There is a quote from the Buddha I love-
“Your Body is Precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with Care.”
The last time I wrote on this blog was a year ago around the same time as now. (I’ve had a sabbatical of sorts, but I’m back my beautiful lifers ☺)
A time when it seems all forms of media wheel out the tried and done before stories on New Year Resolutions, diets, bodies, body makeovers, how to lose 5 kilos in 2 weeks, and countless other articles relating to our bodies. It’s the time of year we cant help but look at ourselves and think it might be time to work on our health and weight…again!
I started thinking about the issues we all have with our bodies. It’s as if we have Two Bodies, the one we actually live in, and then the one we are constantly dreaming we have, the one we relentlessly inspire to have, the one that makes us look at the one we with aversion, by wishfully wanting the other. The one we think will bring us happiness and contentment, that once we have we will live happily ever after.
We can easily find beauty all around us in the world, but not in our own bodies.
We spend time and energy on looking after our minds. Reading and educating ourselves. Finding out about Positive Thought, Mindfulness, and Meditation.
But a serene mind is nothing without a healthy body.
And I say healthy body; I don’t say thin, buff, perfect body.
What we need to aim for is a Healthy Body.
What we really need to aim for is a Healthy Relationship with our body.
We most certainly need to damn well appreciate and love these bodies!
Your Body Is Precious!
The body you have is the Home to your Soul. It is your Home. This body knows you, it looks after you as best it can, and it works with what we give it. What are you giving yours to work with?
Have you ever thought about all the things your body does for you?
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Not only does it do all the anatomy stuff with out us even noticing, such as breathing, pumping blood, healing, detoxing, digesting, renewing cells- but it also hugs our loved ones, kisses our lover, and cradles our children. It runs to the train station, jogs around a lake, the housework done, laughs with friends, the family fed, dances all night, the kids to school, your work finished.
It unlocks your front door at the end of every busy day, it takes you wherever you want to go, it joins you in any activity you want to do.
This is a daily miracle, which we don’t even notice, and that is because our bodies perform it so gracefully. Imagine if we had to think about everything to get anything to happen. Seriously, like breathing, heart beating, walking, looking, arms swinging…now times that by a ga-jillion.
We need to appreciate all this hard work our body puts in for us and take care of it.
We need to appreciate all the things our body does and be grateful and love it.
Life is way to short to hate your body. To be constantly picking on your own body and wishing it were different. Your body is a temple, you need to get down on your knees and worship it. (and if you don’t, how will anyone else feel inclined to either).
Don’t compare your body to others; it will only make you bitter…or vain.
Don’t compare your body to others- do you want all of their lives? Their problems, their job, their terrible sense of humour?
Don’t compare yourself to others, everybody is supposed to be different, we are all unique. You’re not others.
Love YOUR body.
When you think of people whom you really admire, who inspire you, who you enjoy being with…is it their body that gives you these feelings? No, it is who they are, their confidence, happiness, strengths, intelligence, kind nature…it is many, many things, but is not…Gee, I really love that amazing person as she has a such great body.
Probably one thing you have subconsciously noticed about most of the people you admire is that they most likely carry their body with confidence.
Love your body, and be proud to walk around in it. Hold your head up, shoulders back, and STRUT! Walk with savvy confidence, which tells every one, I love this body of mine, I feel good in it, I appreciate it…you will be amazed how good this feels to do. And if you are just new at loving your body, think of the old adage when all else fails- Fake It! Yep, that’s right, Fake it, till you Make it!
Focus on your body’s good points, not it’s faults. Hey it’s got you this far, that’s something pretty awesome right there. I’m sure you have many bits you can love, give it a go, have a think about it and make a mental list. Remember that list when you want to think about how you don’t like your thighs, and revert to the “good bits” list! Banish the negative Body Talk, with your “Good Bits” list. Love your long legs, your shiny hair, the beautiful colour of your eyes, and your infectious laugh.
Pay attention to when people compliment you on what you are wearing, this means you are wearing a style that suits your body shape. Wear clothes that suit YOU. Wear comfortable clothes, nothing can make us feel worse than a “too tight waistband” or a “too short shirt”. You don’t have to be a clone. Wear clothes that you feel good in (and then you get your confident walk going…and Look Out!)
Stop hoarding clothes to fit that other body; it just makes you miserable to see them. It also makes you feel miserable to have nothing to wear, replace them, with something that fits and looks great.
…Treat It With Care.
Yes, we do need to love our body enough to treat it with a little care, like we would for others without even thinking. Treat it like you would your own child. Make sure it gets enough sleep, eats healthily, and doesn’t spend too much time in front of the TV.
Get enough SLEEP. Your body has worked hard for you all day, and everyday. Give it enough time to rest, rejuvenate, repair and rehydrate.
MAKE SMALL CHANGES with Food. 1 extra piece of fruit a day. 1 less cup of coffee. Another alcohol free day in your week. A few less takeaways a month.
GO SLOWER. It’s not a race; no one wins a trophy at the end. Slow Down. Oh, and try to slow down your eating too while your at it.
LISTEN. Your body talks to you all the time. Listen to your pain. A sore neck, how are you sitting at your desk, stretch. Headaches, dehydrated, have a glass of water. Tired, get some sleep.
WATER!!
Give your body more water!
Life cannot exist without water. Water prevents and cures illnesses and ailments.
Our bodies are 80% water.
Our cells are made up of water.
Our spine needs water, to hold our body up; there is water between every disc.
Water stimulates the circulation of blood and fluids. It aids digestion, absorption, excretion and toxin removal- it is our natural de-toxer, want to go on a Detox just drink more water!
Water invigorates and relaxes the body, so…whatever your mood, have a glass of water; it will help you either way.
Our skin is 90% water. Without it, our skin is unhealthy, flaky, tight, dry, and more prone to wrinkles. Water controls and regulates the skins natural balance.
