Spirituality and happiness

Having a spiritual connection has actually been scientifically proven to make people happier.

Did you know this?

What are your beliefs?

Do you believe there is more to life that just the physical?

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe that we posses a spirit/soul?

I urge you to ask yourself these questions.

Spirituality is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong answer but simply believing, believing in something bigger than you is protective against depression.

I believe this is one aspect of ourselves so many of us are missing in our western society. We are so focused on the physical, material possessions and even our physical health. What about spiritual wellbeing? It’s a whole piece of the puzzle that we so often neglect. How can we feel whole when we are not looking after ourselves as a whole?

It is not enough to simply look after the physical, mental and emotional. The spiritual governs it all. It is our highest self and our most powerful tool.

You may be confused when it comes to spirituality. That’s ok. It’s not something that can be crystal clear in this empirical world. It’s not something that can be proven, it’s simply something that can be felt.

I have always had a strong sense of spirituality. My belief has never wavered but I certainly have been caught up in this physical world and been through times of neglect when it comes to my spiritual wellbeing. During these times I have definitely noticed that my physical and emotion self has been affected. As I was not as in tune with my self, my needs and my higher purpose, I began to neglect certain aspects of myself. I wasn’t eating the way that was best for my body

(I have always been a healthy eater but I have not always honoured my body, eating certain things as it gave me a high or to fit in and not be different). I wasn’t being true to myself, expressing how I felt and working on my emotional wellbeing. I was trying to be perfect, to fit in, be accepted by others, follow our societal model of school, to university to a 9-5 job. I had more to offer. I knew that much but I wanted to do what was right. What others told me was right. Be the perfect daughter, wife, and friend. Not the perfect version of myself for me. While in actual fact I could never be ‘perfect’ and at the same time was already ‘perfect’. This is as we are all perfect already.

Exactly as we are.

In all our perfect imperfection.

As human beings the best thing we can do for ourselves, our loved ones and our society is simply to be true to ourselves. Shine our light, share our story, to be unapologetically us.

We are all spiritual beings, we are all connected in a way that may not be able to be measured but certainly can be felt. If you just take the time to truly connect within yourself you will learn unimaginable things about what you have to offer in this lifetime, how you need to be showing up and who you truly are. You feel things more deeply than ever and experience your heart opening up like never before. You will begin to notice the opportunities that are there for you that you may have missed up until this point. You will discover that you have been living with your eyes closed.

See the magnificence.

Experience the magic.

Know that all is going exactly to plan.

You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Life is full of excitement you just need to be open to noticing it.

Find a spiritual practice that works for you. Do it every day. EVERY DAY. You will notice the shift. You will never turn back. Coping with the physical world will become so much easier as life will flow with ease. Release the resistance. The answers are inside of you already. Let go and just be. Just be you.

Dionne xx

P.S. I am working on a very exciting new program for you. It will be delving deeper that any of the work I have done before. Lets work on all aspects of your health and wellbeing. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Lets uncover what has been holding you back from living the healthiest and happiest life possible.

P.P.S. Life is meant to be fun. If its not ask yourself what you need to be doing differently. It your life and its your choice how you live it.

What's the point?

Sometimes I sit and wonder what is the point of all this?

We wake up each morning and head out to work mostly looking forward to the day ending or the weekend so we can relax.

We do this to make money. Money is essential ­to survive, yes. However, we also have the belief that with money we will find happiness, a feeling of success, freedom and security. To some extent this is true. Money can make certain aspects of life easier but does it have the value we place on it?

We complain that life is so hard, that the world can be a terrible place, that we would much prefer to still be in bed rather than doing whatever it is that takes most of our time.

We look at others. Judge others and compare ourselves to others. We do this mostly in a critical way, sometime more in an envious way. This is despite having no idea what is going on in their world.

We have decided what is most important in our society and once again this comes back to money, power and this to us means success.

But if we really are on the right path, if we really are progressing as a society, moving forward and achieving greatness than why don’t we feel AMAZING.

Why do we feel stressed, anxious, unsettles. Why are we all getting so sick? Why are we making money but not feeling happy, or simply just not making enough money at all. Why is life so hard and why do we crave time away from the place we spend most of our waking hours, being our work?

I’ve been pondering many things of late. Our priorities as a society, the fact that despite advancements in many fields we as a human race only appear to be becoming more disconnected from one another, more unhappy, more tired and more sick.

