and live life to the fullest.

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: accommodations, adventure, author, B&B, bedandbreakfast, boats, books, camping, canandaigualake, captbillssenecalakecruses, cars, cayugalake, celebrate, change, choices, ciao, cornerpub, death, dessert, dinnercruise, drive, eat, empowerment, encouragement, explore, fingerlakes, flights, food, foodie, glamping, gorges, helenkeller, hikes, hope, inspiration, ithacany, jerlandos, journeytohopeandtransformation, lesbrown, life, lorisstories, lorisstoriesbythewater, love, message, naturluxeandstars, nickelpitsbbq, oliverphelps, parks, power, restaurants, roadtrip, roguesharborinn, sailboat, senecalake, speak, speaker, theglen, thelorifactor, transformation, travel, trip, vacation, vision, visualization, waterfalls, watkinsglenny, words, write

Travel, Explore, Discover

February 1, 2022 by Lori Leave a Comment

Travel, Explore, Discover

You are not limited by your environment or circumstances.

As I write this it is a new month in a new year, February 1st in fact.

Are you satisfied with where you are? Not only your physical location but where you are in all aspects of your life.

It’s winter where I currently live. The temperatures have been bitter cold with piles of snow. Some people may enjoy that. I’m not one of them.

I treasure the trips I have taken thus far. Some of my favorites were Monterey Bay in California, Savannah, Georgia, and Tybee Island with the lighthouse and a dolphin excursion on a tropical island. I plan to take many more. In the meantime, here are some adventures to enjoy.

When it’s time to escape, make it an adventure.

How can you travel, explore, and discover? It can happen by going on trips and vacations or even experiencing the wonder in your own living room.

Travel is gearing up again after the world has been on lockdown. Let’s talk about how you can create an atmosphere of exploration, discovery, and relaxation in your own home if you prefer.

Stimulate your senses to set the mood. Pick your preferred essential oil recipe to put in your diffuser. (Note:  Only use Young Living essential oils for best results.) Here are some ideas.

Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes

Look at this lantern diffuser. It has a candle-flicker setting. By the way, that is a good way to keep the air clean and fresh and free of toxins. Many candles are toxic. A diffuser with pure oils is a great option.

Now if you have a honey, it’s a good time to cuddle. If not, get cozy and enjoy your own company.

Maybe you have little ones. Grab a children’s book like this one.

Take yourself on an adventure. Watch a movie or dive into a good book. Discover a new experience page by page.

Enjoy the journey as you read.

Here is a book that will transform you.

https://thelorifactor.com

The Lori Factor: Live the Life You Were Born to Live

 

 

What do you like to do for fun? You may have guessed that writing is one of my fun things, especially travel writing and freelance writing. Add reading, travel, essential oils, and dark chocolate and that recipe is the perfect one for me.

Take time for yourself. Have fun.

When huge tasks are overwhelming, feel free to reach out. I offer virtual help. I specialize in writing and repurposing content as well as creating social media posts and more.

 

 

Anything to do with Wellness, Abundance, Adventure, and Living the Life You Were Born to Live contact me.

Big things are about to be released in your life. Don’t miss out. Your best days are ahead no matter what your life looks like right now.

Let’s explore and discover together and travel down new roads of awe and wonder.

Lori Bruton
Author, Speaker, Writer VA

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: abundance, author, blog, books, chocolate, content, copywriter, create, delegate, diffuser, discover, dolphins, dream, essentialoils, explore, freelancewriter, hope, life, lifestyle, lorisstories, lorisstoriesbythewater, montereybay, purpose, read, recipes, repurpose, savannah, speaker, thelorifactor, transform, transformation, travel, travelwriter, VA, virtualassistant, write, youngliving

Writer VA Ready to Serve

September 28, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

Hi, I am Lori, Author, Speaker, Copywriter, and founder of The LORI Factor. I help people who feel stuck, hopeless, and unsure of their purpose get unstuck and transform and discover the life they were born to live so that they come alive in a new way and are excited to wake up every day with a deeper love and passion.

Who are you looking for? Is it me? I am a WRITER. In fact, I am a WRITER VA. VA stands for Virtual Assistant. I write content including blogs, articles, and social media. Key points from a blog can be turned into social media graphics for posting. A service I offer is repurposing audios and videos by transcribing them and creating new content, such as workbooks, eBooks, blogs, and more.

If you want value and expertise, let’s talk. However, if you are looking for an entry level VA and you require tests, proof, and hoops to jump through, I am not the one. You are reading the proof right here, right now. Business owners willing to invest in quality are welcome. If that’s you, I would be happy to serve you.

