Imagine you have a book of your life, what chapter is today on? Is it the beginning of a new chapter or is it the start of a new page. Are you telling a positive story or is it somewhat more challenging?
Reflect on your life as it is today and get prepared to fill in the future blank pages…..what do you want the pages to say about your life going forward?
My future pages are filled with love, happiness, adventures, exploration, new discoveries, exciting experiences and the achievement of passionate aims….I see myself super healthy, wealthy and forever happy and I am inspiring people all over the world with my creativity.
Go on create today your successes of tomorrow….see that for yourself now and feel how good that feels.
I see your book on the shelf and I want to read it. 🙂
So you’re a little unhappy about something, maybe even a lot unhappy and you really want to get out of this unhappy mode and back to where you belong, being ever so very happy. Well the good thing is, that by reading this, it’s got you thinking about what you want to change for you in your life and what you can do to make changes for the better.
Comfort Zone
You see, I’m never happy when I’m in that comfort zone, you know, that zone where, nothing’s a challenge, everything is routine and possibly a little bit stale. When I feel I need change in my life, I give myself a good talking to, throw out any fears and just take inspired action. You see I want to feel enthusiastic about life, I want to fulfil my dreams and goals, I truly do and I want to be happy doing them.
A New Adventure
So see any new change you want to take as a new adventure, a new chance to discover what’s possible, a new opportunity to pick yourself up and feel alive again and I mean really alive.
Think about what I’m saying to you here, think about what a fulfilling life would really mean for you and use that thinking to start the process of making it happen.
There is a determined spirit that lives and breathes in your very being, it doesn’t come out very often, sometimes you struggle to find it, sometimes you don’t even search for it, but it is there, waiting to be unleashed into your mind, heart and soul.
This determined spirit will take you to places you’ve never been to before, it will inspire your motivation like no other, it will take hold of your body and lead you to greatness.
Today, my determined spirit came out of its cave and it shone brighter than the brightest light. This determined spirit is taking me into the unknown, a mystical and magical future where abundance swells in my soul. This determined spirit, needs no more conversations, no more thinking of what could be, for it just shoots to its destination like a bullet of love.
This determined spirit represents fast change, inner growth and miraculous outcomes. This determined spirit wants to share with you, everything that you will become when you set your own determined spirit free.
A seed of change, an inspiring thought and a destiny of an enriched life is yours for the taking. So I say to you today, set your determined spirit free.
Sometimes when I am out running it feels like a kind of meditation, it really does, I feel I can really get to the core of my own wisdom and truth about life. Today, when I was out running I was thinking about this:
“In my experience, life goals are rarely achieved by only going in a straight line, because the experience of life is not straight, it is much more fluid and free-flowing than that. Sometimes in life we have to embrace the challenge of not always stepping forwards or even backwards for that matter, in a straight line. Sometimes we have to take zig-zag steps to the left and to the right, to truly experience and embrace life for what it really is. I believe that , life is not a straight line…..on your journey today, think about taking “The Zig-Zag Way of Life“.
In my day job when I am coaching I often work with people on how to identify what they want in life. This can be a difficult one for some people because it isn’t always obvious for them, for many different reasons.
There is one coaching tool that I use which often gets great results for the person and I would like to share it with you here today so you can try it, if you wish. I call this the “What I Want” Table (see photo below).
Take a blank piece of paper (see photo below) and head it up “What I Want“. State underneath this what life area you want to focus on for e.g. “Health”. Draw a table with two columns. On the left hand column, write the heading, “What I Don’t Want” and the right hand column, write the heading, “What I…
Look at the picture of the beautiful blue flower above and for each petal that is on this flower, I want you to think of something you are grateful for. Let’s do this together, my answers are in brackets below.
Petal 1. I am grateful for…..(my wonderful health and wellbeing.)
Petal 2. I am grateful for….(my determined spirit.)
Petal 3. I am grateful for…(my positive attitude.)
Petal 4. I am grateful for…(my amazing supportive family and friends.)
Petal 5. I am grateful for…(my grateful heart.)
If you wish you can change it up a little, you can let each petal represent something positive that is happening in your life right now, here’s another example:
Petal 1: I am so happy that my marathon training is going to plan and I love how my fitness levels are improving.
When was the last time you tried something new? If it has been quite a while then I do suggest you give something new a try.
Last week I went on holiday to Newquay, Cornwall with my mum and I tried surfing for the very first time in my life. I was really excited to try it, I was energised by the thought of surfing those waves and doing something that I always wanted to do but had never actually done it…..until now that is.
