Innholdsfortegnelse for WellBeing Create Your Dream Life i WellBeing Create Your Dream Life

Caroline has been an esteemed colleague of mine for years as we both practise as Complementary Medicine professionals in Sydney. We have collaborated on various projects (and patients) as we have many common experiences, although hers extend more to the Indian Ayurvedic philosophies and practice whereas my experience has been more in the Western tradition. However, there are many points of concurrence in how we practise, how we view the process of health and healing and how our patients report the successful improvement in their health and vitality. Caroline has written this book as a distillation of her experience in her own life and in the arts and practice of healing. She gives excellent suggestions that can be followed by anyone wishing to improve their health and wellbeing — particularly…

Have you ever contacted someone and realised that you thought, felt or did the same thing at the same time without any prior co-ordination? The quantum physics phenomenon called entanglement could be behind these crazy coincidences. This far-reaching effect is also called quantum nonlocality, or “spooky action at a distance” in Einstein’s words. Quantum entanglement has been demonstrated with photons, electrons, molecules, green sulphur bacteria and small diamonds. The ability of birds to sense when and where to migrate in unison has also been attributed in part to quantum entanglement. The term entanglement was coined by Noble Prize-winning Austrian-Irish physicist Erwin Schrödinger. It asserts that individual particles which were once together are inseparable and can instantaneously influence each other irrespective of distance. Hypothetically, if we all came from the same…

“The power of expectancy is one of the most powerful energies you can have.”—Esther Hicks Scientific studies have highlighted that the expectancy effect, aka the observer-expectancy, expectancy bias or experimenter effect, is a subconscious confirmation bias that influences the interpretation and outcome of an experiment. We can filter out evidence that’s inconsistent with our held belief, leading to ideas and behaviour that matches a predetermined stance. Self-fulfilling prophecies are related to the expectancy effect. What we expect often ensues. Considering our power to perceive and affect outcomes, it’s vital to have an optimistic expectation. Positive anticipation is like a magnetic force attracting that belief to us. Pessimistic programs can reflect back as we filter our thoughts, words and actions through a self-defeating lens. We tend to focus on things that…

“I love the colourful clothes she wears And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair I hear the sound of a gentle word On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air…”—Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations” Music for focus is playing gently in the background as I type this. The symphony vibrates through my cells, coaxing them to concentrate. Everything is affected by subtle vibrations whether we’re aware of it or not. Sound waves travel via moving molecules and impact our surroundings. If you’re clairaudient or sensitive to sound vibration, you’ll understand the powerful physical and psychological effect of sound. Everything has a resonant frequency. We can attract, repel, heal or harm with our vibration. According to the law of attraction we’re always emitting an energy that determines our…

“You’ve got to be before you can do, and do before you can have.”—Zig Ziglar Have you ever thought, “I’ll be happy when (insert condition)”, only to find unhappiness crept back after the goal was met? Or that success never brought satisfaction? The reality is that wherever you go, there you are. As the Crowded House song goes, “Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you.” Hence you have to work on you first. According to the law of resonance, our emotional vibration has to precede the manifestation matching our vibration. In the quantum field we attract what we are, not what we do or have. It’s a bit of a catch-22. We can’t have it until we feel it, and it’s a challenge to feel it until…

“You need to go for the inner joy, the inner peace, the inner vision first and then all of the outer things appear.”—Marci Shimoff A friend of mine who had survived traumatic childhood abuse found the best way to release her emotions and relish the day was to dance. As soon as she got out of bed she would turn on her happy tunes and whirl around the room like a carefree fairy. She said dance saved her from a well of sadness and self-pity. What rings your bliss bells? It could be a thought, activity, interaction or nothingness. Put an asterisk beside whatever pushes your pleasure buttons and add any extra details. On the right column consider how it makes you feel. Activity Sitting in nature Nature walks Swimming…

“There are two great days in a person’s life — the day we are born and the day we discover why.”—William Barclay When there’s a compelling why and will, we’ll try every avenue to reach our dreams. Mother Teresa is an inspiring example of how one person with a purpose can make a massive impact on millions. In 1946, Mother Teresa experienced what she later described as “the call within the call” when she travelled by train from Calcutta to Darjeeling. “I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. I realised that I had the call to take care of the sick and the dying, the hungry, the naked, the homeless — to be God’s Love in action to the…

