It Doesn’t Matter

OH MY GOD! I’m still not feeling 100%…it doesn’t matter.
I didn’t do all the housework today…it doesn’t matter.
I didn’t do everything I wanted to do workwise today…it doesn’t matter.
I didn’t go to the gym today…it doesn’t matter.
I haven’t taken over the world today…it doesn’t matter.

Why doesn’t it matter? Because none of this is life shattering! It is only my expectations that I ’should’ have perfect health all the time (insane!), have a sparkling house (never gonna happen!), finish every work ‘thing’ I ever thought of (yeah, right!), go to the gym every day (unrealistic…and unwanted!), take over the world (like I’d want that responsibility?!). So what does matter?

Only that you feel good. Life is here to enjoy – most of the stuff we get stressed about DOESN’T MATTER! Feeling good, now that’s important!

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

A One Shot Deal

There is only one of you in all of time. Be the person you came here to be.

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Broadening Your Horizons

I have mentioned before that the universe tends to beat me over the head with a message, rather than being subtle (it’s the only way to ensure I understand, otherwise I just nod and smile!) Over the past few days, I’ve been beaten over the head with the idea of thinking bigger – I got a book reccommendation from someone for a book about it, I watched a couple of videos that referred to it, and wherever I go, people are talking about it, advertising is saying it and I am getting the message!

At lunchtimes when I’m working at home, I have taken to watching videos on TED TV - in their own words “Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world”. These are interesting people, talking about interesting things, and thinking big. Go and have a look, broaden your horizons.

And please remember this: the reason I am sending you to have a look at these remarkable people is because YOU TOO are a remarkable person. YOU TOO have the capacity to think big. YOU TOO have the potential to effect global change. You don’t have to travel the world talking about it if you don’t want to, you can just effect global change by starting with you.

Broaden Your Horizons for yourself – you are so much more than you are currently allowing.

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Do Something Amazing Today – Challenge Chain

So, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you will know that every four months or so, I give blood. Yesterday I took an hour out of my day to go and lie down, have a drink of squash and a biscuit…oh, and leave behind a pint of O negative! I did something amazing. That hour of mine might just have saved a life…and the other 30 people that I saw at the same time might also have saved a life. And the hundreds of others who came throughout the day.

What a heartwarming though that is – because a couple of hundred people gave up an hour of their time and a pint of their blood, potentially a couple of hundred of lives could be saved by that one donation session. Is a life worth an hour of your time once every few months? If you think so, and you don’t already give blood – look into doing so right now. In the UK, you’ll find all the details you need here.

And now I come to the challenge chain – tell someone else that they could save a life. Whether you are willing to do it or not (some people cannot because of health or lifestyle), spread the word. Imagine if you could save 1 life by donating some blood, and then save another 5 lives by spreading the word…and if every one of those people also spread the word, more lives could be saved. Who knows, one of those lives could be yours.

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Where Have You Hitched Your Wagon?

>”Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.”

President Obama.

I received this quote this morning from Chris Dines Daily Notes, and I have to say it knocked me back in my chair. Literally, it made me sit back, pause and reflect on what I’m hitching my wagon to today. Are you asking too little of yourself? Is there something huge and amazing that you could be part of? We often think that one small person cannot effect change…but that is selling each individual very short.

But forget for a minute being President of the USA, what cause or idea or campaign would you like to be a part of? In ancient times, huge stones were moved by virtue of people banding together to do the impossible, and move them. Perhaps one person alone could not do something miraculous…but every person who is part of a cause, idea or campaign is vital to it’s success.

Step up, hitch your wagon to something that is greater than you…and realise the greatness in you.

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Video: When You Are Not Being Your Best Self

Your best self is that part of you that is joyful, fun, laid back, generous, loving, happy, cheerful, peaceful. When we feel bad, it is usually because we are not being our best self. It is not what is done to us that makes us feel bad, but what we are being in reaction to it. Take a look at your life – when you feel bad, are you being your best self?

www.youtube.com/donnaonthebeach

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Reflect Upon Your Blessings

…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 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 give it credit for!

