And then it struck me as I lolled delightfully in my comfy little bed, that our lives are really like a boat.

They are geared naturally to take us somewhere, but unless we jump on board and set sail to harbours new, we are not going to go anywhere.

And whilst it is nice to watch your little boat sitting comfortably by the shoreline, you simply can not maximise it’s output or use it to it’s full extent, if you never actually get in it and take it for a spin in the surrounding waters.

And thus is your life.Your life is just like this little boat.

Sure it is nice and safe sitting idly by the shore’s edge, tied to the dock – but is it really fulfilling its true potential?

The answer is of course not.

You have to actively get into your life  - your little boat – and steer it to where you wish to go.

Around corners, out into deep waters, back into the shallows, out for a spot of fishing, a day out on the lake with friends, or a few hours practicing your artful manouvering to capitalise on all the boat has to offer.

This is the only way to evaluate the potential of your little boat – your life – what it is capable of and where it can take you.

You can theorise all you want, about it’s possibilities, it’s ability to float and navigate deep waters and bring joy to your life – but nothing will ever beat practical application and a hands on approach.

Life is no different.

I can certainly say from personal experience of my own little boat that I have:

* left the shore without adequate supplies and developed extreme hunger

* chosen the wrong trip for a boat my size

* upgraded to a ship too early and been out of my depth

* lost my proverbial oars into the ocean

*taken on water and and capsized

* misjudged the current capacities of the aforementioned boat and got into real trouble

* lost a few friends overboard

*navigated myself into treacherous waters which proved rather scary

But I have equally

*found the where-with-all to get out of some sticky situations

* had some marvellous afternoons quietly rocking on the water’s surface with a delightful lilt and sense of pure joy and satisfaction

* experienced some fantastic fishing trips

* learned to sail in all sized boats

* navigated my way to some pretty exotic, adventurous and fun places that only my little boat could take me

So you can see that you have to experience life personally to learn from its challenges and hone your life skills.

You have to take your boat out onto the water – and no-one else can do it for you.

Each little capsize is a lesson well learned, and a mistake – or rather misstep, that you will not make again. But if you little boat was left by the shore, you would be no better sailor and navigator today than you were a year ago, or ten years ago for that matter.

Capsizing is the sign of a life well spent.

A sign of lessons well learned.

A sign of knowledge that has been harvested and stored away for when it is needed.

So with each faltering expedition out onto the ocean in your little boat, be proud and courageous and learned. For you have succeeded in facing your fears, charting new territories and learning the inevitable lessons that come your way.

And for those seafarers amongst you, who are used to sailing out of the safe harbour, you will know the tremendous satisfaction that comes from both success and failure alike.

Success – a testament to a lesson well learned

Failure – strangely also a success, as it pin points and directs you effortlessly to the next challenge to be tackled. The next lesson to be learned and problem to be conquered.

So – you see it is a WIN WIN SITUATION.

Who knew?

We have been led to believe in this crazy world in which we live, that success is success and failure is failure.

Well nothing could be further from the truth.

Success sometimes comes with few lessons at all – so is it really success if gotten with no real knowledge and progress?

And failure? Failure can be a road to success with understanding and depth…….perhaps masking the real benefit of it’s experience.

For without initial failures and problems, you would have no appreciation of all you have achieved and even less understanding of how all the pieces in the puzzle fit together.

Failure brings with it invaluable knowledge to store for future use.

Success brings with it confidence to continue on and cast your boat a little further out into untested territories.

Both serve an invaluable purpose.

But neither can exist, if you do not jump enthusiastically into your little boat and steer it away from the safe harbour and into a brave new world.

You have been given this little boat – but only you can climb aboard and sail away into the possibility and adventures that await you.

So – for the next few days, I invite you to examine your little boat and if it is not already in the water and packed with supplies to go somewhere you have always wanted to go, I suggest you get prepared and plan to sail away for a little trip.

Choose your trip and companions wisely.

Choose the supplies you will need.

Let someone know where you are going so you have backup should you need it

Choose the waters into which you will sail and set your departure time…….

And then GO GO GO!

SAIL AWAY and live your life.

Get in that boat.

Chart your course.

Take the chance and set your aim.

You may just discover how invigorating it is to be a willing and pro-active participant in your own life.

The captain of your own ship. A seafarer extraordinaire. An adventurer of the high seas. A fisherman on a quiet lake.