“Live, that’s the message! Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.”—Rosalind Russell as Auntie Mame Imagine you’re invited to an amazing birthday party. Everything possible is available. You arrive in a meek mood and are asked where you’d like to sit and what you’d like to order from the sumptuous spread. You haven’t thought much about it so you say, “Whatever is easiest”, to the server. This passive position may or may not work out, depending on your consciousness and karma. Turns out you get placed in a noisy spot by the kitchen, next to an annoying person and receive a meal that you dislike. The following year you’re invited again to the same dinner party. You’re in an optimistic, outgoing mood. Once again, you’re asked…

“Live true to your own heart, darling. Don’t ever worry what others think.”—Bronnie Ware, Top Five Regrets of the Dying While writing this, a distraught friend texted me. She was feeling lost in covid craziness with family hassling her, uncertainty about having a baby, and unemployment looming. In despair she sighed… “I don’t know what my purpose is anymore.” I responded, “Your purpose it to be happy. Make that your first priority and everything will work out.” Sometimes we forget how to invite happiness and discontent settles in to stay. Often our heart’s desire gets drowned out by other energies, expectations and duties. Thinking we ‘have to’ or ‘should do’ shrouds our inner song of independent choice. Only you really know what will make you happy. Bliss is your birthright;…

Spiritual state Can include your practices, connection, faith, understanding, appreciation, daily implementation, short-term and ultimate goal. I’m centred in my shining spirit. I’m empowered and purified by my spiritual practice. I savour my spiritual practices, meditation, reading and listening to lectures daily. I maintain a close connection with spiritually uplifting association. I sense source energy in everything. I appreciate all spirit is providing for me. I connect with good energies. I feel divine protection always. I trust the universe is taking care of me and my loved ones. I accept the spiritual lesson in everything. I surrender to the higher power’s perfect arrangement. Emotional wellbeing Can include awareness, responses, feelings, self-development and emotional recovery. I am the master of my mind and emotions. I know how to get in a…

“In Nature nothing remains constant. Everything is in a perpetual state of transformation, motion and change.”—David Bohm Did you know that according to science you are 99.9999999% space? So why do you appear to be solid matter? The illusion of density is all due to vibrating movement. Our electrons whirl around in a dervish pas–de– deux to create the dance of solid matter. But why do we look like gross flesh and blood rather than ghosts who can go through walls? A good analogy to understand this is an electric fan with blades. When it’s off you can see it has gaps of empty space which you can put your hand through. When it’s running you can’t put your hand through the gaps because it’ll hit the hard blade barrier.…

“One who acts without attachment to the results, surrendering the outcome to source, is unaffected by the reaction as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”—Bhagavad Gita 5.10 Processing Practice: Wander Aimlessly 1 Set the intention to have a wonderful walk without a destination. 2 Start with a soft smile and a deep breath. 3 As you stroll, make a point of tuning into the sensual stimuli. See the surrounds, smell the flora’s fragrance, hear the sounds, feel the earth under your feet and enjoy the air on your skin. 4 Meander with spontaneous steps. 5 When you reach a pleasant place, sit and observe in silence for a while. On the third season of The Bachelor Australia, Sam met Snezana and they went on to have two children together.…

Try these tips to top up your love tank and skyrocket your self-esteem: Appreciate and embrace all you are and have now. Be aware of negative beliefs, feelings, assumptions, stories and self-talk. Listen to a self-love guided meditation regularly. Journal to explore feelings and understand yourself more deeply. See everything as a lesson, everyone as a lecturer and every experience as a test towards graduation. Lie with a large rose quartz over your heart and inhale love and exhale love with a soft smile for five minutes or more. As often as possible, let your attention rest on your heart centre. Say, “My heart is my home,” and relax into it. Identify your needs and prioritise them including eating, exercise, work, rest and recreation. Enjoy your own company, being your…

“Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better.”—Steve Maraboli Do you believe everything happens in the right time, place and way for your ultimate benefit? When you accept this, any adversity will be appreciated as an opportunity. Anything standing in your way will be showing you the way. What may seem trippy at the time can turn out to be a godsend. How many times have your plans been thwarted only to lead to a superior outcome? Have you ever lost a job to get a better one, broken up with a mate to bond with someone more suitable, or lost your outer equilibrium in order to go within? Maybe you felt like your world was crumbling, but it…

A month ago I was heart-broken and homeless. Work was scarce and my daughter was scared. “Life isn’t a fairy tale,” my fiancé spat as our engagement was cancelled and my possessions piled on the driveway. Well, Cinderella certainly didn’t end this way! My stress levels sky-rocketed and every step was to the pace of a racing heart. How were we going to get by? “You’ll just have to accept what you get,” said an acquaintance, “beggars can’t be choosers.” These words rang in my head over and over. But they didn’t resonate with me. I have a choice. Everyone has choices. Resilience rose in me as I chose to see advantages in this adversity. The sunny side was I’d escaped a wrong relationship, I’d salvaged my sanity and had…

When Olivia Newton-John sang, “My head is sayin, fool, forget him, my heart is sayin, don’t let go” in “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, she was in a conflicted rather than a coherent state. Her foot was on the break and the accelerator simultaneously, stalling her journey. Later singing “Suddenly” she reached her sweet spot: “Suddenly the wheels are in motion, I’m willing to sail any ocean.” Suddenly she was cruising a sure current of coherency. This is when the universe conspires to coordinate all our desires. If you’ve ever felt 100 per cent sure about something and attained it naturally, it’s likely your head and heart energies were in harmony. This is called coherence in quantum physics and it’s the peak connected and creative state. Coherent heart and brainwaves emit…

So far we’ve explored the possibility that we are energy fields that can influence matter and energy even from a distance. Another mind-blowing discovery of quantum physics related to creation is the observer effect where the mind literally makes matter. Everything in this world exists as an invisible wave of energy until we give it conscious attention. It is our act of observation that gives it form. Scientists repeatedly noted that particles and waves act differently according to who observed them. This supports the theory that our intention and attention can influence our external experience. For example, you may recall wanting something such as a Volvo and then seeing it everywhere. The famous ‘double split experiment’, which has been repeated hundreds of times, proved that the observer’s presence altered the…

“Profound joy of the heart is like a magnet that indicates the path of life.”—Mother Theresa Universal laws don’t work for us, they work through us when we’re attuned to good vibrations. When was the last time you felt really good? So high nobody or nothing could bring you down? This is what the state of alignment is — feeling good, in the flow. You’re lit up with green lights to milk the moment. The universe high fives you as you connect with your blissful birthright. Your cells sing “Yes” as you reach your high note. We feel centred, certain and unstoppable. As you emanate this energy, like energy is attracted and unlike energy is repelled. You’ve plugged into your innate power, which is inextricably connected to the cosmos according…

A useful tool to clarify your values and identify obstacles is the Bull’s Eye exercise developed by Swedish ACT therapist Tobias Lundgren and referenced here with the author’s permission. (For more information see The Bull’s Eye Values Survey; Lundgren et al, 2012.) Part A - Describe your values in each area below Write in terms of the ideal state you’d like to maintain. It isn’t a goal that you reach, rather an ongoing sense of self. For example, playing sport with your child may be a goal and the underlying aim is to be a present parent. 1. Work/Education refers to career aims, education and contribution. 2. Leisure refers to hobbies and creative activities. 3. Relationships refers to connection with family, friends and partner. 4. Personal growth/health refers to your…

“Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson Burying yourself when you can resurrect yourself thwarts your true potential. Low self-esteem causes anger, anxiety, confusion, depression, emptiness, fear, inferiority, perfectionism and shame. The origin of self-loathing is often childhood. Were you ever treated with neglect, abuse, criticism, mistrust and deception? This can darken and disable your life if you interpret it negatively. However, with greater awareness, you can shine light on trials and make them positive lessons. You can see obstacles as opportunities for growth or ditches to dwindle in.…