Everything in my logic explains that we are moving forward. There are new medical advancements all the time, new scientific discoveries, more technological creations to make our lives easier, more ways of communication (even from the comfort of our own homes), more convenient and cheap food, easy accessibility to clean water, rules and regulations to make the workplace safe and fair. With the Internet the world and all the knowledge we could ever desire is literally at our fingertips.

But as a society are we really happy? I mean truly happy, filled with joy? Are we actually healthy? We may be living to an older age but who doesn’t have something wrong with them? How rare is it to find someone over the age of 50 not taking any form of medication?

So what is missing?

I believe it comes down to one fundamental thing. That thing is LOVE. SELF LOVE. We are totally missing this in our society. It is so not a priority. Even worse than that it even has a negative connotation.

“Look how much that guy loves himself.” Does that sound like a compliment? No.

What we fail to realise is that true self-love is not narcissistic but pure, generous and honest. Narcissistic people don’t love themselves or they wouldn’t need to show off and would treat others with the same love and respect they give themselves.

Take a moment and really look into yourself. Do you honestly, openly and without judgement love yourself?

If you completely and genuinely do then why would you allow yourself to suffer so much and so often. Why would you fill your body with what we know to be toxic or unhealthy? Why would you spend your entire life doing tasks you don’t enjoy? Why wouldn’t you prioritise time to do things that bring you joy and inner peace?

I mean really what the point of this life if you are not truly living it. Life is too short to spend each day miserable, or even just neutral. Life should be fun, full of joy, personal growth and most of all love.

You only have one life and you are the only one in control of it. This year, 2017 is one of new opportunities and if you are reading this and it resonates with you then I believe this is the wake up call you need. Don’t spend another minute living the life that society dictates instead of the one you know you have the potential to live. Most of all don’t forget the infinite power of love. Love yourself and love others unconditionally.

How to beat Mondayitis!

 

I truly believe that if you start your day off in the right way, then the rest of the day is much more likely to be successful. The way you begin your day maps out how the rest of your day will pan out. If you snooze until the last minute, telling yourself how tired you are and that the last thing you feel like doing is getting up and going to work, you then frantically jump out of bed and rush to get out the door, grabbing a coffee on the way and arriving at work a mixture between your half asleep self and your stressed/ rushing self you surely are not setting yourself up for the best day possible. You have already had a lot of negative self-talk, you have already started off being stressed before even getting to work and you surely haven’t provided your mind or body with adequate nutrition to get you through the day.

As my dad always preaches, Tom Ferry (Motivational speaker and real estate coach) always says that to be a successfully person you must have an exceptional morning routine (and unfortunately this half asleep rush out the door is not what he would call an EXCEPTIONAL morning routine).

So this I suppose is not just my tips for beating Mondayitis but actually my tips for staying positive, energetic and successful everyday. Monday just seems to be the day people struggle most.

1. Start your day with some positive self-talk. Get into the habit of shutting off the ‘I cant be bothered to go to work’, ‘I’m tired and just want to stay in bed’, ‘I wish it was still the weekend’ jibber jabber. First of all this is simply not productive, it puts you in a bad mood from the get go and secondly if you really hate your job that much maybe you should actually start looking for something that would make you feel more excited and fulfilled. I mean this is what you spend the majority of your time doing so if it truly is making you miserable then start looking for something that wont. However, if you are just in the habit of this negative self-talk lets swap it out for some positive affirmations. Once your alarm goes off, GET UP! Choose an affirmation or two that resonate with you and go say them aloud in the mirror. Here are a few examples of my favourite affirmations. You can use these or create your own.

‘I am totally calm’

‘I love myself deeply and unconditionally’

 ‘The future is good. I look towards it with hope and happiness’

 ‘My self esteem is high because I honour who I am’

‘Amazing opportunities exist for me in every aspect of my life’

‘I am excited about today’

‘I am a powerful creator. I create the life I want’

2. Make yourself a hot water with 1-teaspoon apple cider vinegar or the juice of half a lemon. This drink had first thing in the morning helps to kick-start you digestive system and metabolism. If the sun is out try going outside and appreciating the beauty of nature, soaking up some vitamin D for the 5 minutes it takes to have this drink. This is one of my favourite morning rituals, which always leaves me feeling so at peace and ready for my day. 

3. Make sure you have a nutritious breakfast. I won’t go on the usual ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ rant but I certainly know from personal experience the difference I feel within myself if I have a healthy, well-balanced breakfast compared to either skipping breakfast or having something naughty. Some healthy breakfast suggestions include:

·       Porridge with banana, nuts and seeds and a sprinkle of cinnamon

·       Chia pudding made the night before with berries and yogurt

·       Toast with almond butter

·       Omelette with spinach, avocado and tomato

·       Smoothie with 1 banana, handful berries, green veggies or a green powder blend or fresh greens, 1 tablespoon of LSA mix (linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds), scoop of protein powder or handful of nuts, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and almond or coconut milk.