The Master of your own Destiny!

#Discover You. #Love You. #Be You

Christine

Before I continue on, please rest assured that all is well in my world and I can already see huge improvements in my health, with symptoms diminishing daily. My chronic health issue that tends to raise its head whenever I am “out of whack”, has done its job – I have taken notice and attended to my health, lifestyle and mindset. My health being that of mind, body and spirit.

So my questions to you are these:

1. Are you attending to your health on a daily basis?

2. Are you ignoring signs that your body or mind are out of balance?

3. Or are you waiting for your own personal health crisis and challenge to wake you up to a life that is not in balance?

For the past 20 years I have had a keen interest in health, well being and the power of the mind when it comes to health challenges, so today I would like to share some of these insights and developments with you.

There is a myriad of information now accessible to all, that explains the connection between your physical health and your state of mind…….and vice versa. In fact the ancient wisdom traditions, going back thousands of years knew all of this, but with the advent of modern science and our need to prove everything from a scientific stand point, this ancient wisdom and knowledge was put to the side – on the back burner if you will – and considered ” not worthy of consideration” because it could not be proven and seen through scientific demonstration.

The exciting thing now, is that much of this ancient wisdom can now be proven through scientific means and it is flying back into the forefront of modern medicine and consideration. Many of our medical practitioners are now looking for a more “wholisitic” approach that melds modern medicine with ancient wisdom traditions.

For instance did you know that:

1. Stress and lifestyle are major contributors to illness

2. A sense of community, human connection and a sense of belonging, contribute much to our wellness

3. Meditation is a key , scientifically measurable and well documented component to healing the physical body and general health and well being

4.  Many so called “incurable” and “chronic” diseases have been cured through changes in diet, lowering of stress levels, and a change in attitude to self and to life in general

5. Belief in your ability to heal yourself is crucial in bringing your body back to a state of health and balance

6. Yes – you can carry genes and a genetic predisposition to a certain illness, BUT – you have to “flip the switch” and turn the gene on to manifest the disease. Flipping the switch is done by exposing yourself to a toxic environment through poor diet, living in a toxic area, and/or thinking toxic and negative thoughts

Now – I am not a scientist and it is not for me to tell you what to believe – but what if what I am saying is true?

What if there is another element to healing that you can use to support any healing journey?

And what if the greatest healing power on the planet is simply within you?

Would you want to give it a go?

Well today – I simply want to point you in the direction of some fantastic resources and from there you can make your own choices as to what is right for you.

Having gotten my own physical body back on track, at least three times now through change of diet, the use of meditation and a change in attitude to myself and to life in general with a lowering of contributing stress factors, I can only say from my experience that there is certainly something to this.

But as with all things in life – what you choose to investigate, implement and believe is up to you.

So here are some of those great resources to get you back on a road to health and well being:

1. The Biology of Belief – by Bruce H Lipton PHD

This is a great read for the scientifically uninitiated and explains a lot about the scientific proof, research and data to support this theory. It contains stunning new scientific discoveries about the biochemical effects of the brain’s functioning, that show that the cells of our body are effected by our thoughts.

2. Mind Over Matter – by Lissa Rankin M.D

Using extraordinary cases of spontaneous healing, Dr Rankin shows how thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can alter the body’s physiology. She lays out the scientific data proving that loneliness, pessimism, depression, fear and anxiety damage the body.

3. The Connection – Directed by Shannon Harvey

The Connection is a feature documentary that uncovers the latest science in mind body medicine and proves we have much more to say about our health than we thought possible.

I have included the film trailer for this and invite you to visit the website and grab a copy of the DVD if you are unable to find a screening near you.

I was lucky enough to see the film last night in Sydney at Govindas, and have to say that it was more than thought provoking. What struck me though, is how much of the content I have heard before. But I do not say that in a ” oh – I have heard it all before way”, but rather in a ” wow – so many people are saying the same thing, there must be some merit to it all” kind of way.

But like I said – you decide for yourself.

If you are suffering from a serious or chronic medical condition, I strongly advise you to seek medical advice, before undertaking any other course of action. I am not a doctor of any sort and it is not for me to advise you in medical matters………but I am saying that perhaps you can also harness the power of your mind, a change in diet and a change of attitude to yourself and your life to accelerate and/or compliment any traditional treatments you may now be using.

