How much news do you consume on a daily basis? Are you a news junkie or do you take small bites? This week I wanted to look at how news can actually make us take on a more pessimistic view of life and even trigger depression and low moods. It’s not surprising, given that our environment has the ability to … Read More
Valentine’s Day has the ability to sweep you off your feet in one romantic heart-fluttering waltz, or leave you standing by the dance floor, feeling alone and dare I say, miserable. Singletons are usually the biggest causality on February 14, but even those of us in relationships can be left feeling bitterly disappointed when the roses (or in my case … Read More
Most of us have some sort of secret being held hostage inside. And sure, keeping a surprise birthday secret is one thing, but when it comes to deeper issues, be it a health disorder, cheating on a lover or any other thing that causes embarrassment or concern, then letting it out is the only way forward. The reason people often … Read More
We all have an inner meanie. You know the one I’m talking about. She/he’s negative, judgmental, constantly comparing you to other people and how well they’re doing or looking. She/he also likes to sabotage you in any way possible, such as keeping you busy doing all the things that will keep you from your dreams. You know your inner mean … Read More
If your family get-together makes you feel like you want to suffocate your siblings (or your parents) in a stocking, don’t despair, surviving xmas is possible. Truly! Christmas can be full of cheer and happiness and kisses under the mistletoe, if you do a little internal work and recognise that any trigger points round the dinner table are the most … Read More
It became obvious to me in the past week or so how confronting some people find honest conversations. So let’s begin by discussing what an honest conversation is: An honest conversation is letting a person know your true feelings about a particular action or lack of action they took, that has left you feeling a negative emotion such as hurt, fear, … Read More
We live in a world that applauds learning from others in a formalised manner. Now I’m not saying don’t get that university degree, take that music class or see a therapist to help you resolve that emotional debacle. What I am saying, is that there are other helpful ways of learning and growing and developing, and they don’t require forking out huge wads … Read More
In fairytales the white knight recues the damsel in distress, falls in love, and saves the day – charming isn’t it? However, real-life knights are men and women who enter into romantic relationships with damaged and vulnerable partners, hoping that love will transform their partner’s behavior; a relationship pattern that seldom leads to a storybook ending. The rescuer enters the … Read More
Our life is full of synchronicities. Perhaps a friend you’ve had on your mind calls out of the blue, or you get a flyer advertising yoga in your letterbox the very day you were thinking about starting yoga. As you’re driving to work, you see a billboard answering the exact question you had in mind. Or perhaps you dream of … Read More
We all have stories. Some people have happy stories; other people have challenging stories that bring pain. I’m sure you’re familiar with stories like: ‘Oh, my car wouldn’t start and now I’m running late for work, and then I spilled coffee in my lap, and it was all because my husband left the lights on in the car last night, … Read More
If you are of the belief that the world is one big apple pie with a fixed number of slices, so that once those slices are taken, these is no pie left, then I urge you to reconsider your beliefs. Just because one person gets a bigger slice than you doesn’t mean you can’t have as much or more. Some … Read More
Happiness. Deep down it’s something that all of us want. That’s why there’s a whole self-help isle at bookstores promoting this very ideal that so many people strive for. Yet there’s still a lot of confusion around the emotion of happiness and the state of true happiness, and whether it’s even possible to feel deep happiness long-term. First though, we need to talk about … Read More
Shopping for a car isn’t all that different to shopping for a man. Seriously! I took the same approach to finding my Prince, as I did to attracting Missy (my ’66 Mustang) into my life. I wrote a Perfect Partner, come Perfect Car list! Yes, just as I wrote down all the features I wanted in my vintage wheels – … Read More
Are you settling for less? I’m sure at some stage in your life you’ve settled; for the good-enough partner, the it’s-not-so-bad job, that mediocre orgasm (or lack there-of) or the time-poor lifestyle that leaves you with no time to spoil YOU. People sacrifice goals, needs, wants and happiness – even our health – daily. And sadly, society actually supports this. … Read More
I begin this blog with asking you: How well do you receive? Why? Because many people I’ve come across over the years have at some point in their lives had trouble receiving – me included. First thing we need to understand though is that receiving – whether it be receiving a present, a kind gesture, a compliment or sensual touch … Read More
We all know what lust feels like. That electric spark that passes from you to your heartthrob each time you touch. That sense of ‘I’ve found The One’ washing over you, before you’ve had a chance to even find out his/her name! Yet this head-over-heels feeling we’ve all been swept up by at one time or another is likely to … Read More