Did you know that all other drinks require water from our body to be properly digested? They steal from us! A soft drink requires 8-12 glasses of water to replace what is uses to digest. Other drinks do not quench our thirst; in fact they really dehydrate us. So we drink another soft drink or coffee, and we become more dehydrated…we get a headache, we feel thirsty, Have A Glass of Water, better yet, have a glass of water before you feel thirsty!
DON’T EXERCISE TO LOSE WEIGHT. Exercise for enjoyment. Find something you enjoy doing. For me its yoga and beach walking, for others it is pure joy to go to the gym, run or cycle. Maybe it’s a game of tennis with friends, walking the dog, or a game of golf. Find what you love, what clears your mind, gets you breathing deeply. When I leave my Yoga I can always feel my body saying “Thank you”. When I take a long power walk on the beach early in the morning, I get to think about everything I need to for my day, before the kids are up, and I’m busy making breakfasts and getting them off to school. And when I roller-skate with my 9-year-old daughter, well, that’s just fun! As a lovely 80 year old said to me when I expressed my admiration for her daily long walk, “You gotta Move it, or You’ll Lose it!” That’s all it takes, just getting some movement.
AWARENESS and RESPONSIBILITY.
A friend read over this blog for me last night before I posted, and she asked the question “Why did I think we had become so “disconnected” from our true bodies?” Yes, Why?
Maybe the reason we are not happy with the body we have is; it is easier to distance ourselves from the knowledge that we are not making healthy choices as often as we should. It is easier to hate your stomach roll, then to accept you may eat too much junk food, or drink to much alcohol, or do absolutely no exercise.
We need to understand the impact of our daily habits. And whether you choose healthy habits or unhealthy habits.
We need to take Responsibility. Only you are responsible for what shape your body is in. Next time you grab that muffin top with disgust, think about your habits, and what you are giving your precious body to work with?
Are you being Mindful…or mindless when it comes to how you treat your body?
ALWAYS ACCEPT and LOVE.
Revel in your positives, instead of wasting time squeezing cellulite. Don’t let the shape of your body hold back your happiness; life is about so much more than your hips. If you are making healthy choices more often than not, your body will be at the size it is supposed to be, whatever the number on the jeans is. Love that. Live in the now, be grateful for what your body is capable of doing for you and treat yourself with some kindness. Be astounded every night and every morning with what this wonderful body has given.
Your Beauty and Worth cannot be measured on a set of scales or with a tape measure.
Love your beautiful bodies, they are truly amazing!
suzy x
Showing posts with label Mindfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mindfulness. Show all posts
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, August 13, 2010
You are how YOU eat.
I have a confession to make; I am a terrible eater.
I wolf down my breakfast whilst standing at the kitchen counter, as I make the kid’s school lunches and coax them into hurrying up to get ready. I have even eaten my breakfast in the car on the way to work, sitting at the lights gulping down my cereal, trying not to spill it on myself as I negotiate the busy morning traffic.
Come lunchtime and I’m either at my computer at work or in front of some riveting television show such as Doctor Phil at home. Barely aware of what I am consuming, let alone how much.
After my busy day I gorge my dinner, concentrating only on satiating my appetite.
Eating is not a race, and really no one will come along and steal it from me if I don’t eat it fast enough. So why the hurry?
I don’t know how or when I picked up such terrible eating habits.
I remember having to speed it up a notch once I started breast feeding my first child- there was no time for dilly-dallying, I only had a small window of opportunity to get some food into my ravenous system!
I have decided to become a Mindful Eater and form an Eating Slowly Plan.
I will start with visualizing. I am going to visualize myself eating slowly for a short time every day, a little like an elite athlete in training before a competition.
I will begin by setting aside time for eating.
Not reading, not on the computer, not in front of the TV, not mindlessly doing something while I consume.
I will try to set up a system where I have 15-20 minutes to enjoy my meal.
Righto, once I get that down I should be all prepared and ready to go!
I will relax, take a few deep breaths, a sip of water, and acknowledge the food I am about to eat. I will be aware of what I am going to eat. Noting the name of the food, the look of the meal, lean forward and smell the different aromas. I may even give a little thank you to the food, that’s kind of sweet!
I will sit down with my plate of food. I will use smaller utensils- I knew there was a reason I held onto the kid’s toddler cutlery! I may even have to employ chopsticks- all the better to not heap up on my shovel, I mean fork. I will place my utensils down between each mouthful.
I am thinking it will be a good idea to cut my food into a tiny piece for each mouthful, making it easier to chew up completely, and much better than my usual very bad habit of “mashing” it all together which is now I think about it- all the better for shovelling! Or another favourite, getting lockjaw, whilst I attempt to get my mouth around another huge mouthful.
With all these new techniques I will be able to stop burning my mouth on a whole dumpling at Yum Cha- I will have to take along my toddler cutlery though!
I will chew slowly, I will taste, and I will deliberately notice textures and flavours. Well hello Coriander, aren’t you delightful!
I will chew till the flavours slowly decrease.
I will swallow completely.
I will sip water.
Before I take the next mouthful.
I will be aware of the people I am sharing my meal with. I will discuss the meal, after I have finished chewing and swallowing of course, not with my half full mouth covered by my hand!
I will enjoy my food.
I will change my relationship with food.
Eating slowly and chewing well will also aid my digestion. Mindful Eating will trigger the sensors that allow me to realize I am satisfied, not as hungry anymore. I will avoid overeating, and therefore maintain a healthy weight.
I am thinking by eating like this, it will give me another opportunity to “de-stress” my day. Taking time out. From the race, the pace, the busyness.
Just a sandwich, peace and quiet and me.
Mindfulness while eating — being fully present with food — can be both enjoyable and relaxing.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist monk, encourages eating an orange slowly, being present at every stage from first breaking the peel to the last drop of juice.
The following meditation is an adaptation of Hanh’s exercise that can be used with any favourite fruit. Plan to spend ten minutes or longer on this exercise, and schedule it at a time without interruptions.