Courage
It takes a lot of courage to try something new, especially something quite physically challenging like surfing and it certainly did test my inner and outer strength……but and I mean a big BUT, I honestly can say I really LOVED IT….so much so, a week on and I am still thinking about it…..for some reason I feel the waves calling me, I just can’t explain it.
Surfing on Towan Beach
I spent over 2 hours with my surfing teacher, Maria, she was really lovely and took me step by step over everything I needed to know and be aware of. We went surfing on Towan Beach in Newquay, Cornwall and it was really stunning. The sun was shining, the waves were full of energy and I was pumped up with desire to give this new surfing challenge a go.
Maria, Surf Teacher
Excited
I was excited, nervous, happy, energised, invigorated, focused and determined to be surfing by the end of the 2 hour lesson. I can honestly say, it was a very tough job, I did not find the mastering of surfing easy, however, with expert surfer Maria by my side and with her encouragement, persistence and constant feedback I successfully managed to surf……it took me 1 hour and 40 minutes in the deep choppy sea before I was able to stand up on the board and surf….then there was no stopping me, I LOVED IT!!
Photo: (L-R) Maria & Clarabelle
To Learn Something New
To learn something new, to simply give it a go, to do something that you’ve always wanted to do or are very curious about trying, this for you is a MUST.
It’s Never Too Late
Life is often full of routine and it is easy to fill your day up with the usual stuff like shopping, watching TV and doing chores around the house, then before you know it, you’ve worked yourself into retirement and have little energy or no desire to try the things you’ve always wanted to do. It’s never too late to try something new. I was surfing the waves with a 70 year old woman who has been surfing on the beaches of Newquay for years, now that’s what I call, living life to the full.
Life, a true fulfilling, happy and wonderful life is made up of those experiences that take your breath away and make you feel alive. What makes you feel alive? What have you always wanted to try and do? I suggest YOU my friend, yes YOU, just you, GO FOR IT!!
Every month I share a question for you to ponder and I also provide you with my own answer. Here is this month’s question for you:
How do you express your individuality?
Here is my answer:
I express my individuality most definitely through my creative writing. My original poetry comes from a special place in my heart and my songwriting comes from the core of my soul and the melody of my songs from my happy and harmonious spirit. That’s how I express my individuality and it can be quite an emotional experience for me, but it is authentic to me and speaks only truth.
We are all so very special and unique and I feel it is so important for you to express who you really are and I would love to know how you do that.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend with some precious time in there…
I am thinking about my happy childhood today, so I decide to take a snapshot memory from one of these true moments and share it with you today. Release the child inside of you, just for a moment, just for today, be that child once more, it feels so loving and carefree. Lots of love, Clarabelle.
My Soul is Free
I am 8 years old, I am playing in the swing park and look up to the pretty red sky on a sweet summers night. I see a million lights sparkling in the distance, like the most precious jewels I have ever seen, they mesmerize me. It feels like I am in a hypnotic state, my heart feels happy, my soul is free, I dream, I visualise my future….
She has desires in her heart and she believes, she absolutely believes that the beauty of her vision is within easy reach. Step by step, bit by bit, moment to moment, she thinks her way to the achievement of her dreams. She looks out to the Horizon of Happiness, she knows what she has to do and she feels deep determination in her soul. She can’t stop till she gets there, she’ll never stop till she gets there and whilst “getting there” she will embrace the joy of the journey as much as she can.
She sees her mind strong, stronger than ever before and she believes in herself. Her actions are powerful, she talks empowering, positive language to herself and she surrounds herself with inspiration.
She stands there alone but with the world in her happy heart. Her piercing blue eyes, as they look out into the horizon, sparkle…
A few years ago I always used to say this quote to people, “It doesn’t matter where you are but who you are with that matters.” Yes, I do feel partly true but as I have become more spiritually aware and grown as a person I would now change that quote to this:
“It doesn’t matter where you are or who you are with, it matters how you are feeling.”
One for you to think about today.
Happiness comes from within and if you are in a super grumpy mood or feeling really low it will not matter where you are or who you are with, it will not change your experience until you change your thinking from within, which then in turn will change how you feel and what you do. Remember this THINK, FEEL, DO in that order.
Go forth and change your world for the better……if your world needs changing there is always something you can do. Have faith and turn hope into happy by doing what you need to do.
