29 October 2007

Faith




Uncertainty...is the fertile ground of pure creativity and freedom. Uncertainty means stepping into the unknown in every moment of our existence. The unknown is the field of all possibilities, ever fresh, ever new, always open to the creation of new manifestations. Without uncertainty and the unknown, life is just a stale repetition of outworn memories. Deepak Chopra from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success


This month has been about letting go and embracing the unknown. My department is restructuring and my job is looking unsafe. So my question has been, facing uncertainty and change, how do I stay strong and let go at the same time? In three short weeks, I have made the decision to move back to Spain, have arranged an interview with a company I used to work for, have contacted friends there and am starting to build up a network of coaching friends that I will thrive in when I'm out there. One week after making my decision, I found out that two coaches who I hugely admire and would love to work with are moving out to Spain next year too. Not only that, but I plan to do a course next year and I found out that one of those coaches will be leading that course in Spain next year (she lives in the States).

The answer to that question has been by enjoying the unknown, staying creative around possibilities and being really clear about my vision, while just doing what I need to do to keep moving in the right direction without knowing that I may ever get to the destination has been the way for me. This is the way that I have stayed strong while letting go. Its been thrilling!

06 October 2007

On Being Brave




A few days ago I read about a new project on Maddie's blog, inspired by this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:

Do one thing every day that scares you.

I immediately realised the thing that I most long to do that scares me more than anything else would be to give up my job and really committ to creating the life of my dreams. So I wrote the project off straight away as not being for me because its impossible right now, I'm not ready, its too big, I have to wait until January, its easy for them, I can't even do small acts of bravery because there really is only one act to do and so on and so on.

The idea stayed with me though. Every night while writing out my dreams of what I'd like a year from now, I'd write "I live in Grananda..." and think "That's going to take much longer than a year". Why? Is anything really stopping me? So, I've let bravery take over my thinking. There is a big restructure going on at work at the moment and even if I keep my job, it will be very different to the job I have now. My real passion is coaching and I will still get to do that, but only privately. When I got back to work after a few days holiday last week, the old sick feeling came back and I started to feel panicky so I decided it was time to be brave and get creative.

What are some of the great possibilities that could come out of this change and how could I start getting the life I really want?

I could move to Spain and work teaching English in companies which I loved when I was there which would mean I'd get to build good relationships with people in lots of different companies and build up a coaching practice out there. I'd also get to assist on Spanish coaching training and possibly even start interpreting on courses. And I'd be truly in love with my life! If my long term goal is to live in Spain and work full time as a coach, does my nice job with a big company get me closer to that dream or keep me stuck?

So thank you to Maddie and Jessie, I've joined the be brave project and today applied for jobs in Madrid and Seville!

02 October 2007

Inspired by a True Bohemian*

"Love is not a thing to understand. Love is not a thing to feel. Love is not a thing to give and receive. Love is a thing only to become And eternally be." Sri Chinmoy



Love has always been an obsession of mine ever since I was a little child, I've always been led by my heart. So, without wanting to quote Whitney Houston, here are ten things that I do for myself to feel loved:


1. Eat well and consciously. Cook food using fresh ingredients while listening to music and eat every mouthful awake and in the moment.

2. Clear away all the useless objects and clutter to create a clean and clear space where I can breathe. Infact any homemaking activities like putting photos in albums, mending, sorting and I feel really looked after.

3. Twenty minutes every morning focusing on my breathing and getting really connected and and centred, acknowledging whatever is there and accepting it.

4. When I write every day, I wake up like a person in love, on fire and lit up with the anticipation of spending that sacred time creating and discovering.

5. Reading my favourite blogs religiously keeps me on course, inspired and creative.

6. Walking in nature. I just don't get to do that nearly enough. It keeps me feeling alive and awake.

7. Yoga gets the energy flowing all over my body. Yum!

8. Spending time with people I love and laughing. Sharing champagne and Turkish delight.

9. Being kind and being my own best friend when times get tough.

10. Staying present. Being in each moment filled with possibility and choice, knowing that we only really have right now.


*Thank you Boho Girl