Reasons to be grateful...

You may have heard of the 'attitude of gratitude' - do you know why gratitude is a good thing? Firstly, by focusing on what you HAVE, you are happier - did you ever get happy dwelling on loneliness, fear, lack and poverty? Gratitude helps you to dwell on the good stuff - on how lucky you are. Simply, it makes you feel better! I get an absolute rush whenever I think how grateful I am to be alive - there's a line in a song by Matchbox 20 which sums it up perfectly - "you're laughing out loud just at the thought of being alive". YES!

Secondly, if you believe in the laws of attraction (and even if you don't!), like attracts like so when you are grateful you attract more opportunities to be grateful. If you can take this a step further and be grateful for things that aren't here yet, you will bring them to you faster! (and make them real) For example I was grateful for my successful business long before I had one.

It also gives other people permission to be grateful. Ever been in a room where everyone is moaning and you feel as if you need to join in, rather than say 'I feel great - I am lucky to be alive!' Most people I know have been in that position - help them out - be grateful.

Today I am very grateful that my dad is well - he had a colonoscopy and he is healthy - THANKYOU! I am grateful that I can go for a walk with my mom and my dog in the sunshine - THANKYOU! I am grateful for my successful business - THANKYOU! And I am grateful for my sunny disposition - THANKYOU!

Love

Donna.x
PS to take it a step further, start a gratitude journal and list every day what you have to be grateful for - I started by 'forcing' myself to list 5 things - now I can have 30 things easily EVERY DAY. I am grateful that I have so much to be grateful for! THANKYOU.

Advice to live by

Today I came across this idea, which apparently came from a convent:

"Every morning make sure to say 'YES!' and every evening make sure to say 'WOW!'

What a philosophy to live by!

Love

Donna.x

Where is your focus?

Do you focus on what you want or what you do not want?

For example, do you say 'I want to be wealthy' or 'I wish I wasn't skint'.

Your focus will determine how successful you are - we are constantly creating our lives from day to day - are you happy with what you are creating? If not, perhaps you need to change your focus?

To check, try this little sentence "I created the condition of ... by focusing on ..." You may be surprised by the results - i know I was! So now, I am creating the condition of wealth by focusing on being wealthy - it's far more fun!

Love

Donna.x

Become who you were born to be

In Lord of the Rings part 3 - Return of the King, the Lord Elrond says to Aragorn "It is time to put aside the ranger and become who you were born to be."

Who do you have to put aside to become who you were born to be?

Me? I must put aside the shy child who doesn't wish to call attention to herself. (while still loving her very much!)

Love

Donna.x

What I want...

What I now want is a business which allows me to help people tap into their joy and passion and make their world extraordinary. I want to be able to experience that perfect moment of excitement when someone realizes their purpose, their gifts and their passion – when they realise their life is precious, valuable, unique. When they realise what a wonderful contribution they have to make to the world. I want to be able to experience that moment again and again on a daily basis.

I want to be part of the catalyst that brings people up to their purpose – that cheerleads from the sides as they step into the magnificent beings they are. I want to feel significant, to feel I am contributing in a very real and large way to making the world an extraordinary place, to feel that I am part of a higher work, that I am really making a difference individually and globally. Whew. It felt kind of scary to open that out to globally – and yet that is what I want for the people I work with – for them to be a global influencer in whatever way they are gifted.

I already feel that I make an impact, and that the lives of the people I work with are better for having worked with me, and those people I have done purpose work with, I felt the world tremble with excitement at their ‘awakening’. Ooh, getting freaked again! There is a ‘little old me?’, ‘could I possibly’, ‘who the heck am I’ thought going on. In answer, I cannot not do this – whether I impact 1 person or a million, I will do this – why not have a bigger game to play?

Is that fear or is it excitement? If I was doing this – if I was feeling this, is this how it would feel? I think so…with a little more emphasis on that feeling of observing someone ‘get’ their purpose and see them go through what I just did…ending with a resounding ‘yes, I can do this…and I must’.”

Love

Donna.x

Time to take action

Yesterday I got to tipping point about my weight - since losing 2 stone on Weight watchers, I have been steadily putting it back on again...it's very easy to see why - I got back to having take-aways regularly, sausage and egg sandwiches for breakfast, more crips, sweets and chocolate than is strictly necessary!

