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 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.
Do you believe in Fairytale endings?… I certainly do, you’ve got to. You’ve got to believe that everything you are working towards on the pathway to your dreams is going to manifest just the way you want it to or even better than that.
Your Fairytale ending is the ultimate vision you want for your future, even if it only feels like a whisper in the wind at the moment. Keep digging, keep trying, keep putting the right energy out there and something’s got to catch, like a ripple effect on the water, only this ripple is connected to your Fairytale ending.
See your reflection in the lake, see it as a mirror image of the person you are becoming, your future self dancing joyfully in your Fairytale ending.
Do something today to get you closer to your dreams…….keep up the great work and never stop putting in the effort that you need to put in until you get there.
Let me tell you something, I was thinking about this, only this evening. If you’re looking for the end, if you’re wanting the process to “hurry up” then whatever it is that you are doing, may not be for you.
I write to you, everyday I write, I never look for the ending, I never think, when is this piece of writing going to end. The reason being is that I love it so much, love never wants to end, it’s continuous it’s unbreakable, the bond only gets stronger.
So if you’re looking into the distance and questioning, when will you get there…….maybe you have to change the question…….and if you have to change the question, then I guess you already know the answer.
Never ever will I stop writing to you, because even when my soul has passed on to another dimension, my spirit still shines in you, the reader and this then inspires you…..and the light continues to shine on.
You may only be one candle, but this one candle, has the power to light up the Universe.
Please remember how empowering you can be.
Light up your world and you light up the world of everyone around you.
I was having a little look at my blog stats today and I am over the moon with the people from all the different counties who have visited my blog. Out of 196 countries in the world, so far, people from 138 countries around the world have visited my blog. I am actually astounded, that’s 70% of the world’s countries are represented on stats on my blog.
So, as a massive THANK YOU to you from around the world, I am going to do a poem for your very own country. So I will make my list very soon and then I will do a lovely bespoke poem for you in your country, that’s the least I can do as a special thank you for visiting. So if whether you’re from Ireland or Australia or France or Brazil…..all 138 of you will be getting a dedicated poem. Of course, any new arrivals of countries, will also get their own poem. I’m really looking forward to this, I really am. Look out for your poem for your country. I am smiling, I am looking forward to doing this.
Every moment is a moment to change, don’t give up the fight, there are hands and many hearts helping you forever. Keep going my friend. Love Clarabelle.
It’s Hard to Believe
It’s hard to believe,
in the torrential rain.
That the sun will shine,
and free you from pain.
It’s hard to let go,
when love pulls you in.
But a one sided love,
can never win.
It’s hard to smile,
when you’re hurting inside,
when the river runs deep,
and you’ve lost all pride.
It’s hard to be you,
when you feel so drained,
emotional pain,
keeping you chained.
But believe my heart,
believe what it says.
The rainbow is ready,
and the Angel prays.
She flies above your home,
drying up your tears.
She sends you much love,
and banishes the fears.
And as you sleep,
in bed tonight.
the little Angel of love,
Shines on you bright.
With a warmth like no other.
and a pure glowing heart.
Sad times move on
And you’ll have a fresh start.
Inspiration will find you when you’re ready to be inspired, just like the famous phrase, when the student is ready the teacher will appear. An inspired heart has the power to breakthrough almost any barrier. Are you ready to be inspired?….I guess you are because you’re here, thank you.
I do believe I am, probably 99% happy with lots of things in my life. I suppose, it’s all actually down to my perception because another might experience an equivalent life and not perceive it as high a percentage. I am, in general a happy person, a natural happy spirit. This doesn’t mean I don’t have down days and hard times, I just automatically feel most true to myself just being, well……..happy!! I do my best to focus on solutions to problems, but I don’t always get it right. When I am in the 1% moments I immediately recognise it and put so much energy into turning it around for myself. Simple things like going for a walk, watching a motivational video on YouTube, writing a poem, posting to this blog or visiting my mum, they all help me get back to that happier feeling again.
If you don’t have a simple strategy to play when the chips are down, why not think about one for yourself now. Whatever works for you is a must for you to action at the times you need it most.
Hey, maybe even reading by blog helps you…….now that really does make me happy.
Just before I start my days work, here is a poem of the heart for you:
A Poem of the Heart
A poem of the heart,
especially for you.
To make you feel loved,
so wonderful and true.
A poem from my soul,
lifting you up,
Raising your spirits,
with a half full cup.
A poem of truth,
with a magical spell.
This poem is for you,
and I wish you well.
Wishing you a very beautiful day today, share a piece of your heart.
I remember when I first heard this quote below, from Dr. Wayne Dyer – it really touched my soul. I thought I would share it with you today and hopefully it will ring some truth for you and connect with you in a special way to take inspired action.
“Don’t die with your music still inside you. Listen to your intuitive inner voice and find what passion stirs your soul. Listen to that inner voice, and don’t get to the end of your life and say, ‘What if my whole life has been wrong?”
A little bit of motivation goes a long long way. I love anything motivational and inspirational, so much so that I’ve got to get my daily fix. I usually listen to 1-2 hours of motivational stuff when I wake up in the morning and then often listen to more throughout the day when I can. Below is a list of just some of my favourite motivational and inspirational people:
Les Brown
Tony Robbins
Jim Rohn
Wayne Dyer
Abraham Hicks
Will Smith
Oprah Winfrey
Louise Hay
Rhonda Byrne
Ralph Smart
Burt Goldman
Deepak Chopra
Bill Crawford
Super Focused
This helps me to stay super focused on developing myself in order to achieve my goals and dreams in life. This journey of life can mess with your heart and mind sometimes – if you let it, so I believe it’s always good to have a mechanism or process that works for you to get you “back on track”.
