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.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Change your Lifestyle in 4 easy Steps
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?
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?
Monday, April 6, 2009
The "R" Word
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!
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!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Getting a Vision for your Future
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!
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!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Recession weather or a chance to stop and live a little?
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Chinese New Year - my January Part 2!
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
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
Friday, January 9, 2009
January 2009....it means business!!
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.
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.
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