This reminds me of a time when I had a wonderful relaxing massage in the highlands in the north of Bali. The doors were open with silk curtains fluttering in the wind. It was a warm day and it was perfectly private. The exotic flowers lay on the bottom of the floor at my eye level as I was faced downwards, enjoying the warm oil covering my body.
It was pure bliss, I had disassociated from my body and could see it there as I floated up above, smelling that deep caramel oil, fused with frangipani oil. My body had surrendered, it was jelly and I floated higher and higher sensing an eternal inner peace.
It was a lifetime ago, but remembering made me realise that I need to recharge myself emotionally, so I will run a bath now, and add oils and salts so I can feel warm and bring back those feelings of surrender and stillness.
Pamper Yourself
Spring Clean
Today I was only going to the shops for a specific thing, what eventuated was 2.5 hours of running around, pricing items and realising that time was evaporating into thin air! Yes I got myself in a mini crisis. Most people like shopping, I on the other hand, know exactly what I want, get it and leave!
So in my feverish state I got some new towels, time for a spring clean at home. I also got some new pillows and to be honest with you cannot remember the last time I had new bedding. So yes it felt good, tiring but good to declutter the old and replace with the new. I had no idea that there are 101 types of towels different fluffiness, designs and price tags. If there were 2 towels to pick from my choices would be easier and I would have taken a third of the time.
Choice, too much of it I say. Well in life we all have it, and for me today I realised that simplicity is the key for me, having less is infact having more. More space, more freedom and more awareness.
So when you are at the mid year sales, have a think about what YOU REALLY need, if you do purchase things, make a mental note to throw out what it is replacing, so you don't need more space at home but just replacing one item for another..
It is necessary to have all modern applicances decorating the kitchen, I mean will you or your family use this new gadget? I guess it is about choice.
My choice is to simplify, after all squeezing our daily OJ in the morning gives me exercise especially in my less dominant hand.
Be, Do Have
I remember a conference I attended a few weeks ago, and the presenter talked about being the person you want to be, doing those actions that will get you there and having want you really want!
What a wonderful way at looking at life, be, do and have! I just wonder if it is that simple to live, to follow those 3 simple guidelines and be in bliss everyday.
I suppose with our modern day conditioning, we look at the flip-side and see this as the potential reality, we see the challenges ahead and by default make it more difficult than necessary, after all we need to struggle to get want we want, makes us appreciate it more.
Just simply imagine if that was not the case, if fact that was just our way of dealing with the perception that it must be 'hard' and doing just that. If in this case all we needed to do is be that person who has it: (Success, money, security, influence, whatever we are striving for). Then we do the actions that a person with these traits would do to get more of the desired outcome and then just enjoy it coming to us, easily and frequently.
Wow, a real mind reversal for most people. I guess working hard for money, is a limited belief. It can come easily and frequently if we put our minds and action into this.
I am constantly being surprised by this method of thinking, it does just happen, and I am not fighting it, anymore....
Breast Cancer Awareness
In memory of Belinda Emmett, in appreciation of Kylie Minogue,and anyone else you know that has been struck down by cancer.
A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and
sat down.Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of
younger men at the table next to him.
It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it
wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.
The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him.
He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand
beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, This?
With that the men all began to laugh out loud.
The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter,
"Hey, sorry man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"
The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to
his table and invited him to sit down. The guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said,
"I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honour."
"Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?"
"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy.
"I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts and her health."
"Umm," the stranger replied, "Yeah."
"And I wear this ribbon to honour my wife", the middle aged man went on.
"And she's okay, too?" the other guy asked.
"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago.
I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and for her health."
"Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honour your daughter, also?"
"It's too late to honour my daughter by wearing it now.
My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago.
She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it.
She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about."
Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry mister."
"So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others.
Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends.
And here," the middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon.
The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can ya help me put it on?"
This is breast cancer awareness month.
Do regular breast self-exams and encourage those women you love to do the same.
