We can all learn so much when we simply take a step back from the world around us and observe what we see, what we hear, smell, taste and feel around us. Being “outside” ourselves can be a form of freedom when our minds are too busy.
The answers to many of our struggles lie in our ability to be part of the world and to engage fully with what is going on around us.
If I ever feel any stress, tension or anxiety creeping in, a wonderful technique I often use is to pull myself out of the fog of my thoughts and to anchor myself in whatever is going on around me.
The clarity of being fully present in the moment creates a concrete and tangible comfort that I can hold onto. Many of our thoughts can cloud our thinking and cause us to catastrophise.
This week, if you feel any stress, or anxiety, please try this technique and pull yourself out of your mind using your five senses to focus on what is around you at that moment. Observe life and the abundance it has to offer you. The stress and tension will pass as your mind begins to settle.
Recently I spent a lovely evening with my mother and her friend at the National Concert Hall. Orchestra of your Mind
The music was by Rachmaninoff and featured his piano Concerto No 3 which is notorious for being one of the most difficult pieces of music to play in the world.
I was absolutely enthralled and absorbed not only by the music that I heard but also by the room, the musicians and in particular, the composer. He was a young man who conducted his orchestra with incredible passion, precision and love.
Think of your subconscious mind with its numerous emotions, feelings and thoughts as an orchestra and then consider for a moment that the conductor represents consciousness. By bringing conscious awareness to yourself you are, in a sense, conducting your own mind and choosing which parts of you are the best to focus on, which parts create beauty and which parts allow you to reach your optimum health and well-being.
This week make time to listen to Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No.3 and allow yourself to escape into the magic and drama of his music.
In addition to the wonders that neuroscience has contributed to illustrate human kind’s ability to choose how we wish to think, feel and behave, there is also a growing body of scientific research into the area of epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of genes and the word “epi” comes from Greek, meaning “above”, so in this case, a force that is above our genes.
This science shows that our genes are NOT pre-determined but are, in fact, formed by external or environmental factors such as diet, stress and our connection to others. Bruce Lipton, a leading celluar biologist and author of ‘The Biology of Belief’, has uncovered incredible evidence to show that our beliefs literally create our reality at a celluar level. Lipton says that: ”Belief controls biology”. He also states that simply being told to ‘think positive’ does not work as most of our brain power is actually subconscious. Read more…
The phrase “me-time” is banded about a lot along in self-care programmes. I am a big believer in both.
The concept of me-time is very subjective: we all have different ideas of what qualifies as me-time. Essentially though, me-time is time spent doing what you want to do and something that benefits you directly.
Me time for me is simply being on my own, it really doesn’t matter what I am doing. I could be cleaning my car (although that is highly unlikely), I could be sitting having a coffee and watching the world go by or I could be doing some visualisation/self hypnosis at home. What I really love about me-time is the feeling of being complete and in harmony with myself. This is akin to spending time with someone I love and enjoy being with. There is no pressure and I can behave in anyway I want and they will understand what I mean.
It is a pleasure to spend time with me and the best thing about it is that my schedule never clashes with myself and I can always make time for me.
The core idea behind me time is that when you make time for yourself you are taking care of yourself and ultimately this makes you a nicer person. As a result everyone wins!
Recently I returned to Rome, the eternal city, after 20 years. My memories from that time are some of the happiest of my life. I was young and went to Rome to volunteer to help kids in an underprivileged area. It was an adventure to say the least and I was full of awe at a city that was soaked in beauty and history. Twenty years later I am still struck by the abundance of what the city and its people have to offer. Revisiting places.
This week, if you can, revisit a place that connects you to a time in your life when you felt truly alive and connected and happy. I know it may not be possible to actually go there but closing your eyes and allowing your imagination to return to that place in your mind is the next best thing. Use all of your senses to recall the colours, aromas, sounds and tastes of that place and time. When you have reconnected into that feeling, open your eyes and bring the feeling of joy and freedom with you as you go about the business of living.
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We can all learn so much when we simply take a step back from the world around us and observe what we see, what we hear, smell, taste and feel around us. Being “outside” ourselves can be a form of freedom when our minds are too busy. 
Recently I returned to Rome, the eternal city, after 20 years. My memories from that time are some of the happiest of my life. I was young and went to Rome to volunteer to help kids in an underprivileged area. It was an adventure to say the least and I was full of awe at a city that was soaked in beauty and history. Twenty years later I am still struck by the abundance of what the city and its people have to offer.