Over the years I have worked with many clients who suffer with social anxiety. They feel self-conscious and anxious when in the company of people they don't know well or when in groups. Feelings of inadequacy and fears of being judged as boring, uninteresting or not good enough are common. For some people social anxiety can be very debilitating, causing them to narrow their social lives and creating a lot of misery.
The good news is there are lots of things that you can do to reduce social anxiety and yesterday evening while out running on a local woodland trail one beautiful deer reminded me of one very important way. Here's what happened...
I have had a fascination and love of deer for years. I feel blessed to live in an area where from time to time I cross paths with them when out walking, running or driving. Mostly I only get a fleeting glimpse because the minute they sense you, they scarper in to the bushes. Even a fleeting glance makes my day. They are truly beautiful creatures.
Last night while running I had the pleasure of seeing six deer in a group. Four immediately dashed across a river and into thick woodland but two moved away in the other direction. As I continued on the trail it looped back to the same area and there were the two deer standing in the road. On seeing me coming they immediately dashed up on to a bank nearby but surprisingly instead of running for cover, stayed in the open and curiously watched me from a distance as I ran by. I looked at them and told them they were "beautiful creatures" to which they cocked their heads in an attempt to figure me out.
I was running two laps of the trail so on my next lap past the same area, the two deer were again on the road in front of me. One immediately hopped on to the bank on seeing me coming but the other stayed and pushed his head forward like he was really trying to get an understanding of what I was. Eventually when I was within 15 feet of him, he jumped up on to the bank but stayed close and as I ran by and again told him he was beautiful, he moved even closer to take a really good look at me. It was as if he was thinking "WHAT IS THAT?"
I was totally amazed and thrilled. I've spent many years fascinated by deer but I have never previously experienced a deer being fascinated with me. Typically they are very fearful and shy animals. When they see a human or hear a sound, they are out of there as quick as they can but yesterday something about me made this deer curious enough to override his normal instincts to run for cover and to stay in full view and to even move towards me to check me out. Perhaps it was my bright pint tracksuit top and runners or my heavy breathing from the run. Whatever it was, his curiosity over-rode his fear. And THAT is the Lesson !
When someone is feeling anxious in a social situation their attention is focused inward on their own fears and discomfort. "I don't have anything to say" "they'll think I'm boring" "I feel anxious". They are focused on their own feelings of anxiety, their own self judgements and their need to feel safe and normal again. The other person or people feel scary and threatening. The thing that helps you over-ride this is when you become sufficiently curious and interested in the other person. Curiosity and interest draws you forward and out of yourself. It helps you forget your fears. At moments of anxiety this is very helpful.
So when I am working with someone who is suffering from social anxiety I usually teach them to notice their own anxiety but to look at the other person and to actively try to be curious and interested in them. This could be just done in their own head by thinking "I wonder how they are feeling today" or "what about this person interests me" or it could involve asking the other person questions about themselves. Either way it shifts you from a place of "fear of the other" to "curiosity in the other".
Try it and see. You'll be surprized how well it works!
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The Simple Power of Saying "I don't" vs "I can't"
Despite good intentions we often lack the motivation to pursue the goals we set for ourselves. We might really want to kick a habit or make a positive lifestyle change such as losing weight, eating better, getting more exercise or giving up smoking but actually moving to the stage of making and sustaining that change is a different and much more difficult thing. It's as if we are wired to sabotage ourselves leading to best laid plans quickly ending up on the scrap heap!
The dreaded temptation starts getting in the way. It takes many forms, a comfy couch, a chocolate biscuit, a tired head, a long day at work, a busy life, boredom, stress....the list is endless. Temptation abounds. Before we know it we are back where we started feeling demotivated, deflated and a bit disappointed in ourselves.
Imagine if there was something simple we could do to switch the temptation / motivation balance in our favour. Imagine if there was something simple that we could do to help ourselves succeed. Well it turns out there is and researchers have managed to prove it AND it's as simple as changing the language you use when you refuse temptation (either in your head or when you speak to others) from "I Can't" to I Don't"
Picture the scene.... your colleague in work has just brought in a delicious carrot cake. She is offering you a slice. You LOVE carrot cake but you had promised yourself not to eat rubbish this week. If you think to yourself "I cant have that carrot cake" then you are likely to feel deprived and what does deprivation do... it makes you want to eat. If you think to yourself "I don't eat carrot cake" you feel "yeah I don't want that... I don't eat carrot cake"
Picture another scene... you are trying to increase the amount of exercise you take and have decided to go for a 4 km walk each day but today you are feeling kind of tired. You tell yourself "I'm tired, I cant go for a walk" pretty likely you wont go but if on the other hand you tell yourself "I'm tired but I don't miss my walk no matter how tired I am" then you are more likely to get off your bum and just go despite how you feel.
In a study carried out by researchers at Boston College and the University of Houston, 128 participants were put on a healthy living program. Half the participants were told that when they were faced with temptation they were to tell themselves "I don't do x" e.g. I don't eat chocolate. The other half were told that when faced with temptation they were to tell themselves "I cant do x" e.g. I cant eat chocolate. When tested with real temptation 64% of participants in the "I don't" group made a choice in line with their healthy living goal i.e. refused temptation / picked the healthier food option. This compared with only 39% of the people in the "I cant" group.
In another study 30 participants attended a health and wellness seminar and following this adopted specific health and wellness promoting goals. The participants progress was then followed over a 10 day period. During this time 10 of the participant's were told to use "I don't" self talk and 10 were told to use "I can't" self talk when tempted to lapse in pursuit of their goals. The other 10 were told to "just say no". At the end of the 10 days, 8 out of 10 participants in the "I don't" group persisted with their new health goals whereas only 1 out of 10 participants in the "I can't" group and 3 out of 10 participants in the "just say no" group did.
So get those internal thoughts and words working for, not against you. Help yourself to achieve your goals by choosing the language that make your actions feel like an empowered choice (I don't) rather than a forced restraint (I can't). If you do, you'll be much more likely to achieve your goals.
The dreaded temptation starts getting in the way. It takes many forms, a comfy couch, a chocolate biscuit, a tired head, a long day at work, a busy life, boredom, stress....the list is endless. Temptation abounds. Before we know it we are back where we started feeling demotivated, deflated and a bit disappointed in ourselves.
Imagine if there was something simple we could do to switch the temptation / motivation balance in our favour. Imagine if there was something simple that we could do to help ourselves succeed. Well it turns out there is and researchers have managed to prove it AND it's as simple as changing the language you use when you refuse temptation (either in your head or when you speak to others) from "I Can't" to I Don't"
Picture the scene.... your colleague in work has just brought in a delicious carrot cake. She is offering you a slice. You LOVE carrot cake but you had promised yourself not to eat rubbish this week. If you think to yourself "I cant have that carrot cake" then you are likely to feel deprived and what does deprivation do... it makes you want to eat. If you think to yourself "I don't eat carrot cake" you feel "yeah I don't want that... I don't eat carrot cake"
Picture another scene... you are trying to increase the amount of exercise you take and have decided to go for a 4 km walk each day but today you are feeling kind of tired. You tell yourself "I'm tired, I cant go for a walk" pretty likely you wont go but if on the other hand you tell yourself "I'm tired but I don't miss my walk no matter how tired I am" then you are more likely to get off your bum and just go despite how you feel.
In a study carried out by researchers at Boston College and the University of Houston, 128 participants were put on a healthy living program. Half the participants were told that when they were faced with temptation they were to tell themselves "I don't do x" e.g. I don't eat chocolate. The other half were told that when faced with temptation they were to tell themselves "I cant do x" e.g. I cant eat chocolate. When tested with real temptation 64% of participants in the "I don't" group made a choice in line with their healthy living goal i.e. refused temptation / picked the healthier food option. This compared with only 39% of the people in the "I cant" group.
In another study 30 participants attended a health and wellness seminar and following this adopted specific health and wellness promoting goals. The participants progress was then followed over a 10 day period. During this time 10 of the participant's were told to use "I don't" self talk and 10 were told to use "I can't" self talk when tempted to lapse in pursuit of their goals. The other 10 were told to "just say no". At the end of the 10 days, 8 out of 10 participants in the "I don't" group persisted with their new health goals whereas only 1 out of 10 participants in the "I can't" group and 3 out of 10 participants in the "just say no" group did.
So get those internal thoughts and words working for, not against you. Help yourself to achieve your goals by choosing the language that make your actions feel like an empowered choice (I don't) rather than a forced restraint (I can't). If you do, you'll be much more likely to achieve your goals.
Monday, January 7, 2013
How to Reduce Nicotine Cravings Naturally
I gave up cigarettes over 10 years ago. At the time I was a 20 a day smoker and had been smoking since the age of 13 so had 15+ years smoking under my belt. I had had a number of unsuccessful attempts including one where I had lasted almost 2 years without cigarettes but where the craving for them never seemed to fully go.
On my final and successful attempt I armed myself with 2 things, the first was packets and packets of Lemons Iced Caramel sweets. Delicious very chewy toffee, covered in white or pink sweet icing. My theory was that these sweets would keep my mouth so busy that I would not have time to think of having cigarettes! The second was a steady supply of Navel Oranges, the lovely big sweet Oranges that we only tend to get in Ireland in the months of December, January and February but that some other lucky countries such as Spain have all year round. My theory on the oranges was that when my Jaw got too tired chewing the Iced Caramels that they would be an equally sweet and far less calorific alternative.
So off I went munching my way through lots and lots of Iced Caramels and lots and lots of Oranges. After a few days my jaw and my teeth were suffering the consequences of the toffee so I had to give up on the Caramels but I kept on muching on the Oranges (probably 4 - 6 a day) and after a while became pretty convinced that they actually did significantly reduce my cravings for cigarettes.
I started to wonder if anyone else had ever come up with a similar theory or whether this was all in my mind. In those days a quick google was not an option because I didnt even know it existed so it was only several years later that I realised that in actual fact oranges do have links to reducing nicotine cravings. Apparently it is because oranges are acidic and help eliminate nicotine from your body quicker. They also help to replenish vitamin C and vitamin C is often used in the treatment of cravings (for cigarettes, alcohol or food).
