hen we are going through life's challenges we can feel overwhelmed, and big emotions do come up. Over my time, there have been many deep valley moments, and each time, I needed to learn another deeper core truth about the limiting belief/s that were ready to show up and transform. 

There are always silver linings and blessing in all things we do, but the bigger the issue, bigger the potential healing blessing, waiting to be discovered.  

My life purpose is to challenge and support people. I don't mean to go out of my way to make people uncomfortable, but when we become uncomfortable or challenged, we have the opportunity for develop clarity and choices.   

The one reason why I am so comfortable to challenge people is because I have challenged myself all my life.

See, I was never good enough as a child so I made it my mission to learn how to look after me, and ultimately I needed to learn how to love and accept myself.  My journey of learning about my gaps and hurts meant I have explored so many different wounds and at the core point of each was a sense of not being enough.  How did this show up?

• Not skinny enough - developed anorexia
• Not smart enough - studied my butt off moving from a D/C average to A average in 2 years
• Not loved enough - loved till the point of losing my self, my identity, self belief, and scaring people away
• Not worthy enough - fought to prove myself and pushed others away in the process
• Not lovable - developed depression and starting drinking to make the heartache real pain
• Not important enough - pushed through with perfectionism, study, busy-ness to distract and neglect myself

The silver lining of my experiences is quite simple.

• I had to learn how to accept and love me
• I have been exposed to so many different modalities of inner healing, clients get the benefit.  This is either in nutrition by my search to understand how the body has failed; by the mind and emotional work that innately linked to the body, and emotional health.
• By healing me, I have much greater empathy for those who have lived through similar or the same hells I have.
• Each time I was forced to look at my shadow side, not only did I learn how, when and why that part went into hiding, but helping the shadow to have its voice, to tell my its story.  This has been transcribed into my books.

I ask you, what changes would you also like?

• To be more ok with who and what you are
• Shift big emotions of guilt, shame and grief so you can reconnect with yourself and others with love?
• Reclaim a dream that has been on hold for how long? To take positive steps forward again to remember what love feels like, in your heart of hearts, because we are all love, but it gets lost with time and pain.
• Or as so many clients report "I feel free-er, lighter, happier. I'm going through the (book, exercises, mantras) and I just feel better.  My mind is calmer and my ...... are talking with me again.

How could your life change if you -

• learnt how to talk with yourself with more compassion and self care?
• increased your self love which made it easier to choose foods, drink and activities that fed your body and not mask the pain?
• saw your true value as being lovable, important and progressing and 'faulty' which translate to self acceptance and empathy?

Imagine for a moment, or many how your life could be different.  Again, some of the experiences myself and clients have come to enjoy are quite profound. We have a stronger mind, love and connection with yourself and also with those love and admire.  We have given up the feelings of being invisible, unimportant or even hated and embarrassed our own uniqueness and with this, people treat us differently and with higher regard.

This sounds good, does it not? Secure your spot in the ReclaimME! Spring Clean program and learn about you and where you want to go. 

Yes, there is an assumption that all or at least most people find change difficult, but after years of observation, I do think it is an accurate assessment.

Change, unless it is forced upon us with enough pain - loss; significant rug pulling, left field change many of us will not change quickly or easily. This is of interest.

We know and can see how things could be easier, lighter, better if we consciously choose to change, but yet, we hide, stay back, shy away from doing the action required to create the dream we have in our mind's eye.

There are a few reasons, which ones hold true for you?

• We are in a known, predictable state and so to change and do things differently is just too scary and foreign. It is better to stay in the familiar, after all, you already know the dance steps. Change the dance, and it is becomes too unpredictable and causes too much stress.
• Our worthiness issues come up screaming, keeping us small and 'safe'. If we step out of the norm, we run the risk of being ostracised, rejected from our current circle of contacts. Humans are very herd/group orientated mammals and if we risk stepping outside the safety of our group/clan/mob, then we run the risk of isolation, with little or no support and being alone. For many, this is not an option
• Our DNA and our cells have become 'wired' that keep rejuvenating with each cell division. By changing our thoughts and dreams alone, is simply not enough. We need to change at a much deeper level, at the cell level to create a ture vibration change become confident at our core and enable our body to regenerate healthier. This can be achieved with guided meditation, hypnotherapy, energy work; exercise, stress management, healthy sleep patterns, food choices, breathe work, detoxing, low irritant foods, supplements as needed and basically caring for our physical body.
  