I encourage you today to pass on a smile to a stranger or to someone you don’t usually smile at. Go on, you can do it, even if they don’t smile back or acknowledge it outwardly, I can assure you it will touch them inwardly, it will make their heart smile and it will make your heart smile too.
Look at the picture of the beautiful blue flower above and for each petal that is on this flower, I want you to think of something you are grateful for. Let’s do this together, my answers are in brackets below.
Petal 1. I am grateful for…..(my wonderful health and wellbeing.)
Petal 2. I am grateful for….(my determined spirit.)
Petal 3. I am grateful for…(my positive attitude.)
Petal 4. I am grateful for…(my amazing supportive family and friends.)
Petal 5. I am grateful for…(my grateful heart.)
If you wish you can change it up a little, you can let each petal represent something positive that is happening in your life right now, here’s another example:
Petal 1: I am so happy that my marathon training is going to plan and I love how my fitness levels are improving.
Petal 2: I am so delighted that I have now committed to drinking more water throughout the day and my body and mind feels so much better for it.
Petal 3: I feel so positive about the fact that my family and friends are all in good health.
Petal 4: I am so happy that when my friends think of me, they call me and ask me how I am doing, it is so nice to be important in their lives.
Petal 5: I am so happy and positive about making progress in my life in terms of my business ideas, although the challenges are still there, I am always focused on achieving a positive solution and always do.
There you have it, just you look at each petal on that beautiful flower and let each petal represent something special for you in your life right now. I am already in a better, brighter mood just by doing this exercise with you…….I’m now ending this article with a happier heart…..I feel good.
Stay happy and keep your energy high, keep on that high vibration, only let the good vibes in and only let the good vibes out.
Be around as much positivity as possible, find the positive people in your life and remain surrounded by them.
Be a positive role model for others around you and your enthusiastic positivity will be contagious, it will keep on catching and keep on catching….yes it will positively travel.
Just think of that wonderful thought, just think of the positive impact your positive thinking can have on you, your neighbour, their friends, and their family members and before your know it, your positivity has travelled around the world and you know what, it’s coming right back to you – WOW here it comes, I know you are smiling now and I know you feel a little happier, now doesn’t that feel so good.
What gets you really excited? You know, that amazing feeling when you just can’t wait to get it started, the “I think about it all the time” feeling and you get so happy with the thought of it. Remember that excited feeling, remember the trigger, well you must try your best to bring more of that wonderful excitement into your life. Imagine life with no excitement, no way, I don’t even want to imagine that.
Concentrate on “feeling good” as much as you can in any moment. This “feeling good” emotion will spread its wings and make its way around the world and better still, it will make its way straight back to you.
Feel good now, feel good later….WOW, isn’t that a lovely thought.
Are you happy right now? I mean, are you really really happy right now? If not, what determines your very own happiness, what is it, that really makes you happy? Got your answer? Now then, this one is quite easy, just you do more of that then. More, is more, is more, is more. Happy, is happy, is happy, is happy.
So this year I take on the challenge of running my 4th marathon. I am super excited because the whole journey from start to finish makes me feel so good. There are so many positives from training for and completing a marathon, they actually live inside your heart forever…….they really do. The experience is so amazing and highly emotional (in a good way), that you’ll never forget it.
Love Running
I love running outdoors and I love the challenge of a marathon…..you never get the same experience twice and you find out how strong your heart and mind really is.
Fast Course
This year I am going to try and run the marathon under 5 hours, this will be a tough challenge but Edinburgh is a fast course (so I’m told) and it would be so good to achieve this in my home Country.
So my marathon history to date is:
2007 New York City Marathon, time 5 hours and 1 minute
2010 London Marathon, time 5 hours and 56 minutes
2013 Loch Ness Marathon, time 5 hours and 12 minutes
2015 Edinburgh Marathon, time TBC 🙂
Go on set yourself a goal this year, a real challenge, something that will change your life forever…….fancy doing a marathon?
On the dawn of this New Year, hold your dream vision tight in your mind’s eyes. Stay super focused on achieving what you want in life, and no matter what comes around the corner, keep it together.
I look forward to hearing about all your successes in the coming year.
I spied with my little eye,
Something beginning with me.
I looked at my life,
And discovered the vision I see.
It was colourful and bright,
All I wanted it to be.
Dancing and Smiling forever,
Like waves of gratitude in the sea.
I spied with my little eye,
Something beginning with happy.
