I’ve been getting little messages for the past year or so, though, that producing all the time, even if I’m jazzed about what I’m doing, is probably not the best way to go.

Last year at the Hay House Ignite conference in San Jose, I was keynoting along with my friends Latham Thomas and Alisa Vitti.

These women are leaders in natural women’s health, and during each of their talks I took a note to myself in my notebook:

Start blocking out my period in my calendar and planning downtime around it.

Both Latham and Alisa talked about the cycles of the seasons and the cycles of the body. They suggested organizing life (and business) around these cycles instead of trying to work at a uniform pace in spite of them.

Two weekends ago, at the Ignite conference in NYC, I took the same note in another notebook–roughly 11 months after the first time I took this note.

Here’s my confession: Until this very morning I still had yet to block out time in my calendar around my period.

My mom practically wrote the owner’s manual for listening to and honoring the female body. The chapter on the menstrual cycle from her book, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of women. I know that her work has also deeply inspired my friends Latham and Alisa.

But the truth is, I have IMMENSE resistance around taking a break around “that time of the month.” There’s a part of me that feels like I shouldn’t need to. And, quite frankly, I often get annoyed by the whole thing.

As a woman who frequently talks and writes about honoring our bodies and listening to their wisdom, this is not something I’m proud of.

So that’s why I’m writing this and outing myself here. Just before I wrote this post, I sat down and blocked out the week around my next expected period to chill out. Finally.

The idea of taking a full week off to let my body do its thing and go inward freaks me the hell out. Here’s what goes on in my head:

• What will I actually do, just sit around on the couch all day? I’ll be terminally bored.
• What if I fall behind on all of my projects?
• What if there are important interviews or emails or meetings that I miss that week because I’ve gone within?
• If I do this every single month, we’re talking a quarter of the year gone. I just don’t have time for that.

I’m thinking these thoughts and taking the action to block the time out in my calendar, anyway.

I would imagine that, when it comes to taking time off, whether it’s for your period or otherwise, you might have had some of the thoughts I wrote above .

But I’m trusting my girls Alisa and Latham, and my mom, and believing them when they say that my body and soul need a break during that time. And I’m trusting that if I take that break, my body will thank me and there will be more than enough time and energy to do the things I want to do during the other times of the month.

Because there is a deeper, wiser part of myself that knows that if I follow through on the commitment to honor my cycle, my body will be happier, and so will I.

This is the part of me that said yes to participating in Sara Avant Stover’s I Heart My Moon Cycle Month. It lasts for one lunar cycle, February 18 – March 17th, and it features myself and 27 other feminine leaders talking about our periods.

When she asked me to shoot a video talking about my cycle, I cringed. I thought:

• That’s so weird! 
• Why would I talk about that on video?
• That’s far too private.
• I talk and write about money. What does this have to do with money?

But I shot the video anyway, because there’s a part of me that knows how important this is.

Half of the world’s population has a period. The reason any human being is here on the planet is largely because of the cycles of the female body. Therefore, this is important and relevant to EVERYONE.

So even though it weirds me out, I’m sharing my contribution to Sara’s I Heart My Moon Cycle Month.

Watch the video here. (You’ll have to scroll down a bit–I’m Day 13.)

This conversation is long overdue–for me, for you, for us, for everyone.

Check out my video and those of the other 27 women who are part of this inspiring (albeit uncomfortable–for me) movement.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments:

Does talking about your period make your skin crawl?

Do you organize your time around the cycles of your body, the moon, and/or the seasons?

How do you feel about your cycle?

May we all continue to deepen our relationships with our bodies and with Mother Earth, even if it makes us nervous :)

I know, because I’m one too. And you know what they say: birds of a feather.

So here’s the thing: when we think big, we often imagine the life that we are going to lead when our visions turn into reality. This life might include traveling the world, spending time with people who expand our hearts and minds, and giving back in ways that nourish our soul and the souls of the recipients of our gifts.

And often, our imagined futures include becoming well known.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be well known for your contributions.

Here’s the problem, though: a lot of people are chasing fame because they think it’s going to give them the lifestyle they want. But they’re chasing the wrong thing for all the right reasons.

