Hello, Hello to everyone,

Well – I am back and ready to start writing the blog once more, so I trust this all finds you well.

And today’s post will be short and sweet, as I would like to remind you to prioritise ” Being You” as you skip through your life. This really is the most wondrous experience of all. To cultivate a healthy dose of self-love and self-appreciation. With these two things your world can radically shift and carry you to a place of inner calm and peace.

? The biggest gift you can give yourself in life, is the permission to discover who you are, be who you are, and love who that person is.

? Fully. Deeply. And unapologetically.

? And herein lies the foundation of true happiness.

? It simply lies in the heart of our individual essence.

? What makes each and every one of us ” who we are”!

? I have spent decades searching for me. Clearing away the debris of the person I thought I had to be. Reinventing myself, and trying new things. Establishing my personal truth, as I relegate old tropes, paradigms, thoughts, beliefs, and the opinions of others, to the past… where they belong.

? Self-love can only be actualised when you take the time to do the digging, and look at what underlying messages drive your behaviours and responses to situations.

? It can be ugly.

? It can be challenging.

? But ultimately it can be wonderfully liberating.

? How you view yourself, is the biggest contributor to your success and happiness in life. Not how much money you earn, or the accolades you collect.This is perhaps why so many high achieving people feel so numb, disconnected, and dead inside. The internal world has not been tended to, watered and contemplated, to allow it to align, flourish and grow.

? As the Greek Philosophical Maxim declares: ” Know Thyself!”

? So today I invite you to ponder if you are gifting yourself the JOY of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-reflection each day? If not – what do you give yourself on a daily basis?

? For whatever is generating from your internal world, will surely manifest on your exterior world in terms of happiness, contentment and self-satisfaction.

Christine

aka The JoyMaker Experience and ABTY!

#joy #selflove #thejoymakerexperience #joymapping #you

Hi Everyone and welcome back to the blog,

If there is one thing I have come to realise over the past few years , it is how much time I have wasted ” waging a series of internal wars with myself”!

Why it has taken me so much time to reach this conclusion is an absolute mystery and most likely, just representative of the usual awakening we all experience through the passage of time. But nonetheless, it is slightly disquieting to realise the wastage that occurs within this war!

The wastage that occurs in all wars I guess.

But the ” internal war” seems to me to be the most outrageous.

The most fruitless.

The most futile.

The most inane.

As it is a war often waged for no real reason  - and it is self directed, self funded and  self orchestrated!

It sounds even more ridiculous the more I write!

And ridiculous it is, as this ” War Within”  seems to accomplish nothing more than see us miss out on doing, being  and experiencing things that we would most likely LOVE if we gave it a chance.

For instance:

I have missed out on going abseiling because I thought my bottom would look too big coming down the side of the cliff!  [ what the? yes - it is true]

I have missed out on attending a party because I thought my invitation was not genuine – I mean who would invite me to a party  [ what the? yes - it is true]

I have missed out on certain work opportunities because I thought I was not good enough and was too scared to try!  [ what the? yes - it is true]

I have missed out on attending some cool workshops as a students, because I thought people would laugh at my expertise level or lack thereof  [ what the? yes - it is true]

I have missed out on going to the beach because I thought I was too fat to be seen on a beach in a swimsuit!  [ what the? yes - it is true]

As I read through the above examples I feel so silly – but at the same time  - I have to forgive myself, knowing that at the time I was doing the best I could. And I certainly do not think there is any point in ” crying over spilled milk” now, so to speak.

And nor should you.

But – we can all acknowledge together – that waging these internal battles is a huge waste of time and opportunities!

So – take one battle at a time and recall your generals!

They have better things to do!

Let the War on Ridiculous finally come to an end!

You are fine.

You are doing the best you can!

And that is enough!

So -

You are not the prettiest.

You are not the most handsome.

You are not the cleverest.

You are not the best at whatever it is you want to do.

You are not the wealthiest.

You are not the cleverest.

Who cares?

Is that going to stop you from doing things you would like to experience?

I certainly hope not.

Because I am going to try and make sure that from now on:

” not being the best”

” not being the most fabulous person in the room”

” not being the most experienced, or clever or whatever”

These things will no longer send my generals into battle.

I am hereby retiring them!

Why?

Because I have better things to do than fight wars that did not need to be waged at all in the first place.

And I invite you to do the same.

Why?

Because you have better things to do to!

Like loving you.

Like loving life.

Like getting out there and living  a life you love – for no other reason than you deserve it!

So today I invite you to raise the white flag to yourself!

Because the war within – is the most fruitless of all and you have no doubt spent enough time on it!

#DiscoverYou #LoveYou #BeYou

Christine

And remember – we are all just doing the best we can

Hi Everyone and welcome to October’s Blog,

Lately I have really been marvelling at the most incredible ability that we all have within us.

An ability that is innate and simple and with us each and every day.

