Feeling Bliss

Bliss. That feeling we all crave.

What is it exactly?

It's pure joy, love and adventure all rolled into one.

It's the feeling you get when you are doing what you love to do. It's when you are so focused on the moment that nothing else can get in. Your thoughts are on the task at hand and nothing else matters to you. You feel calm and happy.

That's bliss.

So, can we get that feeling more than once every now and then? Oh yes! And it isn't too difficult to do either, but it does require that you make a commitment to yourself.

A commitment to look for the joy in your day. A commitment to taking time for yourself to quiet your mind a little. A commitment to being true to who you really are. (You may need to dig a little to find this out - it gets buried very early in life!)

Meditation is a wonderful thing and can be life-changing.

Try taking five minutes to close your eyes and focus on your breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

When your thoughts start clamouring for your attention, acknowledge them and then re-focus on your breath. In and out.

The more you practise, the easier it will become. Like anything. It's so definitely worth it though - for the calm it brings if nothing else. But as you continue, you'll find that you gain more clarity and insight about your life, allowing you to make better decisions for yourself.

When you are making good decisions based on what is best for you, then bliss isn't too far behind. Feel it, appreciate it and love it. It will come back to visit you more often if you do, and you will find that your days are more blissful and beautiful than not.

I wish you your bliss.

Let Go & Feel the Flow

Do you ever get the feeling you're in your own way?

As human beings, we spend an awful lot of time trying to control things. Usually things we have no control over, like what someone else thinks of us.

Trying to control others is like trying to control the ocean. Actually it's exactly the same. It's attempting to control things external to you. It doesn't work, yet so many of us insist on expending a whole lot of energy on it.

What anyone else thinks, feels or does, has nothing to do with your reality. This little gem dropped into my inbox yesterday:

"If you could actually stand in someone else's shoes, to hear what they hear, see what they see, and feel what they feel, you would honestly wonder what planet they live on, and be totally blown away by how different their "reality" is from yours.

You'd also never, in a million years, be quick to judge again."

Interesting huh?

To change your life, your reality, doesn't depend on others. To make a difference all you need to do is change your thoughts and perceptions. If you come at things from a point of love, rather than hate. From abundance not lack. From giving, not selfishness. If you can do these things, your outlook will change.
Focus on the good in your life and more of that will come. Focus on the bad and again, more of that will appear.

Stop trying to control that which you have no control over and feel the frustration ebb away. Get out of your own way and feel the flow start to come back into your life.

Most of all have fun with your life - that is what you are here for!

When Taking Time Leads to Greater Things

Last week, I had a day that wasn't going so great. I was getting that feeling - you know, stressed and almost panicky.

I got up, and grabbed a few things: bottle of water, ipod with motivation, current book, journal and pen, and favourite quilt.

I am lucky enough to live a mere 20 minutes drive away from Mt Tamborine - one of the lovelier spots on our planet.
I went off to the the botanic gardens there, and just took some time to be.

I spent about two hours listening to some fantastic motivational teachings, writing in my journal and lying in the sun. It was just the tonic I needed, and I am incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to take the time to do these things for myself.

Once I got home, I was feeling a hundred percent better. Funnily enough not half an hour later I received a phone call offering me a fabulous working opportunity, that puts me in a place I need to be to achieve my personal goals over the next 2 to 4 years.

As you can imagine I was feeling really great after that!

So when things are getting on top of you, if it's at all possible, take some time out to reflect, meditate and get grateful for what you have. I believe it's these things that change our attitudes and open doors for us.

Take the time to breathe, take the time to open your mind as well as your eyes. Look at everything as an opportunity to learn.

Love your life.

Trust

I have been musing about trust recently. Not for any particular reason, just contemplating it and looking at it.

Trust is something incredibly important to me.
It has to be the basis of any relationship I have, whether with a lover, friend or my children.

I need to know that I can trust the people I love to not lie to me, and to do the best they know how within our relationship.

But even more important than trusting others, is the need to trust myself.

For if I don't have faith in myself, how can I possibly have faith in another?
I have to trust myself to do the right thing for the best life.
I have to believe that I'm always doing the right thing for myself.

