Day 13/60 - The Law of Transition

It's been a long break since completing day 12, but I love the Law of Transition. It's perfect for where I am in my life right now.

According to the Collins Concise Dictionary +, transition means:

" to change or passage from one state or stage to another."

I am currently in the midst of my own transitioning, and I guess that may be why I relate so well to this law.

The basic premise is that if you are not happy with your present circumstances, it is for one of two reasons. Either you don’t know what you want, or you know what you want but you don’t know how to get it. (In the context of Law 13, the book focuses mainly on transitioning from work you don’t enjoy to something you do).
The first step in transitioning from what you don’t’ want to be, do or have, to where you do want to be, do, or have, is to clearly define what you want. To paraphrase from the book (You can have an amazing life in just 60 days – Dr John de Martini) “If you are not clear about what you want, why would the universe give it to you?”

What about you?

It's the beginning of a New Year. Have you set yourself some new resolutions, some new goals? Do you know what you want? Are you getting ready to transition during 2012?

John’s advice: “Start a blueprint. You might need advice from a mentor or coach during the process.”

So far, I’m feeling pretty good! I’ve already defined my dream career, and am busy designing and implementing a blueprint for my dream work/life.

I’d love to share more of this law with you, but to be fair to the author, and to you, I highly recommend reading the book. I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, inspirations and insights on it!


Happy Day!



© 2012 Design A Dream

Day 12/60 - The Law of Poise

Quote: "The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." Henry David Thoreau

Dr John De Martin writes:
"Poise is healing and magnetic. It is a centering process that allows us to remain focussed and avoid distractions. This state helps you accomplish your dreams and visions and gives you the capacity for leadership no matter what the situation."

This is an especially valuable lesson for me at this particular point in my life.

Just having committed myself to a strict employment schedule, I need to find the careful balance that will allow me to remain focussed, and accomplish my dreams and visions while at the same time fulfilling my work obligations, and sharing time with my family.

Life is a constant balancing act, and very often we will have to make choices and compromises in order to maintain that balance. Therefore, it is very important to know what we want, to know what is important to us, to know where our values and priorities lie, to know what our hopes dreams and goals are.

The Law of Poise is a natural law of the Universe. For every negative there is a positive. For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. Every transaction has two sides. A buyer, a seller, a giver, a receiver or taker. A question. An answer. A decision. A choice.

It is the nature of the Universe to maintain balance.

When we are feeling balanced, we are at peace, in harmony with ourselves, our surroundings, our environment. When we are out of balance, we feel irritable, frustrated, angry, or sad, overjoyed, manic, wired...


Where are you on the balance scale today? Are you facing changes in your own life? Major or minor? Are you feeling out of balance? Off kilter?

Whenever we are faced with a new situation, we may find ourselves out of our comfort zone, It is natural for the pendulum to swing from side to side until we find that natural balance, our "new normal".

Don't stress! Hang on tight and try to enjoy the ride! Get into the rhythm of your new life!
In the words of Dr John " ..if you're a master of circumstance and you just dance, you stay poised"
I hope you dance!

Happy Day!


© 2011 Design A Dream

Thoughts on Things

You may have noticed that my recent blog posting has become rather spasmodic. There are reasons (and excuses) for that!

While working on the blogpost for Day 11/60 (The Law of Meditation), it occured to me that I was going about things all wrong!

While it is true that I hit a stumbling block with Meditation, it is probably more accurate to say that it was my uncertainty and fear of vulnerability in deciding how much of myself to share that created the long delay in my posting.

In hindsight, I realise that what I should have been doing is continuing the 60 day journey whilst continuing to practice the meditation, something I should be doing daily in any case! So, hopefully, from here on out, I will be back on track!

I was recently lucky enough to be offered a job, and am currently adjusting to the new hours and schedule.

With a limited amount of free time available to me, it has become more important than ever to prioritise and value the things that are important to me and to tailor my time accordingly.

At the moment, I am trying to find a balance that will enable me to fulfill my employment obligations, enable me to share time with my family and friends and allow me to continue on the path to achieving my hopes, dreams and goals.

I am committed to continuing my blogposting and my 60 day journey and I will do my best to post on a regular (daily) basis.

I hope you will forgive me and bear with me if I find myself not equal to this commitment.

I truly value your support and input.

Thank you for sharing this time with me, and I hope you will enjoy my next post in the 60 day journey : Day 12/60 - The Law of Poise....


