Feel the Power of Affirmations

Affirmations are one on my favorite tools for when life becomes a little rocky and you need to over-ride negative thoughts and restore your positive spirit and sense of wellness.  And let's face it, this happens to all of us.  I was first seriously introduced to (and moved to use) affirmations by Susan Jeffers as part of her Feel the Fear and do it Anyway workshop.

As Jeffers states, "As I explain in Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, an affirmation is a strong, positive statement telling us that "all is well", despite what the negativity of the mind may be saying to us.  With constant repetition of this uplifting and soothing statement, the voice of doom and gloom that roams through our mind is replaced with thoughts of peace, power and love. Yes all is well.  I believe that one of the reasons that affirmations are so powerful is that, by replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts, we are actually moving ourselves from the weakest part of who we are (the lower self) to the strongest and most loving part of who we are (the higher self).  I can't think of a better place to be!"

Affirmations are simple, easy to use and assist you to live above the line.  Affirmations are the most positive form of self talk and can extinguish your negative chatterbox.  To achieve this, you must use them regularly.  Repeat them daily and as often as you can.  Write out your affirmations and carry them wherever you go.

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you create your very own affirmations.
1. Write your affirmations in the present tense.  Eg I am .... rather than I will....
2. You do not have to believe the statement
3. You must repeat your affirmation everyday as often as you can.

In a short time, you will believe whatever it is that you are saying to yourself, you just need to repeat it often enough.

At the moment my three affirmations are;
1. No matter what happens, I can handle it.
2. I am gorgeous just the way I am.
3. I let go and I trust.

For more about affirmations go to http://www.susanjeffers.com/ and sign up for the newsletter.  When  you do you can download Susna Jeffer's "Why Affirmations are So Powerful Booklet."  It's a beauty.  Once you have created / established your affirmations, click on the comments link and tell me what they are.  This is just another way to commit to living above the line and through your higher self.  And this is a powerful place to be!                         

Questions Worth Answering.....



Australian Future Grain Leaders 2011 and Facilitator Dana in Perth.  

 Two great projects I lead as part of my work are the Australian Future Grain Leaders and the Australian Future Cotton Leader Programs.  These programs support emerging leaders to develop their leadership skills in a reasonably short period of time and apply these within their industries with support from program stakeholders.  As one of the facilitators I am always inspired, motivated and proud to be a part of these programs.  In addition, a number of leader profiles are identified and invited to speak to the groups about their own leadership journey.  These can be a great highlight of the program as they challenge the participants to think about their future pathway.  This week in Perth, this is indeed what happened with guest speaker Doug Fitch, Director of AgWorld.  He suggested the following Questions as Worth Answering......

• What is your passion?
• What are your gifts?
• Who are your mentors?
• Will it make a difference and to whom?
• Who will you follow and who will you lead?
• What is your plan?

WOW these are pretty powerful questions - wouldn't it be great to know all the answers?  Spend some time with these questions and see how you go.  Another key message from Doug was Who I am is not just what I do!  This certainly resonated with me, now I'm off to jot down my answers to Questions Worth Answering.... Good Luck as you too take on this challenge.  Please share how you get on. 
           

Family Apple Picking Loads of Fun



Sisters on an Apple Hunt

   Apple picking - at least the way we do it in our family - is kind of like life!  It's where perseverance pays off and the laughs and chats around (and under) the apple tree are priceless.

Today I went apple picking with my two beautiful sisters and niece and we talked about life and love and dreams and gee did we laugh.  We fell over and given the rain we have had lately - lots of it - today was slippery.  We slipped down entire embankments as well as slipping up them. We grabbed on to grass to stop us from falling and clung to tree branches to cushion a fall.  Apple picking is dangerous stuff in our family.  

Once home we had a shared lunch, laughed and talked some more and then divided up the apples.  Then it was back home to stew some up and freeze.  And yes now I am older I realise the  days are not about the apples, they are indeed about life, love and family.

These days are about sharing an experience, enjoying each other's company and truly being in and enjoying the moment.  They are about the journey not the destination.


On the descent and then...slip!!



More apples to be picked!



View from the apple tree



Another bucket full coming up. 




 

A Great Day - This Tree was Loaded





Wonderful Things Happen Everyday

Have just enjoyed a wonderful time in Moree with a group of motivated and inspiring women who are committed to future change and are positive role models and change agents in their families, enterprises, communities, industries and beyond. We spent time on change management, finding focus and supporting each other to commit to change actions for the next 8 weeks.  As part of this mine is to reinvigorate this blog and to use it as a way of communicating to a wider audience about the work that I do and more importantly to provide snippets of information to assist those of you curently navigating change.  I'm looking forward to it.

A focus of the day was how important it is to recognise your achievements, give thanks and to review each day and say "well done" instead of focussing on the one or two things that you didn't get done!  Afterall there is always tomorrow.  Isn't this what tomorrows are for?

So try this daily ritual and see how it can truly change your outlook.  Before you go to sleep each night, review your day.  Look back over the day's activities and give thanks for the opportunities granted to you and say well done for things you achieved / attempted  and allow yourself to be proud of these.  As Robert Quillen says "If you count all your assets, you always show a profit."  So start counting!  Count the positives and let go of the negatives.

It's time to realise just how many things in your life are wonderful.  With this you will find that any negativity that hovers about just won't stick as your happiness and fantastic self talk and belief will ensure that any negativity wil just pass right on by.