What does Personal Growth mean anyway?

Personal growth seems to be one of the popular catch phrases people are throwing around lately.

So, what does personal growth mean anyway?  I’ve personally learnt a lot about myself over the last year.  For me it has been a metamorphosis, a slow process of change.  Personal growth (it’s right there in the title) is personal.  It is different for everyone.  For me it is like going full circle.  It is realizing that I had wandered away from my true self and finding a way to wander back to it.  Finding a way to not only get back to myself but to work on getting better.

My personal growth has covered a range of areas in my life from realizing ‘I’m Worth It’ to caring more for my body to spending time on my spiritual growth.  I didn’t make a conscious choice to grow in these areas, it kind of crept up on me, and before I realized it I was learning to see the world in a different way.

My personal growth does not come from a place of lack or need to escape who I ‘was’. 

I have been blessed with a wonderful life.  A good family, good health, beautiful children and a loving husband.  Does this mean I should be grateful for where I am?  Yes.  Does it make it wrong to want to grow?  No.  Growth is always the right thing to do.  Growth keeps you alive inside and therefore happy inside as well.

If you’ve read my post on Gratitude you will know how important I think it is in a happy lifestyle, but I do think that there is something we need to be aware of.  That is, we can be so conscious of our blessings, and be so grateful for them, that we feel a sense of guilt about wanting more.  For example, you are so grateful for the blessing of being a mother that you convince yourself it is selfish and ‘ungrateful’ to want to do something for yourself.  This is a flawed premise indeed!  Ultimately life is about balance and when we do not look after one aspect of our lives the others suffer.  We cannot be well rounded and happy if we don’t look after EVERY aspect of our being.  In other words, being a mother should not stop you being an artist, writer, acrobat or tv presenter! (insert anything that pulls at your soul).

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Top 10 Meditation Tips for Beginners

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For just over a year now I have been practising a daily meditation.

This is something that I considered many, and I mean MANY, years ago but always had a crazy busy mind that just refused to be still.  I wish that someone had handed me a list of top 10 meditation tips for beginners back then!  But then something clicked in me.  I started down this path of self-discovery and self-development which led me very organically to meditation.  After practising meditation for over a year I do not consider myself an expert on the subject however I do believe wholeheartedly in the benefits.  It has become so important to me that I feel cheated if I go a day without it.  The sense of calm and clarity that I get from meditation cannot be achieved through any other methods that I have tried.

Being a Mum, my methods would include holding my breath and counting to 10!

If you’ve never tried meditation before I can 100% guarantee you are in the “that’s kinda woo hoo” corner, and I totally understand!  I’ve been there.

But, it’s only because we have been convinced by this crazy world we live in that it’s all go, go, go and stopping is for losers.  Sound about right?  Well, when you get to that point where you realize that stopping is essential, and you’ve had your brakes off for so long you just don’t know how anymore, it’s time to try it out.

Mastering it is not easy, but trying it is.  Start, just start.  Just sit, close your eyes for 10 minutes and listen to the sound of the birds outside your window or the waves crashing.  Even the sound of the fridge running or the pump in the fish tank can do the trick.  Breathe.  That’s all.  For now.  Just enjoy the complete surrender of giving yourself a break.  Eventually you will start to feel like you are connecting with yourself on a whole new level that you never have before, but for now all you need to do is take that precious moment and breathe.

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12 Self-Care Tips on a Budget

Tips on how can we achieve an impactful level of self-care on a budget  

I don’t know about you but when I hear self-care I think of a) time I do not have and b) overpriced ‘spa days’.  12 self-care tips on a budget does not come to mind.

So, I’m here today to give you a few tips on how you can give back to yourself without having to organize a babysitter or take out a loan.

Let’s start with what self-care really means.  In this busy life we all live, it quite simply comes down to taking time for yourself.  Time away from EVERYTHING.  It means having a moment where you acknowledge your own feelings and give yourself permission to breathe.  Really, it’s about shaking off the rest of the world for a moment and allowing yourself to just be you.

So, how do we make self-care more achievable?

We have to take a closer look at ourselves for this one!  Why do we tell ourselves there isn’t enough time and that self-care can wait?  We look at the lists we have prepared of ‘things to do’ and cannot see a way to fit in time for ourselves.  The reality is, it’s up to us.  Taking time for yourself can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours.  Yes, if you have been denying yourself for too long you will probably need more time, but you can start small.  When you see that the act of completely switching off from your stressors relaxes your shoulders and lightens your load, you will want to add 5 more minutes!