And most importantly I wonder if we all go through life not quite aware of this:

Our Greatest Super Power Ever!

Your Greatest Super Power Ever!

And I wonder if our ignorance –  or non-acknowledgement –  of this Super Power is what leads us, quite unnecessarily to a life of frustration?

Frustration that we can not make a difference to the Planet!

Frustration that we are not important!

Frustration that nothing we do really matters!

Frustration that we are not seen or heard!

Frustration that we could do more!

But what if all these frustrations are totally misleading!

What if we all have more power than we could ever imagine?

Because you know what ? -

We do have more power than you could ever imagine!

You do have more power than you could ever imagine!

And that Amazing Super Power is the ability to change someone’e life!

That is right!

You Have The Ability To Change Someone’s Life – Each and Every Day!

In every day, the possibility exists to choose to do something, or take some course of action, to change someone’s life that day. It may seem like a tiny thing – but the truth is, that it is often these little things that make a huge difference.

It’s the small acts of reaching out to another human being that can make all the difference to their life.

And as most of you will have experienced  - it is often a tiny act of kindness that can turn your day around too!

I know I have written about this before – but as the world seems to descend into a crisis of fear and hopelessness, I feel it is so important to remind everyone that hope lives within us!

We are the hope we are searching for.

We are the way forward and the way out.

We are the way to a better future.

You are the way to a better future.

So – stop waiting for someone else with amazing Super Powers to swoop in and save the day, because we all have the most Powerful of All Super Powers right here within our souls.

And we can exercise that little Super Power each and every day, by choosing to add kindness and love and joy and laughter, to our little corners of the planet.

It really is that simple!

So at times when things seem out of control – remember that you can exercise control in your own life each and every day by choosing:

that LOVE!

that KINDNESS!

that COMPASSION!

that SUPPORT!

that SUPER POWER that is yours to exercise whenever you choose!

And that my friends is my message for today!

You were born with the ability to change someone’s life

So- don’t waste it!

And with that little message sent out into the Universe I wish you a fabulous day!

#DiscoverYou #LoveYou #BeYou

Christine

And remember – we are all just doing the best we can!

Hi Everyone and welcome back to the blog,

Well recently I decided to take a week out and give myself, a self imposed ” digital detox”! I just wanted to get away and feel disconnected from the constant “hub-bub” that is our modern lives.

The non-stop emails, texts, Instagrams, Facebook messages etc etc.

That constant bombardment from all angles, at all hours of the day and night was just becoming too much and I felt myself asking: ” Is this really all there is?”

This constant barrage of technology and faceless machinery!

And then I happened upon an advertisement for The Billabong Retreat!

As I read the advert I could hear harps playing, bluebirds fluttered overhead with the promise of my arrival and my focus suddenly became whimsical and full of unicorns and rainbows ha ah ha.

Could this place really only be a one hour drive from Sydney?

Could salvation really be that close at hand?

Well the simple answer was – YES!

Salvation was just around the corner from where I lived and within minutes I was all booked in and ready for solitude.

And then – much to my surprise the panic set in.

“What have I done?” I asked myself.

“There is yoga every morning and afternoon and lessons on “mindfulness” – how will all that be relaxing?” – I pondered.

“And what will I do without my phone and emails for an entire week?” – I quizzed myself, feeling oh so very self important.

“Could the world really keep on ticking, without me standing with my laptop and i-phone at the ready?” I mused.

I felt like some crazed addict, already panicking weeks before I was set to go.

But go I did.

And I have to say it is one of the most fabulous experiences I have ever had.

The Billabong Retreat – was just that….

A Retreat!

A retreat from my ordinary life!

A retreat from the mundane!

A retreat from the constant bombardment of technology!

A retreat from the ” flim flam” of life!

For me –  it was a retreat into a very magical, personal and special place. It felt like I was taking a bath in nature each and every day.

Being able to take a bath on my balcony was something I shall never forget. And neither will the little wallaby who got more than she bargained for as she looked around for where the rustling was coming from ha ha ha!

It was me – leaning half out of my bath tub trying to get a photo of her on the rock ha ha ha.

Then there was the opportunity to simply sit in my warm bath and feel the wind in my hair, watch all manner of birds parade past in the Billabong and dart from tree to tree. [ the birds that is - not me ha ha ha ]

It really was pure magic!

I have actually never been one for sitting in a bath to be honest, as I tend to get very bored after about 5 minutes – but there at The Billabong Retreat – a 2.5 hour bath became quite the norm! I just felt totally connected to nature and I was absorbed 100% into it’s sounds, it’s look, and it’s whispers.

What would have been a 5 minute walk in the city, became a 2 hour wander at Billabong!

I actually took an entire small case of books with me for the week.

I did not read one.

I was simply too enthralled with the show that nature had prepared in all it’s glory!

So what is it that makes this place so special?