1. Breath deeply three times, slowly and carefully, or until one feels connected to the self.
2. Pick up the orange (or other fruit) and hold it in the palm of the hand. Feel its texture. Notice its colour. Spend some time examining and enjoying the orange.
3. Slowly begin to peel the orange. Notice the change that occurs under the orange’s skin. Take time to smell the orange. Gently stroke the exposed flesh.
4. When the orange is peeled, pick up a segment. Bite into it, and close the eyes to concentrate fully on the orange’s flavour. Do not take another bite until all of the previous bite is gone.
5. Pause occasionally to reflect on any new sensations from eating the orange.
6. When the orange is gone, focus again on the self with several deep breaths. When ready, open the eyes.
The orange meditation might offer a welcome afternoon snack break at work or at any time when one desires to combine a healthy food with some time out from life.
If having trouble focusing on the orange, stop and take a few deep breaths to centre the self. Then try, again, to soak in the details of the orange. Take as much time as desired, and be certain to not put too much pressure on the self during the exercise. Indeed, there is no wrong way to eat an orange.
I am really looking forward to bringing this Mindfulness method into my life, to be able to experience and enjoy food in the moment.
Beautiful food, beautiful moment, beautiful life.
suzy x
I wolf down my breakfast whilst standing at the kitchen counter, as I make the kid’s school lunches and coax them into hurrying up to get ready. I have even eaten my breakfast in the car on the way to work, sitting at the lights gulping down my cereal, trying not to spill it on myself as I negotiate the busy morning traffic.
Come lunchtime and I’m either at my computer at work or in front of some riveting television show such as Doctor Phil at home. Barely aware of what I am consuming, let alone how much.
After my busy day I gorge my dinner, concentrating only on satiating my appetite.
Eating is not a race, and really no one will come along and steal it from me if I don’t eat it fast enough. So why the hurry?
I don’t know how or when I picked up such terrible eating habits.
I remember having to speed it up a notch once I started breast feeding my first child- there was no time for dilly-dallying, I only had a small window of opportunity to get some food into my ravenous system!
I have decided to become a Mindful Eater and form an Eating Slowly Plan.
I will start with visualizing. I am going to visualize myself eating slowly for a short time every day, a little like an elite athlete in training before a competition.
I will begin by setting aside time for eating.
Not reading, not on the computer, not in front of the TV, not mindlessly doing something while I consume.
I will try to set up a system where I have 15-20 minutes to enjoy my meal.
Righto, once I get that down I should be all prepared and ready to go!
I will relax, take a few deep breaths, a sip of water, and acknowledge the food I am about to eat. I will be aware of what I am going to eat. Noting the name of the food, the look of the meal, lean forward and smell the different aromas. I may even give a little thank you to the food, that’s kind of sweet!
I will sit down with my plate of food. I will use smaller utensils- I knew there was a reason I held onto the kid’s toddler cutlery! I may even have to employ chopsticks- all the better to not heap up on my shovel, I mean fork. I will place my utensils down between each mouthful.
I am thinking it will be a good idea to cut my food into a tiny piece for each mouthful, making it easier to chew up completely, and much better than my usual very bad habit of “mashing” it all together which is now I think about it- all the better for shovelling! Or another favourite, getting lockjaw, whilst I attempt to get my mouth around another huge mouthful.
With all these new techniques I will be able to stop burning my mouth on a whole dumpling at Yum Cha- I will have to take along my toddler cutlery though!
I will chew slowly, I will taste, and I will deliberately notice textures and flavours. Well hello Coriander, aren’t you delightful!
I will chew till the flavours slowly decrease.
I will swallow completely.
I will sip water.
Before I take the next mouthful.
I will be aware of the people I am sharing my meal with. I will discuss the meal, after I have finished chewing and swallowing of course, not with my half full mouth covered by my hand!
I will enjoy my food.
I will change my relationship with food.
Eating slowly and chewing well will also aid my digestion. Mindful Eating will trigger the sensors that allow me to realize I am satisfied, not as hungry anymore. I will avoid overeating, and therefore maintain a healthy weight.
I am thinking by eating like this, it will give me another opportunity to “de-stress” my day. Taking time out. From the race, the pace, the busyness.
Just a sandwich, peace and quiet and me.
Mindfulness while eating — being fully present with food — can be both enjoyable and relaxing.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist monk, encourages eating an orange slowly, being present at every stage from first breaking the peel to the last drop of juice.
The following meditation is an adaptation of Hanh’s exercise that can be used with any favourite fruit. Plan to spend ten minutes or longer on this exercise, and schedule it at a time without interruptions.
1. Breath deeply three times, slowly and carefully, or until one feels connected to the self.
2. Pick up the orange (or other fruit) and hold it in the palm of the hand. Feel its texture. Notice its colour. Spend some time examining and enjoying the orange.
3. Slowly begin to peel the orange. Notice the change that occurs under the orange’s skin. Take time to smell the orange. Gently stroke the exposed flesh.
4. When the orange is peeled, pick up a segment. Bite into it, and close the eyes to concentrate fully on the orange’s flavour. Do not take another bite until all of the previous bite is gone.
5. Pause occasionally to reflect on any new sensations from eating the orange.
6. When the orange is gone, focus again on the self with several deep breaths. When ready, open the eyes.
The orange meditation might offer a welcome afternoon snack break at work or at any time when one desires to combine a healthy food with some time out from life.
If having trouble focusing on the orange, stop and take a few deep breaths to centre the self. Then try, again, to soak in the details of the orange. Take as much time as desired, and be certain to not put too much pressure on the self during the exercise. Indeed, there is no wrong way to eat an orange.
I am really looking forward to bringing this Mindfulness method into my life, to be able to experience and enjoy food in the moment.
Beautiful food, beautiful moment, beautiful life.
suzy x
Thursday, April 29, 2010
This Week
This week I am going to eat ONE meal mindfully- I am going to eat slowly, put my knife and fork down between mouthfuls, and not read a magazine, newspaper, watch the TV or sit in front of the computer. I am going to eat my meal mindfully, think about the taste, the ingredients, and the process of making it- even if it’s a tuna sandwich!
