New Leaf Life Coach

What are you thinking?

2012-01-24T11:45:00.000Z

(image courtesy of zazzle.com as a quote from Ghandhi you can put on a t-shirt)
Thoughts create your reality. So what kind of thoughts are you thinking then? Are they positive or are they mostly neutral or dull or negative? Are you focused on poverty, lack of, being ill, being happy, being okay right now?
Maybe it is time to take a 'time out' moment and examine those thoughts. These same messages keep coming across the internet and books and podcasts and workshops that connect in with coaching and self help. It is US that creates our reality. What we put our attention on we get more of. What we keep focusing on in our thoughts, ultimately evolve to become our reality - a self fulfilling prophesy.
So how can a person pause long enough to switch tracks and start creating the life they really want? It seems the best place to start is with your thoughts. :)
Click on the link here to get a brilliantly uplifting video on all this and also more resources on how to change your thinking.
(You'll have to copy and paste into your browser)
http://www.tut.com/resources/
Put effort in, make a decision to change your life...it is as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. Personally, I have good days when all this stuff makes perfect sense and the dots get connected. Then there are days when my thoughts are swamped by less positive waves, and it can be hard to get out of that funk...at least that's what I think when I'm in it!! Now I'm beginning to think otherwise, so will definitely be putting it to the test. :)

The Work

2012-01-16T13:20:00.000Z

Some of you may have heard of 'The Work' with Byron Katie, and may be familiar with her books. Some of you may not however, so I'll give you a brief run down on what it all is.
The Work, is created by Byron Katie, and through a series of questions Katie asks you to question thoughts that are giving you stress. These can range from thoughts around job loss, relationship issues, self issues or general anger, bemusement, frustration or other emotion you feel against the world. With these thoughts in your mind, she then invites you to starting writing it down on paper and apply a series of questions and turnarounds in order to examine them.
The beauty about The Work, is that it starts off judgemental. We are judging all the time, so rather than side step this fact, it is approached head on. However, and this is the bit that really is brilliant, you are asked to then question these thoughts via a series of simple questions and examine the stories generated behind them.
Over the years, this whole process has helped me in heaps of situations. When I was first introduced to it by my own Life Coach, I thought she was nuts! I read through it and thought 'what the hell is this?? What nonsense!!' and put the whole thing out of my head for a year or two.
When I came back to it, I had done some 'work' on myself with opening up to new ways of looking at the world, done some re-evaluating on how life was being lived and was probably in a better place to understand what was being asked.
Re-reading it blew me away. The simplicity in the questions, the realization of how much drama was involved with the stories being created...it made me laugh out loud! Ever since then, I do my best to remember to revert to The Work when life and my thoughts are getting on top of me or stressing me out.
The website is brilliant, super supportive and offers free videos and free booklets and downloads to assist you. It is worth visiting and giving a go:
http://thework.com/thework-jyn.php (link may not work so please copy & paste into your browser)
This year I found out Katie will be having an event in Dublin. Tickets are going to be available on the day only and I am so going to be there. This is one gig I am already looking forward to and it is only January!! :)

ADD and what does it mean exactly

2012-01-13T16:19:00.000Z

Found this link via a tweet from a comic artist. Tyler Page is currently creating a comic book online journeying his experience with being diagnosed as ADD from a young age.
As an adult, he finds himself experiencing the same traits of the disorder despite being told that this is something that he'd grow out of.
If you have a few minutes during your lunch hour or in the evening, or just have time right now, go check it out. It is an insightful and interesting read and I found myself just wanting to know more about it. So many kids are diagnosed with it along with additional add ons of HD and autism. It does provoke you to start wondering what types of medications are given as solutions and their long term implications on health.
http://raisedonritalincomic.blogspot.com/2011/08/raised-on-ritalin-chapter-1.html
(the link may not work so please copy and paste it into your browser)

Spiritual Energy of the Year - AWAKEN

2012-01-05T10:44:00.000Z

(image courtesy of the www.innerexpansionblog.com site)

Over the last number of years I've subscribed to this link from www.innerexpansionblog.com
The Inner Expansion Group have been around for quite a number of years, and I've had the chance to attend some of their workshops when in Dublin. Every time they've been uplifting and particularly helpful in assisting with clearing and focusing energy. Previously they sent a newsletter containing the energy of the day and month, but now they've made it available to a wider audience online.
This is one of those sites that is down to earth, practical and uplifting all at the same time. Understanding how energy works and how you can best use it can be particularly helpful as you can use the energy at the start of the year to get a grip on where you are and what you would like to change in your life.
There are many positive sites out there on the web, but in this case this is one of those sites that I just keep coming back to as it is spiritually uplifting every time.
So this year is all about AWAKEN. Go to the site to get all the info on it and find out what kind of energy the month holds. I hope you get something from it too.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T17:22:00.000Z

The end of 2011 is a few hours away and by most counts, reviewing the year has been interesting but 2012 is decidedly something to look forward to.
Most of us will be out partying at some point between now and the next few hours to bring in the new year with a bang. However, it is always worth taking advantage of the energy the beginning of any new journey elicits.
In a quieter moment, take some time to look over the good and bad bits of the last 12 months. Give thanks to the lessons learned and various growth periods that came disguised as testing times. Be grateful for the times when you had peace and bliss and allow those memories to revisit to give you pleasure.
Most of all, remember that the next 12 months for 2012 can hold as much joy or misery as you choose in each moment. It is essentially up to you to stay present in each moment and make the most of it, whatever it is.
Planning, setting goals or winging it, whichever way appeals to you for the next while, just go with it. We're going into a period of new beginnings I reckon, and whether they're good or bad are going to be largely down to how we perceive things and how we choose to act.
It sure as hell won't be a boring year, that much feels certain! :)

Creativity and the power of a belief

2011-12-14T11:09:00.001Z

This article was found via facebook, and I am simply so in love with this breath of fresh air approach to creativity that it had to go on the blog.

The notion that people are born with talent has often irked me when it comes to art. I have seen clients suffering as a result of disconnecting with their art or creative side simply because they didn't produce a body of work worth noting. The early stages of not being encouraged to simply keep with it led to them discounting their creativity due to 'not being talented'.

It's a crippling form of a belief and it can throw people off for years and stop them from engaging in any form of creativity, thus self realising a belief of a negative nature.

What I really love about this article is the simple approach of recognising that anything you put time and effort into WILL enable you to improve upon that skill. An example of the article is below but please go to - http://www.creativitypost.com/create/twelve_things_you_were_not_taught_in_school_about_creative_thinking

" You are creative. The artist is not a special person, each one of us is a special kind of artist. Every one of us is born a creative, spontaneous thinker. The only difference between people who are creative and people who are not is a simple belief. Creative people believe they are creative.
People who believe they are not creative, are not. Once you have a particular identity and set of beliefs about yourself, you become interested in seeking out the skills needed to express your identity and beliefs. This is why people who believe they are creative become creative. If you believe you are not creative, then there is no need to learn how to become creative and you don't.
The reality is that believing you are not creative excuses you from trying or attempting anything new. When someone tells you that they are not creative, you are talking to someone who has no interest and will make no effort to be a creative thinker."

Being brave enough to walk your own path

2011-09-20T15:30:00.002+01:00

(Image by Stephen Mooney - http://halfpastdanger.blogspot.com/2011/09/oh-heavens-no-it-has-to-be-terror-sweat.html)
Found this lovely link via a tweet today, and it really does resonate strongly with me. Even more so at this point in time, when I see so many unhappy people doing jobs they're not satisfied with. They have a yearning to do work that is true to their soul and that calls to them.
It isn't an easy call to answer, but those that do, despite the many, many challenges they face along the way (aside from the obvious financial challenge) find a sense of wholeness from it and find it deeply satisfying.
So to see a well established artist that I admire, being open and honest about the fears of freelancing after a great success rate in his career spanning over 10years so far, is heartening. It's heartening because feeling these fears is healthy, normal and felt by your peers. Healthy because anything that pushes you outside your comfort zone means you're growing and evolving. Normal because no matter what your journey or calling in this life, you are not alone in facing your gremlins.
This is after all, another great example of a personal gremlin...and they come in all shapes and sizes! It's good to know that despite it being there, overcoming resistance and conformity is possible.

Holistic and Craft Fair 25th Sept 2011

2011-09-12T15:30:00.002+01:00

It isn't often that you get a mix of events that are relevant, so news of this event reached me and I'm interested!
It approaches therapy and craft as both expressions of holistic healing, and the aim is to promote them to assist with people finding answers to their life by their own means.
Definitely worth checking out and it is Family Friendly and FREE! :)

HOLISTIC & CRAFT SHOW
BRACKEN COURT HOTEL
25TH SEPTEMBER, 2011
12 NOON - 6PM
FREE ADMISSION TO PUBLIC
RAFFLE PROCEEDS TO LOCAL CHARITY

SPECIAL GUEST
PATRICIA BUCKLEY
AUTHOR "MY JOURNEY WITH THE ANGELS"
PATRICIA WILL BE SIGNING HER BOOK ON THE DAY!
AT THE EVENT PUBLIC WILL EXPERIENCE:
Complimentary Therapies at reduced rates
Handmade Crafts on sale
Wellbeing Products & Stands
FREE Information Talks on Therapies etc
FREE Kid's Craft Corner

Free Interactive Demonstrations with Tai Chi & Sacred Circle Dance!

ALL proceeds of Raffle will be donated to Charity
Balbriggan Cancer Support
St. Francis Hospice Raheny

If you are interested in being an exhibitor, you can download Application Form and pay for stand on www.spiritualrays.com.

Letting your Heart look after you

2011-09-06T16:09:00.000+01:00

A small passage from a book I'm reading really got me recently so I had to share (taken from The Opening of the Way A practical guide to the wisdom teachings of Egypt, Isha Schwaller de Lubicz 1979):

The kingdom of the heart, including its channels of distribution in the blood vessels, covers the full extent of any living being both in time and space. The heart is engaged in the mysterious work of holding the whole organism in balance, which is more than a matter of blood vessels and changing pressures. To correct the effects of injury or disequilibrium it has remarkable methods of compensation justified by thousands of years of experience. This Wisdom of the Heart has come to us by heredity, as a quality of our species. The heart possesses an ability to repair damage affecting itself without for one moment interrupting the flow of energy it provides. Thus it is rightly a symbol of unfailing generosity. In the practice of cardiology we have had to recognize that the hearts power to maintain life is almost unlimited, so long as it is allowed to use its own methods and has unrestricted access to its natural resources. (Here the author makes a reservation regarding embolism of the pulmonary artery, when the heart fails because the task is practically impossible).
Only too frequently, however, the unfortunate interventions of the psyche, especially in the form of anxiety, turn the course of events into catastrophe. A strong heart, very little damaged, ahs often been known to fail in a few hours under the influence of acute anxiety.
One emotional storm can demolish completely the marvelous structure of homoestatic defenses which, with the Wisdom of the Heart, has come down to us from the depths of time.*

* Dr. Godel, L'Experience liberatrice (Paris: Gallimard, 1952)