My original music and poetry comes from a peaceful place in my heart and soul and I would definitely say that “hanging around” everyday with the above inspirational people has certainly helped me to achieve that and believe in myself.
So get yourself on to YouTube today and check these guys out because I know if you listen to what they have to say it will inspire you for the rest of your life.
Keep going my friends…..keep going…..keep going….and be grateful for what you have along the way.
I am delighted to share with you today a Guest Post from Steve Davis in relation to leading and working with a team. Steve is a highly motivated and inspirational individual and I would also encourage you to visit his empowering blog http://stevendavisuk.com/
Steve Davis
Guest Post by Steve Davis
Hi, I am Steve. I write an increasingly popular blog to inspire and motivate people like you and me. My goals are to help others to get drive, hunger and some passion whether it is in their professional life or personal life. For many years I have been motivating different teams with different types of people with much success. Increasing attitude, productivity and results for those I have worked with. If you would like to engage with my increasingly popular blog, please visit http://stevendavisuk.com/
I wanted to share with you 3 factors that I find are very important when leading/ working with a team.
Lead your team by example
In order to have a productive team, you must be a productive leader. Role-modelling what the employees are expected to do creates great influence, not only on the team but on the work environment itself. It will also generate enthusiasm and will inspire everybody to work more productive and harder. Sometimes it’s simply because your employees are looking up to you. Small things like being on time or being energetic may affect your employee most. This is a massive part of my game as I am always smiling and full of the well, ‘joys of spring’. However, role modelling is sometimes easily overlooked. Be careful with what you do, how you say things, and what you say to keep your team MOTIVATED.
Give ‘worthwhile’ incentives
Celebrating success within the team is HUGE. Giving your team an extra incentive aside from what they are compensated for monthly can be considered as a ‘high impact’ motivation driver. This type of motivation often applies if the performance of the whole organisation is at par with its strategy and goals, be it weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even yearly. However, keep in mind that it is not only monetary incentives that count. My team often like vouchers, ‘Reach-and-Go’s’ and any form of companywide recognition. When this was introduced to numerous teams across my company it had a positive impact on results, activity and morale! Don’t forget, ask the team what they want and compromise where possible, so your incentives will DRIVE them to win.
Listen carefully
This may seem like the easiest thing to do, but you will be surprised how hard it is to actually take on board. I know many leaders who are somewhat successful but struggle to listen. We can all hear what others are saying but to listen is challenging at best. With all your worries about your business, its targets and operations, how will you have the time to listen about how Henry forgot his lunch and now has to buy food from local amenities? It’s tough, but make a conscious effort to give that time to listen. You might think that your employees’ problems are ‘insignificant’ compared to yours, but you can’t make that call on what is important to a person and what is not. Listening to your teams concerns will be greatly appreciated. They will feel more empowered and happy since they are talking to the leader of the team.
Inspiring and motivating your team is one of the most crucial job descriptions for a leader, you can teach skills, benefits and duties but lack of motivation to the team often results to decreasing productivity and declining results. Please keep in touch http://stevendavisuk.com/
Thank You
A very special thank you to Steve for sharing this post with us, I hope you found it as valuable as I did. Clarabelle
If you are interested in doing a Guest Post for this Clarabelle blog, then I would really love to hear from you. Please send me an email to claire@murraypeople.com noting your interest. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.
One thing I have discovered for sure, is that if you don’t have clarity on where you are going, chances are you might just go around in circles. It’s so easy to drift when your destination is unknown, so I would encourage anyone who feels like they are in “drifting” mode to take time out to really answer that question for themselves.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
It may seem like such a simple question but it can be a difficult one to answer and/or even a more challenging one to pursue. You know what you’ve got to do though and I think this is a good place to start.
Please also ensure that the destination is in alignment with your core values, what and who is most important to you in your life, your passions, wants and desires.
I would love to hear all about it, please keep me posted or better still send me a postcard from that beautiful destination, yes that one place that just feels like home, like no other. 🙂
Everyone needs a little bit of motivation and inspiration now and again, it is good for the soul and it can make all the difference in your life at any moment in time.
If you have 3 minutes to spare today, listen to the words of this motivational speech that I created. It contains words from the heart, words to feed your mind and connect with your soul. I hope it gives you a little boost.
Please also feel free to share it if you feel you know someone else who might benefit from listening to it.
Keep going my friend, keep going till you get to the top, because indeed that is where the best view is.
I wrote this motivational and inspirational speech from deep within my heart and soul for YOU yesterday and I recorded it on Youtube this morning. I do hope this inspires you to be the BEST EVER YOU. Love Clarabelle
BEST EVER YOU
Who Am I? I am a woman, a person with a heart, a loving heart, a soul, a singing soul, a spirit, a happy spirit. I have dreams, great, great, dreams. I have plans, big, big, plans. I have faith, strong faith in the mystery of the unknown and I BELIEVE.