Spring is the time of new growth – we see this all around us as buds yawn open into the most beautiful flowers. So let me ask you: Do you feel like you’re magnificence is blossoming, or is the shade cloth stopping you from growing? If you’re withering behind the garden shed, then ask yourself why you’re not giving yourself … Read More
When was the last time you lost your sh*t? Had a go at a lover or work colleague, spewed out some toxic emotions or simply thought: ‘Life’s too hard’? Well I’ve been there, plenty of times. As you’ll read in this week’s Take 5 magazine, I was one of those people ready to end it all, because I just couldn’t get out … Read More
We all have our inner dragons. Most people hide from their dragons, run from their dragons, maybe even pretend the dragons don’t exist. But sooner or later we all have to confront our personal dragon or five in order to let go of the pain and fear so we can live a life of happiness and freedom. A life where … Read More
Do you have a sob story you like to re-run in your head or to your friends, family or shrink? Are you someone who feels sorry for yourself and thrives on sympathy from others? If so, you are playing the role of a ‘victim’ and we all know what happens to victims, yeah? Bad stuff. They’re like negativity magnets. When … Read More
Last week I talked about using substances, people or things to fill the emptiness so many people in today’s world are familiar with; you may know it as an inner hunger for more. So in need to turn to an external source to feel some sort of positivity, they seek out louder, bigger or stronger fixes to give them that hit of … Read More
We often hear people say they want to be happy and ‘fulfilled’. Well we all know what happiness feels like, but how many of us really know what if feels like to be fulfilled? Have you stopped to consider what fulfilment really is? Are you one of those people who is ever striving for this so-called ‘fulfilment’, without sitting down … Read More
I wanted to spend this week discussing your way of life. How you conduct yourself daily, how you think about yourself, how you get the results you want – or how you haven’t quite worked out that part of the puzzle yet. Do you even have a ‘way’ of living life? My way is ‘The Naked Way’. Raw. Stripped back. Honest. Let … Read More
When you have a win, what do you do? Do you celebrate your success or do you move on without so much as a blink of an eyelash? When I experience a win I ‘happy dance’! Yes, I jump around the room in all my glory, legs and arms moving about in sometimes-hideous displays of joy in order to mark … Read More
How well do you breathe? Do you even know? Or is breathing something you do completely unconsciously, letting your autonomic nervous system supply you with oxygen however it sees fit? The majority of people do not breathe well. Sure, they get enough air to get through life, but not enough to feel alive and vital in every moment. Not enough … Read More
How do you treat strangers? Do you shy away from interactions or do you connect? What I’ve noticed is most people look the other way, pull out their phone for company or pretend they didn’t see that person just millimeters from reach. It’s pretty sad really, given that relationships and the interactions we have with others are what truly nourish … Read More
Do rules lead to nourishing experiences or do they disassociate us? This is a question I pondered while visiting Bali last week. My first visit to the busy tourist island was an eye-opener in more ways than one could imagine. Let’s begin with the roads. Rules are thrown to the curb in favour of interactive driving. What you soon realise … Read More
We all want to feel happy, loved… hell… we want to have fun, positive experiences, yeah? Some people try to reach those happy states of being by booking in for an extravagant holiday, others let a Hollywood movie deliver them that cliché ‘happily ever after’. But where are those real happy (warm and fuzzy inside) feelings to be found? In the people, not … Read More
Have you ever stretched yourself? Not in the physical way a dancer or a keen yoga student might, but in the way that helps you break through personal barriers so you can experience a life far richer than you have in the past? Stretching yourself mentally helps you turn your life into a fairytale adventure where you live your ‘happily … Read More
The reason I write this blog is because it’s come to my attention recently that there’s a lot of fear around looking at oneself and the role a person plays in creating their outcomes in life. Which is fair enough – who wants to be held accountable for all the crappy things that happen to them when it’s much easier … Read More
I find it fascinating the extremes people will go too, especially women, to lose weight. Starving themselves of proper nutrition in order to stick to that lemon diet, just so they can squeeze into that pretty dress on the weekend. Or exercising their butts off to the point of injury, fatigue and sheer exhaustion. Yet ask someone to show their … Read More
The comfort zone is an interesting phenomenon. Many people have quite an attachment to the good ‘ol comfort zone, sitting in it because it’s so, well comfy. It’ s like a big old lounge, it wraps around you, keeping you safe and secure; you know what to expect because it’s the lounge you’ve had since you can remember. But is this … Read More
How lucky are you? Are you one of those people who always wins extravagant prize and has opportunities come at them from all angles? Or are you someone who is constantly hitting a brick wall, nothing seeming to fall in your lap. Ever! So you label yourself ‘Unlucky’. Have you ever asked yourself what ‘luck’ actually is? Many people see … Read More
