Itβs been 100 years since John McCrae, a doctor and soldier born in Guelph, wrote In Flanders Fields.
Inspired by the death of his comrade a day earlier, he is thought to have composed the piece in the back of an ambulance after a battle in Belgium.
Though he initially discarded his work, another soldier found and published what would become one of Canadaβs most iconic poems. π¦
Potential is fickle while everyday behaviour not only reveals todayβs reality, it also foreshadows our tomorrow. π¦
Happy Canada Day my friends! I am so grateful and honoured to call myself Canadian! To be able to live in the majestic beauty of this land, with my friends and family, in freedom and peace, surrounded by the richness and diversity that so many cultures gift us with, is a blessing that I cherish everyday. Eh?
No matter what you may be experiencing in your life, at work or in your relationships you are worthy.
No matter what is going on in your outer world, your worthiness is inherent and absolute.
Even if you have a contemptuous self-loathing relationship with yourself, your worthiness remains irrefutable.
Your self-destructive behaviour can not tamper with your worthiness.
The unpleasant and cutting opinions of others towards you, cannot inflict any damage on your worthiness.
Spiteful, jealous people shredding your character cannot quash your worthiness.
You are emphatically worthy. Period.
Imagine, how your life might be different if you believed that you are ever worthy. π¦
2020, the tipping point, men and women of all races embracing their humanity for all sentient beings, for life itself. π¦
Yes, we are human after all.
Right now, for many of us, our mental and emotional capacity, strength and resilience are being tested and stretched to their limits.
Most of us are yo-yo-ing through the restrictions and unpleasantness of living together yet separately in this unexpected covid-19 world.
One day, we are the heroβs and heroineβs of our story as we slay the slings and arrows of this outrageous pandemic and then the next day we can barely get out of bed let alone purge our house or write the next Pulitzer Prize book.
Itβs okay to be zig zagging on our lifeβs continuum, to feel two things at the same time, to be grateful yet sad, energetic and productive yet lethargic and unmotivated.
Yes, we can be happy to have a home, food, health and safety, and yet feel angry about the unpleasant effects that COVID-19 is having on our lives.
Bottom-line, there is no right way to be, except to be real, honest and vulnerable with ourselves, to compassionately give ourselves permission to be whatever fits in the moment, to move through this βcraziness’ one day at a time. π¦
When we’re stressed, hormones like cortisol flood our systems, producing the ‘fight flight or freeze response’ in which our heart rate goes up, we breathe more heavily and our blood vessels constrict. We don’t always have a choice when it comes to getting stressed, so we may as well work on undoing its effects. With that in mind, this photo has a few ways, backed up by scientific evidence, to keep our stress in check. π¦
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise you can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet the sky is no longer thick with fumes but blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi people are singing to each other across the empty squares,keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood so that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way.
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality, to how big we really are, how little control we really have and to what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic.
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul and though you may not be able to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
~ Richard Hendrick (Brother Richard) in Ireland
March 13th 2020
Resonant breathing, also called coherent breathing, can help us calm our anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and help us to get into a more relaxed state.
Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to our brain and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes a state of calmness.
I personally use and recommend to my clients the 4-7-8 breathing technique, that focuses on the following breathing pattern:
* empty the lungs of air.
* breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds.
* hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds.
* exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a βwhooshβ sound, for 8 seconds.
* repeat the cycle up to 2-4 times.
I promise you that when you do this correctly, it will greatly reduce your anxiety, stress or overwhelm. π¦
‘Pragmatic Optimism’ is knowing that everything will be ok while we follow the recommendations made by authorities, showing good citizenship, being socially responsible and staying at home. π¦
And the people stayed home.
And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
~ Kitty O’Meara
Coach Judit
Everything is going to be alright. Intuitively, we know this. We also know that we are strong, powerful and resilient.
Globally, we know that the pandemic will flatten, the dust will settle and we will return to normal, a slightly altered normal but normal nevertheless.
Let us remember…
That cool heads prevail, to discern the facts from the drama. To be informed but to stop news binging. To talk ourselves down from our anxiety by disproving our fear based inner dialogue with actual facts.Β
And …
To breath deeply, to reduce our anxiety quickly and naturally.
To journal about our thoughts and feelings with pen and paper.
Review our options.
To think creatively.
Act responsibly, follow the rules laid out by our government and medical officials.
Focus our attention on daily random acts of kindness, ours and others.
Fear is normal, leverage it, get proactive, creative and productive.
Also …
Clean, organize and purge your home, car, office, electronic files ….
Start that creative project youβve been thinking about.
