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Our True Selves
In my "other lives" as bodyguard, security specialist and cop, I spent a number of years working with celebrities, politicians and royalty amongst others and found that "the 3 Selves model" below (proposed by prominent UK hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner; Paul McKenna) is as true of them as it is of the rest of us, many of them had a public persona and a very different private one; the difference between them, for some...The Path
'One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice, though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles... But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, det...Loving Yourself
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ltJJbYvMagE&feature=relatedDeep at the centre of my being there is an infinite well of love. I now allow this love to flow to the surface. It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied. The more love I use and give, the more I have to give, the supply is endless. The use of love makes me feel good; it is an expre...Decisions and Beliefs
I've been coaching several people over the last week and, although their experiences and challenges are very different from one another, a couple of them have asked me about my own experience with regard to turning things around and developing my new attitudes, given my story. I was happy to share my experiences and illustrate them with some quotes.I told them it came down to 4 things:1. I realised that there are 3 levels of "control" i...News update !
Hey gang - I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten you !Monday (17 November) marks the anniversary of my attack in Iraq - not wishing to always think of that date in those terms, I make an effort to do something different and wholesome each year on and around this date.This year I set myself the goals of:1. Launching my (first-draft) "Life Coaching and Personal Development" business website2. Reaching out to 3 p...The H.O.U.R. for Peace (Hope, Openness, Understanding, Reconciliation = H.O.U.R. !)
I posted this as a thread last night (about 6 hours ago)... but thought it was worth repeating as a Blog too ... I've literally just got in after seeing "Queen and Paul Rodgers" play a concert at Wembley in London ... and I had to share this with you.Have you ever been to a concert or some kind of major event which has been absolutely BRILLIANT in it's entirety ... and then there's one piece of music, information or lin...Fall into Love !
(By Martha Beck) Psychologists tell us we're born afraid of just two things. The first is loud noises. Do you recall the second? Most people guess "abandonment" or "starvation," but neonatal dread was simpler than that: It was the fear of falling.Today we all have a much richer array of consternations, but I'll bet falling is still on your list. Why give up the prudent concern that brought your whole genetic line into the...Give up the drop ... become the ocean !
Is a wave separate from the sea ?When viewed in this way, the wave sees itself as surrounded by other separate waves and, wherever it looks, it will see that there are greater and lesser than itself ...Are WE truly separate from one another ?Is a drop separate from the wave ? Will the wave deny the drops which make it what it is ? - the very things that allow it to flow; to grow in size and strength, that enable it to rise ?Are all of the experie...Where does True Strength lie ?
... Body ... or ... Spirit ??Watch this video ... then make your choice ! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4K9GM3ZB7Gc...PTSD Support - BATTLEMIND and TRIM
I found out this morning that yet again, Iraq has taken another friend and former colleague from us ... Let me share some Soldier Support Resources for Soldiers and their family members, including their kids, Pre & Post Deployment, as well as during the deployment itself.Videos, booklets and brochures can all be viewed / download, free of charge, from this sitehttps://www.battlemind.army.mil/https://...Create a Personal Mission Statement
Do most people live by DESIGN or DEFAULT ?If you don't want to fall into the latter category, I'd urge you to consider creating a Personal Mission Statement.Having one will inspire you, it will state clearly the principles you value and define your purposeUnclear of where to start ?Take a look at this - it's a free tool to help you create your very own Personal Mission Statement ... http://www.franklincovey.com/tc/resources/view/msb... just ...Inner Peace--A Lesson From Blissed-Out Mice !