A simple, cheap and in my case very effective way to kick the habit. This time after a few months the cravings left me totally.
Definitely worth a try, for any of you out there who might be trying to or thinking about giving up!
On my final and successful attempt I armed myself with 2 things, the first was packets and packets of Lemons Iced Caramel sweets. Delicious very chewy toffee, covered in white or pink sweet icing. My theory was that these sweets would keep my mouth so busy that I would not have time to think of having cigarettes! The second was a steady supply of Navel Oranges, the lovely big sweet Oranges that we only tend to get in Ireland in the months of December, January and February but that some other lucky countries such as Spain have all year round. My theory on the oranges was that when my Jaw got too tired chewing the Iced Caramels that they would be an equally sweet and far less calorific alternative.
So off I went munching my way through lots and lots of Iced Caramels and lots and lots of Oranges. After a few days my jaw and my teeth were suffering the consequences of the toffee so I had to give up on the Caramels but I kept on muching on the Oranges (probably 4 - 6 a day) and after a while became pretty convinced that they actually did significantly reduce my cravings for cigarettes.
I started to wonder if anyone else had ever come up with a similar theory or whether this was all in my mind. In those days a quick google was not an option because I didnt even know it existed so it was only several years later that I realised that in actual fact oranges do have links to reducing nicotine cravings. Apparently it is because oranges are acidic and help eliminate nicotine from your body quicker. They also help to replenish vitamin C and vitamin C is often used in the treatment of cravings (for cigarettes, alcohol or food).
A simple, cheap and in my case very effective way to kick the habit. This time after a few months the cravings left me totally.
Definitely worth a try, for any of you out there who might be trying to or thinking about giving up!
Monday, June 25, 2012
How to quickly and simply reduce symptoms of Anxiety and Stress
When people are feeling anxious or stressed they will often describe things as feeling a "little unreal" or feel like they are "beside" or "outside" or "disconnected" from themself. The truth is from an energy field perspective they are actually right and what they are describing is the effect they are feeling from a shift in their energy field.
When someone is very anxious or stressed their energy field tends to partly disconnect from the ground. Their energy moves upward in their field weighting more towards the head and sometimes also moves off centre to the left or right. Their energy field does in fact become slightly disconnected at the root energy centre (chakra). So their descriptions are very accurate.
At the same time the person may experience feelings of dizziness, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to noises and sights among other symptoms. It is a scary thing and the feelings often create more anxiety and stress further compounding the problem.
I have worked with many people with these symptoms and I have taught them a very simple technique to recentre and ground their energy field and almost without fail people have found that they can quickly bring their anxiety or stress symptoms down to a more manageable level.
Before I teach you this technique, I want firstly to explain what is happening in the energy field and why this happens. Our energy field has 7 energy centres (chakras). The root energy centre faces downward between the legs and the tip of it connects to the coccyx. It is funnel shaped as are all the energy centres. This energy centre relates to feeling safe and secure and it changes in response to how safe or secure the person feels. If for example a loud bang happened and a person got a fright, their root energy centre would temporarily partly close in, in response to the fright. Once the person realised all was ok the energy centre would start to open again. The effect of the energy centre closing is that our energy field loses part of its connection to the ground. It is like our energy field says "I'm out of here" and partly vacates our body in response to the threat.
In cases where someone is suffering from anxiety or stress they are usually living in a regular state of fear. The root energy centre therefore tends not to be as open as it could be. The effect of this is that the person will feel ungrounded. Alot more energy will end up around their head (sometimes creating headaches, muscle tension etc). Sometimes the energy centre may close more on one side than the other throwing the energy field off balance.
So what can you do about this???
If you recognise any of the things I have mentioned try this technique which re-centres and grounds your energy and helps your root energy centre to open again.
Wishing you all the best with the technique. Hope you get great results.
Erica x
When someone is very anxious or stressed their energy field tends to partly disconnect from the ground. Their energy moves upward in their field weighting more towards the head and sometimes also moves off centre to the left or right. Their energy field does in fact become slightly disconnected at the root energy centre (chakra). So their descriptions are very accurate.
At the same time the person may experience feelings of dizziness, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to noises and sights among other symptoms. It is a scary thing and the feelings often create more anxiety and stress further compounding the problem.
I have worked with many people with these symptoms and I have taught them a very simple technique to recentre and ground their energy field and almost without fail people have found that they can quickly bring their anxiety or stress symptoms down to a more manageable level.
Before I teach you this technique, I want firstly to explain what is happening in the energy field and why this happens. Our energy field has 7 energy centres (chakras). The root energy centre faces downward between the legs and the tip of it connects to the coccyx. It is funnel shaped as are all the energy centres. This energy centre relates to feeling safe and secure and it changes in response to how safe or secure the person feels. If for example a loud bang happened and a person got a fright, their root energy centre would temporarily partly close in, in response to the fright. Once the person realised all was ok the energy centre would start to open again. The effect of the energy centre closing is that our energy field loses part of its connection to the ground. It is like our energy field says "I'm out of here" and partly vacates our body in response to the threat.
In cases where someone is suffering from anxiety or stress they are usually living in a regular state of fear. The root energy centre therefore tends not to be as open as it could be. The effect of this is that the person will feel ungrounded. Alot more energy will end up around their head (sometimes creating headaches, muscle tension etc). Sometimes the energy centre may close more on one side than the other throwing the energy field off balance.
So what can you do about this???
If you recognise any of the things I have mentioned try this technique which re-centres and grounds your energy and helps your root energy centre to open again.
- Firstly rate your anxiety level at this current moment from 1 - 10, where 1 is not at all anxious and 10 is highly anxious
- Now bring your awareness to your body. Note any area that feels particularly tense and let it relax a little.
- Now bring your attention to the bottom half of you body (anything from the pelvis down). Focus your attention in one area (example thighs, shins, feet) and just notice what you sense there. What sensations do you feel? Do you feel hot or cold? What are you noticing? Just observe. Take a few minutes to do this.
- If you feel your mind wandering just bring it back down to your one part of your legs and again focus on them and observe how they feel and what you are experiencing.
- Now bring your awareness to your feet. Notice them on the ground. Notice how they feel. Do you feel any sensations? Can you feel the ground? Just observe.
- If you feel your mind wandering just bring it back again to your feet.
- Now bring your attention to your lower back, lower tummy, pelvis and notice if anything feels tight here and then just allow it to relax a bit more. Take a couple of minutes to do this.
- Now bring your attetion back down to your legs or feet (whichever feels easier) and again just notice what you feel, what sensations you experience.
- Keeping your attention on the lower half of your body and also keeping your eyes in a slightly lowered position (looking toward the ground slightly away from you) bring your awareness to your breath and allow it to deepen.
- Take in a long slow breath all the way down to your lower tummy and let out a long slow breath. Dont force this too much or over breath too much with this. Just gently try to lenghten, deepen and slow your breath.
- Keep doing this for a few moments, remembering to also keep your awareness on the bottom half of you body at the same time.
- As you do this you may notice other areas of your body e.g. shoulders, neck etc that are tense, just let these relax a bit and then bring your awareness back to the bottom half of you body
- After a few minutes you will start to feel a little calmer and less anxious
- Rate your axiety level from 1 to 10 and see how much it has improved. Keep doing this as much as is necessary until you feel at a comfortable level again.
Wishing you all the best with the technique. Hope you get great results.
Erica x
Thursday, July 21, 2011
It's The Beans - Accessing Inner Guidance
Back a couple of years ago I starting getting bad pains in my left shoulder. These pains would double me over and seemed to come out of the blue. I was beginning to think I had something seriously wrong with me so I went to the doctor and he suggested it was stomach acid (which seemed bizarre to me as I had no pains in my stomach) and advised going on a tablet to shut off the acid in my stomach. Not liking the sounds of this I decided I would first attempt to access my inner guidance system to see if it could tell me what was wrong before taking these drastic measures. (If you want to find out more about your inner guidance system see my last post Tapping in to Your Inner Guidance System)
So as I was heading to sleep that night I asked that I receive a dream explaining what was causing the pain in my shoulder. I woke up the next day and couldnt remember any dreams but decided to give it a second go so next night did exactly the same thing. Next day I woke up, got out of bed and then thought disappointingly that again I had not received any dreams or information. Just then I heard a screaming voice in my head saying "It's the Beans". The voice (my own voice of course) sounded extremely frustrated. If you can imagine someone trying to get through to someone who just wont listen and they have been trying a very long time and eventually get so frustrated that they just shout the words in sheer frustration at them....then you've got a good picture of what this voice sounded like.
I headed in to my computer and googled shoulder pain and beans and to my surprize up pops loads of articles linking the two !!!!. Turns out I had gone largely vegetarian in the previous 3 months which meant I had been consuming lots of beans and pulses in my diet. Very healthy but unfortunately also very hard to digest especially when the change is made suddenly. I still don't understand why the pain was in my shoulder but in essence it was a bizarrely placed wind pain. I cut back on the beans or just started chewing them much more thoroughly and bit by bit the shoulder pain disappeared.
Hey presto, no tablets, no medication, no unnecessary switching off of my vital stomach acids and one frustrated voice in my head very glad that I finally listened to it.
So as I was heading to sleep that night I asked that I receive a dream explaining what was causing the pain in my shoulder. I woke up the next day and couldnt remember any dreams but decided to give it a second go so next night did exactly the same thing. Next day I woke up, got out of bed and then thought disappointingly that again I had not received any dreams or information. Just then I heard a screaming voice in my head saying "It's the Beans". The voice (my own voice of course) sounded extremely frustrated. If you can imagine someone trying to get through to someone who just wont listen and they have been trying a very long time and eventually get so frustrated that they just shout the words in sheer frustration at them....then you've got a good picture of what this voice sounded like.
I headed in to my computer and googled shoulder pain and beans and to my surprize up pops loads of articles linking the two !!!!. Turns out I had gone largely vegetarian in the previous 3 months which meant I had been consuming lots of beans and pulses in my diet. Very healthy but unfortunately also very hard to digest especially when the change is made suddenly. I still don't understand why the pain was in my shoulder but in essence it was a bizarrely placed wind pain. I cut back on the beans or just started chewing them much more thoroughly and bit by bit the shoulder pain disappeared.