I believe with every part of my being that only magnificence lies before me. I have a unique power that goes beyond the impossible. I have an energy that attracts true abundance to me. I am alive and I am grateful for all that I am and for all that I am becoming.
I can create magic around me because I breathe and do with passion, every baby step that I take on this journey of life.
The miracle of all miracles is in me and in every path I come across. Every heart that I touch, every soul that I inspire, every star that I catch and every rainbow that protects me from the storms.
I am at one with me, in the silence of all silences my spirit shines and my light guides me out of the darkness.
I fly, I soar, I reach for the mountain top and when I get there, I see far in the distance another higher mountain to climb. But it is in the challenge of every challenge to only ever reach the top. The top is never ending, the beginning is never new, life is, what it is.
Life is how you see it.
Life is how you live it.
Life is how you love it.
There is freedom, there is abundance, there is everything you need and want before you. You can’t see it with your eyes, you can’t touch it with your hands but it is living, breathing and dancing around you. This invisible space is your space, your space to fill with smiles, laughter, love, joy and happiness. Nourish the space around you by nourishing peace from within, because even in stormy weathers you can find a calm place.
So go to the edge of the mountain top because it is waiting for you with open arms. Other travellers want to hear your story, want to learn from your experiences, good or bad. They want to know, what you know, to help them on their own journey of life.
Then you must find a quiet spot and listen to the sound of the wind, whispers of the greatest knowledge will come to you and you will use this wisdom to carry on.
Yes you may feel broken right now.
Yes you may have cried enough tears to fill a river.
Yes you may feel like a failure and all your self-worth and self-confidence has gone.
But I want to tell you something. It’s still there you know. The best part of you is still living in you. You still have that spark. You still shine. You are loved deeply and your heart knows this.
The mind can play games with our feelings, but the mind has no hold over the power of the heart. Close your eyes, feel your heart, feel its energy, feel its power, let it grow inside of you.
You are very special and you can and will do this. You will turn your life around for the better.
This is the moment that counts, this is when you decide enough is enough. This is when you say “I am strong, I am better than that and I believe in me and my potential. I am whatever I choose to be and I choose to be what I believe in my heart. I am my greatest dreams, I am.”
Never settle for too little because you have such a lot and to not unleash your true talents into this world would surely keep you from the wisdom that is truly yours.
Trust in you, trust in your abilities, trust that everyone is asking similar questions and this is your time to fight back. This is your time to answer with your heart. This is your life, to love, to live, to learn and to lead. Capture that feeling in your heart right now, let it flow through every vein in your body, let it illuminate you with drive, determination and self-discipline, now mix it with passion and purpose and you’re on your way.
You are free now, free to make the right choices and decisions in life that will make you the BEST EVER YOU. Your new life awaits – make every moment count and GO GET IT, because nobody deserves it more than you. You have all the qualities within you to make it. Thrive, grow and shine NOW and FOREVER.
I wrote this song because I wanted the lyrics to inspire people to really believe in themselves and go for their dreams and goals in life. The song is entitled, “I Am The Greatest” and I want the person singing along to it, to really believe that they are and to feel encouraged and empowered by the words from within. Inspiration is everywhere and I do hope you find some of it in this song. Below is the Youtube video of me singing it for you. I am still working on the backing tracks but I didn’t want that to stop the process of me sharing this with you. 🙂 Wishing you a day filled with love and inspiration, love Clarabelle.
I want you to think about this, how do you usually respond to the people and circumstances around you when you are in a low mood? Chances are if you’re anything like me, not very positively. Wouldn’t it be best then to wait until your mood changes to a much more positive mood before you respond to situations. Yes, I know you can’t wait forever because this is life and you will want to be getting on with things, but if you take ‘time’ out of the equation and focus more on changing your thinking about the situation then ‘time’ will not be the main issue……you just have to change your thinking. You see it’s all really about THINK, FEEL, DO – let me explain. Your thinking comes first, which then determines how you feel which is then followed by what you do, so if you don’t like what you’re doing or how you’re feeling change the way you think.
High Mood
I want to encourage you to really think about what you’re thinking before you respond to anything in your life. When you are in a high mood you will be thinking good thoughts and good feelings and behaviour will follow. When you are in a high mood you are much better equipped to tap into your true wisdom and you will find it much easier to come up with the solution to any problems you have.
Hopefully this post will give you some food for thought.
“When you’re in a high mood, life looks good. You have perspective and common sense.” (Richard Carlson)
I encourage you today to think your way out of a low mood and into a high mood, then respond to what needs done, I am sure you will get much better results all round.
As you know I have been writing a lot of my own songs recently and the first few that I wrote about were love songs and then I went through a phase of writing some more motivational songs. This next song that I share with you below is one of the more motivational songs, it is called “C’mon You”. For those of you who are not familiar with the Scottish banter, “C’mon” means “come on” and in this song it really means “lift yourself up and get a move on, get back in the game”. I hope you like it. So wherever you are today and whatever you are doing I hope you make it a “C’mon You” day. Lots of love to you Clarabelle.
