Archive for Whose Life Are You Living?
How to Succeed in Life
Posted by: | CommentsThere are some things that you don’t have any control over – where you were born, who your parents are, the colour of your skin, your gender, if it rains, whether your favourite team win the game etc etc. What you do have control over is how you react to the things that you can’t change.
I was always amazed when I was younger and I listened to different people talking who had survived terrible things when the troubles were going on in the North of Ireland . Some people were still very tied up in their anger and the past, even years later were full of revenge. Others, who had suffered equally, were determined to grow from the experience and to try and bring good from it. I’m very lucky that I have not been in that position yet – I don’t know how I would have reacted. I know how I would want to react – in the second way.
I was so taken by the differences in people’s reactions, that it was one of the things that led me to spend so much of my life in the field of education and personal development. I want to have all the skills I can, so that if I am ever in that position, I will know how to save myself from falling into revenge and bitterness.
One of the things that I learnt is the power of stepping back, pressing the pause button and reflecting before acting in any situation. My natural inclination is to react quickly, so I have had to learn how to do this.
As a human being you have abilities and qualities that make you different than animals. These are what you can use to help you take control over your life and to succeed in the areas that YOU want to – and not to react to the events around you.
WHAT ARE THE FOUR QUALITIES?
- Self- Consciousness – This is often used as something negative, to suggest that you are unsure of yourself. What it really means is that you have self-awareness, You can step outside of yourself, and observe what you are doing and what you are thinking. This gives you the ability to see what affect your actions and behaviours are having on other people.
- Conscience – You know what is right and wrong. You have an inner voice that tells you what is the right thing to do – you may not always listen to it, but it’s there! You know it is.
- Imagination - You are greater than your reality. Even if things are not as you want them to be, you have the ability to see other possibilities.
- Choice – You have the power to choose. You can use your willpower to decide what you want your response and actions to be.
If you want to succeed in life, you really need to start using these four qualities. You may have fallen into the habit of not using them and reacting to what is going in your life. This makes it very hard for you to succeed in whatever area you want to – sport, business, relationships, the art, family life, spiritually – whatever.
ACTIONS
Choose one small thing that you would like to change in your life – that you would like to feel successful. Start small, you are going to be developing new muscles around this, so you need to gradually build up to the bigger things.
Run it past the four qualities we were looking at above – see what you learn from that, and how you can use those qualities differently in the future, so that you feel more successful.
I love this movie “August Rush”. It really demonstrates the power of the imagination. The young conductor has been brought up in a children’s home, never knowing his parents (they are both musicians, and met only once and couldn’t find each other again. The boy refused to be fostered, and always felt he could hear his parent’s music – he believed that the music would find them. This is the first time that they all meet since the night he was conceived.
Are you a Victim of Circumstance – or the Master of your Fate?
Posted by: | CommentsDo you feel like a victim of your circumstances, or are the Master of your Fate?
Another way of asking this question is – are you REACTIVE or PROACTIVE? Do you tend to take responsibility for your life – or do you tend to blame other people, things, circumstances if things don’t go right for them.
Everyone has things that go wrong in their life – it’s your response to it, that will determine the effect that the event will have on your life. Helen Keller, who was born Deaf and Blind, did and said many inspirational things in her life, one of which was” So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder over what has been denied.” She had enough wrong in her life to spend a life time bemoaning her fate – but instead she lived a very full and blessed life.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M BEING REACTIVE?
If you are being reactive you will hear yourself saying things like:
“I’ll try and do this”
“That’s just the way I am”
“I have to …………..”
“I cant’ ……………..”
“…………… has ruined my life”
“I’ll never get over”
You’ll probably find that you are easily offended, you blame others for what’s not right with your life, you complain a lot, fly off the handle and then regret it.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I”M BEING PROACTIVE?
You’ll tend to say things like:
“Let’s find a way to……..”
“I choose to”
“I can do it.”
“There has to be a way to do this.”
“I’m not going to let ……………… ruin my day.”
You’ll also tend to think before you act, take responsibility for your choices, bounce back quickly after a set back, focus on the things that you can change – not the ones that you can’t.