Hey presto, no tablets, no medication, no unnecessary switching off of my vital stomach acids and one frustrated voice in my head very glad that I finally listened to it.
The lesson of course is that there is a vast amount of information, knowledge and guidance open to all of us. Perhaps it comes from spirit, from the collective unconscious or from our own inner knowledge but it doesn’t seem to become available to us until we consciously ask for an answer or ask for guidance. It can help us with the mundane or the vital in life so we'd be wise not to overlook it.
Tapping in to Your Inner Guidance System
We have an incredible guidance system available to us that many of us overlook. This guidance system can point us in the right direction, give us answers that were previously out of reach, give us knowledge we didn't previously know and can expertly guide us in our life. Furthermore it's available to us all by simply asking and being open to receive the answer.
Here is a trivial but rather bizarre incident that happened to me last week which shows this system at work.
I was doing a cross word puzzle in a magazine in hope of winning a fantastic prize of a cookery course in a top cookery school. I'm not a regular crossworder but had put in lots of effort and had managed to figure out all but one of the clues. I had been musing over this particular clue for days and had gone through every dictionary and every crossword site on the net. Then one day while out walking I got the bright idea to tap in to my guidance system to see if it could give me the answer and that is exactly what I did.
I asked "above" to give me the answer to the question. I continued to walk and within about 3 minutes the word Yoemen popped in to my head along with a picture of a man in a red hat and shoes with red bobbles. Low and behold it fits my space and the letters I already have. So with great excitement I head home, check it in the dictionaries online and it doesn't exist.... I am perplexed but then I google the word and find it is an old word (now spelt slightly differently) for a guard. This fits perfectly with my clue. I search google images and up pops a picture of the man similar to the impression I saw in my head !
So what happened there? Was this divine intervention or did I just simply tap in to information I already knew but was not conscious of. I don't think I'd heard this word before but perhaps I had. Personally I believe that spirit (spirit guides, god, angels, the universe) are there and available to help us and they do guide us. I also believe that there is a collective unconscious which we can tap in to which holds collectively known rather than personally known information and this can vastly widen our range of knowledge. Of course it is equally possible that I just tapped in to my own subconscious and accessed something I already knew but didn't remember.
The key thing is that I had been musing and trying to figure out this answer for days and had got nowhere. This difference now was two fold. Firstly I was in a relaxed state out enjoying a lovely walk in nature and secondly i asked specifically for something beyond myself to give me the answer.
Whether you believe in spirit, collective unconscious or personal subconscious doesn't really matter but what does matter is that you start realising that there is a vast amount of information, knowledge and guidance available to you if you only just ask for it.
So start asking now and I wish you much success in receiving all that you ask for. If you like this post and want to read more information on getting guidance on a health issue in a similar but slightly different way check out my blog post "It's the Beans"
Here is a trivial but rather bizarre incident that happened to me last week which shows this system at work.
I was doing a cross word puzzle in a magazine in hope of winning a fantastic prize of a cookery course in a top cookery school. I'm not a regular crossworder but had put in lots of effort and had managed to figure out all but one of the clues. I had been musing over this particular clue for days and had gone through every dictionary and every crossword site on the net. Then one day while out walking I got the bright idea to tap in to my guidance system to see if it could give me the answer and that is exactly what I did.
I asked "above" to give me the answer to the question. I continued to walk and within about 3 minutes the word Yoemen popped in to my head along with a picture of a man in a red hat and shoes with red bobbles. Low and behold it fits my space and the letters I already have. So with great excitement I head home, check it in the dictionaries online and it doesn't exist.... I am perplexed but then I google the word and find it is an old word (now spelt slightly differently) for a guard. This fits perfectly with my clue. I search google images and up pops a picture of the man similar to the impression I saw in my head !
So what happened there? Was this divine intervention or did I just simply tap in to information I already knew but was not conscious of. I don't think I'd heard this word before but perhaps I had. Personally I believe that spirit (spirit guides, god, angels, the universe) are there and available to help us and they do guide us. I also believe that there is a collective unconscious which we can tap in to which holds collectively known rather than personally known information and this can vastly widen our range of knowledge. Of course it is equally possible that I just tapped in to my own subconscious and accessed something I already knew but didn't remember.
The key thing is that I had been musing and trying to figure out this answer for days and had got nowhere. This difference now was two fold. Firstly I was in a relaxed state out enjoying a lovely walk in nature and secondly i asked specifically for something beyond myself to give me the answer.
Whether you believe in spirit, collective unconscious or personal subconscious doesn't really matter but what does matter is that you start realising that there is a vast amount of information, knowledge and guidance available to you if you only just ask for it.
So start asking now and I wish you much success in receiving all that you ask for. If you like this post and want to read more information on getting guidance on a health issue in a similar but slightly different way check out my blog post "It's the Beans"
Monday, November 29, 2010
Avoid misery with a recipe for happiness
With all this talk of contagion it is nice to see something about some positive contagion for a change. This article which appeared in the Irish times last week talks about emotional contagion and how happiness spreads. It will definitely make you think and is just the tonic for these dreary times !
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/1123/1224283918724.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/1123/1224283918724.html
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Two Angels in Garda Uniforms
In the last two week I've been to two funerals. Both men were taken before their time. One was in his 60's and the other only in his 20's. Both were taken by cancer and have left devasted families behind....
Sometimes life can seem very cruel and unfair. If we look at it from the limited perspective of this physical world it can be impossible to understand and difficult to accept. For me personally, times like this are made easier by a deep sense of knowing that we are more than just this physical life and this physical body - a sense of being part of something greater.
During my lifetime I have been lucky enough to have had some amazing experiences which have confirmed for me that even after we die we are still very much present with those that we love and in light of the last few week I thought I would share one of those experiences with you today.....
In 2002, my father (JJ McKinney) passed away from Cancer. In the years leading up to his death he loved giving me directions (at times much to my irritation - as he often directed me to places that I knew better than him - like my own house :-))
A few years after his death I was driving back home to Aughrim after attended an event in Naas. It was late evening - well after middnight and I'd never driven the back roads from Naas to Aughrim before so was quite unsure of where I was going. As I was making my way home I noticed that I was very low on petrol and calculated that without a single mistake on the journey I would barely make it home unless I managed to refill.
In the darkness I found it impossible to recognise the way I had come and got completely lost. I seemed to have ended up in the depths of countryside with no villages, nothing I recognised and no signs of life. I did not pass one open petrol station in the whole journey. For miles I had seen nothing but one signpost for "Moone" which as far as I knew definitely shouldnt have been on my journey home!
I pulled in at the side of the road feeling growing panic, I had no idea where I was, I hadnt passed a village in ages and my petrol was rapidly running down, the one thing I did know was that I was on a road to Moone (not a comforting fact considering a woman had dissapeared in that area some time before hand). My imagination started to run wild - with lots of not so nice thoughts!
As I looked at the map, almost in tears, trying to figure out where I was, I prayed to my father to please do something to help me. "J.J. - If there was ever a time that I needed directions - NOW IS THE TIME - please, please, please help me".
Minutes later, I jumped sky high when there was a loud knock on my car window. I turned expecting to see some mad man waiting to get me.... only to see a man in a garda uniform looking through the glass. Behind him I saw a squad car with a female garda inside. For those of you that live in a city this may not seem particularly strange but those of you who live in the countryside will know that it is a VERY, VERY, VERY RARE occassion that you pass a garda car on the back roads. So I consider the timing of this event a minor if not major miracle.
I rolled down the window and the garda asked me what was up. When I explained he laughed and told me I was miles away from where I should be and heading in the wrong direction. He then proceeded to offer me a garda escort back to a road I knew.
The Garda car escorted me through miles of countryside until I was safely back to a route I knew. They then blinked their headlights and with a wave they were gone. I continued on the journey still a little fearful that I would not make it all the way on the remaining petrol but feeling some comfort that I was back on known territory. Eventually after a nervous drive home I arrived outside my house - the petrol indicator was indicating just 1 mile of petrol left !!!!
I immediately felt overwhelmed by emotion and gratitute to my father...not only because I was back safe and sound but more so because at that moment I knew without a doubt that his loving presence was always with me and was always watching out for me and that all I had to do was "ask" and he would be there. I knew without a doubt that when we die we still exist at a greater level! To this day this knowledge has never left me and I have had many other experiences where I have felt the strong protective energy of my father present when I need it.
I sometimes look back to that night and wish that I had rung up the garda stations in the area after the event to find out if they had a patrol car out that night and if they escorted a girl to safety. I wouldnt be surprised if the answer was "no". But physically real or not, it doesnt really matter, because either way I know deep in my heart, that, that night I met two angels sent by my father in garda uniforms and for that I will be eternally grateful.
This post is written in memory of Sean O Brien, Robert Beggs, J.J. McKinney and all those that have lost their lives to cancer - may they rest in peace and forever by present in our hearts.
Sometimes life can seem very cruel and unfair. If we look at it from the limited perspective of this physical world it can be impossible to understand and difficult to accept. For me personally, times like this are made easier by a deep sense of knowing that we are more than just this physical life and this physical body - a sense of being part of something greater.
During my lifetime I have been lucky enough to have had some amazing experiences which have confirmed for me that even after we die we are still very much present with those that we love and in light of the last few week I thought I would share one of those experiences with you today.....
In 2002, my father (JJ McKinney) passed away from Cancer. In the years leading up to his death he loved giving me directions (at times much to my irritation - as he often directed me to places that I knew better than him - like my own house :-))
A few years after his death I was driving back home to Aughrim after attended an event in Naas. It was late evening - well after middnight and I'd never driven the back roads from Naas to Aughrim before so was quite unsure of where I was going. As I was making my way home I noticed that I was very low on petrol and calculated that without a single mistake on the journey I would barely make it home unless I managed to refill.
