A new (Mid Life) day dawns

A somewhat poetic piece is offered for critique by the blogging Universe this day. This post is a little contrary to my usual however a “change of pace” is warranted at times.

I guess I was carried away by my feelings and felt it necessary “to let it out”…..

Humour me if you will and/or ‘picture’ yourself and your feelings as a new day dawns for you. As I journey thru my Mid Life years, each day that dawns has added significance for me. I hope that it does for you too, regardless of which stage of Life that you are currently enjoying.

“The sun is shining and the landscape is coming alive before my very eyes.

My senses are stimulated as every fibre of my body reacts to the life around me.

As I breathe in this wonder, my thoughts turn to the joy of the moment and gratitude wells within me. How can negativity exist when so many positives surround me?

Slow down from the rapid pace of life, dwell and absorb the moment

Let time stand still and focus on the quiet inside of you and the serenity that surrounds you.

Then re-awaken & be grateful that you can enjoy this moment and those to follow

You can feel truly alive and your fears, your worries, your missgivings are merely apparitions.”

Be good to yourselves

David

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Rest, Renewal, Reflection…it’s time

It’s Monday morn here in Aussie land as I pen this down. This morning I had a long, long, long overdue sleep in. The ‘sleep in’ wasn’t all that long however my body was telling me that rest was long overdue.

I have no “appointments” in my diary today. I had another blog post scheduled however felt the timing for this, was just right.

Today, I am going to renew myself and spend time on reflecting and imagining…..and it’s a beautiful sunny day to boot!

Tomorrow, I will be firing on all cylinders again.

Being aware that your body needs to rest is key.

Burnout, stress or other ailments can surface if we do not allow ourselves “time out” on occasion. And it doesn’t have to be a big time out. Just enough to rejuvenate yourself.

However if you ignore ‘the signs’ and don’t rest, then recovery will take a lot longer.

Periodic rest breaks will ensure your longevity in the Game of Life.

That’s enough…..I’m off to rest & renew plus I am going to add a decent spot of Imagining just for good measure.

Be good to yourselves

David

P.S If you need a Solution for anything that is holding you back, ask me via email, for free!…david@davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

# Find out more about me by visiting my :

• Fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away. Why not sign up while you are there?

• Facebook page over there. I would love you to “like” , if you like

•  website @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

• Linkedin profile

A Rainbow of Opportunity…..a lesson for all of us?

Image via Wikipedia

My last post was unusually sombre however positive in it’s viewpoint. Today, normal service is resumed.

I was watching our pet lorikeets having a bath and marvelled at the sunkissed water droplets darting from them at all angles and the glistening rainbow coloured feathers.

This had an immediate ‘brightening effect’ on me(subsequently this post).

Brightness for me is cleansing. Gone are the greys, blacks and general sombreness. My mood instantly changes (gets even brighter)…..mind you, I was in a good mood today already after making some decisions that I had to make…..that’s all behind me now.

But back to the Rainbow. When your day is feeling dark, try looking for “your rainbow”. I see the Rainbow as part of our renewal stage….. shedding the old and bringing in the new. In my case, a tough situation being dealt with now becoming a fresh start & time to move forward.

Your “rainbow” will come in varying forms so the trick is to be aware of the possibility, in fact the inevitable probability, that a brighter moment/day is ‘just around the corner’, sparked by a rainbow of opportunity.

Keep smiling, Imagine the best and stride with Purpose.

Be good to yourselves

David

# Find out more about me by visiting my :

• Fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away. Why not sign up while you are there?

• Facebook page over there & “like” , if you like

•  website @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

• Linkedin profile

• follow me on Twitter

When I close my eyes…….

Now for something a little different.

This is a “live” blog post, or nearly(I couldn’t type with my eyes closed). I am recording what I saw & heard, entirely unedited.

The story unfolded this morning…..

Sometimes when I close my eyes I just see a mish mash of images, voices and thoughts…….a random collection it seems.

However there are other times, like today when I set myself up for a positive visual tour of my mind. This was my experience this morning when I closed my eyes for two minutes…….

I saw and heard:

• Waves crashing on the shore,

• a shaft of sunsine glimmering on the ocean

• a train arriving at the platform…..(what the?)