“Your life is controlled by what you focus on.” — Tony Robbins Do you find it hard to focus? You may know what you need to do but don’t do it. Why? Endless distractions and excuses lure us away from implementing innovations in our lives. Unless we stop and take stock of what we really want, clear blocks and strategise steps to get it, time ticks on with little progress. There are many reasons we avoid doing what matters most. Procrastination is the cousin of apathy, doubt, fatigue, fear, laziness, overwhelm, self-denial and stress. Really facing the feelings underlying avoidance will help you to uproot them. Goethe said, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” No matter how much meditation, affirmations and…

Eating regular, nutritious, moderate meals ensures steady energy and brainpower. Delayed or missed meals can cause low blood sugar which contributes to brain fog and fatigue. Overeating can leave you with a lethargic food hangover. Poor eating can oxidise cells so they don’t function optimally. If you run out of gas while pursuing goals, nutritional modifications can make a massive difference. Check for allergies, anaemia and other deficiencies that can impact concentration. Supplements known to support brain function include B complex, DHA, coenzyme Q10, folate, iron, magnesium vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, alpha lipoic acid, grape seed extract and resveratrol. Chew on these dietary Do’s and Dont’s for focus: Favour Avocado – This green dream is rich in monounsaturated fats which support healthy blood flow to the brain.…

“I think your mind controls everything.”—Michael Phelps, most decorated Olympian in history with 28 medals Sports psychologists have long applied the principles of intention and attention for optimal athletic performance. Intentional attention is an alert, focused, sustained, selective state that many successful people master. Mindfulnessbased programs are also utilised by sports psychologists to maximise performance outcomes. Mónica Monserrat, psychologist at Sánchez-Casal Academy, says, “By exercising optimum control over their attention, players can obtain the best possible results in competition.” Prior to a tennis game, a player can affirm, visualise and feel the joy of performing well and winning. Once competing, they can hone in on what they can control in a hyperfocused zone — their racket, foot position, ball, net and coach’s guidance. Consecutively, they may dim distracting influences such…

“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”—Napoleon Hill Is it hard for you to ask for what you want? Is it bad to desire things? Isn’t greed the root of all evil? Can we just be satisfied with whatever life dishes out? Buddhism teaches that all suffering springs from craving and aversion. A truly enlightened soul is self-satisfied or ‘atma rama’ and never needs to ask for anything. This is because they have realised the self has the same resources and qualities as the divine source. It’s like they are a drop of water in an ocean of water. They naturally attract everything they need for the greater…

“Imagination is the most marvellous, miraculous, inconceivable, powerful force the world has ever known.”—Napoleon Hill Watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for the first time, I’ll never forget the breath-holding excitement when they first stepped into lolly land as Gene Wilder launched into “Pure Imagination”. Decades later, listening to that song still gives me goosebumps. Fantasies are fodder for reality and the foundation of our future. Too often our inspiration is trampled with comments such as “Don’t be a dreamer”, “Get real”, “That’s impossible”, “That’s not going to happen” and “Get your head out of the clouds”. However, considering every accomplishment began as an idea, dreams are the essential seedlings of reality. When we conceive and believe what we want, we are more likely to achieve it. As Anatole…

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”—Muhammad Ali The more relaxed you are and the clearer your creation, the quicker it will come to you. Try pimping up your love list by engaging more senses in the process. Some people are more auditory or kinesthetic than visual. Utilising all these avenues can ingrain impressions in your mind for a deeper impact. Here are a few exercises to amp up your affirmations. Processing Practice: High Beam Programmed symbols offer shortcuts to your elevated emotion. When we instil an image associated with an elevated emotion we can access feelings in express time. This helps us to feel it into fact, confident that emotions become inevitabilities. 1 Recall the…

“You must be the person you have never had the courage to be. Gradually, you will discover that you are that person, but until you can see this clearly, you must pretend and invent.”—Paul Coelho My friend, who I’ll call Liza, complained of living in cold, damp London, depressed, dateless and in a dead-end job. Her dream was to return to Greece where she’d enjoyed a wonderful working holiday a decade ago. “Go ahead, do a Shirley Valentine,” I encouraged. Liza rejected the suggestion with a long list of excuses. “Ok, how about you live like you’re in Greece where you are?” Liza agreed to try anything to cheer herself up. I asked her to write down what felt great about living in Greece. “Warmth, outdoor activity, chats with locals,…