In the darkness I found it impossible to recognise the way I had come and got completely lost. I seemed to have ended up in the depths of countryside with no villages, nothing I recognised and no signs of life. I did not pass one open petrol station in the whole journey. For miles I had seen nothing but one signpost for "Moone" which as far as I knew definitely shouldnt have been on my journey home!
I pulled in at the side of the road feeling growing panic, I had no idea where I was, I hadnt passed a village in ages and my petrol was rapidly running down, the one thing I did know was that I was on a road to Moone (not a comforting fact considering a woman had dissapeared in that area some time before hand). My imagination started to run wild - with lots of not so nice thoughts!
As I looked at the map, almost in tears, trying to figure out where I was, I prayed to my father to please do something to help me. "J.J. - If there was ever a time that I needed directions - NOW IS THE TIME - please, please, please help me".
Minutes later, I jumped sky high when there was a loud knock on my car window. I turned expecting to see some mad man waiting to get me.... only to see a man in a garda uniform looking through the glass. Behind him I saw a squad car with a female garda inside. For those of you that live in a city this may not seem particularly strange but those of you who live in the countryside will know that it is a VERY, VERY, VERY RARE occassion that you pass a garda car on the back roads. So I consider the timing of this event a minor if not major miracle.
I rolled down the window and the garda asked me what was up. When I explained he laughed and told me I was miles away from where I should be and heading in the wrong direction. He then proceeded to offer me a garda escort back to a road I knew.
The Garda car escorted me through miles of countryside until I was safely back to a route I knew. They then blinked their headlights and with a wave they were gone. I continued on the journey still a little fearful that I would not make it all the way on the remaining petrol but feeling some comfort that I was back on known territory. Eventually after a nervous drive home I arrived outside my house - the petrol indicator was indicating just 1 mile of petrol left !!!!
I immediately felt overwhelmed by emotion and gratitute to my father...not only because I was back safe and sound but more so because at that moment I knew without a doubt that his loving presence was always with me and was always watching out for me and that all I had to do was "ask" and he would be there. I knew without a doubt that when we die we still exist at a greater level! To this day this knowledge has never left me and I have had many other experiences where I have felt the strong protective energy of my father present when I need it.
I sometimes look back to that night and wish that I had rung up the garda stations in the area after the event to find out if they had a patrol car out that night and if they escorted a girl to safety. I wouldnt be surprised if the answer was "no". But physically real or not, it doesnt really matter, because either way I know deep in my heart, that, that night I met two angels sent by my father in garda uniforms and for that I will be eternally grateful.
This post is written in memory of Sean O Brien, Robert Beggs, J.J. McKinney and all those that have lost their lives to cancer - may they rest in peace and forever by present in our hearts.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Benefits of Healing in Post Operative Care
When we undergo an operation our energy fields can be affected in a number of ways. The anaesthetic can be seen in the energy system for up to a year after the operation and an operation itself can cause disturbance in the energy field. Healing can help to clear the anaesthetic from the field and to bring the energy back to its original form.
Our energy field is the template for our physical body. Physical illness generally shows up in the energy field before it shows up in the physical body. The physcial body struggles to heal when there is a disturbance in the flow of energy. Energy healing can help to speed up recovery time after an operation, build back up our immune system, reduce pain and post operative complications.
There have been many studies done by scientists or physicians which have shown evidence of the power of energy healing in post operative or patient care. One such study was carried by Elizabeth Targ and Fred Sicher. The study worked with a group of 40 advanced AIDS patients. All patients in the group had the same degree of illness, the same T-cell counts, the same number of AIDS-defining illnesses and were the same age range.
All patients received the usual orthodox treatment but only half of the patients received regular healings over a 6 month period. The other half received no healing. The healing was done remotely (distant healing) so the patients did not know which group they belonged in (the being healed or the not being healed group). The doctors also did not know which patients were receiving healing and which were not.
After six months, the whole group was scientifically assessed with inescapable conclusion that the healing was working. The group receiving healing were healthier on every parameter than the group not receiving healing. They had significantly fewer doctor visits, fewer hospitalization, fewer days in hospital and had developed fewer new AIDS-defining illnesses. The group receiving healing also registered significant improved mood on psychological tests. On 6 out of 11 medical outcomes, the group receiving healing had significantly better outcomes.
A recent personal experience has prompted me to write about this subject. One year ago I had Laser Eye surgery to reverse my short sight. The operation was a success and I was very pleased with the results. As a healer I know how beneficial it would have been to have a few healings after the operation to ensure that my post surgery healing was the best it could be but being a human I kept putting it on the long finger and 1 year later still had not got around to doing it.
After the surgery I noticed that a jumping nerve started in my eyelid. The hospital advised that this happens sometimes and there was nothing they could do about it. I knew healing would probably help but never seemed to find the time to go for a healing. Over the next year the nerve continued to jump and my eyes started to feel more strained and tired. A month ago the nerve stopped jumping but got replaced by bad headaches (something I never ususally experience).
I finally decided enough was enough and called a friend who trained with me in the Brennan School of Healing to ask for a healing. As she worked on me the next day I could feel the energy in my body and particularly my head reorganising itself. It felt like I was coming back in to order and that a weight had been lifted off me. It felt wonderful.
After the healing I felt extremely tired. I could barely get off the healing table but later that day I felt fantastic - more in my body than I have been in ages. The healing was two weeks ago and since then my jumping nerve and headaches have disappeared and I feel better than I have in months. I am going to go for another one or two healings just to ensure that my energy holds the changes that happened in the healing.
Needless to say I could kick myself for leaving it so long :-) but instead of that I think I'll just learn from the lesson instead and make sure that if I am ever having a surgical procedure or go through an illness again in the future that I'll book some healings up front to support my recovery.
If you want to find out more about some of the trials that have been done to prove the effectiveness of energy healing I recommend a book called "the field" by Lynn McTaggart.
If you'd like to discuss whether healing could be beneficial for you I can be contacted on 087 2529325
Our energy field is the template for our physical body. Physical illness generally shows up in the energy field before it shows up in the physical body. The physcial body struggles to heal when there is a disturbance in the flow of energy. Energy healing can help to speed up recovery time after an operation, build back up our immune system, reduce pain and post operative complications.
There have been many studies done by scientists or physicians which have shown evidence of the power of energy healing in post operative or patient care. One such study was carried by Elizabeth Targ and Fred Sicher. The study worked with a group of 40 advanced AIDS patients. All patients in the group had the same degree of illness, the same T-cell counts, the same number of AIDS-defining illnesses and were the same age range.
All patients received the usual orthodox treatment but only half of the patients received regular healings over a 6 month period. The other half received no healing. The healing was done remotely (distant healing) so the patients did not know which group they belonged in (the being healed or the not being healed group). The doctors also did not know which patients were receiving healing and which were not.
After six months, the whole group was scientifically assessed with inescapable conclusion that the healing was working. The group receiving healing were healthier on every parameter than the group not receiving healing. They had significantly fewer doctor visits, fewer hospitalization, fewer days in hospital and had developed fewer new AIDS-defining illnesses. The group receiving healing also registered significant improved mood on psychological tests. On 6 out of 11 medical outcomes, the group receiving healing had significantly better outcomes.
A recent personal experience has prompted me to write about this subject. One year ago I had Laser Eye surgery to reverse my short sight. The operation was a success and I was very pleased with the results. As a healer I know how beneficial it would have been to have a few healings after the operation to ensure that my post surgery healing was the best it could be but being a human I kept putting it on the long finger and 1 year later still had not got around to doing it.
After the surgery I noticed that a jumping nerve started in my eyelid. The hospital advised that this happens sometimes and there was nothing they could do about it. I knew healing would probably help but never seemed to find the time to go for a healing. Over the next year the nerve continued to jump and my eyes started to feel more strained and tired. A month ago the nerve stopped jumping but got replaced by bad headaches (something I never ususally experience).
I finally decided enough was enough and called a friend who trained with me in the Brennan School of Healing to ask for a healing. As she worked on me the next day I could feel the energy in my body and particularly my head reorganising itself. It felt like I was coming back in to order and that a weight had been lifted off me. It felt wonderful.
After the healing I felt extremely tired. I could barely get off the healing table but later that day I felt fantastic - more in my body than I have been in ages. The healing was two weeks ago and since then my jumping nerve and headaches have disappeared and I feel better than I have in months. I am going to go for another one or two healings just to ensure that my energy holds the changes that happened in the healing.
Needless to say I could kick myself for leaving it so long :-) but instead of that I think I'll just learn from the lesson instead and make sure that if I am ever having a surgical procedure or go through an illness again in the future that I'll book some healings up front to support my recovery.
If you want to find out more about some of the trials that have been done to prove the effectiveness of energy healing I recommend a book called "the field" by Lynn McTaggart.
If you'd like to discuss whether healing could be beneficial for you I can be contacted on 087 2529325
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Law of Attraction Workshop Extra Date
Due to popular demand I am running an extra Law of Attraction Workshop on Sunday 30th November in Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
For more information log on to www.pathwaytothesoul.com or call me on 087 2529325
For more information log on to www.pathwaytothesoul.com or call me on 087 2529325
Believe you can and you will
What you believe has a direct impact on your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing and on the external results and achievements you see in your life - your successes and your failures.
‘If you think you can do a thing or think you cant do a thing, you are right’ These are the words of Henry Ford and they still ring true today. The strange thing is most of us dont pay much attention to what we believe. Most of us have no idea of the power of our beliefs. It’s not something that's taught in school or used very often in business. Its a powerful tool that is often completely overlooked and could bring more benefits to your life and your business than alot of hard work, talent and money put together. At the very basic level it is the foundation on which all your life experience rests.
We all hold beliefs about ourself and our capabilities. Some beliefs help us and some hold us back. We may believe we’d be great at doing a particular thing or that we’d be awful at it. We may believe we are a great sales person or a terrible one. We may believe we are good with money or that we are useless, that we are attractive or that we we are ugly. Whatever it is that we believe will directly influence the results we achieve in our life.
I find some of the studies and clinical trials that have been carried out that demonstrate the power of belief absolutely fascinating and I want to share some of them here with you today.