There are a number of factors in my opinion:

1. Location and scenery: The Billabong Retreat is nestled into it’s environment with such clever and meaningful architecture – that you truly feel at one with the surrounds.
2. Layout: the layout is super thoughtful and really allows people to connect with each other – especially before and after meals, which adds this wonderful human connectivity to the experience that is often lost in the rushing and ” phone/tv/laptop fixation” of the modern world. Here – we were back to the land of no tvs and a lovely fire to sit around – and the effect was profound. People connected and took the time to acknowledge and get to know each other.
3. Lodgings: whilst communing with others was easy and effortless – it was also easy and effortless to slip away to a private comfy chair, lounge, balcony, path or room and get lost in your own thoughts and company. As a single traveller this was perfect for me, as it allowed me to  chat when I felt like sharing and then retain my own space when I wanted to be alone. The same can be said for groups or couples travelling together – they could meet new people, or return to the privacy of their own group in another location.
4. The Food: The food was so incredibly yummy and the passion of the chefs just beautiful. Each and every meal was heralded with an explanation by the chef of the day, as to what they had prepared, why, and where the ingredients were sourced. Mostly all products are sourced locally from the area’s farmers and the flavours reflected that. All vegetarian, made with love and care and super delicious. Meal times were community times. It was refreshingly nice.
5. The Staff: I do not think I have been to many places where the staff are so wonderful. The most genuine, caring and fun bunch of people. Every single person working there from check in staff, to yoga teachers, to staff in the spa – they all just exuded the most kind and beautiful natures. And that really added to the experience. There was no ” rehearsed pitter patter ” here. Just genuine conversations and welcoming smiles! What more could you want!
6. The Owners: I was lucky enough to be at the retreat when owner Paul von Bergen was conducting the Mindfulness lectures. His story and the creation story of The Billabong Retreat is inspiring and life affirming and one you can read on their website. So I encourage you to visit and do that – as then you will see the ” heart and soul” that brought this wonderful Retreat into being – and should you choose to stay, that knowledge will be with you and make it even more special. Another interesting note was that Paul’s wife Tory is an artist and much of the artwork on property is hers. And that certainly adds even more, to the charm of the place. The dream catcher in my room was particularly gorgeous. If it had been for sale I would have snapped it up for sure!
7. The Spa: I am not usually one for massage, but I treated myself to a few massages and they were wonderful. There are a host of services on offer – so do yourself a favour and schedule a few whilst you are there.
8. Yoga x 2: I simply loved the twice daily yoga classes – at 7:00am and 3:30pm! This twice daily ritual was invigorating to my mind, body and spirit! And all I had to do was walk there – a huge 5 minute trek from my room! All the teachers were wonderful and each brought their own personal touch to their classes. And the yoga room itself!!!! Well – that has to be seen to be believed! There are photos on the website – but even those stunning shots do not do this space justice. It is simply the moist restorative and nurturing place to do yoga.
9. Meditation: Many tips were given on a host of meditation techniques which was great, as it enabled the guests to find a practice that suited them. I love meditation – so that was fabulous for me. Calming and reassuring somehow.
10. The Vibe: All activities are optional! And there was absolutely no pressure at all to participate in anything. If you want to take yoga or attend a lecture – then turn up. And if you don’t – then don’t. And that is the beauty of the place. Some days I attended all activities and on others I chose to simply stay in my room or take a stroll. The vibe was just super relaxed and easy going! There are no TVs and no wifi – though some people chose to stay pretty close to their phones – it is recommended to keep them in your own private space for the benefit of other guests. On another note – there were screenings of movies a few nights during the week and the choice of films were great – mindful and inspirational – which really complimented the entire experience.

So – as you can see – I loved it.

In fact – I have already booked my next visit and am going to take my Mum as a birthday treat!

So in a nutshell – my advice when visiting this Australian Bush Wonderland:

A – try and stay for an entire week if you can. It takes the first three days to truly switch off from the outside world and really benefit from the relaxed vibe. If you can really let yourself become immersed in the place for a week you will feel so enlivened, recharged and refocused. Most people seemed to stay for 3 days – but I must admit that I loved the indulgence of staying for 7!

B – if you stay in a deluxe cabin with the bathtub on the balcony  - be brave and get naked out there. It is strangely freeing!

C – again, be brave and turn your phone and laptop off when you check in. Advise your friends, family and relatives to call the landline at reception if there is an emergency. Trust the world will carry on without you, and set it up to do so, whilst you are gone. Then you will really chill out and relax.

D – Pay attention to your own reactions to everything when in this environment. It might just tell you a lot about yourself. It did me ha ha ha!

E – Look out for deer, rabbits and wallabies. They are too cute!

F – head to the Billabong from 5:00pm – 6:00pm as the sun goes down. Watching nature wind down for the day, has a calming effect and nurtures you into ” end of the day mode” too!

G – the view from the Lodge is amazing too – if not staying there – ask another guest who is staying there to take you up – it is worth a look!