• a crisp golf shot landing on the green at my local course followed by a shout from one of my playing partners…”you lucky bugger”

• Children with their parents dancing in the park,

• Friends shaking me by the hand, patting me on the back and saying “well done, I new you could do it”

• Three elderly ladies chatting & laughing at the local shopping mall

• Walking and talking with my wife and (younger) daughters on a walking trail in the Gold Coast Hinterland @ Springbrook

• the riverfront and tree lined street @ Noosaville, Sunshine Coast

• I was walking betwen tables and speaking to (my clients) in a group session on a large timber deck in the sunshine by a river

• I am by the beach talking with four others about my 58th* birthday, the faces are not familiar

This “exercise” is not directly related to any specfic visualisation technique where one may attempt to visualise ‘things’ that they want or want to happen, which is powerful in it’s own right.

I wanted this exercise  to be an ‘open book’ examination of (positive) images & thoughts that have happened to me/will happen? and see how this would play out.

It is letting the mind meander with direction, in this case positive, picking up the vibe (of positive enjoyment)and creating a mental picture/video of the result…….maybe it’s unique to me?…..No, I think we can all do it.

Normally, I will close my eyes for a couple of minutes, 1-2 times per day which helps shut out any existing distractions around me. I will give thanks for the many positives in my Life and thanks in advance for the things that I want to happen. This commences my visualisation intent.

However, today I thought I would again experiment as I’ve outlined above. No particular focus other than on positive thoughts. My mind then played out a “movie” of particular positive/happy incidents that have occured(I’m sure) and others that I am guessing will be part of my future…..interesting. Can I predict my future? Am I seeing beyond the veil?…..I don’t know for sure……* I am still 56

However I do know that the mind is a powerful beast and there’s much about it that I still have to learn. I am now more of the belief  that I can train my mind to focus on the positive and remove the negative “at my command”…..and predict or project poitive images of my future?…..this is indeed good.

How about you?

Do you want more control over the selection of your thoughts? OR am I talking gibberish here?

be good to yourselves

David

# Check out my fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away

p.s Feel free to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

# I’d love you to share this post with your Universe

# I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

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The Imagination series (episode 2)

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Hi fellow Life Lovers,

This is the 2nd instalment in my series of short, thought provoking, imagination themed blog posts. Hope you enjoy…..

Imagination dwells inside each of us. Ever waiting to be released from it’s dormancy, often in a burst of mind numbing spontaneity.

Shed light on your imagination, often.

A major key to effect vivid imagining is to -  “Imagine when.…. not imagine “if“

Imagining “when” something happens is embracing what I call, the “substance” of imagination. It is bringing your imagined (previously locked up, never to be released) thoughts into the open where they can blossom into your reality.

“To imagine just once, kindles the glow……to imagine often, lights up the entire world.”

Why not give that some thought (or imagination) and see if it lights up your world.

be good to yourselves

David

p.s Feel free to “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

Connect with me on Linkedin  http://au.linkedin.com/in/davidstevenslifecoach

*check out my amazing Virtual Coach Page here  where new October ‘buddies’ will get an additional month for FREE…..it’s true

Random dose of…….Prose

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Some thoughts popped into my head recently (as is the nature of many of my thoughts). I couldn’t help but write them down. Apologies to the poets among you.

I promise you a real post shortly.

“I will stumble, I may even fall

however I’m only human, afterall

I will then rise and face my fears

and brush away the tears

for I am human, afterall”

be good to yourselves

David

“The sun is shining

the landscape is coming alive before my very eyes

My senses are stimulated

every fibre of my body reacts to the Life around me

As I breathe in this wonder

my thoughts turn to the joy of the moment

gratitude wells within me

Slow down from the rapid pace of Life

dwell and absorb the moment

focus on the quiet inside of you

be grateful for the experience

be grateful for being truly alive

and be comforted in the knowledge

that your fears,worries and missgivings

are merely apparitions”.

be good to yourselves

David

The Story so far……

About 6 months ago, you welcomed me in to your blogging lives.

For this, I am very grateful. There are many fine people in the blogosphere contributing many terrific messages.

I thought that I would honour this “anniversary” with a recap of my story so far…….I hope you don’t mind a little self indulgence.

This is my 127th post. I started publishing posts July 2009. I did two that year. I recommenced July 2010. My blog didn’t raise a comment until approx my 60th post in February this year.

I started receiving consistent comments from April, usually 1-3 per post. However you guys really started to kick in from May. Since then I have received 246 comments over 28  posts. The previous 90 posts returned just 42 comments…..First moral of the story, hang in there(don’t give up), keep punching.