The ‘placebo affect’ gives us a glimpse of the control our beliefs have over our bodies. A placebo is any medical treatment that has no specific action, in other words it contains none of the active ingredients of the medical treatment. It is a fake treatment. Placebos are often used as a control in drug trials. In these cases one group of patients is give the real drug and another group of the same size is given a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the individuals being tested know which group they are in. In the last half century the placebo effect has been extensively researched in hundreds of different studies around the world and it has been shown that on average 35% of all people who receive a placebo will show an improvement in symptoms and at times also exhibit the known side effect of the real drug even though they havent been given the real drug at all. This shows that the simple belief that they have received a treatment drug can in many cases help a patients body to make recordable physical improvements. The percentage who experience an effect can greatly vary from situation to situation but the range of medical conditions on which placebos have proved effective ranges from life threatening to not so serious.
Studies have also shown that the effectiveness of the placebo is also impacted by the method in which it is given for example injections are perceived as more potent than pills so giving a placebo by injection can increase the percentage of people who repond to it as if it were the real drug. Another factor is the attitude the doctor conveys when he prescribes the placebo. Obviously the patient is not told directly that the drug is a placebo but the doctors manner may give away clues.
Even with the administration of real drugs studies have shown that the confidence the patient has in the doctors ability to prescribe the correct treatment can impact on the effectiveness of the drug. If the patient trusts the doctor, they will believe that they will be prescribed something that will help and thereby will increase their chances that the drug actually will help. If they are not confident in the doctor they may doubt whether the medication will help, thereby decreasing the chances of it working even if it was the perfect medication for their condition at that time.
Beliefs can also control our capabilities. Roger Bannister, made headlines around the world with one of the landmark events of 20th century sports history. At the time, it was thought to be impossible for a human being to run a mile in under four minutes. The world record of 4 minutes and 1.3seconds had stood for nine years, and experts regarded this time as an insurmountable human limitation. In 1954 Roger Bannister broke this record running the mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. The most incredible thing is that within 3 years 16 runners has logged a sub-4-minute miles.
Time and time again studies have shown that our beliefs affect our bodies and our capabilities. To see this for yourself do a little exercise next time you have to make do on too little sleep. I use this myself and find it really powerful. If I don’t get eight hours sleep I am a grouch. I began to notice that on nights when I knew I wouldn’t be getting the sleep I felt I needed, I would fall asleep thinking ‘oh no, now I’m going to be wrecked tomorrow - I wish I was getting enough sleep’ I realized that this was really setting myself up to be wrecked so instead of predicting the worst outcome before I fell asleep I started to say to myself that ‘my body would sleep well and deeply and that I would wake up fresh and rested in the morning’. I’d say this a number of times and I have been amazed at the results because without fail I wake up fresh and rested - no longer a morning grouch. Now I still like my sleep and I don’t recommend you do this as a way of continuously making do without sleep but if needs be it is certainly worth doing from time to time. So give it a go.
So how do you create positive beliefs in your life and how do you get rid of doubts. We all have doubts even those of us that look the most confident. Well the best way I have found to build positive beliefs is to focus on the end result, focus on what you want to happen. So often we focus on our doubts and our fears. We are all expert worriers and worrying is in effect concentrating our attention on what we don’t want to happen. You need to change this. And to put as much and in fact more energy toward imagining what you do want to happen. Focus on how you want things to be.
One of the most powerful tools for this is visualization - picturing the final outcome the way you would like it to be. But when I say visualization I don’t just mean seeing a picture in your imagination - I mean fully experiencing that event in your imagination. Experiencing it with all your senses. If, for example, you want to have a successful business where your brand name and product becomes known world wide, you have got to focus on what it is going to feel like to be that person who has that successful business. You have to focus on the end result - what the customers will be saying, how you’ll be feeling, what you’ll be thinking and what positive impact this will have on your life. You’ve got to become that person in your imagination and to fully experience what that is like.
Your beliefs are the foundation of everything. They are the pattern that underlies your life experience, your successes and your failures. So take some time to reflect on what beliefs you hold that help you and what beliefs you have that hold you back. It is in your control to change them and with that your life experience will change to.
‘If you think you can do a thing or think you cant do a thing, you are right’ These are the words of Henry Ford and they still ring true today. The strange thing is most of us dont pay much attention to what we believe. Most of us have no idea of the power of our beliefs. It’s not something that's taught in school or used very often in business. Its a powerful tool that is often completely overlooked and could bring more benefits to your life and your business than alot of hard work, talent and money put together. At the very basic level it is the foundation on which all your life experience rests.
We all hold beliefs about ourself and our capabilities. Some beliefs help us and some hold us back. We may believe we’d be great at doing a particular thing or that we’d be awful at it. We may believe we are a great sales person or a terrible one. We may believe we are good with money or that we are useless, that we are attractive or that we we are ugly. Whatever it is that we believe will directly influence the results we achieve in our life.
I find some of the studies and clinical trials that have been carried out that demonstrate the power of belief absolutely fascinating and I want to share some of them here with you today.
The ‘placebo affect’ gives us a glimpse of the control our beliefs have over our bodies. A placebo is any medical treatment that has no specific action, in other words it contains none of the active ingredients of the medical treatment. It is a fake treatment. Placebos are often used as a control in drug trials. In these cases one group of patients is give the real drug and another group of the same size is given a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the individuals being tested know which group they are in. In the last half century the placebo effect has been extensively researched in hundreds of different studies around the world and it has been shown that on average 35% of all people who receive a placebo will show an improvement in symptoms and at times also exhibit the known side effect of the real drug even though they havent been given the real drug at all. This shows that the simple belief that they have received a treatment drug can in many cases help a patients body to make recordable physical improvements. The percentage who experience an effect can greatly vary from situation to situation but the range of medical conditions on which placebos have proved effective ranges from life threatening to not so serious.
Studies have also shown that the effectiveness of the placebo is also impacted by the method in which it is given for example injections are perceived as more potent than pills so giving a placebo by injection can increase the percentage of people who repond to it as if it were the real drug. Another factor is the attitude the doctor conveys when he prescribes the placebo. Obviously the patient is not told directly that the drug is a placebo but the doctors manner may give away clues.
Even with the administration of real drugs studies have shown that the confidence the patient has in the doctors ability to prescribe the correct treatment can impact on the effectiveness of the drug. If the patient trusts the doctor, they will believe that they will be prescribed something that will help and thereby will increase their chances that the drug actually will help. If they are not confident in the doctor they may doubt whether the medication will help, thereby decreasing the chances of it working even if it was the perfect medication for their condition at that time.
Beliefs can also control our capabilities. Roger Bannister, made headlines around the world with one of the landmark events of 20th century sports history. At the time, it was thought to be impossible for a human being to run a mile in under four minutes. The world record of 4 minutes and 1.3seconds had stood for nine years, and experts regarded this time as an insurmountable human limitation. In 1954 Roger Bannister broke this record running the mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. The most incredible thing is that within 3 years 16 runners has logged a sub-4-minute miles.
Time and time again studies have shown that our beliefs affect our bodies and our capabilities. To see this for yourself do a little exercise next time you have to make do on too little sleep. I use this myself and find it really powerful. If I don’t get eight hours sleep I am a grouch. I began to notice that on nights when I knew I wouldn’t be getting the sleep I felt I needed, I would fall asleep thinking ‘oh no, now I’m going to be wrecked tomorrow - I wish I was getting enough sleep’ I realized that this was really setting myself up to be wrecked so instead of predicting the worst outcome before I fell asleep I started to say to myself that ‘my body would sleep well and deeply and that I would wake up fresh and rested in the morning’. I’d say this a number of times and I have been amazed at the results because without fail I wake up fresh and rested - no longer a morning grouch. Now I still like my sleep and I don’t recommend you do this as a way of continuously making do without sleep but if needs be it is certainly worth doing from time to time. So give it a go.
So how do you create positive beliefs in your life and how do you get rid of doubts. We all have doubts even those of us that look the most confident. Well the best way I have found to build positive beliefs is to focus on the end result, focus on what you want to happen. So often we focus on our doubts and our fears. We are all expert worriers and worrying is in effect concentrating our attention on what we don’t want to happen. You need to change this. And to put as much and in fact more energy toward imagining what you do want to happen. Focus on how you want things to be.
One of the most powerful tools for this is visualization - picturing the final outcome the way you would like it to be. But when I say visualization I don’t just mean seeing a picture in your imagination - I mean fully experiencing that event in your imagination. Experiencing it with all your senses. If, for example, you want to have a successful business where your brand name and product becomes known world wide, you have got to focus on what it is going to feel like to be that person who has that successful business. You have to focus on the end result - what the customers will be saying, how you’ll be feeling, what you’ll be thinking and what positive impact this will have on your life. You’ve got to become that person in your imagination and to fully experience what that is like.
Your beliefs are the foundation of everything. They are the pattern that underlies your life experience, your successes and your failures. So take some time to reflect on what beliefs you hold that help you and what beliefs you have that hold you back. It is in your control to change them and with that your life experience will change to.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Funky Seomra Rocks
Saturday night saw the opening of The Funky Seomra a new Dance night in Dublins Cultivate Centre and what an amazing night it was!
Pubs and Clubs dont really do it for me anymore. I dislike the crowds, the noise and the hangovers. Having said that I'm not really ready for staying in by the fireside every saturday night either so the Funky Seomra sounded like a nice alternative.
From the moment you start walking down the walkway to The Funky Seomra it feels special - it is in a beautifully lit Cathedral Space in the heart of temple bar. There's a fab chillout section with the most comfy large bean bags I've ever been on that were perfect for chatting or relaxing when your legs needed a rest. Around the edge of the room there were stalls selling delicious organic snacks and chocolate treats, a chai & specialist tea bar and smoothie bar. You could even get on a bike and peddle your own smoothie. Personally I was a bit wrecked from all the dancing so preferred to have someone else peddle mine.
DJ David Mooney was fantastic and kept the crowd dancing with the lush beats of funky world music. 3 African drummers put on an amazing show and had the crowd crying out for more. Myself and my friend Liz forced ourselves off the floor every now and then to sample the other delights of the evening but I can honestly say if it wasnt for needing a drink, the loo or a bit of a chill and chat I could happily have danced all the way through.