Zen and what is it

2011-08-08T18:05:00.000+01:00

Zen - by Tommie Kelly Visit: www.tommiekelly.com for more art
Tommie Kelly went all zen this week on the www.irishcomicnews.com website. It was in fact, an inspired moment of truth and clarity if I'm to be honest, and sums up the highs and lows of a journey in any creative field. It could be said that the last couple of years have sparked a 'knowing your own truth' journey for a lot of people on the planet. Connecting with your creative truth is a big part of that journey.
People often say that artistic skills are 'talent' and people are born with it. Well I firmly believe this isn't the case. It is something you can learn, and like other skills, sometimes there can be more of an affinity with a particular pursuit than another...but without applying time, energy and focus on it then it would simply cease to be a well honed skill.
It can be easy to become disheartened during the down times of the cycles that occur with creativity and any other part of your life for that matter. There is however, one truth that remains - this too shall pass. Not going to go all holy here, but this just about sums up any bad patch or low energy or uninspired spell you find yourself going through.
Everything has cycles, stick it out long enough and you might start to see patterns forming! When that happens it can be reassuring and also invaluable as a way to find the door out. :)

Gremlins

2011-07-08T18:08:00.000+01:00

Hmmm...the word gremlin conjures up an image of soft fluffy 'Gizmo' type beings who tend to cause mischief but are all warm and fuzzy. The thing about gremlins, from a coaching perspective, is that they come in all shape,sizes and forms, and can either stand out in full monster form or work side by side with you pretending to be helpful.
Over the years clients have revealed so many types it can honestly be said they're completely unique to the person. What really helps though is being able to acknowledge that you have a gremlin, and that naming it can be the first step to helping you deal with it.
I'm not sure you can ever tame a gremlin, but you can sure keep it in check. Personally however, I've recently encountered a new form of gremlin. It's the one that knows you so well, that it isn't even visible to you most of the time. It's subtle, pretends to be friendly and helpful but has an extremely well thought out long range plan involving self sabbotage.
I didn't even know there was a gremlin at work until a long conversation with a friend revealed it! It was the subtle approach to this sabbotage plan that really shocked me and made me realise it was a gremlin in another disguise. It was working from a long distance range of about 4 weeks, allowing for unrealistic goals to be set so that the continuous fail would lead to just throwing the towel in and quitting under the guise that I had given it my best shot.
It woke me up, thats for sure, and it put me on alert as upping the game is the gremlins next form of subtle attack! I could at least take charge again, for now, until the next move could be made by the gremlin.
At this point I would like to make people aware that even though the gremlin is talked about as a separate entity, the reality is that you are simply fighting with an aspect of yourself. Externalising this into a form known as the gremlin can assist with removing the power attached to that aspect of you.

So how do you know when your gremlin is present, especially when it doesn't follow normal patterns?
Maybe keep some questions about to double check whether your gremlin is out of the bag. If you're doing something new, moving out of your comfort zone, taking a new approach to living or simply wanting to change, answer the questions when you find yourself encountering even a slight amount of resistance or indifference:
What type of tone of voice are you hearing?
What is important to you right now?
What is happening when you move to take action on that important thing in your life?
What phrases are recurring in your language to prevent you from taking action?

The tone of voice is a good one to note, simply because it can be a gently dismissive tone, one that makes little of what you are about to do or change. Getting focused on what is important to you, reconnects you to your higher self and the good energy in relation to what you are about to do. Distractions from that or changing the focus will have a different tone in comparison.
When you are about to take action to change, the resistance can become stronger, the questions beginning with 'why...' can come into play and all of a sudden your internal dialogue can switch in the most subtle of ways. Wake up to it, become more conscious of it. Finally, the phrases that revert to doubting your ability, your strengths and aim to get you to do nothing, are good little tell tale signs.

SO WHAT TO DO?...
If you click on the image you will see what appears to be a particularly ugly gremlin in the middle of a page! What is brilliant about this image however, is the mindmap on the process of how to notice the gremlin and how to explore ways of moving on from it. Becoming aware of it is the first step to making it take a back seat!
Go through the mindmap and then take out a sheet of paper and do your own. Map down everything, from the tell tale questions and doubts to the emotions that creep in and then write down what you'd like to do to move through it. It's an excellent exercise, worth taking the time out to do and as I mentioned, it really helps you to discover all the ugly faces your gremlin puts forward to set you up for a fall! Most importantly, accept that it's all part of the journey and avoid the harsh 'I should've known!!' statements on yourself. Just accept, adjust, learn and move on. :)

Irish Comic News website

2011-06-22T10:29:00.000+01:00

Isn't it great when a gap in the market is filled with something relevant and much needed? Well I'm happy to say that this happened recently, and has been a long overdue task for someone to take on. In retrospect though, it is similar to the phenomenon that Malcolm Gladwell mentions in The Tipping Point. You get to a moment where the push for the need creates a service or provider.
In this case, it was a need for a one point of contact for information on creativity in comics in Ireland. The scene has been active for a long time, and although the community of comic creators, artists and writers would get together for the small festivals or conventions each year, it just wasn't enough. There are a variety of conventions, fairs and festivals on during the year, that just don't get talked about enough. They don't get on the radar of the general public, and most of the time the general public like to go to something alternative.
So now, there is a central site telling the world about comics...from Ireland. It gives details on events, the people in the industry who slavishly create wonderful independent comics and works of art, along with those who are currently carving out a career within big names such as Marvel.
So go visit http://www.irishcomicnews.com and find out something new about the country that isn't about the banks or recession! :)

Good vibes

2011-06-06T18:58:00.000+01:00

It is always great to have an opportunity to meet new people, especially if they share the same interests and have gathered together for a festival on it. The 2D Festival in Derry, is always looked forward to for this very reason. It is possibly one of the most relaxed and well run events I've had the pleasure of attending, and the focus is very much on promoting creativity with children.
This was the 5th year of 2D, and each year it simply gets better. There are more workshops and panels and talks, all promoting comics and exploring artistic forms of expression. It is such a beautiful and nurturing environment for young adults and kids that it really is going to be a watch and see what talents emerge in years to come. Comics are celebrated, the process of creating is explored and the professionals give their time, view points and expertise on it all in the friendliest way possible.
I'm happy to say that every year I go, it is like a reset button for inspiration for me. This year is no exception. Last year was a wonderful chance to meet not only various artists excelling in their field, but editors with vast amounts of experience. This year I got to meet someone who exuded a zen like quality from being so comfortable in their craft. An energy like that stands out, and it stays with you.
Having had a chance to think on it, the reflection arrived at a simple conclusion. Master your craft, whatever it might be. Simply give it your attention, make the effort and commit to it fully. By connecting yourself in this way you give yourself the chance to begin to align with your true self...and the zen can only follow.

Life of Non-Conformity - Interview with Tommie Kelly

2011-06-01T18:16:00.001+01:00

This took me a while to get sorted, mostly because the blog took on a new direction and the original interview went missing. BUT!...Tommie, a local comic artist from Louth, kindly took some time out to be interviewed again. I hope you enjoy it and find this interview as honest, liberating and refreshingly real as I did. For more info on Tommie Kelly,(RoadCrew, Down) please visit his website and buy his comic - http://www.tommiekelly.com

• How does creativity contribute to your life?
Everything that I have done has in some way being connected to creativity. From music to art, writing to teaching it's all part of creativity. I don't think there is anyone alive who doesn't touch on creativity at some stage every day.
But there is also a huge downside to creativity, its that I have nowhere near enough time to actually do, make or perform all the ideas I have.

What is your definition of conformity?
Doing something because other people or the majority think it's the right or proper thing to do.

• How have you conformed over the years?
We conform every single day. From standing in line at a shop, to driving on the correct side of the road. Conformity is a necessity for a well behaved and controlled population. Creatively, I have conformed through collaborations, where you give up a part of your creative idea for someone elses. Say writing a song with someone, it never evolves into a song that either person would write. Sometimes that's a good thing, most times it isn't.
I am not a huge fan of working with other people and I am becoming less and less interested in it as I get older. I have very definite ideas about what I want to accomplish with my art and working with other people pollutes that and drains me.
BUT, some people thrive on collaboration, so to each his own. Having said that If I am doing a commission for someone it's a completely different ball game. In that scenario, I turn my ego off complete and just try to make the exact thing that is in the person who is paying me's head.

• What type of work were you in from your early teens?
I spent more than ten years in the music industry from being a singer, guitarist to a sound engineer. I wanted to be a successful musician and put all my heart and soul into it. In the end the only money I could make in the music biz was by doing roadie and sound engineering, which I was very good at but which I hated. By the end of my time with all that I couldn't listen to music anymore. It took me well over a year before music became anyway pleasurable again.

• How does that differ to the work you do now?
I hated it, but I got paid for it. I love what i do now.

• Were there any signs, subtle or obvious, during your normal period of work or non-work that indicated that this way of life wasn’t for you?
Haha, yes. Massive depression, suicidal thoughts and total despair. :)

• Was there a time when you were not creative in any capacity?
During my sound engineer times. I became a complete automaton, the job was so easy that the only time it got exciting is when something went horrible wrong.

• What made you decide to follow your current career?
Honest answer is that I had a nervous breakdown of sorts, due to a number of events in my life and I had to try to find out what I wanted to do and be again. This was in my late twenties. I felt I was happiest when I was drawing as a child and I tried drawing again to see if I like it still. It turned out I did, I loved it. I hadn't actually drawn a thing since I left school, so it took me awhile to get back into the swing of it.

• What type of resistance/obstacles did you encounter when moving into a creative career?
It was mostly the money thing. Unless you're really lucky, being in a creative career is going to leave you quite poor for awhile until you find your feet. Well, in my experience of it anyhow. I never really cared what other people thought of me so any resistance from friends or family didn't make an impact on me.

• How did you overcome it/them?
Worked hard every day, learned something new every day and never gave up.

• What type of support network did you have to encourage you?
I think twitter is a fantastic network for artists. It's like working in one big huge art studio. We also have semi regular meet up in the Irish comic world.

• Do you think location is important to your art and lifestyle? If yes, how so?
Less and less so because of the Internet. But Living in America would make it way, way easier to get to the bigger comic cons and such. But with the net the world has become very small.

• How important are goals to you and how do you set them?
I think goals are very important, but they must be realistic goals. I mean there is no point setting goals that you have no control over. I used to set myself huge goals, but when they didn't come true, even when I followed through with total commitment and passion, it made me sad and defeated.
So I think the key is setting small attainable, believable goals that you can work on while you have an overall HUGE goal of where you want to be.

• How do you stay focused in your current career?
I just get up every morning and do what I have to do that day. I am very thankful for being able to do what I do and I make sure I acknowledge that to myself as often as possible.

• What has been your biggest fear to date and how have you overcome it?
Having to go back to doing something I hate just to support myself.

• Is there a person that inspired you to live a life of non-conformity?
Loads of people, different artist, different musicians. My cousin was a huge influence on me when I was younger. It was him who gave me my love for comics.

• What qualities/values do you possess, that assist you in your creative journey in life?
I'm not sure. I don't know how to answer that question..

• What was it like to receive your first payment for your work?
I don't remember feeling it was like a huge victory or anything. I WAS constantly in debt, so as soon as I got it I gave it away.

• What keeps you going in this life of non-conformity?
Who knows. Maybe I like punishing myself :)
It's a need I have. i can't be anything else, even when I try.