H – the Gazebo by the Billabong is amazing to sit in and ponder life and the Billabong – so check it out early on and don’t miss out!

So  - that is it from me.

Another incredible destination has been found. So – if you live in Sydney – get there now heh heh. And if you live in Australia or overseas – next time you are planning a trip to Sydney, put this little treasure on your ” to do ” list!

And finally – to all the staff at The Billabong Retreat – congratulations on a very special little corner of the world!

See you again soon.

Christine

And till next time – remember – we are all just doing the best we can!

Hi Everyone and welcome back to the blog,

Today I just want to explore with you, what I see as a worrying / interesting trend! And that is what I perceive as the ” outsourcing of our humanity”!

The outsourcing of common sense.

The outsourcing of critical thinking.

The outsourcing of an emotive / caring component to what is being said or done in work places and shops all over the globe.

The outsourcing of questioning the status quo.

Quite simply – the outsourcing of all the qualities that make us human in the first place.

So what exactly do I mean by this?

And what has led me to this blog?

Well – it came after my latest trip to the USA and my alarm at the seemingly robotic way in which people seem to attend to their jobs.Particularly in the service industries like coffee shops, taxis, hotels and restaurants for instance.

When ordering anything, you are hit with a barrage of automated dialogue that is mind-numbingly absent of any thought at all. If you actually respond with a question or anything that is not within the parameters of what is expected as the ” automated response” , the communication becomes almost impossible and very frustrating!

For instance – you may order a coffee and a bottle of water! And then you are hit with the automated question : ” would you like a bottle of water with that?” –  or some other redundant question already answered by the fact that you just ordered a water and a latte?

I found this to be really common everywhere I went – and whilst I believe ” customer training” and teaching staff how to serve the customer and ” up-sell” may be important to a business – at some point, staff also need to be able to listen to the customer and actually understand what has been ordered, asked for or said!

We have a similar phenomenon here in Australia when you have the misfortune of calling any large company with any issue [ think telecommunications companies, insurance etc etc ]. It is quite clear, more often than not, that the person on the other end of the phone has no knowledge of the industry in which they work and even less ability to assist you in any real way.

Their job is simply to deliver lines from a pre studied script!

Again – a totally automated response, with absolutely no ” human component” that requires no reasoning, thought, emotion or an application of common sense, seems the norm!

And watch out if your issue does not fit neatly into that script! Then you are really in for some fun and games!

Is it any wonder that so many people are now frustrated with life, on an ongoing basis!

Automated Responses!

No thought required!

No humanity required!

No common sense to be displayed!

Whilst we may strive in certain aspects of life to have an ” automatic response ” to certain stimuli, it seems to me, that it is a little alarming when our humanity becomes lessened with these ” automated behaviours”!

Behaviours that seem to exhibit no critical thinking at all!

Behaviours that exhibit no listening skills, no compassion, no thought and more worryingly – no common sense!

Behaviours that are simply – automated!

So I guess my call today is simply to awaken us all to the encroachment of these automated responses upon our lives –  and where possible – try to tone them down and deliver them with some thought and a genuine interest in the customer or person with whom we are communicating.

Maybe a slower, less rushed delivery, which allows time for thought and an accompanying smile could go a long way to lesson the pain!

When reading from a script or delivering a training module for staff – perhaps we can be cognisant of allowing some ” humanity ” back into the equation and explaining to people the relevance of what is being said – so there is an understanding of the script being delivered!

Maybe I expect too much?

Maybe we  - as humanity in this particular time capsule we inhabit – have gone passed the point of no return?

Maybe – critical thinking, compassion and genuine verbal exchange is a thing of the past in service industries, training and business?

But I live in hope that with awareness comes change.

So may we all take time to deliver whatever messages we need to deliver, with an element of humanity intact.

An element of thought.

An element of listening.

An element of discernment.

An element of genuine care and interest.

Rather than communication and responses that rest upon outsourcing our humanity to a script!

Maybe just this one little thing can make a difference and bring us back to our greatest virtue and our greatest gift to each other………our humanity!

And that is my thought for today!

#DiscoverYou #LoveYou #BeYou

And remember – we are all just doing the best we can.

Christine

Hello to all and welcome to the blog,

In recent times I have had a few very disturbing conversations with people, where the level of hatred and vitriol they feel for another person or situation has been on full and furious display!

To hear someone spew forth such hatred, with such determined unwillingness to forgive, is to me, quite unnerving.

But I have finally come to the conclusion that you can not help people who do not wish to help themselves.

In one instance the conversation went on for nearly an hour, with me trying to placate the person on the other end of the phone and suggest an alternate view.

A view that may bring the person a certain level of peace.

A view that may go some way to showing compassion to the person currently feeling the brunt of this hatred.

A view that would bring relief to both parties.

But I soon came to the realisation that my dear friend was so invested in her anger and hatred and vitriol that she just could not let it go!