This week, I am going to remind myself how easy it is to slip into being judgmental. It does not affect my life how someone else IS. It does not matter to my well being ONE bit, how someone else is, looks, dresses or speaks. It affects my wellbeing when I allow myself to be judgemental. When I feel these slip-ups I need to slap myself on the wrist, and remind myself of my choice to live a beautiful life!
This week I am going to focus on the people who bring happiness, beauty, fun and all things good to my life, I am definitely not going to allow myself to feel upset by what negative people are playing out in their own lives.
This week I will remember that my body is not only a temple, but also you are what you eat…and that throwing a slow cooker together in the morning is as easy as grabbing take away on the way home from swimming squad.
This week I am going to find someone that I can do something for to change his or her circumstances this week. It could be a comment, a deed, a phone call, or an action. We are all surrounded by opportunities to be generous to those we do and do not know. We should seize these opportunities, and thank the universe for allowing us to be generous.
This week I will also do something for me. I’m pretty good at this, and don’t need reminders. I should remind myself though, how cool it is to be able to have a midday nap, buy a magazine, sip a coffee while watching the world go by or just sit somewhere in the sun.
I’m going to look at the sky more, breathe deeply, and listen to people when they are speaking without thinking about what I want to say next. I’m going to walk slowly and take in all that is around me, instead of rushing to where I want to go.
I’m going to buy a bunch of flowers, clean out a cupboard, play with the cat and watch a chick flick.
I’m going to worry and complain less. I’m going to smile, laugh and share more. I will continue to remind myself what I am grateful for every morning. I will try to keep being the best friend I can be. I will really focus on the joy my children bring me, and not what drives me crazy. I will agree with my husband, not because I necessarily do, but because it doesn’t really matter either way most of the time
I am going to embrace problematic situations, as an opportunity to find the solution. I am going to challenge myself to overcome low moments and hurdles, and be grateful to be able to feel my strengths.
I will do these things because I know they change my life for the better.
I know how beautiful my life is.
suzy x
This week, I am going to remind myself how easy it is to slip into being judgmental. It does not affect my life how someone else IS. It does not matter to my well being ONE bit, how someone else is, looks, dresses or speaks. It affects my wellbeing when I allow myself to be judgemental. When I feel these slip-ups I need to slap myself on the wrist, and remind myself of my choice to live a beautiful life!
This week I am going to focus on the people who bring happiness, beauty, fun and all things good to my life, I am definitely not going to allow myself to feel upset by what negative people are playing out in their own lives.
This week I will remember that my body is not only a temple, but also you are what you eat…and that throwing a slow cooker together in the morning is as easy as grabbing take away on the way home from swimming squad.
This week I am going to find someone that I can do something for to change his or her circumstances this week. It could be a comment, a deed, a phone call, or an action. We are all surrounded by opportunities to be generous to those we do and do not know. We should seize these opportunities, and thank the universe for allowing us to be generous.
This week I will also do something for me. I’m pretty good at this, and don’t need reminders. I should remind myself though, how cool it is to be able to have a midday nap, buy a magazine, sip a coffee while watching the world go by or just sit somewhere in the sun.
I’m going to look at the sky more, breathe deeply, and listen to people when they are speaking without thinking about what I want to say next. I’m going to walk slowly and take in all that is around me, instead of rushing to where I want to go.
I’m going to buy a bunch of flowers, clean out a cupboard, play with the cat and watch a chick flick.
I’m going to worry and complain less. I’m going to smile, laugh and share more. I will continue to remind myself what I am grateful for every morning. I will try to keep being the best friend I can be. I will really focus on the joy my children bring me, and not what drives me crazy. I will agree with my husband, not because I necessarily do, but because it doesn’t really matter either way most of the time
I am going to embrace problematic situations, as an opportunity to find the solution. I am going to challenge myself to overcome low moments and hurdles, and be grateful to be able to feel my strengths.
I will do these things because I know they change my life for the better.
I know how beautiful my life is.
suzy x
Thursday, March 18, 2010
How To Be Happy
Happiness is a Choice.
We have to squash our negative thoughts...like a bug!
It takes so much energy to think and speak negatively.
It takes all our energy away from us when we choose to feel miserable, to hate, to be angry, to judge others.
Pull yourself up from negative thinking, slap yourself on the wrist. (I actually do that, physically!)
Happiness is a Choice. Make It.
Feel the Love People!
Love the people around you. Love your home. Love your pet.
Love your dinner. Love your bed. Love the weather.
The stronger you feel love, the stronger the power of the Law of Attraction in your life. The stronger the Law of Attraction; the stronger the power to create a beautiful life and attract more love into your life!
Be Grateful. For your family, for your friends, for your job, for your car, for your furniture, for your toothbrush!
If you wake up every morning and feel true gratitude for all that you have, you will feel happiness, how can you not. Mentally going through a list of what you are grateful for reminds you of the positives in your life, of what is important to you.
Mindfulness. Live in the moment. When the moment is good, do not worry about things that have happened, or things that could happen. When the moment is good, sit back and notice, smile, take a mental snap shot. Life is good, whether it’s a funny moment, great meal, fresh breeze. Enjoy these moments. Notice them.
Do not judge others, and do not allow yourself to be judged by others. I believe judgment of others to be one of the biggest failings we can have.
It is sneaky and comes up in our thoughts with out us even noticing. It is erroneous and a daily battle worth fighting.
I can’t say this enough, if you stop judging others you will immediately drop a little misery- just like that.
Do not compare yourself to others either... be inspired by them.
Be happy with who you are, where you are and what you have.
Make deep friendships. Two deep friends are worth a hundred times more than a group of people who do not recognize your value and care for you. Recognize the value in the friends that matter to you, thank them, let them know. Share with them, support them and know that they will always be there for you too.