So, yesterday I decided, I am back on the diet for a while. Before I reach the weight I was when I first started. I no longer wish to be a skinny wretch - I did it for a while, and although I loved having cheekbones, it was hard to maintain...and I lost my curves. So, I am back at weight watchers tonight, and we'll see...

To be honest, I'm only going to the meeting to get the sweets! I need something to distract me from the munchies. Perhaps I'll set a new and more manageable goal...something I might actually be able to stick to, then I won't have to go and spend a fiver every week just to get weighed!

Anyway, what's your tipping point for your top issue right now? At what point will you decide enough is enough and go do something about it?

Love

Donna.x

One of those days

Today is one of those days when I feel as if I 'should' be doing 'something' and yet I am not in the mood for doing anything I feel like I should be doing!!! I don't feel like writing, I don't feel like doing my search engine optimisation stuff, I don't feel like marketing, I don't feel like talking to anyone! It's not that I'm particularly in a bad mood, I'm just feeling a little 'in limbo'.

I have already got a lot done today - I've got my accounts to almost ready to send to the revenue, cleared my e-mail, crossed 8 important things off my to do list, taken the dog for a walk, washed my bedding, the list goes on and on. So, why do I feel such a destinct lack of achievement? there's nothing that really needs doing today...plenty I could do, if I wanted to!

I have a saying on my wall which says 'Accept what is', and I guess I'll just have to accept that I'm not feeling particularly productive and just be proud and grateful for what I have achieved today. Hmm...I feel better already!

Love

Donna.x

Strength of purpose and clarity of vision

I came across this phrase in a book recently - Strength of purpose and clarity of vision. For some reason it has stuck with me and evokes something deep within me.

If I have strength of purpose and clarity of vision, I am unstoppable.

Do you have strength of purpose and clarity of vision? If not, I reccommend that you start thinking about it. I am about 70% there now...it's just the clarity of vision I am still getting towards. Seems like a good way to spend your life to me - strength of purpose and clarity of vision.

Love

Donna.x

An Exhibitionist in the making

Today I was at my belly dancing class, practicing the dance we are going to be doing for an audience in September...YIKES! And I realised that actually I am really enthusiastic about it - I have learned the steps (pretty much) and now I'm practicing the techniques. I am just a beginner...and I can feel myself getting really into this dancing.

My teacher, Di Cox, is a magnificent dancer and an inspiration to us...I wish I could do what she is able to with her body...it's quite something! Maybe one day...in the meantime let's hope my enthusiasm stays with me when I am actually dancing in front of an audience!!

I hope it will bring out the exhibitionist in me...and not send me running red-faced to the back of the pack!

Love

Donna.x

The patience of a Saint...not

Hi there folks!

How's it hanging? Hope you are having a happy Wednesday. I am patiently waiting for 5.15 to arrive, when I can phone the garage and (hopefully) pick up my lovely car which is having a service and MOT as we speak. As I haven't had any phone calls to say 'you need a new and expensive part' I am assuming all is going well!

My trouble is, I am not good at waiting. Not good at all. There are a hundred things I 'could' be getting on with in the next half an hour. However. I have a little internal switch that says 'no point starting that now'...so instead of being productive, I am pottering around the internet and basically wasting time!

I know I am planning to live a long time, but spending hours doing nothing but waiting seems an awful waste. What if it was perfect that I did that? Well actually while pottering, I signed up to an affiliate program for the science of getting rich - something I am studying at the moment to help get me wealthy! (see details below if you're interested) And as well as pottering, I also had a bit of a tidy round & I can see my desk again! AND I have just written this entry.

So perhaps it is perfect that I am 'just pottering' - perhaps without even realising it, I am getting a lot done!

Love

Donna.x

Today an article I wrote went out to the 'Your Natural Way' mailing list. I'd forgotten I'd written it, and I was extremely excited to see it again this morning - so I wanted to share it with you!

