Beautiful Day

Relax, enjoy the question — the answer will come at precisely the right time. Go for a quiet amble through the trees. Pay attention to the air you breathe, taste it, smell it, feel it with your fingers. Feel the earth under your feet, imagine this great planet slowing turning in space and you standing on it grinning like loon. 

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I don’t know and it doesn’t matter. But I know if my heart is clear and there’s a smile close to my lips, all will be well. I set my course before I rose. Today will be a cruise. I check my face in the mirror, my eyes are smiling. Rosellas are haggling at the feeder. Kangaroos graze in the cherry orchard. Feels like rain. Beautiful. 

Follow Your Bliss?

Sayings like 'follow your bliss' often bring a smile to our face and inspire us for a time, but they can offer much more. For me these succinct pearls of wisdom are also invitations to personal exploration ‑— to unpack how we are travelling and perhaps find some unlikely connections that apply in our day to day lives. So am I following my bliss? What does it look like?

Many of my role models though life have been people who are loving and respectful parents who go that extra mile for their children without compromising their dignity. You could say then, that I find a kind of bliss in nurturing and consequently enjoying healthy relationships.

Or when I hear about someone’s outlook on life I can refer to my own experiences and reflect to see if my philosophies/ beliefs still stand up or maybe could do with a tweak. Sometimes I am delighted to learn a few new tricks or conversely to understand that I’m actually travelling all right.

Having an attitude of always being open to learning brings its own kind of bliss — and I don’t intend to stop learning whist on this amazing planet. Be gentle with yourself, don’t underestimate the wisdom and knowledge that you have acquired thus far but be open to following your every-day-bliss in wonderful new ways.

Uncertainty

Learning to live with a degree of uncertainty can be a balm for the spirit, it can test our faith in ourselves and in our family and friends. It can also indicate how much control we need to exercise to feel secure (and we know that doesn’t work anyway). Will it turn out all right? Will it be just so? Our idea of perfect? I think sometimes wanting to know or have a hand on every move or figure every possible scenario can dull our senses.

 Sure it’s is fun and worthwhile to be analytical, to explore various ways of doing things, potential outcomes and in many situations this is of paramount importance but equally it is sometimes essential to let life happen and perhaps enjoy the fact... hey things turned out in an unexpectedly wonderful way and I didn’t actually have to worry, second guess or interfere with the process. 

The art of living — knowing when to take action, when to bide your time and allow others, allow life and the universe to do their work. This attitude of course will test the control freak in us, and ask the question; how much faith have you in other people? In the natural order of things? When you think about it we are the only species that do such an inordinate amount of manipulating of other people, our home life and our environment — just look at all the clipped hedges and manicured people (pardon) I mean lawns in suburbia. Let’s wear odd socks to work tomorrow. Wave good morning to the mail box and wish it a lovely day. Let go the reins once in a while, (don’t worry the stars won’t fall from the night sky) Put on your favourite music. Play with the kids, smile, life is ok.

All About You!

Switch off the computer, the mobile phone, maybe put on some relaxing music — grab a pen and paper. Prepare to spend the next 20 minutes doing something very different. Find somewhere comfortable to sit, take a few deep breaths, get a sense of yourself in the universe, in the world, the country you happen to be in, the city or village where you currently reside, the very place where you now sit, keep breathing and reflect quietly on this awareness.

Now write down three qualities you like about yourself, take your time and when you are satisfied write down the three qualities you admire or like in your partner or a close friend if you are single. Next list two activities you enjoy doing on your own and two activities you and your partner or friend enjoy doing together

Reflect on these qualities and on the enjoyment of shared activities —

and write how often you feel or express gratitude for these gifts.

Daily, weekly... very seldom, never?

And what are you going to do tomorrow?

Intention

Intention — deliberateness, design, calculation, forethought, preplanning...

With every thought, word and action directed to my partner, my children, my friends and my colleagues it is always my intention to be alert to their feelings — to be available to listen openly to what they want to share — to impart on them a sense of joy, empowerment and unconditional approval.

I know this is a mouthful but it deserves some reflection.

The above stated intentions or their like are first base in the art of loving. Adopting this attitude of intention and allowing it to become second nature so that we are demonstrating these qualities moment by moment will empower your relationships in profound ways.

Clients have reported back that practicing these qualities in their homes and work places has rejuvenated relationships, brought their kids closer and detoxified work environments.

Be the change you want to see...

Forgive

When your thoughts get stuck on someone you hate you are allowing them to live rent free in your head and heart — and I wonder if you can properly love others when you harbor feelings of hatred; wouldn’t your love be tainted?  Also there are serious health issues that come with ongoing negativity which of course will impact on the quality of your life and relationships.

Forgiveness is about survival, healing and renewal. Firstly one must make the choice to forgive and reinforce that decision every day; because forgiveness is a process. It is worthwhile to reflect that it is usually someone’s behavior we are forgiving not the whole person... very few among us are rotten to the core.

It can be useful to find a redeeming quality in the person you want to forgive. Focusing on this quality can demonstrate that they are in fact human, and worthy of forgiveness and whilst our forgiveness may not impact on their behavior it will free you of a debilitating mindset. 

Choice

Choice, what a concept!

I love the quote; it's not what happens in life but how you choose to respond! I heard that about 20 years ago and use it often.

The reality that we are making choices every minute of the day I think, unfortunately eludes many and we often get a good dose of their unhappiness.  Sadly, when these people are challenged (respectfully) on their negative outlook they might say stuff like; I can’t help it, that’s who I am, life is shit — et cetera. But when we grasp the fact that we have the power to be happy, content, healthy; the list is endless, by simply choosing to be, our life turns around and the transformation can be amazing. I’m not saying that it is always simple and easy, but it begins by you choosing.