·       2 eggs scrambled with a side of mushrooms and avocado

4. Certain supplements can help provide you with energy for the day. My top recommendation for a morning supplement that will give you some energy, support your nervous system so you don’t feel as stressed throughout the day and help you concentrate and perform to your best ability at work is a Vitamin B complex. Getting some good quality B vitamins can be a lifesaver if you live a busy lifestyle (as most of us do). Only disclaimer is that they will make your urine a fluorescent yellow so don’t freak out! If the B’s don’t give you all the energy you need a CoQ10 supplement can also be a good companion when it comes to energy production.

5. If you don’t have a job that demands you to be there super early then getting some movement into your day first thing is one of the best ways to wake yourself up, to feel energised and positive. Exercise is one of the best ways in general to improve energy and positivity levels, so getting moving first thing in the morning definitely kick starts your day in the right direction. This can be whatever suits you. I like to do some yoga, particularly sun salutations first thing, also going for a walk or a run or even just some skipping in your living room to get your heart rate up.

If you create an exceptional morning routine that really suits you, nourishes your mind, body and spirit it will definitively get you off to the best possible start to your day and week. You will wake up excited to get moving as the start of your day is simply you doing some things that you love and that you know will leave you feeling great.

If you already have a morning routine that’s working for you I would love to hear what it is!

Dionne xx

2017 a year of change, time to be more authentic.

Happy New Year to you all!

I am particularly excited about this year as I get a sense that it will be a year full of change, in a positive way. I don’t know about you but towards the end of last year and continuing into this year I have been noticing many people making courageous steps to move on from things that they were not finding fulfilling and deciding to chase their dreams. I have found this extremely inspiring. Sometimes we get complacent and continue on in a job, relationship, and daily routines because its what we have been doing for a while but not because it brings us joy, fulfillment or personal growth. It takes a lot of courage to remove yourself from these situations when it feels so comfortable but when they no longer serve you it is so worth taking the risk. I see all the time in my life and in the lives of those around me that once you get stuck everything becomes so much harder and only once you let go, do new doors open for you, new opportunities present and life becomes exciting again.

I think we often forget that life is supposed to be fun. We are meant to be living each day with joy, surrounded by those that we love and who make us happy. We get so preoccupied with work, making money, being who we think everyone else wants us to be, saying the right thing, and doing the right thing that we forget just to be ourselves. We forget about our playful side, or generous side, our true self. This need to fit in is just as much our own fault as it is societies as we are the ones creating a society like this.

I look around and worry about our world, the way greed has taken over, and money comes before all else. It comes before our families, before the environment, before all that is actually important. I see that we are losing ourselves but I also see a lot of compassion, a lot of change and a lot of people opposed to the way the world is going. The amount of change I am seeing gives me hope. I know the world cannot continue on the path it is going but I see many people searching for something greater and bigger and this too gives me hope. We are starting to realise what we are missing and for me I have faith that things will turn around because the solution in my opinion is so simple. We are living in an external world full of chaos; all we need to do to re-balance and slow down is to turn inwards. Re-connect to ourselves. Be more authentic; be more compassionate, more empathetic. If we can just be a little more of ourselves and share a bit more of our own magic (which we are all full of) the world will slowly start to fall back into a state of balance. Within us all we know the answer, we have just forgotten how to find it.

There are so many practices out there that help us connect to ourselves. It is important to find the ones that work for you. I know that being in nature really makes me feel at peace, particularly when I am close to water. I also find gratitude journaling very powerful.

Let me know what techniques help you feel in touch with your true beautiful self?

Iguazu Falls- A place of such beauty, staring at the volume of water allowed me to feel peaceful and connected.