Your Natural Way Nugget No 37

With all the effort that must have gone into creating someone as wonderful as you, it seems a terrible shame to be wasting even a part of the finished product. I imagine myself being created by a magician (like Merlin) who is dancing around a gold cauldron with silver steam, talking to himself “a pinch of passion, a dash of humour…oops my hand slipped… lots of humour! Okay, I’ll leave out any sensibility – there’s no room with all that fun. Now, a spoon of genius, a handful of enthusiasm…”

What ingredients went into the creation of you? What was the unique combination of characteristics that made you? Who created you – was it a mad magician, an all powerful God, an all seeing Universe? Picture how you were created – see how much love and joy went into that creation of you. And just in case your Creator forgot to tell you…welcome to the world – we’ve been waiting for you.

Your natural way? It’s what you were created for.

Love the team at

Your Natural Way

Love

Donna.x

Take a hint!

I've been out of sorts for the past few days - tired, don't feel too well, have little inspiration and even less motivation. I've been sat at my desk today 'trying to figure out what to do' to get my mojo for life back.

Let's take the symptoms one by one:
Tired - perhaps more rest?
Don't feel too well - perhaps more rest?
Have little inspiration - perhaps more rest?
Even less motivation - then why 'do' anything?! REST!

So, I'm going to take an early mark today...and rest.

What 'subtle' hints is your body, mind and soul giving you that you are ignoring?!

Love

Donna.x

Do you let them help you?

A random act of kindness today - a nice young man carried my bags to the car after a very tiring day. Thanks to Nicky, who convinced me to allow him to help - I was busy being independant and strong and self sufficient. As I always am.

And as we walked to my car (not a million miles away!) I thought 'how lovely, to let someone help me', and how rare it is that I allow it!

So, thank you to that nice young man (make myself sound ancient don't I?!), and thank you to the universe for every bit of help I recieve from the world around me. I'm going to get better at letting it in. Honest.

Love

Donna.x

Random Acts of Kindness

Ever since I read Danny Wallace's book 'Join Me', I have associated Fridays with Random Acts of Kindness.

So, I'm going to do something randomly kind today...join me?

Love

Donna.x

Life's a Gift

I was reminded this morning of a quote from Gandhi, when asked what his message was to the people he said "my life is my message".

If your life was your message, what would your message be? What would you like it to be?

I would like my message to be "Life's a gift. Every day is precious. And you are both a gift and precious to this life."

Love

Donna.x

Appreciation for those closest to you

How do you think about your partner, family, friends and colleagues? Is it a largely negative view of what they don't do - those things that if they loved you, they'd just know. How infuriating they are when they leave dishes in the sink, wake you up at a ridiculous hour, ask stupid questions, don't do what you ask them to do, haven't called you in weeks.

OR do you think of them with appreciation and love? Do you dwell on how wonderful they are? Do you think about their gifts? Do you thank your lucky stars every day that these incredible people are in your life?

If it's the second approach, you are a rare bird! And probably a happier one than the majority of us who spend an awful lot of time complaining that other people are not psychic, or good enough at housework, or as perfect as we are ;-). Seriously, check how much time you spend criticising the people in your life (in your head as well as aloud) - is it more or less time than you spend appreciating them?

I am experimenting at the moment with appreciating people more than I criticise (especially in my head). It was brought home to me today by my dad. Who had to kill a rabbit - it had no eyes and was obviously really sick - he hated doing it, but 'when things have to be done, you do 'em', he said. I couldn't have done that - I'm a true girlie! But he was able to put the poor animal out of it's misery, even though it hurt him to do so.

It sounds like an odd thing to be proud of my dad for - and he has many more gifts and talents. But today, I am really proud of him for that - for compassionate decisive action. I am a lucky girl to have such a wunnerful dad. Do you realise how lucky you are to have the people in your life that you do?

Love

Donna.x

Get your house in order

What is the government not doing? What are our world leader's not doing? What is your local government not doing? What would you do if you had the power to change something locally, nationally, internationally?

I've noticed over the last week how easy it is for people to get into a rant about those in power - whether it be over council tax, global warming or the war(s) in the middle east. The curious thing to me is how we sit in our glass houses and throw stones! It is very easy to criticise other people for what they are doing wrong, or not doing - how about if we all stopped talking about it, and did something instead?

I have a slightly different view of government - I believe they are a collective of people who are doing their best to do what they think is best - against a tide of criticism, beurocracy (if anyone knows how to spell that by the way, let me know - reminded me of the irony of how you look up a word you don't know how to spell!!), apathy and tradition. This doesn't mean that what they think is best actually is best, or that they succeed. Or that there isn't corruption, bad management and power-hungry maniacs in power.