A huge project that I poured my heart and soul into is launching between November and December of this year 2021. It’s my second book, The LORI Factor:  Live the Life You were Born to Live.

My messages and stories have and will impact many lives. A couple hashtags I like to use are #lorisstories and #lorisstoriesbythewater. By the water is my happy place, which reminds me of my favorite kind of writing, Travel Writing. I am published in magazines, which you can check out on my portfolio page.

Words, written and spoken, are my passion. That is why I came out of my shell and became a speaker. Mentored by the Legendary Les Brown in the Power Voice program, Les also helped me develop The LORI Factor. I am thankful that Les wrote the Foreword for my book. Anyone looking for a speaker, feel free to contact me and check out my speaker page. It’s time for my voice to be heard and add value to many audiences.

Editors and Business Owners looking for a copywriter, feel free to reach out to me. I continue to hone my skills and have taken many courses from AWAI (American Writers and Artists Institute). I have written for other authors, speakers, and coaches.

Now you know what I offer and if anything fits your needs, connect with me. Here is to your success. Have a fabulous day!

Lori Bruton

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: AWAI, blog, blogger, book, businessowner, coaches, content, content creation, contentwriting, copywriter, ebook, editor, entrepreneur, help, hire, invest, lesbrown, lorisstories, love, mentor, passion, published, repurpose, speaker, story, stroies, thelorifactor, transformation, VA, value, virtual assistant, voice, water, words, write

The Power of FOCUS

March 8, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

You get what you focus on. You’ve heard that advice, right?

It reminds us that, to begin living the life we really want, we have to start doing those things that will get us there.

There was a time my life was extremely out of balance. All I could see were my struggles and didn’t have any solutions. It kept me stuck. Focusing on the struggles kept me in a state of hopelessness and defeat. I had to stand up inside myself and be determined to find a better way. I knew the life I was living wasn’t meant for me. I took one step and then another and kept going. Sometimes I fell back and then I got back up and didn’t give up on myself, my dreams, and the life I truly desire.

Maybe you’re not where you want to be yet, but at least we are not where we used to be. It’s never too late to live the life you were born to live. The good news is you don’t have to figure it out and do it all on your own.

Now I am a Certified Oola Life Coach. I help clients determine what’s not working for them in the areas of fitness, finance, field (career), family, faith, friends and fun – then correct those stressors and bring about the lifestyle, relationships and financial security they need to be happy, balanced and growing.

So what could the OolaLife look like for you?

 

I’m challenging you to decide, then focus on getting this life you really want.

Let’s Get Started: Decide What You Want

Have you ever thought about the lifestyle, activities, wealth, longevity, family relationships and other parts of a fantastic life that YOU want?

If you haven’t, that’s the first place to start. Why? Because in order to get what you want, you have to KNOW what you want. If you’re going to focus your time and energy, it’s got to be awesome and a major life improvement for you. For instance, do you want to . . .

Fitness: Be date-night ready with tons of energy?

Finance: Eliminate all debt and have money to spare?

Family: Have a rockin’ good marriage + amazing kids, too?

Field: Find a dream job or start a business you love?

Faith: Start an exciting new faith-based project?

Friends: Find new friends and mentors who believe in you?

Fun: Crush those bucket-list adventures you’ve dreamed of?

Whatever inspires you, why not share it below? (But hey, don’t reveal super-personal details!)

To help you achieve your own OolaLife, I’ve joined forces with Dave and Troy – The OolaGuys – to privately coach you and support you via a TRANSFORMATION Program designed to transform your life, your finances, your relationships and more. Click here to get started. I am glad I took my first step on the journey to transformation. You will be glad you did too. I believe in you and want to see you win.

Much Love,

Lori

Lori Bruton
Author, Speaker, Coach,
Copywriter

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: balance, breaking point, business, career, coach, decide, desires, dreams, faith, family, fitness, focus, framework, freedom, friends, fulfillment, fun, goals, happy, help, hope, hopeless, inspiration, journey, lifestyle, love, motivation, oola, oolalife, plan, relationships, starting point, struggles, stuck, system, thelorifactor, transformation, wealth

6 SOLUTIONS FOR WHEN URGENT MATTERS KNOCK YOU DOWN

February 20, 2021 by Lori Leave a Comment

At any moment, urgent matters may arise. Immediate action is required. It can throw you into emotional turmoil. You may feel like life is spinning out of control. Or…

You can put your own spin on it. Choose to transform urgent matters into living life with urgency. Allow those challenges to awaken a new way and a new you.

Imagine what it looks like beyond what’s happening now. See yourself conquering every challenge. What does it feel like to get to the other side and find a way to achieve your goals and dreams?