The Funky Seomra is a alcohol and drugs free zone but as Liz said to me on the way home "if anyone walked in there off the street and realised there wasn't a bar they assume we were all on drugs". Thats the thing about The Funky Seomra - the atmosphere, the warm friendly people, the amazing images playing out on the walls, the fabulous sounds from DJ Dave all make it easy, to open up, let your hair down and let loose - and best of all not a scrap of alcohol required !
All in all The Funky Soemra gets my vote and I'm looking forward to the next one in a months time.
You can find out more about the Funky Seomra on www.cultivate.ie or www.dublin.ie/websites/movement
Pubs and Clubs dont really do it for me anymore. I dislike the crowds, the noise and the hangovers. Having said that I'm not really ready for staying in by the fireside every saturday night either so the Funky Seomra sounded like a nice alternative.
From the moment you start walking down the walkway to The Funky Seomra it feels special - it is in a beautifully lit Cathedral Space in the heart of temple bar. There's a fab chillout section with the most comfy large bean bags I've ever been on that were perfect for chatting or relaxing when your legs needed a rest. Around the edge of the room there were stalls selling delicious organic snacks and chocolate treats, a chai & specialist tea bar and smoothie bar. You could even get on a bike and peddle your own smoothie. Personally I was a bit wrecked from all the dancing so preferred to have someone else peddle mine.
DJ David Mooney was fantastic and kept the crowd dancing with the lush beats of funky world music. 3 African drummers put on an amazing show and had the crowd crying out for more. Myself and my friend Liz forced ourselves off the floor every now and then to sample the other delights of the evening but I can honestly say if it wasnt for needing a drink, the loo or a bit of a chill and chat I could happily have danced all the way through.
The Funky Seomra is a alcohol and drugs free zone but as Liz said to me on the way home "if anyone walked in there off the street and realised there wasn't a bar they assume we were all on drugs". Thats the thing about The Funky Seomra - the atmosphere, the warm friendly people, the amazing images playing out on the walls, the fabulous sounds from DJ Dave all make it easy, to open up, let your hair down and let loose - and best of all not a scrap of alcohol required !
All in all The Funky Soemra gets my vote and I'm looking forward to the next one in a months time.
You can find out more about the Funky Seomra on www.cultivate.ie or www.dublin.ie/websites/movement
Sunday, September 21, 2008
TED - Ideas Worth Spreading
TED is an annual conference that brings together the worlds most fascinating thinkers and doers who are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes.
If you haven't come across it before you have got to check it out. The best of these talks are available free on www.ted.com—you can also hear some through Sky on the EMTV channel
Many of these talks will blow you away so take some time to browse but here’s suggestions to get you started:
“A Stoke of Insight” — Jill Bolte Taylor is a Brain Scientist who got a research opportunity few scientists would wish for—she got to study herself having a stroke and came up with some amazing insights on the connection between stroke, energy and our brains.
“Why are we happy” - Dan Gilbert gives some interesting evidence to challenge the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don't get what we want
“Do Schools kill creativity” - Sir Ken Robinson delivers a speech as good as stand up comedy but with some really thought provoking ideas
“Classical Music with shining eyes” Benjamin Zander takes an unusual and funny approach to help increase the worlds appreciation of classical music
Enjoy !!
If you haven't come across it before you have got to check it out. The best of these talks are available free on www.ted.com—you can also hear some through Sky on the EMTV channel
Many of these talks will blow you away so take some time to browse but here’s suggestions to get you started:
“A Stoke of Insight” — Jill Bolte Taylor is a Brain Scientist who got a research opportunity few scientists would wish for—she got to study herself having a stroke and came up with some amazing insights on the connection between stroke, energy and our brains.
“Why are we happy” - Dan Gilbert gives some interesting evidence to challenge the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don't get what we want
“Do Schools kill creativity” - Sir Ken Robinson delivers a speech as good as stand up comedy but with some really thought provoking ideas
“Classical Music with shining eyes” Benjamin Zander takes an unusual and funny approach to help increase the worlds appreciation of classical music
Enjoy !!
Breakthrough Weekends
Breakthrough weekends are a perfect way to make a quantum leap forward, work deeply with a challenge you are facing or simply to renew and refresh your energy.
Take a weekend away from it all in beautiful Aughrim, Co Wicklow. Stay locally in B&B, hotel or self catering accomodation. Spend 5 hours spread throughout the weekend with Erica in one to one healing, coaching and therapy work. The rest of the time you are free to integrate in whatever way feels right for you. Spend time nature, hang out in the local coffee shops and restaurants, sit quietly in your room. The choice is yours!
There is something very powerful about taking a breather from your life especially when it is done with a clear intention of bringing about healing or of helping you to create positive change.When this is done in a space that is being energetically held to support your intention and you are receiving direct support through healing and coaching this creates the opportunity for powerful transformation.
Breakthrough weekends are available on the following dates: 20th to 22nd February, 24th to 26th April, 17th to 19th July and 21st to 23rd August.
For more details contact Erica on 0402 36899 or createthelifeyouwant@gmail.com
Take a weekend away from it all in beautiful Aughrim, Co Wicklow. Stay locally in B&B, hotel or self catering accomodation. Spend 5 hours spread throughout the weekend with Erica in one to one healing, coaching and therapy work. The rest of the time you are free to integrate in whatever way feels right for you. Spend time nature, hang out in the local coffee shops and restaurants, sit quietly in your room. The choice is yours!
There is something very powerful about taking a breather from your life especially when it is done with a clear intention of bringing about healing or of helping you to create positive change.When this is done in a space that is being energetically held to support your intention and you are receiving direct support through healing and coaching this creates the opportunity for powerful transformation.
Breakthrough weekends are available on the following dates: 20th to 22nd February, 24th to 26th April, 17th to 19th July and 21st to 23rd August.
For more details contact Erica on 0402 36899 or createthelifeyouwant@gmail.com
Courses & Workshops
This season I am delighted to bring you lots of new and exciting opportunities to create space for deep and lasting transformation in your life:
The Law of Attraction Workshop—Learn the secrets of this powerful law and how to use it to create what you desire. This workshop is suitable for people that are new to the law of attraction or for those who have previously read “the secret” or similar books and have worked with limited success with the law.
Energy Awareness & Healing Workshop—I’ve often been asked to teach healing or to provide a follow up to my “understanding the Human Energy Field” Course and I am excited to announce my first weekend workshop that will do just that. Increase your awareness of energy, get in touch with your own healing ability and feel confident enough to use it with yourself, your family, friends and those you see in need.
Live Your Dream Night Class—6 evenings packed full of invaluable skills to get you focusing on and moving steadily towards the future of your dreams.
Understanding the Human Energy Field Workshop—Energy is the source of everything. This workshop is always a huge success and an inspirational 2 days and I am thrilled to now be offering it as a residential course in Chyrsalis starting January 09.
Create the Life You Want Workshop —Breakthrough negative patterns or beliefs that hold you back and learn how to move forward in a positive way in your life. Small group only so book early.
Lose Weight—Feel Great - Get in shape for Christmas with this highly successful private weight loss programme. One to one weight loss coaching at an affordable price. Available in Aughrim, and Dun Laoghaire.
Breakthrough Weekends - A perfect way to make a quantum leap forward, work deeply with a challenge you are facing or simply to renew and refresh in beautiful Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
Healing and Life Coaching - Private consultations are available in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin & Aughrim, Co Wicklow
Be well and happy,
Erica
The Law of Attraction Workshop—Learn the secrets of this powerful law and how to use it to create what you desire. This workshop is suitable for people that are new to the law of attraction or for those who have previously read “the secret” or similar books and have worked with limited success with the law.
Energy Awareness & Healing Workshop—I’ve often been asked to teach healing or to provide a follow up to my “understanding the Human Energy Field” Course and I am excited to announce my first weekend workshop that will do just that. Increase your awareness of energy, get in touch with your own healing ability and feel confident enough to use it with yourself, your family, friends and those you see in need.
Live Your Dream Night Class—6 evenings packed full of invaluable skills to get you focusing on and moving steadily towards the future of your dreams.
Understanding the Human Energy Field Workshop—Energy is the source of everything. This workshop is always a huge success and an inspirational 2 days and I am thrilled to now be offering it as a residential course in Chyrsalis starting January 09.
Create the Life You Want Workshop —Breakthrough negative patterns or beliefs that hold you back and learn how to move forward in a positive way in your life. Small group only so book early.
Lose Weight—Feel Great - Get in shape for Christmas with this highly successful private weight loss programme. One to one weight loss coaching at an affordable price. Available in Aughrim, and Dun Laoghaire.
Breakthrough Weekends - A perfect way to make a quantum leap forward, work deeply with a challenge you are facing or simply to renew and refresh in beautiful Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
Healing and Life Coaching - Private consultations are available in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin & Aughrim, Co Wicklow
Be well and happy,
Erica
Book Review "The Dark Side of the Light Chasers" by Debbie Ford
A Friend of mine gave me this book several years ago -she thought it was amazing and that I’d get a lot out of it. I took a look at it and nothing about it grabbed me so I put it in a drawer and that’s where it sat year after year.
Then one day I felt like I really needed something new, something to move me forward and I remembered this book—I took it out and for the next 3 days I could not put it down—I read it from cover to cover. Everything in it spoke to me. It felt like the perfect gift at that moment.
The Dark Side of the Light Chasers is a powerful guide to help you reclaim your power, creativity, brilliance and dreams by actively embracing the sides of yourself you dislike or deny.
Debbie Ford, the author contends that everyone possesses the entire range of human traits and emotions "the saintly and the cynical, the divine and the diabolical, the courageous and the cowardly" When we try to deny or hide those aspects that we think are not acceptable to others—our dark side– we also end up hiding much of our brilliance and our light.
Ford offers advice on how to recognise your shadow side and how to confront rather than reject the seemingly undesirable parts of yourself. It is only by owning every aspect of yourself that can you achieve harmony and "let your own light shine". She explains. "The purpose of doing shadow work, is to become whole. To end our suffering. To stop hiding ourselves from ourselves. Once we do this we can stop hiding ourselves from the rest of the world".
