Get a Life UK

As I picked my card of the day this morning "Have Faith" and I recieved a "Tweet" from a good friend who said she had just pulled her card for the day "Trust" I decided today to write about not giving up!

As Peter Gabriel sings,"It is so strange the way things turn" sometimes life throws us a curve ball when we're least expecting it!
 Not to talk politics (This is an election free zone) Even Gordon Brown experienced his own man made curve ball yesterday!

Whilst thinking about the topic of "Don't give up" I was reminded of a quote from Harriet Beecher Stowe the American abolitionist and author.

 "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn".
 
It is at that point when we may think," What's the point?" that we may be closest to the breakthrough we're looking for!

I'm not saying that its always easy to "Have faith" or "Trust" as the cards of the day suggested, sometimes it takes real effort to remain true to our positive thoughts.... but thoughts do become things, as I've often said. So by focussing on the negative, by bringing your attention to lack, the universe has to respond accordingly, bringing more negativity and lack into your awareness, the superconscious mind has to deliver that to you, as an act of preserving sanity!

So no matter what curve balls my come your way today, rise above them. Focus on all the things your grateful for, even noticingthe very smallest thing you're grateful for, will shift your focus away from "Giving up" then just.......

Start by doing what's necessary;
then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible

A great peice of advice from St.Francis of Assisi.Worrying never solved a problem, but positive attitude and possitive action sure will take the momentum out of any hurtling curve ball!

Albert Einstein, gives these three pointers
: 
1. Out of clutter, find simplicity.
2. From discord, find harmony.
3. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

I know you may be thinking it's all well and good for you Lisa, you're Miss Positivity personified...... well even positivity experts have those curve balls fly at them from time to time!
 
Life has to give you experiences in equal measure, you may call it the good with the bad, the ups with the downs, its all part of the journey.... without the awareness of what we don't want, how can we identify and manifest what we do?

So I urge you today,if there's any area in your life where you feel like "Giving up"..... Don't take my advice, take the wise words gifted to you by the greats!
 
St.Francis and Albert....

Until next time,
make every moment count,
Lisa xxx

  Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark.
                                                                Rabindranath Tagore

u·nique
 adj.
1. Being the only one of its kind
2. Without an equal or equivalent; unparalleled.
3.  Informal Unusual; extraordinary
4. Informal very remarkable or unusual

Do you feel beautifully unique?
When I was considering what to write about in today's blog, I flicked through one of my favourite books, which happened to be close to hand, ("Life is calling....." by Stephanie J King) I stopped at a page and just read, "I must believe my own abilities and worth" I stopped to consider the message in this for myself and for everyone that might pop by and read my blog. As I read on I became quite uplifted and excited....
 
(Being that I am a beautifully unique, tree hugging nut.....who loves to live life with simple gratitude and a passion for positivity!)

The passage went on to read......
"You are the accumulation of all you have ever known, but the place you are heading is not even in sight. This is the beauty of free will and the individual freedom of choice"

How exciting, I can choose in every moment where the path goes, my choices are unique to me, only I can tread my steps !

 The passage went on to talk about if you were to throw a dart at a map, the chances of landing in exactly the same place twice would be very unlikely. Just like us, each of us individual, with our unique combination of character, skills, dreams, wishes....... even an identical twin, who may look the same as their sibling is in fact; in truth, beautifully  unique!

We may appear similar, we may tread similar paths, but in truth we cannot ever measure our uniqueness against another. We are gorgeously different, one of a kind, bringing our unique gifts to all that we meet.

I urge you to take a moment now to write down all the things that make YOU beautifully unique........
 
No one smiles as you do, no one laughs quite like you, no one has those funny little quirky peices of loveliness that make you- YOU!

All too often we measure ourselves against others in a negative way, belittling our own abilities and worth.

My challenge to you is this......... During today make an effort to notice the unique value you bring to the World by being YOU!

No one else can step into the space that you fill, they're not you....
You can't be anyone else.... because they're all already taken!

Celebrate BEAUTIFUL UNIQUENESS today inyourself and in others.... notice those people who walk alongside you, your loved ones, friends and colleagues..... be brave share with them  what you find beautifully unique about them!

I urge you to comment on what makes you BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE
Feel proud to share your uniqueness with the World today and celebrate the wonder that is YOU!

Until next time,
 make every moment count!
Lisa xxx

Everyone's tweeting about the amazing runners in the London Marathon today, I have to say I have such admiration for the dedication and effort it takes to be involved, its amazing how many people will "Pay forward" their love and energy to raise so much for charity.