Sometimes I feel that my posts haven’t hit the mark, some have been rubbish (upon reflection). Though in the past couple of months, I feel that I have improved.

It’s been a big learning curve. I’m not sure where I sit on the curve at present.  I am enjoying my blogging more now, however I know I have a fair way to go in the learning side of things.

But that’s the FUN of it all…..Second moral of the story , Fun is always there if you look hard enough.

The comments I have received so far have been encouraging. I’m even getting the odd share via Tweets, likes etc, however, in the big scheme of things, my blog is still a little fish…..that’s fine by me.

Will it become a bigger fish? Hmmm…My Imagination keeps me going, I do imagine having a bigger audience. That’s a goal I will pursue with vigour.

Sometimes I don’t know where my blogging headlines or content come from(specifics wise that is). However I do know that when I set my imagination free, the words seem to flow.

Third moral of the story….. don’t be afraid to venture outside your ‘zone’, you may just like it. Imagine things differently, imagine a better scenario.

I have been on planet Earth a while now. And I intend staying for a lot longer. During my journey, I have had high & low spots. Times of great certainty(felt like it anyway) and times of uncertainty.

I found when entering my fifties that I had to re create, rejuvenate myself…..a time of Renewal.

Fourth moral of the story….. there is always an opportunity to step up, play a bigger game, if you like. You can always “renew” yourself and create the person that you want to be. I like to include  ‘renewal’ aspects in some of my blog posts. I feel that I have ‘stepped up’ as my blogging confidence has grown.

I think we go through various stages of renewal during our Life. At least, we have the opportunity to do so. We just need to be aware when things may be stagnating and the time for “renewal” has come.

Thank you for joining me in my journey. You all have journeys of your own. May they be pleasurable ones. I look forward to your continued blogging friendship and hope that I meet many more in my travels through the blogosphere.

be good to yourselves

David

p.s  Feel free to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

You can check out my Virtual Coach page here

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

11 Reasons to look beyond 40 and say….. ”bring it on”

I turned 40 a while back now.  Doesn’t seem that long ago…….I guess time does fly when you’re having FUN.

And the FUN continues past 40….. I would argue that there is more of it!

It is a vital ingredient. When you are happy, you are living.

Here are a few statements that I have found to be true for me. I believe they may also give you reason to “fully live” 40 & beyond…….if you’re up for it(and why wouldn’t you be?).

These years will be or maybe already are, your greatest opportunity to share, develop, love your Life.

• The grass does get greener….. you have runs on the board,(life experience, for better or worse) the bases are loaded(for my American friends), time for a knockout & set yourself up for Life

• You are further developing your “explorer instinct”. You’ve explored plenty so far, why not continue, there’s gold to be found

• “Giving up” is a term that shouldn’t sit well with you. e.g,  Dara Torres won 2 Olympic Silver medals @ age 41 swimming against competitors half her age. “Old” Cliff Young won the inaugral Sydney to Melbourne footrace , about 600 miles, at the age of 61. No one told him that he was ‘too old’. Maybe his 20 something girlfriend had an influence as well? I took up Fun Runs @ age 41, as well as training 3 times per week with a group of runners most in their teens. I didn’t win any medals however improved my personal bests and fitness a gazillion times over……I didn’t give up.

• Your Passion for Life continues to develop & overides the alternative…(you’re dead a long time) by a country mile……don’t be just a statistic, be a contributor to Life.  My father passed away when I was 42, this drove home the mortality thing. He was a great contributor however left us way too early.

• “40″+ are only  numbers after all.  It’s not about the “number”, it’s about you.

• The questions that have bothered you before will now start to bring answers…….magically it seems. Ask more questions…….you will receive more answers, keep asking, the Universe is at your mercy.

• Your children need you to grow, so that they can grow…..there’s are great lesson for the parents. I wanted my children to be fully ‘aware’ of Life, learn, make decisions/mistakes. Therefore, I had to experience more of this…..I became more ‘aware’ AND I wanted more.

• You will now realise that you create your world, whereas before you may have felt ‘out of place’ in the world. Create your best Life, there’s still plenty of time and there’s a lot of FUN in doing it.

• Fitness & good health are now top priorities. You can now be fitter & healthier than before. I aim to be as fit @ 70 as I was @ 40……there, I’ve said it now & committed to it in writing for all the Universe to see. 
  