“Action that is inspired from aligned thoughts is joyful action.”—Abraham Hicks Meditate daily clearing the mental mirror to see things in their true light. Before acting, check if it’s your highest priority at this time. Is this the correct time and approach to do this? Don’t delay if your instinct is giving a green light to go ahead. Hold off if your instinct is saying, “No, this feels wrong.” If it feels wrong, go within and sense where your hesitation rises from. Are you blocking yourself based on a negative bias from past conditioning? For example, are you reluctant to go for the job interview because you didn’t get the last job interview? This is a great time to clear debilitating limits. Alternatively, are you sensing this situation from a…

As I write this on New Year’s Eve, my friend Loki just posted her New Year’s resolution: “Often I stop myself from doing things I’m inspired to do. Maybe this will be the year I stop stopping myself.” A friend responded, “Stop stopping yourself and start starting yourself.” Why do we wait to do what we want? There are endless excuses and reasons to delay our dreams. Doubt, fear, laziness and poor time management are some action blockers. Next time you stop yourself, consider the underlying deterrent and counter it with a positive feeling. For example override doubt with confidence, fear with courage, laziness with enthusiasm and poor time management with an efficient schedule. Sometimes we postpone taking action until everything is perfect, including us. But who is perfect? Ken…

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.”—Ralph Marston Any great goal is reached by small consistent steps. Our regular routine can either make or break our success. When we form helpful habits, they create a positive present and future. If we feel our day is being hijacked by chaos, changing our choices can change our destiny. There should be room for spontaneity in our schedule also, otherwise routine becomes a boring rut. Tailoring the day to your bio–rhythms will optimise your performance and pleasure. Identifying and uprooting harmful habits will clear the way for more fulfilling days. Poor choices might include: Sleeping in. Sitting for long periods. Bad hygiene. Poor nutrition. Excessive screen time. Long naps. Neglecting what matters most. Substance abuse. Interacting with negative people. Obsessive compulsive…

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”—A.A. Milne You’ve prepared your field of dreams, planted your seeds, watered and weeded them. Other than minor maintenance, your job now is to be joyful. Everything falls into place when you’re in your happy place. If you can sustain good feelings for at least five minutes, this will feed into the following minutes like an overflowing fountain. Your deepest dimension is unbounded bliss — all else is details. If your energy is totally in sync with your vision, the only thing to do is to stay online with whatever feels good. If you still need to attune to your desires, you may continue clearing misconceptions, reprogramming beliefs, managing…

“Likes tend towards likes,” according to ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Water droplets cling together, birds of a feather flock together, people with similar ideologies or interests tend to connect. This is because our being has an attracting energy field formulated from our biology, beliefs, thoughts, words and actions. Think of it as a bird song calling a sympatico sparrow closer. If we sing out of tune with discordant notes, we’ll attract disharmonious and potentially harmful energy. However, a harmonious tune will attract an attuned manifestation matching our state. An example is when you’re laughing hysterically in a bus. Those vibing with you start to chuckle too, while others may nod their frowning faces or make disapproving tut tuts. You may have attracted attention, but who do you think wants to…

“Energy is the currency in which all transactions in nature are conducted.”—James Oschman, biophysicist Everything everywhere is energy, as explained by Einstein’s formula E=mc², which asserts that matter is moving energy. As famous physicist Richard Feynman asserts, “Everything jiggles.” On the subatomic level of quantum physics, we are 99.99 per cent space and it’s only our changing vibration that creates the illusion of solid matter. This vibration is the origin of electromagnetic fields. If you viewed yourself under an atomic force microscope, you would see a dynamic dance of electrons, neutrons and protons generating frissons of flowing energy. Electromagnetic fields emanate from all our atoms. It’s estimated that our energetic field spans about five metres around our body, however this energy aura can shrink when we’re weak and expand when…