Here are the lyrics for you, so you can sing along if you wish 🙂
C’mon You by Claire Marie Murray 22.07.13
Verse 1
Let me tell you a story
Life may beat you down
But you don’t have to take no more
Just let your spirit shine
Believe in your passion
You can have it all
Show a little compassion
Break down the tough brick wall
Chorus
So C’mon, you can do it
C’mon, this I know
C’mon, yesterday’s over
Oh C’mon you, let’s go
Verse 2
So now I’ve shared my journey
Go and live and your life
Time it will not wait for you
You won’t be living twice
Know that you can do it
You can achieve it all
Hard work will get you through it
Soon you’ll be standing tall
Chorus
So C’mon, you can do it
C’mon, this I know
C’mon, yesterday’s over
Oh C’mon you, let’s go
Bridge
C’mon life aint gonna wait for you
Get back up – you can do
All you put your mind to
When you feel pain, see it through
Chorus (to fade)
So C’mon, you can do it
C’mon, this I know
C’mon, yesterday’s over
Oh C’mon you, let’s go (repeat to fade)
A few weeks ago I was rummaging through the sale shelves of the local library and bought this book “You Can Be Happy No Matter What”, by Richard Carlson, at the bargain price of 20 pence. I have just started reading it tonight and I think it is really great. I am very familiar with a lot of the contents in the book but it really is great to have a refresher on it from a different author. Below are some amazing quotes from the book and I do hope it connects with you in some way as they did me. 🙂
“Life is not your enemy, but your thinking can be.”
“When we feel better we have more access to our own wisdom and common sense. We tend to be less reactive, defensive, and critical; we make better decisions and we communicate more effectively.”
“It is our ‘transmitter’ mind, not our computer mind, that is the source of our contentment, joy and wisdom.”
“The ‘transmitter’ is the part that deals with matters of the heart.”
“New answers don’t come from what you already know in the computer part of your brain. They come from change of heart, from seeing life differently, from the unknown, quieter part of yourself.“
Meant to Be
This book happened to fall off my bookshelf tonight, it is as if I was meant to read it and share the learning with you in this blog post. I am only on the third chapter so I am sure I will blog about the learnings from it some more.
What books do you have on your bookshelf that deserve a first or second look, it might just be the book you need to read right now?
My friend Sharon and I are having some fun time this weekend in Manchester City Centre, this is the view from the famous Cloud 23 Bar at the top of the Hilton Hotel we are staying at. This is fun, this is dancing, this is sweet happiness and I am very grateful. Wherever you are today, let the fun in your heart shine, love Clarabelle.
City Lights
Sweet sweet city lights
Feeling good rainbow heights
Smiley faces, having fun
Dancing like number one
All is cool, wild and free
Cuban nights, you and me
Glitz and glamour, make me shine
Feel the beat, rhythm and rhyme
One more dance, one more song
My heart is happy, I am strong
The late Mr Stephen R. Covey who wrote one of my most favourite books “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, spoke about leaving a legacy and he certainly did. Well, I do honestly believe that through my creative expressions on this blog and all the songs I have written from the heart, my legacy lies before me. My Sister’s children (my beautiful nieces and nephew) and their children and their children and so on can have access to all my writings here on this blog……and I trust that it will inspire them to lead a fulfilling life and inspire others along the way.
Journey
My journey is by no means over, I will be here for at least another 60 years because I want to be posting about my 100th birthday celebrations. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I just know now that at this moment in time if I were not to write another blog post or write another song, there is more than enough to go around. I feel very happy indeed with that thought, very happy indeed. This inspired my next poem below, lots of love to you today, Clarabelle.
If I Had To Go
If I had to go, don’t feel sad
Nothing is lost, nothing is bad
For I have left, a special prize Words of hope and surprise So others can learn, from my soul Expressions of life, to make them whole
My legacy is here and in my songs
This is where, my heart belongs
It will never surrender and always thrive
My creative writings, keep me alive
Inspiration is all around
Up above and on the ground
In your heart and in the sun
Colourful flowers and kids having fun
Starry skies and oceans of blue
Walks in the park, all that you do
All that you think, all that you feel
Inspiration, can help you heal
Open your mind, body and soul
Inspiration will make you feel whole
The strangers on the street, have it too
The lonely kid, staring at their shoe
Awake in this moment, know that it’s there Inspiration is everywhere
I am big on personal development, it is a massive thing for me, so so so important. I also believe patience and timing is so important too. Mix these things together and you get the following quote:
“Be patient, give the seed time to take root and grow…..then you WILL flourish like never before”. (Clarabelle)
Please don’t rush the journey, enjoy the now, enjoy the learning and enjoy the growth, there is a much bigger plan for you, the Universe is bringing it to you, all in good time my friend, all in good time. 🙂
I am currently on holiday right now, so that is why I have not posted for a few days. I want you to know that I have been thinking about you and I have some great posts to follow soon, when I come back. Here is a short quote from me to you,
“The sun is always shining in your heart, let your inner rays warmth the soul of another, be bright, light and glow forever.”
Sometimes you just can’t force yourself to be inspired, sometimes you just have to let go and let the inspiration find you, let it find its own way to your heart. I say this because I have experienced it for myself and tried to force inspiration but I just cannot do it, it doesn’t feel right and it doesn’t connect or flow. Then when I begin to switch off, when I take my mind off trying too hard, then comes a signal, a trigger, an emotional connection to a sense of purpose deep inside of me and WOW, I FEEL INSPIRED….then I create, just like I am doing right now…..I am writing from inspiration and the words just keep coming, flowing freely like a magical waterfall. I feel my energy rising throughout my body, focus is maximised and concentration is full on, I know other things are going on around me, but they do not distract me because when I AM INSPIRED, nothing can stop me, nothing can get in my way. It feels like I have a superhero strength and it feels so empowering, so deeply powerful and so in tune with the universe and who I am. For in that moment, I am inspiration and it’s running on a natural emotional power of inner wellbeing and magnetic vibrancy.