Top strategies for improving mood when you are feeling down in the dumps

We all have those days where nothing seems to be going to plan. You have so much to do but are simply getting nothing done, sitting and wallowing in your own misery hoping that somehow you will come out feeling better, having achieved something or that magically all your problems will disappear. Yesterday was one of these days for me. Growing up I quite commonly fell into the trap of overwhelm. This would particularly happen around exam time but also occurred any time I had to do something out of my comfort zone. But now this does not occur very often. Luckily after many years of not coping too well I have developed some strategies that work fast and very well for getting myself out of that dark hole. So yesterday after a few things didn’t quite work out the way I was hoping and I had spent the majority of the day feeling sorry for myself, I decided enough was enough. I got up, put on my active wear and went for a run. One of the first strategies I learnt all those years back was simply to get moving. I know when you are miserable that is the last thing you feel like doing but it is the first thing you should do. After being outdoors, getting some fresh air, listening to some uplifting music and getting my heart pumping, I was feeling much better, clear headed and energised. I have had many years to learn what works for me when I am feeling down, stuck or overwhelmed. I hope my strategies can help you too.

1.       Get moving- My all-time favourite strategy for anyone feeling stuck, down or miserable is to put on your running shoes and get outside. Go for a 10 minute walk, go for a run or a bike ride. I don’t care just get moving. When your mind is stuck in a negative spiral, the best and fastest way to change that is to create some movement. When I would be studying for exams and would be feeling totally overwhelmed I would get up, go for a walk and I would always come back feeling so much lighter, so much better. This is exactly what I did yesterday to get myself out of my bad mood. The combination of fresh air, some music and moving your muscles is the greatest way to change your mood.

2.       Breath- Deep breathing can be so powerful. It is a great way to centre yourself. Something that can be done anywhere at any time. When we are stressed, overwhelmed and panicked we often forget to breath. If you feel these dreaded emotions coming over you stop and focus your mind on your breath. This can be enough to change the outcome of your emotions. It is one of my favourite strategies if you are at work, about to go into an exam or in a situation where you can’t just go off for a walk around the block. Simply excuse yourself and go to the bathroom where you can focus purely on your breath for 5 minutes until your mind begins to relax.

3.       Talk to someone- misery is a lonely person’s game. This is how I feel at least. It is much easier to be miserable when you are alone and often when you are feeling down all you feel like doing is retreating to your room and blocking out the world and all those people in it. However, this is actually the worst thing you can do. Talking to someone who can support you is often so helpful in these low times. It helps to get things off your chest, puts things in perspective and it just helps to know someone out there cares. I was alone all day yesterday and once my husband came home and I had some company and someone to talk to I realised I had to pull myself out of my mood. If you don’t feel like you have someone you are comfortable opening up to then there are professionals available and I highly recommend you speak to one.

4.       Rescue remedy- This is a handbag must have. It’s quick, easy and works fast. A few sprays helps to calm you down immediately.

5.       Music- music does wonders for the mood. It can lift you and it can bring you back down. For me I find it really depends on the day but sometimes all I need is to belt out an emotive song to release any pent up sadness while other days I need something fun and uplifting. This is something you will have to work out for yourself but if you are deep in sadness, music is an exceptional way to release emotions. With my run yesterday I had some fun pop music and then followed it with a few ballots to sing along to while stretching. I found that the uplifting music helped me get out of my bad mood while the more emotive songs were a good place to think and put things into perspective.

6.       Pets- Aren’t animals just the best. They are always there for us no matter what. They listen, they don’t judge and they just give some much love. If you don’t have a pet call up a friend who does and go give it a cuddle.

7.       Nature- my first point of getting outside touched on this slightly but nature has amazing abilities to help centre and heal. It has been shown that going barefoot on dirt for 30 minutes a day has amazing health benefits. I love going to the Dandenong ranges and walking in Sherbrook forest. I find it really helps to calm me and I always come home so positive and relaxed. But obviously that’s not somewhere I can go daily so just go outside and spend some time in your garden or walking the streets and smelling the flowers. Others may look at you like you are a crazy hippie but I promise you will feel better for it!

My favourite place to escape to. The Dandenong Ranges.

Spring cleaning the mind, body and spirit.

 
So what is the meaning of spring?

Spring is a time of transition. It is a time where we throw out the old and to make space for the new. Goodbye cold miserable winter and hello warmer days, bluer skies and sunshine.

It is the time of year when most animals give birth to their young, and sometimes a time of year when there can be a few deaths; letting go of the old to allow space for the new.

It is also an important time for reflection and letting go of any thoughts or beliefs that may no longer be serving us. This allows space for new thoughts, ideas and projects to begin.

This out with the old and in with the new is something to consider in all aspects of our lives.

We often think of spring-cleaning as a time to go through our house or cupboards and throw out (or donate) those clothes that we haven’t worn in years. This is however; is just one example of the type of cleaning out we should be doing during spring. This un-cluttering of our lives can be extremely therapeutic.