CAN I CHANGE HOW I REACT TO THINGS?
If you have developed a habit of being reactive you can change it. It’s like any habit, it may take a while to change, but if you want to you can. The first thing is to be AWARE of when you are being reactive. Take time – press the pause button – before you react. Decide which is the most empowering – is it to focus all your energy on things that are out of your control, or to focus on what you can control.
There are many things that you can’t control – your environment, other people’s reactions, the weather – if you focus on them, you’ll feel like a victim.
If you focus on the one thing that you can change – yourself, you’ll feel much more in control of your life, and more able to cope with the knocks that life throws at you.
ACTION STEP
Ask yourself – “What do I spend a lot of my time worrying about that I have no control over?”
How can I change my reaction to that, so that I feel more in control.
I love this movie, and this clip of a woman taking responsibility for her life – truly inspiring – I hope you like it too.
A Valentine’s Message for YOURSELF!!
Posted by: | CommentsI just received my daily message from www.tut.com. I loved this one so much - I want to share it, and to encourage you to sign up for your own daily messages. There’s nothing in it for me – they’re free. I want you to get the messages, and to experience the inspiration that they give me. You could copy this message and change my name for yours – it’s always nice to receive them through the mail with your own name on them I think.
I’ve just realised that it’s nearly Valentine’s Day – so that has given me the title for this post!
“Think that it’s fun, Christine, that you’re guided, and that all is well; that there’s time, that life is easy, and that the best has yet to come.
Think that the reasons that elude you will one day catch up, that the lessons that have stumped you will one day bring joy, and that the sorrows that have crippled you will soon give you wings.
Think that you’re important, that you cannot fail, and that happiness always returns.
And think that you’re beautiful, Christine.
I do.
The Universe”
I wanted to put Van Morrisson here, but amazingly I couldn’t find him singing this on YouTube – so here’s Rod Stewart for you instead.
Be Grateful for Your Life
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the best ways that I know to do raise your vibrational level, is to
be GRATEFUL for what you have. If you can develop
the habit of really showing gratitude for what you
have in your life, you’ll find a massive difference in
your vibrational level and what you attract in your life.
Even if it seems that there is not much to be grateful
for, you will find something – even if it is that you are
breathing. If I’m finding it hard to think of anything to
be grateful for, I find this Nina Simone song,
a great inspiration.
What music, pictures, memories bring you a sense of
gratitude if you are finding it hard to feel grateful?
Like all new habits, it may seem strange at first, but
the more you practise it, the more natural it will seem.
What I do, is to write down 10 things every night that
I am grateful for. I really feel the gratitude and let myself
fully experience it.
You could commit to writing down each night for the
next week, 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
The Power of Laughter
Posted by: | CommentsDanni Minogue, has talked about how laughing helped her sister Kylie to recover from her cancer. They used to dress up in silly clothes and watch comedies. There are numerous other stories in a similar vein. People who are convinced that laughter helped them to recover from ill health.
Laugher reduces the levels of stress hormones and increases the level of neurotransmitters and boosts the immune system.
The good news is that you can fake it! If you are feeling really low and laughter or smiling seems a million miles away – fake it. If you put a stick or wooden spoon between your jaws, it will stimulate the same physiological responses as a real smile. The change in the hormones being released into your system will help to change your mood and to raise your vibrational level.
Try it and see – the only risk you have to take is to look a bit silly with a spoon sticking out of your mouth. If it makes you feel better – wouldn’t that be worth it?
I love to laugh. There’s nothing like a really good, genuine laugh to make me feel good and to raise the vibrations.
When we have the family up to stay for the weekend, we always watch a fun movie together on Sunday evenings. It sets us up for the week, and makes the transition back to school easier for the kids.
Our favourites are ones like “There’s Something About Mary’ or “Meet the Parent” – good, side-splitting laughter.
I always keep a box set of a comedy series or comedian I like nearby, so I can have watch an episode, if I feel myself getting stressed or feeling overwhelmed. As I write this, I’m staying in a hotel in Cork City (Ireland). I bought down a DVD of my current favourite comedy series “Gavin and Stacey”. If you have any connections with S.Wales at all, you’ll adore it – but I’ve shown it to lots of people with no connection with Wales at all – and they adore it. I can highly recommend it, as something that will give you a great a laugh.