Precious Moments
Sometimes I don’t even know if I make sense but this is me trying my best to explain it in words, maybe there are no words to describe it, just a simple but special feeling that I am sure we have all connected to at some point in our life. In these precious moments of inspiration, we are so incredibly powerful and believe we can achieve anything we put our minds to.
When inspiration captures your heart, go for it, create what ever feels right for you at that moment in time, for you don’t know how long it will last for and you’re not so sure when it will return…..but I know it will return and the more you become inspired the more it wants to stay with you, it will keep on coming back for longer and longer periods of time and then you will create more, inspire more and turn your dreams into a reality.
To The Mountain Top
Embrace the inspiration, let it guide you up to the mountain top and there you will find peace in your heart and happiness in your soul. Share your inspiration with the world, for as you pay this love forward it will create a human wave of inspired imagination and creativity across the universe.
Have a deep faith and knowing today that inspiration will find you, love Clarabelle.
You may remember a few days ago I posted a blog entitled “What is a Talent?” and this blog post related to the book Strengths Finder 2.0 by bestselling Author, Tom Rath. I shared with you on that blog post what my top five strengths are – number one being:
“Futuristic” – People who are especially talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.
I am highly, highly visionary, so today, I want to play to this top strength of mine and share a very powerful visualisation exercise with you, adapted from the book Co-Active Coaching by Whitworth, Kimsey-House, Kimsey-House and Sandahl.
“You” Inspiring “You”
I want you to imagine that you are standing on a stage about to speak to an audience of about 1000 people and there is another “You” also in that audience.
“You”, as the speaker on the stage, have 30 seconds to say something to that audience that completely and totally inspires them.
After listening to the talk, the other “You”, in the audience, is filled with pure inspiration, passion, desire and excitement to positively change your life and make a real difference.
What did “You” on the stage, say in that 30 seconds that made such an empowering positive impact on “You” in the audience.
I want you to imagine and visualise how it feels right now, being so inspired to go out and achieve what you want to achieve, nothing is going to stop you, you are firing on all cylinders and feel so ultimately connected to your inner being. You are feeling the most empowered you have ever felt in your whole life. What did the other “You” on the stage, say to “You” in the audience that made such a powerful impact on “You”.
What did “You” say on that stage?
What did the other “You” in the audience hear?
Tell me, I would LOVE to know.
We are all inspired by different things because we are all very unique in each and every way, only “You” know what inspires “You”.
I wish you a day filled with truth, faith and inspiration to act upon your heart.
“Out with the old and in with the new”, that’s my current mode of thinking at the moment. I’m mainly referring to the refurbishments I am getting done in my home right now, both inside and outside the house and I feel that is a true mirror reflection of what is going on inside of me also. Leading up to these home refurbishments I had been strongly visualising for a while what I specifically needed and wanted done i.e. whole house painted in white, new red sofa, new wall paintings,outside garden to be looking great, trees felled, hedges trimmed back, be gone with the old shed….basically a full makeover with lots of love, care and attention given to the tasks at hand.
Inside of Me
I feel that work didn’t properly happen until I worked on the inside of me first and I have been on a major self-improvement plan, really quite seriously since October 2011. I have been doing lots and lots of things to make me a better me and I can honestly say I am feeling the best I have ever felt since probably 2007. I sorted myself out, put my health and wellbeing at the forefront, focused on my learning and development and went to work every day on me. It wasn’t an easy job, some days I had to force and push myself to take action, but I did it….I am doing it and I becoming the person I want to be. I feel an abundance of positive energy flowing through me, there is sunlight beaming from my heart and soul and it is now penetrating into everything I do. An abundance of opportunities are unfolding in front of my eyes and my self-belief has soared to the greatest of heights. My confidence in me and my capabilities is second to none and because I have raised my standards I am getting better results for me.
So why am I sharing this with you?
Well, as I have personally experienced and as we all know, life is not always a bouquet of roses and set backs come our way, we lose faith and hope in ourselves and humanity and we struggle to get out of the gutter. Our minds are saturated with the pain of negative thoughts and our heart feels abandoned. If you are reading this part and you can relate to it right now, believe this….positive change for YOU is on its way and I encourage you to take the first baby step towards freeing yourself from the quicksand. It might be even something simple like making a phone call, speaking to a friend, or like me, expressing your thoughts in poetry. You will have your own unique way that works for you, but you need to “start with the end in mind”, right now, visualise the positive change you want to see happen for yourself and combine that with deliberate personal action.
Inner Spirit
Yesterday has gone, it’s not coming back, do one thing today that will make a difference to your tomorrow, maybe even your now. What will that be for you? Your body, mind, heart and soul is always connected to your inner spirit, dust away the cobwebs, breath in the fresh air and let your inner light guide you on a path that will not only change yourself for the better but will inspire other hearts along the way.
By reading this, you already have the energy of my love igniting your heart……I do hope that’s a nice thought for you and that you will keep the fire burning.