Sometimes stress and change can knock you down, but don’t let it knock you out. Like Les Brown says, “When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.” 

Your situation may seem impossible, but God has a comeback for every setback and a new beginning for every ending. –Oola

Do you feel like you’re in too deep? Overwhelm and procrastination can keep you stuck and scattered. I know saying goodbye makes me cry. There is loss but you can turn it into a gain and treasure the moments you shared with people and places. You may feel lost while you watch others succeed. You are happy for them. For you, maybe you see no way out. What’s happening in your life that feels heavy and looks impossible to handle?

 

Here, with me, you won’t get beaten down. This is a safe place. Has anyone ever said to you: “You’re not special,” Or “It could be worse,” Or “You’re not tough enough,” or “You can’t do that;” Really? I don’t know about you, but those words tend to be critical and discouraging not understanding and encouraging.

Let me encourage you and help you get back up with these 6 solutions:

  1. U = UNDERSTAND. Understand there are unprecedented times and that whatever has happened may be new to you; you’ve never experienced it before. It’s a big adjustment. You don’t have to conform but instead transform. Disregard people who compare or make it seem insignificant. It’s significant to you. As I write this, we are living in unprecedented times. Then when you add your personal circumstances it compounds. Breathe. First, just breathe. Be present in the moment. You don’t have to figure it all out right now. If one day at a time seems too much, break it down to one minute at a time. Everyone has a different pace. Honor your own pace and don’t feel pressured by anyone else. Know that you are greater than your circumstances.
  2. R = REST & REFLECT. Break. Take a break. Did you think I meant breakdown? That’s okay too. Shedding tears is cleansing. It’s healthy. Keeping everything inside can be toxic. Handling urgent matters may mean letting go and taking a break from other things for now, even a job. Ask yourself, “What’s most important right now?” Will you wish you worked more when you look back? Not likely. Take time to take care of you. There may be more going on than just emotions. Maybe you need to take a nap, soak in the tub, and eat good food to refuel and refresh.
  3. G = GIFTS. Believe. Accept the change and believe it will be okay. Get a new perspective and see the gifts this urgent matter brings. You may experience a wave of emotions and face challenges. Ride the wave. It’s okay. God promises to work everything together for good. Be grateful for the gifts.
  4. E = EVALUATE. Assess the situation. Explore new possibilities. What can you do to move forward? Where do you want to be? What do you want to be doing? Who do you want to do it with? Picture it in your mind. You don’t have to let any situation “infect” you and keep you feeling stuck, sad, and hopeless. Allow this new thing to “affect” you and transform you into having a better life. You get to choose. Are you living for other people and not living the life you were born to live? You were made for more.
  5. N = NECESSARY. It’s necessary that you work on yourself and develop yourself despite disappointments and setbacks. It’s necessary to surround yourself with quality people who believe in you and lift you higher. Remember, when things go wrong, don’t go with them as Les Brown would say. Not just when things go wrong, but when major change happens give yourself grace to shift into a new gear, adjust your sails, enjoy the new journey.
  6. T = TRUST. Trust the process. No matter how it looks now, know the best is just ahead. Take a risk. You don’t need to grab the next branch before letting go of the one you’re holding onto now. Don’t let yourself get buried alive. Don’t let your dreams die. Do a new thing that makes your heart sing.

There you go. Implement these 6 steps and live life with urgency. No more procrastination, settling, or giving up on your dream and the life you were born to live. No more putting off the passion that burns inside you. Maybe it’s writing a book, traveling, starting a business, speaking, creating a new invention, or moving to a different area. What is it for you?

I have a better understanding of it’s hard but worth it. You’ll be okay. Get excited and embrace new adventures. We can evaluate together if you like. We are created for a purpose. Let’s explore where you are now and where you want to be so you can get more out of your life.

Text URGENT to this text only number:  844-394-4798.

Peace and Love,

Lori

Creator of The LORI Factor, Author, Speaker &

Certified Oola Life Coach

Filed Under: MY BLOG Tagged With: assess, author, awaken, belief, believe, blog, breathe, challenge, conquer, dreams, emergency, encouragement, entrepreneur, evaluate, faith, gifts, goals, God, gratitude, hope, hopeless, inspiration, left behind, loss, love, move, necessary, oola, overwhelm, personal development, personalgrowth, procrastination, reflect, rest, speaker, stress, transformation, trust, understand, urgent, urgent matters, victory

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Hi, I'm Lori!

I'm a copywriter, blog writer, and ghostwriter, with a focus in the inspirational and travel niches. Need custom copy that motivates? Learn more about what I do!

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