Embracing moments in life

So how has your year been?

In this end of year blog, I will share some of my personal experiences, guidance for the year ahead and also a free guided meditation on clearing and releasing.

Its okay to talk the talk, but you must also walk the walk. I can’t help others to help themselves if I don’t acknowledge the lessons I have learned along the way, but first I must realise what every experience has taught me so that I can take the positive from each and in turn pass it on.

When we take a few moments to reflect on the passing year, some of us may be thankful it is over for whatever reason, for others including myself, I am grateful for the wonderful personal and heartfelt experiences I have had like walking another route of the Camino de Santiago in which I get to visit new destinations, challenge myself not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. It has taught me the greatest lesson in pushing past the limits I may have held in my mind and knowing that we are capable of extraordinary things when we start to believe in ourselves. I have had many an argument with myself on these long walks on the Camino and afterwards I am always glad that I listened to my heart.

I also got to visit my friend Mike and his family in Canada after he lost his beautiful wife Jennifer from cancer. Mike has been a friend for many years and although we kept in touch, I hadn’t been to visit him in nearly 19 years, it taught me to not put things off and that sometimes distance isn’t really a factor when you have a friend going through grief and needs support. I wrote a blog after my return home on how we all experience grief differently, time helps, but it is always there, be compassionate to those around you that may need support and that means being able to speak about the ones they have lost - no matter how long ago it was.

For myself and my wonderful husband John, we had our first holiday abroad in Portugal as a couple in nearly twenty years and we enjoyed every single moment. Again this taught me that we must work at our relationships and spend quality time together and appreciate each other. Just walking on the beach hand in hand helps you to re-connect and remind you why you fell in love with each other in the first place and that we are both individuals growing alongside each other.

In my professional life, I had the opportunity to speak at some wonderful public and private events, sharing my story and meeting so many courageous people wanting to create a change in their own lives. My one to one clients continue to inspire me by showing me that we are resilient beyond belief and that once we open up to our true selves that we can start to heal and create a life that has purposeful meaning.

As 2019 is coming to a close, I have made peace with the challenges I have faced.

I have faced challenges within my own family, some I am walking alongside and supporting, others I am following their lead. No matter how we feel, whether it is our children or parents, try not to let your own beliefs or emotions get in the way of their path. With my children, they have taught me so much and I am the student when it comes to their new independence as they are now young adults. The path my children have chosen and will choose in the future shows we have not done a bad job as their Mammy & Daddy, they have grown up to be passionate, independent and determined to follow their hearts. They are teaching us everyday.

A few months ago we were faced with the prospect that we may lose our Mother after she was diagnosed with cancer, it hit us all quite hard knowing that this wonderful woman who has always been in our lives, may one day be gone. Thankfully, my Mother has responded very well to treatment and her oncologist gave her great news yesterday, so we celebrated!

It made us all very aware that my Mother is getting older and one day she will be gone, but instead of worrying about when she won’t be here, we enjoy the time we have with her now. It is a simple lesson in mindfulness and gratitude, one that we learn to practise even more when we are faced with losing someone close to us.

My lesson in this whole experience is to not take each other for granted. To be fully present with the ones you love when they are with you, to listen, to share and stop putting things off.

This is the greatest moment you will ever have.

Let go of all those fears, doubts and worries and ask yourself “what is truly important to me?” Most answers will be the people you share your life with! Because at the end of the day, the people you love will be the ones around your bedside when it comes time to say your final goodbye.

Life is made up of moments and moments create memories. I like to keep a bank of fun and happy memories that bring joy and happiness to my heart. I don’t want to live with regret in my life, so I make the most of every opportunity and experience in each day, if this was your last day - what would you do and who would you spend it with!?

With love and blessings to you all.

Sharon

Guidance for the year ahead

Guidance card for the year ahead

Where does your mind wander - into fear, fantasy, humour or stress? Follow your mind and observe where it goes to feed itself. Do you like what you see and feel? Many of my clients and groups come to me telling me they are fatigued or unmotivated, so the first step is choosing - how do you want to feel?

The more you focus on feeling not so good, unhappy or sad, the more that energy flows through your mind and ultimately your body, unresolved issues buried deep within your emotional and mental energy, starts to have an impact on you physically. So what simple steps can you take today and every day to help yourself? Taking that first step in acknowledging how you feel and taking action to create a change - even one small change, will have a ripple effect in your life.

Being mindful helps us to be more present with our thoughts and emotions. When you become more self-aware you are more equipped to change the pattern of your thoughts. Always acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, accept that they are present and then allow them to go.

Life has many paths and we choose which path is right for us in any given moment. Develop a stronger sense of self and follow the path of your heart. Where do you feel the greatest passion and drive? Listen to your intuition and work closely with people who inspire you to develop your creativity and strengths.

You don’t have to stay with anyone or in any job that does not appreciate who you truly are or your amazing skills, if you don’t feel appreciated, then you are not appreciating yourself.

Each and everyone of us deserve to be loved and appreciated, you start and others will follow your lead.

Sharon

Love letters from your Soul

Do you remember as a child laying down upon the grass and looking up at the sky? In your mind  you just allowed images to float into your mind as you smiled at the many creations you could make out of a white fluffy shape far off in the distance. The many dreams you woke from seeing yourself taking part in the greatest of adventures and travelling foreign lands meeting people from different cultures as you were the greatest explorer?

You may think these were the whimsical ramblings of your childhood, but from these early years, you were forming a belief in your mind that everything was possible and that some day you would grow up and achieve all those  magnificent dreams. So what changed?

Some may say 'life' happened and that your circumstances along the way altered your dreams and stopped you in your tracks, then there are others that say "I am living my dreams", what makes us so different?

Most of us take on life with many dreams and ambitions but may have got caught up with other responsibilities along the way and now feel that we are no longer the great adventurer, but a great provider or protector.

But do you know who you are right now, have you taken the time to ask yourself one simple question, who am I, what do I want?

I know on the days that I get a little overwhelmed by 'all I have to do' that I get lost in that monkey chatter in my head and lose sight of what is really important. When we allow ourselves to lose sight of our true passion we start to resent the things we 'have' to do as we are not putting any real focus on what we 'want' to do.

So my little exercise for mind, body and soul every day is to simply sit for a few minutes and take out a pen and paper and write one question that I need to ask myself for the answer, believe me no one else can give you the answer you really seek, only you!

You may not get the answer you wanted, but then again we more than likely never do, but our soul knows exactly what is right for us and will guide that idea or inspiration into our hearts and minds, if we allow it.

Throughout the day, be mindful of the question you asked earlier on and had written down and simply go about your day, you will start to become aware of the thoughts and feelings that come into your conscious mind as you have opened up a doorway to receive guidance, write down any thoughts or ideas and let them flow. You will be absolutely amazed and all the things you have written by the end of the day. 

Then when you have loads of ideas, look at each one and decide to put one or all of them into action, it just takes a decision in your  mind, the intention to create or make it happen and you are already half way there. 

The problem is most of you will have loads of ideas and just allow them to flow out into the Ether, wondering why nothing is changing in your life. I know, I have been there! 

Everyday set aside five minutes, take out a pen and paper. Write a question you would like an answer to and start to write every idea or thought that you feel relates to it. You can still create the life you want each and every day, it doesn't have to happen immediately, but by taking your power back and allowing yourself to dream mindfully can be a wonderful experience in you opening your world up to new and exciting opportunities.

Let me know how you get on, I would love to hear all your amazing ideas 

Love Sharon 

Check out 30 Powerful Manifestations Mantras to manifest your dreams https://www.alittlesparkofjoy.com/manifestation-mantras/