Saturday 31 January 2015

What's Your Thing?...

Following on from my last post ' What Will Matter', about finding your purpose, today's post offers a practical task to help you find yours. Our purpose in life always involves where our passion lies, what we enjoy doing more than anything else; what we love! Sounds easy but often we get so bogged down with the minusecia of every day life that we fail to be really aware of what our 'thing' is. 

Last Friday night I had the absolute pleasure of listening to Jillian Michaels, of The Biggest Loser fame, talk on stage for two and a half hours about exercise, motivation, empowerment, diet, lifestyle and finding your 'thing'. What is the one thing you are so fulfilled by doing that you are feel compelled to do it over and over. The thing that makes you feel great , the thing that releases feel good hormones. Do you even know? 

Often we end up in jobs we don't love but won't leave because ... well for lots of reasons, from fear of not finding anything else, because it's expected of you ,  to it just becoming so part of your daily routine that's it's engrained into your very being. How many people spend the majority of their working week doing a job they hate? 

I'm encouraging my children to find something they love and are hugely passionate about, that they love enough to do it every day, day in,day out, and so make it their work. The beauty of this is that it won't ever feel like work because it's your purpose. 




It's about questioning the 'rules'; most people live their lives on the status quo, the norm, but if this isn't serving you it's really ok to break these rules and follow your own path. If you're not being true to you, if what you do currently doesn't fulfil you it's very ok to move on; despite what others may say.

Your health, love and happiness is a choice, as is your destiny.

" Your responsibility is to contribute your best self to the world. Everyone is a miracle and has a reason to be here. Follow your truth". Jillian Michaels. 

So, if you've been telling yourself that 'one day' you will... Instead why not Take Action Now! Wherever you are in your life you are capable of changing, and being in the moment and not somewhere in the future (that, let's face it, probably won't happen if it's a day dream) . 

Living in the now is the way to find your passion, if you're truly present during each day you can appreciate where and what you like to do, and what feels like a chore. Obviously some things just have to be done, but wouldn't it be great to spend the bulk of your time doing something you love . It's that 80-20 rule again! 

So here's a game you can play with yourself to take notice of what you love- the hotter/colder game :

Set an alarm on your phone, to go off every hour on the hour for a whole day. When it goes off, whatever you're doing, STOP and be present and aware of how it makes you feel. Are you enjoying what you're doing, ie hot towards your purpose, or is it a chore ie colder towards your purpose. This is a great way to allow you to cultivate and grow the things that make you feel good. 

I've been playing this game with myself all week, and my two favourite things are 1) being in the kitchen playing about with healthy food, and adapting and creating delicious recipes that help people around me with their health, and 2) being outdoors in the fresh air, running, cycling, walking, just being out there feeling the wind, the sun, the rain, all weathers I'm happy with!! So figured if I go live in Australia, I could have my kitchen outside and I'll be as happy as can be!! 

Seriously though it's an interesting exercise, to open your eyes to how much of your time is spent doing the things you love. 

"If you have a WHY to live for you can cope with any how." Jillian Michaels. 

Have a great 'on purpose' day. 
Rx

Friday 23 January 2015

What Will Matter?

We all know we can't live forever, but my guess is that you'd like to live to a ripe old age, with all your faculties still intact? ... Me too. So on that basis wouldn't it be great to feel that our lives have mattered, and that what we're creating will live on in others when we're no longer on the planet.

Today I was inspired to write this blog post partly by my final assignment for my Energy 4 Life Wellness Coaching course, in which I talked about living on purpose. We're all here for a reason, all part of the great jigsaw of life, and when you find your purpose it's an amazing feeling. I've only found mine within the last few years; all I've done so far has lead me to where I am now and I'm a true believer in everything happens for a reason. 




The other inspiration came from a film I stumbled upon by Steve Kroschel, a very talented film director, who made Dying To Have Known in just 52 days. He travelled around the world talking to patients, nutritionists, scientists and surgeons all who testified to the Gerson Therapy's efficacy in treating and curing people of cancer, and other degenerative diseases. They have scientific proof, and Steve Kroschels reason for making the film was to find out why this information has been suppressed by main stream medics. 

We're left to decide this for ourselves....but it makes for a fascinating film.

What struck a chord with me was a poem that Steve narrates towards the end of the film, it brought tears to my eyes, and I'd like to share some of it here. The power of words is an amazing thing. Words can create all kinds of emotion within us, and this poem did just that for me. It inspired me to take a look at my life, to make sure that I'm living on purpose, and that everything I do does matter. I looked for the author, Michael Josephson , and it/he is  obviously very famous from the Google/Youtube coverage. 

Here's just a part of it.... the bit that mattered most to me. To listen to the whole of it, read by Steve Kroschel you can find the film link here (it's towards the end but he narrates it so well it's worth watching just for this part). 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVeyHsC4P20
27 May 2011 - Uploaded by aliHAMOU


What will matter is not what you bought but what you built,
not what you got but what you gave,
What will matter is not your success but your significance,
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught,
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched,
empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competmece but your character,
What will matter is not how many you knew,
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstances but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

Are you living your life on purpose? Are you living a life that matters? 
Food for thought.
Rx