Be Generous. With words, thoughts, actions. Give a little gift to someone who makes a difference in your life or call them and tell them what they mean to you. People gain a lot of pleasure from being told they are appreciated. You will feel happy by just doing something so simple.
Laugh. Watch funny movies, read funny books. Hang out with kids, have funny friends, be funny, whatever it takes, make sure you laugh as often as you can. See the funny side. Life doesn’t have to be so serious, it should be enjoyed
Rest. Re-charge. Re-energise. Re-flect. Get enough sleep. Take a nap. Lie down with a magazine. Deep Breathe. Meditate. Life is so fast pace; we prioritize getting things done, getting somewhere now and sometimes forgot how important it is to just rest.
Believe in something other than yourself. Something bigger than us. Think about what contribution you can make in your life time. Give back.
Don’t expect the worst. Sometimes when things seem to be going wrong, it may be that they are just changing paths and direction. Some problems are there to help us grow. Have some trust in the Universe; expect things to turn out for the best eventually.
Don’t see the worst in others, accept differences, expect the best only of yourself.
Take a good look at yourself.
It’s fine to know the affirmations, the mantras and read the books...but where are your thoughts...
Are they happy? Or are you concentrating on what you don’t like, what annoys you, who did something “wrong”...
How is your lifestyle? Are you a good friend, co-worker, person; making conscience positive decisions or are you making the day harder and a little more difficult for others or yourself?
If we keep thinking we hate our job-we will always hate our job.
If we think about how someone always drives us crazy- they will always drive us crazy.
If you keep thinking about those extra kilos, you will always have extra kilos.
If you keep thinking about how someone makes you hurt, angry, how things never go right, how you don’t like certain things about someone...you are never going to be able to be truly happy
Happiness is determined by our minds, not our circumstances. Happiness is a choice. No one or no thing can make us happy.
Keep thinking about how awesome our families are.
What amazing friends we have.
How you can make a difference at work, in the world...for someone.
How the sunshine is a blessing, how good your favorite sandwich tastes, how funny our friends and kids are.
We are surrounded by simple pleasures every day.
And remember of course happy people are not happy all the time, that would be impossible, life throws stuff at all of us- they are just better at bouncing back to the state of contentedness after feeling unhappy.
Spread the word. Enjoy the Journey. We are here to live a happy life, a beautiful life.
suzy x
We have to squash our negative thoughts...like a bug!
It takes so much energy to think and speak negatively.
It takes all our energy away from us when we choose to feel miserable, to hate, to be angry, to judge others.
Pull yourself up from negative thinking, slap yourself on the wrist. (I actually do that, physically!)
Happiness is a Choice. Make It.
Feel the Love People!
Love the people around you. Love your home. Love your pet.
Love your dinner. Love your bed. Love the weather.
The stronger you feel love, the stronger the power of the Law of Attraction in your life. The stronger the Law of Attraction; the stronger the power to create a beautiful life and attract more love into your life!
Be Grateful. For your family, for your friends, for your job, for your car, for your furniture, for your toothbrush!
If you wake up every morning and feel true gratitude for all that you have, you will feel happiness, how can you not. Mentally going through a list of what you are grateful for reminds you of the positives in your life, of what is important to you.
Mindfulness. Live in the moment. When the moment is good, do not worry about things that have happened, or things that could happen. When the moment is good, sit back and notice, smile, take a mental snap shot. Life is good, whether it’s a funny moment, great meal, fresh breeze. Enjoy these moments. Notice them.
Do not judge others, and do not allow yourself to be judged by others. I believe judgment of others to be one of the biggest failings we can have.
It is sneaky and comes up in our thoughts with out us even noticing. It is erroneous and a daily battle worth fighting.
I can’t say this enough, if you stop judging others you will immediately drop a little misery- just like that.
Do not compare yourself to others either... be inspired by them.
Be happy with who you are, where you are and what you have.
Make deep friendships. Two deep friends are worth a hundred times more than a group of people who do not recognize your value and care for you. Recognize the value in the friends that matter to you, thank them, let them know. Share with them, support them and know that they will always be there for you too.
Be Generous. With words, thoughts, actions. Give a little gift to someone who makes a difference in your life or call them and tell them what they mean to you. People gain a lot of pleasure from being told they are appreciated. You will feel happy by just doing something so simple.
Laugh. Watch funny movies, read funny books. Hang out with kids, have funny friends, be funny, whatever it takes, make sure you laugh as often as you can. See the funny side. Life doesn’t have to be so serious, it should be enjoyed
Rest. Re-charge. Re-energise. Re-flect. Get enough sleep. Take a nap. Lie down with a magazine. Deep Breathe. Meditate. Life is so fast pace; we prioritize getting things done, getting somewhere now and sometimes forgot how important it is to just rest.
Believe in something other than yourself. Something bigger than us. Think about what contribution you can make in your life time. Give back.
Don’t expect the worst. Sometimes when things seem to be going wrong, it may be that they are just changing paths and direction. Some problems are there to help us grow. Have some trust in the Universe; expect things to turn out for the best eventually.
Don’t see the worst in others, accept differences, expect the best only of yourself.
Take a good look at yourself.
It’s fine to know the affirmations, the mantras and read the books...but where are your thoughts...
Are they happy? Or are you concentrating on what you don’t like, what annoys you, who did something “wrong”...
How is your lifestyle? Are you a good friend, co-worker, person; making conscience positive decisions or are you making the day harder and a little more difficult for others or yourself?
If we keep thinking we hate our job-we will always hate our job.
If we think about how someone always drives us crazy- they will always drive us crazy.
If you keep thinking about those extra kilos, you will always have extra kilos.
If you keep thinking about how someone makes you hurt, angry, how things never go right, how you don’t like certain things about someone...you are never going to be able to be truly happy
Happiness is determined by our minds, not our circumstances. Happiness is a choice. No one or no thing can make us happy.
Keep thinking about how awesome our families are.
What amazing friends we have.
How you can make a difference at work, in the world...for someone.
How the sunshine is a blessing, how good your favorite sandwich tastes, how funny our friends and kids are.
