Blog-Wiggle your toes day

 

Well sometimes it just has to be done!

Light hearted fun and almost childlike is my theme for this weeks Blog.

How often are we too serious and don't stop to smell the roses and enjoy life a bit more?

Recently I went into town by bicycle, which I love, just cycling along the seafront looking at the beauty and expanse of the sea.

I had an appointment to paint my toenails and was due to cycle back home at a set time, but guess what? I had overshot the time and did not have time to let them dry properly.

Well in the big scheme of things it’s not exactly a big drama you might say, but I decided to cycle home with my bare feet.

I have to say it was such fun, the freedom of wearing no shoes and seeing my pretty red manicured toes was such a treat.

It reminded me of when I was a child and spent more time with shoes off than shoes on.

So my health tip for today is kick off your shoes, go barefoot, take up yoga, go for a paddle in the sea, walk on the grass, wiggle those pinkies, do whatever it takes to bring you back to the fun side of life.

Blog-The 12 simple principles to obtain a healthy balanced life

I was a bit stumped at what to do for my health tip this week so decided to keep things simple and go back to the basics.

So with that in mind, in my experience, the  real ‘Key to a healthy happy balanced life’ is adhering to these 12 simple principles.

I am living proof that anyone’s lives can be turned around, I was once stressed, inauthentic, overweight and tired a lot of the time,I ended up constantly trying to blame others for not helping me enough,having too high expectations of me and generally not understanding how hard life was for me.

I felt unsupported and disrespected, there came a moment in my life when things had to change, and it had to be ME!

I found the answers to my various problems by practicing the things below and I can honestly say I have never felt such self-love, self respect and contentment in my life before.

Learning to say no and ask for help

Practicing radical self care

Living in the present

Doing the next smallest right thing

Being grateful

Finding a sense of spirituality

Letting go of resentments 

Learning to just be myself (Authentic) 

Making time for fun

Enjoying loving relationships

Following your calling/purpose

Spending time in nature

So if you feel you are ready to make changes and would like some support, empathy and respect on your journey then contact me, I would love to work with you.

Blog-Focus on the positive things in life

Its amazing how focusing on positive things or things we are grateful for can change our whole mindset!

Recently my son was in a terrible accident and nearly drowned as a result,he is a professional kite surfer and was in South Africa at the time.

I saw the video on BBC one which showed the  incident and his miraculous recovery, it was really moving and emotional.

Its came to my attention following the show that I had been focusing on the worst part of the video and it upset me the past few days.

I appreciate it was shocking to see it for the first time but he has made a pretty much full recovery and thats what I really need to focus on today.

So my suggestion to everyone is to really focus on all the great things in your life and work on the things that need changing slowly and steadily.

In my experience its the way to a truly happy, healthy and more enjoyable life.

Blog-International 'Thank God its Monday day'

Today is (6th June) ‘Thank God its Monday day’ I bet not many people start their week feeling like that!

Wouldn't it be great if we could all feel happy on a Monday?

Well there are a few things that can help you feel happy on a Monday, one of the most important is to do a job you love and  I feel blessed that I love my work and it makes such a difference.

I wake up eager to get on with my true purpose and it brings about a passion and excitement that helps to energize me.

Accepting also that some times we don't feel up to it after a nice weekend of rest is about being real, we cant ALWAYS  feel great about Mondays.

Having a positive attitude and lots of gratitude is helpful and as my husband often says after a long Monday at work, ‘Sandra I am lucky to have a job’.

If you do not work then ensure you do something fun or that you love to start your week, I often go the the cinema which is fantastic for my mind and helps me lighten up a bit.

There is also plenty of research to suggest if people are suffering from depression  having  a-disciplined routine at the start of the week gets them into a happier cycle of thought.

So lets all look at making our weeks start on a happier footing by injecting some gratitude and doing more of what we love.

 

Blog-Feeling Feelings

Feelings are the most incredible way of staying connected with our selves, yet most people are told at times in their lives they should not feel the way they do,they then often push down feelings.