Who would she blame for her life?

Who would she blame for poor decisions made years ago?

Who would she use as a scapegoat for not realising her ambitions and dreams?

Who would take the blame for her unhappiness?

Who?

Who?

Who?

Once I realised this was not a simple case of ” Letting It Go” I could see that my words were wasted.

It was just too confronting to disassemble a life-time of excuses and take responsibility for ones self!

It was just too damning of ones-self to take an inventory of every moment and decision that led my friend to where she was now!

It was just too damn hard!

And I think, for many of us, this is the case.

So today – I invite you to look at any person,  issue or relationship in your life that brings you pain and angst – that you just can not Let Go Of!

Perhaps you can ask yourself a few rather levelling and confronting questions:

1. What upsets me about this?
2. Why can I not forgive this person?
3. What is in it for me to stay lodged and locked into this hatred?

Once you have the answers to these questions you can start the process of forgiveness!

Forgiving Yourself that is – for I am pretty sure you will discover, that the underlying hatred and vitriol is not for that ” other person” or ” situation” – but it will be for You!

Your failure to act.

Your failure to make a possibly better and different choice.

Your failure to stand up for yourself.

Your lack of follow through in some way.

Your poor decision.

Your failure to walk away when you had the chance.

It will all come down to You You You!

And that is why it is so hard to forgive!

Because for some reason, we are so unforgiving with ourselves!

So we deflect the hatred to some other participant in our drama, or some other aspect of the situation, or some other reason. We deflect the hatred to anywhere but where it truly lies.

With ourselves!

We hide this self loathing – disguising it as hatred and vitriol towards another – where I truly believe it is really self directed!

So today – give yourself a break!

Make a list of all these people and situations that are causing you so much pain and simply Let Them Go!

Take each one separately and address it head on and then release it back into the ether!

You might say:

” Dear So and So – I am so sorry for all the anger I have directed at you all these years. I should have stood my ground and been my own person long ago. But I did  not have the courage to do that. Whether or not I am courageous enough to stand in my truth is not your fault. It rests with me and I release you from all responsibility. Whether or not I can now face my truth is OK too! I am just doing the best I can and I support where I am right now in my journey! Sending love and light to you and me both. I release this anger and accept myself for who I am right now and I accept you for who you are right now. We are both just doing the best we can ”

Does this mean you stay in any sort of abusive relationship or put yourself at risk in any way? Of course not! If you are in a dangerous or abusive situation I encourage you to seek professional counselling or support. I am merely saying that holding onto any anger about any situation may not be helpful!

Similarly you might say:

Dear Me – I am so sorry that I made some silly choices along my life’s journey. But I did the best I could at the time. It did not turn out at all like I planned. I feel foolish and stupid and humiliated. But in truth, I made those decisions – not the other person. Sure  - maybe they were not really honest with me and took me for a ride – but I thank them for the lesson and I shall be sure not to be so easily taken in next time. We live and learn and I forgive myself for my disappointing decision making around this issue or person. We live and learn. That is life! Onward and Upward! This issue is now resolved and all angst put to rest! Sending love and light to myself and all those involved. We are all just doing the best we can”

Again – if you are having serious financial, physical, emotional or mental issues you may want to consult a professional. But in general terms I think it can be really healthy to just LET IT GO!

Forgive you.

Forgive them.

Forgive the situation.

And move on!

You may be surprised at how much relief you feel when you can do this!

#DiscoverYou #LoveYou #BeYou

And remember – we are all just doing the best we can!

Christine

Hello Everyone and welcome back to the blog,

In recent times I have been asking myself one defining question. And that question is :  ” What If?”

What if everything we have been conditioned to see as success, is in fact the very things that keeps success out of our reach?

What if success actually lies in ” not buying” into the established paradigms of success?

What if ” the dream” we have been sold is actually ” the nightmare” from which we need to wake up?

What if  “happiness and success” have been set up in our world to be” impossibly out of alignment with each other”?

The never ending quest that manifests as never ending uncertainty, doubt and self sabotage!

As time goes on and I examine the so called “successful” people in our world at the moment –  and as I delve more and more into what I see as success, it seems that the two worlds – as set out by the media and advertising and established norms are becoming more and more misaligned.

That is – we are encouraged to work and work, and strive and strive, for success and power and wealth and glory and domination over others….

But increasingly I am finding that my happiness  - my success – comes wrapped in a totally different wrapping!

A wrapping of small moments and genuine concern for the well being of others.

A wrapping cloaked in smiles and cups of coffee and lending a helping hand where needed.

A wrapping of self acceptance –  despite all my shortcomings, fears and unaccomplished dreams and ambitions.

Is it possible that the very things we are encouraged to chase after, are the very things keeping us away from what we seek?

The irony is somewhat dumbfounding to be honest.