Finding your mojo again

2011-05-31T20:15:00.000+01:00

It is a funny thing how as we get older, we tend to let life and its stresses overcome us and distract us from the very activities that keep us sane. As we gain balance and return to some sense of normality, we continue on our journey and don't seem to pick up our sanity buffers again. We either just forget about them and then one day we start listening to some music we haven't heard for a while, and wonder when did we decide to stop listening to this in the first place?
I've had a few moments like these over the years. Slowly, I'm learning to pick up my sanity buffers again and retain them this time. I don't recall giving myself permission to dump them in favour of stress, but yet I know it happened along the way. What is lovely however, is rediscovering the joy of why you liked doing something in the first place.
While on facebook I noticed this great link to 'finding your voice again' by Tara Sophia Mohr. It echoes what has sometimes occurred in my own life, in relation to art, and is worth reading. It's good to question your mindset and give yourself a chance to reset it if you find it isn't working for you. Finding your mojo again is part of living a happy life.
LINK - http://taramohr.com/2011/01/getting-your-voice-back/

Getting in the right frame of mind

2011-05-30T09:57:00.000+01:00

It's Monday. Most people associate the day Monday with going back work, school, beginning a tough week...generally it is quite negative. I woke up thinking 'another week' and then thought, 'what if this week was fantastic?'. Not a common thought I know, but what if? What if this was the most amazing week and it turned out Monday became the best day ever?
How could I repeat it if Monday suddenly became associated with the opportunity to have a great week? Perhaps by just waking up and considering the first thought that came into my head, I could alter the whole perspective process on this day. So today is an experiment. It is Monday. I'm thinking positively and resisting the urge to say 'urgh, Monday' and going with the 'great! Monday!' vibe instead. Let's see what happens! : )

Do you see things clearly?

2011-05-26T14:09:00.000+01:00

Check out the link and see what you think about it. Isn't it funny how many times perception comes up when dealing with coaching? Life really is about how you perceive things to be. You create your own reality and continue to see what you what to see, what you put your attention on.
Is it any surprise then when you step outside for a moment to see the bigger picture, that you end up with an 'AH HA!' moment? It is easy for life to get in on us and blur our vision to the point where we can't see what is really in front of us. Some days it is crystal clear, and in those moments of clarity life is wonderful. With conscious effort though, taking the time to see the full picture as much as possible would help those sweet moments of clarity become more frequent. Helpful reminders in the link attached, at least remind you that it's easy to sleepwalk! : )

Happiness is Contagious

2011-05-20T16:10:00.003+01:00

www.imcontagious.com
This little site came to my attention recently via a link sent by a friend. The original link was focusing on how the media have a strong tendancy to lean on the side of fear when reporting the news. This is evident in the curious answer of a news reporter to a question about when was the last time a story of hope similar to the Chilian miners had so much coverage. His response was, Apollo 13...back in the 1970s.
It is a curious thing that often good news isn't reported. It tends to be more about what jobs are going down the shoot and then kind of leaps on from there. Imagine how much more energy you could generate for yourself by hearing some news that focused on hope and happiness?
Either way, one daily thought on a happy note might be a good place to start! :)

Being an Artist

2011-05-10T20:34:00.000+01:00

Born like an Artist - by a Norwegian artist called IdaEva (Jellyvampire.deviantart.com)

A rare little jem of a comic, which simply, beautifully and gently embraces the ups and downs of realising your artistic mind. Creativity is a wonderful thing, and all too often we either suppress it or ignore it or try to fit it into a shape that simply doesn't work.
Visit the link to give your soul a rest and enjoy! : )

Poetic approach to changing habits

2011-04-25T15:20:00.000+01:00

I came across this beautiful little story/poem on a site recently and had to share.

There’s A Hole In My Sidewalk

(Autobiography in Five Chapters)
By Portia Nelson
(1) I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

(2) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

(3) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

(4) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

(5) I walk down another street.

Life happens when you're busy making plans

2011-04-18T16:46:00.000+01:00

It's been January since I last blogged on this spot. I had a number of amazing plans for the site, for the blog and for advertising my business. In fact, the year was planned for great things, ranging from really pushing my coaching to branching out and learning new skills and developing existing ones.
The sky, so to speak, was the limit.
Then a close family member became ill. They'd been ill for some time, but were managing to get through their routines, their life and their daily existence with a good sense of gusto. In January it just went rapidly downhill. February, they finally passed away to a new journey and hopefully new adventure.
In the blink of an eye all the lovely plans just became null and void. Life and family became the focus. There was no room for business, no room for hobbies and no room for plans. The future was put on hold. It was simply a case of living day to day with doing the best you can and dealing with the various emotions creeping up from grief.
On top of all this, suddenly living arrangements changed. A move of house was on the cards, an unplanned move. The energy hadn't fully returned and this now demanded a lot of attention and time. Throw in a husband studying an intensive course while just having changed jobs and you can see the stress levels were pretty high!
It is now the end of April, and I'm amazed how for nearly four months, I've managed to cope. Things become sharper, they become clear in terms of what is important and what isn't. In a way that clarity removes a lot of drama, excess baggage and uneccessary things that you might have ordinarily put up with.
The last while has been a roller coaster of emotions and feelings to say the least, but only now can I begin to see that the journey has developed my character. It's nice to see a clearer glade ahead where I can relax and gather my energy again and find out how this new character development fits into the bigger picture of who I am.
Sure I want to have plans, I want to plan ahead in some way and have a focus and direction. I just don't want it to be so misguided that the important things get overlooked and only focused upon when a death occurs or someones ill. I want to enjoy life, enjoy planning and just roll with it all. I'm going to start by taking a walk on the beach while the sun is still out...we'll see how the rest of it goes! : )

Review January...isn't that a good idea?

2011-01-31T19:30:00.002Z

January is often considered one of the most difficult months. It is the longest month between paycheques, and often the coldest. It doesn’t exactly inspire many and when you make resolutions that you don’t stick to, it can have a detrimental effect on your self esteem and willpower.
So what can you learn about yourself and your habits from the last 31 days?
Let’s divide it into 4 different categories to help you learn more about yourself.
FINANCES SUPPORT WELLBEING COMFORT ZONE

Taking each category separately, answer the series of questions below to assist you to find out how you used your TIME AND ENERGY, for the month of January. The questions below will be often repeated over the next year, as a way to offer some focus.
Finances:
• How did you manage your finances over the last number of weeks?
• In what areas did you find your finances taking the biggest hit?
• How can you reduce this hit for the next month?
• What do you like or dislike about money?
Wellbeing:
• How often did you exercise or get out and about for the month?
• What type of foods gave you energy and what took away your energy?
• What type of interactions with others gave you a boost?
• When did you find yourself lacking in enthusiasm and will power?
Support:
• How do you define support?
• What type of support do you give to yourself?
• Where does your time go every day?
• If you had a team of supporters for the day, how would you use them?
Comfort zone:
• What challenges did you encounter during January?
• Can you outline any type of stress you dealt with this month?
• How was your most productive day spent during January?
• Where or When, did you find yourself out of your depth?
So, going into February, is there anything from your answers that might help you towards making it a better month?
If you can look back on 2011 as the year you broke some old patterns and bad habits, wouldn’t that be a successful year! Let’s aim to get each month working for you to make better use of the time and the energy that is currently available. Get to know yourself, be honest with your answers each month and trust in your ability to change.

Being mindful

2010-12-10T22:21:00.000Z

Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed an uneasy pattern forming. Watching the news and having weather disrupt the daily routine, seems to have been mostly negative in nature. The reports in this country for most of the time have been largely ones of doom and gloom about the economy, cutbacks, taxes and living in general.
I felt myself becoming hopeless, and found my mood down and my mind distracted with fearful thoughts. It fed into the whole situation and highlighted stress in other areas of my life. This frenzy of downward thinking continued until today.
For some time I've had this nagging feeling that meditation would be a good idea. Exercise and yoga would be a nice addition, but the whole act of meditating seemed to resonate quite loudly with me. So the internet helped in my research to fing out about some of the various forms of meditation and how to start it off.
What struck me having waded through many sites on it however, was this one aspect of mediation outlined in a lovely document on the site www.swarmij.com. I've taken a portion of it to give you an example, but recommend you visit the site to read it in its entirety.
"Once my Master said, “Stand there.” We were talking about destiny. I stood. He said, “Will you please lift one foot off the ground?” And I lifted my foot. He said, “Now lift both feet off the ground.” I said, “I’m sorry, I cannot do it.” He thus taught me that 50% of your destiny is in your hands and 50% is with Providence. Will you please play your part so that Providence helps you?"
The above story made me sit up and take notice, as I realised that the 50% that is in my hands is around my thoughts. These thoughts can focus on negative or positive, and as such actions can arise out of these thoughts that will help or hinder me and how I live.
In days like these, isn't it good to consider that we can be mindful and gain some peace from simply taking the time to be still and watch our thoughts?

What illness might you be creating?

2010-11-12T15:24:00.000Z

An interesting book that raises some questions about how your emotions can manifest into illness, is the Louise Hay book, 'Heal your body'. In it, she outlines various emotional distresses that are linked to a variety of common ailments. She also lists a variety of relevant affirmations that can assist with you clearing out the emotional stress and thus create self healing in the body.
The reason I bring the book up, is because recently I noticed something odd. Going for an eye test, I noticed that there were quite a lot of other people waiting to get glasses or tested. The shop also promoted hearing tests, and there seemed to be a reasonable amount of people waiting for this too.
I've also noticed an increase in the amount of people that are suffering from ear problems, myself included. The weather and various other factors can always be taken into consideration. However, what struck me is the following. What if, in the last number of months, with the various projections for the coming budget and doom and gloom, we simply don't want to see or hear about it any more? What if, after prolonged exposure to it all, listening to the forecast for employment and seeing the effects it has had on various people or yourself, you just want to stop listening and stop having it in your life.
Could it be that after many months of dealing with it, we are now seeing the emotional stress of our countries situation manifesting in everyone? It was interesting that there seemed to be a lot more people on crutches last year for some reason...quite possibly due to feeling ungrounded perhaps?
Either way there is something to consider in all of this. The biggest thing being that if such outside circumstances can take its toll on your health in any way, isn't it best to take control and release the dis-stress associated with it. In case you read this and find it resonating with something inside you, perhaps Louises book might be the best investment for a present this year!

Using the Internet to get clued in

2010-10-07T17:53:00.000+01:00

The internet is a very distracting tool, if you are not specific about what you are searching for you can easily find yourself lost in a sea of information.
Sometimes however, this stumbling upon a website has its advantages. With only a little over 2 months away from the year, how about changing the focus to using internet more. There are various types of sites that can assist you to stay focused for the remainder of the year so you can achieve some goals and feel good.
Over the years I've come across some great sites, some require a subscription to a newsletter, others you can access when it works for you. The best one over the years has been www.simpleology.com
This site, once you join for free, gives you access to an excellent system to get you focused on targets and goals. This can be small to large goals from paying bills to flying a plane, whatever works for you!
The other one, and more recently updated, is www.innerexpansionblog.com, which gives you insights into the energy of the day and month. This has proved to be both helpful and mostly accurate! It provides you with another aspect to help you focus your attention, and can sometimes be very spot on with moods and feelings.
The internet can actually help you to set targets and become more tuned into your day...the difficulty will be in removing yourself from Facebook for long enough to find out all about it!! : )

The Power of Words - SHOULD

2010-09-01T10:18:00.000+01:00

Isn't it interesting how many various meanings there are for words that we use each day, with ourselves and with others?
For example, the word 'should', is often used as a way for someone to impart a suggestion with the option that you can choose to take this suggestion or discard it.
However, 'should' often gets over used and thus interpreted as an order or command without choice involved. This can develop into an internal dialogue of questioning your choices and decisions - Should I do this? Should I not do this?
As a coach I often see how this internal dialogue and questioning with clients, has evolved into indecisiveness and a feeling of pressure to make the 'right' decision. All this from a simple word.
So if you were to replace this word, what would be the best one to use to help you out of this situation? How can you change your thinking by simply changing a single word? How can you communicate and get input without resorting to 'should' conversations? How can you develop a self talk with words that don't imply pressure?
Lots of questions above I realise. One possible alternative to 'should' is the word 'could'. It provides you with choice and options. It also provides you with a chance to engage with reality - 'I could do something about that, or I could leave it as it is which is what I am currently doing.'
This can then offer you the chance to take action or even enquire further into your situation. 'I could act now so that it isn't left as it is'. Even the question 'What could you act on?' from the above communication with yourself, is a more open form of enquiry which can assist you to find solutions for change at a pace that suits you. No pressure, just possible solutions and a chance to change your thinking.