You see:

There’s a big difference between fame and freedom.

For today, I’m talking financial and lifestyle freedom. (Emotional and spiritual freedom are topics I LOVE to tackle too. And it’s all connected. But for today we’re talking money and lifestyle.)

When I say financial freedom I mean the ability to wake up in the morning and do what you want to do with your time. (Click here for my recent post on what financial freedom means and how to get it.)

If the idea of being able to wake up every day and do the things that most speak to your heart without worrying about how the bills are going to get paid doesn’t speak to you, then read no further.

But if you’re like me, and millions, quite possibly billions, of others on the planet, and you want the ultimate freedom, CHOICE, then read on.

There are people making millions, even billions, a year who are not free. And some of these people are household names.

And there are people living in a way that  you and I might see as just scraping by who are totally and completely free.

I see some version of this desire, or marketers marketing to people who have this desire, a lot: “I want to be rich and famous.”

Let’s examine this one for a moment, shall we?

So I have this kind of well-known mother. She’s been on Oprah ten times. She’s written two NY Times Bestsellers. A lot of people know who she is.

I’m super proud of my mom and she deserves all the recognition she’s received because she’s helped millions of women around the world tap into the wisdom of their bodies. My work stands on her shoulders and I’m eternally grateful.

Early on, though, my mom figured out that going from book advance to book advance and speaking gig to speaking gig while waiting for Oprah to call was not the kind of life she wanted. She wanted freedom. So she created a real-live business that sustains her whether she’s doing anything or not. Of course she works on her business a lot because she loves it. But the key distinction here is that she doesn’t HAVE to.

The quality of the work she puts out is far more powerful because it comes from a place of choice instead of from a place of necessity.

I’ve spent a lot of time with people who are considered “famous.” And you know what? They’re human.

I want to inoculate you against thinking that being famous inevitably leads to wealth or freedom (or happiness, for that matter. But that’s a whole other conversation.)

The good news is that we all get to define for ourselves what rich means. Perhaps your version of rich includes lots of time to spend sorting out the mysteries of life with your girlfriends over delicious oolong tea. Maybe it includes unlimited time cuddling with your man and your little ones in the morning. Maybe it includes private aviation and Christian Louboutins.

If you’re like me and so many people I’ve met and worked with, your version of rich has something to do with quality of life. And that lifestyle doesn’t include being on the road 300 days a year, having to sell your next book to pay your mortgage, or having someone else tell you who, where, why, when, how, and how much.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making as they build businesses is that they’re shooting for fame instead of freedom.

You may want to be recognized for doing great work in the world. That’s awesome. I think you deserve that.

You may want to feel seen. Rock on. You are a divine being worthy of that.

But what if you could get your needs for recognition and being seen met in other ways and build a business that allows you to live the lifestyle you desire?

This is not a what if. You can have this. I know because I help people do it.

The secret ingredient that the vast majority of people miss when building a business is this: Dispensability.

It’s the opposite of fame, my friends.

If you want freedom to live a life that’s deeply nourishing, you have to build systems and assets that pay you whether you’re there or not. You have to make yourself dispensable.

This probably flies in the face of every career preparation seminar you’ve attended and most “how to get ahead” types of advice you’ve ever read.

We’ve been taught that to be “successful” in life, whatever that means, we must make ourselves totally indispensable:

Impress your boss so you won’t get replaced!

Make yourself so necessary to the organization that they’ll keep you forever!

Do what you do so well that nobody could possibly ever do it as well as you!

Build FAME so that you can be rich!

The conventional wisdom has it all wrong.

If you want to make art, do that. The world needs your unique creative voice. The world craves the solutions that only you can offer.

But please stop steering your ship towards fame so that you can have freedom from a financial and lifestyle perspective.

Instead, build your business so that there are systems in place that bring in revenue with or without you. And then enjoy the expansive creativity that comes through when you’re no longer having to be physically present for income to come in.

When you free yourself up financially you can be more present to your purpose on the planet. (Click to tweet.)