To find that for years I have been chasing a dream – but that the chasing of that dream, is in fact what has brought the sadness, the pain, the depression, the sense of self deprecation and worthlessness – is alarming and quieting at the same time!

The number of times I have attended seminars and been told things like this is astounding:

Presenter: ” The only thing stopping you from an incredible life is a good life”!

Of course it is. If I am actually happy with my life and love my life and feel it is a ” good life” then I am not likely to now buy into your next seminar for the small sum of $5,000.00 or more!

Or that old chestnut:

Presenter: ” How many of you out there feel like you are here to make a difference in the world –  but just haven’t found what your calling is yet? Is fear stopping you? Do you fear failure? etc etc Well we can help you”

Ha ha  - of course you can – for the princely sum of your next seminar!

What if people knew that they could make a huge difference right now, simply by extending kindness and compassion to those around them? Mmmmmmmm – that’s no good. There’s no money in that! What if we all knew that we could all have that incredible empowerment and joy of giving and community for free?

Sshhhhhh – don’t tell anyone that!

And then there is marketing:

Advert: ” Worried about those wrinkles or whatever? Well – use this product [ shampoo, wrinkle cream, whatever ] – because you are worth it!

Of course we are worth it if we pay $65.00 for your wrinkle cream, diet plan or other beauty enhancing product. Heaven forbid that we are actually ” worth it” just as we are!  There’s no sale in that is there!

Or even this:

Advert : ” Need to get away – is life stressing you out? You deserve a break!

Well – heaven forbid that you actually love your life and don’t need to escape from it.

We are constantly being told – from every corner – that we are in trouble:

You are not pretty enough [ better buy our product ]

You haven’t achieved enough [ better come to our seminar to find out how to achieve more and be the person you were destined to be ]

You don’t earn enough [ better find another job - we can help ]

You are not important enough [ we can help you with that - write a book, earn more, be more, look better ]

And on and on and on it goes!

There is a plethora of free surveys on Facebook to reveal just why you are not successful and happy [ not surprisingly the reason is always fear ]. These surveys then lead to the free one day seminar [ really a day long infomercial ] for the fabulously expensive seminar that will cure you of all your failings – for the fabulous price of $$$$$$.

It is insane.

Imagine if we all just thought we were fabulous as we are.

Mmmmmmmm – but there are no sales to be had there!

So it seems that keeping us all feeling crappy about who we are, is imperative to keep the wheels of consumerism turning.

To keep us buying –  you have to keep us unhappy!

And the kicker is that these very things that claim they will make us HAPPY, are the very systems and products that are destined to keep us SAD! We can never measure up to these standards – it is set up that way to keep us on the treadmill of feeling like we are not enough!

And let me tell you – I know! The amount of money I have spent on books and seminars and beauty products is insane! And even now as I write this, I am not immune.

The joke really is on us!

I was even told at a seminar on ” how to run seminars” that you need to keep coming up with products to sell your unwitting customers. In essence I was told to – “promise that you are going to solve all their woes – but keep coming up with more and more things that they need, or things that are wrong with them – because the minute they are happy and feel secure in who they are  - the cash cow will be well and truly milked!”

Of course it was not presented as bluntly as this. It was well and truly ” sugar coated” for a more palatable digestion. But the true meaning was quite clear!

I was shocked and appalled to be honest, and have not gone down the road recommended, as it just didn’t sit well with me. But others who have, are making a mint!

Why?

Because we have become so conditioned to buy into this fallacy that we are not good enough and that happiness will come from being better. From being more!

More worthy!

More wealthy!

More beautiful!

More successful [ whatever that is?]!

More like anyone who is not us !

Do I sound cynical?

Well – yes I am!

And let me tell you – I do love a good seminar and have attended many in my time.

And I may still attend some in the future, as I really do love hearing inspiring people speak about their lives and experiences. But I do wonder at the counter productive nature of many of these events.

So am I saying that all seminars are worthless?

No – not at all. I may run my own in the future. And like I said, I have found many workshops, seminars and books to be most helpful in me finding my way to who I am.

But I do think we should all be prudent and realise that true happiness actually comes in one package alone:

Self acceptance wrapped in kindness to others! 

And that I believe is the true secret that no-one wants you to know.

You are enough!

You are fabulous!

You can make a huge difference in your community each and every day without spending a cent!

In my opinion, you have within you, the four most important ingredients to Success and Happiness:

1. The Power of Humanity!

2. The Power of a Smile!

3. The Power of a Kind Word!

4. The Power to Help Someone When You Can!

And that is, in my humble opinion, Where Happiness Resides!

So today, I invite you to step away from the status quo and awaken to the truth of You and the life You choose to lead!

Sure – be the best you can be, enjoy being creative, achieve things that interest you, attend events you love and buy things you want.

Just don’t buy into the game anymore!

Step off the Treadmill of Unhappy and Jump onto the Happy Train!

#DiscoverYou #LoveYou #BeYou

And remember we are all just doing the best we can.