I admire anyone who becomes a politician (at least in the UK - I have a very different view on other governments of the world) - why would you want to put yourself in such a position? Money? You couldn't pay me enough! Power? Arguably the commercial giants have more power! The desire to change things? Maybe that's it...and that's why I admire them. I don't necessarily agree with them though.

And here's where individual power comes in. If you disagree with what is going on in your company, suburb, city, country, continent, world - what are you doing about it? I know there is more I can do about the environment - I do a bit, but it's nowhere near enough. Ok, I can't change local policy about council tax ...or can I? I don't know enough about it to say that - maybe I could speak to someone about it? I could definitely get my finances in order so I don't need to worry about it.

As for the war - ok, I can't stop it alone. But I can be peaceful and loving toward the world. Might sound like a minor thing, but imagine if millions did it? Imagine if billions of people were peaceful and loving? There would be no war! Idealistic? Simplistic? Well, my friend, the world I am working towards is an idealistic kind of place - would you prefer that I picked up a kalishnikov?

So, what can you do? Today? Right now? Look at the things you get angry and animated about and make sure that you are doing everything within your power to sort it out. Who knows...you might even be the catalyst for it catching on - imagine being the inspiration for millions, nay, billions...

Love

Donna.x

Sherwood Forest

Just in case you were wondering if the sun did come out in Sherwood Forest...

We set off for a walk…then it started raining…and we lost the path…well, not quite, we just started following robin hood way (a walk across Nottinghamshire I think!)…when we were 4 miles into the 3 mile circular walk and at a crossroads, I rang the visitors centre and said ‘where the hell are we and should we go back on ourselves?’ The park ranger chuckled and said ‘I would’. The rain had now been fairly steadily p'ing down for a couple of hours so by the time we got back to the car we were DRENCHED! Not only that but we were muddy cos we’d been walking in the woods, I hadn’t taken a change of trousers (didn’t think I’d need them – I was only staying overnight). Katie put a wash on, and I dried my jeans…while she realized that our mucky clothes had made the rest of her washing dirty so put them on again. The following morning I realized I’d dried her jeans, not mine…and my shoes were still wet.

This is the second outing with a friend recently that involved me being comprehensively soaked by some weather...it bodes ill for an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet tonight!

Love

Donna.x

Awakening joy and passion

If your job for today was to awaken the joy and passion in the person you love the most in the world, what would you do?

Can you do that for yourself?

Love

Donna.x
PS my answer to the question is to believe in them unconditionally and encourage them to do what they love from a place of knowing how incredible they are...can I do this for myself? Well yes! I can. And I will.

Making yourself wrong

This week I have had conversations with (so far) 7 people in which they made themselves wrong. How do you do that? Well, you find something that you have done or not done, and make a judgement that it was the 'wrong' thing to do. You ever do that?

What if it was exactly the right thing to do under the circumstances? Because, usually it is.

Love

Donna.x

Getting away from it all

There are times when all you need is to get away from it all.

Today for me is one of those days - I have booked a day out to go walking in Sherwood Forest. Sadly the weather is not yet co-operating with my fantasy of a walk in the shady woods on a sunny day, but I am an optimist...the sun will come out later!

I am really looking forward to getting away from everything - much as I love my life, a day away from it all is very appealing! It is something that so many of us do only on holiday...and then wonder why we are so tired we can't enjoy the holiday and why we feel such fatigue at coming back to 'real' life. If we took time out more often to get away and rest our weary minds, perhaps we would have more energy for everyday life and to enjoy the holidays when they come?

So, when was the last time that you got away from it all? And when is the next time? Can you get away sooner?

Love

Donna.x

Making the most of you and them

Are you inspired by people who are hiding their gifts or people who are out there living their passion? Do you want to be like someone who hates their life or loves it?

What if by making the most of yourself, you paved the way for the other geniuses you know to make the most of themselves too?

When you make the most of yourself, of course you benefit (a good thing!) and others benefit too, from the inspiration you give to them.

Are you making the most of yourself today, and every day?

By the way, this does not mean stressing yourself into an early grave - making the most of yourself is about happiness, ease, joy, passion, fun, love.

So, I ask again, are you making the most of yourself today, and every day?

Love

Donna.x