Happy Day!
© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 11 / 60 - The Law of Meditation

On Day 11, I hit a stumbling block. Not so much with the Law of Meditation, but with myself. I have been struggling for the past few weeks as to how I should share this, and how much of it I should share of it with you.

It has taken me several weeks consideration, but below is my personal, private journal entry in it's entirety. It may not mean much to you, but it is very personal to me, so I hope you will respect the honesty, even if the post does not reflect the Law of Meditation in action. I don't know, maybe it does?

Journal Entry (21/6/2011)

"This is a tough one! I am still struggling with it.
It brings up a lot of questions. I'm thinking maybe I should just "let go", but it's easier said than done. I am very resistant to this process. And yet, I want to perfect the process, so I will persevere. Practice makes perfect, and I know it will become easier with practice.

At the moment, I have a lot of questions. I feel very negative. I want to persue my goal of being SA's No 1 Life Coach, and I am working towards it.

Am I just kidding myself? Should I just quit? I'm "doing" all these things, but am I actually being productive? What am I doing? What help do I need? What is the most productive thing I can do? What do I need to do? In what order? WWWWWH?

Is this part of the meditation process? Passive/Active - Access = How do I access that part of myself? Do I need to give up / give in? I am always "trying" instead of just "being", but how can I achieve anything if I am not taking action? What actions should I be taking?

Over the past few months/years I have been "trying" a lot of different strategies, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere.

We have fallen so far back, I am very afraid that we will never recover. I keep trying different things, but nothing seems to work out. What should I be doing? What do I need to be doing?

Am I doing the right thing? Is my energy too negative. What do I need to do to change it?"


This concludes my journal entry. I hope you will pause and reflect on it before going on to my next post. I have a lot of thoughts to share on The Law of Meditation and what I have learned so far, before going on to Day 12 (The Law of Poise).

© 2011 Design A Dream

Law of Attraction Literature

Hi There,

Sorry I have been AWOL for so long, but here I am again!

You may have noticed I haven't yet posted Day 11 of An Amazing Life. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten or given up! Its just that I have been struggling with it.
Day 11 is on The Law of Meditation. It's something that I'm determined to practice and perfect over time, but it wont be hurried.

In the meantime, I've been doing lots of research and other things, so I thought I'd share a few ideas about Law of Attraction Literature.

I'm a huge fan of motivational and inspirational literature. When I'm feeling down, depressed or unmotivated, I'll often pick up a book for inspiration and it usually helps me change my focus and leads me out of my funk.

There are a lot of great books out there, offering motivational, inspirational, and self-help advice for every aspect of your life, from health to wealth, relationships to happiness. There are books that focus on a single aspect or books that cover the whole spectrum in one single volume.

I was introduced to "positive thinking" and "the law of attraction" when I was in my teens.
I started with the classics like "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale, and "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. I still have these classics in my library, and over the years have amassed quite a collection.

In recent years, the book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne has taken the world by storm, introducing a vast new audience to the "Law of Attraction.

I think that the "Law of Attraction" and the "Power of Positive Thinking" are fascinating concepts. I have dabbled with it from time to time, and got some interesting results.

I recently picked up "Think and Grow Rich" again. I've started re-reading it, with new, more mature eyes, and I'm gaining a lot of insight and wisdom from it.

I am not a naturally positive person. I struggle with depression. I am quite shy, timid and fearful by nature, so for me, it's not an easy process to practice positivity. What I have learnt though, is that we do have a deeper connection to the Universe that is readily available to us when we learn how to access it. ( The trick is to learn to access it quickly and easily on a regular basis.)

Edgar Cayce, the world-reknowned American psychic (1877 - 1945) called it the Superconscious Mind (Spirit) - "at-one-ment with God".

I call it "The Knowing"

Don't get me wrong though! Although books are a great source for advice, inspiration and knowledge, there is still no substitute for taking positive action.

With this in mind, I have created a survey on Law of Attraction Literature, as research for a project I am considering.

If you would like to, I invite you to complete my "Law of Attraction Literature Survey". If so, just click on the link!

Click here to take survey

I'm really looking forward to continuing the Meditation process, as this is one of the ways to get into attunement with your subconscious and superconscious minds.

I'll keep you "posted" as to how successful I am!


Happy Day!


© 2011 Design A Dream

Day10/60 - The Law of Certainty

OK! Today's law is the Law of Certainty. One thing I am certain of, I am not going to complete "You Can Have An Amazing Life in 60Days" in 60 days! Although I am certain that I am going to persevere and I am going to complete it!