I am a great believer that creativity and imagination are two of the key components to a happy and fulfilling life and when you combine this with truth, love, passion, inspiration and connectedness you get something that is really “explosive”, internally and externally. I am sure we have all experienced our dancing minds playing a “tug-of-war” with our heart-strings – lately I have been letting my heart win and my inner spirit is running joyously free.
Creative Mode
Moving out of competitive mode and into creative mode has lifted my being to another level and I feel truly liberated. This transition has led me to create the beginnings of my first ever music album, entitled “Divine Harmony”, a compilation of inspirational music that talks to your soul, sings to your heart and connects with your mind in a magnetic manner. I have now produced 8 musical tracks so far, let me tell you a little bit about each one:
Track 1: “Running Free” – This musical piece tells the story of “returning to your soul”, it takes you through a journey of life experiences that have went from deep sadness and loss to letting go, breaking free and arriving at who you really are. It is ultimately upbeat and uplifting.
Track 2: “Hearts Apart” – I wrote this musical piece based on some recent news that my Sister, Brother-in-Law, Nephew and Nieces are all emigrating to Mississippi next month. This musical compilation tells of the heart-warming story of my deep love for them as they travel on their own journey of happiness and adventure.
Track 3: “Moving On” – This creative piece is ultimately about love – being, doing and having love. It is about letting go of past loves and opening your heart to new loves now and in the future. It is a very moving and touching musical story and I had someone special in mind when writing this musical piece.
Track 4: “Inspiring Hearts” – This track is a part of who I am, it shares the story of my passion and desire to inspire hearts all over the world. The music aims to connect with ones soul and deeply move them in an inspirational and motivational way.
Track 5: “Flight of the Blue Butterfly”– This musical composition tells the story of the stages of healing towards ultimate freedom of heart, soul, mind and spirit. The blue butterfly is very significant for me and you can see it pictured as part of my Clarabelle logo. This harmonious musical piece aims to move you in a peaceful and spiritual way.
Track 6: “Happiness Now” – This track is a musical compilation of what it sounds like to me to experience happiness in each and every moment. It will help you to open up your heart to the whispers of your soul and see and feel the beauty in each precious moment of life. Beauty is all around us and this track is a unique representation of that.
Track 7: “Coming Home” – This musical piece tells the story of my self-journey to being at one with oneself. It shares the realisation that the answers were always there, from within. It is a musical expression of who I am and all I ever need to be. In this artistic creation, “I have arrived”.
Track 8: “I Am”– This track is a musical celebration of the soul, the artistic expression of knowing that I always knew and trusting the feelings from within. It is an uplifting and moving musical piece that will surely touch your inner being.
Clarabelle “Divine Harmony”
There will be 13 tracks in total on the album and I aim to have it fully completed by 6 May 2013. The album will be registered and uploaded to iTunes for immediate purchase. I will also have it available to purchase in CD format. Purchase price is £5.00.
If you would like to pre-order a copy of this inspirational masterpiece by Clarabelle, please note your interest below in the comments section or send me an email to claire@murraypeople.com
I am so excited about sharing the album with you, I have a real belief and faith that it will inspire you on the path to “Divine Harmony“.
Lots of love to you today, tomorrow and always, Clarabelle.
I was visiting a wonderful friend of mine in Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and we took a drive to Whitley Bay. He had some other commitments to attend to so I had about an hour or so to spend on my own. I went to a quiet little bar and thought, I will be happy writing some poetry. Next to the table I was sitting at, there was some small flyers/brochures and I picked up one that was entitled “Saras Hope Foundation”. Let me tell you a little bit about what it said:
Saras Hope Foundation
Sara Hoburn tragically lost a two year battle with a rare form of colon cancer at the age of sixteen in 2001. Her dream was to help other sick children to enjoy normal family lives away from the hospital environment. She is the inspiration behind the charity Saras Hope Foundation, which runs a holiday retreat in Crete, offering respite for children and young people with cancer and their families. Sara especially loved Greece and the Greek Islands and it was her dream to get married in a little blue and white church on the beach.
Sara was known as “Smiling Star” by the medical staff who treated her at the Teenage Cancer Unit in the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle because she was always smiling and had such a positive attitude.
Sara was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and when she lost the battle on 16 January 2001, Sara became a “hero”.
I was so inspired by the above story and as I looked at the beautiful photographs of Sara on the brochure the following poem poured out of me. I share this with you today in honour of this brave young lady who has inspired and helped children/young people and their families all over the world.
“Smiling Star”
I look at her photo, such a beautiful smile,
Her eyes are sparkling, on the rainbow mile.
She brings us hope, she brings relief,
From darker days, felt heavy in grief.
A frozen memory, from a special place,
Now an angel in heaven, and our saving grace.
We are touched with her love, in every way,
Moving our spirits, on this special family holiday.
I love inspirational and motivational quotes, they are often full of long lasting wisdom. This next quote was created by me in the midst of “creative flow”, I want you to really think about its message and what it means to you.
“What flows through you, becomes you.”
(Clarabelle)
Wear it with a smile, available to purchase from
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You are amazing, unique and very special indeed, there is no one else exactly like you. You have the capacity to achieve all that you have ever dreamed of, I want you to visualise that now, see yourself in that place of abundance, love and lots of beautiful laughter. Yesterday is now a distant a memory, tomorrow is not here yet, embrace today, welcome the NOW with open arms, go out for a walk and let the gentle breeze outside blow away the remaining cobwebs.