And if you are not experiencing any health difficulties at this time?

I encourage you to investigate these resources anyway,  have a look and see what you think – as prevention is always the better option………let me attest to that ha ha ha!

Dis-ease is a signpost.

Dis-ease is simply your body telling you that something in your life is “out of whack”

Dis-ease is a wake up call that your body, mind and spirit are not “at ease”

Your job is simply to activate your mind, body and spirit to get everything back in alignment, so that it is reflected in good health.

Mind – Body – Spirit – it all goes together as one.

So on that note – I invite you to start your journey of self discovery, into the true power that lives within you

The true power of your mind

The true power of your beliefs

The true power of You

Discover You. Love You. Be You.

Christine

-       Unknown –

All the quotes in my blog have had a powerful impact upon my own life, which is why I share them here with all of you today. And this particular quote is one of the most poignant. Sure, we have all had moments that we wish had played out differently. Things we have said. Actions we have taken. Moments that highlight our imperfections and inadequacies, rather than our strengths and our virtues.

But that is ok.

That is just how life is.

It is often these “less than ideal” situations or moments that push us to define what we truly want from ourselves. It is these moments that push us to discover exactly who we are – the light and the dark. The good and the bad. The wise and the not so wise. It is these very moments that create our identity, sense of purpose and sense of who we are. What we can do better. What we want to achieve. Where we want to head. So in my mind, we should be as grateful for these moments as we are for the ones that go swimmingly well and leave us basking in the fabulousness of who we are.

Along with this has also come the realization, that most moments that linger with me as “ gee – I wish I could do that again” – tend to be the moments I missed.

The opportunities that I didn’t capitalize upon.

The moments that came and went.

The experiences that passed me by as I either sat in indecision, or fear, or some other form of immobilization that stopped me from participating.

Some of these things were really simple things like not going abseiling because I thought my bottom would look big as I came down the side of the cliff. How ridiculous. How sad. How completely stupid. I hasten to add that years later I did have the opportunity to go Indoor Rock-climbing and this time no such worry stood in my way and I had a fabulous time.

The message here is quite simple – loud and clear.

Go out on that limb. Follow the path to new experiences.

Dare to try.

Dare to be different.

Dare to give it a go.

Why?

Because quite simply, the opportunity may not come your way again. You may miss the chance to meet some interesting people or do something new and worthwhile.

Of course – there are opportunities that present themselves daily that may represent a most unwise choice that could seriously harm yourself or the people around you and of course these are not the opportunities to which I am referring here. Anything that represents a clear and present danger to you or those around you should be avoided and declined at all costs.

What we are talking about here, are the things we let slip by that could take us on a new course, with no real danger to life and or limb. Things that float past our reality, beckoning us forth to a new adventure. Things that are on our “bucket list” perhaps but never quite happen. Things that we always dreamed of doing.

It is funny but true, that we will most likely be disappointed by the chances we didn’t take than by the ones we did. At least when you follow through on an idea, a wish, a dream, a plan – you know the results of your efforts.

But if that dream, that vision, that idea, that plan, that promise, that invitation is left unanswered – then you will never and can never know what might have been.

Would have  – could have – should have – are the most destructive and fruitless words in our vocabulary. They take you on a very short ride to nowhere.

Been there and done that are far more satisfying, even if the doing of the action cements firmly in your person that you have no intention of ever taking that course od action again. This could be said for my decision to go whale watching one wintery Sydney day. It was flat out the worst 3 hours of my life. The seas were incredibly rough and there was not a whale in sight. In fact, the only creature that made a brief appearance was a random seagull that happened past for but a moment.

To add salt to my wounds, whilst I was being violently ill over the side of the boat, making my reacquaintance with the bacon and egg roll I unwisely chose for breakfast, a Canadian couple were canoodling madly nearby. The scene was quite surreal. My sister and I beyond ill at one end of the boat whilst the Canadian Bear Grylls and his girlfriend were having a “love in” at the other ha ha ha.

Now – the point is. At least I went on that whale watching trip.

Would I do it again? Certainly not. But I am not sitting around wondering what it would have been like had I gone.

I have also been offered the opportunity to go sky diving  – twice no less.

However this is something that I have never done. And I must admit that I do sometimes sit around thinking what it would be like to jump put of a plane into oblivion at thousands of feet above land ha ha ha. So I do wonder if that is one thing I shall be disappointed in, within myself as I head to great beyond at the end of my life on the Planet.