Did you know that when you’re physically close to someone, you start to synchronise? This is due to many influences including the environment, pheromones, empathy, electromagnetic fields and mirror neurones. Mirror neurones reflect other people’s experiences and emotions and signal neurones in the corresponding neurone area of the brain like a contagious condition. If you see someone smile, for example, it can light up the smiling circuits in your brain. So, when we radiate positivity, people reflect it back to us. Yet another scientific anomaly supporting the power of our thoughts and emotions to influence our environment. A common instance of biological entrainment is when women living together have their menstrual cycles sync, also known as ‘the McClintock effect’. Sexologist Dr. Rudolf von Urban explained that syncing also occurs between…

“Feelings are a feedback mechanism to us about whether we’re on course or off course.”—Jack Canfield Have you ever driven a car with the wheels out of alignment? The vehicle veers off course constantly and it’s a struggle to steer straight. Similarly, when we’re out of alignment everything goes out of whack and off track. Difficulties, frustrations, irritations, obstacles, conflicts and disharmony indicate we’re out of alignment. The way we feel is a clear and accurate indication of alignment or misalignment with source energy. Alignment is steering your attention to good feelings with laser-like focus. As Dr. Joe Vitale said, “The more you can feel good, the more you will attract the things that help you feel good in order to bring you up higher and higher.” We all have…

“Whatever we think about and thank about we bring about.”—John F. Demartini When we’re grateful, we’re honouring what we’ve got and ushering more in. Universal energy expands with appreciation just as a gift-giver smiles when the recipient thanks them. Energy registers our attentive appreciation and our receptivity to endless abundance in emotions, health, relationships, opportunities, experiences and evolution. The Greater Good Science Center detailed these benefits of regular gratitude in The Science of Gratitude as follows. Gratitude perks for the individual: increased happiness and positive mood. more satisfaction with life. less materialistic. less likely to experience burnout. better physical health. better sleep. less fatigue. lower levels of cellular inflammation. greater resilience. development of patience, humility, and wisdom. Gratitude perks for groups: increases prosocial behaviours. strengthens relationships. may help employees’ effectiveness.…

“Show up in the world as the person you want to be and the world will collaborate to help you become that person.”—Jack Canfield People often attract things only to lose them due to feeling undeserving. It’s imperative to feel that what you want is unequivocably what you truly desire and deserve. We need to divorce sad stories about ourselves and marry our miraculous self. There are no conditions for self-love. You’re worthy simply because you exist. You deserve affection, appreciation, attention because you’re alive. Doc Childre, founder of Heartmath Institute, says, “Our true self is already perfect; it doesn’t require fixing — it’s like a perfect orange that’s full of sunshine but we have to take the peel off to free up the juice. We advance as we peel…

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.”—Eckhart Tolle Being present is the portal to powerful focus. Mastering mindfulness gives us an almost supernatural ability to spotlight goals like a laser. Scattered energy dilutes input and outcomes. Concentrated energy penetrates targets with optimal efficacy. Centring ourselves heightens concentration so we can act from aligned thoughts. Once you move through blocks, the cogs of creativity will turn. You’ll be moved by mounting pleasure as you feel winds of positive progress in your life, as flowing action becomes naturally effortless, known as ‘wu wei’ in Taoism, and extremely enjoyable. Achieving aims becomes a fun game, proving to you how expert you’ve become at managing your mind and energy. Dr. Tara…

“Be the change you want to see happen.”—Arleen Lorrance In the 1970s, Brooklyn’s Thomas Jefferson High School was tough terrain. Poverty, violence and failing systems were decimating kids’ education. Dedicated teacher Arleen Lorrance struggled to improve the situation, “For seven years I served my sentence and marked off institutional time; I complained, cried, accepted hopelessness, put down the rest of the faculty for all the things they didn’t do, and devoted all my energies to trying to change others and the system.” Eventually, Lorrance had an epiphany that she had to be the catalyst for change. She shares it in her book Developing Priorities and a Style. “It came in on me loud and clear that I was the only one who could imprison (or release) me, that I was…

“You must make certain to give your subconscious only suggestions, which heal, bless, elevate and inspire you in all your ways. Remember that your subconscious mind cannot take a joke. It takes you at your word.”—Joseph Murphy Are you ready to lean into what you love? Vividly feel your deepest desire for the next five years in the following Love List practice. There’s no right or wrong way to write a wish list. The more confident and clear you feel about your goals, the faster they’ll materialise. No goal is too big or small; it should just make your heart sing. Focus on the what and why — the universe will arrange the ‘how’. Once you have your template, you can adjust it over time and reinforce daily through repetition.…