The theme of today's lesson is that by being certain about things, you create an aura of confidence around you that inspires other people to have confidence in you.

A feeling of certainty, a feeling of knowing, creates confidence and eliminates doubt. It offers a feeling of safety and security.

Being certain gives you an air of authority.

Last week, I had a breakthough. A sudden sense of absolute certainty about where I should be going and what I should be doing with my life.
I don't often have that sense of absolute certainty in my life,beyond all reasonable doubt, but when I do, I call it the KNOWING. It is an unwaivering connection to something deep within. A sense of absolute knowing. No self-doubt.

In his book, Dr De Martini says you can add the quality of certainty to your life by:

Studying the area in which you want to have certainty
Rehearsing any necessary & associated skills.
Practice acting with certainty. Be, act "as if"

I don't know yet how I am going to accomplish my goal, and it is a BIG goal, but I KNOW, with certainty:

1. That it is possible.
2. That I can accomplish it

I feel it in my body, in my heart, in my soul. And when I feel it in my body, heart and soul, I feel the difference within myself. I feel the shift. I feel it in my committment.I feel it in my posture, in the way I carry myself, and I feel it in my level of confidence.

I've had a couple of fearful, doubting moments, but I've managed to push them aside on the wave of inspiration that I'm riding. I don't discount these moments, but I refuse to entertain them.

I KNOW that nothing great is ever achieved without risk attached.
I KNOW that FEAR and doubt are my own self-defence/survival mechanisms kicking in to save me from myself!
I KNOW that if I choose to, I can work through these fears to the rich rewards beyond.

I KNOW!

What do you KNOW?

Happy Day!

© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 9/60 – The Law of Silence

Today’s lesson is on the Law of Silence.
It reminded me of the words from Desiderata, one of my all time favourite poems:

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.”

From Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

I was quite conscientious about the lesson, and committed myself to sitting in silence for 30 minutes. I’m quite a solitary person by nature and enjoy spending time alone with myself and my thoughts, so it was not difficult for me to commit to the process.
I chose a spot outside, in my garden, under a big, old pecan nut tree. For company, I was joined by my son’s kitten, Deepakkie.
Sitting outside under the tree was not as quiet and peaceful as one might expect. School children playing soccer, whistling, clapping and cheering; the sounds of traffic from the nearby main road: planes overhead; the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, and two interruptions from family. Still, all in all, not bad.
By the end of 30 minutes my mind had slowed down significantly, although I didn’t quite reach a state of total relaxation.
Towards the end of the 30 minutes, I did start achieving a deeper level of conscious awareness, but as soon as I reached that depth, my “survival instinct” kicked in and my mind fought to bring me back to conscious control.
I didn’t get as much from the experience as I hoped, but it was an interesting exercise and experiment, and one which I shall persevere with. It will be interesting to see where it may lead me.

Happy Day!


© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 8/60 - The Law of Vitality

I spent a couple of days on this one! There are 7 elements to the lesson including being thankful, eating, moderately, drinking water, breathing fully, smiling, and the two that I focused on more fully, as the most time consuming, “Know where you are going” and “connect your vocation with your avocation”. (Thank goodness I found my dictionary!)

Vocation: Specified profession or trade; predisposition to a particular calling or career, esp a religious one.

Avocation: Minor occupation undertaken as a diversion; a persons regular job

If your vocation is connected with your avocation, then every day becomes your vacation!

Vacation: another word for holiday
Holiday: A period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel or recreation

Wow! What a concept! If your Vocation is your avocation, is your vacation, imagine how much vitality you will have, every day!

Vitality: physical or mental vigour, energy; the power or ability to continue in existence, live or grow
(Definitions from: Collins Concise Dictionary, 1989)

So, I spent a lot of time on this one. I have a pretty good idea of my vocation, and a fair idea of where I want to go, but up till now, I’ve been “going nowhere slowly”. So now it’s time to step it up a notch and really clearly define where I am going and how I’m going to get there, but more than that, I need to be physically, actively doing it, and that is where the other elements of the Vitality Law play their part.

By eating moderately, drinking water, breathing well, and smiling (especially in and through the face of adversity) and being thankful, I will create the energy and vitality to pursue my vocation with vigour!

Vigour: Exuberant and resilient strength of body or mind.

Happy Day!


© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 7/60 - The Law of Appreciation

Closely related to Counting your Blessings, is the Law of Appreciation.