We are surrounded by simple pleasures every day.
And remember of course happy people are not happy all the time, that would be impossible, life throws stuff at all of us- they are just better at bouncing back to the state of contentedness after feeling unhappy.
Spread the word. Enjoy the Journey. We are here to live a happy life, a beautiful life.
suzy x
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Optimist Creed
A workmate and I have both recently printed a copy of Christian D. Larson’s Optimist Creed and have been making a ritual of reading it each morning- in our own time and to ourselves...not together, which would be a tad weird for the rest of our office!
They are such amazing words and if I can follow just three of his declarations during the day I feel I have been successful.
Larson was an exceptional and extremely significant early New Thought* leader and teacher. He was a prolific writer who believed that people have remarkable underlying powers which can be used for success with the right outlook.
In 1901 he organized the New Thought Temple and began publishing a periodical “Eternal Progress”. He had 40 of his books published.
The Optimist Creed appeared in his book “Your Forces and How To Use Them” in 1912. Many have since found inspiration in this creed, from healers and hospitals to sports coaches and schools; and especially those of us who want live with the practice of being happy.
So here it is:
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that he whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Cool huh.
Try it; print it out, read it, email it, stick it up on your fridge. Give it a go, my co-worker and I have noticed it does change your perspective of the day; it does help with getting ourselves into a good frame of mind.
It’s pretty much a guide to having a beautiful life.
suzy x
*New Thought is a spiritual movement which developed in the United States during the late 19th century and emphasizes metaphysical (abstract and theoretical study of being) beliefs concerning the effects of positive thinking, the law of attraction, healing, life force, creative visualization and personal power.
Very much the origins of what the DVD and Book “The Secret” is influenced by.
They are such amazing words and if I can follow just three of his declarations during the day I feel I have been successful.
Larson was an exceptional and extremely significant early New Thought* leader and teacher. He was a prolific writer who believed that people have remarkable underlying powers which can be used for success with the right outlook.
In 1901 he organized the New Thought Temple and began publishing a periodical “Eternal Progress”. He had 40 of his books published.
The Optimist Creed appeared in his book “Your Forces and How To Use Them” in 1912. Many have since found inspiration in this creed, from healers and hospitals to sports coaches and schools; and especially those of us who want live with the practice of being happy.
So here it is:
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that he whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Cool huh.
Try it; print it out, read it, email it, stick it up on your fridge. Give it a go, my co-worker and I have noticed it does change your perspective of the day; it does help with getting ourselves into a good frame of mind.
It’s pretty much a guide to having a beautiful life.
suzy x
*New Thought is a spiritual movement which developed in the United States during the late 19th century and emphasizes metaphysical (abstract and theoretical study of being) beliefs concerning the effects of positive thinking, the law of attraction, healing, life force, creative visualization and personal power.
Very much the origins of what the DVD and Book “The Secret” is influenced by.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Yoga. Just Do It
As some of you know Beautiful Life has started holding Mother & Daughter Yoga classes here in Mermaid Beach.
This came about from a conversation Regina and I had about how much we enjoyed and what we “got” from Yoga, and how wonderful it would be to share it with our daughters. We were so excited by the idea that right there we decided to start up our own classes. We went out and found wonderful teachers, a great space and off we went.
I love the hour I get to spend with my daughter sharing the joys of Yoga. I feel I am giving her a base for a great positive self image, subtle lessons in breath and posture and some wonderful tools for dealing with life; she is learning techniques for self health, relaxation and inner fulfillment. It enhances her flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness. It improves her concentration, sense of calmness and allows her to connect with her inner self. She is able to be a part of a physical activity that is non competitive, fostering cooperation and compassion instead off opposition.
Yoga brings out the beautiful inner light that all children have and it is a gift to give her.
Not to mention that we get to spend time with like-minded people and great role models. When you spend time with a community of people that hold the same values and hopes, it dissolves the feeling of separateness we get in the over stimulated, exhaustive world we all live in, us and our children. A group like this practicing together creates an amazing field of energy! It’s also just fun and relaxed. One of our mums said to me, “My daughter may stop doing Yoga at times in her life but she will always come back to it...and she will always be able to say, I have practiced Yoga since I was very young, I used to do it with my mother.”
With this in mind I am hoping to start up new classes of Family Yoga as soon as our Mother & Daughter classes are running smoothly, we have only just had our first month of classes. Family Yoga for all variations of family members, parents, children, grandparents, aunts or cousins!
Anyway, if you are not doing Yoga, thinking about Yoga, want to know more about Yoga, need to get back to Yoga, or love Yoga so much you can’t hear enough about it:
Here is my List of REASONS TO DO YOGA:
1. POSITIVE ATTITUDE Having Yoga in your life helps you face life’s daily challenges with positive energy in your heart. We can become more effective at problem solving as we act less emotionally and reactively to problems. When we practice Yoga we become clear in what we want and manifest our deepest desires. When we treat ourselves with more respect we treat others with more respect also. Trust, acceptance and gratitude are bi-products of self respect and we live with fewer expectations and judgments. Yoga makes us shine from the inside out: you will walk taller, with grace and a positive outlook. You will become more popular; people love to be around you when you are calm, balanced, serene and uplifted from your Yoga buzz!
2. HEALTH Yoga relaxes you and holistically addresses the body’s physical and subconscious needs. It can improve the immune system. Yoga is a powerful cleanser of our mind, body and spirit. It helps manage physical, mental and emotional signs of stress. Many Yoga poses detoxify the body. It cleans and massages your organs; releases feel good and immune boosting hormones, strengthens bones and muscles. As we heal ourselves, we can heal others, with our words, actions and smile!
3. JOYFUL LIVING Happiness does not depend on what we have- but who we are....When we do Yoga we realize we don’t need a reason to be happy, we just are. Yoga increases Mindfulness, as you become more in tune with your self inside and out. Life becomes relaxed and more fun!