On the whole I'm pretty honest with myself - I may not shout out my weaknesses to the world, but I'm well aware of them all the same, and trying my best to work with them and turn them into strengths.
If I deny that part of me, I'm saying those character traits are bad, and I don't believe that, they are a part of me, and I'm not bad.
We all have elements of light and dark within our personalities. The trick is to accept the dark, and treat yourself gently and with love.

Trust yourself to know what's best for you - you know yourself better than anyone else on this planet.
Trust yourself to treat everyone you meet with the same care.
Develop a trusting relationship with yourself, so that you can build trust in your dealings with others. If you trust yourself and listen, you will be more aware if others are trying to do the wrong thing by you, and you can take steps to distance yourself from that.

Once you start listening to yourself and trusting your own voice, your confidence will soar and all sorts of wonderful things will start to happen.
Trust me.

Take Care

I am a woman, and a mother.
That means I am always taking care of others. Which I like to do and it is my job as a mother after all.

And you have probably heard this all before, but it's true: if you don't look after yourself, you can't do a decent job of taking care of your loved ones.

It's so important I can't stress it enough.
YOU are so important. To those who love you, you are their world. They rely on you, so it's your responsibility to make sure you are able to look after them.

To do this you need to take time for you - not just every now and then, but every day. Yes, every single day. No excuses.
If your significant other has a problem with you taking an hour out of each day for yourself, you might want to rethink the dynamics of your relationship.

This is not about being selfish - it's about recharging. No-one can go for days on end without a break, so why should you be expected to?

So take the time to do what is important to you, whether it be meditating, prayer or reading romance novels. It doesn't matter as long as you get something out of it.

I would also add take 30 minutes a day for exercise...it's the best way I know to feel fantastic. Make it something you enjoy, that's easy to incorporate into your daily routine. It could be dancing around the living room with your toddlers or a brisk walk around the neighbourhood.
You don't have to go to the gym, there is a whole world out there where you can work out for free.

The other thing that helps you to feel your best is a good diet. Fruit and vegetables, lean meats and wholegrains make a difference to your wellbeing. You feel lighter when you eat well, less stodgy.

Take a moment to think. Who is looking after you?
No-one?

Then take charge of your own life and look after yourself. You will thank yourself a hundred times over for doing so. You will be happier and healthier and less stressed.
I promise.

Wanting...

Just for fun, I made a "mind movie" the other day.
It works along the same lines as a vision board but more technological!

It was fun to make...and by it's very definition asks that you think about what you want in your life. I'm going to make more - this was a practise one.

If you need more information on these you can go here

And because I have no shame, you can watch my movie too if you are so inclined...

Responsible, Me?

I'm going through a phase right now. It's one that happens on a semi-regular basis with me.

It's called "I don't care much about what you think."

That's people in general, not specifically you!

Let's face it, most people are out for themselves. Which is fair enough, I happen to put myself first too, because if I don't no-one else will.

But every now and then, it kind of irritates me that folks are so self-involved that they couldn't give a hoot about what is happening with their friends, family and neighbours.

It annoys me when individuals say what they want to make themselves feel better, and have no thought about the other person's feelings.

It really irks me that people don't look after themselves (physically or emotionally) then expect those close to them to pick up the pieces.

When these things start crowding in on me, I tend to take a step back and stay away from it. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive, but I believe that we need to take responsibility for everything we do, say and think.

It isn't up to anyone else to make you or I feel good, only we can do that for ourselves.

Let go of blame. Forget thoughts of hate and revenge. They won't help you in the long run you know. Instead, think about what you can do to adjust your thinking, try and change the way you look at a situation, and remember that this is your life, and you get to say what goes.

Start creating your everyday in a manner befitting someone as amazing and individual as you.

You can do it!

The Toughest Job of All

Parenthood.

It's incredibly hard, and incredibly rewarding.
It's where tough love comes into it's own.

It's a job you can't walk away from, no matter how much you need a break.

But I have to say that the older my kids get, the better it gets.
I put in the hard yards when they were little (oh boy did I!).
Give me teenagers any day!

My son is a delightful boy.
My girls are intelligent and beautiful young women. We talk, we laugh and we cry together.

It breaks my heart to see them hurting.

It's hard when your child learns so very young that life is short.
It's not fair that teenagers need to attend their friend's funerals.

To my kids - I love you very much, all the time, no matter what.

Go tell your kids you love them too.