When something "appreciates" it increases in value. This lesson is about raising your own value by being appreciative of what you already have in your life.
When you are appreciative, you are in a positive frame of mind and it is easier to focus on possibilities and potential. When you are in a positive frame of mind, you attract better prospects, opportunities and experiences to you.

One of the things that I truly appreciate in my life is the fact that I am literate. I am able to pick up a book and read it, for pleasure, for pure joy, for entertainment, for knowledge, for inspiration. It enables me to connect with other hearts and minds.

With that in mind, I looked for a few quotes on appreciation to share with you. Here are a few that I enjoyed. I hope you will appreciate them too!

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We dream of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our window today." Dale Carnegie

"Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have. When you share with someone your appreciation and gratitude, they will not forget you. Appreciation will return to you many times." Steve Brunkhorst

"Before someone's tomorrow has been taken away, cherish those you love, appreciate them today." Michelle C. Ustaszeski

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Author Unknown

"I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate." Elbert Hubbard

"Life holds so many simple blessings, each day bringing its own individual wonder." John McLeod (Jaymac)

"If you don't think every day is a great day try going without one." Jim Evans

"Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret." Mary Kay Ash

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated." William James

"Be verbal in acknowledging your appreciation." Catherine Pul

http://www.wow4u.com/appreciation/index.html

After reading these quotes, I am reminded how important it is not only to appreciate the people in your life, but to acknowledge that appreciation. People appreciate being appreciated! It confirms and validates their value. We all need to be loved and appreciated for who we are and what we have to offer.

I am reminded of John Edward, the Psychic Medium, whose catch phrase is something along the lines of "Remember, to Love, Appreciate and Validate the people in your life today, (so someone like me doesn't have to.)

And, finally, perhaps most important of all, I want to remind you to love, validate and appreciate yourself. In all the history of the world, there never has been and never will be another person quite like you! You are a unique and special person.

"There has never been another you. With no effort on your part you were born to be something very special and set apart. What you are going to do in appreciation of that gift is a decision only you can make." Dan Zadra

Happy Day!

© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 6/60 - The Law of Genius

“I am a Genius and I apply my Wisdom.”
The gist of this lesson is to instill in yourself that there is genius within you. It felt a bit silly and strange initially, affirming to myself that I am a genius and I apply my wisdom.
After a while genius seemed like an “odd” word. You know when you read or say the same word over and over again and it starts to look weird, like it’s not spelt right, or starts to sound weird, like a made-up word, and loses its meaning. Well, that’s how it felt for me, at least for a while.
But then I began to look and think deeper, past the superficial surface of the words, to the deeper meaning behind them.
You see, the point is, we tend to think of geniuses as the unique few individuals with exceptional brains, talent, skills etc. We tend to view geniuses as Nobel prize winners, etc, people at the top of their field, unreachable, untouchable, remarkable people with achievements unattainable to most of us.
The truth is we all have the capacity for genius. We all have the potential inside of us. It’s just that most of us never attempt to develop it, because we believe it is out of our reach. And, if we don’t believe we have it, why would we attempt to access it?
The point of this lesson and affirmation is to awaken yourself to the idea that there is a genius inside of you, but what’s the point of having genius if you don’t apply it?
“I am a Genius and I apply my Wisdom.”
When you start to think of yourself as a genius, you begin to access the genius within you.
I love this poem from Marianne Williamson, quoted by President Nelson Mandela (now ex-president) in his Inaugral speech.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson - Excerpted from her book Return To Love

What is genius other than the glory of God within us?
I think I am going to stick with this one for a while, see where it takes me.
“I am a Genius and I apply my Wisdom.”


Happy Day!

© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 5/60 - The Law of Presence

The lesson for today was about living in the present and being present in the moment.
So many of us go through our life living in the past or the future instead of being present in the now.
Sometimes its’ good to visit the past, relive the happy memories, but it’s no place to live. The past is history. It can’t be changed or undone. At best we can alter our interpretation of it, learn from it, value and appreciate it, but we should not choose to live in it. To do so prevents us truly living in the now.
The future hasn’t happened yet. We can dream about it, imagine it, plan for it, work toward it, worry about it, predict it, but again, we should not choose to live in it.
The only moment we have is now. This is the only time we have any control over. If we are too busy thinking about the past or the future, we lose the value and potential of the now. By being present now, in the moment, we become attuned to ideas, opportunities and more connected to the people and the world around us.
How often have you been in a conversation where you are only half listening, either your mind is somewhere else, or you are busy thinking of your response, what you want to say? Are you really present? What would happen if you put yourself totally in the moment, present and available to the person you are talking with? Really listening. What difference would it make? Is it possible the conversation could take on a whole new tone, meaning, or direction?
How often do you eat while watching TV? (Guilty!) Or watch TV while a loved one is trying to talk to you? (Guilty!) Or listened with half an ear because your mind is elsewhere? (Guilty!)
When we are focused on the past or the future, we miss the gift of the present. The only time we have is now! Plan for tomorrow, but live for today, for now is really all we have.
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew : 6:34

Happy Day!


© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 4/60 - Count Your Blessings

You may notice that there has been a 1 day break in my postings. There is a good reason for this. I have committed myself to completing this 60 day journey, and I want to give it my best shot. I read my daily chapter every morning, but with this type of practical learning, participation and reflection, it takes time to complete the process, digest the lesson, ..... and write my blogpost. For the past few nights, I have been sitting up until midnight or later trying to get my blog posted and honour my committment. So, from now on, I will be reading my lesson in the morning and writing and posting it the following morning. Much more sensible!

Todays lesson from You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 Days! By Dr John F Demartini is on the Law of Blessings. I must say, I've been having a bit of a hard time with it!
The gist of the lesson is that the person who counts their blessings will have more to be grateful for and more opportunities than those who don't.
Don't get me wrong. I have a great many blessings in my life. I am grateful for the blessings I have, and I appreciate the gifts I have. But sometimes I find it hard to find the blessings in the lessons I am currently learning. Sometimes I find it hard to appreciate the situations I find myself in. Yesterday when I was feeling down, a friend gently reminded me that its time to "practice what I preach" I know she's right.
Life isn't always easy. Sometimes life can get rough, and when it does, it can be hard to see the blessings in your life. And yet, these are the times we most need to count those blessings, appreciate and value the abundance of goodness we do have. The people, the places,the experiences, the learning, and the "stuff", the material things, the comforts, the little things and the big things.
Its surprising once you start looking, how many blessings you do have in your life. Things we generally take for granted, like our health, our senses, the people in our life, our work, our freedom. The list goes on.

When things aren't going well in your life, or when things don't work out the way you want them to,it's easy to dwell on the disappointments, the "failures", the things that are "wrong" with your life.
It may take a little bit of effort to start really seeing and appreciating the blessings in your situation, but it is amazing how many blessings we receive everyday if we just open our eyes and start counting.

Some of the blessings I have received today:
I am blessed to have friends and family who love me and care about me.
I am blessed that the brakes on my car work so well.
I am blessed that I have more than enough financial blessings to meet my needs today.

(There's a lot more where that came from, but I'm not going to bore you with it. It will be much more interesting for you and more valuable to you to count your own blessing instead.)

When you start to count your blessings, you begin to see them all around you, and you remind yourself of the blessings you have everyday which you usually take for granted.


"Count your blessings everyday and you will have more to be grateful for and more opportunities than those who don't."

60 days to an amazing life? Maybe I am already living one?

If you'd like to learn more about counting your blessings, why not get D John De Martinis book - Count Your Blessings"

Happy Day!



© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 3/60 - Quality Questions

Ask a Better Question, Get a Better Answer.

If you improve the quality of the questions you ask yourself, then you improve the quality of the answers you receive.

When I was doing my life coach training, one of the modules was on powerful questions. It was a powerful subject and gave me a whole new perspective on my self talk - the questions I was asking myself and the answers I was receiving.

What is the most powerful question you could ask yourself?

What questions do you ask yourself?

What questions could you ask yourself to improve the quality of your life?

What's wrong about this situation? What's right about this situation?
What could I have done better? What could I have done differently? How can I change/improve my results? What have I learned from this? What can I learn from this? What do I want? What do I want to change? How can I change it?

If you don't know what to ask, then why not ask "What can I ask? What should I ask? What do I really want? What do I really want to know? Is it right? Is it good? Is it fair? How do I achieve what I want?

The list of possibilities is endless.

If LOVE is the answer, then what is the question?


QUOTE:
"I keep six honest serving men (they taught me all i knew); Theirs names are What and Why and When And How And Where and Who."
— Rudyard Kipling

What a great quote! You can learn anything you want to know if you will just ask and keep asking. Asking questions is a natural part of our makeup. Small children start asking questions almost from the moment they learn to talk. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Have you ever listened to the converstion going on inside your own head? If you have, you will notice that your conversation consists of questions and answers.

