Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

What does your reflection in the mirror say to you? What is the first thing that springs to mind when you look at yourself in the mirror every day? Is it something along the lines of “oh my god, you look terrible – you look exhausted. And your skin? You shouldn’t eat junk, look at your spots! And you’re fat.’ Ouch! If you’re talking to yourself like this in the mirror, can I ask if you would EVER speak to someone else like this?

Of course not because that would be mean and nasty and vile and bullying and if they had any self-respect at all they would never talk to you again. And rightly so. So how do you stop yourself being mean? Well, you just replace those nasty comments with some nice ones…and before you know it you will be only saying nice things to you…most of the time! And the most fun thing about this is that other people start reflecting back to you what you are saying to yourself!

Here are some ideas: “You look radiant!” “Have you lost weight?” “You look gorgeous!” “I swear you look younger every day!” “Good morning beautiful” “I love you” “<wolf whistle> Alright sexy?!” Pick one or create one of your own and say it EVERY TIME you pass a mirror, with feeling. Have fun with it, and be your own magic mirror (seriously, this is magical!).

Love

Donna.x

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Maybe So, Maybe Not

A lovely client this week reminded me of this marvellous story:

Maybe So, Maybe Not.
- Ancient Taoist Proverb

One day, a farmer’s horse ran away. His neighbors expressed sympathy, “What terrible luck that you lost your horse!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

A few days later, the horse returned, leading several wild horses. The neighbors said, “Your horse has returned, and brought more with him. What great fortune!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the wild horses and got thrown to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what a calamity!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, conscripting all the able-bodied young men for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son because of his broken leg. Neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

It is only with time that we can see whether something is really good or bad. In the meantime, don’t judge what happens to you as ‘bad’. My personal perception is ‘it’s all good…always’. Even things that look ‘bad’ can turn out to be the greatest blessings of your life. Illnesses that force you to make changes that make you healthier and happier, losses that help you realise what is really valuable in life, losing a job you hated and moving to a better situation…And as the farmer in the story above, don’t get carried away with events – let them unfold as you keep your peace of mind – maybe that ‘terrible’ situation you have been stressing about will turn out to be a blessing!

Happy Friday all!

Love

Donna.x

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OnTheBeach – Follow The Energy

When I am sending my weekly article to my list, I now decide what article to send you by picking a ‘Beach Card’ and expanding on that – either with a previous article or something new…and this week the card picked is spooky for 2 reasons – one, it’s exactly what I was doing yesterday – following the (lack of) energy straight to the bath – with a good book and bubbles up to my nose! And secondly because this article was first published a year ago. Maybe there’s something in the energy of this time of year?! Let me know if this article is particularly relevant to you right now.

- Follow the Energy -

I was on a group call last night with the fabulous Joel Young about NPA – a lovely method for freeing and allowing energy. Joel was talking about following the animation – the things that have energy. You know how your energy changes and goes down when you are, say, moaning about the weather? And how it changes and goes up when you are talking about something you love to do – like holidays, gigs, nights out with friends etc. Well that positive animation is what we’re talking about.

Joel likened it to surfing a wave – following that energy. When we are trying to ‘make’ ourselves do something…we are trying to surf on a millpond! That’s why sometimes it is so difficult to get something done…and on another day, you will fly through the same task. So where is the animation for you today? Where is the energy? What are you interested in and engaged by? Not what you ‘should’ be doing, but where the energy is building with a wave ready for you to surf.

If this is something you are not used to doing, it might sound a little hard…but it just takes a bit of practice. So start to notice – where is the animation? Where is the interest? What has a a wave of energy? Go do that – follow the energy and see where it takes you. I have found that following the energy makes life 1000 times easier. When I am trying to make the energy flow, life is harder, stuff takes longer, I am constantly getting stuck and it feels bad.

Take writing a blog post for example, if I try to write when there is no energy to write, I could sit at the laptop for a week without writing anything useful! But today, now, the energy is flowing…and this has taken 10 minutes so far. What a difference! Now there are times when you’ve just got to do it, and at those times, you can build the energy – for example, to get my accounts done, I put on some loud music and raise my energy so I can ‘get it done’.

But it’s becoming rare that I will try to force myself to go where the energy is not these days. And when I do, I remember it is a very inefficient way of living! As you start to follow the energy, you will notice that just by following what wants to be done, that naturally raises your energy for other tasks so you don’t have to artificially boost the energy. Tap into that energy of life that is all around you and just watch your life get easier as you ride that wave.