I woke up early one morning,And rushed right into the day,I had so much to accomplish,That I didn’t have time to pray (meditate). Problems just tumbled about me,And heavier came each task,“Why doesn’t God (Source) help me? “I wondered,He answered, “You didn’t ask.” I wanted to see joy and beauty,But the day toiled on, grey and bleak,I wondered why God (Source) didn’t show me,He said, “That you didn’t seek.” I tried to come into God’s (Source’s) presence,I used all my keys at the lock,God (Source) gently and lovingly chided,“My child you didn’t knock.” I woke up early this morning,And paused before entering the day,I had so much to accomplish,That I had to take time to pray (meditate).…

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”—Frederick R. Barnard Have you ever made a vision board only to witness it coming to life? Both my sisters have seen many things come to fruition, including pet birds and a lush roof garden. When I moved to a beautiful tropical residence I sorted through my stuff. I came across a laminated vision board I’d designed 12 years earlier. Looking at the inspiring photos, I glanced at the gorgeous sunset from my balcony. Doing a double take, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The photo on my old poster was exactly the view I was looking at. A distinct beach with the double island on the horizon. Neuroscientist John Assaraf shares a similar story on his website: “I cut open the box that had…

“Your heart is full of fertile seeds, waiting to sprout.”—Morihei Ueshiba Repeating your intention while in a receptive brainwave state is like pouring growth accelerator on a plant. Your desire will shoot up like a beanstalk provided you’re not stamping on it with sabotaging beliefs. Yoga suggests ingraining a seed intention when in a deeply relaxed state as induced by trance-like Yoga Nidra, a passive guided meditation literally meaning united sleep state. Yoga Nidra encourages inner awareness or pratyahara, the fifth branch of yoga. When our brainwaves are in alpha, theta or delta, we can reshape our personal reality with more malleability. As we dive deep within, this heartfelt desire settles into the subconscious mind and infuses spiritual practice with more meaning. Swami Satyananda Saraswati teaches, “The resolve you make…

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Are you attending to the most important things or forsaking them for less impactful activities? Wasting time on distractions is ultimately less satisfying than feeling we’re fulfilling deeper desires. Successful people suggest the following tips for effective time management to make the most of our life. Perfect Timing Charlotte in Sex in the City was a classic example of understandable impatience when she huffed, “I’ve been dating since I was 15, I’m exhausted. Where is he?” It’s important not to take life’s delays as denials. It can take time to realise that what we need may differ from our desires. Some things come quickly while others are delayed gratification. There’s no time…

Despite the myth that a habit is formed in 21 days, it actually takes an average of 66 days according to a study by health psychology researcher Phillippa Lally, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology. This creation camp is a way to move towards measurable goals through daily dedication. If you want to speak Spanish, you wouldn’t expect to achieve that in a week would you? Similarly, it’s best to break down any aims into bite-sized portions. Fill out the following Dream Design Action Plan and put it somewhere prominent. Refer to it for focus every morning and appreciate your achievements every evening. Choose a goal from each area and commit to a specific daily step with an optional time frame. For example, if you wanted to be…

Thanks a Thousand When writer AJ Jacobs undertook to thank all the people who made his morning coffee possible, he never expected it would involve a thousand thanks as documented in his book, Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey. Jacobs discovered how many people contribute to his daily treat. “My coffee would not be possible without hundreds of people I take for granted.” His takeaway lesson? “It allowed me to focus on the hundreds of things that go right every day as opposed to the three or four that go wrong, and it reminded me of the astounding interconnectedness of our world.”…

My sincere gratitude goes to you for joining me on this journey to our best selves. I hope you gained as much from this seven step quest as I have. Many amazing, dedicated people made this bookazine possible. I’d like to thank all the kind keepers of The Secret mentioned in these pages. Also, I’m deeply indebted to Terry Robson, Janice Williams, Emma Perera, Ivan Fitzgerald, Michelle Segal, Renu Bhatt, Malinda Hadiwidjojo and Martha Rubazewicz for turning a concept into a corporeality.…