Yoga is too fabulous, really it is TOO fabulous. And I am not talking about the transformed, over marketed, go hard, trendy version of a work out class. I am talking about the authentic Yoga, the real deal, where you don’t have to make your body suffer to feel the benefits. Where you are aware of what your body can do...and can’t...and that is enough.
All this talk of Yoga makes me want to practice more often, get myself a nice little set of poses I can do at home before bed, do with the kids instead of watching TV, enjoy and have fun with, and bring it into my beautiful life more and more!
suzy x
This came about from a conversation Regina and I had about how much we enjoyed and what we “got” from Yoga, and how wonderful it would be to share it with our daughters. We were so excited by the idea that right there we decided to start up our own classes. We went out and found wonderful teachers, a great space and off we went.
I love the hour I get to spend with my daughter sharing the joys of Yoga. I feel I am giving her a base for a great positive self image, subtle lessons in breath and posture and some wonderful tools for dealing with life; she is learning techniques for self health, relaxation and inner fulfillment. It enhances her flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness. It improves her concentration, sense of calmness and allows her to connect with her inner self. She is able to be a part of a physical activity that is non competitive, fostering cooperation and compassion instead off opposition.
Yoga brings out the beautiful inner light that all children have and it is a gift to give her.
Not to mention that we get to spend time with like-minded people and great role models. When you spend time with a community of people that hold the same values and hopes, it dissolves the feeling of separateness we get in the over stimulated, exhaustive world we all live in, us and our children. A group like this practicing together creates an amazing field of energy! It’s also just fun and relaxed. One of our mums said to me, “My daughter may stop doing Yoga at times in her life but she will always come back to it...and she will always be able to say, I have practiced Yoga since I was very young, I used to do it with my mother.”
With this in mind I am hoping to start up new classes of Family Yoga as soon as our Mother & Daughter classes are running smoothly, we have only just had our first month of classes. Family Yoga for all variations of family members, parents, children, grandparents, aunts or cousins!
Anyway, if you are not doing Yoga, thinking about Yoga, want to know more about Yoga, need to get back to Yoga, or love Yoga so much you can’t hear enough about it:
Here is my List of REASONS TO DO YOGA:
1. POSITIVE ATTITUDE Having Yoga in your life helps you face life’s daily challenges with positive energy in your heart. We can become more effective at problem solving as we act less emotionally and reactively to problems. When we practice Yoga we become clear in what we want and manifest our deepest desires. When we treat ourselves with more respect we treat others with more respect also. Trust, acceptance and gratitude are bi-products of self respect and we live with fewer expectations and judgments. Yoga makes us shine from the inside out: you will walk taller, with grace and a positive outlook. You will become more popular; people love to be around you when you are calm, balanced, serene and uplifted from your Yoga buzz!
2. HEALTH Yoga relaxes you and holistically addresses the body’s physical and subconscious needs. It can improve the immune system. Yoga is a powerful cleanser of our mind, body and spirit. It helps manage physical, mental and emotional signs of stress. Many Yoga poses detoxify the body. It cleans and massages your organs; releases feel good and immune boosting hormones, strengthens bones and muscles. As we heal ourselves, we can heal others, with our words, actions and smile!
3. JOYFUL LIVING Happiness does not depend on what we have- but who we are....When we do Yoga we realize we don’t need a reason to be happy, we just are. Yoga increases Mindfulness, as you become more in tune with your self inside and out. Life becomes relaxed and more fun!
Yoga is too fabulous, really it is TOO fabulous. And I am not talking about the transformed, over marketed, go hard, trendy version of a work out class. I am talking about the authentic Yoga, the real deal, where you don’t have to make your body suffer to feel the benefits. Where you are aware of what your body can do...and can’t...and that is enough.
All this talk of Yoga makes me want to practice more often, get myself a nice little set of poses I can do at home before bed, do with the kids instead of watching TV, enjoy and have fun with, and bring it into my beautiful life more and more!
suzy x
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Moments in the Moment
Moments That Made Me Smile This Week.
Mindfulness is basically a quality of mind that can strengthen our awareness of the causes and conditions determining this present moment, and our awareness of how we are relating to these causes and conditions.
So if we are aware of why/how things are and we can be aware of how we feel/deal with this, we can be in a pretty good place.
This last week, I started a list in my notebook of moments that make me smile...it’s a long list, and I wont submit you to all of it, but here are a few, to be remindful that each moment is what we make of it!
Hanging out washing on a sunny, breezy Monday morning.
Really enough said, how can you not enjoy getting the weekends washing done in conditions like that!
Having my little sister living near us.
Regina’s daughter is a lot younger than me, in fact not that much older than my own children.
Sadly for us neither my husband’s, nor my family live nearby and I have always been envious of those who are lucky enough to have this. I have always missed being able to see my family more often.
Family is an amazing resource, and I’m not just talking about free babysitting! To see our children with other people on hand to turn to and have a close loving relationship is wonderful. I especially love watching the amazing rapport growing between these three young people. My children have a magnificent role model in this lovely young girl, and we are blessed.
Be grateful if you have your family nearby. Don’t take for granted the diversity of relationships you can all enjoy. Not everyone is in this fortunate position.
Kitchen Dancing.
This is one of my great joys, it makes my children sometimes laugh, sometimes cringe. My husband and I even compete to out geek each other! When I do it on my own, it is bliss, and can transform into a one woman cabaret show. One of the great things about getting older is that you become quite the expert at this particular style...why is that?
So, Dance like you are alone...in your own kitchen!
Dining In instead of Out.
The other evening my plans changed, as often happens when one has children. I had planned to go out for dinner with a friend. Instead of being disappointed when this changed I made a huge delicious curry, my husband lit a fire, and my friend and her children came over. Sitting around the warmth of the flames, watching them lick at the wood, the children squealing in delight toasting marshmallows, my little girl loving the smell of burning wood – she told us it reminded her of camping. Who needs restaurants?
Sharing a Green Tea with a friend.
Sunlight, conversation, silence...Pleasure.
