I choose to live a life of JOY

Tool #3 that we would like to share with you is: Using Positive Affirmations

So many of us have the tendency to criticise ourselves constantly throughout our day. How often have you dropped something, or bumped your head, and your immediate (often subconscious) thought is “You idiot!” “Fool!”; or some other negative statement? Or you tell yourself that you will never be good at something, or that you always react in a certain way.

Embrace your life, by changing your ‘mind-talk’ and ultimately your beliefs, actions, habits and Destiny! Our thoughts affect the way we feel and drive our

• motivation,
• enthusiasm and
• well-being.

If we become aware of our thoughts, then we can really improve many aspects of our lives: boost self-confidence, improve the way we feel about other people, improve our health,
increase our motivation and more.

In her book “Zest for Life”, Dawn Breslin says: “From our thoughts, our actions are created
From our actions, our habits are created; From our habits, our character is created; From our character, our DESTINY is created”. Simply becoming aware of what your negative thoughts are, and replacing those with positive affirmations can have a profound effect on your life!

Have a positive week of being aware.
Warm regards
Julie and Liz

It takes courage to let go, but if we don’t let go of old things, we can’t make room for new things to come
— Jennifer Ford Berry

Why de-clutter? According to Jennifer Ford Berry (in her book – Organise Now!), “Eliminating clutter and organising your life will give you more energy, lift your spirits and make room for better things and experiences to come into your life”…

Some lovely practical ways to get rid of clutter:

• Be ruthless and “if in doubt throw it out”. If you haven’t used it in the last year, if it’s not beautiful or something you love, if it’s broken, doesn’t fit, isn’t comfortable – chuck it!
• Have a box/ bags/ packets to sort into
• Buy a shredder
• Set aside time. It can be overwhelming to sort clutter, so focus on small steps, for example, tackle one drawer at a time. Just make a start as this is a great way to feel energised to continue.
• Once you have decided whether to throw away or donate something, get rid of it, don’t simply put the bag or box in a cupboard! Put it in the bin or deliver it to the charity. Remember the words “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.
• A lovely tip from Dom Nass, a colleague and friend – “I am a great one for de-cluttering and working on simplifying. Something I have been doing recently which has been liberating is this: Three friends are in the process of moving and they are finding it so difficult to get rid of 25 years of living in a house and downsizing. They keep telling me about the decisions they are having to make. So each time I see a piece of paper, an item of clothing or an object I ask myself “Would this go with me to the downsized home or would it go to charity etc?” I find it easy to do this when I am not in the throes of a stressful move and hopefully one day my decisions won’t be so difficult when it’s my turn.” (thank you Dom!)

Have a liberating week of simplifying!

Liz and Jules

Our theme for the next few blogs is going to focus on “Simplicity” and what it means to Live a Simple Life!

In her book, “50 ways to Simplify your Life”, Elaine St James says that “When you start slowing down, cutting back, creating time – real time for yourself – the important things become obvious. Once you simplify your life you begin, perhaps again, to do your best work. You can start, perhaps all over again, to live your best life, whatever that is for you.”

Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.
— John Maeda

Each blog will explore or discuss different ways to consciously live a life of simplicity and will include specific tools and exercises to find balance, to be more engaged and to be intentional in the way that you live your life. We welcome any ideas or comments.

A simple suggestion to get you started on the journey of simplifying your life is to slow down and take time to mindfully eat a meal, drink a cup of tea, watch a sunrise, or have a meaningful conversation with someone you love.

Simply yours,
Liz and Jules

Find your Natural Gifts

The second step in creating and living an abundant life is to discover your gifts.
Why is it important to know what you are naturally good at?

Nick Williams (in his book “Powerful beyond measure”) quotes teacher and author “Gary Zukav, who says, ‘When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you are doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful,
when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within but seek the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work, you are doing what you were meant to be doing’…”

“When you focus most of your time and energy doing the things you are truly brilliant at, you eventually reap big rewards. This is a fundamental truth.” (The Power of Focus by Canfield, Hansen and Hewitt.)

When we are engaged in activities that we struggle with, don’t enjoy, find difficult to do, our energy is sapped – we feel exhausted, drained, overwhelmed.

When we are using our gifts (the things we are good at and that we enjoy doing), for the greater good as well as for our own good, we feel energised, engaged, motivated and alive! This can only have a positive impact on the abundance and joy that nfuses our lives and the lives of those around us.

To help you explore what your gifts are you can ask yourself the following questions:

What am I naturally good at?
What makes my eyes ‘shine’?
What makes me lose all sense of time?
What do I love doing?
How can these strengths best serve me and the world?

If you’re battling to find answers to these questions, please email us to send you a questionnaire developed by Les Hewitt to “Uncover your top 3 strengths”. He defines your strengths as “the combination of natural talents and developed skills”.

Abundantly yours
Liz and Jules

Say YES to LIFE!

The Oxford Concise Dictionary definition of abundance is “quantity more than enough; plenty; overflowing; affluence; wealth”.

In the next few blogs we would like to explore how an “abundant mind-set” can lead to a transformation in how you view your life, how you live your life and the riches that you open yourself up to when you trust in the Abundance of Life.

Matthew 6 verse 21 “For your heart will always be where your riches are”.

Where are your riches? Are you focusing on what you DON’T have, reinforcing the lack or scarcity in your life, and wanting “what the Jones’s have”?; or are you abundantly grateful for the riches that are right under your nose and open to the opportunities that present themselves each and every moment when you pay attention?

We can have every material thing that we think our hearts’ desire and be surrounded by people who love us and still be unhappy and feel empty, alone. We can be struggling financially, have no friends, and still feel grateful for life, content, at peace.

If you want to experience the Alchemy of Abundance, start by saying Yes to Life!
Yes to a life of abundance, overflowing with ‘riches’.

Once you can shift from the fear that there is not enough (money, friends, love, work, whatever it is) to the realisation that there IS more than enough, you will free yourself from restrictive, reactive and defensive behaviours and open yourself to receive freely the gifts that the world has to give!

Suggestions to get you started:
Give freely without want or expectation of anything in return – when you are fearful you are in survival mode and focused on getting your own needs met each day, missing opportunities that may be right in front of you.
Be generous with your time, energy, attention and resources – if you don’t have money or goods that you can share with others, you can give the gift of attention by listening to someone; giving a hug; or sharing the gift of a simple smile.

Try these suggestions and please send us feedback if you experience “gifts” and blessings coming into your life….

Abundantly yours
Liz and Jules

“Many people are feeling a call from their soul for balance. This also means balance in our own lives. Deep down many are seeking simplicity.” Fiona Taylor