Inner Peace--A Lesson From Blissed-Out Mice By Terry DeMeo, Master Certified CoachWithout going into gory detail, let's just say that there's a lot of attention grabbing news out there these days. Current events are pretty hard to escape if you are living within earshot of a tv, radio, or another human being. Many folks I know are expressing everything from mild, stomach-churning hysteria to full-blown, arm-waving freaking out. But, persona...War and Peace
Someone wrote to me recently, and during the course of their emails the subject of judging others came up.I'm not sure if this will make any sense to you, or how it will be received, but as part of my own Transformation journey (which is very much one of the heart, mind and soul) I have committed to do my best to love, speak, live and share my truth as I see it - I just hope you'll forgive me if I don't always get it right !!So for what it's...2009 Cruise
If you haven't booked yet, JUMP ON IT !!!;0)http://www.bodyforlifecruise.com/community/index.php...Listen to, and follow, your heart
The message I'd like to share with you today is this: Every one of us have our own purpose in life, which comes from the deepest, richest place in our heart, and it is a direct link to the soul of the Universe / God.We are put here to achieve this dream, and every day of our lives we are presented with choices which can lead us further along the path to fulfilling it. When we are on this path, the whole universe...MORE
This is a clip that always brings tears for me ... the sentiment of Schindler at the end is one that breaks my heart and inspires me all over again to "be more" every time I see it ... "I could have got more out" ...Will we come to the end of our days and say "I could have done more""I could have helped more""I could have loved more"??????????????????????????Let us all Resolve to BE MORE !!Y...Get Rich Quick !! (Developing an Attitude of Gratitude)
An Attitude of Gratitude You will never be rich in life if you cannot do 2 things; Be Grateful for what you have Contribute to others True gratefulness comes from a conscious decision to recognize your blessings, coupled with the emotional feelings that accompany a thankful heart. An ungrateful person can utter the words “thank you” in protest. A thankful person can hold their gratitude as a guarded secret, yearning to be shared. Grat...Thankful (a new Transformation theme song ?)
"Thankful"Somedays we forgetTo look around usSomedays we can't seeThe joy that surrounds usSo caught up inside ourselvesWe take when we should give.So for tonight we pray forWhat we know can be.And on this day we hope forWhat we still can't see.It's up to us to be the changeAnd even though we all can still do moreThere's so much to be thankful for.Look beyond ourselvesThere's so much sorrowIt's way too late to sayI'll cry tomorrowEach o...Strong at the Broken Places
There is a quote that I’ve used on my myspace profile page for the last couple of years by Hemingway that says: "The world breaks everyone ... but afterward some are strong at the broken places" When I chose to use this quote, I wasn’t just talking about my previously broken body. What is it that we do when we lift weights ? - we break ourselves ... we are breaking down muscle tissue and fibr...Sack the Projectionist !
I've been coaching a couple of clients recently who have had experiences of how people seek the attention / acceptance / affection of others to boost low self-esteem.One of the best models / explanations I've found is the following ... and I'd like to share it with you here ...This description may help fill in some gaps of how the mind twists knowledge into self judgment and reinforces low self esteem and insecurity. For the illustratio...Maintaining a Peaceful State
Remaining Calm During the StormThere are times when everything runs according to plan. The kids make good grades, the bills are paid on time and your family is healthy and happy.Anyone can choose peace when everything is going accordingto plan.Choosing peace when all hell is breaking loose around you iswhere you learn who you really are. When the trials andtribulations of life break down your front door, choose toremain calm.'But, Mark, how can I...What should I do with my life ?
I've heard this question from my Life Coaching clients time and time again - "What should I do with my life ?"Have you ever heard the phrase "putting the cart before the horse" ? Well, that's what this question reminds me of.We wouldn't dream of having a successful outcome if we were to consider jumping into a helicopter alone and attempting to fly it 500 miles cross-country, at night and to then land it successfully in t...When others oppose changes you're making #2
People who are making changes in their lives often experience varying degrees of resistance from people around them, even from their nearest and dearest. This resistance can come in many forms: snide remarks, scowling, cold silences, thinly-veiled insults, personal attacks, back-biting, distancing, refusal to co-operate and even sabotage. Some of these attacks can really surprise you and literally leave you reeling from just how venomous and inte...When others oppose the changes you're making
You're exercising regularly. You're eating clean. You're losing weight. You're feeling better about yourself. You have a more positive outlook on life ... so why is everybody in your life acting so weird?Think of it like this: In front of you is a jigsaw puzzle. All of the pieces fit neatly into one another - and they've been doing this for years and years. Then, suddenly ... the central piece wants to change - it wants to change it's shape and c..."The Beach Ball Effect"
When we are busy building a business or career, creating a family, or taking care of those we love, when we are too busy to pay attention to our emotions, we often force down the more complex or troubling ones which, if prolonged and unchecked, puts our well-being at risk. Oftentimes when we least expect it, a rejected or unwanted aspect of our lives or experiences can come leaping up (seemingly from nowhere) in a powerful and dramatic fashion - ...Wake up call !