I also noticed through a fellow Twitter friend that this coming Thursday 29th April sees annual "Pay it forward day" http://payitforwardday.com/
If you've never come across the concept, take a moment to play the you tube video above, taken from the film of the same name (Pay it forwards)

Another Tweet talked about a group forming after someone had read the book "The Go-giver"... which takes the old addage of the business "Go-getter" and turns it on it's head, suggesting that in business you need to become a "Go-giver" http://www.thegogiver.com/ something I do strongly believe myself.

All this along with the suggestion from @businessgp on twitter, to blog about "How people do their bit for good causes" ( he himself does amazing work for www.campequality.org.uk ) made me type today's blog! ( Thanks Marc!)

 So the topic for today is clear......" Will you do something amazing today?"

Some of you may recall in an old newsletter, I once wrote about "Causing a ripple" It's amazing just how one small act of kindesss, acting with a servants heart can lead to miraculous effects on your loved ones, your community, your country and even the World.

If everyone did just one small thing, imagine what the effect might be?
Take the "Pay it forward" equation....... pay forward 3 good deeds to 3 people, without expectation of return, in turn they pay forward 3 good deeds to 3 people, on and on it goes.... (Yes, do the maths )...very soon before you know it, the act of paying it forwards has grown into a massive wave from the smallest ripple ....

Why not start right  now?
Creating that ripple right now YOU could very quickly encompass the whole World! How's that for Global expansion?

 Exciting  prospect?
 It could be the smallest thing that YOU pay forward RIGHT NOW,TODAY a smile and a hug , your time, your advice, a gift..... that turns into something huge! And what a priceless gift to give to those that really need it!

And you know what?
When YOU  "pay it forwards" you have to be in a place of abundance, for in order to give it away YOU have to have it in the first place!

Think about that for a moment......... YOU have to have it, in order to give it away!
 
So the act of giving reminds us how very blessed and abundant we are!

 Its amazing what a small act of kindness can achieve, in giving  something amazing occurs, not only do we make a difference to another.......we recieve!


“For it is in giving that we receive.”  St. Francis of Assisi


So today, I urge you to do something amazing, act with a servants heart, pay it forwards, bless another with a random act of kindess...... start a ripple.....

Let me know what happens!

Until next time,
Make evey moment count!
Lisa x

Today sees most of the children returning to school after the Easter break. From the numerous tweets I've read this morning,maybe parents are a little more keen to get back to "Normal" and school runs than their offspring, but It did make me think about today's blog!

Do you remember that first day back to school after the holidays?
I recall as a primary school child, writing in my diary at school, capturing all of the events and activities I'd experienced during the school break. It was a story that revelled in those newly built memories, written with fondness, and happiness at creating in my minds eye the words and pictures  that represented every juicy detail of my holiday fun.

It made me realise that often as adults we dont take time to really savour our experiences, to tell our story, to create a keepsake of our fond memories.Every day we start afresh with a blank page on which to make ourn mark, to build new memories, to create the story and book of our life.

The finished product of what you write for today is completely your choice. How you choose to make your mark today is up to you. In each unfolding chapter you shape the part you play, your role and your experiences.

So I invite you to look at today as a blank page, a fresh crispy clear start on which to make your mark.

What role will you choose for yourself today?
Are you leading lady/ handsome hero ?
Who shares your story?
Are you joyful and abundant?
What colour expresses the mood of your day?
If you were painting a picture of today, what would you include in the illustration?

And at the end of the day,how will you savour and appreciate today's experiences and gifts?

Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all.  
-Hans Christian Andersen

When Stories nestle in the body, soul comes forth.      
-Deena Metzger

To be a person is to have a story to tell.  
-Isak Dinesen

Until next time,
Make every moment count!
Lisa x

I had the pleasure of rediscovering this beautiful track by Lenny Kravitz recently. It was thanks to my amazing friend Lisa Gates (www.redmilestudio.co.uk) , she said it was my song, the song that she associated with me..... it wasn't until I listened to it again, for the first time in years that I really heard the words! I was very humbled to realise that Lisa felt this summed up how I portrayed myself and my work.... but truly blessed and grateful to be considered in this way.

It did urge me to write today's blog..... about what is possible if only we believe... If we are free to truly be ourselves, and live a joyful and loving life!

Miracles can occur if only we can believe that they can.Its a state of mind.... our choice....
Consider the words for a moment.....