A fabulous book for anyone whose ready to take a good honest look at themselves. I highly recommend it.
Then one day I felt like I really needed something new, something to move me forward and I remembered this book—I took it out and for the next 3 days I could not put it down—I read it from cover to cover. Everything in it spoke to me. It felt like the perfect gift at that moment.
The Dark Side of the Light Chasers is a powerful guide to help you reclaim your power, creativity, brilliance and dreams by actively embracing the sides of yourself you dislike or deny.
Debbie Ford, the author contends that everyone possesses the entire range of human traits and emotions "the saintly and the cynical, the divine and the diabolical, the courageous and the cowardly" When we try to deny or hide those aspects that we think are not acceptable to others—our dark side– we also end up hiding much of our brilliance and our light.
Ford offers advice on how to recognise your shadow side and how to confront rather than reject the seemingly undesirable parts of yourself. It is only by owning every aspect of yourself that can you achieve harmony and "let your own light shine". She explains. "The purpose of doing shadow work, is to become whole. To end our suffering. To stop hiding ourselves from ourselves. Once we do this we can stop hiding ourselves from the rest of the world".
A fabulous book for anyone whose ready to take a good honest look at themselves. I highly recommend it.
The Law of Attraction
The law of attraction simply says that you attract in to your life whatever you think about. The law of attraction is always at work in your life even if you are completely unaware of it’s existence or how it works.
Without an understanding of how you create then it is very likely that due to scattered, unfocused or negative thinking you will end of creating things that on a conscious level you really don't want.
The Law of Attraction starts with our thought but gains power through our emotions. A thought that does not create an emotional response is not as powerful a creator as one that creates a strong emotional response in us. If we think and feel negative things then we will attract negative things in to our lives. If we think and feel positive things we will attract positive experiences in to our lives.
In order to make the Law of Attraction work for you in a positive way it is important to understand how we create our reality. The essence of this lies in the fact that we and everything else in the world are made of energy and how we think and feel affects the energy we emit to the world. Our energy acts like a magnet attracting like energy to it. This understanding can then be used to deliberately create the things we truly want.
Take a strong step toward creating what you want right now by spending time each day deliberately focusing on the things you want to create in a way that makes you feel strong positive emotion about them. Imagine how you would feel and think if you had what you wanted in your life right now. Really connect with this and bring the sensations and the positive feelings this picture brings into you body. Do this every day for a few minutes.
In parallel to this start to become aware of when you are feeling negative emotion. Negative emotion is a sign that you are thinking negatively and therefore are creating negatively. Allowing yourself to simmer in negative emotions will block good things coming in to your life.
If you’d like to learn more about how to make the law of Attraction work for you check out my workshop on 19th October. You’ll find full details on my www.pathwaytothesoul.com
Without an understanding of how you create then it is very likely that due to scattered, unfocused or negative thinking you will end of creating things that on a conscious level you really don't want.
The Law of Attraction starts with our thought but gains power through our emotions. A thought that does not create an emotional response is not as powerful a creator as one that creates a strong emotional response in us. If we think and feel negative things then we will attract negative things in to our lives. If we think and feel positive things we will attract positive experiences in to our lives.
In order to make the Law of Attraction work for you in a positive way it is important to understand how we create our reality. The essence of this lies in the fact that we and everything else in the world are made of energy and how we think and feel affects the energy we emit to the world. Our energy acts like a magnet attracting like energy to it. This understanding can then be used to deliberately create the things we truly want.
Take a strong step toward creating what you want right now by spending time each day deliberately focusing on the things you want to create in a way that makes you feel strong positive emotion about them. Imagine how you would feel and think if you had what you wanted in your life right now. Really connect with this and bring the sensations and the positive feelings this picture brings into you body. Do this every day for a few minutes.
In parallel to this start to become aware of when you are feeling negative emotion. Negative emotion is a sign that you are thinking negatively and therefore are creating negatively. Allowing yourself to simmer in negative emotions will block good things coming in to your life.
If you’d like to learn more about how to make the law of Attraction work for you check out my workshop on 19th October. You’ll find full details on my www.pathwaytothesoul.com
The Amazing Power of Gratitude
If you’d like to be happier and healthier start cultivating an attitude of gratitude and you’ll be off to a flying start.
According to scientific research by psychologist Emmons and McCullogh the simple act of counting your blessings can increase happiness levels by 25%! Those who make a point of practising gratitude sleep better, exercise more, feel more optimistic and less materialistic, are more empathetic and joyful and reported few physical symptoms such as pain. They can even have sharper minds.
Secondly, this is not hard to achieve - a few hours writing a gratitude journal over 3 weeks can create an effect that lasts 6 months if not more.
Emmons and McCullough carried out an experiential investigation into the link between gratitude and well-being. More than 100 adults took part in the study and were randomly divided into 3 different groups. Each group had to keep a journal. Group A had to write about things they felt grateful about. Group B about things they found annoying, irritating and Group C about things that had no major impact on them.
Results show that the gratitude group generally evidenced higher-levels of well-being than those in the comparison conditions, especially when compared to Group B (the one journaling about hassles), but also compared to the “neutral” group C.
The most common method used in the research was to keep a “Gratitude Journal” where participants wrote something they felt grateful for. Doing so 4 times a week, for as little as 3 weeks, is often enough to create a meaningful difference in one’s level of happiness.
Another exercise is to build a “Gratitude 30” into your day. Select a 30 minute period and actively notice all the things you are grateful for as you go through your daily business.
Alternatively simply taking a few minutes before bed time or in the morning to run through all the things you appreciate in your life can be very effective.
So start being thankful and before you know it you’ll be happy you did!
According to scientific research by psychologist Emmons and McCullogh the simple act of counting your blessings can increase happiness levels by 25%! Those who make a point of practising gratitude sleep better, exercise more, feel more optimistic and less materialistic, are more empathetic and joyful and reported few physical symptoms such as pain. They can even have sharper minds.
Secondly, this is not hard to achieve - a few hours writing a gratitude journal over 3 weeks can create an effect that lasts 6 months if not more.
Emmons and McCullough carried out an experiential investigation into the link between gratitude and well-being. More than 100 adults took part in the study and were randomly divided into 3 different groups. Each group had to keep a journal. Group A had to write about things they felt grateful about. Group B about things they found annoying, irritating and Group C about things that had no major impact on them.
Results show that the gratitude group generally evidenced higher-levels of well-being than those in the comparison conditions, especially when compared to Group B (the one journaling about hassles), but also compared to the “neutral” group C.
The most common method used in the research was to keep a “Gratitude Journal” where participants wrote something they felt grateful for. Doing so 4 times a week, for as little as 3 weeks, is often enough to create a meaningful difference in one’s level of happiness.
Another exercise is to build a “Gratitude 30” into your day. Select a 30 minute period and actively notice all the things you are grateful for as you go through your daily business.
Alternatively simply taking a few minutes before bed time or in the morning to run through all the things you appreciate in your life can be very effective.
So start being thankful and before you know it you’ll be happy you did!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
What is your Body Telling You?
Our body is constantly talking to us, giving us messages about our emotional and mental wellbeing. It is a deep source of knowledge and a great tool for transformation. If we listen and learn to work with it, it can guide us to health and wellbeing. If we ignore its messages we may well suffer unnecessary illness or distress as a result.
Many people do not even hear when their body talks – they dismiss its communications as just another headache, pain, virus, stiffness or cold. For others, they hear but do not develop a full enough understanding of what is being communicated to use the information for positive change.
In my work as a healer one of my main focuses is to help my clients become aware of their body’s messages and to use this information to transform their perception of themselves and how they live their life. Physical symptoms are usually the external expression of inner emotional or mental struggle. They are a symptom of being out of alignment with who we truly are or of not fully accepting ourselves. They are an expression of the parts of us that we are ashamed of or deem unacceptable – the parts we hide. They are the external manifestation of those emotions that are unexpressed but which burn inside us and play havoc with our minds.
Physical illness rarely comes out of the blue, although it may feel like it does when it happens. Generally it is preceded by warning signs which come in the form of emotional symptoms such as stress, fear or anxiousness or small aches, pains and routine illnesses. Often we notice these signs and promptly cover them up with medication. Doing this is like noticing a red warning light in your car, bringing it to the mechanic and getting him to take the bulb out of the light. In reality nothing has changed except you now are no longer aware that you have a problem.
Medication can play a vital role in treating illness but it is also vital to look at the deeper cause of your problems and to find out what you body is telling you. If you don’t address the underlying problem, the emotional or physical symptoms will often get worse or appear to be resolved but later reoccur in a different and more threatening disguise.
I have suffered on and off throughout my life with severe ear aches. As I have watched these ear aches come and go over many years a pattern emerged – the ear ache always comes when I feel intense stress. My ear aches used to last weeks in the past, now within a matter of minutes of feeling the first pain, I know the problem and I stand back from my life to see what is going on – by doing a few breathing and energy grounding exercises I can clear the pain within a few minutes. The ear ache has become my friend – most of the time I don’t even realise I am stressed until I get the surge of pain in my ear. In the past I would have thought – “goddamit – I can’t believe I get an earache now of all times” – now I think “earache - I must be stressed – got to stand back and see what’s causing this”
Each physical area of the body relates to an area/aspect of your life for example the stomach area relates to the self - self confidence, self esteem, self care and self acceptance. When you feel anxious in your stomach it can be a sign of not feeling sure of yourself. When you suffer from digestive problems or problems with any organ in that area the underlying problem is likely to be related to how you feel and think about yourself. To truly heal a physical problem in this area you must heal your relationship with yourself. Each area of the body has a similar story.
There are books which give maps of body areas and parts and what they relate to. I also teach this in my "Understanding the Human Energy Field Course". These are useful guides but your most useful guide is your own body. I truly believe and have witnessed both in myself and my clients how the cells and energy of our body hold all the answers and all the guidance that we need.
