Find Some Joy Today

Funny where we find inspiration.  It's everywhere, I guess, and often shows up when we least expect it.

I saw this quote recently in a New York Times magazine.  It was a tiny article, but it packed a punch and stayed with me for days.  It inspired me to get over my, 'Oh, I'll get to it later' attitude about blogging. 

How to Find Joy in Life
"When I was in the hospital - I spent 8 months in rehab, and I almost died - I decided that I was going to make sure I had some fun every single day.  It might be a play or a movie, or it might be going by a gallery and seeing a show.  Often, it's eating.
Chuck Close

Why do we feel we have to wait for something dramatic to happen before we get to experience joy?  Why do we put it off?  Why not experience it every day; before (as Joni Mitchell so accurately sang) the Big Yellow Taxi shows up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWwUJH70ubM

Find some joy today.  You deserve it.

Think and Feel

There's the story I like to tell my clients...... It starts with....  "What ever you do - don't think about a pink elephant."

So, what happens?  We think about a pink elephant.

It's totally natural - it's the way our mind works.  We begin to notice more of what we think about.  

Notice the difference between saying "I feel good." VS "I don't feel bad."

When I say to myself "I feel good." - I think about all the ways (subconsciously and consciously) that I feel good. 

Saying "I don't feel bad." brings up a lot of 'Meh, well, ok, I don't feel bad, but I don't feel good, either..... I feel so, so.'

What are the words you use when you talk to yourself?  Are they encouraging, positive, supportive and loving?  Are they words you would use when talking to your best friend?  Our body follows our thoughts; how we feel is directly related to what we're thinking - and choosing our thoughts is one of the things we can control.

Choose today to find 3 things you are grateful for, 3 things that you like about yourself or your life.  Then notice how much easier it is to find 3 more.

The Healing Power of Music

This inspiring video is a clip from a larger documentary "Alive Inside", that is soon to be released.  It shows the remarkable healing power of music in a way that still has me amazed.  Even though science is able to explain so much about life, there is still so much that is a beautiful mystery.
  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM

Happy Easter

This time of year is one of renewal, rebirth and the reminder that there are miracles of all shapes and sizes occurring every day, everywhere.  They're there, just waiting for us to us to notice.  I wish you a happy Easter.

To Your Health

Spring has sprung, the days are longer and I'm noticing people are smiling more.  It's like we're coming out of a hibernation of sorts.  It's this time of year that really feels like we're all part of something bigger.

This Ted Talk by Dr. Lissa Rankin was sent to me recently.  As I watched the video I found myself nodding and smiling a lot.  She's engaging and her message speaks directly to what I believe; that our body and mind are one; that our happiness and health are intertwined.  She mentions that our body whispers to us when it needs something.  If we don't listen to the whispers, it begins to yell.  Sometimes that yelling manifests itself physically.

Personally, I don't like to be yelled at.  I prefer soft and gentle tones.  So, when my body whispers, I do my best to listen.  Sometimes it's hard to listen (resistance or denial), but when I'm quiet and open and patient, I can hear the message (I use self-hypnosis).  Then I get to choose my next steps with awareness. 

Whether you are enjoying optimal health or not, please watch this video and pass it on to anyone you think might benefit from it.   Dr. Rankin shares some amazing insights and helpful suggestions as to how to enjoy better health and more happiness in our lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tu9nJmr4Xs

In this time that we live, we are bombarded with external noise, to a point where we've drowned out our inner voice.  Then we wonder why we're unhappy and ill. 

I encourage you to listen to message your body is speaking.  There are so many avenues to give yourself the opportunity to hear what it's trying to tell you.  Meditation, quiet 'alone' time (phone/tv/radio OFF), gentle physical movement (ie walking), Yoga, prayer, spending time in nature, and self-hypnosis to name some.  With practice, this ability to listen gets easier and easier.  You'll notice the whispers sooner and will be able to take action to quiet them.  Give yourself 5 minutes today to be quiet.  Start with 5 minutes and see what you discover. 

Relax Into Success

Recently,  I was interviewed by journalist Sarah Evans about Hypnotherapy and how the tools and techniques of Hypnosis and NLP can be used to aid in people's relaxation and overall well being.

Below is the link to the article, published in a BC Business magazine.

http://www.bcbusinessbeat.com/column-hypnotherapy.html

A big thank you to Sarah for writing such a compelling article and for sharing her personal experience with Hypnotherapy.

Commit

What is it that compels us to say yes to a cause, a person or a relationship?

When we commit to something or someone - what or who are we really committing to?
 

Is it actually a commitment to ourselves?  To something within us?  Is there something inside of us that is activated when we commit to something that we believe in?

Have you ever noticed that when we finally do fully commit to something magic seems to happen; challenges are more easily overcome, things fall into place and roads open up to us as opportunities and love?

Does the act of committing connect us to something deeper?  Is this a connection to our deeper nature, our true self and ultimately to Nature, to Source, to God, to Life, to Love?  Is that why it feels so good when we do truly commit?   Is it that we're acknowledging a part of ourselves when we do?   Wow.  So, if it leads back to Love, why does commitment scare us so?

Why do we make excuses not to commit?  Maybe it doesn't feel right - and yes, it's important to respect that decision.  But, if it does feel right, and we still won't commit, we've got to ask ourselves why.  What are we afraid of?

 

Would we rather live life watching from the sidelines than participating fully?  Are we still waiting for the perfect moment, person or event to give us an external sign that it's safe to commit?  Is it that we don't want to get our hopes up, we don't want to be disappointed?  We already know that we can really only change ourselves - not anyone else.  So really, it makes sense then, that the 1st commitment we must make is to ourselves. 

 

So, during this month of love, celebrate Valentine's by committing to something you believe in.  Commit to one thing. Something that feels right.  Commit to yourself today and see what happens.