Fixed and Growth Mindsets

2010-08-20T10:20:00.000+01:00

I've been reading a brilliant book for the second time this year, about Fixed and Growth Mindsets. One of the most fascinating things about it is how it explains the reasoning behind how children can actually be hindered by too much praise or being labelled as talented.
Professor Carol Dwecks book is highly recommended as a source for assisting you to take a fresh look at how we approach difficult tasks or learning new skills. She provides some great insights into how we can often drop something we loved to do, because we've encountered a mindeset that prevents us from moving forward. What is great about all this is that the Fixed thinking can be altered, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to do so. One particularly helpful aspect of the book is the research done on famous people considered to have natural talent. Michael Jordan is one such example provided, and we learn that his abilities evolved through continued effort, growth and learning. He wasn't naturally talented, he applied himself to the game and when he failed he observed, learned and moved on. His growth mindset provided him with the ability to continue doing this until his success became evident. Others don't seem to see the bigger picture in this instance, choosing to believe that he was a natural talent and born with the skills.
Overall, the study is amazing reading, and what sticks out most is that the focus is on giving a clear and positive message to people that they can change their approach to their thinking. More often than not, people will class someone as naturally talented in some aspect, be it sports, art or another ability. The problem is that when a person who believes this labelling, encounters failure or set backs, they can fall apart. This set back can be viewed as a direct negative reflection on them and draw out fears of exposure at being not good enough.
There are too many great examples to mention, but the blog http://keenkidsathome.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/growing-a-growth-mindset/ gives a great insight as to how parents can use this great bit of valuable information to encourage positive growth in their children.
The link to 'brainology' is also worth checking out!

Interview No.1 - Living a Creative Life

2010-07-12T11:03:00.000+01:00

Bob Byrne is a well respected Irish Comic book Artist, who has published a number of comics such as MBleh! and the highly acclaimed graphic novel Mr. Amperduke. He very kindly took some time out to answer a series of questions focused on living a life of non conformity and how his life experiences to date have hindered or helped him to this point. It makes for some interesting reading, and I hope that those out there can take something of value from it and be inspired in their own journey in some way.

NLLC - How does creativity contribute to your life?

BB - It's hard to separate them, for me it's the same thing, it's a creative life!

NLLC - What is your definition of conformity?

BB - I suppose it's compromising yourself for any reason; fear and ease mostly I reckon. It's easier to fit in. I consider myself a conformist in lots of ways though. I try my best to fit in physically by shaving everyday and wearing normal clothes. Life is so much easier if you don't look like a weirdo outwardly.

NLLC - How have you conformed over the years?

BB - Yep, as above. I do lots of heartless corporate design work and have no problem with it. It's money. I worked a 9-5 non stop from 17 years of age until recently.

NLLC - What type of work were you in from your early teens?

BB - First job was in a pet shop, then I was a forklift driver for ages, then a baker until I got a typesetting job.

NLLC - How does that differ to the work you do now?

BB - I'm sitting at a desk. For years I was either putting a box on a pallet or taking one off. Having a desk allowed me to start drawing on the sly and with a computer I could get up to all manner of creative antics

NLLC - Were there any signs, subtle or obvious, during your normal period of work or non-work that indicated that this way of life wasn’t for you?

BB - Yeah the physical jobs were just dead ends but I as soon as I got to sit down at a desk indoors I would draw on my down time. I could give you a million examples of where I knew the 9-5 world wasn't for me but I could quote the same amount about the 'creative world'. I don't like working with other people regardless of the environment. That's why I love comics, you can make an entire movie on your own.

NLLC - Was there a time when you were not creative in any capacity?

Yes, when I was 16 I stopped drawing completely and just sat on a wall or in my mates shed smoking for nearly a year. Then again, when I was 21 I gave up drawing for about 4 months in favour of drinking. But other than that I've been busy my whole my life.

NLLC - What made you decide to follow your current career?

BB - I had no choice really. I've been doing the same thing since I was a baby. I mean I could still be working stacking boxes during the day or whatever until I retire but I know I'd still be creating at home in my free time. I have no interest in design but I'm fairly good at it so I'm happy to do that for a living.

NLLC - What type of resistance/obstacles did you encounter when moving into a creative career?

BB - I sort of wanted to go to college to study something but there was no money in the house and I was eager to move out as soon as I could so I suppose the harsh realities of money was a big obstacle. And working a 9-5 and trying to create in your free time leads to all manner of disruptions in your personal life. Trying to stay employed, keep working on your own stuff and still being social is hard. As cold as it sounds, money is the obstacle that stops people from a creative career.

NLLC - How did you overcome it/them?

BB - I had a serious girlfriend when I was 22 and having her in my life made me more disciplined, meaning that on the nights I didn't see her I worked much harder because I knew my time was limited. I became organized. Another big thing was ditching friends who were having a 'toxic' effect on my life. Hard to do but it was the best decision ever. They didn't understand that I wanted to spend time drawing instead of going to the pub or whatever, so I just cut them.

NLLC - Do you think location is important to your art and lifestyle? If yes, how so?

BB - Location no, environment yes. I hung around with a bunch of NCAD artists for a while and they were so busy talking about art they never created anything. For them the environment of being in college was counter productive.

NLLC - How important are goals to you and how do you set them?

BB - I set deadlines for everything. Every day I set a list of goals. Filling out the answers to these questions was a goal today. Without a deadline people don't work. Sometimes I'll reward or punish myself for missing or hitting targets.

NLLC - How do you stay focused in your current career?

BB - My focus right now is a little wider than the laser-like concentration I had a few years ago, I moved country and gave up the day job so I'm toying with other things right now. For the set projects I'm working on for others I just think of delivering the best possible work as it always leads to more.

NLLC -What has been your biggest fear to date and how have you overcome it?

BB -Creativity wise? I suppose there were a few years were I was scared of languishing on a couch out of it somewhere saying that I could have made it and that pushed me along to overcome the lethargy. I met a lot of really talented people who never really pursued their dreams and that scared me. Life passes by so fast. Now I'm scared that if I have kids I won't have enough time to work on my own stuff.

NLLC - Is there a person that inspired you to live a life of non-conformity?

BB - My parents I suppose. My Mam was a writer and into all kinds of mystical stuff and my Da is a fantastic artist. They showed me you can still make a living by your own rules.

NLLC - What qualities/values do you possess, that assist you in your creative journey in life?

BB - I'm never happy! I get depressed when I'm not working on something so I always stay busy. Sounds weird but it keeps me working.

NLLC - What was it like to receive your first payment for your work?

BB - I got a bigger thrill out of being published than getting paid. I started selling illustrations around 18 but didn't get published until my early 20's. I can't remember what my first paying gig was.

NLLC - What keeps you going in this life of non-conformity?

BB - It's not a choice for me to be a non conformist, it is a choice to try make a living on creativity alone. I've met so many people who try to be different just for the sake of being different. Is a goth a non-conformist? I don't think so. The most genuine non-conformists I know are people who work a 9-5 but by night they get up to all kinds of things.

Creating the life you want

2010-06-13T17:44:00.000+01:00

Over the next couple of blogs I wanted to explore the whole art of non-conformity from the perspective of how you go about creating the life you want. This whole subject has fascinated me as a direct result of stumbling across a blog created by Chris Guillebeau, and ever since reading his blog I've been thinking deeply about the key traits that help people to really push out of their normal routine and strike forward doing work that they love.
We are conditioned from an early age to 'fit in'. With this comes a series of beliefs and ideas about how lives 'should' be conducted and lived, and what social norms are acceptable. All too often the strongest belief that emerges is that in order to get on well in life you must work in a job that you will probably not like and work hard for a living.
The idea of carving out a career in any creative field or subject you love and earning a living in a non traditional way, just invokes feelings of fear. There are those that find themselves in nurturing and encouraging environments however, and this provides them with a new perspective and belief system that following your passion will create your success.
So what environment and set of conditions, can assist you to get the best results and help you create the life you want? So far determination and passion are coming up as key traits. Over the next while though I intend post up some interviews conducted on this subject, to explore how people keep going even through the confines of natural conditioning, to create a life more in sync with who they are. I will start with Irish comic artists that are carving out a career for themselves in a very specific artistic field, and see where it goes from there.
I see life as a series of tests and opportunities to learn more about the human spirit. Part of this journey I believe, is connecting to your passion and finding the courage and strength to follow it wholeheartedly. No one said it would be a walk in the park....or maybe this might simply be another form of conditioned thinking and we're ultimately creating a harder path for ourselves by denying our true calling.
Either way the process of discovery is what the purpose of this blog is about so we'll see where it goes.

Relationship Meltdown

2010-05-09T19:42:00.000+01:00

Over the last 18 months, I've seen an alarming amount of relationship breakdowns due to the stress and strain of living. Even relationships that had appeared healthy and functioning well, came under the hammer. The ripple effect of such breakdowns can have a very negative impact on the family and friends associated with the couple, let alone the children involved if the couple have their own family.
What is creating such extreme situations that people feel there is no way out other than to break up? What has occurred that permitted you both to forget what attracted you to each other in the first place? Has it run it's course? Are you complete strangers? Is there a possibility of recovery or is it best to part ways completely? (By the way, in the case that any abuse is taking place then it would be recommended that you put your safety first and leave the relationship - http://www.spunout.ie/health/Relationships.)
What really strikes me in all this is the tired feeling emanating from both sides, that the situation occurred having finally thrown the towel in after many years of putting up with things. Tired of the whole mess, the whole slog, the routine, the lack of togetherness and passion...the list goes on.

What does this ultimately mean? In many respects these situations can be avoided. In the last number of years, more and people people are finding enlightenment. They are beginning to realize that there is more to life than punching in numbers and routine. In a need to rediscover themselves their journey can become single minded and sacrificial. The energy and excitement of rediscovering a passion for a hobby long forgotten or a taste of freedom on being independent, making new friends and finding a new life...these are all positive experiences.
With this type of change though, a partner can often feel left out. They are not sharing the journey directly. Resentment can build up unless both partners are experiencing similar journeys or at least making efforts to show interest in each others new life. This can be the start of the problem and it can also be an instrument for venting frustrations and feelings of neglect or resentment that were held in to keep the peace.
How can such a beautiful new journey have a negative impact? It is asking someone to change, indirectly, to fit in with a new life and way of being...and they may simply have not been ready for it. Things cannot stay the same forever, being able to adapt and move with it helps tremendously. Sometimes it can be difficult even to communicate to each other as you may find you've reached a stage where being uncivil to each other is the norm.
So what can you do? Wake up. Be real. Remember what you both committed you. Remember what attracted you to each other. Find something you love about that person. If after clear, communication and honest review of your life without judgement of each other and mud slinging, you find that the relationship has simply come to an end, then honour that. Honour each other by admitting it. The truth of such things unburdens and allows a clearing to take place.
On a lighter note, you can also take a glance over at what planetary aspects are occurring that have an influence on things! Mercury retrograde can make things quite difficult in communicating clearly and openly...it is easy to get the wrong end of the stick and fly off the handle during this time. We're currently in one, so if you find a miraculous end to arguments or being peeved at one another after the 11th May...then blame it on the retro!