Christine

Hello again and welcome to the blog,

This month’s blog is really short and sweet.

And it is really just the posing of this one question:

Instead of asking what the world can do for you –  ask yourself what you can do for the world.

No doubt you will realise that this concept has come from the great John F Kennedy in his famous Inauguration Speech, but I feel the sentiments expressed back then, are as relevant today as they ever were.

We seem to live in an age where everyone is waiting for others to ” do something “.

An age of complaining and criticising and moaning.

But I ask – what for?

We live in a spectacular Universe full of potential and potentiality and all we need to do is contribute.

So today I challenge you to start doing one small thing that makes a positive impact upon your own environment, whether it be in your community, your work place or at home.

Just come up with one small thing that will make your little corner of the world a better place to be.

You might start a book exchange.

You might volunteer once a week.

You might help with a reading programme at your child’s school.

You may decide to suggest and start a 15 minute morning meditation at your workplace.

You may offer to sweep your elderly neighbours porch once a week.

You may go and visit someone in hospital who needs some support at the moment.

You may sit and listen when someone needs that attention – even though you are rushed and busy.

Imagine if every person on the planet actively engaged in making their little corner of the world a better place each and every day. Wow – what a shift we would see.

So once more I pose the question:

Instead of asking what the world can do for you –  ask yourself what you can do for the world.

It is that simple.

And with that thought I shall leave you and wish you a magical day of conjuring marvellous things for our Planet.

#Discover You #Love You #Be You

And remember – we are all just doing the best we can!

Christine 

Hi everyone and welcome back again,

I recently had the pleasure of spending a few weeks in Sedona, Arizona , USA which has become one of my favourite places for soul searching, evolving and just being.

On previous occasions I have only experienced ” Peace, Love, Tranquility and all things seemingly Sedona”  - but on this recent trip I seemed to be confronted by the underbelly of the place and who it attracts there and what I saw was a real lesson indeed.

People behaving in ways that did not at all match the philosophy they were displaying outwardly in their business endeavours, holiday activities, spiritual seeking or private lives.

It was actually quite confronting at times, as I wondered if I was attracting all these bizarre situations and people to me for a reason…..

It was relentless….

And then I got the reason!

The Universe was quite simply giving me a good lesson in ” practice what you preach” and ” walking the talk”! And perhaps this lesson is one that I am meant to share here too, for the benefit of all.

I like to think that generally my actions are congruous with my life philosophy, my values and my personal set of principals. But this recent trip made me stop and really think about it and I think that maybe we can all ” hit the pause button” and give it some thought too.

There are so many people – courtesy of the ” New Age Movement” skipping about the place with t-shirts professing peace, love and kindness to all things or attending meditation classes & yoga, or attending countless courses on ” taking responsibility for ones own life” etc etc – and yet they seem to have made no connection at all when it comes to implementing these philosophies in any way into their real lives.

They are proud t-shirt wearers and slogan carriers – but that is where it seems to end.

It is the same as people who write all manner of things all over Facebook or on other social media about this and that – but again – are not actively doing anything to further that cause or lifestyle etc etc

I really had my eyes opened to this in Sedona, with the most mind blowing example being a lady I met at a bar one evening.

I had decided to have a quick margarita before heading elsewhere and sat down at the bar for one quiet drink. A lady came in and sat down beside me. She was wearing a t-shirt that said ” Instead of Hate – Just Meditate ” and had those lovely ” Tree Of Life ” earrings dangling from her ears. I was of course expecting a conversation about life and love and the glories of Sedona.

But the conversation went quite differently to what I had expected……

Me                    ” So – what are visiting Sedona for? It’s just beautiful isn’t it?” 

Lady X             ” Oh – I am on a yoga retreat with friends………. [ brief pause as tears well in her eyes ] –  but I could just burst into tears because my ex husband [ expletives galore ] has done this , this and this and now my children hate me because of that [expletive ]. Well [ expletive ] him.  Her can go [ expletive himself]. And now I am on medication etc etc etc. Rant Rant Rant!”

To say I was slightly taken aback would be an understatement.

She didn’t take a breath for quite a while and managed to tell me in 20 – 30 mins that:

1. Her ex husband was an [ expletive ] – she told me that numerous times
2. Her children hated her
3. She was nearly arrested after her flight for abusing the stewardess, who refused to give her alcohol  [after she had requested water to take her medication moments earlier? ] Police were called to the gate when they landed where she insisted on speaking with the pilot himself?
4. Her boyfriend didn’t want her to visit him – but [expletive ] him – she was going anyway – she needed the mountains
5. She met a new man while looking at the mountains anyways and he was really wealthy – then she showed me his picture on her i-phone whilst asking me pointedly and repeatedly in quite an aggressive manner ” do you think he’s cute, do you think he’s cute?”
6. She nearly got thrown out of a restaurant the other day [ can't remember what for ]
7. Would I like a copy of one of her memes – it read – [Expletive ] the sunset & yoga, have a drink instead [or some thing like that ] with a picture of a beautiful sunset and a lady doing yoga in the background. Needless to say I declined that offer.