As I said – we all have to way up in life what represents fair risk in our lives. And I am not suggesting you all run out and do crazy, risk taking activities, like sky diving or whale watching ha ha ha. I am simply recommending that you take life by the proverbial horns and get out there amongst it.

There is no longer the excuse of not having anyone to do things with, as there are oodles of social groups through which you can meet likeminded individuals and join up with them to try out some new things. Meet Up is a wonderful way to find kindred spirits of all kinds. They have groups for dancing, attending music, concerts and bands, discussing literature, watching films and documentaries that can change the world, dinner groups, drinking groups, non drinking but still having fun groups, hiking and bush walking groups, scientific groups, philosophical groups, foreign language groups etc etc . This list goes on and on -  so you can always jump on line and find some other people to enjoy some new things with you.

At the end of the day:

Only you know what is on your “bucket list “ .

Only you know what dreams live within your heart.

Only you know what opportunities you have let pass you by in the past

And only you can make a change into the future to seek, explore and discover all that you are, all that you want to do, all that you want to learn, all that you want to be and all that you want to experience.

So – make time each day to think about you. Make time each day to honour you and your dreams, your ambitions and your wishes.

Make that “bucket list” and start ticking off the items.

Make a decision to take opportunities as they come your way.

Get out and about and do some of those things you have always dreamed of doing, as one day, your time will be up.

So now – go back to the quote at the top and re-read it.

Then slowly close your eyes, listen to your heart and see what comes to your mind.

Imagine yourself dreaming, exploring and discovering.

Where is your little boat taking you?

To where are you sailing?

What adventures are you embarking upon?

What opportunities  and invitations will you not miss again?

Let your soul speak to you about what is lying dormant inside you waiting to be awoken.

Now – go – reread the quote again and I shall wait for you here. Do not open your eyes again until your heart is full of joy, full of ideas, full of excitement and full of possibilities.

Welcome back.

Now grab and pen and paper and write down exactly where you saw yourself.

Where was your soul drawing you to be?

What opportunities, activities and experiences have your name etched upon them?

Where are your sails taking you?

I can say that doing this little exercise and reading this little quote once a week or once a month can inject some purpose and drive into your life. Re-evaluate where you are at all the time, as we constantly change our minds and ideas and feelings – and that is OK too. That is simply growth.

So take the plunge and launch yourself headlong into life.

Organize those ukulele lessons. Book that trip to Machu Picchu. Catch up with that long lost friend for dinner. Accept the invitation to that seminar. Go out salsa dancing even though you are 70 and people say you are too old. Start that new cupcake business. Go hiking with a new group of like- minded people.

Just do it!

Like diving into a sea of possibility – if you don’t go in the water, you can’t experience the sweet caress of the waves or the sand beneath your feet.

As we all know. Life rewards action.

This is your time.

This is your moment.

This is your chance to move.

Discover. Love. Be.

This is all there is.

- Christine -

Blame the past.

Worry about the past.

Wish to change the past.

But let’s face it. The simple fact is that there has never been a more futile endeavor than sitting about contemplating our past failings…..or successes for that matter.

We live in the now.

We live in the present.

And the only thing we can really control is how we choose to act in the here and now.

If there is one thing I am striving to delete from my experience at this present time, it is regret.

It is the most futile of emotions.

The most futile of places to be.

The most ridiculous waste of time, when all is said and done.

As the great saying goes:

“What’s done is done and can not be undone”

So all we can do is focus 100% on the present.

Create actions and thoughts in this present moment, that can take us through to the next moment in a positive and empowered way. Positive actions today can certainly become the positive habits of tomorrow – all you need to do is let go of the past and swing full throttle into the present.

I must confess that I used to be very much a “regret laden” individual. This is a fact that any of my family members will attest to. Constantly asking –

“ But what if I had done that?”

“ Did I miss my opportunity by not taking that job?”

“ Should I have accepted that offer or that project?”

“ My life could have been so much different if only blah blah blah”

Well you know what!

You didn’t. And it is not. And it won’t be.

I am sure you all know someone who suffers from this condition.

This What if, If only, It should’ve been this way disease.

And it is painful to listen to in the extreme. I know because I had to listen to myself for a good number of years ha ha ha ha!