It goes almost without saying that if you improve the quality of the questions you ask of yourself and others, you automatically improve the quality of the answers you receive. This can only result in a better quality of living! How could it not?


Happy Day

© 2011 Design A Dream

Day2/60 - The Law of Inspiration

Day 2: The Law of Inspiration


What is inspiration?

It's that little spark inside you that ignites in response to something you see, hear, read or dream about!

What does it mean?

It is a call to action. A stirring of your soul.

What should I do about it?

What will happen to that little spark of mine? Do I smother it and let it die or do I fan it and feed it, turn it into a burning flame, a roaring fire?

How do I fan it and feed it?
By thinking about it. By following that thread. By feeding the spark with the food of imagination. By fanning the flames until they ignite into a burning fire of desire, action and creation.

By taking the first step, the next step, or taking any step!


What inspires me?

Reading inspirational and motivational books inspires me. Hearing other people's inspirational stories inspires me.

My children inspire me. My family inspires me. My friends inspire me. My followers (on Blogger, Twitter, Facebook etc) inspire me. My dreams and my goals inspire me. My faith, beliefs and hope inspires me. Love inspires me.

What inspires you?

Happy Day!

© 2011 Design A Dream

Day 1/60 - The Law of Love

"Love is all there is."
"The things we do for love."

What can I say about love that hasn't already been said, that isn't a cliche?

Today is my firstborns 25th birthday! Yes, he's a quarter of a century old today!

I can still remember the day he was born as if it was just yesterday. That amazing, awe-inspiring feeling. A combination of awe, exhaustion, pride, fear, protectiveness, amazement, humility, and the overwhelming feeling of pure, unconditional love.

How often in life do we give our love unconditionally?

A newborn baby is the perfect expression of unconditional love, wrapped up as pure potential. A tiny bundle of infinite possibilities.

Imagine the possibilities if we were able to give unconditional love to all people all the time!
Imagine what greatness could be achieved.

Imagine what possibilities would be available to you in your own life if you were able to love yourself unconditionally!

My insights for Day 1:

By loving people UNCONDITIONALLY, I act as a mirror reflecting their true self, their divine possibilities and potential.

By loving others unconditionally, I open my heart and grow. I learn to love and accept myself unconditionally too, enabling myself to see my own divinity, my own divine possibilities.

I can consciously choose to love UNCONDITIONALLY.

Here is a little reminder to myself of the values of unconditional love.

From: The Holy Bible
New International Version
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8,

Love is patient,
Love is kind
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
Love never fails.


1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain:
faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love

Love is a verb.

Happy Day!

© 2011 Design A Dream

Getting My Groove Back! A Call to Action. 60 days to a new and amazing life!

The past couple of years have been times of turmoil and upheaval for my family. In August 2009, my husband moved to Johannesburg (1000 kilometres away from home) in search of work. We sold our home in Port Elizabeth and relocated to Pretoria to be with him. Subsequently my two sons returned to PE, my husband lost his job and eventually found another one back in Port Elizabeth. Over the past year we have lived in 3 rented homes and are currently looking for our fourth and hopefully permanent residence, which I know the Universe in its infinite wisdom will provide.

In recent times, I've faced quite a few personal challenges and have been feeling a little directionless and lost. Then, a couple of days ago, I got a brief glimpse of the new direction I want to be heading in. It was the briefest of moments when a thought captured my attention and I followed the thread.

I knew immediately it was a direction I wanted to follow, by the tiny feeling of excitement and enthusiasm that stirred within me. Something I haven't been feeling for quite some time.

You know something is right for you when it stirs you to motivation and action.

I'm still living out of boxes, awaiting my next move, but fortunately I managed to haul out a few books and things to help start me on my journey.

I don't know about you, but I am a big believer in fate and destiny, and the idea that things and people show up in your life at exactly the right time to teach you what you need to know.

Don't get me wrong! When I talk about destiny and fate, I don't consider them as things outside of our control. I believe that we are here on earth to learn certain lessons and follow certain paths and that many of the challenges we face in life are there to help us learn and grow. When I talk of fate and destiny, I think of them as those coincidences and quirks of life that guide us onto new paths, lead us in new directions.

Its kind of like following links via internet. One thing leads to another, expanding your insights, offering you new ideas.