• The “mistakes” made in earlier years will now bring rewards in your mid life years….worth the wait. It’s a learning curve after all, this Life. I’ve made plenty & will make more however the rewards are coming from the lessons learned in ‘earlier mistakes’.

• My Imagination, I found started to multiply. I started to use it much more frequently. It has no limits, it often runs wild…….I love it! AND you can too. Tap in, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.

These are my experiences. You no doubt will have different ones. You may have some similar ones. I would love you to share by commenting in the space provided. Live life to the max and until next time…….

be good to yourselves

David

p.s  Feel free to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

check out my new Virtual Coach page here

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

It’s hard enough being Me, let alone someone that I’m not

Why can't I be like you?

You know fellow adventurers, I get sick to death of people trying to be someone else. You hear comments like….

• “I wish I could be like him/her”

• “I wish I had his/her success”

• “If only I had his/her looks”

• If only I could have the life that he/she does

• If only I could play like him/her

And the really sad thing is…….people will continue to daydream & ignore what they have within. Developing yourself is a long process regardless of what all the wiz bang ‘experts’ say. It is a difficult job, it is hard, it takes time…….however it’s worth it!

Self Acceptance is mandatory. After all, you are you. There is no mistake. Living your Life being solely influenced by ‘external factors/people’ is a mirage. It’s not real.

Create your own reality by being you & you only. Play your own games, visualise & then live your own Life. And the great thing about this game is…….you will never tire of it. It’s an ongoing game of imagination, learning & fun, just by playing the part of you.

Now I did say earlier that this was “hard”. Yep but the hardest bit is letting go of the “externals” & embrace the “internals”, of you. Set them free, be yourself. I also said that it takes a long time. OK, what I meant was that it can take a long time to realise that you are playing someone else’s game, not your own. Wake up…….

It’s never too late to start playing your own game.

Are you being you or are you trying to be someone else?

Be good to yourselves

David

P.S  don’t be afraid to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

check out my new Virtual Coach page here

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

Related articles

• Just Be Yourself. (ataleoftwochicas.wordpress.com)

3 Rules of Engagement – with Yourself

Firstly a question….”How do you talk to yourself?” No, I’m not suggesting that you’re nuts…..I’m talking about your internal dialogue. I went a little crazy with my last post but hopefully this contains a bit more sanity(and make some sense at the same time). The last post did have a message though.

“Self talk” has the ability to make us or sabotage us. Nothing else matters or has that same effect on us. I believe that you either give yourself positive self talk, or negative self talk.

That sounds pretty simplistic, I hear you say. That’s where you are probably right. In essence it is pretty simple, we just make it ‘hard’. We have a choice, either way, however there are circumstances that need to be overcome – conditioning Beliefs.

During ‘Life’ we are conditioned by events and the people immediately around us. This can be a very complex area and I don’t intend going deep here because I may start to drown. I’ll leave that to others more qualified.

Simply put if I may, you are conditioned by negative influences or positive ones. Either way, most of these “conditioning factors” stay with you from a very early age – unless you do something about them(the negative ones) – “Choice” then comes in to play. You need to become aware of the ones that are dragging you down/holding you back.

When “self talking”, I suggest these3 Rules be always kept in mind:

Rule 1……never put yourself down……regardless of the negative conditioning you may have received, you are special, treat yourself accordingly

Rule 2…..look for the good in everything/everyone……..there are a lot of downsides in Life but many more upsides. Look hard enough & you will find them

Rule 3……you Can do it, trust yourself…….when you have been told a million times “that can’t be done/you can’t do that”, you start to believe it……Don’t

As a Life Coach, I have listened to many “stories”. The stories that I hear, often have a common denominator -  The story teller/client has a long term conditioning factor that has been destructive without them knowing.  This conditioning or Belief more often than not involves at least one of the above “rules”. The Rule(s) has not been allowed a place in their thoughts therefore their “self talk” has been compromised.

Now a story that I would like to leave you with…… If you are struggling with “negative conditioning”, you can strengthen your Life by engaging with the inner you. There is a positive you yearning to break out……if you allow it. There is so much to be positive about.

Engage with positive people, engage with positive thoughts & discard the negative influences that currently surround you. It is your choice and it can be done.

Be good to yourselves

David

p.s don’t be afraid to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

Related Articles

• How to Delete That Negative Voice in Your Brain (dumblittleman.com)
• Self Sabotage & The Ways To Defeat It (dr-carol.com)