• We now know a lot more about the interrelationship between food chemicals and our moods, body function and triggers. Finding our personal trigger points for less than health and we go a long way towards coping with change.
• Our beliefs - yes those things we consider to be 'our normal' or what is right for our life and our world. These have been inherited, embedded, influenced by, dictated etc from so many different sources, it is challenging to define what we created/own by our choice and what are really other's hopes, dreams and expectations for ourselves and life. As we work through our belief and value systems, we create the opportunity to heal, let go, polish and transform these beliefs into positive,  empowering ones which in turn enable a higher vibration,in turn making healthier choices much, much easier.

So, which of the above, and others contribute to your speed of change? There is no right or wrong, it just is. Everything and everyone is in the right place at the right time to create the experiences for evolution, empathy for others and to encourage us to evolve into our life purpose, and this is as unique as our very own DNA.
If you require support or knowledge around change, then there are several ways I can do this.

An interesting question, that cames to me this morning, and while we have previously spoken of habits and rituals, this one asks what do you do to help you come back to yourself, to calm, ground and keep you feeling safe?

For me, I am finding the ritual of making coffee in the morning. The process requires several touchpoints because I use an Italian percolator for the stove. It needs water, ground beans, and then screwing the gadget back together before lighting the fire. I find this, sometimes more than the pleasure of drinking the coffee to be even more powerful.

Another one is cleaning, and when I get to this point I know there are some big things coming up.

Rituals others use include the obvious - exercise, meditation, bathing, gardening, sitting in nature, cooking, etc. But, what are some of yours?

What are your go-to actions that help you come back to a state of neutral?

For some, this may seem ego-centric, to look after our own sanity and be protective of it, but, what happens when we continue to give to others from an empty vessel that is literally being wrung dry?

Not a lot can happen, and we run the risk of cracking under the pressure of being wrung out to get the last drops out of us.    Now, is the time to reassess what you need to look after you. To know how to re-centre, recalibrate, to calm your nervous system down again so you can function easier and more completely than not.

Other powerful things that you can do are:

• Epson Salt baths or foot baths - the magnesium is a powerful relaxant and the sulphur helps with detox.
• Filtered water to flush the toxins, to ensure the cells are hydrated supporting the biochemical pathways to happen easier.
• Gentle exercise that works for you. The goal is to stretch, release and getting the body moving. Hard workouts are great to burn off the excess cortisol and adrenaline, but they also require a tip-top body with nutrient support to maximise their effect.
• Meditation, the music of specific frequencies for the mood; singing bowls, chakra chimes etc are also useful to balance the centres faster.
• Venting, journaling and speaking with a trusted friend or counsellor to help you express what is going on and you can see the situation from a more birdseye view.
• Practice self-care and really feel into the pleasure of looking after you
• Play and be creative in ways that bring you joy, laughter, contentment etc. Dive into your expressive parts of yourself and really feel the feelings as they come up and through.

Allow yourself to be true to you.

If you want more support or structured activities, ReclaimME! Spring Clean walk you through all the activities and techniques we have explored over the last 12 weeks.  
Full of mindfulness exercises that help you to focus on what is really going on for you in the moment so you can identify easier the historic reason of what, how and why you believe, feel and react the way you do. Heal these and life gets easier!!

Change, what is it, and how do we create it? 

By definition, change to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/change)

All of us, constantly create change.  We get up and change from being asleep, laying down etc.  We create change when we do anything.  Habits create familiar, predictable changes in our state and routine to match what we have agreed to experience in our life.  The routine, the known, familiar, expected actions that make up life.  

Words have a vibrational power to change your world. How?
The thought behind the word changes your body chemistry.
As simple as black and white. For many, each has a different feeling; black dark and heavy, white light and expansive.
Love, Joy, Peace infer a calmness and excitement which raises our vibration.
Sadness, disconnect, loneliness feel and therefore change our body chemistry to denser, heavier and likely depressed/compressed body reactions.
To heal, live life more fully and creatively, lighter, expansive feelings create the space for this to happen.
Your thoughts, create the vibe that goes out into the world, drawing to you experiences that match or a similar.
Now, you have choice. You and entirely you have the ability to control your thoughts. As you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings and action, you are given the gift of conscious change - what do you want to feel, be and have?
How, in the moment to you cut off so to speak and redirect the heavy memories, feelings, fears, etc.
Notice them!
* Thank them for bring your attention to something that wants to be healed.
* Tell the feeling that the adult you does have this under control and you CHOOSE to be in the moment and see, feel and be the positive aspect of the situation - choose the silver lining component, the blessing in disguise etc.
* Breathe deeply refocus in the now. Literally in that second to second moment and consciously see, feel and be the silver lining.
* Step into the positive power this provides. Own it and continue doing what you are doing with conscious, chosen, empowered choices fr feeling, action and response.
It gets easier with practice and yes, if you feel the past has a massive hold over you, support will benefit.