For example, when I started writing about people showing up in your life at the right time, it lead me to talk about destiny and fate which reminded me about a quote - something about being "master of my soul, captain of my fate", which lead me to discover the poem "Invictus" by WE Henley, which reminded me of the film "Invictus" which tells the true story of South African President Nelson Mandela and the South African Springbok Rugby team coming together in the early post-apartheid era to unite and inspire South Africans through the medium of sport, hosting and ultimately winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I know it is a gripping inspirational story recreating several memorable historical moments. As a South African, it holds a special interest for me and I will be making a point to watch it soon. Who knows where it may lead me?

Anyway, to get back on track, after hauling a few books out of my boxes, I've just started reading a book called " You Can Have An Amazing Life in Just 60 Days" by Dr John F De Martini.

I once had the pleasure of hearing John De Martini speak, and he really walks his talk. A fascinating and inspiring speaker who lives on a cruise ship and travels the world sharing his message.

I've had the book for several years, as I am a great collector and reader of motivational and inspirational literature. I love books. Books are meant to be read. Books are great companions, entertainment, tools and teachers. Some books you read only once. Some books become treasured favourites, and some books are meant to be a call to action. That's what inspirational and motivational literature is all about. They are meant to inspire you to take action.

So that is what this blogpost is really about. "60 days" is an action book. It requires you (me) to read it and take action on it every day for 60 days. I've already ready it through once and am on my second run through. Once I've finished rereading it, I will be ready to start my 60 day journey, and I invite you to share it with me through my blog . I am so ready to have an amazing life, and I wish the same for all of you. I can't wait to see what experiences and changes I can create in my life in just 60 days. It will be interesting to see! Please follow me, wont you?

In closing, here is the poem :


"Invictus"


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903)


Happy Day

© 2011 Design A Dream

This One Is For You, Honey

Sunday Morning (D)Rain (Wo)man Neil, my husband, has been pestering me to write my next blog post, so here it is! This one is for you, honey! Actually, I’ve got another blog post lined up, but it’s not coming out quite right, so that’s one for another day. Today is Sunday. I’m sitting up in bed, writing this on my laptop. What luxury! Now, if only someone would bring me breakfast in bed! Life would be perfect! Well, maybe not quite perfect, but pretty close. My family has been through some challenges over the past few years, and currently my husband and my oldest son are living in one city while my younger son, my mother and myself are living in another city, nearly 1000 kilometres away. Fortunately, this is only temporary, and we are due to be reunited at the end of this month. I think we are all counting the days! Neil and I have been married for 28 years, and this is the second time we’ve lived apart in the last 2 years. Living separately brings its own unique challenges. Long distance relationships can be stressful. Fortunately, the wonders of modern technology make things a little easier, but they can’t replace the people they connect you with. When you are apart, you look forward to every phone call, no matter how routine and mundane the conversation. Mostly our conversations follow the same pattern. - How are you? What’s the weather like there? What are you doing now? Sometimes our conversations are about practical matters, like the logistics of making another long distance move, getting the car fixed or “Have you found us a place to live yet?” (YES!!!), and “how do fix the pool or clean a blocked drain?” Sometimes those daily phone calls bring you closer together, but sometimes they serve to emphasize the physical distance keeping you apart. Being separated, you miss their physical presence, their just being there. I miss that early morning cup of tea Neil always wakes me up with. I miss that warm body in bed next to me at night. A pillow at my back just isn’t the same! And I certainly miss him for all those manly jobs around the house! (See picture!)! Long distance living also brings time and space for reflection and growth. I wonder what Neil misses about me? Probably not my irritability and depressions, nor my foul moods and my nagging, but hopefully I’ve got some good qualities that make him want to keep me around! Living apart is hard, but it is also an opportunity to stretch ourselves. I may not relish these times apart, but they have been necessary, and it hasn’t been all bad. I have had a chance to grow independently, to find within myself talents, strengths and resources I didn’t know I had. I have learned a lot about myself and grown within myself. I have also learned how much I rely on you, Neil, for your support, encouragement, and unconditional love. I don’t know what kind of curve balls life is going to throw at us in the future – hopefully some good ones, but this time apart has been preparing us for the next phase in our lives. For new beginnings, new experiences, new challenges, fresh opportunities. For new dreams and new goals in a new home, and a new life! Happy Day! © 2011 Design A Dream

This morning I was playing a game of Spider Solitaire on my computer, and it occurred to me that Life is a bit like a game.

In any game, the aim is to win. The definition of winning is determined by what game you are playing, and you have to play the hand you are dealt. Sometimes you get a good hand, sometimes not so good, but you've got to make the best of it.