Thank you to all the beautiful people from the very beautiful Philippines who visit this Clarabelle Blog. I have now completed thank you poems dedicated to the following countries so far and today, Philippines, this one is for you.
USA, India, Canada, Romania, thank you, your poems are shared on previous blog posts.
Here is a Poem for the people of the Philippines:
Happy sunny people,
from the Philippines you shine.
On this Clarabelle blog,
In my rhythm and rhyme.
You bring me great joy,
Because you visit me,
One day may I step foot,
In your beautiful country.
Hi there, this is a rather more informal blog posting, I was just wondering how you were, are you doing okay out there or maybe you’re doing even better than okay? So, please may I ask you,
How are you today?
I’d like to know more about you. 🙂
Love Clarabelle
PS: I’m happily enjoying a lovely cup of Earl Grey tea at the moment, and it’s, well, just lovely.
I didn’t know it, I honestly didn’t know this, for the best part of my life, I didn’t know this……I just didn’t.
Well, what is it, that I didn’t know?
I didn’t know that I could write, I didn’t know that I would want to write, I didn’t know that I was passionate about writing, until I started writing. I mean really started writing, regularly, consistently and being inspired to write on this blog.
It’s not that I didn’t write before, sure I’ve wrote many policies and procedures, I’ve written University Assignments, I’ve written Board Reports, I’ve written Client Summary Reports but and I mean a BIG BUT, to me, although they obviously were writing, they weren’t freedom writing, they weren’t my heart speaking and flowing with inspiring graciousness.
So to me there is “writing” and there is “real writing” and I am now captivated in the latter.
I am 41 years young now and I started this Clarabelle Blog at the age of 38, wow, has it really taken that long for me to hear my calling, for me to really truly listen to the whispers of my heart?? WOW!!
I guess it has…………………..and you know what, it doesn’t matter when in life you discover what your calling is, what’s more important is that you respond positively and do what your heart is telling you to do and in my case, I guess, it is writing……writing like this, yes, just like this, nothing too fancy, nothing too wordy, keeping it simple but full of inspirational wisdom with a poetic verse thrown in for good measure.
Isn’t life kinda funny, one minute you think you’re headed on one path and all of a sudden, something happens and you’re nudged up another path (notice I said “up” not “down”)!! Cos we’re on our way up here, right!!
I wonder what your heart is whispering to you…..I wonder? Do you wonder, or do you know the answer already to that one? I really hope you do and you are acting upon it.
On the pathway to your dreams you are most certainly going to have to get over some rough patches. There may be a cluster of them all at once or more sporadic than that, over a lengthier period of time, but regardless they will be there, eager to put you to the challenge.
Are you up for the challenge? I surely am, it’s only a “rough patch”, how rough can it get?
Like stormy waters or a rocky road, these challenges make your adventure even more worthwhile because there are many lessons in these hidden bumps.
See if you can change your perception towards the rough patches of life, see them as part of the mystery, as part of the muscle building process for your inner strength. These so called rough patches, strengthen your character and prepare you for the mountain ahead. How big is your mountain? You see, I reckon if it’s not big enough, if it’s not scary enough, then you need a bigger, much higher mountain to climb and that means a bigger more ambitious vision for yourself.
My mountain climb is scary but scary in a good way, the challenge excites me and I see myself, ALWAYS getting to the top…..I am happiest climbing the mountain, especially when I look back and see how far I have come – wow did I really make that journey?
WOW yourself today with your big mountain climb challenge, go on, I dare you!!
A good life can give you all the stability and certainty you need….that I feel, maybe a staple foundation for a good life…..you know, you have a safe and secure routine and it kinda works out alright for you – I know this because I’ve been there…..for 20 years I had a good life like that.
A Great Life
A great life, a super duper amazing life, may often give you much less of the above – less stability, less certainty, less security however for me, this great life offers so much more, more excitement, more freedom, more creativity, more time for myself, more love for what I do, more giving, more sharing, more authenticity, more surprises, more adventures, more new experiences, more new people, more fun, more exploration……wow, the list goes on.
A Gamble
So today I gamble my “good life” for a “great life” and you know what, it really is working for me right now. It was a brave step forward but I know in my heart of hearts it was definitely the right thing to do for me. Not everyone sees it that way but this is MY LIFE and I have to live it and experience it my way…..the great way!!
Are you living a “good life” or a “great life”?
I trust you know the answer to this one immediately.
I am doing a poem to all my visitors from each country, USA is now complete and I would now like to offer a very special thank you to my beautiful visitors from India, thank you for being here.