Believe it or not, life doesn't write its self. Life is created by what we believe, think, feel, do.
Life is created by the micro choices and how we interpret life's interplay with others.
I hear you say "But I didn't create this or that" No, you didn't create all physical events as many are natural events - the weather the fires etc. What you do create is the meanings and perceptions and actions and this = that statements that determine your feelings and actions thereafter.
As individuals, we only have control over ourselves, but do we?
How do we control the knee jerk reactions that seem so out of character?
Our habits that don't quite make sense or even counterintuitive?
Preconceived ideals we never questioned because they came from trusted adults while we were growing up?
Fears that keep us from reaching out, offering support to another because they might reject it.
These are the life we create from, and so many more.
Can you imagine creating from the other end of the scale?
Confidence, awareness, compassion consideration, knowing?
Creating with positive, excited possibility!
It is possible, because this has been my experience and that of many clients.
Doing the inner healing, transforming limiting beliefs into empowering ones.
Flipping feeling small, insignificant and unimportant inti worthy, lovable and able to 'stand tall'
What comes from this is entirely what you want to choose. You take back, Reclaim the parts of yourself that have been hiding or given to others to have power over you.
Is now Your Time? To Reclaim Yourself so you can Create Your life on Your Terms?
I think it is, because you are worth it!!

Reach out and lets kickstart the next transformation. 

Growth happens at the edge of our comfort zone, results in creating a difference either in the way we feel, see things, be or have.
Think about this :)
Children's physical growth pushes the skin, bones, muscles etc to go beyond their current shell.
Mental growth as in learning a new skill and knowledge comes when we learn new things outside our current understanding.
Emotional growth occurs when we step beyond our comfort zone, meet and greet our shadow side of our emotions that are asking to come into the light.
The general consensus of growth is - change, strength, maturing into our fuller potential.
Is it easy? Usually not :(
Most of us need to explore, contemplate, give things a go, practice, hurt, fall over, get things wrong and with time and persistence things start to come to fall into place. The lessons and life start to become second nature.
We become more comfortable with our lanky limbs as our torso catches up after the growth spurt; We apply the new maths, English and formulas from our classes; we become more comfortable with the person we become.
But, what happens when our emotional side is stunted? If we are not able to experience the lessons needed because our role models didn't know better and their emotional growth was also stunted? If we were bullied and so shut down, or fear kept us stuck in the past?
This is where many of us become really stuck. Our body and mind grow, but our emotional growth is stunted, and often parts of our psyche remain stuck in our childhood. The result? Big kids in adult bodies floundering, wanting things to be and feel different, but without teachers or role models to guide the maturation process really not moving forward in healthy ways.
Interestingly, it seems, this emotional growth is the hardest type of growth to accomplish in life. Our society we don't have an emotional curriculum in school or social circles, we don't have initiation services to re-inforce and celebrate a teen's emotional and mental status. Most of us are floundering around hoping for the best. and it is our responsibility to seek out guidance, help and reassurance when we hit our next emotional growth spurt (and there are many during our stages of life. But, in a world with Mental Health stigma, an attitude of 'It will be right mate', or 'Just get on with it, pull up your big girl/boy pants and get over it' really doesn't help.
The tide is turning, thankfully, but, there is a long way to go in creating social change to truly support the three-four generations that are living during this time. The younger ones will be still influenced by Parents, Grandparents, peers, social influences. The Elders may not appreciate the changes, and struggle with the new supports available, more so since their beliefs are about 'Getting on with it, and not being a wuss'.
How can we break the cycles? By supporting as many as possible with deep, energetic change at the belief and DNA level.
​The massive impact this has in raising one's self worth, abilities, and raising the bar to healthier emotional levels has far-reaching effects. Yes, it does still result in unsettling moments, but so does civil unrest, family disagreements and the like. Which is a healthier, outcome? Positive change or remaining stuck in the past pains and limiting beliefs?
If you are ready to work through your next emotional growth spurt, and want support, guidance and learn tools to make the process easier, consider the deep and comprehensive work offered at Steps to Change, and book a chat session to see what the healing options available for you. It really could be life changing not only for you but your family, your career and your future.