Awakening Your Soul
Right now, I want you to take 3 long deep breaths, inhale positivity and exhale worries and stress, give yourself a pat on the shoulder and smile……this is your first step to feeling alive in this moment, awakening your soul and freeing your spirit to the thriving energy of the Universe.
This next poem is for you, I wrote it especially for you, because you are so special to me and you are truly loved in this world, more that you will ever know. Believe that someone out there right now is thinking of you and holds you very close to their heart.
Have a beautiful day today my friends. Much love to you Clarabelle.
This is a blog post from an old blog of mine, I wrote this post in April 2010, 2 years prior to me starting this poetry blog. I thought I would share this with you because it is amazing how life evolves as we grow and develop. If someone had told me back then that I would now have a poetry blog and was so commited and passionate about it, I would never have believed them…..my creative writing desires are stronger than ever. We are all on a journey of personal evolution, much of this will be invisible for you right now, who knows what great things you will be part of in a few years from now. Much love to you today. Clarabelle
Personal Evolution
Below is that original post from April 2010:
I absolutely LOVE my job but it wasn’t an easy job getting here—it took me 36 years of learning, being, doing, hoping, having, not having, feeling and experiencing the highs and lows of real life and work. It is only now that I feel wise enough and knowledgeable enough to share this experiential learning.
When I Grow UP I want to be…..
From the age of 5—15 years I went through different phases of wanting to be a Mum, Air Steward, Dancer, Model, Nun, Song Writer (I had a real desire to write the winning Eurovision song – still do!!), Primary School Teacher, Nursery Nurse and a Secretary. So where did my early career ideas come from, maybe………
Mum: Watching my mum lovingly support and care for our family; wanting to be just like my mum and also being the proud owner of various dolls such as (in its day) the famous ’Tiny Tears’.
Air Steward: Wanting a ‘glamorous’ lifestyle (perceived) and the opportunity to travel all over the world, maybe even marry a pilot!! I also think the popular TV advert for Caledonian Airlines had a big influence….I remember wanting to be a ‘Caledonian Girl’.
Dancer: I was a massive fan of the hit TV Programme ’Fame’ and loved dancing from an early age – still do 🙂
Model: Watching Miss World on TV and aspiring to be like one of these beautiful woman. I wanted to wear that crown!!!
Nun: There was a real religious influence here from my childhood days, in particular at Primary School and I went through a really ’holy’ stage—that was until I discovered my like for boys!!
Songwriter: I used to lock myself in my bedroom for hours and make up songs, I would practice and practice them all day long and never got bored of it—this was a perfect escapism for me at such a young age. To this very day I still remember the songs and so do my closet friends. We often burst into these songs after a few wines!!
Primary School Teacher: I used to babysit for my next door neighbour when I was in my early teens—I loved watching their 3 kids, probably because I could be a ‘big kid’ myself. This inspired me to want to teach young children to learn and develop—I then found out that I would need to study for a further 5 years after Secondary School and this sadly (at the time) put me off.
Nursery Nurse: Again my love for children and helping them to learn and have fun. My Guidance Teacher at Secondary School totally put me off the idea “that’s not the career for you he said, that’s not a good job”. How easily influenced I was as a teenager.
Secretary: Well I figured I would go with the safe bet and be a secretary, after all I was good at typing, passed all my Secretarial Studies exams with flying colours and oh yes my mum did that when she left school and she told me fabulous stories about her career in this field. That was it at the age of 15 I aspired to be a secretary. Well there was nothing else, was there……???
My Career Path
So I finally had come to the idea that I would be a Secretary. So I went to typing College to learn how to touch-type—this proved to be a very worthwhile skill to have during all my future jobs. What where they? Well, my career experience consists of:
Shop assistant, sales representative, hotel waitress, 20 years of various office type jobs from receptionist through to human resource management. A couple of these jobs which I liked and some others I have quite closely hated.
An Independent Decision
Then at the age of 34 I decided to think very carefully about my future career and where it was heading. Why then? Well lots of reasons I believe, but I think coming out of some personal turmoil combined with some major achievements made me a much stronger person with a really determined ‘can do’ attitude.
This included personal triumphs and goals such as Graduating from University in 2005 in Personnel Practice, running the New York marathon in 2007 (I then later did the London Marathon in 2010) and Graduating again from University in 2008 in Human Resource Management. It was in 2006/7 when I seriously reflected on my future and felt much more equipped to correctly answer the following question…….
So what do I really want to do when I grow up?
To answer this, I identified my core values and what they meant to me, I looked at what job activities I particularly enjoyed doing, I thought about what are my strengths, what was I truly passionate about doing, what excites me in life, where did I want to see myself 5-20 years from now and the ultimate question: How was I going to get there?
I had a real belief and confidence in myself and I knew I wanted to have the freedom to explore new territories, learn new things and meet new people. I knew that I wanted to help other people achieve their dreams, goals and aspirations in life. I wanted to coach and mentor people to do just that, I got excited about the thought of it and felt strongly passionate about it. I was truly ready for this and felt fully motivated and inspired to do so.
What did I do?