Yes. Things happen. And we get to choose how we see them.My view ? I think there are things in our karma: they're in our life. They're going to happen. And furthermore, I believe that before we were born, our spirit agreed to this life and it's particular lessons and opportunities in partnership with our Creator to enable that growth in our souls to take place. You don't have to believe that ... but I wonder how considering the possibility&n...OUR FULL GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL
I think it was Marianne Williamson that said (and I'm paraphrasing here) "We are either facing away from Source or towards it - that is the only situation we need to address". Once we recognise: there is a divine spark within US, God has a TOTALLY unconditional love for usGod's boundless blessings toward uswe can start to appreciate our true beauty and value. If we can do that, we'll treat God's child a who...Who would we be without our stories ?
In order to make something into a "problem", we have to do one of 2 things:1. Compare it to how things used to be and decide if they should be that way again, even though they're not.2. Compare it to how you would like it to be and decide it should be that way now, even though it isn't.In other words, in order to turn a fact of life into a problem to be solved, you first have to create a story about how things should b...The move towards a "Unity Consciousness"
I read a story earlier today that got me thinking ...It is often easier to choose love and compassion over hate, fear, anger and condemnation when it involves someone we don't know (i.e. a stranger seen on tv). However if we seek to impart those same feelings towards some person or past event that hurt us personally, it becomes a lot harder.In fact it is equivalent to asking a complete beginner to play Rachmaninov on the piano ... blindfolded ......Do you wonder why you are having to experience some great sorrow ?
The world is full of hurting and comfortless hearts. But before you will be competent for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is extremely costly, for to make it complete, you too must endure the same afflictions that are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Consequently, your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the divine art of comfort. You will be wounded so that in the binding up of your wo...Carrots, Eggs & Coffee Beans
I just came across this story last night for the first time - thought I'd share it with you .... Carrots, Eggs & Coffee BeansA certain daughter complained to her father about her life and how thingshave been so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to makeit and she wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.It seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen...1 Million Random Acts of Kindness
There are many opportunities during your day to do a Random Act of Kindness (RAK) to a stranger or anonymously to a friend or family member and there are MILLIONS of different things you can do. The aim of the One Million RAK Campaign is to create a huge chain reaction of RAKs around the world. Every time you carry out a RAK you pass on a RAK Card which explains to the recipient to do their own RAK to someone else and pass on the Card.After you h...Spiritual versus Religious
What do you believe is more important; that which unites us, or that which divides us ? I, for one, would vote for Unity. As far as I can figure, in our T. community we have Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Taoists, Sikhs, Hindus, Agnostics, Atheists - hey, we might even have a few "alternative-types" here too (no disrespect to any of you / us !) …and even many of those "labels" we identify with, are furthe...Bobbin' along !
I was just looking at some pics from the cruise we were fortunate enough to be on with Bill and several of you recently ... and it got me to thinking about one of the many truly memorable experiences I had ...We had sailed down to Cabo and several of us had been invited out on a private boat with Bill for a fun day.Now I love the water ... and there are only 2 other places where I have been fortunate enough to swim in such wonderfully warm ...A visit from the "not-so-Grim" Reaper
Imagine that it is the late evening of your 110th birthday.Your family; children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren visited along with your dearest friends and you all spent the whole afternoon recalling stories, laughing, looking at old pictures, asking questions, swapping news and taking pictures before sitting down to have dinner all together - what a birthday party it had been !The last of the guests left about an hour ago - you're tire...Imperfect
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck/shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot would arrive only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the old woman bringing home only one and a half ...Fear of going for our "high points"
What would be your "future high points" ?What would you do if you KNEW you could not fail ?For many of us, if we dare to dream, we find that our "future high points" involve doing something either totally new and surprising to us or, more commonly, something we always dreamt we would like to do but dismissed it very quickly as being ridiculous and totally beyond our ability, talent, education etcWhat I would say to you is this...Already Perfect !
I was answering a query / post on the forums and offered this insight - if you'll indulge me, I'd like to share it here too ...All of us already are (and always have been) perfectly beautiful, happy and content ... it's just that we're not aware of it. Most of us are familiar with the story about when Michelangelo was commissioned to create the sculpture of David - he looked at hundreds of blocks of marble before he decided on the "righ...Who do you think you are ?