Listen, your karma may be to become famous. And you may do some amazing service to your soul and to humanity by living in the spotlight. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Follow your path and shine, baby, shine!

Just don’t confuse fame with freedom. The two are very different.

From a financial perspective, you create freedom to live the life of your dreams through building systems that make you dispensable. That’s it.

Getting famous is not a magic bullet to bring money in the door, or to keep it once you get it. And it certainly doesn’t ensure long-term, sustainable income.

So how do we create these systems or assets that pay us long term whether we’re present or not?

One of the best ways to do it is to leverage the power of the internet.

And the best teacher of leveraging the internet to create a business that pays you whether you’re working or not is Marie Forleo.

My man and I have done tons of research in the internet marketing world and have spent tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, vetting out the best of the best. Marie’s the real deal.

Marie’s third free training video in her B-School launch series drops today. In it, she tackles some of the common concerns that hold many women back from starting or growing a business. Plus, watch through the end of the video for a chance to win a free spot in B-School. Marie’s giving away scholarships and one of them might have your name on it!

Remember, if you’re thinking of doing B-School, keep an eye out next Wednesday morning, February 20th, around 10:30am EST for an email from me revealing the bonus I’m offering to those who sign up through my link. It’s the most valuable bonus I’ve ever given, it’s never been available to anyone before you, and it’s specifically designed to be the perfect compliment to B-School to help you launch your business. We’ve been cooking this one up for months, and really it’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned and created since I started my business when I was 18. And I want YOU to have it. So stay tuned next Wednesday for the details and the link to buy through to get it with B-School.

The take-home message is this:

Most people on earth want to live a life that allows them to choose how they spend their most valuable resource: time.

If you want that, build towards freedom, not fame.

I shall leave you with this final sentence a beautiful young lady said to Leonardo DiCaprio playing J. Edgar in the 2011 film of the same name:

“All the admiration in the world can’t fill the space where love goes.”

Go for the love. Go for the freedom. And trust that the rest will work itself out.

Did this stir you? What do you think of freedom and fame? I’d love to hear it so leave a comment below!

This book is designed for little girls to learn how magical and perfect their bodies are. And it’s also designed for women of all ages to be reminded.

At some point within the first few years of being born, you knew you were completely beautiful and lacking in nothing. Then, if you’re anything like 99.9% of women out there, you forgot somewhere along the way.

I was so happy to interview my mom for the latest episode of Glimpse TV to chat about how women relate to their bodies, how we can improve our relationships with our bodies, and how we can help the little girls in our lives love themselves.

Watch the video below to tune in to our conversation.

Then, go grab your copy of Beautiful Girl.

Everyone who purchases the book will get a free pass to attend a 2-hour live online event on Thursday, January 24th where I’ll be joining my mom and my sister Ann. The event will be lead by my mom, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and is entitled Feeling Beautiful.

In the comments below please tell us about your relationship with your body and one thing you’re going to begin doing to love yourself more and inspire the little girls in your life to do the same.

P.S. Speaking of learning to love your body, have you joined the party over at TheFoxyBod.com yet? I’m sending an email inviting only the people on that list to an exclusive webinar I’m doing tonight at 8pm EST. You won’t want to miss it so be sure to join the list at www.thefoxybod.com now so you won’t miss the announcement later on this afternoon.

As human beings we are herd creatures. We crave connection, community, and a sense of belonging. Being part of a herd helps us feel heard (I couldn’t help myself) and helps us hear ourselves better too.

Part of this is biological: back in the day when there were saber-toothed tigers after us our survival depended upon us sticking together. That’s probably why we evolved to fear rejection (if the group rejects us we die, historically speaking.) And it’s probably why we’ve evolved to relish genuine, heart-centered connection so much.

My mom often says that community builds immunity.

She refers to a very interesting study that showed that the more varied, regular social group interaction a person has, the stronger their immune system. They counted the number of groups a person was a member of (a church group, the PTA, their immediate family, a yoga class, etc.) Then they measured the number of colds a person had during a year. (The way they determined whether or not a person had a cold was by weighing Kleenex. Disgusting and hilarious. Go science!) They found that the more social groups a person was a part of that they hung out with regularly, the fewer colds they had, and therefore the stronger their immune system. Move over Echinacea. I’m headed to my knitting circle to boost my immunity.

