This is a wonderful Ted talk that explains why self compassion is so valuable.

http://www.911memorial.org/survivor-tree

A useful exercise for the soul, is to lie back in a quiet comfortable place, close your eyes and imagine you are a tree.

What kind of tree are you?

I must admit I love surfing TED.com for interesting talks and this is another one that I would like to share with you. Guy Winch tells us in a clear and entertaining way why psychological hygiene is just as important as bodily hygiene. We are taught from being very young how to take care of ourselves physically. For example, if we cut ourselves we reach for a bandaid. But how are we taught to repair ourselves when we suffer emotional pain? The answer is, generally, not at all. So why do we seemingly value our physical selves more than our mental selves?

 

Walking this furry, family friend always cheers me up, despite the fog and the gloom. Animals really live in the moment and they can teach us to do the same, no pointless worrying for them. They know what’s truly important….all that unconditional love!

Beating the Blues with….Chocolate….mmmm!

Believe it or not, if not overdone, chocolate is good for you emotionally and physically. It stimulates your endorphins and makes you feel sooo much better!

So if you are feeling a bit down following the Christmas and New Year celebrations, perhaps a little chocolate indulgence maybe just the pick-me-up you need. There may even be a few left-overs you can take advantage of.

Chocolate has a way of making you feel loved and happy. So give yourself some well-deserved TLC and chase away those every day blues.

Also spend a few moments thinking about what other things in your life give you that chocolatey feeling. The answer will help you to discover your best direction in life and the most fruitful way to spend your time.

I found this Epic Chocolate Cake recipe on You Tube…Yum! Might be worth a try.

This interesting experiment, reveals how preconceived notions can shape our view. Six photographers take a portrait of the same person, but what transpires are six portraits of six different characters. I wonder how often our understanding of someone is coloured by the voices of others, rather than what we actually see and hear.

6 Photographers Shot the Same Person and the Results are Astonishing

Singing makes you happy! All that controlled breathing has to be a good thing for starters, then there is the joy of the music itself. Joining a choir can also be great fun and a good way to make new friends.

Follow the link, to feel inspired.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/18/why-singing-makes-people-happy-oliver-burkeman

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

Try this creative exercise and see what it says about you!

Do part one without reading part two.

1. Take some paper, coloured pencils, crayons or paints and draw a picture of an outdoor scene. Include a tree in your landscape, it can be any tree of your choosing; not necessarily a Christmas tree, (the title was just by way of festive cheer). No sneaky peeks at part 2, until after your creation is finished!

 

 

2. Interpret your drawing.

Notice how empty or full the picture is.

What colours did you choose?

This drawing represents your life and the tree represents you.

Knowing that, what does your drawing say about you and your world?

Are you blossoming?

How big are you? How important are you? Is your world balanced?