In terms of our thoughts/emotions it s very healthy to clean these out too as unhealthy emotions such as sadness, anger and resentment can negatively impact our physical health if not released. I always find crying, talking to someone or journaling the best ways to get emotions out of the system. According to the philosophy of Jin Shin Jyutsu, simply holding each finger like a hot dog for 5 minute each day helps to release any pent up emotions and relating physical conditions.

Your physical body also requires a spring clean at least once a year!

A detoxification program aiding your organs of elimination is something I make sure I do at least once a year. It is so important to give the body some help eliminating all the nasty toxins and chemicals we are constantly consuming, inhaling and getting through our skin. A few tips for helping your body in its natural detoxification pathways are:

·      Keep hydrated (drink at least 8 cups of water per day)

·      Start each day with a glass of warm water and the juice of half a lemon or 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

·      Take chlorophyll

·      Use a Milk Thistle supplement

Detoxing the lungs is something we are doing everyday simply by breathing. However, as many of us do not breath to the full capacity of out lungs there is old, stale air stagnating at the bottom. Every day we should be practicing deep breathing to aid with relaxation, optimising the amount of oxygen travelling around our bodies as well as to expel all that stale air we no longer need. Spring is the perfect time to get into the habit of deep breathing. ­

Our lymph (an important part of our immune system) can also become congested so another great way to spring clean the body is by getting a massage. This is a luxury most of us love so it shouldn’t be too hard to convince you to go treat yourself! Massage helps to stimulate lymph flow and boost the immune system. Dry brushing is another technique you can try. It not only stimulates lymph flow but it also removes dead skin making way for new fresh skin cells. This will leave you feeling refreshed and beautiful from the inside out.

The oral cavity is another area where bad bacteria and toxins can build up. Oil pulling helps to draw out toxins from the oral cavity reducing dental issues as it helps to remove any nasty bacteria. Simply swish 1 tablespoon of coconut oil around in your mouth for 10-20 minutes first thing each morning to experience these wonderful effects. It will also help reduce bad breath and naturally whiten the teeth too.

All these techniques will leave you feeling lighter, fresher, happier, more energised and ready for summer!

 

5 ways to build self esteem

I work with so many young people who are suffering from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. All are amazing individuals with so much potential but they just simply cannot see it within themselves. It takes me back to when I was a teenager at school constantly comparing myself to everyone else and never feeling like I was good enough. Low self-esteem has been one of my biggest challenges in life and when I look back over the last 10 years I can see such a huge difference from the insecure girl I was to where I am now. Not to say there isn’t still room for growth but it just reinforces to me that if you put in the effort to grow as an individual amazing things truly can happen.

Here are 5 tips I give my clients to help boost their confidence levels which have thoroughly aided me with mine over the years.

1.       Take risks! If you stay within your comfort zone you may avoid the anxiety and fear but you will also miss out on the excitement, sense of accomplishment and personal growth that occurs with risk taking (safe risk taking that is). I am not saying go bungee jumping but if there is something you have been avoiding such as talking in front of a group or going up to the boy your like to say hello just go and do it. Really, what is the worst that can happen? He doesn’t say hi back? Either way the boost of confidence you feel after attempting something that terrifies you is indescribable and it just shows you that you can do it again in the future and the world will not end.

2.       Find something that you are good at and enjoy. For me I always enjoyed art so I did many art related extra-curriculum activities which always left me in a really good mood. I would also feel really good about myself when I completed a project. But it doesn’t have to be art, you can join the vocal ensemble at school if you enjoy singing, join a sports team, do some writing or cooking at home. Just find something that brings you joy and go do it!

3.       Do something active daily that will help to raise your energy levels. When you are exhausted you simply cannot find the energy to go do something fun or out of your comfort zone. All you want to do is sit on the couch watching TV. Exercise is one of the best ways to boost your energy levels. If you don’t want to go outside and take a walk or a jog, you can simply run on the spot for 2 minutes a day and it’s as good as going for a 2 minute run (besides the lack of fresh air of course). You can even do this while watch TV so no excuses!

4.       Surround yourself with like-minded, positive people. How are you ever going to feel good about yourself if you are constantly surrounded by people who bring you down? This is one lesson I have had to learn over the years. If after spending time with your friends you leave feeling down rather than happy then maybe they are the wrong type of people for you to be hanging out with. Friends are there to make you feel good about yourself and to have fun with. If this is not happening find some new friends.

5.       Meditate. Doing something that helps you connect to yourself, reduce stress and feel grounded will allow to be the amazing person you are supposed to be. Meditation helps you feel empowered to take on the world and gives you direction in life.