Happy Dance Practice Wrap-Up – The Best Of
May 3, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured, Fun
Happy Dancing
Which gave me the idea to collect all of the Best Happy Dance resources here in one place so I can (and you can too) bookmark this page and come back to it whenever I need an injection of Happy-Dance-ness!
This video is like a tutorial for Happy Dancing – a collection of Happy Dances from all over the world.
If you only have a minute, let Will Smith inspire you with a bit of Drum Happy Dancing!
http://youtu.be/fQNiN-9vaCM
I loved this one so much I played it about 8 times to learn the dance, and I went and bought the song!
Join the Dance Walking Fitness Craze!
Snoopy shows you how it’s done!
One of my favourite tunes to Happy Dance to! Oo-be-do…
Forget your troubles and just Get Happy
More inspiration to Happy Dance from the Jungle Book – come on Baggy, get with the beat!
Even when it’s raining, you can still sing…and dance in the rain!
For me, this is the ultimate Happy Dance…you just can’t beat Carlton’s joy at Tom Jones!
http://youtu.be/2KPwzGzk2S0
I hope this post helps you to keep Happy Dancing…and please, take a photo of yourself Happy Dancing and share it with me! I did this (as you can see) and it was so much fun! Don’t forget to bookmark this page!
Love
Donna.x
PS If you have half an hour and want to cheer yourself up with all of these on a playlist…here it is! The Happy Dance Playlist
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May Daily Practice: Write
May 1, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured
Over the past few years, I have re-discovered the joy of writing. Not just writing books, blog posts, courses (although that’s been fun!), but writing journals…diaries if you like. I wrote lots of diaries as a kid, I thought I was Adrian Mole. But then I got out of the habit of processing my thoughts and my life through writing…until a few years ago. Over the past 5 years, I have written more and more and more, in different types of journal, and rediscovered how powerful it is to write.
Last May I started a practice called ‘Morning Pages’. It is taken from Julia Cameron’s ‘The Artist’s Way’ and in its simplest form, it is 3 pages of longhand writing, about whatever pops into your mind – however petty, pointless and stupid (and sometimes profound, inspired and insightful). I have now been doing this practice every day for a year! Now, because I think the morning pages is a big commitment, I am not going to make the daily practice the Morning Pages (although I may do later in the year), but an easier practice to just WRITE every day. (Although if you want to join the practice of doing Morning Pages, go ahead!) I will be sharing a journalling prompt on my Facebook page every day to help you get started.
The March Daily Practice of Trusting Myself taught me how much wisdom I was holding inside…that I was completely oblivious of, because I wasn’t asking the right questions, and I wasn’t listening for the answers. This months’ practice will help you get even more in touch with the wisdom within – will you join me? Make it easy for yourself to join in – go and buy a notebook if you want to, but you can just write on the back of an envelope with a stubby pencil! And if you prefer, you can use technology to write. I like a pen and paper myself, but it’s your writing practice so do what works for you.
Today’s writing prompt: “I love…” Just finish that sentence, as many times as feels right for you. See where that prompt leads you today – you can write for a minute, 10 minutes, half an hour…whatever works for you. Start to become the authority in your own life with this writing practice! And please do come over to Facebook and share your insights, thoughts and feelings (and if you have any great writing prompts!)
Love
Donna.x
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Reflect Upon Your Blessings
April 11, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured, Inspiration
Photo credit: Cohdra on Morguefile
…Reflect upon your blessings, of which every man has plenty, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some… – Charles Dickens
Do you spend more time reflecting on what a shame it is for you that you don’t have this or that, or on how lucky you are to have plentiful, running water; to have enough food to live; to have so many possessions you desperately need to clear clutter; to have access to any kind of education at all; to be able to express your opinion without being in fear of your life; for the air you breathe; for the sunshine; for spring flowers?