Having a creative outlet

2010-04-11T19:07:00.000+01:00

Isn't it funny how you can be an enthusiast about a hobby in your 20's and then find that later in your life this passion was simply dropped and forgotten about? Isn't it strange that the very interest that gave you purpose and a sense of happiness was the first thing to go when life got serious and busy?
How many times have you found yourself simply choosing to 'take care of the responsibilities' rather than taking the time to revisit the hobbies and interests that gave you a spark and inspired you. I often find that over time, you may be lucky enough to revisit and rediscover your passion, and fully engage with this long lost creativity that gave energy to your weary soul. In some cases though people feel silly revisiting this aspect of themselves, seeing it as self indulgent nonsense, and dismiss it for the gift that it is.
You can't deny your creative urges. You can't keep them under wraps for your entire life. You can choose to ignore it but it is harder to do this than it is to actually embrace it. Why is this so important you might ask?...because it is part of who you are. In denying your creativity you deny your true essence. You deny part of your soul and you ultimately deny yourself a chance to fully embrace life and all its colours. Having a creative outlet is as necesary as breathing, it provides you with a chance to explore, dream and be yourself 100%. We all have it, it isn't exclusive and it isn't always about being able to draw well or paint well. Creativity comes in so many different forms and shapes, and if you find yourself unsure what your outlet is then simply allow yourself to be open to ideas on how to express yourself. It could be writing a story, a poem, photography, doodling, knitting, painting, gardening, dressing up, dancing or singing!...who knows! The point is to give it a chance to breathe and you'll find yourself more full of life, energy and happiness in the long run.

Remembering

2010-03-02T17:26:00.001Z

Is anyone else finding themselves forgetful these days? Over the last 2 months the amount of important tasks and must do things that I've forgotten has risen significantly. It would be nice to say it is down to age but that is such an easy get out excuse it doesn't work!
Small everyday routine tasks suddenly become - 'what was I doing?' and 'who was I calling?' and even in some cases just a complete blank on it. According to emails from friends, I'm not alone in this situation either.
So what is occurring...is it a shift in our consciousness that is creating this forgetfulness? Is it a shift in the world and commerce and our way of living that is causing confusion? We could say it is both.
Over the last while people are beginning to 'wake up' to what is important in their lives. The changes forced upon us via the recession are causing many of us to sit up and take notice about how we spend our time, money and energy. This has created a 'shift' in our perceptions around how we live and how we want to live. With a decrease in the number of jobs on the market and ongoing redundancies, this also causes a shift in how we do things, and often the old tried and tested way or routines just doesn't cut it anymore.
So how do we keep our heads screwed on amidst all this change? We stay in the now. We focus on the present and we get what can be done, done. Compiling a list of daily to do things and putting them on a wall in the kitchen, hall or home office space, can at least help you to be reminded. Using a white board or a printed off sheet can help you to keep track and mark things off as you go along. You can still plan for the future while being aware that changes and adjustments can be made easily along the way.
I for one will be using a task list sheet in the present AND the future! : )

Manifesting

2010-02-15T12:06:00.000Z

There are many sites, books and youtube inputs into the art of manifesting what you want in your life. The more I read about it the more I see that the repeat message is simple. Put your attention on your intention. The application of it however is another story altogether.
This year is all about manifesting what you want in your life. The energy for 2010 is very much about bringing the very things you are focusing on in your life, into a reality for you.
It all sounds wonderful doesn't it? The only thing here is that the world and the energy involved with the manifestations doesn't discern between the good and the bad! So if you choose to put your attention on negative situations and outcomes, the universe will happily deliver your intention, because that is what you put your attention on.
So how do we make good use of all this energy around us? How do we manifest the good stuff and do away with the bad?
We start getting very, very clear on what it is we focus on. What are we thinking about right now? When we ask for a specific outcome or event, do we doubt that we'll get it?
This is one of those years where we are going to have to put OUR ENERGY into becoming very aware of what we focus our thoughts on. We have to catch ourselves when we find our doubts creeping in, we have to adjust ourselves when our thoughts slide into a negative 'it'll never happen for me' pattern.
It requires work. It requires effort. It requires faith.
Most of all, and this is the bit I particularly like, if you've had a life time of it not working then celebrate the fact that you at least know how to manifest! So if the negative has been the focus in your life, and you've succeeded in making it so...isn't it time to flip it around and give the positive a shot? If you put in the same effort who knows what fabulous turn arounds will come from it! : )

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T19:20:00.002Z

Every year we decide that this is going to be the year of change. We decide to give up cigarettes, lose the weight, start the yoga class, do something new and exciting.
So with so much New Year determination why do we often fail to stick with it?
The biggest hole we fall into when making any resolutions is that we refuse to be REAL about it all. You might want to lose weight and get healthy but what are you prepared to do and for how long?
Maybe you would benefit from a whole new approach. Ditch the list of resolutions, forget the plans and start with a whole new blank page. Avoid the 'I should do this...' list at all costs, and instead start with the following:

If I choose to stay at my current weight by the end of 2010

_____________________________________________________________________________________

If I choose to stay smoking the way I am, by the end of 2010

_____________________________________________________________________________________

If I choose to continue to treat myself the way I currently am, by the end of 2010
_____________________________________________________________________________________

If I choose to continue thinking and acting the way that I do, by the end of 2010
_____________________________________________________________________________________

If I choose to take positive action on any of the above, by the end of 2010_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If I choose to remain as I am, ignoring signs that something needs to change, by the end of 2010

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Getting real about your present and taking action to change your future is empowering, long term. Making lists of endless resolutions that have been around year after year without being completed is self sabbotage and giving your power away.

There are people that are focused enough to review their year and take stock and make resolutions based on goals. They can, with plenty of focus and tweaking, complete these goals too. It is completely possible, but it is something that is fine tuned with practice. You wouldn't get into your car without knowing where it was going first! Approaching your goals and resolutions with the same attitude helps to ensure that your time and energy are used to good effect. If you find that this is yet another year where you haven't managed to cross off anything from your list of resolutions then stop kidding yourself.

Take some time out, get to know the reality of the cost of staying stuck or not taking action, and you'll soon find that 'getting real' can make a real and lasting difference in your life...now wouldn't that be something worth celebrating next New Years!

Decembers Post - Showing Up

2009-11-30T18:10:00.004Z

Last week I went to a seminar by Nick Williams, based on the concept of 'showing up' in your life. It was an interesting take on a theme that has been going on all year, around consistency and perseverance. In this case the focus was on moving out of your comfort zone and taking part in your life. It is easy to allow fear based assumptions to consume you into a non-action way of living. Taking the plunge, moving jobs, starting a new path, changing lanes in your life, are all big leaps of faith to most of us...yet if we choose to not do it when we feel a calling for action, it means we have basically opted out. We didn't bother to show up and live.
What does this ultimately mean?
It means that you are cutting off any chance of a connection or opportunity for the universe to help you. It means that the energy inside you becomes stagnant and stale as it has nowhere to go, and it means that you are hiding and not showing the world what and who you can truly be in this life.
Showing up in your life, even when the going gets tough, is an act of generosity according to Nick...and he is right. The payoff can be obvious or it can be that one little synchronised situation which enables you to move onwards and upwards or connect with another and help them in some way. Either way, the fact that you showed up means you allowed the creativity of the universe to unfold and the energy to flow in the right direction.
When do you avoid 'showing up' in your life?
When you avoid 'showing up' in your life are you energised or drained as a result?
Can you think of a situation or place that you decided to 'show up' and found an amazing opportunity presented itself to you or you met someone that changed your life for the better?
More and more people are awakening to the importance of living in the NOW. By this I don't mean driving fast and throwing caution to the wind!...I mean being ever present in the moment and allowing yourself to be grateful for what is in your life right NOW.
December is a good month for taking stock of your life, although with the way this year has developed, taking stock probably started a lot earlier than December! However, take this chance to review things again before you bombard yourself with new resolutions for 2010. Appreciate your life, the lessons you've learned so far, even the tough and very challenging ones, appreciate that in this 12th month you are still here, present in this moment...because you kept showing up.

Living with Intention

2009-11-01T15:46:00.003Z

There are many books that have come out about the subject of attracting what you want and clarifying the don't wants so you know what you do want. It sounds confusing when put that way! In the dizzying array of books however, the clearest message being projected is that the clearer you are about what you really want, the quicker you're going to get it.
In other words, be clear with your intent.
Living from a place of intention is liberating. It takes practice but it is worth the trial and error. It permits you to discard the nagging doubts and anxieties that distract you from your focus, and empowers you by allowing your statement to resonate with the universe in such a way as to make things happen.
It doesn't have to be radical either. You can start small and build it up. A simple step in the right direction makes all the difference in your life in the long run. Even something as simple as 'I intend to have a great breakfast this morning', sets up your thoughts to put that into action. It bears repeating if you find your gremlin coming into play or find that doubts start to arise. By even stating this sentence you will feel a massive difference in your energy and attitude - because you are being crystal clear about how you intend the next moment to be.
As we approach Christmas this is possibly one of the best exercises to begin training in. Live your life with intention so that the joy generated by such clarity can be enjoyed by you and thus ripple outwards in a positive motion. It beats focusing on the negative!
Intend to live the best life you can at this moment in time.

FORWARD PLANNING

2009-10-06T19:15:00.002+01:00

Halloween is known as the ancient Celtic New Year. It is an ideal time to perform rituals and prepare for the winter months ahead while taking stock of the harvest and celebrating it. How can this tradition be applied to the modern world?

If we were to take it as an opportunity of 'taking stock', we could realise the many areas of our lives that we are thankful for. It is easy to get caught up in the many things we lack at present, in particular our finances. It is also easy to forget to focus on the important and small details of our lives that don't involve money yet provide joy when your attention is put on them.

For this month maybe try to do the following:
Take stock of where you are right now
Perform a ritual to release anything from your life that no longer works
Turn your focus to what IS working in your life
Use this focus to plan for your winter

There is no question that this year is proving to be a challenging and difficult time for everyone, and yet the lessons some of us have learned so far could perhaps not have been learned any other way.

What are you grateful for in your life right now?
Do you have a ritual such as eating a meal together as a family or couple?
How often do you focus on the good in your life?
How often do you choose to focus on the negative?
What harvest would you like to see next year?
How can you take the first step to ensuring the next years harvest is better?
What can you do with your current situation to bring joy into it?

Asking questions is always the first step to finding a clear, truthful and real path out of your current situation. Answering them in a clear, truthful and real manner will empower you to move and change as is needed to improve your situation.

September was about reviewing your situation, let October be about planning your next phase and moving forward.

Tuning into the Planets

2009-09-02T17:48:00.006+01:00

This is going to be an interesting month it seems. From September 7th we are entering into a period where the planet Mercury is turning retrograde. This means that all the qualities normally associated with this planet, communication for example, will in effect go backwards.
So this month, and for part of early October, while you go about your daily business, perhaps become observant regarding how this might effect your interactions with colleagues, family and friends. The main characteristics it seems, is that communications in all its forms tend to become difficult. Computers, cars and phones tend to breakdown or act up. Delays can occur.
Conversations can be taken out of context, appointments can be broken or moved or even forgotten about. In general it seems, it is a good time to review, re-check, research and re-schedule.
So how can you use this information in your daily life?

Observe what areas of your life this change in energy could end up influencing.
Avoid reacting as much as possible - stop, think and then act.
Prepare for it ahead of time by backing up your PC, keeping your charger handy or a set of jump leads in your car.
Be kind to yourself and others when communicating.
Re-check bookings and appointments
Review or refresh conversations to ensure the important details have been heard.

