Itchy Feet

For those of you who have travelled the globe (either literally or in your mind) you will have experienced moments of indescribable happiness - those profound times when your entire perception of life changes due to something you discovered. You will also know how difficult it is to stay put after that. Once you have had the opportunity to take in new places, people and cultures, you get hooked on the euphoria of endless discovery.

Unfortunately society does not agree with spontaneity like this. It urges us to stay put by implying that success comes from creating a set foundation and cultivating it. Success at work means being a loyal employee and giving your life to one job, success in relationships means staying still long enough to get married and have children, success in life means money and making lots of it – BUT, what does it mean for you?

If your version of success does not that comply with the rules set by society, perhaps it’s time to reassess what the word truly means for you.

For those of you who suffer from itchy feet and long to travel to exotic locations or simply take the time out to learn new things, what is stopping you from doing it? There is no need to become a cog in a machine at a job you dislike or the second dead half of a relationship that’s stale. If you feel as though your pulse is fading and the life inside you is getting harder to find, you need to start making those itchy feet walk. There is an endless world of possibility out there, ready to coat you in happiness and colour you with fulfilment.

One thing to remember on your adventures is that if you are exploring in the hope of discovering yourself, you may need to stop for a moment. The real you is not out there somewhere, it is within. The discoveries you make on your explorations may help you to free yourself, but if you want answers to questions about soul mates and your soul purpose, everything you wish to know is right under your nose.

I am a strong believer in taking time out to reconnect with the cosmos and give yourself the soul food you need. Adventures are the best type of soul food as they send bolts of electricity that shock you back to life. Whether it’s travelling, taking yourself on a date or starting a hobby, do something today that satisfies your need for more.

The itch is there as your warning signal that life wants you to find a solution to your current situation - the only thing left to do is scratch it!

Coming Back to Life

Year 2011 has been a tough one for most of us – big life changes are happening and we start to realise that perhaps everything in our little bubble isn’t as perfect as we once thought it was. Everything is not, in fact, as it should be – and so, we find ourselves trapped in the endless search for meaning.

Whilst chatting to a friend about this constant search, she said something quite profound: ‘This year is all about learning our life lessons. 2012 is the year of rebirth, so if we don’t learn the lessons we are meant to learn, our soul cannot break free and find true fulfilment next year.’

I have definitely felt a universal shift of energy this year – not just in myself, but in the constant motion around me. People are rocking, swaying, bouncing; some are even running around in circles – their internal pendulum swinging rather than finding enough balance to remain still.

Stillness is something we feel when we are in complete alignment with our soul purpose – when we are doing something that evokes such happiness that we feel like we are lost in time and space. I have recently felt this stillness during a painting class, where my soul took over and FOR ONCE (in a looooong time) my mental chatter halted.

Suddenly, I connected with the life lessons the universe was trying to teach me - only because I switched off and let my soul do the talking. In one moment, I learnt more about myself than I have in years of study and self-exploration. I now know why my soul has been nagging to me to get myself to art classes –not only did I find internal peace, I also had an epiphany that led me to realise my true calling in life.

I encourage you to do the same. If you have the urge to do something or go somewhere, then DO IT – it’s your heart screaming out for love and your soul yearning to have the real you back. Your inner voice is trying to connect with you so that the right doors can be opened, allowing you to fulfil your true purpose.

For some, it may be horse riding, taking a run, reading a book. For others, it may be cooking, baking, painting, drawing, sculpting or even connecting with nature or playing with animals. You might even have a destination in mind, somwehere that has been calling you from afar for some unknown reason. Whatever it is that makes you feel like you want to dance around in glee, even just thinking about, go and make it happen. This is your still place - the space where all your questions will be answered. If you are ready to find solutions, to re-energise and revitalise, go and find your place of peace. Listen to the messages you have been receiving and take action. And dont forget: brace yourself as you are about to shock yourself back to life!

Make it Happen

Creative ventures, travel, relocation, new hobbies – we all have those dreams that consume our thoughts. But why do we struggle so much to make them a reality?

‘If only I had more time / money / creativity / talent / confidence, then I would be able to do everything I have always wanted to do.’ This mental block is the one obstacle that stands in the way of making these hopes become real. And funnily enough, you are the one creating it.

We like being the victim of our own destiny – never able to achieve what we yearn for as a result of a poor childhood or not enough support from our parents or those around us. This ensures that we are kept safe from success – never subjected to the spotlight and the opinions of others. In the same way, it allows us the freedom to continue complaining – if we can’t get what we really want, then we have a reason to be negative, grumpy and moody.

Imagine what would happen if we sold that painting, published that book, travelled to that place, took that course or made that change? We would have nothing left to complain about, we would actually have reached a point of satisfaction. And we all know what that means…

Happiness, fulfillment and joy of course! But, then again, we humans don’t like to be happy. Complaining and moaning are far more pleasing than smiling and taking some time out to actually ENJOY life!

In our painful quest to make something of our lives, we become so consumed with the outcome that we rarely enjoy the process. We worry if our book will sell, if anyone will like our painting, if we will make friends in our new location, if we will be any good at our new hobby – and in our dire attempt to be successful, we end up destroying our passion and all the many sparks that set us on this destiny path to begin with.

In those times, it is imperative that we take the time to breathe. Stop writing, painting, making travel arrangements, searching for the right course for a while and instead take some time out for you. Turn your phone off, disconnect yourself from your social life, leave work early, forget about being perfect and looking after everyone else. Take the time to nurture yourself and your soul. Free your mind and do the things you LOVE to do – watch your favourite movie, take yourself shopping, go for a walk in nature, have a picnic in your garden, buy yourself a pet. Whatever you do, make sure it is just for you.