With all credit and thanks to the Writters: Lenny Kravitz/Henry Hirsch

BELIEVE
I am you and you are me
Why's that such a mystery?
If you want it you got to believe
Who are we? We're who we are
Riding on this great big star
We've got to stand up if we're gonna be free yeah

If you want it you got it
You just got to believe
Believe in yourself
'Cause it's all just a game
We just want to be loved

The Son of God is in our face
Offering us eternal grace
If you want it you've got to believe
'Cause being free is a state of mind
We'll one day leave this all behind
Just put your faith in God and one day you'll see it

If you want it you got it
You just got to believe
Believe in yourself
'Cause it's all just a game
We just want to be loved

The future's in our present hands
Let's reach right in
Let's understand
If you want it you've got to believe yeah

If you want it you got it
You just got to believe
Believe in yourself yeah
'Cause it's all just a game
We just want to be loved

what stands out to you?
Well firstly for me it's that we have everything we could possibly imagine, if we just believe in ourselves, we are free to be ourselves and express ourselves just as we are!

And secondly, "It's all just a game"..... it reminded me that we can so easily get caught up in our stories...... we can so easily take life way too seriously! I remember if I take myself back to my corporate career, sitting in a particular meeting one Monday morning, where the discussion about the next product promotion had the tone of a "Life or Death" situation..... I recall it now  just as if I were there....a moment of clarity.... one of those "I just woke up" moments and realised "What is this all about? what am I doing here?" ..... my colleagues in the meeting were so caught up in the story, they acted out the seriousness of the topic..... I felt the odd one out ......I do remember thinking, why are we taking something such as a product promotion quite so seriously? Life is for living, for being joyful...... there are serious times in life, of course.... but truly was this one of them?.....
 
I wonder how much more successful said product promotion may have been, if it had just been approached with joy instead.

So I urge you today to ask yourself these questions:

Where are you getting caught up in the(or someone elses)  "Story"?
What do you stand for, what really matters?
What does being FREE mean to you?
What could you achieve if only you could believe?
Where can you play more, be more joyful and love more right now in your life?
What stops you from being free to believe in yourself?

It reminds me as I write, of a quote that seems appropriate right here and now, very eloquently put by Sasha Barron Cohen as Ali G
"Keep it real!"

Don't take life too seriously, have fun....play a little...Love unconditionally........ we have everything within our grasp, all we have to do is lighten up a little and............... BELIEVE!

Until next time,
make every moment count!
Lisa x

Have you ever had a Job you hated?
Maybe you're in that situation right now?

It can be so frustrating being "Stuck" in a miserable job.
(Just Over Broke, too much month left at the end of the money)

 But were you, or are you trully "Stuck"?

Life flows in cycles, you can flow with it or against it. Everything we do has meaning, sometimes we just have to look a little deeper to understand exactly what that is.

Consider this........ Think of a time when you were in a job, doing work that you thought was unfulfilling,without meaning, work that didn't exactly make your heart sing and spirit soar........ Thought of one?

Now with this particular work in mind, consider the following...
(If it helps,make a list, write it down)

What skills and knowledge did you need to carry out the work?
What did it teach you?
What did you learn about yourself?
What aspects of the work really encouraged you to grow?
What aspects did you enjoy?
What clues did it give you as to your true purpose?

Even if it taught you that it wasn't the work you were born to do, that "It" wasn't your purpose.... It did give you that gift!

As we journey through life we accumilate knowledge and skills, we learn as we go, we're always a work in progress. I can think of several times in my life when I found myself in work that wasn't fulfilling, or obvioulsy meaningful..... however, despite that, in hindsight if I really consider every aspect of those jobs, whilst they weren't neccessarily my "Purpose" , they were preapring me with the neccessary skills, knowledge and attributes for the vocation I now follow. I have learnt a lot, those times have  helped to form the person I have become and am still becoming!

Now think about the worst job you ever had......

What skills and knowledge do you recycle today from that time?
What did you learn from that time that could be recycled now today,that you're currently not using?

When I consider the work that has gone before, there are many skills and pieces of knowledge that I recycle and use in my work today.

And if you're reading this and thinking,"But I hate my job now!"
consider...

What learning opportunities is it providing you with that you're not embracing?
What would you need to do, be or have to make you feel more "On purpose"?
If you could change your work tomorrow,knowing that with your accumilated knowledge and skills, you couldn't fail....
What would you do?

Every day on this journey is the chance to learn and apply what we've already learnt and experienced. What I've observed is that we naturally tend to recycle from those Jobs and work we've loved..... its the times that we feel have been a "Waste" that we dismiss, when in fact this is where some of the greatest "Nuggets" of learning and self-development can be gained!
 
Nothing is ever wasted if it's recycled!

What could  YOU be recycling today?

Until next time ,
Make every moment count!
Lisa x