Abundance
It is only recently that I have started to view the world as abundance, in every aspect. I clearly remember at school doing science projects about lack of fossil fuels and what this would mean for our generation. That was over 22 years ago! Today we have a similar 'lack of' mentality, there is enough for everybody, we have enough resources if we are conscious of what we are doing and what we want to achieve.
I suppose being conscious is the optimum word here, how many of us really concern ourselves with having enough fuels, energy for the future? Or do we simply give this responsibility to our governments, and private enterprises?
Same theme with health, relationships and finances, how many of us simply cap ourselves at, this is my worth to the company ? K per year, and that makes me happy? Or living in a relationship that is not supportive and loving because we feel that there aren't enough good men out there?
Makes me ponder at what type of conditioning we have had as children, if we see this 'lack of' mentality and see enough examples in our families,in our experience then this becomes our reality doesn't it? and then we manifest more of this in our experience as this is what we are focusing on.
So if you are in a relationship that is not working, or a career that is not fulfilling or even a state that you cannot shake, then I invite you to contact me, so we can have a relaxed chat about what coaching can do for you..
Abundance is a state of mind.
Being Silly
Having a sense of fun, silliness is so refreshing, today I had a client that make me laugh, she was hilarious, and I couldn't stop smiling, (she was too by the way) So why do we feel so good after a belly laugh? I guess it is the release that happens and the joyful feelings we have in our bodies that manifest from a good chuckle.
Kids do this all the time, I stopped and watched a few today in action and it was a classic, good blog material I thought! (as I am always looking at getting inspired to write) My parents are also a good example, humor is high on their value list and I guess by default is one of my values too, I just forget sometimes to be a little silly. Act stupid for the sake of it, it feels nice to make others smile with you and for them to get caught by the moment.
SO here is a cute silly photo I took a few summers ago, father and son enjoying the surf on Xmas day
Love is in the Air!
There has been so much written about LOVE, Amor, Amour.. songs, poems, books and if you visit the self help section of any good bookstore you will be inundated with literature: How to have the Perfect Relationship? How to put passion back into your relationship etc etc,
Well Love is so many things for different people. Did you know that we all have a different love strategy? Mine is physical, that equates to love for me, and my husband his love strategy is different. So consciously I need to cater to his love strategy so I can fill his love tank, and he will reciprocate. (Well lets hope!)
Easy really, if you are not sure on what makes your partner sizzle, then you need to take the Love Quiz
Based on the 5 love languages by Gary Chapman, his work is momumental, it makes sense really. After all we are all different and enjoy different things, so wouldn't make sense to know what your partner likes so you can please him/her? Because if you have been doing what you like, this may not necessary be the right combination for them, thus could be leading to some potential conflict.
I love the internet, it is filled with useful tools of awareness and this is just one of them.
Have fun with this quiz, I am on the lookout for more quizzes we can add to our websites
Changing your Spots
Today a client ended our session with it is difficult to change my spots, as I'm 42 years old.
This made me think about what he was really saying. Does age make us stay stuck in our habits? or it is that we are less willing to change those behaviours that no longer serve us? I would like to think it was the latter. Habits are just the things we do, we have learned these through time and socialisation, if we attach emotions and meaning with them then sure they would be more difficult to shift.
If we see that a particular habit is not constructive anymore, and in fact hinder us from moving forward, then wouldn't it make sense to replace this habit with something more productive and empowering?
Easier said than done right? Well actually NO, habits can be changed in a second, or 'in a heartbeat' as Anthony Robbins puts it. If we see and feel that we need to change it to another habit we can simply just do that!
Someone once upon a time told me that habits take 21 days (3 weeks) to change, well I don't believe that anymore that is too long! Why keep doing something that takes you away from your purpose, for any longer than necessary?
So a Tiger may not be able to change its'spots but we have more behavioural flexibility to blend in and become a chameleon.
How Do You Know?
When you have achieved your goal? When do you realise, you have made it? We get so focused on the finishing line, that you may not even remember when you crossed it!
Goal setting is all about setting milestones so you know you are on track, then having a specific date tied in to your goal gives you the end. However for you to achieve your goal you needed to take action for a while before this goal was achieved. So in fact you are going towards it every day, you become conscious of the fact that this goal is your objective, you own it and you make it happen.