But enough is enough – I can’t go on  – I can’t go on – no more! [cue song and dancing girls]

I certainly do not have the answers to all of life’s big questions, but I do know this.

Spending your time basking in the unanswerable and unquantifiable world of “what if” is a sure way to nowhere but misery with a capitol M!

So – if this is you. Stand up right now. Look in a mirror and say simply:

“Enough is enough. You didn’t. You’re not. It’s not. It won’t be. You aren’t”

Now wave Bye Bye to that whinging, complaining slave to the past…… and be free!

Too easy!

That is it! Simple!

Decide right here and right now to move forward. To be present.

Now go forth and create a new reality, based on what you can actively do today to get where you want to be – today.

Start where you are now. Right now. And just build on it one little step at a time each and every day.

You might be surprised at just where you end up. But you have to start from where you are now, without regrets and without looking back at every missed opportunity, or misread adventure in a negative light.

We all have them.

Things that we perceive as mistakes.

Mis-steps.

Mis-haps.

Mis-adventures.

Missed opportunities.

Mis-calculations.

But perhaps – just perhaps – all these so – called unfortunate, regrettable incidents in our lives are the ones that we have learned the most from. Perhaps many of these things are what have brought us to where we are today. Perhaps these are the things that have forged understanding and compassion within our souls. Perhaps they are things that we actually really enjoyed, if we were honest with ourselves. Perhaps these “regrets” are what build our character and inform our mission and purpose in life, as we go forward. Perhaps they should be relished, cherished and used, as a force for good in our lives -their work already accomplished and done in the past.

We are after all, the sum of all we have experienced. And every moment of our lives has brought us to where we are today! Every moment whether perceived as good or bad, right or wrong, positive or negative has brought us to where we stand right now at this very minute. And perhaps we need to simply trust the process. Trust a higher order of things.

Perhaps regret really stands for:

Really

Easy

Growth

Reserved

Especially for

Today

Like I said earlier. Regret as we know and perceive of it, is a wasted emotion.

A road to nowhere.

An empty boat.

So the choice is yours.

Either move forward and give regret the flick. Or move to a place where your perception of it takes on a more positive and helpful connotation.

- Christine -

  Anthony Douglas Williams – Inside the Divine Pattern

This would have to be one of my favourite quotes of all time, as it is quite emblematic of my own journey thus far, and as such a little poker that keeps prodding me to move forward even though I am constantly full of doubt and uncertainty.

I sometimes wonder if perhaps people read all my blog posts and think to themselves: “ Wow – that Christine really has it together”. When this thought runs speedily through my head and out the other side again, I have to laugh, as nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it is this indecision and self -doubt that brought me to where I am today, as my motivation is to simply point out to everyone else, that we all feel these sorts of feelings.

It doesn’t matter how confident we may appear to the outside world, everyone I have ever met has some sort of self doubt, fear, worry etc etc

That is just how life is.

Life is meant to be a challenge.

And it  is how we meet these challenges that determines how our life pans out.

To be honest, I have usually found that those people with the most skill and experience in any area, are often the people with the most self -doubt. I have been fortunate to know and teach, some incredibly talented people in my time and I have always found that the more talented and hard working the person the least confident they are.

This irony was strange to me at first, but then it all made sense.

People who are good at what they do are usually incredibly perfectionistic and judgemental when it comes to their own work. And sometimes the work of those around them too. It is like a double- edged sword. On one had it can make for some miserable self –assessments but on the other side it creates brilliance in some way too, as the standards set are exacting.

So my point here is:  what you can become,is very much defined by whatever you can overcome

As the quote says – you need to define yourself by what you can overcome as opposed to being defined by what scares or intimidates you.

As many successful people will tell you, they had no idea what they were doing when they started or launched their first ever project. But they did it anyway. Learned from those mistakes and moved on to the next project.

So what we need to do,is harness the very things that can so easily block our path and use them to our advantage. And these next two are the most common blocks we all experience.

1. Fear of failure.

Put it to bed and overcome it. Better to have tried and failed,then to not have tried at all. Trying is winning after all. Not giving your ideas a go is the real failure. A failure to believe in yourself. A failure to follow your gut and your intuition. Making yourself a casualty of your own lack of belief is really sad. I personally think there is no such thing as failure: you take the plunge and you will end up somewhere – moving you to the next step of where you are going. It may not be a full step – it may just be a little hiccup of a step. But you will land somewhere – and that somewhere will be a step across from where you were at least. Stagnation is death. Death of the soul.