Have a look for yourself.
Clear Clutter to Raise Your Vibrational Level
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are working and living in a place which you find
visually appealing, functions well and is healthy, your
vibrational level will be raised. On the other hand if your
environment is depressing to you, cluttered and toxic,
your vibrational level will be lowered. Of course, there
are many degrees of all of these states.
1. VISUAL APPEAL
How do you find your environment? Do you love to be in
it or does it depress you?
You may have some limits of what you can do to change it-
money, landlords, bosses etc. But there will be some things
which you can do easily. Bring in some uplifting colours with
cushions, swathes of fabric – easily found in thrift stores.
Having plants or fresh flowers can help. Changing the layout
of furniture, so that you have easy access to all areas. Covering
up any areas that are an eye sore.
2. FUNCTIONABILITY
Can you easily use the space for what it is for? For instance, can you
find the clothes you want to wear today easily, or do you have to
go through your favourite dress from 1988 and other things to
get to them? Is your closet full of clothes that no longer
fit you? Do your children have too many clothes?
If so, sort them out! Ask yourself – Have I worn/used this in the
last year? If not, do I absolutely love it?
If the answer is no to both questions – pass it on.
My friends and I regularly meet to have clothes swops – we all bring
clothes or other small items we no longer use and anyone can take
what they want. The rest is bagged up and goes to charity.
We have great fun and it keeps things flowing.
You can do this in all areas of your life.
If you have closets you can’t get into – sort them out, asking the same
questions as above. Be careful about keeping things because they may come
in useful one day!
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with one drawer, one shelf,
one box. That’s all you have to do to make a start.
3. HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Make sure that you keep your environment as healthy as you can. Open the
windows regularly to let fresh air circulate.
Avoid using plug-in air fresheners – they are pumping chemicals
into the air al the time.
Turn off electrical items when you are not using them.
Plants can help to clean the air of toxins. The following have been
found to be beneficial.
Areca palm
Reed palm
Dwarf date palm
Boston fern
Janet Craig dracaena
English ivy
Australian sword fern
Peace Lily
Rubber plant
Weeping fig
What can you do today to increase the vibrational level in
your work or office space?
Where do you have too much clutter in your life? What could you do to clear it?
Chose one small thing -and DO IT.
The Best Things in Life are Free…
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve just come home from mass in my local church. I’m not a Catholic, but after years of spiritual searching I will go anywhere that my soul is nourished and nurtured. I live in a rural area in a predominantly catholic country and we have a wonderful local priest, so I go to mass. Even as a child, I could never understand all the division that people had created around God, spirit – whatever you want to call it.
Anyway, as always today, I have come home full of inspiration. There were two things that struck me today particularly. One was in a reading from Paul – who I often find it quite hard to listen to – someone once referred to him as the Carl Rove of the Christian Church! Anyway, today, I was open and listened and heard something along the lines of ” When things around you seem to be dark, make sure that your life is a beacon of light”. . That really struck me. So many people these days seem to be drawn into the gloom and the sense of all being doom. It isn’t how I am experiencing things at all, and I try not to spend time with listening to the news, or people who cannot see the light. As Ghandi, said “Be the Change you want to see.” So it is really important to hold the light for people who can’t see it. There are so many opportunities now, to move away from the type of society that being built in the last twenty years or so, when market forces and the constant need for more, seemed to inform all decisions. One of the upsides of the current situation, is that people have more time for each other and their communities. Volunteer rates are soaring, as people seek to put their skills to use. It’s an opportunity for all us to build a new kind of society, which can prosper and flourish, whilst keeping people and their lives central.
The other thing was the “The Best Things in Life are Free.”. Do something today that will raise your vibration level – and won’t cost you a penny or a dime. This is especially important if you’re worried or concerned about money at all. If you have some money difficulties, you will be best able to sort them out in the most effective way, if you are vibrating at a higher level. You’ll have to deal with the difficulties in some way, so give yourself the best opportunity to do so. It really does amaze me all the time, just how much more possibilities I can see, when I do things to up my vibrational level.