Last night I met with 12 incredible women in Portland, ME for our first Campfire centered around Danielle LaPorte’s new book The Fire Starter Sessions. It was a beautiful Maine summer night after a few days of rain and yet these women chose to circle up in the name of self-actualization instead of going outside to play.

Here’s why the evening rocked my world:

•  I put out a call with only a week’s notice and people came. I thought I’d have maybe 3-4 women and we had 13 including me. Many are called and sometimes more than you think choose to show up.

•  I arrived at 7 on the dot and the party had already begun without me. Women brought friends. Women showed up and saw acquaintances from around town they’d known for years but had never actually had an in depth conversation with before. And here they were baring their souls at the Campfire after having only said a simple hello in years past.

•  One woman’s vulnerability and sharing what was really going on for her gave permission to the next woman to go deeper into laying her truth out there for us. I got teary more than once listening to the brilliance and heart and verve in the room.

•  Almost every single woman said she had come for the connection and community. The recognition that we’re all after the same thing here on this human journey coursed through my veins and sent a delicious shiver up my spine.

•  Each woman shared something about wanting to go deeper, higher, more full out, be clearer, more truthful, more authentic, and more ~them~ as we delve into The Fire Starter Sessions with one another as our soulful cheerleaders. I was tickled pink to have this rocking group of women, most of whom don’t know each other, show up to stand for themselves and for the best versions of one another.

Here’s what I know about women coming together:

•  Seismic shifts happen simply from sitting in a circle, hearts and minds open, even if there’s not an agenda, specific purpose, or even anything in particular produced

•  The act of bearing your under belly gives the next woman permission to do the same and so on and so on until every person on the planet is set free from the tyranny of pretending to be something they’re not or live smaller than they know they’re capable of

•  No matter how much we’ve accomplished and how much we seem to “have it together” we all need support, love, and community. It’s a fundamental nutrient for thriving.

I’m nourished to the core from the gathering of these 12 incandescently beautiful women who came and put their hearts and souls on the line last night. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We’ll be meeting for the next 4 months, ever 2 weeks, doing 2 sessions from Danielle’s book per gathering. If you couldn’t make our first gathering, never fear – our doors are open! You can email kathleen@katenorthrup.com and let her know that you want to get in on the Campfire goodness.

And, if you don’t live in Southern Maine (which chances are pretty good you don’t), start a Campfire of your own! Start a women’s jam session to come together and cheer each other on. Center it around a book that you’ve been dying to dive into, like I did, or just do it for the love of women and community.

Do it for your immune system. Do it for your heart. Do it for your soul. She will thank you. And so will all the other souls you circle up with. Surrender to the herd creature that you are and connect.

___________________________________________________________________________

Speaking of community and support, the deadline to get in on The Foxy Bod Program is this Monday, July 2nd (but if you’re on the east coast I recommend ordering by Friday to ensure you get your stuff in time to start.) It’s a 28-day experience of getting rid of your sugar cravings, wiggling off a few pounds, and soaking in the love and cheers of a group of foxy women egging you on to be the sexiest, foxiest version of yourself possible.  Click here to read more, or to sign up!

Got Svelte?

Foxy New Group starts 7/15

Join me and a group of very fabulous and foxy women (and a few great men) who are getting svelte for summer. Balance your blood sugar, get rid of your sugar and carb cravings, lose a few pounds, and enjoy improved energy, a more even, stable mood, happier hormonal health, better sleep, clearer skin, and more. Click here to find out more and register.