2. Worry about what other people will think and say.

50% of people will love what you do and 50% will most likely hate it. That is the Law of The Universe and the Law of Averages. So suck it up and do not concern yourself with them. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do – there will always be  equal amounts of criticism and adoration. That is just how it goes. I mean, think of your favourite celebrity, or actor, or humanitarian, or activist, or writer, or singer, or scientist. It does not matter how fabulous you think someone is, there will be someone out there determined to criticize them and send a whole heap of negativity their way.  At the same time, a whole heap of positive reinforcement will come your way too. So if someone who is already way further down the accomplishment path than you can get criticism thrown at them – why can’t you?

In my own life, I have had to really dig deep to accomplish some of my goals and some things I have missed out on because I could not conquer and overcome my fears and anxieties.

My first huge life challenge was starting to learn drum-kit at age 24. I felt quite foolish walking into Billy Hydes Drumcraft, in Commonwealth St, Surry Hills at that age to have my first lesson. All the guys working there seemed so very young and pretty cool  – and they could all play drums of course. And I felt like some old and “all too late to learn woman”.

When I had my first ever ‘jam / audition’ to join a band I was so nervous that I would take too long to set up my kit ,that I spent hours at home in my lounge room, assembling and de-assembling my drum-kit. And timing myself ha ha ah! Up and down. Up and down. Up and down.  The whole thing – kick, toms, peddle, microphone in case they required backing vocals, high hat, ride! Over and over and over again, until I was satisfied I would look like I knew what I was doing. If anyone could have seen me they would have laughed and laughed. Especially all the guys at  Billy Hydes. However – I had overcome my fear of looking stupid setting up my kit and I was on my way.

Well   – I am glad I did it. One of my bands I joined ended up being played on the radio some 5 years or so later. On Nova 96.9 in a battle of the bands competition of some sort. And I will never forget driving down Parammatta Rd, listening to me – Little Chrissy [ you will remember her from some other posts ] – playing drum-kit in a fabulous little Pop band called Sugar Hit.

Unfortunately, my bravery did not last and I was not able to overcome my fear of moving to the next level and moving to a place where I could play covers regularly in paying gigs and perhaps even be a session drummer. One rejection at an audition for a Rock Covers Band and I was cactus. The other drummers had serious drum-kits with all the bells and whistles. About 4 or 5 toms set up on a very impressive rack and I just had my trusty 5 piece black Pearl Export with a crash and a ride. My confidence was gone. My audition / jam was rubbish.

All over red rover.

I couldn’t bring myself to go and “jam” again as I felt so sure I was no good.

So – that was the end of my career as a drummer.

However something of value did come out of this experience. And that was experience.

The next time I felt that I wasn’t good enough. I turned around and did it anyway.

And that was when I launched my tap syllabus Tapatak Oz.

Having the memory of “what might have been” as a drummer lurking in my memory, I determined that no matter what, I was going to write this syllabus and launch it out into the public arena.

I would not be defeated by fear. I would not give up before I even tried.

If it sold some copies that would be great.

And, if it didn’t sell?

No worries – I had allowed for my investment capitol to be lost.

At least I would know that I had tried and given it my best shot.

But as it happened, it did sell. And sell well. Obliterating all my expectations.

Not only did it sell in Australia, but I now have clients all over the world from Dubai to Finland to USA to New Zealand to France and Italy and Singapore.

Examinations and teacher Accreditation are also running throughout Australia.

To be honest – I don’t know if I thought I would ever sell any of this syllabus, even though I believed 100% in the quality and effectiveness of the product and still do.

It is great.

But I just had to try.  I could not face another “drumming fiasco” full of  “what might have been”.

So the point is this – if I had not been able to overcome my fear of putting myself and my tap dancing education product out there, it would not exist.

Pure and simple.

What you can become really does depend on what you can overcome.

So when you are looking at what you may want to do with your life and where you may want to go, stop and think to yourself:

1. What is stopping me here?
2. How can I overcome it?
3. What are my action steps to face this fear

Then lock and load – and you are on your way.

I now have this quote above my laptop in my office where I can see it every day.

It inspires me in all aspects of my life.

It guides me through new relationships, new friendships and all manner of endeavours – social, business, family, professional and personal.