How about we start by being completely honest with ourselves?  Take a moment to think about how much time you spend scrolling on your phone.  We fall into a trap and before you know it you’ve lost 2hrs of your life (or more).  There are different reasons we go on the internet but mainly we are either looking for information or inspiration.  The problem is once we are in the mindset of finding inspiration we kinda don’t want to give up until we find it.  So, we scroll and we scroll.  In the end we toss the phone into a corner feeling frustrated.  We don’t feel inspired and we have lost precious time that could have been focused on our self-care.  Am I right?  So, instead of getting lost in the scroll, let’s have a look at our self-care tips on a budget to get us started.

What small steps can I take today?

Quick and easy:

• Make a hot cup of tea or coffee and sit quietly by yourself with your thoughts. No distractions.  Walk out into the garden if you need to but make sure you have those few quiet moments alone.  This is self-care tip no.1 because it’s an easy, no-excuses start to taking time for yourself.
• Paint your nails. Again, the self-care comes in the time spent alone.  Painting your nails can be a great exercise in mindfulness and gets your head out of the craziness of daily life.
• Learn how to breathe deep, clear breathes. When we are stressed we tend to breathe shallow, anxious breaths.  Try to focus on taking deep breaths, this is a quick and very effective way to calm yourself almost immediately and self-care is not possible without being calm.
• Eat well. We all enjoy our treats but try to get into the habit of eating food that energizes your body – read my blog on Smoothies for inspiration on self-care for your body in a healthy and super speedy way.

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Journaling: A Path to Self-Discovery

I believe in the incredible power of journaling to change our mindset, our point of view and our sense of self.

That’s a big statement, I know, but I really believe it.  I’d like to talk about how journaling can be a path to self-discovery.  Many years ago I was gifted a book called The Artists way by Julia Cameron and this book really got me started in a big way in journaling.  It is an inspiring read, dedicated to the artist that is within all of us and it is designed to get those creative juices flowing.  The book isn’t only about the benefits of journaling.  She also talks about other ways to connect to ourselves, like what she calls ‘Artist Dates’.  That is were you take time out with yourself to explore something that inspires you, like an art gallery or an indie movie for example.  But, for me, the journaling stuck.

Journaling is not a new thing, it usually begins as a childhood ‘Dear Diary’ but it can evolve into an extension of ourselves, a bosom buddy of sorts.  It can be there for us when nobody else can.  It can store secrets and feelings too.  For me, though, the essence of the journal is the coming home to yourself.  And, it is this that gives journaling its power as a path to self-discovery.  You can break down all walls and take down all masks with a journal.  You can discover things about yourself and help yourself grow, heal or mourn.  A journal is a best friend and a keeper of secrets.

What do you write about?  Or, how do you get started?

There are no rules in journaling, but to keep writing.  You will discover that there is magic in journaling.  That the words are drawn from somewhere inside you and out onto the page.  You will discover that this life that we lead, this rushed and manic life, has created a monster that needs to be heard.  The funny thing is when the words hit the page more magic happens. Somehow you feel lighter, instantly.  Finally you can cancel your appointment with the psychiatrist because you have spoken your truth!

I know I sound a little overexcited.  That’s because I believe that writing down your feelings in a journal will help you work through anything that life throws at you.  I find that people often talk very casually about journaling like it’s a new hobby to consider or a fad that’s going around, but I think if we commit to it the benefits can be enormous.

Journaling has been my go-to for any emotional turmoil I need to deal with.  For example, I can spill my guts onto the page and, somehow, the purging process is like an emotional detox.  Almost every time I start my journaling in ‘rant’ mode and somehow, in the end,  I have found my way back to a positive outlook on life.  All is well with the world.  Like I said, magic!  You may be thinking ‘I’m not a writer’ but this is for your eyes only and you cannot get it wrong.  My challenge to you is to just give it a try for 1 week, then see how you feel.  See if the writing stirs up any emotions such as fear or doubts.  These things are not easy to face, however, like all fears they can only be conquered when faced.

My recommendation would be that you pick out a notebook and a pen.  Also, make sure it is ready and waiting beside your bed the next time you wake up.  Before bed works too, but getting your head in the right place first thing in the morning is a definite win!  If you’re looking for a really fun way to express yourself I highly recommend the Wreck This Journal.  Such a fun way to get your emotions out on the page!  Ok, now, give yourself just 10min.  If you get carried away, great!  See what happens.  If you don’t know what to write, write about what happened the day before, even if its bad.  You will find that the process will help you work through it.  Remember, cheapest therapist in town!

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