A Poem For India
Thank you,
For being here.
My visitors from India,
You fill me with cheer.
Wonderful hearts,
Bringing me smiles.
Travelling far,
Across the miles.
One day,
I will visit you.
Your fascinating country,
Pleased to meet you.
I see you, I know you’re watching me, I believe you are listening to every word I whisper, I feel you’re desire for a better you, a better life, a new tomorrow.
But I know you are a little scared, you have fears, but you’re going to be alright, you’re going to be much much better than alright. How do I know this? I just know this, because that’s why you’re here, everyday you visit me and you know it will help you, you know it will help you ease your current pain and you’re gonna make it.
Did you hear me right? Yes, you, YOU, you’re gonna make it, that dream you’ve always wanted to achieve, that burning ambition living inside of you……it’s making its way to your heart, it wants to breathe true life into you, it’s getting ready to take on the world and nothing is going to stop it, which means nothing is going to stop you.
Pause for a moment, think about it……really think about it, you can see it right? I know you can, because I can see it too. WOW, it looks amazing, your future self is so grateful you took the courage and made the first step now. Go on, take another step, that’s right, you’re doing really great…….do you feel your heart smiling, it is you know, it is smiling with super joy because you’re heading in the right direction. Where are you going? Maybe we could do this together, help each other along the way, two brave soldiers heading out into battle and the only outcome possible is reaching the rainbow at the other end.
What a great day this is, this is the most amazing day for you, you might not realise it yet, but you’ve just climbed a huge mountain and you’re now looking at the view from the top……..You may be a little bruised getting here, but you’ve got here, wasn’t it all worth it, don’t you agree that you deserve so much better for you and for your family. Let’s go my friend, there’s another mountain to climb, but we’re in this together, fighting with our hearts and minds to achieve EVERYTHING that we want and more.
Romance is in the air, spreading the love through a poetic verse or two……enjoy.
I Told Him So
I told him so
I love him dearly
I feel his heart
I see it clearly
Many footsteps,
May seem afar
Our love grows
Beyond the star
Dust will settle
On magical ground
The bell rings
I hear his sound
A smile for you
A tear for me
I told him so
I love him dearly
I encourage you today to pass on a smile to a stranger or to someone you don’t usually smile at. Go on, you can do it, even if they don’t smile back or acknowledge it outwardly, I can assure you it will touch them inwardly, it will make their heart smile and it will make your heart smile too.
Be thankful for everything you have in your life right now and most of all be thankful for your life. I am forever thankful to be here and share my happy spirit with you on this blog.
Take a moment to reflect upon all that you are grateful for, you will be amazed at how good it feels.
Expect a wonderful happy surprise, feel what that feels like and you know what, I believe that the law of attraction has got to give it to you.
Do what feels good to you and that doesn’t mean that you have to wait until it has actually materialised, feel good now, in this moment and smile. I think a lovely surprise is on it’s way to you and to me…just you wait and see!!
Life is full of wonderful surprises, love to you, Clarabelle.
How do you know you are strong, how do you really know, have you tested your inner strength recently? Why not test it again over the next few days, weeks, months?…I encourage you to set yourself a goal, a goal that will challenge your inner being, a goal that when you reach it, you know that you are even more stronger that you could ever imagine.
Make a commitment to yourself to be brave, to release your courageous soul into the universe and let it unleash your greatest potential to fight for that goal. Make sure it’s a goal worth fighting for and if it is……well I already know you’ve made it, I already know and you do too.
As I “type” this 🙂 I urge you today to handwrite a letter to someone. By writing a letter to a friend or family member, to me, it actually feels much more meaningful, it gives it much more sincerity and thoughtfulness. That’s not to say that an email can’t be, but I just think it is really nice now and again to handwrite a letter to a special person in your life.
Today I had the choice to send an email or handwrite a letter and for the first time in a long time, I did the latter…..I sat down at my desk and wrote a letter to the person. Now I did deliberately make more time for it and yes my hand was a little sore after filing 6 pages but, you know what, it felt really really good, I felt that I was putting some beautiful loving energy onto that paper and now that person will receive that lovely energy even more so when they read.
Who do you want to write a letter to today? I encourage you to take some time out of your beautiful busy life and handwrite a letter to someone important in your life. Believe me you will receive many benefits by doing this and so will the person receiving the letter, I am so sure of that.
Clarabelle Online Magazine 