My Weed.
Not what you think! The other day, I was sitting in my back yard when I noticed quite a large weed had grown up out of the concrete on the edge of our rendered house. I got up to pull it out and as I came closer, I couldn’t help but think of how against all odds, this little guy had risen to the challenge, and did just what it was that he needed to do. There he was basking in the sunlight, and looking quite lovely. Needless to say he is still there and makes me smile every time I look over at him, reminding me to just be me.
My kids have been off school.
A little bit sick, a little bit exhausted. Instead of letting this ruin my routine of chores, we have broken the day up with other things we can do; making sock puppets out of hand-me-downs, teaching the kids to sew button eyes on, and then getting back to my stuff, while they play with them for hours.
We redecorated their upstairs area, giving them heaps of enjoyment, moving furniture around, being creative. (and I got to get in a good clean up!) Kids are such a great example of impermanence and mindfulness. Everything changes, moments are just moments.
I also smiled when they went back to school, thank the goddess for impermanence!
My husband was standing in a ray of sunlight.
He commented on how nice it felt to just stand there and soak it up, so I snuck up behind him and stole some, and got to share a hug at the same time.
Sunday Family Roast Lunch.
Always makes me smile. It started out as dinner, but with the rush to clean up and get kids organized in the early evening, it just naturally morphed into lunch. We all enjoy having the time to sit down together and talk with none of the weekly evening distractions.
We have a ritual called “roses and thorns”. Telling each other what has been great in our week, and also being able to talk about something that was not. We make a point of concentrating on the roses as the thorns can become a bit of an excuse to complain...which we had to nip in the bud, so to speak! Actually, the thorns just naturally fell away once we all got the hang of it.
Another element that I particularly enjoy is the follow up Sunday dinner, simply left-overs or toasted sandwiches. What a relaxing Sunday afternoon!
We could all take note, or make notes of the things that make us smile. The small beautiful things that fill our beautiful lives.
They remind us of how each moment just is that, a perfect moment right now.
suzy x
Mindfulness is basically a quality of mind that can strengthen our awareness of the causes and conditions determining this present moment, and our awareness of how we are relating to these causes and conditions.
So if we are aware of why/how things are and we can be aware of how we feel/deal with this, we can be in a pretty good place.
This last week, I started a list in my notebook of moments that make me smile...it’s a long list, and I wont submit you to all of it, but here are a few, to be remindful that each moment is what we make of it!
Hanging out washing on a sunny, breezy Monday morning.
Really enough said, how can you not enjoy getting the weekends washing done in conditions like that!
Having my little sister living near us.
Regina’s daughter is a lot younger than me, in fact not that much older than my own children.
Sadly for us neither my husband’s, nor my family live nearby and I have always been envious of those who are lucky enough to have this. I have always missed being able to see my family more often.
Family is an amazing resource, and I’m not just talking about free babysitting! To see our children with other people on hand to turn to and have a close loving relationship is wonderful. I especially love watching the amazing rapport growing between these three young people. My children have a magnificent role model in this lovely young girl, and we are blessed.
Be grateful if you have your family nearby. Don’t take for granted the diversity of relationships you can all enjoy. Not everyone is in this fortunate position.
Kitchen Dancing.
This is one of my great joys, it makes my children sometimes laugh, sometimes cringe. My husband and I even compete to out geek each other! When I do it on my own, it is bliss, and can transform into a one woman cabaret show. One of the great things about getting older is that you become quite the expert at this particular style...why is that?
So, Dance like you are alone...in your own kitchen!
Dining In instead of Out.
The other evening my plans changed, as often happens when one has children. I had planned to go out for dinner with a friend. Instead of being disappointed when this changed I made a huge delicious curry, my husband lit a fire, and my friend and her children came over. Sitting around the warmth of the flames, watching them lick at the wood, the children squealing in delight toasting marshmallows, my little girl loving the smell of burning wood – she told us it reminded her of camping. Who needs restaurants?
Sharing a Green Tea with a friend.
Sunlight, conversation, silence...Pleasure.
My Weed.
Not what you think! The other day, I was sitting in my back yard when I noticed quite a large weed had grown up out of the concrete on the edge of our rendered house. I got up to pull it out and as I came closer, I couldn’t help but think of how against all odds, this little guy had risen to the challenge, and did just what it was that he needed to do. There he was basking in the sunlight, and looking quite lovely. Needless to say he is still there and makes me smile every time I look over at him, reminding me to just be me.
My kids have been off school.
A little bit sick, a little bit exhausted. Instead of letting this ruin my routine of chores, we have broken the day up with other things we can do; making sock puppets out of hand-me-downs, teaching the kids to sew button eyes on, and then getting back to my stuff, while they play with them for hours.
We redecorated their upstairs area, giving them heaps of enjoyment, moving furniture around, being creative. (and I got to get in a good clean up!) Kids are such a great example of impermanence and mindfulness. Everything changes, moments are just moments.
I also smiled when they went back to school, thank the goddess for impermanence!
My husband was standing in a ray of sunlight.
He commented on how nice it felt to just stand there and soak it up, so I snuck up behind him and stole some, and got to share a hug at the same time.
Sunday Family Roast Lunch.
Always makes me smile. It started out as dinner, but with the rush to clean up and get kids organized in the early evening, it just naturally morphed into lunch. We all enjoy having the time to sit down together and talk with none of the weekly evening distractions.
We have a ritual called “roses and thorns”. Telling each other what has been great in our week, and also being able to talk about something that was not. We make a point of concentrating on the roses as the thorns can become a bit of an excuse to complain...which we had to nip in the bud, so to speak! Actually, the thorns just naturally fell away once we all got the hang of it.
Another element that I particularly enjoy is the follow up Sunday dinner, simply left-overs or toasted sandwiches. What a relaxing Sunday afternoon!
We could all take note, or make notes of the things that make us smile. The small beautiful things that fill our beautiful lives.
They remind us of how each moment just is that, a perfect moment right now.
suzy x
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