Some suggestions:
think of something that makes you really happy – really put yourself back in that time – see what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt.
go for a walk to somewhere that will raise your spirits – if you have fuel in the car you could drive, if you don’t walk from your home – even if you don’t like your neighbourhood, make it your mission to look for something to inspire you. Children playing, animals doing something funny, a flower……
do something in your garden – I always find weeding even drains the worry out of me and often gives me inspiration. Even re-potting a plant can do the same.
Look at photos or inspiring pictures.
Sing.
Play with your children – or offer to mind a friend’s if you don’t have any.
Call a friend.
Volunteer to help somewhere – be of service.
Make love with someone you love.
There are many more things, I’m sure that you can think of to do. Commit to doing something today to raise your vibrational level.
Or for a jazz version.
The Joy of An Energetically Cleaned House
Posted by: | CommentsWow! I feel really excited. If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I can struggle with housework. I know that I am not alone in this, from the feedback I’ve received. So I think this maybe helpful to a few others who are routine – challenged!
I was talking with my spiritual coach last night, and was surprised to find that the house, and in particular the negative feelings I can have about the amount of cleaning there always seems to be came up. I was surprised, because I felt I was just moaning really! We tuned in fluently and got some great feedback, from the energy of the house – which was absorbing a lot of my negativity and frustration. I am used to clearing the negative energy on the house on a fairly regular basis, as I’m very interested in Feng Shui and am aware of the importance of keeping the energy flowing. I have to admit though, that it is longer than I had thought since I did a clearing – no wonder then that the negativity was building up.
When I do a Feng Shui clearing, it’s usually quite a big task. I clean the whole house first – we have quite a big home as it is also used for business – so this is quite time consuming. Then I go through the whole house at least three times – clapping away the old stale energy, ringing a beautiful vibration through the house, and then ringing harmony balls to bring in the vibration of what I would like in each room. It often seems overwhelming to me and can take a while for me to build up to doing it.
The way that was shown to me yesterday was brilliant, and so much easier and more accessible. I have just finished doing half of of the house and will do the rest later on or tomorrow. This is how you do it:
- give each room in your house a number
- use a pendulum or similar to check in with the rooms which one once to go first.
- go to that room
- ask the room if it would like to work collaboratively with you, to create a different atmosphere in your home
- ask the room energetically what it would like – it might like a name, or to have something finished off, for you to spend more time in it, to think lovingly of it etc. Make a note – if you’re like me you’ll forget if you don’t write it down, and it is important to honour what you agree to to
- then see if it would like you to do any space clearing – I have a tool kit of a Balinese Bell, a Tibetan Singing Bowl, an etheric weaver, my hands for clapping, incense for burning, essential oils sprays. You can use whatever works for you.
- do whatever is requested – follow your instincts as you go along. I was drawn to open windows, water plants, sing ….
- then thank the room and give your pledge to honour your agreement to work collaboratively.
I have just spent a little over an hour clearing 10 rooms in this way, and they feel great. The atmosphere in them has completely changed – and I haven’t done any physical cleaning. The great thing is, the thought of cleaning them, now seems like a pleasure. All kinds of possibilities opened up about how to approach it differently. My energy has changed and I can now feel that I am vibrating at a similar level to the house now – the conflict that was there has gone.
It felt so easy, I wanted to share it with all you others who struggle with housework. Even if you don’t have that particular struggle, it is still great to clear the house energetically as things do accumulate – and this is a great way to do it.
Have fun – and let me know how you get on, I’d love to hear.
The Importance of Choice and Action
Posted by: | CommentsYesterday I was talking about how I changed m mood and my vibration by using my voice, and singing and having fun playing around with the different sounds I could make.
I was so inspired by the change I found in myself that I decided to embrace the day as summer, whatever the weather was like and to make it a holiday, even though I had some work to do. So I took my camper van down to the beach and turned it into my mobile office for a few hours.