The Infinite Power of Time Off: How to Make it Work for You

June 19, 2012
8:00pm – 8:30pm EST

FREE Telegathering Join Dr. Christiane Northrup, leading authority on women’s health, and co-creators of Team Northrup, Kate Northrup and Penny Northrup Kirk for an intimate, 30-minute telegathering. Many people in North America choose to take their vacation during the summer months. But have you ever experienced coming home from time off and feeling completely exhausted, as though you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? Especially for those who run their own businesses or have a lot of responsibility at work, it’s becoming nearly impossible to take an actual break. Not only does your sanity depend on taking time off from activity, so does your physical health. This call will teach you how to plan your time off ahead so that you can get the maximum physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. You’ll also learn some strategies to use during your vacations (especially when taking them with family) to ensure that you return to your “real life” renewed and ready for action.Email us to reserve your space on this FREE call.

Wanderlust – June 21- 24, 2012, Bondville, Vermont

Join me at Wanderlust, where I’m a featured member of The Speakeasy Lecture Series.

The Speakeasy is Wanderlust Festival’s unique lecture series on subjects pertaining to the mindful life. With offerings from a wide range of presenters including prominent yoga teachers, wellness industry leaders, authors, musicians, and many others, the Speakeasy is just that — a casual experience where presenters can “speak easily”.

These are not stuffy lectures, but rather informal conversations that take place in an intimate lounge setting. Get comfy on the couch or cozy up on some cushy pillows, sip on some free tea and kombucha, and listen to some of the most fascinating people in the world of wellness talk about a wide range of topics including meditation, nutrition, technology, music, organics, spirituality, yoga, and more.

Since 2010, the Speakeasy Series has materialized into one of the most exciting parts of the Wanderlust festival. Click here to check out previous Speakeasy videos.

2012 Stratton Mountain Speakers:
Seane Corn
Elena Brower
Eli Pariser
Schuyler Grant
Kelly Morris
Gabrielle Roth
Gaura Vani
Irshad Manji
Jeff Krasno
Joel Salatin
Kate Northrup
Lama Marut
Majora Carter
Manoj Chalam
Marisa C. Weiss, M.D.
Meggan Watterson
Nick Ortner
Sean Hoess

Portland, Maine Camp Fire – Fire Starter Sessions Group

Kick-Off Fire: Wednesday, June 27th, Portland, ME

Come one, come all. We’re gonna get lit*. Together. Here in my new home town port city. This group will meet for 16, soul-powered sessions and explore, engage with, and implement Danielle LaPorte’s book, The Fire Starter Sessions.

This Camp Fire has three primary purposes:

1. to support the spectacular men and women of Portland, ME in lighting their lives afire in the best way possible

2. to create the perfect avenue for me to meet these spectacular men and women and expand my community her in my new hometown

3. to give me (and the others) accountability to read this book AND engage with the exercises in a full-out kind of way (I devoured it in a few days when I first got it and have yet to go back through and do the worksheets. I’m one of those people who doesn’t practice yoga unless I go to class, and I don’t do worksheets unless I told someone I would. If you’re like that too, come to the Camp Fire.)

Please email kathleen@katenorthrup.com to get yourself on the list. We’ll begin Wednesday, June 27th at 7pm in the upstairs space at Peloton Labs, 795 Congress St. Once we all gather round the proverbial fire we’ll discuss if we want to do every other week, once a month, etc.

*In case you’re not clear, we’re going to get metaphorically lit. I don’t smoke :)

Kate hits the Pacific Northwest!

Learn about true Freedom this Independence Day Weekend in Tacoma & Seattle!

July 3rd in Tacoma, WA

July 5th in Seattle, WA

Health and Freedom with Team Northrup
Discover the secrets of the health-wealth connection

Join me, Co-Creator of Team Northrup and USANA Health Sciences Gold Director, for a conversation about how she, and thousands of others, have created optimal health and financial freedom.

Join me and my Team Northrup Colleagues for an intimate discussion:

• Explore the relationship between the health of your body and the health of your bank account,
• Learn about a community on the cutting edge of health and wellness, championed this year by Dr. Mehmet Oz and for the past 16 years by Dr. Christiane Northrup, and
• Hear how thousands of smart people have created an additional income stream that helps them thrive from three people who’ve done it.

Don’t miss it!  Register here, and we’ll look forward to seeing you.  This event is FREE to guests, and $10 for Team Northrup associates.