The hand I was playing this morning wasn't the best, and I was feeling a little stuck, so I clicked on the "suggest a move" label. My husband says this is cheating, but I'm not so sure. If you are stuck and can't find a way forward, what's wrong with asking for a little help?

The computer was very obliging, and immediately suggested a move that I hadn't noticed, even though it was right there in front of me!

How often does that happen in life? You come up against a problem and you can't find a solution no matter how hard you try. Most of us are so resistant to sharing our hand and asking for help, but a problem shared is a problem halved, and very often someone who isn't quite as close to the problem can see solutions where we can see none.

Another thing that I noticed is that the computer allows for "do-overs". I could "undo" moves that I had made and make a different move. The game penalised me a point every time I did this, so it cost me, but it allowed me to correct my mistakes and change the course of my game.

The computer even goes so far as to allow you to completely restart the game if you chose to. Isn't that fantastic! And yes, we get to do that in the game of life too. Every day is a fresh opportunity. We can't erase the past, but we start every day with a new beginning, a chance to start over!

Playing games is meant to be fun, and so is life. If you don't like the game you are playing, why not try a different game?

There are all sorts of games out there, games to suit everyone. Ball games, board games, card games, word games, games of strategy, games of chance, games of skill, games you play alone, team games.

We get to chose what games we play, and we get to chose how we play. We can use strategy, logic and reason, we can rely on skill or luck. We can even lie or cheat, (some games even rely on it) but beware the consequences of being caught! Some games we win, and some games we lose.We can be poor winners or poor losers, good winners, or good losers.

At the end of the day though, it doesn't matter so much whether you win or lose, it how you play the game, and if you've had fun along the way!

With my Spider Solitaire, I lost more than I won, (I'm sure the game's rigged), but I had fun playing it, I learnt some stuff along the way, and yes, I'll be back on there tomorrow trying to beat the odds!

Happy Day!

I have a facebook friend who started to chronicle a year of her life in photos. I love visiting her page. Its something I look forward to every day.

It takes a certain level of commitment to post a photo or blogspot everyday. Time, technology, and Life, often get in the way.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and maybe that's true.

My hubby, Neil, is currently living in Port Elizabeth, while I am still in Pretoria. We talk everyday on the phone, sharing what's happened in our day, but sometimes pictures say it better.

Neil loves his garden and he's worked hard on it, but the fruits of his labour are only just beginning to blossom and he's missing it.

Thank heavens for MMS and email, Facebook and Twitter, and all those other lovely technological marvels that allow us to share our world, in words and in pictures, with family and friends across the globe.

I think it's a wonderful idea to capture our life in pictures, and caption it with inspiring and motivating words.

I wont promise to post a picture or blog every day, but I will promise to make a more concerted effort, and I will commit to a minimum target of once a week.

To my friend Ellie, I take my hat off to you. Please keep it up. You are my inspiration!

If you would like to visit Ellies Blogspot (a photo a day), please click on the link in the sidebar.

Happy Day!

I love autumn! The mild days, the perfect weather, the leaves starting to change colour and fall from the trees, signalling the end of summer and reminding us that life is never stagnant. It's always moving along, just as nature intended it. Its a time to cosy up, snuggle in and rest up a little. A time to recuperate, recharge and take stock of life. I've been doing a little stocktaking of my own, and I've decided its time for me to turn over a new leaf. I'm in the middle of re-relocating and I'm looking forward to starting a whole new chapter in my life. The pages are blank, just waiting to be written, much like this blog! So my promise to you, and to myself, is to be more frequent with my blog postings.

Life is a journey. There may be lots of detours and stops along the way, and travelling is so much more fun when you have a friend to share it with. My hope is that you'll share this journey with me.

Happy travels!

Wow! 2011 already! I missed 2010 completely! Maybe this is the year when I finally get back on track!

A lot has happened in the past 2 years.

I said Hallo and Farewell to The Funky Cow Gift Shop and Elephant Walk Country Village.

I sold my house in Port Elizabeth and moved to Pretoria.

Ive worked at a jewellers and a animal pet farm, and now Im looking to get back on track with my Life Coaching career.

Its been a long journey from there to here with a lot of life lessons along the way.

I hope to be sharing some of the things I've learned, as well as some of the highlights of my life, through this blog and various other mediums.

Wishing you all Happiness, Health, Prosperity and Love in 2011

Karen