How much energy does sex give you? Does it leave you feeling energized and revitalized? Are you experiencing multi, full body and energetic orgasms? If you answered no to any of these questions, then it’s time to start learning the Taoist art of Sexual Kung Fu! Like anything in life, in order to get good at something you need to practise … Read More
How do you spend your day? What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? If you were to draw up a pie chart that graphed all the areas that you put time and energy into, would it fit with what you really want? Your true desires? Or would it be a miss-match? We’ve all got priorities – whether … Read More
I find it fascinating that as human BEing’s we tend to spend a lot more time doing than we do being. When was the last time you sat down and took time out from your hectic schedule to simply be? To give yourself a break from the societal noise and allow yourself to sink into a state of calm bliss? From the minute people awake, … Read More
Have a think about that for a moment. Have you ever taken the time to actually consider whether the people you surround yourself with are a positive influence on you and where you want to go in life? Are they people that inspire you? Or are they people who knock down your ideas and reinforce that any attempt to move … Read More
We all want to feel loved on the most romantic day of the year, but left to chance, love could be missing this Valentines Day. That’s why I encourage people to start learning how to love yourself, as that’s the key to getting love, whether you’re in a relationship or still searching for your ‘Happily Every After’. When February 14th rolls around … Read More
As a child I was a dreamer. No doubt about it. I dreamt of being famous; perhaps an actor, musician or even a radio star! As I grew the dreams continued, although they became worldlier. After overcoming depression and realising I could help others do the same, I suddenly dreamt of changing the world; helping everyone learn how to love … Read More
What if you could slow down the aging process, even reverse it? Naturally. Would that be of interest to you? Would you be willing to try a new approach and actually get to the root cause of the deterioration associated with ageing? Would you invest in learning how to do it yourself? If so, then read on… Here’s the billion-dollar … Read More
Belief is an interesting topic. We either believe in something or we do not. But what happens when what we believe is stopping us from having the life we wish to lead? Consider this: The Journal of Clinical Psychology states that over 40% of adults will try to change their behavior at some point this year? Yet 92% will fail to keep their … Read More
What’s the best present you can give your loved ones this year? Although many might argue that a new car, fancy necklace or a little lovin’ are all ideal gifts – consider this: Material objects while lovely, don’t really nourish us. What they do is give us a little bit of joy when they’re shiny and new, but that wanes. … Read More
So we’re all familiar with porn and its ability to get men (and many women) in the mood for… shall we say… a little fun under the covers. Well it seems romance novels could be just as effective and more acceptable to a wide range of audiences. Psychology Today states that women who read romance novels make love with their partners … Read More
What does it mean to be curious about you? About life? How would your life be different if you lived each moment from a place of complete curiosity? That’s right, go into each situation, each interaction with a willingness and openness to understand and thus grow? What you’d probably find is that there would be no more judgments or critisisms … Read More
So before I share my health scare with you I have a question: When you get sick, how do you get well? What is your process for healing yourself? Is your first inclination to get a drug prescription from your doctor? Maybe you take a couple of days off work to rest. Do you jump online and start reading everything … Read More
If it’s ok to shop online for books, clothes, and household goods, why are so many people hesitant to checking out the vast array of potential mates online? We seem to be fine with shopping around for the perfect car, the perfect dress, or the perfect nail colour, so is tracking down the perfect partner any different? Really? With people … Read More
In summer we’re naturally drawn to fruit; there’s nothing like tucking into bowl of fruit salad on a hot summer’s day or slurping down a fresh fruit smoothie. And if it’s good for us, then why hold back. But as you’ll read, some fruits are more like Clark Kent than Superman. Superfruits, like superheros, can be used as a vehicle … Read More
What is a person’s full potential? According to the top quantum physicists and scientists alike we are only using 10% of the possible neurological connections. Could that mean we have not witnessed to date, the full potential of a human being, and does that mean human potential is far greater than we can possibly even imagine? A study on rats … Read More
With summer on our doorstep, many of us are looking to get our bodies bikini-ready for the beach. Diets. Exercise. They’re the typical recipes for weight loss and cellulite reduction, but what if de-stressing your life is the missing ingredient to shed the kilos? It’s hard to believe that stress can lead to weight gain, but it’s true. When we’re … Read More
A lack of good, positive friendships is a recipe for depression, loneliness and feelings of unworthiness. As human’s we’re meant to connect – we’re social creatures. We need, just as we need air, food and water, to be part of the woven pattern of human life. So, if you’re not bonding with people who give you permission to shine, it … Read More