Overall this retrograde phase is set to last until the end of September. With most people stretched as it is this year, and additional stresses of either commuting under difficult circumstances or paying out money for school when things are tight, it is easy enough for people to react strongly.
Hopefully, this bit of information can at least give an insight into how sometimes the worlds energy can be influencing things further, and might provide you with the tools to be able to deal with this month that little bit easier! If used wisely the energy can be particularly beneficial for completing projects and gaining some quality time alone for introspection, thus helping you move forward positively!
For a balanced view on this retrograde phase please visit the links supplied:
www.astrologycom.com/mercmarg
www.skyscript.co.uk/merc_ret
www.alphalifetrends.com/mercuryretrograde

Putting Time and Energy into a good Routine

2009-08-05T12:55:00.006+01:00

Despite fluctuations in the job market, it seems to be slowly but surely coming back to a reasonable state. In the meantime, being out of work can present a sense of loss of a decent routine. Small daily tasks that would once have been part of the flow in-between your working schedule, now become a main focus.
Adopting a routine from the start may seem easy at first, but if you find yourself out of work for a long period of time the routine can become irregular. If you have children then a routine is probably already dictated for you. If you don't though, then it is even more important to establish a sense of routine to ensure your TIME and ENERGY are used wisely.
So, what kind of routine would be good in this situation?
Getting up early, dressing well and going for a walk if possible

Setting small, medium and large tasks for the day and week

Have a task sheet with the above on it so you can mark them off as you complete them

Set a time for personal, business and social aspects of your life

Reward yourself at the end of the week for the tasks you've completed

It is important to recognise that when you are out of work your activity levels drop drastically. As a result your ENERGY goes and you waste TIME more easily. It is very easy to become lethargic about your situation, and depending on the responses you get while looking for work, it can play havoc with your confidence and self esteem. By establishing some control on where you put your ENERGY and how you spend your TIME, you can empower yourself greatly and automatically change your mindset to be more open to finding creative solutions. It also means that your approach to basic tasks becomes healthier, less ENERGY and TIME is wasted on the small details and you can focus on the bigger tasks and goals to improve your situation as best you can.
It puts you back in control of your life and what you want to create in it.

What is your attitude to money?

2009-07-06T10:12:00.004+01:00

I came across an article recently, outlining how couples managed to cope with the recent changes in the economy and subsequently how their roles changed within the relationship and the stresses it brought with it. What struck me most was how their attitudes towards money from an early start in life, stayed with them throughout...until they noticed it was either working or not working for them. Then they changed it.(The article "When Money Talks", can be read in Psychology Today, June Issue, page 74}.

So how does this relate to you?
What are your beliefs around money?
Are these beliefs radically different from when you were younger?
Have you examined them at any point in your life?

With our situation at present and so many people out of work, we have no choice but to face reality where our finances are concerned. This can be a welcome task if you view it as a chance to tighten your spending, or an extremely daunting task if your beliefs around money are not to your liking.
So what can you do?

The first step is to write down the top 5 beliefs you have about money. For example - 'If you work hard your earn a lot of money' or 'I never have enough of it!'. Once you've done this then examine when this thought first occurred to you. Is there an experience you can remember to back up this belief?
How strong are your emotions around these beliefs?
Does this belief empower you or leave you feeling low and vulnerable?

Once you've identified the beliefs that prevent you from being empowered, it is time to replace them with something that does empower you. If you consider that the beliefs you repeat to yourself around money are in effect MANTRAS, how positive or negative are they? Write down the top 5 beliefs you'd like to have in place from here on in, for example - 'I always have money to pay bills easily' or 'I earn money easily and love the work I do'. The key here is to NOTICE how reading or saying this new belief makes you feel. At first it might feel alien but if you tie it into an action it will become easier. For example, when you go to pay your next bill, repeat a possible new belief of 'I pay my bill with ease and feel empowered by it'.

Consider the option that the economy has given you a chance to rexamine your situation and attitudes towards money. How were you when you had a constant flow of money?...did you stop and consider your attitude and beliefs or did you just keep going as you didn't need to.
Our economy will eventually improve...so now is a great time to start getting financially fit in regards to your attitudes and beliefs around money so that you thrive in a healthier way when your bank balance does blossom again.

Getting Creative

2009-06-09T15:28:00.003+01:00

June is proving to be a fantastic month for the sheer wonderful sunshine...I know it tends to happen when the various exams start but you've got to admit it is still brilliant.
One thing that is striking me out of this whole year, is how we are being pushed into making changes continuously. There doesn't appear to be a 'letting off' period. Everyone has been effected by the economy, some more than others and the changes we face are all very different. It can in some instances create distance, if you allow it to overwhelm you.
What does change mean? It can mean doing the very things that push you out of your comfort zone and it makes you sit up and take notice of your environment and the people in it. Change makes you examine, adjust and move on. Change for the most part, is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Change also means being creative. Having now been pushed or shoved or dropped out of the comfort zone, you have to think differently. You start getting creative with how you can live, eat and work. More and more people are finding themselves beginning to turn to self employment...often in areas that are highly creative and that they had forgotten about when they began their regular income and 'safe' job.
So what can you do for yourself this month to avail of all this positive energy and abundance of Vitamin D?...start tapping into your creativity.
Perhaps you used to paint or draw or play guitar? Maybe you were into arts and crafts and created beautiful dinners or pies! The simple fact is that CHANGE is here for the rest of the year and beyond. If you embrace your creativity RIGHT NOW, you can avoid the jolt and enjoy the changes positively.

Change your Lifestyle in 4 easy Steps

2009-05-05T12:14:00.004+01:00

So we're into May, and at this point we can expect the weather to improve greatly. The bright mornings encourage us to get up and get going - or do they?
How is your motivation to get up and get moving getting along?

This month use the good energy to get moving. The best way to motivate yourself is to get motivated by taking action in small steps and distract yourself from the fact that it counts towards the bigger goal. What do I mean by this? Well here's an example:

Mary wanted to set a goal for herself that she'd drop a dress size within the summer months so she'd look great on holidays. The goal was to go from a size 16 to a size 14 or 12...ideally a 12. She knew if she thought about the end result she'd then start thinking about the effort required to get there,and that wasn't going to help or motivate! So instead she broke this goal into smaller steps and focused on the fun aspect of learning something new phsyically.

Step 1 - based around WEEK 1, she focused on enjoying some fresh air and getting time out of the house walking. She also wrote down any thoughts that held her back from doing this in a journal as a way of by-passing her own potential negative self talk that might hold her back.
Step 2 - Based around WEEK 2, she focused on some new foods to try out, new receipes and some vegetarian options just to be different. The 1st step was still continued too.
Step 3 - Based around WEEK 3, she focused on trying out some different activities in the evening or weekend. She aimed to pick activities that were new to her - reading some different types of books or watching a completely different type of film than she'd normally watch, trying some brain teasers, golf, horse riding, tennis, dancing, swimming, wind surfing...and if she found resistence she'd write it down in her journal.
Step 4 - Based around WEEK 4, she focused on positive talk. The other steps had started some new habits and now it was time to make sure that Mary was recognizing the positive changes and changing her mantra. Her self talk was going from 'I am not so sure about this' or 'I'll never change!' to one of 'Wow! Great work on making some small changes!' and 'Well done on nurturing your life and your health!'. Each time she had some resistence to change, she wrote it in her journal. This gave her some insight on how SHE was talking to HERSELF.

The great thing about the above 4 Steps is that at any point you find yourself wandering off or resisting doing it, just write it in the journal or start from Step 1 again. Repeat it as many times as you need to until you hit the end result. It can be applied to anything, just insert the relevant activity into the slot that will assist you with pushing forward towards your ultimate goal and only focus on each week as it arrives.

So what one positive step can you make this week towards your goal?

The "R" Word

2009-04-06T08:49:00.003+01:00

I know what you're thinking, the "R" refers to the big ugly word that is spilling from everyones lips since January and before...recession. There, it is out in the open now. However the "R" I'm referring to is REVIEW.
We are into April, we are finished the first quarter of the year if you think about it. As a result of the continuous change around us I thought it apt that we take a chance to review the year so far.

What has happened to you since January?
What changes have you made?
What changes have been forced upon you?
What lessons have you learned as a result?
How are you getting along with your way of living?
Do you need to change some habits?
What is your current belief about the world and your place in it?
Have you achieved anything this year that you set out to do?
If you have how have you celebrated this or acknowledged your achievements?
If not then what happened to throw you off course?
How do you cope with stress?
How are you adapting to change?
What kind of values do you want to have for the next quarter?

This is a great chance to stop, take stock and then go into the next 3 months with a plan. The reason this year is being approached in a quarterly manner is because we are experiencing change on a grand scale at a fast pace. If you have a long term goal and you are still moving towards that at a steady pace - Good for you! If you've been thrown off course from your long goal just take this opportunity to outline small steps for the next 3 months to keep you on track again towards the bigger picture.
So keep moving, plan where you can and watch your thoughts! If you find yourself doing the 'what if this happens?...' thinking then you've allowed your thoughts to wander too far into the future and away from the plan of action you've compiled.
Return to the present moment and ask yourself :
"What action can I take in the present moment to help me towards my long term goal?"

In the worst case scenario where you are simply having a bad day just quote
Scarlet O'Hara out loud in your best Southern Belle accent - "After all...tomorrow is another day" - It is a sure way to get you smiling!

Getting a Vision for your Future

2009-03-03T12:11:00.002Z

This month I'm focusing on completing a vision board. It is often used in coaching as a tool to get you focused on what it is that you really want out of your life. This exercise is a nice way to just gather images and words that inspire you and give you hope, happiness and a sense of warmth.
Vision statements are quite common, and companies tend to use them to outline their values and what they aspire to. Vision boards are simply a different approach to the same thing, and in this case more personal and definitely more fun!
If you've never done one before then March is the perfect time to start. You'll be feeling the urge to spring clean so just get to the magazines before you chuck them all out!! The best way to approach it is to gather as many different styles of magazines as possible. They can be the standard Sunday supplements, weekly mags or monthly ones...just try to include variety in them to give yourself a better choice of images and words.
Next, just take time out to go through each magazine, stopping at any word or image that grabs you - and cut it out. At this point you just want to gather as much as possible so you have choice. Don't try to box anything in or put things into neat arrangements, we're free styling!
After you've completed this step, (and it can take a number of cups of tea and some biscuits to get through!) have a look at all the details you've collected.
Is there an emerging pattern?
Have you picked a theme?
Is there something jumping out at you that you never considered before?
Of course there is probably the odd image or two of bags and shoes that grabbed your attention! Put all the images and words cut out together in a way to display what kind of life, person, job, future, health, wealth, home...you want to have. We want to try to outline the essence of what it is you really want out of your life!
It is best to put these images on a board that is a little stiffer than paper - foam board is cheap and a good sturdy platform for your vision board. If you did find a pattern such as a definite career taking shape, then ensure the images are gathered around the same part of the board. If there is a specific word or description of your career vision that can go with it even better!
If you find that your board is centred around relationships and having a partner, try to gather similar images so that there is a common thread and ask yourself what each of the images represent. It could be friendship, fun or love that the picture outlines to you. Maybe put down some of the qualities you'd like to attract in a partner and a picture of how you'd like them to look or be. If you picked out an image or two of a couple but the partner in it is radically different, then pick the one that matches your ideal closer...you want to avoid confusion when attracting what you want!
Most of all have fun with this exercise. It is about letting your creative side run rampant for a change. One thing for sure is that this is a powerful tool. You've probably heard all about the 'Law of Attraction', well this is it in motion. You are creating a clear picture of what you want to attract! With this in mind ensure that you are clear about the image you put on your board - take note of the details in the image! I say this because recently on 'Oprah', Life Coach Martha Beck who had completed her own vision board a number of years ago, found that in 2 of her pictures that detailed a beautiful 4 poster bed she wanted, had dogs in them...and she now has the exact same dogs. Below is a quote from the show by Martha Beck, describing how to approach doing this exercise:
"I get in a really calm place. I go to my core of peace, and I taste what is delicious in the future. It could be something I've never heard of, or it could be just the essence of something. I'm not sure what it is. And then I go through magazines or on the Internet, and I find pictures of things that represent that to me. It could be the actual object or it could be something that has the same feeling."
Don't forget to recognize that when you start to attract the very things on your board and if you find that it isn't 100% exactly as you wanted - CHANGE IT. You have the power to fine tune the details to suit yourself so continue to do this until you find yourself attracting EXACTLY what you want or as close to it as you're happy with. This doesn't mean sitting back and waiting for it to drop into your lap either!! Watch for opportunities that will help you to your goals...when you can see them and act on them great...when you can't and only notice it after the fact, that's cool too. It means you're becoming more aware.
I'm off to finish my board and I have to say I'm surprised at some of the images I picked out! We'll wait and see what happens next!