It has helped me conquer my fear of flying, as I realized that if I wanted to travel, I had to conquer that fear.

Life really can be quite simple sometimes.

So discover what you need to conquer to be the person you want to be and to live the life you want to live.

Discover. Love. Be. Truth.

- Christine -

Perhaps we have forgotten the true art of giving. A giving that requires nothing but an awareness of our capacity to do so. A giving that can truly impact upon another person and make their day.

The giving of our time.

The giving of our attention.

The giving of our support.

The generosity of our spirit seems to be what we are missing in today’s modern world. And we are missing out big time because the beauty of this type of giving is that it pays the biggest dividends right back to you – immediately.

It leaves the giver and the receiver both feeling pretty wonderful and most of the time, all it takes is a little bit of thought. A little bit of awareness – and perhaps a little bit of stepping out of our comfort zones and making the first move.

One instance that I remember vividly was walking down Pitt St in the heart of Sydney on a busy Tuesday afternoon. I do not usually go into the city but I was attending a seminar and was walking back from lunch. As I walked down the street an old man with a big square walking frame, came shuffling very slowly and methodically towards me.  He looked so out of place. Moving so slowly, his head bowed low with such determination. People flying past him, hurriedly eating food, talking on their phones, traffic screeching past. Everyone in their own very self-important worlds.

And there amongst this chaos was this grey haired man, just quietly plodding down the street – with no acknowledgment from anyone that he was even there. It was like he was invisible. It was like he didn’t exist. And it made me feel so incredibly sad. So incredibly ashamed of what our society has become. So desperate to make him smile and make him see that someone had noticed him that busy Tuesday lunchtime.

As people continued to rush by us, I suddenly felt an urge to simply say hello to this man as he passed by.

So I made eye contact and said: “ Good afternoon – what a gorgeous day ”

That was it. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing earth shatteringly witty or robust.

Nothing that required great intelligence, thought or humour.

Just a simple greeting.

This elegant and somewhat determined gentleman immediately looked to me .His eyes, which had been so full of sadness not a moment earlier, were suddenly lit up like a Xmas Tree! His face beamed with a smile that I will never forget as he responded: “ Yes – it is indeed a beautiful day.”

And that was it.

The end of our exchange.

He shuffled off out of sight and I continued back to my seminar

The whole episode took no more than 10 seconds.

But what an incredible 10 seconds they were.

Our two souls connected for that moment and I will never forget it.

I felt on top of the world.

Energized. Invincible. Useful.

I remember thinking to myself – now that is what life is about!

Sure – I am not always so self aware and giving. None of us is. But this day, I felt that I got it right.

So my challenge to you is to try and give – each and every day.

Give the gift of time and acknowledgement.

It may be to a stranger. It may be to a family member. It may be to a friend.

And you may just be blown away by how much joy you can feel in this one quick and easy  step.

Helping a stranger get their pram up a flight of stairs. Grabbing the other end of a suitcase for a traveller struggling to get on the bus. Saying hello to the person selling the Big Issue on the street corner. Smiling and saying hello as you pass a stranger in the street. Making conversation with your neighbours in the elevator where you live. Telling your local barista that you love his coffee and that he does a great job.

Taking your i-pod out of your ears and chatting with the person waiting at the bus stop next to you. Calling your Mum or Dad and having a chat for 5 – 10 minutes. Calling a friend you haven’t heard from in ages, to check all is OK in their world. Holding the door open for someone – just because. Giving up your seat on the bus or train for an older person or a woman with children who needs to sit. Helping someone carry their groceries. Baking cookies for the people at work.

This list could go on forever – but I am sure you are getting the picture.

We have been convinced in our consumer driven world, that we need to have money to give. That we need to buy people stuff to show them that we care.

But the simple truth is that we all have the capacity to give the biggest gift of all.

The gift of us!

Knowing that you can impact someone else’s day so greatly and with so little effort is a truly empowering thing.

So feel great about being you. You have the power to make someone else’s day. And it doesn’t have to cost you a thing.

All you need to do is look out for those opportunities and take them when you see them.

We all just want to be seen.

We all just want to be heard.

We all just want to be acknowledged .

And the Power to Connect with another human being is all yours.

So go and exercise that power.

Give the gift of you.

It will give back to you ten fold and put a smile firmly on your face for days!

Enjoy. Give. Connect.

- Christine -

Live your truth.