I could go on forever. Of course life is not perfect, but it’s a heck of a lot better than we sometimes give it credit for! It is easy to focus on the ‘what is missing’ from life, and sometimes it can be helpful – when you can see what’s missing, you can sort it out. But when it becomes an endless litany of why your life sucks, that’s no fun! (and doesn’t help you change anything) For today at least, take your attention off the misfortune in your life and reflect more on your blessings, and Happy Dance because your life is so filled with fortune!
Love
Donna.x
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Ask Donna: Am I Too Old For My Big Dream?
March 16, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured, video
I am 39 years old and will be 40 in August. Am I too old to go for my dream?
- Alexis
In short, NO! You’re not ‘too old’ unless you’re dead!!! Then it really is too late! Lots of people in their 80′s, 90′s and 100′s do new things and follow new dreams – look for videos about these people and get inspired! There is not a date by which you have to have to ‘do’ anything – you get to have fun and experiences and follow dreams for your WHOLE life! Woohoo!
Don’t let age (something you cannot control) stop you from going after your big dream. If you couldn’t think that thought ‘Am I too old?’, what might be different.
Try this website for inspiring stories about people who went after their Big Dreams despite being twice your age! http://darynkagan.com/index.html
Keep Dreaming!
Love
Donna.x
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Podcast: Inspiration and Your Big Dream
March 13, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured, Podcast
Where do you find your inspiration? Where do the ideas and bolts from the blue come from? To make your big dream a reality you need an outlet where inspiration can strike. Here are a few of the places that inspiration strikes me: morning pages (from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron), meditation, walking the dog, falling asleep. You also need to capture these inspirations or they just get forgotten.
To listen to this week’s podcast, click here: Inspiration and Your Big Dream
Homework:
Part 1: Notice when inspiration strikes for you. What are you doing? What mood are you in? Where are you?
Part 2: Make sure you have a way to capture those ideas – keep a notepad by your bed.
Part 3: Look for ways to invite inspiration in – do more of the things that work for you, or try new things to find other ways to invite inspiration in.
You can also subscribe to this podcast on itunes here.
May all your dreams become reality.
Love
Donna.x
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What Is Spring Awakening In You?
March 5, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured
Crocus' Spring in My Garden 2012
What Is Spring Awakening In You?
Spring is awakening in me the desire to reach up to the sun, to reach out, to shine brightly, to open up to the new and exciting, to take in more sunshine (I’ve been working in the garden (in my coat!) every chance I’ve had in the last week!), to grow and reach beyond my previous boundaries. For me, it’s awakening a desire to break through to the next level, whatever that level brings. Exciting times!
I would love to hear what spring is awakening in you!
Love
Donna.x
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March Daily Practice: Trust Yourself
March 1, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured
Photo credit: Livah45 on Morguefile
Trust in the wisdom you have within. And to really dive deep into this wisdom and inner guidance, we’re going to look at what our body is telling us every day, what our mind is telling us every day, what our heart is telling us every day, what our soul is telling us every day. For example, as I sit here and write this, my body is telling me I need to move – to dance or walk or do 10 minutes of yoga or stretch. Or maybe all four! My mind is telling me that it is clear and focused…but that my body isn’t!
My heart is telling me that this practice is going to change someone’s life. Ooh, juicy – could it be your life this practice changes? And my soul is telling me that following the ‘random’ inspirations that come up is the right way for me to live…and when those inspirations lose their energy, I’ve gone to far into my head and got to far ahead of myself so I need to come back to this moment and the next step and follow the thread of inspiration.
Beautiful, huh? And just what I need to know in each moment – and the same will hold true for you. Your body, mind, heart and soul are always giving you messages – but most of us don’t listen! We give away our power to someone else, making them the expert on our lives…and then wonder why we feel so disconnected, trapped and fed up! So this month’s mission, should you choose to accept it, is to notice every day, at least once a day what your body, mind, heart and soul have to say to you that day.
Are you going to join me in trusting yourself? Make sure you are a ‘likey’ of the facebook page to get the daily reminders, plus some more thoughts and quotes about trusting yourself. And I will be sharing what my body, mind, heart and soul have to say every day in March there too. Hope you will join me!