A few years ago I was working with a wonderful healer and at the time was feeling very overwhelmed by life. She asked me to bring my attention to the area of my body where I felt the tension most strongly. I felt it in my chest and with her guidance I connected to that area of my body to allow the tension to speak to me. As different emotions, feelings and thoughts came to mind I spoke them out uncensored. I started by noticing how anxious and tight my chest felt and continued to talk out all that came to my awareness.
After some time a memory surfaced of a lady that I had worked with in a healing session a few months prior to this who had breast cancer and from this, a fear came up that I too had breast cancer (I had been experiencing breast pain since that healing). My healer asked me “and what if you do have breast cancer” I could barely believe or speak the response that came. It horrified me and I found it hard to believe that it lived in the depths of my being somewhere but it did. The response was clear “if I had breast cancer that would be good because then I could just let go – I could stop struggling, stop stressing and just be”. What a message to get! What a gift to find out before I had managed to create this illness in my life that some part of my being found my current stressful way of living so unacceptable that breast cancer seemed like a good solution.
This information was so powerful– I could no longer ignore what needed to be addressed in my life. I could no longer continue to put dealing with my stress on the long finger. I now knew how badly my body and my soul cried out for my way of living to change. This was a big wake up call. Either way the depths of my being had plans to create space and lower stress in my life – I could choose to create this myself now while in the fullness of my physical health or I could wait until I was struck by illness and was forced to create it. It was a pretty simple choice for me one I couldn’t afford to ignore.
This is the power of the body as a messenger. This is the opportunity our body gives us if we are willing to listen and take notice. This is where we can avoid or reverse physical illness and in parallel create emotional and mental happiness and wellbeing. By listening to our body as a guide we give ourselves the choice – the choice to change what isn’t working about ourselves and our lives. By ignoring our body’s messages we take away our choice, and leave fate and luck to make those choices for us.
Many people do not even hear when their body talks – they dismiss its communications as just another headache, pain, virus, stiffness or cold. For others, they hear but do not develop a full enough understanding of what is being communicated to use the information for positive change.
In my work as a healer one of my main focuses is to help my clients become aware of their body’s messages and to use this information to transform their perception of themselves and how they live their life. Physical symptoms are usually the external expression of inner emotional or mental struggle. They are a symptom of being out of alignment with who we truly are or of not fully accepting ourselves. They are an expression of the parts of us that we are ashamed of or deem unacceptable – the parts we hide. They are the external manifestation of those emotions that are unexpressed but which burn inside us and play havoc with our minds.
Physical illness rarely comes out of the blue, although it may feel like it does when it happens. Generally it is preceded by warning signs which come in the form of emotional symptoms such as stress, fear or anxiousness or small aches, pains and routine illnesses. Often we notice these signs and promptly cover them up with medication. Doing this is like noticing a red warning light in your car, bringing it to the mechanic and getting him to take the bulb out of the light. In reality nothing has changed except you now are no longer aware that you have a problem.
Medication can play a vital role in treating illness but it is also vital to look at the deeper cause of your problems and to find out what you body is telling you. If you don’t address the underlying problem, the emotional or physical symptoms will often get worse or appear to be resolved but later reoccur in a different and more threatening disguise.
I have suffered on and off throughout my life with severe ear aches. As I have watched these ear aches come and go over many years a pattern emerged – the ear ache always comes when I feel intense stress. My ear aches used to last weeks in the past, now within a matter of minutes of feeling the first pain, I know the problem and I stand back from my life to see what is going on – by doing a few breathing and energy grounding exercises I can clear the pain within a few minutes. The ear ache has become my friend – most of the time I don’t even realise I am stressed until I get the surge of pain in my ear. In the past I would have thought – “goddamit – I can’t believe I get an earache now of all times” – now I think “earache - I must be stressed – got to stand back and see what’s causing this”
Each physical area of the body relates to an area/aspect of your life for example the stomach area relates to the self - self confidence, self esteem, self care and self acceptance. When you feel anxious in your stomach it can be a sign of not feeling sure of yourself. When you suffer from digestive problems or problems with any organ in that area the underlying problem is likely to be related to how you feel and think about yourself. To truly heal a physical problem in this area you must heal your relationship with yourself. Each area of the body has a similar story.
There are books which give maps of body areas and parts and what they relate to. I also teach this in my "Understanding the Human Energy Field Course". These are useful guides but your most useful guide is your own body. I truly believe and have witnessed both in myself and my clients how the cells and energy of our body hold all the answers and all the guidance that we need.
A few years ago I was working with a wonderful healer and at the time was feeling very overwhelmed by life. She asked me to bring my attention to the area of my body where I felt the tension most strongly. I felt it in my chest and with her guidance I connected to that area of my body to allow the tension to speak to me. As different emotions, feelings and thoughts came to mind I spoke them out uncensored. I started by noticing how anxious and tight my chest felt and continued to talk out all that came to my awareness.
After some time a memory surfaced of a lady that I had worked with in a healing session a few months prior to this who had breast cancer and from this, a fear came up that I too had breast cancer (I had been experiencing breast pain since that healing). My healer asked me “and what if you do have breast cancer” I could barely believe or speak the response that came. It horrified me and I found it hard to believe that it lived in the depths of my being somewhere but it did. The response was clear “if I had breast cancer that would be good because then I could just let go – I could stop struggling, stop stressing and just be”. What a message to get! What a gift to find out before I had managed to create this illness in my life that some part of my being found my current stressful way of living so unacceptable that breast cancer seemed like a good solution.
This information was so powerful– I could no longer ignore what needed to be addressed in my life. I could no longer continue to put dealing with my stress on the long finger. I now knew how badly my body and my soul cried out for my way of living to change. This was a big wake up call. Either way the depths of my being had plans to create space and lower stress in my life – I could choose to create this myself now while in the fullness of my physical health or I could wait until I was struck by illness and was forced to create it. It was a pretty simple choice for me one I couldn’t afford to ignore.
This is the power of the body as a messenger. This is the opportunity our body gives us if we are willing to listen and take notice. This is where we can avoid or reverse physical illness and in parallel create emotional and mental happiness and wellbeing. By listening to our body as a guide we give ourselves the choice – the choice to change what isn’t working about ourselves and our lives. By ignoring our body’s messages we take away our choice, and leave fate and luck to make those choices for us.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Little Things Make a Big Difference
I stopped off on the way home from work today for a workout in Curves in Arklow. As I was searching for money for parking meter I noticed a car loitering behind me and assumed they were hoping that I was about to pull out. I jumped out of my car expecting to tell the driver that I wasn't leaving only to get a nice surprize. Turns out the driver wasnt waiting to take my spot but was patiently waiting to offer me his parking ticket which still had about 45 mins left on it! Just enough time for a quick workout in Curves. How nice is that!
It reminded me of an incident 2 weeks ago in Tesco in Arklow. I was in line at the check out and there were 3 American folk just ahead of me paying there bill. The lady at the checkout asked if they had a "club card" and being visitors of course they didn't so they offered me their points. How sweet is that?
At the time it struck me that I'd often had the urge to do this when I was shopping somewhere that I dont have a loyalty card for but then I think to myself "sure its not like my shopping is that much money - no point offering the points to someone else" but these two incidents have reminded me that it's not about how much you are saving someone else or how much you are giving them - it's the gesture that counts!
When that man gave me his ticket today it warmed my heart. It warmed my heart that he thought of someone else who he didn't even know... it warmed my heart that he didnt want to see good money (even if it was only 50 cent) wasted, it warmed my heart that when I beamed a smile of suprised gratitude at him that both him and his passenger beamed a smile back, it warmed my heart that he was willing to spend an extra 3 - 4 minutes waiting in that car park for me to get out of my car... and most importantly it warms my heart that his action along with the actions of my American friends in Tesco, have caused me to reflect on my own actions and will no doubt prompt me to be a little more thoughtful and giving to the stranger in the street.
It reminds me of that famous saying "one small step for man, one giant step for man kind". Translate that as "one small step for the man in the car park in Arklow, one giant step for the generosity of the human race". Who knows where this could lead, their small actions of generosity prompts me to do small actions of generosity to a stranger which prompts my stranger to do small actions of generosity to a another stranger which prompts that stranger to .... it goes on and on.
It's the ripple effect - every single action we take, good or bad, has the potential to affect billions of people. From our small viewing point we'll never see the full results but rest assured very often the little things we do make a very big difference.
It reminded me of an incident 2 weeks ago in Tesco in Arklow. I was in line at the check out and there were 3 American folk just ahead of me paying there bill. The lady at the checkout asked if they had a "club card" and being visitors of course they didn't so they offered me their points. How sweet is that?
At the time it struck me that I'd often had the urge to do this when I was shopping somewhere that I dont have a loyalty card for but then I think to myself "sure its not like my shopping is that much money - no point offering the points to someone else" but these two incidents have reminded me that it's not about how much you are saving someone else or how much you are giving them - it's the gesture that counts!
When that man gave me his ticket today it warmed my heart. It warmed my heart that he thought of someone else who he didn't even know... it warmed my heart that he didnt want to see good money (even if it was only 50 cent) wasted, it warmed my heart that when I beamed a smile of suprised gratitude at him that both him and his passenger beamed a smile back, it warmed my heart that he was willing to spend an extra 3 - 4 minutes waiting in that car park for me to get out of my car... and most importantly it warms my heart that his action along with the actions of my American friends in Tesco, have caused me to reflect on my own actions and will no doubt prompt me to be a little more thoughtful and giving to the stranger in the street.
It reminds me of that famous saying "one small step for man, one giant step for man kind". Translate that as "one small step for the man in the car park in Arklow, one giant step for the generosity of the human race". Who knows where this could lead, their small actions of generosity prompts me to do small actions of generosity to a stranger which prompts my stranger to do small actions of generosity to a another stranger which prompts that stranger to .... it goes on and on.
It's the ripple effect - every single action we take, good or bad, has the potential to affect billions of people. From our small viewing point we'll never see the full results but rest assured very often the little things we do make a very big difference.
So a big thank you to the man in the car park in Arklow today and another big thank you to the 3 American folk in Tesco a few weeks ago. You have given me a bigger gift then you could ever imagine xx
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