Recession weather or a chance to stop and live a little?

2009-02-09T19:57:00.003Z

So we made it to February and the New Year for the Chinese calendar got off to a flying start. As mentioned the Year of the Ox is about 'hard work'. This can be interpreted in many ways and you can view it as a chore or a challenge. Since the general vibe around at present is very fear based, the energy of the Ox Year can be viewed as a great opportunity to get real.
Clarity, focus and truth were mentioned in the January blog. This month is simply an extension of it. If you are serious about getting fit, changing jobs, starting a new career or changing direction in life completely, then you gotta be prepared to put the work in.
It makes sense and it has been tried and tested by many - those that succeed in whatever they've set out to do generally got there because they were prepared to put in the work. This doesn't mean doom and gloom and doing something that you really don't want to do...but it does mean getting real!
This is definitely a year based on change and so part of the hard work could simply be about being adaptable and being prepared for it. Change can be viewed as good or bad - it depends on your perspective and the situation you find yourself in. What can be helpful is knowing that although change can sometimes be viewed as 'hard work', (because it can often mean looking at the areas of your life that you really didn't want to!) it means growth, progress and learning. If you can step outside the immediate fear around change and just try and see it as a chance to learn something new about your life and how your living it, then the hard work of doing just that pays off. We know it isn't always easy and when you're in the thick of change it can seem overwhelming! This is especially true when you've been made redundant, can't find new work, have a family to raise or you're finding your relationships are suffering, including the one with yourself. Change is upon us, whether we like it or not. So like the current snowy weather we're all encountering we can see the changes as a hindrance or a chance to take a moment and see what beauty is around us, is in our lives, adapt to the changes and breathe.

Chinese New Year - my January Part 2!

2009-01-20T16:22:00.003Z

The Chinese New Year will be upon us this coming weekend - Sunday 26th January. This is a great opportunity for 'resetting' anything you feel is currently not working. If you found your energy scattered so that it meant you didn't get a chance to even think of what you want for 2009 - NOW is the time to get clear and focused.
I've already mentioned that the energy for the year is based on BEAUTIFUL...so how apt can it be that this is a beautiful opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start again? That means that you can learn from the last few weeks and move on. If you were eager to get going with a new health plan, what can you learn from your experience so far to help you succeed for the New Year?
If you felt that the last couple of weeks were a series of false starts, how can you put a plan into place now that will help you to move forward? If you know there are going to be obstacles in your path again can you build these into your plan for 2009 so they don't stall you completely?
We now have a chance to set ourselves some great goals or tasks, just make them clear, specific and focused. If you want to lose weight, set a realistic target - if you found it difficult the last few weeks reduce the target to shorter times and review as you go along. If you wanted to give up smoking list the ways in which you found yourself reverting back during the last few weeks and put a plan into action to reduce the chance of it happening again.
I think that this year will benefit from smaller time frames to set your goals to so you can review on a more regular basis to stay CLEAR and FOCUSED on what you want to achieve.
So 2009 is the Year of the Ox. The Ox symbolizes prosperity through fortitude and hard work. In order to get our resolutions off the ground and flying high we will have to keep our eye on the ball - it will take some hard work but won't it be beautiful to see the results!
For more information on the Chinese New Year go visit www.earthfamily.com

January 2009....it means business!!

2009-01-09T17:09:00.006Z

Wow...January definitely means business. The whole theme for the month seems to be very focused on clarity, truth and honesty. If you deviate from these values it seems you are in for conflict. Some serious life lessons this month too, and it isn't even the 10th January!
This start has seen me lose a close member of the family, and during a time when we would normally celebrate birthdays. It has been and still is difficult, and will be for some time. What struck me the most during this very difficult time was the sheer love and support generated by family and friends. Simply staggering and amazing and so very much appreciated. It was very beautiful to witness it.
It also made me ponder a lot on 'Are you ever prepared for the end?'. This in turn led to the thoughts of how much we let time slip by and how many times we'll put off doing something or saying something simply because it seems easier at the time.

As the energy projected for this year is BEAUTIFUL and I can honestly say I've experienced it already, perhaps we can look towards 2009 with the following in mind:
1. Take the time to stop and recognize the good things in your life.
2. Aim for this year to be about creating beauty in your life, on as small a scale as possible to as big as you want.
3. Stay clear, focused and remain truthful and open to change.

So far we have begun to see the whole world experiencing change on a grand scale. With such radical change ripples occur and people are finding themselves having to look for new work or change tactics completely. Change can be unsettling for most people because it often forces us to look at our lives and examine our situations with more CLARITY, FOCUS and TRUTH than before. It can be an awkward growth but if you can stop and see it as a chance to make your life more beautiful...then the world can take on a different colour altogether.

Perhaps your resolutions can be based around being willing and open to the change ahead, being clear on your intentions for the coming year and being prepared to be honest with yourself on whether you are focused enough to fulfill them. Keeping your resolutions small might be the best for the earlier part of the year so you can adjust to any sudden changes that might occur and can allow any adjustments to take place at each turn when needed and without drama or conflict with yourself!

As for an alternative view on the above, there is a Full Moon on the weekend which is a great time to sow new seeds/ideas.

December - Time to be grateful...

2008-12-01T19:37:00.002Z

At the beginning of the year a number of realistic and unrealistic resolutions were laid out for the months ahead. Some of you may have gotten through them and some of you may have fallen off the wagon. I hope that over the course of this year the coaching provided in this blogspot came as some help or small assistance to you!
At this point you are now in a great place to look back and see what worked and what didn't work.
This is not to be an exercise in 'I should have' or 'I really need to do this next year...'. The reality is that you did what you did, to the best of your ability for that particular time in your life. Simple as that. You learn, you move on.
So what do we do in December? What if NONE of the resolutions came to be?? What if you are exactly in the same place as last year??? Nothing has changed??? If this is what you are thinking then STOP. Pause for a moment, and be grateful for the chance you now have to change things for the better.
If you have managed to get even part of your resolutions completed then 'Good for You!'...
The key message here is about celebrating and being thankful for what you have created in your life RIGHT NOW. I say this realizing that many people have lost their jobs and are facing a Christmas with little or no money.
I'm also saying this realizing that life is precious, so for the moment you are in RIGHT NOW, find one thing to be thankful for and celebrate in the fact that you are alive, at this very moment...and that you have the ability to learn, grow and move on.
2009 is a wonderful opportunity to set down a new course of action towards a new set of goals having the wonderful gift of hindsight! 2008 can provide you with some key insights into how you work best and what can side track you or take away your energy!You are in a better place to know what works for you and what doesn't!
I know it is the start of December but I truely wish everyone who visits this site a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and a HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January 2009 will be the start of Life Coaching - PHASE 2 I reckon, so I'll be focusing on setting goals and achieving them now that I've had a year to experiment with what works and what doesn't!

Getting Creative with Change

2008-11-12T15:47:00.003Z

November can be quite a gloomy month by all accounts. It is the biggest stretch before Christmas for some, while it can be a nutty month of shopping and Thanksgiving for others. On top of that we have the global situation of an economy which is not as healthy as it once was.
Every direction we hear of someone being let go, laid off or offered a redundancy package...if it hasn't happened directly to you that is! I know this situation first hand, and have been grappling with a way on how best to turn it all around.
So here's my thinking.
This whole situation can be viewed from an entirely different place if we put our minds to it. We're not going to stick our heads in the sand, but we can approach it all from a more open point of view.
'Thats all fab' I hear you say, 'but what about the mortgage and the bills??'...well consider the following. Perhaps you've been in your job for some time, were getting comfortable and possibly pushing thoughts out of your head of changing or following the dream you had.
Maybe NOW is the RIGHT TIME to start thinking about those things again. Change is scary for most people, and it is especially scary when it is forced upon you when you've had little time to ponder on whether you're okay with it, let alone prepared.
So to avoid the panic try the following:
Keep some sort of proper daily routine
Look for 'cover work' while you establish your next step
Dig out that dream again
Start a vision board
The key point in all of this is to keep yourself focused on the positive, embrace the change, allow for the bills to be paid by getting any work, and give yourself the chance to adapt to the new situation without thinking it is a permanent change. The vision board will allow you to focus on the bigger picture - casually and without unecessary pressure being added...and remember, change is a good thing, even when it might not feel that way. It is an opportunity to start a NEW CHAPTER in the book of YOU. You get to decide what way you want to write it.

NOTE - VISION BOARD
This involves getting images from papers and magazines of how you'd like to see your new career or life move forward. Maybe you fancy working in a bigger office, or owning your own business...any picture, colour or words that reflect this can be put on the board. You're creating a strong image of what you want in the future. When you do this it becomes easier to know what you want and how to go for it!

On a personal note I'll be doing the above so know that you are not alone when doing this! I'm looking forward to it and also looking forward to the new direction it will bring, so I hope you do too!

92 DAYS until the end of 2008!!

2008-09-30T20:04:00.005+01:00

October is a great month. It is the final break before we start to head into the last hurdle before Christmas, and as such is a welcome chance to just enjoy Halloween and if the weather is decent, enjoy the beautiful crisp sky and full moon. In some cases people don't get so thrilled about it as it means trouble and stress from noisy heads, bonfires and general mischief.
Taking a different viewpoint however, the start of October means 92 Days until we sign up for another New Year. The distant resolutions from January begin to come back and knock on our door and we tend to add them to the list for the following year, putting whatever excuse works down as to why it didn't get done.

92 DAY PLAN - click on the picture and print for your copy to get started!!
It doesn’t have to be ridiculously big, just something small. For e.g. in Health, maybe you want to stop drinking coffee and cut down on snacks for 5 days and then push it more for the next 10days etc. Doing this will build a positive association for you in setting out plans and sticking with them!

GET STARTED!...I'm going to do it!...health is definitely on my list as I'm fed up getting colds every year, plus I'd like to get a better picture on my career! So there is plenty to keep me amused until the end of the year, and I'm considering it good training to start 2009 more REALISTICALLY!

Planting new seeds or reaping the Harvest?