Love
Donna.x
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Podcast: Barriers Between You and Your Big Dream
February 28, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured, Podcast
There are going to be barriers between you and your big dream. But that’s good news (as well as bad news) because now you know they WILL come up, you can just get over it, under it, through it, round it. Another piece of good news is that most barriers look bigger than they really are! Once you get through them, you will look back and see they were not that big a deal.
Perhaps you know someone who seemed to have such an easy time of it…but trust me, they had barriers too. When you continually overcome the barriers, it gets easier and easier to get over, under, through or round any barriers that get in your way.
To listen to this week’s podcast, click here: Barriers Between You And Your Big Dream
Homework:
Think about the barriers between you and your big dream and just imagine going over, under, through, round those barriers. And whatever barrier you think might be standing in your way right now, get the help you need to get through that barrier!
You can also subscribe to this podcast on itunes here.
May all your dreams become reality.
Love
Donna.x
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February Special Offer
February 9, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Blog posts, Featured
Photo: acrylicartist on morguefile
And to help you do so, I present my February Special Offer: 4 coaching sessions for the price of 3. £172.50 for 4 coaching sessions (to be taken within 8 weeks of booking). What are you waiting for? Get in touch right now to arrange a chat to check it’s for you or to nab one of the places, which of course are limited as this offer was announced to my newsletter list last week. I look forward to working with you!
Love
Donna.x
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Guest Post: Create an Encouragement Box by Jamie Ridler
February 2, 2012 by Donnaonthebeach
Filed under Articles, Blog posts, Featured, Fun, Inspiration
When I saw this post from Jamie, I just HAD to share it with you guys – I have an encouragement book but I forget to dip into it when I need it…but this encouragement BOX idea is FABULOUS! It’s right here by my desk twinkling at me! Let me know if you try it, and feel free to send me (and Jamie!) some encouragement to fill our encouragement boxes!!
“We all have dark and discouraging days, especially when we’re stretching ourselves to new heights and reaching into new places, and sometimes we need a little support. That’s why I created my encouragement box. The concept is very simple. Whenever someone says anything loving or supportive or beautiful to me, either on my blog, over email or in person, I take a moment to write it down on an index card and pop it in the box. I keep it simple, just a short phrase, so that I can read it quickly and easily. I keep the box open and visible to me when I’m working at my desk.
Whenever I’m feeling discouraged or down, I glance over and am able to see something true, meaningful and personal that reminds me that I am loved, that people believe in me and that the work I do makes a difference. It inspires me each and every day. And on particularly challenging days, when I’m feeling down and discouraged, I pull out a few of these cards and drink them in with my tea. It helps wash away the mood of the moment, connects me to what’s important and inspires me to keep on keeping on.
An encouragement box can take whatever form inspires you: a pretty bowl filled with little pieces of coloured paper. a gift box with notes written on the backs of old holiday cards, a folder in your inbox. The most important part is that you use it. If you’re inspired to gather your encouragements using calligraphy, stickers or coloured pencils, go for it. If that sounds like a beautiful idea but actually leaves you with another to-do list item and piles of cards waiting to be created, come back to basics. The beauty really comes from the love and the thought behind the words – and that doesn’t need any dressing up at all.
Personally, I’ve committed to keeping the process really simple. I buy a box and some blank index cards from the dollar store and keep them on my desk. I gather encouragement on the fly, not worrying about using a particular format or pen or even whether it’s neat. Making it easy has kept me with it. I’m on my third year of encouragement boxes!
May your encouragement box hold precious treasures that remind you daily of how amazing you are.”
Jamie Ridler is a creative living coach and the director of Jamie Ridler Studios. From the Creative Living with Jamie podcast to the Sparkles creativity e-course, Jamie’s work helps women find the confidence and courage to discover and express their creative selves so they can be the star they are.
BIG love and thanks to Jamie who is one of my favourite people on the planet right now! Jamie, thank you for letting me share this wonderful practice. xx
Love
Donna.x
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