Pushing them down can then lead to anxiety and dis-ease in our bodies, as a Health Coach one of my purposes is to help people understand that feelings need to be PROCESSED.

Only when you truly feel what you feel can you move forward into solutions, our feelings really   need to be respected.

Many of my clients find just talking about how they feel about life situations is a massive relief in itself and can often lead people to quicker solutions instead of being trapped with negative energy.

So whether you are happy or sad, frustrated or lonely, the sooner you are able to recognise the feelings the sooner they will pass.

 

 

Blog-Finding our calling

 

 

I just LOVE my work it's the most amazing exhilarating thing to have a special purpose.

My mother told me when I was a child everyone has a special gift, she said Ihad the gift of the gab ( Bless me,I didn't know it meant I talked a lot).

I remember getting excited and soon found out it was not so great, as I grew older I felt a need to pursue my calling/purpose and found a career as a Nurse. Ironically it is all about communication to others and ultimately now as a coach/Public speaker as well,I realise I WAS actually gifted in the speaking department!

So if youLOVE what you do and believe you are good at it then whatever it is you are on the right track.

The three main litmus tests are.

1.Do you feel a sense of purpose and fulfilment when you are doing it?

2.Does it make you happy?

3.Do you enjoy it?

If the answer is yes just keep on and don't worry about success or money ( tough as that might be) just keep on keeping on.

I changed career when I was 47 and it was the most wonderful thing I have ever done,I had to be so brave but the force behind me (and my faith in my purpose) kept me driving forward even in the tough times.

 So my suggestion is find what you LOVE and never give it up, a life working towards your purpose will be a life of deep joy and fulfillment.

 

 

 

Blog-National Honesty Day

Famous American singer-songwriter, Billy Joel once sang that honesty is such a lonely word, suggesting that honesty is a very rare quality in all kinds of relationships - personal, professional and social.

Hirsh Goldberg created this holiday as a way to encourage people to speak the truth and to "honour the honourable" and even though it's an American day, I believe its so important to acknowledge it every day.

I am sure most of us say that we are honest but are we really? Ask yourself a few questions..

Many people find it difficult to be honest about there true feeling for fear of upsetting others or causing conflict.

For others saying no and having strong boundaries is almost impossible.

Some people find they tell little ‘white lies’ as they think  they are ok.

The reality is if we are dishonest  whether that's taking a few pens and bits from work we think we are 'entitled too', or not being authentic it makes us feel a certain amount of dis-ease and ultimately that will affect our health.

So my message is simple...... don't beat yourself up just clean your act up! You might be surprised at how wonderful it can feel.

Blog-Look up at the Sky Day

Very often when we have lots going on in life, our bodies become introverted and we tend to look down, as we concentrate on the amount we have on our ‘to do’ lists. 

So when I came across this, ‘look up at the sky day’, I feel it encourages us to get out of our own thoughts for a moment, and look up at the bigger picture.  The beauty all around us, that is always there, and helps us to just put life into perspective.

Some find it therapeutic just watching the clouds go past slowly, and enjoying the different light and shade as the day goes by. 

Making it a daily practice to stop and look up opens up your mind, as well as your body as you give your lungs more space in your chest, as you breathe.

So don’t just think about looking up into the sky on just this one day of the year, think about making it part of your daily routine.

Blog-Take a Walk in the Park Day

 

What a fantastic celebration, simple, easy, do-able.  Something I support, getting outside, appreciating nature, at this beautiful time of year.  The evenings are getting lighter, the blossom is forming on the trees, and I feel there is more beauty to observe.

We have all heard about the healthy 5-a-day option, when we think about healthy eating.  I feel that getting outside should be included, as another healthy option.

There are amazing parks to be visited, especially some of our National Herritage sites, with manicured lawns, and symmetrical planting, enough to make most of us feel gratitude and appreciation for nature.

So go on, book a date, and visit your local park, or at the very least just get outside for some tree hugging!