I know that I’m really lucky
a) to live near to a beach.
b) to work for myself and to be able to work where I choose and
c) to have a camper van
This hasn’t always been the case. I was brought up by the sea, but lived way for a long time. Somehow though, a part of me never felt right, being away from the Atlantic. In 1991, I left a job I loved to move to Ireland, to be by the ocean again.
I worked in a variety of jobs – none of which I loved as much as the one I’d left, but was very happy to be in a place I loved. I was also learning new skills, doing more self-inquiry and moving towards being self-employed and working with people in the ways that really inspired me, and to work the hours that suited me.
Last year, I realised that I had been saying for years that I wanted a camper van – and I decided that I’d better get one – I couldn’t bear to still be saying it in another years time! I had been looking at the possibilities over the years and knew what I wanted. As soon as I decided, the one I wanted turned up on Ebay for a great price! She’s 20 years old, and I love her. I’ve had great fun having tea with friends and family, visiting new places. But yesterday was the best! I found a spot where there was free WiFi and worked and made calls whilst right by the side of the ocean. I took part via the phone in a great call I subscribe to with Amy Scott Grant on clearing limiting beliefs – all in m y mobile office. Then I went for a great swim in the surf with my teenage nieces before having a takeaway in the van with friends and a long evening walk on the beach!!!
I was, and still am, SO full of gratitude, I could burst. I am also amazed, as always how dramatically things change once I change my vibration!
Although I know how lucky I am – I also know that I made choices and took action to bring about the luck I have. If I had made different choices and taken different actions – who knows where I might be now.
How can you turn up your vibration today?? What choices and actions can you take today to take you closer to where you want to go?
What Is Your Unique Role in the Universe?
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the things that I have found really helpful in both my own spiritual growth and my business growth has been ACCEPTANCE. Especially self-acceptance – the hardest the find often! I can still remember vividly the feeling I had when I had my astrological birth chart read for the first time – a huge feeling of relief washed over me, as I realised that “this is just who I am” - I don’t have to be like everyone else, or to excel in the things that other people excel in – I am Christine Jenkins, the only person on earth born at exactly the same time and in the same place and circumstances that I was. I am unique – which means I have a unique gift to bring to the world. I have my set of unique strengths and challenges. It is up to me to be the best ME that I can be – not an inferior copy of someone else.
More recently, I had a greater understanding of this when I was working with my spiritual coach. We were receiving some guidance and I got the image of myself as a single cell in the greater orgasm of the Universe. As every cell in our bodies, each has a vital function to play. Cells are separate, but interdependent on each other. They will compensate if other cells aren’t functioning as well as they can – but ultimately, this will stress the system. The whole system will function at its best if each individual cell is working to its strengths and being the best it can be. So, all I have to do is to be the best cell that I can, doing my unique task. This really helped me to understand the struggle I have often felt between my individual needs the inter-connectedness of us all.
This has helped me so much. I have a much greater understanding of myself – as I am. I can see the skills and talents that I have innately. I can see the challenges I have and the areas in which I could function more efficiently. Knowing that by improving my functioning I am also improving the functioning of the whole of humanity gives me a great impetus. I have stopped becoming as angry as I used to at the things that I see as being wrong in the world. It’s not that I no longer care – but I now know the best way that I can help the whole of our organism to function as well as possible.
It is also up to me to deal with my own waste and negativity. We have tended to give other people in society the job of dealing with our waste – the prisons, streets and hospitals are filled with people to whom we have assigned this role. Once we accept that we are all one, we have to learn to love both the “acceptable” side of ourselves and the”unacceptable”. Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem below, really helps me to understand that, so I would like to share it with you.
It is also up to me to deal with my own waste and negativity. We have tended to give other people in society the job of dealing with our waste – the prisons are filled with people to whom we have assigned this role. Once we accept that we are all one, we have to learn to love both the “acceptable” side of ourselves and the”unacceptable”. Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem below, really helps me to understand that, so I would like to share it with you.
What is your role in the universe?
Are you fulfilling your function as well as you can?
Are you taking on a role for others in society that they are choosing not to take? Do you want to keep doing this, or is it time to relinquish this now?
What parts of yourself do you try to ignore? How can they find a positive expression?
What actions can you take to really make sure that your cell is functioning as well as it can?