Whew – I needed that margarita ha ha ha ha aha ha!

Finally I said to this lady: ” If you don’t mind me saying – it might really help you to let go of some of this bitterness and hostility. All this anger can not be good for you” .

To which she responded: ” Oh my God – yes – you are soooooo right. I needed to hear that. I need  to do that. But these [ expletive ] friends of mine and this ex husband……….”

And on and on it went. I had to laugh.

I was so pleased to have somewhere to go to be honest and I hot-tailed it out of there as quickly as my little legs would carry me.

My lesson was well and truly etched in my mind.

And the lesson is: It is no good wearing the t-shirt if your actions do not fit the slogan.

And I guess that small anecdote can be a small lesson and reminder to all of us from time to time.

In fairness – as I always say – we are all just doing the best we can -and I am sure this lady was just getting by the best she knows how. And I wish her nothing but peace, joy and light. But I truly had to laugh at the absurd nature of her behaving and speaking the way she did, in that particular shirt while attending a yoga retreat!

But it focused my mind on living my talk and not just wearing the t-shirt.

So I invite you to examine your own life and ask that same question:

 ” Am I Walking my Talk?”

And if not –  I guess you just need to decide if you want to change the talk or modify the walk?

For one thing is for sure – you can never find true happiness or contentment until one is truly reflective of the other.

And on that note – I shall leave you to ponder.

#Discover You #Love You #Be You

Christine

Hello everyone and welcome back,

It has been a while!

So I trust you have all had a fantastic Xmas and New Year!

Over the past few months I have witnessed within my own life the incredible power of being able to apologise.

Whether it be to a family member, a friend or a complete stranger – the simple act of saying ” I am so sorry about that” can mean the world.

But more surprisingly it is not the recipient of the apology who may feel the best by this, but rather it is in fact the person who gives the apology who may feel the most relief .

It really is a gift to oneself. The person making the aforementioned apology.

Take this instance I experienced recently when checking into a hotel.Now it is true that some of my friends have joked with me, that I would be best to have someone else check in for me when going to hotels ha ha ha ha! And that may be true, as I do tend to find the process frustrating at times.

However – I am slowly learning and developing patience.

But on this occasion, that patience had worn pretty thin and I was quite unpleasant to the check in staff to put it mildly. I got my room key, found the elevator and went to my room. Once there however I could not shake the feeling of being so very disappointed in my behaviour and the way I had spoken to the check in staff.

Truth be told – the process had been quite laughable and frustrating and ridiculous in the extreme, for a number of reasons I will not go into here. But still I felt terrible. I could have just suffered through and quietly told them that it was not quite satisfactory. But that was not the decision I had made unfortunately and instead expressed my displeasure rather heatedly!

Quietly  - from the privacy and safety of my hotel room I reviewed my situation and circumstance.

I dressed for my day of exploring a new city, had a cup of coffee and with a steely resolve headed out.

My first stop was the check in counter at my hotel, as I figured that I would not have a nice stay if I felt terrible every time I came through the front door and walked past these two young women on reception.

So I decided then and there to make amends. To make the dreaded apology!

It was the only thing to be done.

The two girls saw me coming and tried not to roll their eyes as I approached and I could see their point to be honest. They had only experienced me in one way earlier  - and that was highly aggravated – by them!

But I approached the counter and launched a full scale apology to the effect of:

” I am so sorry to have spoken to you so rudely before. You didn’t deserve that. You both seem like lovely girls and you were just doing your job. Anyways – I promise to be a much more pleasant guest in the future. I hope you have a delightful day. And once again. I am so sorry to have become so angry.”

There we go!

Done and dusted!

I skipped out of that hotel lobby with a new lease on life!

I felt fabulous and no doubt the two girls at the front desk felt relieved and much better too. At least I hope they did.

What struck me as I walked out the door of the hotel lobby though, with an unquestionable sense of relief, was that I could have spent the rest of the day, feeling terrible about this event.

And I know I would have.

But instead – I took the bull by the horns and simply apologised.

My sense of self was firmly intact and the world was glorious.

It really was no big deal at all.

So my advice to any of you out there holding onto ” thing you did or said” that you regret – even in only the smallest of ways. Find that person and simply apologise. It is never too late and it may give you the most incredible sense of freedom.

I think I have finally realised that we are all just doing the best we can and what is important is how we respond to events in our lives. Events outside our control and events of our own making.

Apologising really is not hard. And accepting someone else’s apology is equally as freeing too I have discovered of recent times.

So open your hearts people and get those apologies flowing.

Feel the release that apologising and forgiveness can bring – and move on!

It is simply liberating!

So go and be free!

#Discover You #Love You #Be You

Christine