Living Out Loud

The Game of Life - April 09

The Game of Life is a newsletter I send to subscribers by email.  In the past I used to write one feature article and one book review per issue.  This month I changed the format.  I'm now choosing a theme each month and providing links to posts and articles around the web that I've come across and thought my readers would get value from.  And I've decided to post those links here too.  This month's theme is change/rebirth/renewal ~ inspired by Springtime

Clearing clutter can be a very powerful way to bring about a shift in your energy, not only at a physical level but also on the mental, spiritual and emotional levels. I posted on this subject last week: Spring has sprung: time to declutter.

And continuing on the decluttering theme, this article from O magazine walks you through every corner of your home, leaving you with no excuses: 12 Ways to Unclutter your Life

Nadia at Happy Lotus talks about how we can be happier having less rather than more in The Call to Simplify.

Craig Harper has many powerful questions for you in For my World to change, first I must change. And he has some serious tough love for those who want to get out of their own personal Ground Hog Day in Making the Same Mistakes - "Success or failure is not pre-determined, it's me-determined" - you have been warned ;-)

Postively Present talks about how difficult it can be dealing with change and suggests some ways to cope in Change your mind about change.

One Small Step Can Change Your Life: the Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer is reviewed by Anne Pyle on Joyful Jubilant Learning. I haven't read this yet but the review is very convincing and I'm waiting for my copy to arrive in the post...

Also on Joyful Jubilant Learning, Karen Wallace reviews The Age of Miracles: The New Midlife by Marianne Williamson. I am reading this book at the moment and although Williamson speaks to readers in their 50s and 60s I believe younger readers will find plenty of value in it too.

"Instead of feeling that it's all downhill from here (body and soul) Marianne conveys through her warmth and her love that midlife is the time to finally accept our true power. Now, more than ever before, we can change the world." Read the review here.

 

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." - Keri Russell

I hope you'll take the time to check out some of these posts and will find them useful.  And if you have come across any others on the theme of change/rebirth/renewal I'd love to know about them too ;-)

Seize the day, dammit!

(part of the Happy Friday series)

5 tips by Karen Salmansohn

If there is an honest conversation you need to share, DO IT. Today! Live without regret. Speak from your heart. Know: the better your communication with others, the better your life. Know: The more love you have in your life, the happier and more meaningful your life.

Believe in FORGIVENESS AND FORGETNESS. Stop carrying grudges. They simply weigh you down. Indeed, Carrie Fisher said it amusingly well when she said: Resentment is the poison you swallow hoping the other person will die. Today think about who you need to forgive, and let go of these bitter attachments.

Appreciate the people you love, by letting them know what you adore about them. Live with Emile Zolas philosophy in mind: I CAME INTO THIS WORLD TO LIVE OUT LOUD. Today share with friends and family the specifics of what you appreciate about them. Count your blessings out loud to them.

In "The Tibetan Book Of Living and Dying," author Rinpoche warns about the Western tendency for ACTIVE LAZINESS, our need to cram our lives compulsively with a myriad of unimportant activities, leaving little time to confront what really matters. He jokingly renames the petty projects we call our RESPONSIBILITIES as our IRRESPONSIBILITIES. Today ask yourself how might you edit down your TO DO LIST to a WHAT MATTERS MOST TO DO LIST? Are you finding time to be with the people you love -- and the time for doing the passions you love?

Give back to the world. I mean this both in the obvious ways of altruism and volunteerism -- which are essential to creating a happy, meaningful life. Plus, I also mean this in those the less obvious -- but still important ways -- of giving of yourself -- your true self -- your heart, thoughts, talents -- share it all. After all: Everything that is not given, is lost. Every thought and feeling we ever have, every beautiful sight we ever see, every material possession we own, every talent we possess, will ultimately be lost. UNLESS WE SHARE IT.

Today ask yourself how deeply and intimately you are connecting with those most important to you? Which brings to mind a favorite metaphor - the one about the pebble in a pond. It's as if each of us are tossing the pebble of ourselves into the pond of life, and ripples are created. If we hoard ourselves - our love, our thoughts, our feelings, our insights, our words, our gifts, our talents - we will make a very little splash, and the ripples will soon end. But if we give fully, with abandon and abundance, the ripples will go out infinitely, overlapping and intermingling with others.

With this in mind, ask yourself: What kind of ripple do you want to be? Seize the day, dammit!

You can subscribe to Karen's not your ordinary newsletter here

Happy Positive Thinking Day!

Today is Positive Thinking Day, a virtual movement instigated by Kirsten Harrell, who has posted the following on her blog today:

"Positivity is contagious... really!  So, as you make the commitment today to be positive and to hold positive thoughts you will influence those around you.  That's how we change the world... we start with ourselves!  When you are focused on the positive then there will be a ripple effect that spreads out from you.  You can make a difference!  Yes, I am talking to you - each one of you.  So... come on, let's set out today to change the world... one thought at a time!"

If you're reading my blog, I suspect you're a fan of positive thinking too, and you will enjoy reading the offerings on http://www.positivethinkingday.com/ If you're a bit more dubious about the power of positive thinking, then today couldn't be a better day to give it a whirl and see what happens.  Try applying at least a few of Kirsten's recommendations, and have a wonderfully positive day.

10 ways to create a positive day

1. Use affirmations - Read and listen to affirmations so that you can begin to change your self-talk.

2. Intention - Set your intention each morning to have a positive day! Remember you choose your attitude!

3. Mindfulness - Keep your attention in the present moment.

4. Link to think -Pick something you do frequently (perhaps making a phone call) and let that be a reminder to think a positive thought.

5. Gratitude - Develop an attitude of gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal.

6. Inspiration - Read and watch inspirational and motivational material to lift your mood.

7. Positive people - Surround yourself with positive people. They will help you stay focused on the positive.

8. Kindness - Be kind to yourself and those around you.

9. Applied faith - Trust that every situation has the seeds for growth and opportunity.

10. Smile - Smile when you see others. Smile when you are talking on the phone. A smile is contagious. 

Songs that make your Heart Sing: The Playlist

It's been a long time coming, but I've finally gotten around to compiling the playlist of Songs that Make your Heart Sing.  I think I've tracked down all the posts, but if I've missed any that you're aware of, maybe you could add their contribution in the comments.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part in this "happy songs" project.  I know it was a big ask for many people to choose just one song that made your soul soar every time you heard it.  Many people provided lyrics and videos in their posts - thanks for that also.  I've indicated where they are provided.

I've divided the compilation into two volumes: the rock/bop your socks off volume, and the mellower list that mightn't get you jumping out of your seat but still raises your spirit when you listen to it.

So, without any further ado, I hereby unveil the ultimate playlist of Songs that make your heart sing:

Free Resources

I'm passionate about helping people realise that happiness is an inner state of being, completely non-reliant on any external circumstances.  Meaning, it's possible to feel happy, in the sense of an overall wellbeing, even during the times in life that are rough.  It's not about the end destination at all, but about the journey.

From my website you can avail of the following free resources to help you on that journey:

Ebook: The Steps to True Inner Happiness (access it here)

Thought for the Week: inspirational thoughts delivered to your inbox every Monday morning (see the archives and subscribe here)

The Game of Life: monthly ezine with a feature article and a recommended book to help support your journey to be happy (see the archives and subscribe here)

And some other tools and articles are available here.

Coaching Products & Services

I also offer some products and services that I'll happily charge you for ;-)

One to One coaching where the agenda is determined by you from session to session.  Read more about working with me here.

2 Coaching programmes:

1. Discover your Dream Job - available as 1-2-1, as an ecourse or an ebook