- Something to Play With -

Notice where the energy and animation is and follow it, notice how life gets easier when you ride the wave of energy (or if there is no energy, you rest!). Want to share your thoughts on this article? Please leave a comment below. Or pop over to my facebook page and leave a comment there.

- Beach Card of the week -

“Where is the energy leading you today? What wants to be done? Follow the energy – it feels good.”

Love

Donna.x

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OnTheBeach – A Triumph of Hope and Ingenuity

This is an article I wrote last year just after the Chilean miners were released – the message is just as relevant today, I hope you enjoy it.

Have you been watching the Chilean miners being brought out today?  I have had the news on in the background all day – a very rare thing for me as I usually cannot bear the negativity and scare-mongering they indulge in.  However, today’s story is largely a positive representation, even hardened news journalists are a little misty eyed over each emotional reunion every man has had with his family.

It is a complete triumph of hope and ingenuity over negativity and pessimism.  First that these men managed to survive underground for 17 days without any contact with the outside world, then that they have survived underground for over 2 months, and finally that the solution has worked more quickly than expected and so far is going immensely smoothly.  (and that they have emerged from that cocoon without panicking – I didn’t do so well when I was in an MRI machine for 25 minutes!)

When considering what I would send out for this week’s newsletter, this was the story that wouldn’t let me go.  I have no intention of rehashing all the news of this – I’ll leave that to the news crews.  What I want to point to is how you can do this – you can have hope and ingenuity triumph over negativity and pessimism.  Without being buried 1000 feet underground.

Many of us have long held dreams and desires, things that we have always wanted to do.  Sometimes, it looks like nothing will ever happen, nothing will ever change.  Sometimes there is hope and optimism – even in the face of zero evidence that things will work out!  Sometimes, the people around us are afraid for us, and well-meaning people offer advice that serves not to help us move forward, but to ‘keep us safe’, constricted, frustrated and trapped.

People will often say ‘well, that might not work out’.  Which is undeniably true.  But it might – and I’m guessing the miners who have been released today are very glad that the naysayers didn’t get their way and give up!  Your big dreams, ambitions and ideas deserve this from you.  They deserve for you to keep faith with them, believe in them, keep hoping, keep looking for solutions and bring them out alive if at all possible.

Of course, sometimes things do not work out, but at least you will be able to look yourself in the eye and say ‘I tried’.  As you know, I coach women (and men) with big dreams and ideas who want to change their lives, want more from life and want to let their light shine out fully in the world.  And I can tell you with certainty that I have never coached anyone (or indeed come across anyone) who has started to bring their dream to the surface who regrets it.

In my own life, I have noticed that my big dreams, ambitions and ideas don’t always work out the way I thought they would – but everytime I take a step towards my most cherished desires, something good happens – I learn, I grow, I feel more free, I expand, I escape the frustration and disappointment you feel when you hold your dreams and big ideas trapped under the surface.

Hope will keep you moving in the direction of the things you want – the joyful, fulfilling life, the ambitions, the dreams.  Hope will keep the flame of your desires alive.  Ingenuity will help you to realise those dreams.  Without inspired action, your dreams will remain dreams.  But if you allow those dreams to whisper in your ear, ingenious ideas will form, innovative thoughts will take you forward, your resourcefulness, genius and imagination will save your dreams from a life underground.

Something to play with

What dreams, ideas, desires, ambitions have you buried underneath the surface, deep within you?  Maybe you want to write a book, travel the world, make a million, start a business, have a relaxed and joyful lifestyle, become an artist.  Whatever it is, start listening to the whispers of your dreams and desires – they will help you bring them to life.  And if you need support with this, there is time for you to finish the year with a flourish with coaching sessions, see this page for coaching packages.

Love

Donna.x

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October Daily Practice: Laugh!

Did you join me last month for the September Daily Practice – feeling good? It was a good practice huh? So, this month I decided to continue in a ‘good feeling’ vein with LAUGHTER. Yep, the daily practice this month is laugh. Laugh, every day, every time you get a chance, and make a big effort to laugh lots! Join me over on my facebook page for a daily reminder to laugh, links to some funny stuff and resources to help you get laughing!

Remember when you were a young child, and everything would set you off laughing? Well, I want you to get some of that glee, merriment and hilarity back into your life in October (and if it’s fun, maybe beyond October too!). So, are you with me? Here’s what you do: Make a committment to yourself to LAUGH. Daily, often, easily. Come and join my facebook page, have a think about what and who makes you laugh and make the decision to spend time with funny stuff! And enjoy it!

Love, and laugh!

Donna.x

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