2008-09-03T18:15:00.003+01:00

September!...did we even have a summer? I don't think so! Aside from the obvious, the biggest thing being learned so far this year is how difficult it is to maintain a focus on New Years Resolutions! This is now month number 9, and personally I find it difficult to remember where I left the list of targets/goals/resolutions let alone what they're about!
So this got me thinking. What can I learn from all this? KEEP THINGS SIMPLE and USE THE ENERGY AT THE TIME. What exactly do I mean by that you ask - well here's what I'm thinking:

The list of 10 or 20 resolutions is fun, ambitious and exciting - but a SIMPLE 1 THING ON THE NEW YEAR RESOLUTION LIST is way better.

The beginning of the year is usually a good intentions time, but the energy or resources might not be...so observe when the energy is good for you and observe its general peaking time. September is normally a good time as people are getting back into a routine after the summer. The energy about is more focused, people start courses around this time, start preparing for school, start new ventures in general. Take advantage of this energy!

You might be on track with your resolutions - if so examine the reason for the success and make a note of it! Did you keep your resolutions small, achievable and realistic?

Either way please note that everything you do is great because there is always something to learn from it! If this year is turning out to be like every other year, then write down how so - 2009 is not going to be another repeat!

So to sum it all up and stop it from meandering wildly, we've got from now until December to either get the resolutions in gear, ditch the list and make a new one or admit the whole thing hasn't worked so far but write down the reasons for it. We've got a chance to review, renew and get energised to kick the remainder of 2008 into gear and end it with a sense of real achievment - SO LETS DO IT!

Put the sunshine back into your thinking!

2008-08-11T19:00:00.004+01:00

I'm confused. There are so many books out there at the moment about attracting what you want, watch what you think, attract without thinking, vibrate at a higher energy more, go with the flow...and so on.
Coaching is about changing your thinking, shifting it to become more aware of how you've been relating to yourself and whether this has been a good thing for you or isn't working any more. It's also about how your thinking effects your relationships with others in your life and what choices you make because of your thoughts.
Shifting your thinking enables you to change your perspective in an instant. Ever had an 'ah ha!' moment? One where you had such clarity or just knew what you were doing with such certainty that the world looked brighter? Can you remember that first 'floating' feeling when you were in love? How good did life look then? Your thinking was different, you were in a positive place and you were energized.
So how can you shift your thinking so you can FOCUS on the things you are grateful for, look forward to the things you want and think better of yourself and your life? You can start by simply THINKING..
Right now...
Just think something good about yourself..
It's a good place to start.

Words, words, words...choosing them wisely for July

2008-07-08T14:26:00.003+01:00

During the summer, when you manage to get a half decent one that is, you normally take time to chillout, relax and enjoy the outdoors and barbeques. The last thing on your mind will be any of the 'to do' things on your list for this year.
However, this is a great chance for you to sneak in some new habits to help you on your way to achieving your goals.
Consider the following:
What is your self talk like?
What kind of expressions or words do you use most often?
When is the last time you stopped to hear what you were actually saying to yourself..or to others?

Treating ourselves with respect and kindness is sometimes not that easy...sure it comes quite naturally when others need it from us. When it comes to ourselves however we tend to fall down and get quite critical.
This month is a chance to examine your self talk and change it. If your thoughts lean towards the negative then lets get started on stopping that trend.

First step - watch out for the following pressure words - always, should, never - they put pressure on yourself and sound hard and can be off putting. You might be saying them to others, you might be hearing it a lot from others. These pressure words can be replaced with - sometimes, occassionally - and instantly release the pressure attached to them.
E.G - Oh I should really lose weight, I should be earning more, I should be an astronaut(okay so the last one was just to highlight a point!).

Second step - Write down all the things you think you 'should' be either doing or being... even write down the ones that other people think you 'should' be doing or being..(if the list gets long just keep going with it!)

Third step - Once you've finished writing pick out your top 5 common 'should' statements.
How do you feel reading each sentence?
Are you inspired or pressured to do something about it?

Fourth step - replace each of the shoulds in each sentence with 'sometimes' or 'occassionally'.
How do you feel reading each sentence now?
What has changed?

Do this as many times as you like - the more often you stop to consider your thoughts and self talk, the easier it becomes at recognising those destructive and negative words and sentences...and for those that have an external source for the sentences, i.e. other people, maybe July is the time to rethink how you want them to treat you in the future?
Start with number one first - when you improve your own self talk the ripple effect will astound you and your goals become easier as you go on.

REMEMBER! - all of these changes take time, you've established a life time of habits that are possibly outdated for you. No beating yourself up! Change requires kindness and patience and this is long lasting...so enjoy the process and the journey!

Look at how far you've come! - June

2008-06-23T19:52:00.002+01:00

So we are now in June - half way through the year. Some of the goals you set at the start of the year may be forgotten, completed or refreshed. Either way this is definitely a month to examine what you have achieved so far!
It is very easy to get caught up in the whole process of going for your goals, but it is vital that when you achieve them that you celebrate it.
Just as important as all of that though is a recognition of the journey you've made. You made a decision to honestly strive towards your resolutions and goals this year...and no matter what has happened in the last 6 months, there is no denying that the journey has given you food for thought along the way.
Perhaps during the remaining part of this month, look at what you have achieved so far - even in some of the situations where you feel you might have not done so well, look for the golden opportunity of learning in it all. It will boost your energy and help you focus on the good things you've achieved, and when you acknowledge that every event has a chance to learn then you know your journey is well worth it!
Keep the faith and get ready for next months blog as we'll be stepping it up for the remaining 6 months of 2008!

Declutter to get energy back

2008-05-04T11:12:00.002+01:00

May is a month where we start to feel the positive effects of an approaching summer. The evenings are brighter, we feel an awakening of new energy and definitely more fun in the air.
At this point you may have reached one or more of your goals from the new year list. If so I hope you've pushed on and established new ones to keep the momentum. If you got stuck you may have revisited the goals to see if they are really what you wanted. If you are still heading towards the goal but are finding yourself distracted from it, then now is the time to get refocused.
One of the best ways of doing this is to declutter your space. Feng Shui recognises the importance of keeping the energy flowing around your home, and decluttering is the best way of freeing up all energy stuck in your space. It cannot be emphasised enough how much better you will feel from getting rid of anything that seems to just pile up.
For May, apply some time to sorting out each room in your house. Get rid of anything you haven't used in the last while. Organise your paperwork on bills or simply put any unwanted paper clutter into the recycling bin. Clear out your wardrobe and bag the dull clothes that don't work for a charity shop drop off. Dust, hoover and open the windows wide.
All of this creates positive energy in your home and thus provides a better environment for you to get refocused and energised. This in turn allows you to put your focus back onto your goals and you'll find yourself decluttering these too. As a result you will be back on track and moving forward in the direction you want and stand a better chance of getting things done.
Decluttering is always a good step to take when you find yourself slowing your pace and getting stuck when making new changes in your life.
On a side note, just for a bit of fun, buy some seeds or bulbs that you can use to represent your goals. Plant them now so you can watch them grow and remind yourself that change is a process that takes time but the fruits of the labour are worth it!

The importance of being good to yourself..

2008-04-09T11:42:00.004+01:00

This time last year the sun was shining, people were walking around in t-shirts and the vibe of summer was clearly in the air. What a contrast! When the weather isn't the best it is easy to get down and feel less than 100%..thats if you're even up the 100% mark as it is! This is also the type of weather for getting colds which really doesn't help either. When you are in a low place the last thing you're going to think about is whether your on track for your goals!
So this month is about focusing on looking after yourself. Eat well, sleep well and get some light exercise in if you can. This will keep your mind healthy as well as your body, and is also a key way to ensure your self esteem is kept at a healthy level.
If you've been particularly busy the last while, then this is definitely the time to take time-out. Get some DVDs in, wrap up in some comfies and just chill, distract and forget about the world for a little while. Chocolate, popcorn and ice-cream are of course, optional!
Either way, the important thing is to recognise that life can get busy, and external factors that can't be controlled simply happen. Having a window of quiet time provides you with a moment to gather your energy, recharge your batteries and then you can continue with your quest.
Being good to yourself is extremely important - so no excuses of 'not enough time!' or 'i'm simply too busy!'...you just got to do this one important thing for you..no one else.

Is your goal working for you?

2008-03-03T13:42:00.001Z

We are now into March. February was a tough month and even though spring was promising the weather didn't really reflect spring! So how are we doing with our goals so far?

Time to stop and think for a minute. If you have achieved one step towards your goal now is the time to really go 'Nice Work!'. Sticking to your goals can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you are not getting inspired by it. So here's what we do for March.

Lets have a quick look at how you made your small step happen - how did you go about it?
Did you get excited about it? How did it feel to accomplish it?
If you didn't manage to get anywhere with your goal then maybe the goal isn't REALLY what you want?
What qualities in a goal make it attractive? How do you get excited about a goal?

Lots of questions I know, but maybe this is what March is about. Celebrate the good things you have achieved so far in the year and figure out what can attract you or distract you where making a goal is concerned. Sometimes we think we want a certain goal, but when we start going for it the energy and enthusiasm doesn't seem to be present.

Goals are something to be passionate about or at the very least enthusiastic!! So if it's not working now is the time to find out why and change it!

Spring Clean your Life!

2008-01-26T14:08:00.002Z

We are coming to the end of January...whew!..what a month. It seems like a long time ago when you made those resolutions right? Well lets see what happened.
You put down some great ideas - change jobs, lose weight, stop smoking, get healthy...and so on.
How did you do?
Probably started out pretty well no doubt, and then into the second or third week well... the weather wasn't great, work was tough, it was raining so you couldn't walk or the stress got to you so you had a cigarette. It happens.

Spring is just around the corner. Yep, Spring starts on the 1st February! So here are some things you might do to make the most of this new energy.

REVIEW - have a look back over January - write down some details on a piece of paper with a line down the middle of it.
On the left side of the page title WHAT WORKED, and on the right title WHAT DIDN'T WORK. Take the time to really think about the good things you did this month, what you DID achieve, even if it was simply sticking to your diet for a week that is something that worked and that is important!
THINK - Think about what you DID achieve, even if you simply kept to your diet for a week jot it down and mention what kind of things you did. Next think about some of the stuff that didn't work to keep you on track.
Maybe you caved in on the smoking when you were out with a bunch of friends that do smoke or maybe you felt stressed so ate more...don't dwell too much on it, just observe as we aren't here to get caught up in bad feelings about all this! The idea here is to get a pattern of what situations helped you stick to your goals and what situations might be stopping you and throwing you off track.
When you've done that then you're ready to move into February with a clearer vision of how to reach your goals as you have the advantage of knowing what works! If you aim to do less of the stuff that doesn't work for you then you are moving closer to your goals!

New Years Resolutions

2008-01-04T16:57:00.000Z

So you made a list of goals and targets for 2008, and you are not even finished the first week of January and you've abandoned the whole lot!...or at least some of them! Sound familiar? Your best intentions about getting fit, quitting the cigarettes and changing jobs are well placed but how do you turn these intentions into your success story of the year?

Often we pile on a ton of things we'll give up, never eat, never drink, must do, will never do again and so on, as resolutions. We put ourselves under pressure and give ourselves unrealistic goals and times in which to achieve them. Most of the time we aren't even clear about what it is we want to put down as a resolution or goal!

The clearer you are about what it is you want to achieve the better. Sure...getting fit is a great idea, but what exactly do you mean by 'getting fit'? If you can jot down a list of ideas about what it means to you, for e.g. getting back into a pair of jeans you love, having more energy, feeling happier about yourself, then you make it more specific.

If it helps how about trying the following -
Be specific about just one of your goals
Commit to giving it a shot for the month of January only

Small steps are better than no steps!