More about me:

I’m a professional freedom seeker and creative entrepreneur, author of the forthcoming book Money: A Love Story (Hay House, Spring 2013), and daughter of New York Times bestselling author Dr. Christiane Northrup.

More about Team Northrup:

Team Northrup is a league of entrepreneurial men and women who are aligned with the work of holistic health pioneer and New York Times Bestselling author Dr. Christiane Northrup.  Team Northrup teaches holistic business skills to entrepreneurs and wellness advocates through conscious networking.  To learn more about Team Northrup, visit www.teamnorthrup.com.

July 3, 2012, Tacoma, WA

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, PT

Aflac
7030 Tacoma Mall Blvd #200
Tacoma, WA 98409

Click here to register!

July 5, 2012, Seattle, WA

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, PT*

1520 Eastlake Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102

Click here to register!

Summer Love Seattle Meet Up

Thursday, July 5th, Seattle, WA

If you live in Seattle, I want to hang! From 5:00 – 6:30pm, right before the Health and Freedom event above, I’ll be hanging in a nearby coffee shop called Voxx ( http://voxxseattle.com/) and would love to meet you. Plan to come by for an iced tea, a hug, and a chat. And of course, you’re more than welcome to saunter over to the Health and Freedom gathering mentioned above directly after.

Portland, OR, July 6-8, 2012

I’ll be joining the rest of Chris Guillebeau’s small army of unconventional people in the “other Portland” for a weekend of inspiration, community, out-of-the-boxness, and fun! Tickets for the event are sold out, but if you’re already registered, I can’t wait to meet you there! And if you didn’t get registered for this year, pop over and join the wait list for 2013.

Summer Love Vancouver Meet Up

Tuesday, August 21st, Vancouver, BC

My beautiful friend Danielle LaPorte and I are co-hosting a Summer Love Vancouver Meet Up on Tuesday, August 21st in Vancouver, BC. More details to follow, but for now, save the date! It will be a lovely, balmy summer evening time, most likely in Gastown.

Wanderlust – August 23 – 26, 2012, Whistler, BC, Canada

Join me at Wanderlust, where I’m a featured member of The Speakeasy Lecture Series.

The Speakeasy is Wanderlust Festival’s unique lecture series on subjects pertaining to the mindful life. With offerings from a wide range of presenters including prominent yoga teachers, wellness industry leaders, authors, musicians, and many others, the Speakeasy is just that — a casual experience where presenters can “speak easily”.

These are not stuffy lectures, but rather informal conversations that take place in an intimate lounge setting. Get comfy on the couch or cozy up on some cushy pillows, sip on some free tea and kombucha, and listen to some of the most fascinating people in the world of wellness talk about a wide range of topics including meditation, nutrition, technology, music, organics, spirituality, yoga, and more.

Since 2010, the Speakeasy Series has materialized into one of the most exciting parts of the Wanderlust festival. Click here to check out previous Speakeasy videos.

And a preview of coming attractions for the fall…

I Can Do It Ignite! - NYC

November 3-4, 2012: Javits Center ~ Special Events Hall 1D, New York City, NY

Join me at Hay House’s: I Can Do It Ignite! conference where I’ll be giving the Keynote, Money: A Love Story

The path to financial freedom is not what you think. Traditional financial advice misses the most important piece of the puzzle: love. Untangling your money woes has far more to do with your self worth than your net worth. I’m a financial freedom expert, having achieved financial freedom at the age of twenty-eight. II’ll teach you the crucial tools to living a life of financial abundance and joy that you won’t learn from your CPA, investment advisor, or financial planner.

I Can Do It Ignite! features 20 minute bursts of incredible wisdom from your favorite authors, speakers and visionaries.

Featuring cutting edge authors, speakers and documentary filmmakers in the mindful spirituality, health, holistic, and sustainability lifestyles movement. These trendsetting speakers will Ignite your passion with topics ranging from relationships, sexuality, finance, and personal transformation to mindfulness, youth empowerment, health and so much more!

Register today to reserve & occupy your seat and access that untapped energy & inspiration that exists in all of us! Is it time for you to be innovative with yourself & re-evaluate what you thought you knew?