Lissa Rankin's Blog, page 37

The War: Faith vs. Fear

Something in me is trying to come out. I can feel it like this alien in my belly, a twisting and turning devil fetus with sharp claws. My life is not roses and violets right now. It's dark nights of the soul mixed with moments of deep spiritual connection. It's glorious triumphs and heart-wrenching disappointments. It's heartfelt new friendships and tragic relationship losses.

It's the best of times. It's the worst of times.

Which is SOO not me. I'm the eternal optimist. I'm Pollyanna. I'm peaches and cream. I can find the good in every situation.

But something about this feels necessary. It feels like a power struggle between opposing forces within me. It feels like WAR.

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Are You Cheating -- Or Thinking About It? Part I

I'm not sure what's up, but I've been surrounded by women having affairs lately. I thought it might be just me. After all, I'm an OB/GYN, so I tend to attract women who are suddenly freaking out about the chlamydia they just contracted from their lover -- the one their husband doesn't know about.

But then I read my friend Pamela Madsen's fabulous book Shameless: How I Ditched The Diet, Got Naked, Found True Pleasure, and Somehow Got Home In Time To Cook Dinner, and she wrote about how all her friends were having midlife affairs, and it got me thinking.

How many of us are cheating?

And why is this happening?

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From Suicidal To Sparkling: How Michelle Got Her Mojo Back

In honor of the beta-launch of my first ever Owning Pink e-course Get Out Of Your Own Way: Free Yourself From Fear And Worry And Leap Into Your Dreams, I'll be posting a series of posts based on Get Out Of Your Own Way superstars who have implemented the principles of the e-course. These beauties have gotten out of their own way and started ROCKING this life by tapping into their authentic selves (aka the Inner Pilot Light), letting their freak flags fly, finding their callings, identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs, eliminating false obstacles, getting jiggy with raking in the moolah, and starting to live the joyful, powerful, fulfilling lives they're destined to live.

Let's start with Michelle Medina.

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Texas Bill Emotionally Blackmails Women Seeking Abortion

Here we are almost 40 years after the Supreme Court's historic Roe vs. Wade decision, and legislators are still threatening a woman's right to reproductive choice. Texas lawmakers just passed a bill requiring that women wishing to terminate a pregnancy must first undergo an ultrasound and then take some time to think about her decision. The state house approved the bill yesterday, and the state senate supported a similar anti-abortion measure last month. The final say will rest in the hands of Texas governor Rick Perry. Apparently, Perry praised Texas lawmakers for their vote -- which makes my stomach sink.

As an OB/GYN reading this CNN News story on International Women's Day, my heart is breaking.

You may think it's simple enough. A woman comes to her doctor and wants an abortion. Why not slap a scanner on her belly and take a sneak peek?

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Are You A Succulent Wild Woman? (Happy International Women's Day!)

Are you fed up with feeling like you have to dim your light so you won't make other women feel bad? Are you frustrated when something AWESOME happens in your life and you don't feel like you can shout it from the rooftops because you might trigger someone who is too insecure to hear your good news? Do you prefer hanging out with women who lift you up, collaborate, and blow pixie dust beneath your mighty wings, rather than those who compete, gossip, and drag you down?

If so, this post is for you because you're a SUCCULENT WILD WOMAN, to borrow a killer phrase from my friend SARK (aka, Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy). Today is International Woman's Day, and I was honored to have an International Woman's Day award bestowed upon me (deep bow. Namaste, my sisters). So in honor of this powerful day, I wanted to honor the power within each and every one of you.

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Are You A Powerful Ass Woman? (Happy International Women's Day!)

Are you fed up with feeling like you have to dim your light so you won't make other women feel bad? Are you frustrated when something AWESOME happens in your life and you don't feel like you can shout it from the rooftops because you might trigger someone who is too insecure to hear your good news? Do you prefer hanging out with women who lift you up, collaborate, and blow pixie dust beneath your mighty wings, rather than those who compete, gossip, and drag you down?

If so, this post is for you because you're a POWERFUL ASS WOMAN (or PAW, to borrow a killer phrase from my friend SARK (aka, Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy). Today is International Woman's Day, and I was honored to have an International Woman's Day award bestowed upon me (deep bow. Namaste, my sisters). So in honor of this powerful day, I wanted to honor the power within each and every one of you.

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How Doctors Should Treat Women

If you're one of the many fabulous physicians out there, here's a great big HIGH FIVE. Bless your heart and keep up the good work. We need you, and what you do matters like nobody's business. Thank you for sacrificing so much in your own life in order to serve others. (I gush more in my Love Letter To Doctors.)

But if you're one of the bazillion doctors my readers write to me about, let me relay a few of the things I've learned from the women who read What's Up Down There, attend my public speaking events, comment here on Owning Pink, come to my workshops, and send me emails.

Remember doctors -- way too many women have been molested, raped, or otherwise traumatized. Getting naked and giving someone else permission to touch is a big deal for some women, so be respectful.

I asked my readers how they wanted to be treated by their doctors, and here's what they had to say.

How To Treat A Woman In The Exam Room

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Can You Sell Stuff & Still Be Authentic?

I have a confession to make. 

For the past couple years, I've been creating content to one day make available for sale on Owning Pink. I've developed a very complete program about getting out of your own way so you can rock your business and your life. I've written an e-book with a complete step-by-step cookbook guide that shows exactly how I manage bioidentical adrenal, thyroid, and sex hormones to help women optimize their vitality. I've worked with Tricia Barrett and Laurie Erdman to develop a complete detox cleanse guide so you can take charge of your health and your body. I've written every secret I learned in the publishing world and developed the Bring Your Book To Life e-book. And I've got several more in the works.

But I have no clue how to sell anything.

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Can You Sell Stuff Well & Still Be Authentic?

I have a confession to make. 

For the past couple years, I've been creating content to one day make available for sale on Owning Pink. I've developed a very complete program about getting out of your own way so you can rock your business and your life. I've written an e-book with a complete step-by-step cookbook guide that shows exactly how I manage bioidentical adrenal, thyroid, and sex hormones to help women optimize their vitality. I've worked with Tricia Barrett and Laurie Erdman to develop a complete detox cleanse guide so you can take charge of your health and your body. I've written every secret I learned in the publishing world and developed the Bring Your Book To Life e-book. And I've got several more in the works.

But I have no clue how to sell anything.

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Oral Sex Causes Oral Cancer—But Don't Wig Out

Wouldn't it be nice if we could blame all oral cancers on smoking ciggies and boozing it up? At least we already know we're better off ditching those vices. But are we supposed to have NO fun? I mean, seriously.

For the most part, oral sex is pretty dang safe. You can't get knocked up. It's much harder to contract most sexually transmitted diseases. And it feels oh-oh-oh so good. But it seems all good things come at a price.

NPR & CBS News just reported new data showing that 64% of all cancers of the oral cavity, head, and neck are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is usually spread to the mouth and surrounding areas via oral sex. Turns out that anyone with six or more lifetime oral sex partners has an eight-fold higher risk of these kinds of cancers than someone who has never had oral sex before.

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