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Writing and The Work

A note from Donna
I was telling a friend about this insight a couple of weeks ago, and she suggested that it would make an interesting article. This is based on ‘The Work’, a four-step process used by Byron Katie (see recommendation) – the premise is that you explore a stressful thought through these four questions and the turnaround. On this particular day, I was exploring why I wasn’t writing, which surfaced the most beautiful belief: If I only write when I want to, I’ll never write.

Writing and The Work
If I only write when I want to, I’ll never write. Question 1: Is this True? No. (Question 2 is ‘Can I know for sure that this is true?’ – irrelevant in this case as it is not true in the first place!)

Question 3: How do I react when I believe this thought “if I only write when I want to, I’ll never write”? I get p***ed off. I compare myself unfavourably to other writers who force the process to get themselves flowing. I get mardy because I don’t want to do that at all. I love writing, but this takes the joy out of it for me. I don’t want to write when I believe this thought!

Question 4: Who would I be without this thought? Oh wow, I feel light, free, happy, I’m looking forward to writing, I’m excited about creating more fabulous stuff. I know that I create well when I am inspired so I feel really proud (in advance) of what I will create.

Turnarounds:
If I only write when I want to, I’ll always write. This feels so much more true – I’ve been writing regularly now for 6 years and I am always having ideas and inspirations…and I love writing. So if I don’t ruin it for myself and make it a chore, I will always want to do it.
If I never write when I want to I’ll never write. Yes! Very true – if I’m always trying to ‘make’ myself do it, I’ll kill the desire to do it!
If I only write when I don’t want to, I’ll never write. Yes! This is exactly what’s been happening.

This exploration helped me to realise something – I have never wanted to create in a formulaic way, to me it kills the creativity. And yet here I have been, trying to force structure around something that isn’t structured. And that forcing has actually been slowing down my writing. So, now I am back to writing when I want to…and LOVING it!

Something to play with
Check out www.thework.com for instructions about doing the work, or buy the book, and then start to explore your stressful thoughts – you may find, as I did, that your stressful thought is a load of b***cks!

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Leave me a comment below.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

The Off Switch

Because of the environmental impact of our energy usage, the ‘off switch’ has got a lot of publicity. Basically, if you’re not using it, switch it off – why use energy to power a standby button? What about your personal off switch? Are you in the habit of using it, or are you always ready to spring into action? My family are particularly rubbish at using their off switch – my dad recently went part time at work…and is busier on his days off than when he’s working.

My mom is like the energiser bunny – she can’t sit down until 200 jobs are completed. And me? Well I’m slightly better at it than my parents…but if you watch very closely, you will see that I am often multi-tasking…and because I am self-employed, my work tends to bleed into the weekend until I can’t remember the last time I didn’t switch on my laptop for 24 hours. Even when I’m out of the office for the day, I’ll get home, eat my tea and switch on for a couple of hours.

But last night I found my off-switch. I decided that I could leave my laptop switched off, and just relax instead. (Pause for collective gasp of amazement!) This weekend, find your off-switch and use it. Unlike the TV, stereo or computer, we recharge ourselves when we are switched off so give yourself a chance and CHILL!

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Put a Happy Face On It

I met up with a friend last night, and I was telling her the ‘woe is me’ tale of my life, when I realised that actually things weren’t that bad, and I was just whining about reality not conforming to my view of what is ‘right’ (it does that a lot!). The main ‘problem’ of course, was not reality, but me trying to force reality to be something it’s not. Expecting reality to be other than it is is the fastest way to drive yourself insane!

Once I realised that all is really well, and no one died, no one even felt ill, there was no big problem except my attitude, I started again and realised that I am a lot further on than I was last time we spoke, and all is still going in a forwards direction. It felt much better to put a happy face on it, and I was able to drop the vague discontent I had been feeling. The discontent in fact was because I was arguing with reality, not because there was a problem.

When something TERRIBLE happens, putting a happy face on it might not feel right or appropriate, but if you are just putting the worst possible spin on your life to enjoy a good moan, maybe putting a happy face on it will make it all better…surprisingly quickly!

Love

Donna.x

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Next Page »