Learn something new, read watch a documentary or e-learning …
Go for walks in the park. Play with your children. Jog. Meditate. Workout β¦
Reach out with a helping hand to the vulnerable and frail in your community.
Mend those fences, forgive and make peace.
Watch or listen to comedy! Dance! Listen to nature sounds, meditative music and your favourite bands, musicians.
Engage …
This is our time to govern our thoughts and feelings, open our heart and reach out to others with a helping hand and kindness.
If there was ever a time to have an immersive self-empowerment experience itβs now. Consciously, let us embody our authentic power and move forward with our innate creative power.
You are not alone, we are in this crisis together …
If you have positive, empowering, proactive, or pragmatic thoughts and recommendations to share, please comment below. π¦
How might your life be different if you decided to stop tolerating or suffering your own thoughts, void of clarity, confidence and courage.
How would your life be different if you dared yourself to move out of your comfort zone, tackled your fears and gave your self permission to live a more authentic version of whom you are?
Mmmm, imagine the joy, freedom, expansiveness, passion, aliveness, you would feel if you dared yourself to experience the life which is in your heart.
What are three things you can do today to start moving in the direction of your dreams? π¦
Challenges are significant opportunities waiting to be enlivened. Appreciative inquiry, attentiveness and proactivity can alchemize our challenges into golden moments of good fortune.π¦
How might your life be different if you believed that you are loved, lovable and loving? π¦
Many do not want to forgive because they have a misguided belief that by holding on to their anger, hatred or resentment is somehow punishing the other person. Wrong! That is not the case.
Rather, withholding forgiveness is akin to drinking poison with the hope that the other person will die. They wonβt!
Forgive them for your own peace of mind, healing and freedom. You deserve to reclaim your power, your life. π¦
A toxic person is usually characterized as being insecure, self-centred, jealous, manipulative, domineering and controlling.
How do you know if you are in relationship with a toxic person? They tend to suck the sweetness out of your life and emotionally shred you.
The following are 10 common signs that a person is toxic;
π¦ You’re left feeling emotionally exhausted after spending time with them.
π¦ They try to intimidate, blame or shame you to get their way.
π¦ They try control you with guilt.
π¦ They easily anger and lash out.
π¦ They can’t take ‘no’ as an answer.
π¦ They see themselves as a victim, to garner attention and sympathy.
π¦ They give ambiguous back-handed compliments.
π¦ They have no respect for your boundaries.
π¦ They donβt take responsibility for their own feelings.
π¦ They are self-centred, uncaring and unsupportive.
Essentially, toxic people are not interested in you and your life. They are interested in how you can be an asset for them, how they can use you for their own benefit.
You cannot change them!
You deserve to have respectful, supportive and appreciative people in your life. Life is too short to spend time with people who donβt inspire you to be your best self, living your authentic life.
I hope you will use this post as a springboard to immunize yourself against the toxic people in your life, to walk away! π¦
I think one of the most destructive beliefs we have about relationships is that our partner is responsible for meeting our needs. This belief is not only wrong, it is toxic poison, that destroys most relationships.
To be clear, he or she is not obligated to fulfilling your needs, you are. In turn, you are free from the nonsensical notion that it is your job to fulfill his or her needs.
However, and this is key for a thriving relationship, you are both equally responsible for meeting the needs of your relationship.π¦
Discomfort is the currency of success in life, love and leadership. If you feel uncomfortable, out of your depth, overwhelmed or scared then know that you have inadvertently stumbled or intentionally pitched yourself out of your loathsome yet comfortable rut. You are on a life altering adventure, moving towards the light of where you belong, your brilliant life, career and relationship. Lean in, level up and just keep going. Youβve got this. π¦
How to simplify life?#clarify #illuminate #streamline #detach, #purge, #sayno, #sayyes, #bereal #detox #eliminate #walkaway, #beonpurpose, #slowdown, #exhale #disentangle #withdraw #stop #start #disconnect … and then inhale your freedom and live. π¦
I will never be fearless nor do I want to be. Fear is my ally. When fear creeps into my thoughts I know Iβm on the right path. Fear alerts me that what Iβm about to do is important for my soul’s calling, my personal evolution and empowerment When fear slithers into my consciousness it signals that it is time to suit up with courage and get moving in the direction of my heartβs desire. π¦
With commitment we can never fail. Without commitment we will fail. If itβs important we commit 100% . If itβs sort of important, we will sort of commit and then wonder why something is not working out as we had hoped. Outcomes never lie. Go all in for yourself, make the commitment, take the risk and ride the tiger to the end. π¦