Because, in finding yourself again, you will have the strength and the confidence to move forwards and make your dreams a reality.

Too busy, too bogged down

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

- Dr Seuss


Why do we wait around for the 'right' time to make a difference? There will never be a right time, there will never be a perfect cause, there will never be a possibility of helping everyone we encounter in our lives. But there is the option of caring a whole lot for one person, or even a handful of people.

If every person took the time out to truly care for another on a daily basis, there would be a million more smiles and infinite amounts of good energy around the world. If you question this theory, just think about how you feel when someone shows you that they care a whole awful lot - whether it's your partner, colleague, boss, friend, sibling or even the kind shop assistant - that simple expression of mindfulness towards you is enough to change your entire mood into something bright and warm.

Now imagine you could do this for those around you and then imagine you could do that for those who can't even remember the last time they were hugged. And imagine we all started doing our little bit to care that small ounce more - to tell those we love that we love them, to smile at the person next to us, to anonomously pay for the car behind us in the parking queue, to give sandwiches to the homeless, to spoil our partners to a romantic dinner, to buy a gift for a friend in need.

It doesn't take a lot, it just takes a thought. A thought that extends beyond ourselves.

If someone like you cares that little bit more, things will get better. Of that, I'm sure.

-The World

The Gift of Insight

I am guilty of it, just as I am sure many of you are - always looking for more. As much as we achieve and succeed, we have a tendency to be greedy for more. Recently, this has been pointed out to me quite evidently - looking back at my journal entries at the beginning of the year, I have achieved everything I set out to and yet I still find myself feeling discontent and wanting more.

I have no idea what has caused it and to be very honest, I have no solution to this feeling of longing, but I do know that savouring the moment, living mindfully and embracing the present is a gift that I would love to learn (but have not yet conquered). Meditation has always been the answer when I have asked the universe how to connect with the present moment, but unfortunately I happen to have an extremely active mind and no matter how much I try to still it, its playful nature keeps my mind on its toes!

So, I set out to work out how to love life and every moment. I don't know if I have yet succeeded, but I am certainly trying. Instead of simply looking at the sun, I now try to really feel it - the warmth on my skin and the way it lights up patches on my bed, creating little pools of heat where I can lie and read my favourite book. Instead of regarding cooking as a chore, I see it as an opportunity to be creative and try out something new and exciting. And, the biggest one for me - instead of feeling like work is a waste of my precious time, I use it to learn - gaining knowledge from others and perfecting the art of something I am passionate about.

I am no expert in 'being present', but I know that if I can see through the mandatories of every day and regard them all as little pieces of insight, then life will be a lot more bearable. Heck, it might even feel fulfilling!

If it's meant to be...

...It will be easy. Seriously. It won't take hours of effort and weeks of planning. It will fall into your lap when you least expect it and it will flow beautifully from start to finish. Yes, there will be a few speed humps along the way, but this is life after all - we can't expect everything to run smoothly all the time!

Relationships
The tougher it is, the less it is meant to be. The most beautiful, honest, working relationships are those that simply happen and both partners make it work, without it being a HUGE effort. The minute a relationship is more hard work than pleasure, it is just not meant to be I'm afraid.

Career
If you are in a job where you feel that every day is like running UP a treadmill on a 100 degree incline, it is not meant to be. Get out and go and do something that feels a little easier. I am not saying that success comes from sitting on your butt all day, but I feel it's important to mention that if you are barking up the wrong tree, you will know it! No matter how hard you try for that promotion, for some reason, it will always seem out of your reach.

Life
People tire themselves out trying to be someone else's version of perfect. If you are not meant to be skinny, you never will be. If you are not meant to be CEO of a company, you won't be. So try to be YOUR version of perfect - decide what makes you tick and then let it happen. The universe will hear you the first time, so picture your dream life and then get on with reality. Chances are that if you are meant to have what you wish for, you will.

Perfect Imperfections

It is in the imperfect that we find true beauty.

We are all searching for our own measure of perfection - to lose those extra kilos in order to flaunt a 'perfect' body, to refrain from saying how we really feel in order to maintain the 'perfect' relationship, to dye our hair the 'perfect' colour in at attempt to hide our true roots, to have the 'perfect' career so that we can have the 'perfect' life with the 'perfect' car and the 'perfect' family.

In nature, it is the imperfections that make us stop and stare - the rugged rocks alongside the picturesque lake, the lone daisy in amongst a field of daffodils, the vulnerable tree with half its leaves missing - revealing how even inanimate things seem to have feelings.

And isn't it strange how we are drawn to the runts of the litter - the puppy with the crooked ear and toothy grin, the kitten with the oddly shaped tail, lost in her own world. These beautiful, imperfect creatures are the ones that bring us the most joy, whose spirit shines through and whose character far outshines their beautifully manicured, perfect brothers and sisters.

We have all been blessed with our own imperfections - big ears, freckles, some extra curves, a shapely butt, short legs, a long torso, nose hair, moles, dark eyebrows, mis-shapen teeth. All of these beautiful imperfections are what make us even more lovable and what set us aside from everyone else.

Next time you are about to judge yourself or someone else on what you have been told by society is an 'imperfection', stop and think twice - could it actually be something beautiful, something that makes that person sparkle with individuality? I'm sure you could think of a few aspects of yourself that make you the person you are, rather than make you less perfect.

Start today - look for the perfect imperfections everywhere you go and in everyone you meet. I guarantee your life will become more magical by the minute.

Did I hear someone say perfect?