One of the exercises I use to help some of my Life Coaching clients to get a handle on "who" they are, is for them to "imagine you have just won a Million on the Lottery - what will you have, do & be ?" (Of course you could imagine it was $10 million, 100 million, whatever - have fun !)HAVE: After the initial "knee-jerk" reaction of buying a Ferrari, a mansion, a truckload of Cristal etc what else would they get ...How is PTSD Measured?
*This info is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness or complaint. It is shared with you merely to make you aware of PTSD and to help you consider seeking help from your doctor or a mental-health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker who is specifically trained to assess psychological problems), for either yourself or another, if you suspect that "all is not well"(Info from National Center for PTSD -...After a traumatic event
Following a traumatic event, people typically describe feeling things like relief to be alive, followed by stress, fear, and anger. They also often find they are unable to stop thinking about what happened. Having stress reactions is what happens to most people and has nothing to do with personal weakness. Many will also exhibit high levels of arousal. For most, if the following symptoms occur, they will slowly decrease over time. (These reaction...Good News- the past is over !!
It doesn't matter who we are, where we were born, what our parents did or said, what mistakes we've made, what injuries we had, or how "down" we might feel...the future can be reprogrammed in this moment; right now !We don't need another seminar, another degree, another lifetime, another job or another relationship - we don't need anyone's approval in order for this to happen. You can have a new life, as different from your old one as y...PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress info...
The main problem we faced (with regard to my having PTSD after being blown-up in Iraq) was that nobody realised I HAD PTSD !My only knowledge of it came from 'Nam movies - I figured you had PTSD if you were having flashbacks ... and I wasn't (I was just having a truckload of nightmares etc !)No-one saw the symptoms and recognised them for what they were; not us, not the doctors, no-one ... simply because the information wasn't...Rediscover your Passion for Life !
We went to a gig recently of a friend I used to hang out with back in the early 80’s (www. patmcmanus. co. uk) when he was one third of the band "Mama’s Boys".The point of me sharing this little glimpse into our social life is this ... Pat obviously LOVES what he does and he always takes the time to chat with people after a gig (which is how we first met and how ended up touring with them back in 1983). Watching hi...Bitter ... or Better ?
I'd like to start this post with an old story, if I may ... "Once upon a time there was a farmer who had an old mule. The mule fell into a deep dry well and began to cry loudly. Hearing his mule cry, the farmer came over and assessed the situation. The well was deep and the mule was heavy. He knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the animal out.Because the mule was old and the well was dry, the farmer decided to bury th...FIND IT - LIVE IT - GIVE IT !
I got into a conversation recently with someone about promoting fitness and healthy lifestyle - they were telling me that I was "wasting my time & energy " and that "people were just too comfortable in their own misery to change"I argued that I had been one of "those people" but fortunately for me someone had taken an interest in my situation and I had found plenty more over the last 2 years that had helped me im...Who you are makes a difference
I wanted to share with you a true story about how a small gesture can make a HUGE impact...A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, w...Light at the end of the tunnel
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words and never stops at all"(Emily Dickinson) On the beautiful Greek island of Rhodes is a lush beauty spot nestling in pine woods. Epta Piges (Seven Springs) is a luxuriant green haven, a wonderful place to go when the sun is just too hot to handle. The seven springs become a stream that flows through a beautiful arched tunnel about a ...Good Enough
Think you're Not Good Enough ? - Retrain Yourself A key element of changing your attitude is changing your self-talk or internal monologue. Your self-talk is that chattering conversation you have with yourself all day long, whether you are aware of it or not. It's the voice in your head that says, "I'm too fat" or "I'm not good enough." I don't need to go on, do I? You know what I'm talking about! Well, it's this kind of...3 CHOICES
I'm telling you, chronic pain is a "real pain" - living with it; day-in / day-out, can be tough ... some days are worse than others ( - though most days are fine, by the way !)But something I know for sure is this ... Most of our pain is generated between our ears. I've found, first-hand, that it all depends on what we think about a situation, not so much about the situation itself.Take my case for example - I could choose to ...Your life ... today !
"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind ... let it be something good." "I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilli...The Day that turns your life around
Every day is the day that turns somebody's life around forever. Is TODAY that day for YOU? Think about the successes you've experienced so far in life, and I'll bet you can point to a particular moment in time when each one began - in hindsight, it's easy to recognize just where, when, and how a success story started. But what about the successes you haven't yet accomplished — the unrealized goals, dreams, and wishes you're harb...gloomraider