So be in touch with your goal every single day and feel it coming towards you and do something each day to be in alignment with it, thus making it real and compelling.
Knowing the END STEP is also part of this process, what will you be doing when you achieve this? what will be the end step for you? So you really know you have crossed the finishing line?
You have lost 5 Kgs?
You have stepped on the scales at morning (end step)
You have saved 2K
You look online at your bank statement and it has happened (end step)
You want to meet your life partner
You are walking to your favorite restaurant, hand in hand and you know he is the one (end step)
Get the idea?
So before you go away and write some exciting goals, think about the end step and How will you know you have arrived?
Happy goal setting
Harmony Vs Conflict
Can you remember the last time things were going your way? Doesn't that feel wonderful? Sure does this makes you appreciate the little things and the great days. You are grateful to have such harmony and synergy in your activities and realise that yes you are doing the right thing..
I have had a solid week like this, maybe it is the lunar phase or something, it is all working towards me and clients are coming to get some Life Coaching and I even had a client wanting a resume construction! No job is too small when wanting change and if that is what she wanted, she got it. By the way she is in her final job interview stage, obviously she is the right candidate, however never estimate what a great, unique resume can do for you!
So clients are abundant, tick, relationship is wonderful, tick life couldn't get better as I can feel the rest on my wish list is manifesting.... double tick..
This is so much in contrast to days when you wake up on the wrong side and the world conspires against you! It is like your name was picked from a pool of people, "these ones will have a hard, challenging day" . You wished you had stayed at home not expecting anything from the world, but you need to go to work, get things done and not have people pestering you, stuck in traffic, being late, and forgetting things. Oh how I hate that feeling!
The only thing different in these scenarios is your ATTITUDE, if you choose to react from the first little thing that made you feel off balance, then you get more of that! When you are having an awesome day, sure you get more of this as you are putting out that energy of attraction. Oh yes this Energy Flow is in operation everyday, it is with what attitude do you wish to adhere to?
Your choice: One hand, harmony and bliss the other conflict, and pain..
I choose the first! and even in days of slow momentum I take stock of all the wonderful things and keep my passion burning....
Have a GREAT day everybody!
Making A Difference
Most of us are self absorbed, we are internally focused and we are on a mission. Not saying that is a good or bad thing, just observing the young people of today, I guess I was like this too in my youth..
When you start seeing the world around you, you externalise and begin to adapt, I became really shy during high school and you could say a bit of a loner. It was a confidence thing I know that now. We want to blend in be part of our social groups and be accepted, we want to please those around us.
Then we become more independent in our thoughts and actions we seek to become different from others to be individual and some rebel against the norms in society. Some people want to make a difference, they volunteer their time for worthy causes, some reach out and help family, friends. Many pursue a career in the helping profession to do their thing in contribution, and to make a difference.
I did that, got into paramedical studies to help people who had disabilities, it was a very rewarding career, it make me more humble and grateful for what I had. It was great learning and appreciation for focusing on what we can do, rather than focusing on the limitation.
So how will you make a difference? Here are some ideas:
1) Smile at someone you don't know
2) Donate to a cause
3) Visit an elderly person at a nursing home, read to them
4) Declutter your home and donate to a charity
5) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
6) Recycle your rubbish
7) Use water wisely
8) Plant a tree
9) Volunteer your time to help others
10)Give a gold coin to a busker/street musician
CrackPot!
An elderly Indian woman had two large pots, each hung
on the ends of a pole which she carried across her
neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the
other pot was perfect and always delivered a full
portion of water. At the end of the long walks from
the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only
half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the
woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed
of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could
only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter
failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side
causes water to leak out all the way back to your
house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are
flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other
pot's side?"
"That's because I have always known about your flaw,
so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path,
and every day while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you
being just the way you are, there would not be this
beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the
cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives
together so very interesting and rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are
and look for the good in them.
SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day
and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the
path!
Cheers
Catherine - fellow Crackpot!!
This came to me via email from the Dream Team- thanks Catherine!Google this and you will find this coming from a tale in India..