I researched into Coaching, I wrote to no less then 200 practicing coaches in America asking for their advice, I then went to New York and met some of those coaches, left my full-time job as Human Resource Manager, studied for a further year and achieved a Diploma in Coaching at Distinction level (94%), started up my own business at the end of 2008 and that’s where I am at the moment. I have BIG plans for the business and I know that I will only achieve this through hard work and commitment. To be honest, at times it feels like starting all over again—to what it was like over 20 years ago.
What have been the best parts of my job so far?
Most definitely supporting and empowering other people to achieve their dreams, goals and aspirations in life. Almost 90% of my work to date has been career/business/leadership goals related and with my Human Resource Management background and sound coaching and mentoring experience—it works very well and benefits my clients greatly.
Also being my own boss and having the freedom to use my creativity and innovation to lead the business into great things that will inspire others to achieve great things for themselves.
Personal Learning
I have learned so much over the last 17 months of my business (to date almost 5 years!!) and I feel very proud to say that I have video blogged my real time journey all along the way. My vision is that one day it will be professionally edited and shared with you at home in the format of a short film/documentary.
But………what about being a Songwriter?
Hey, I can still do that, my career ain’t over yet, it is just at the beginning—the true beginning.
******
On 29 March 2013 – Clarabelle says:
I have now had my business for almost 5 years and I still continue to love it…….I am also planning another business which is indirectly linked. I must say however that nothing at the moment, beats the feeling of writing for this blog and getting messages from other bloggers and readers out there……you are magnificent in every sense of the word and my heart and soul is touched everyday with your responses. I see my future in this blog and I do hope you join me on the journey.
Thank you for reading this post today, lots of love Clarabelle.
I strongly believe that having time to self reflect on your life, your progress and your self awareness, really helps you to discover who you really are, what you really want and what is ultimately important to you. This next poem, was written in creative flow and during a moment of self reflection.
Every Moment is a Moment to Change
Take some quiet time today to reflect on where you are at in life and what (if anything) needs to change. There is love after the heartache, there is peace after the pain, there is happiness after the sadness and you soon will have pure energy again. Every moment is a moment to change for the better, be the champion of your own life and act as though it is impossible to fail. Much love to you today Clarabelle.
A Smile from Clarabelle
Let Courage Through
Stop for a minute, pick up a pen,
Jot down some questions, reflect again.
Create space in your head, give it some time,
Listen to the whispers, that make your heart shine.
And just when she was about to give up, something magical happened, just like she always believed, exactly how she had envisioned it and precisely what she had written down. It had always been there, but she didn’t see it at first……then when she opened her heart, all was revealed.
Be Prepared
Trust in the absolute power of the universe, have faith that everything will work out just the way it is supposed to and know that every false start gets you closer to your goal. Be prepared as much as you can, because when lighting strikes and it surely will, I want you to be ready, to be at your very best, to embrace each opportunity and share the wisdom that grows from this life changing experience.
How do you know when you are happy, I mean really really happy? This next poem is inspired by some thoughts around that question. I do hope you are feeling happy today, even if you just get in touch with your own inner happiness for a moment, right now, it will give you an instant boost. Much love and smiles to you today. Clarabelle
There is this quote on my Vision Wall which I absolutely love, here it is below:
The goodness of a person
“The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person ‘spreads in all direction’. (Chanakya Philospher)
Sharing the Story
I am currently training to become a Mental Health First Aider and at the start of the training yesterday morning, each attendee was asked to select an object from their bag and explain to the whole group why it was interesting or important to you. I brought out a little keyring that was given to me a few weeks ago – let me share the story about it…..
A Lovely Gesture
A client and good friend of mine were having lunch in the newly opened Zizzi’s Restaurant, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow City Centre. After our main meal we ordered deserts which took a very long time to arrive. The waitress very kindly and sincerely apologised to us for the long delay and told us that there would be no charge for the deserts – we thought that’s a lovely gesture. About 10 minutes later the Manager of the Restaurant came up to our table and he handed my friend and I a little keyring each. He apologised again for the delay with the deserts and said that the keyring he had given us would give us free deserts for LIFE when buying a main meal in the restaurant anytime in the future. We thought WOW, now that seriously is a lovely LOVELY gesture and we truly thanked him for this, we certainly did not expect this kindness!!
The goodness of this person has now indeed spread, as I continue to share this story of kindness with others. If this situation was handled in the opposite way of this, it could have been a whole different story. The power of kindness is very empowering. Have you ever had a kind experience like this? If so, please share it in the comments section below.
May your kindness abundantly flow from your heart today. Clarabelle
Happiness can be accessed at any moment and at any time of the day. Give up the ghost of darkness, for your inner light is special and it is connected to an abundance of pure love. May happiness dance around you today and always. Love Clarabelle. This next poem is for you. Have a beautiful day.
Happiness Dances Around You
Happiness Dances Around You
Oh sweet and precious moment, I cherish you now;
Long have I awaited, to free me from this how.
I feel my heart glisten, spreading happy thoughts;
Releasing me from pain, undoing the difficult knots.
For once when I was sad, life did get me down;
A painted smile upon my face, masking the frown.
But even through that anguish, a light in me did shine;
The beauty of an open door, a white butterfly was the sign.
Today life is on the up, I’m reaching many heights;
My spirit is alive and I’m flying amongst the kites.
Light as a feather, I’m nourished at the soul;
My eyes sparkle like diamonds, when once they looked like coal.
So pick up the pace of life, your heart has a story to tell;
Happiness dances around you, it’s time to break out of your shell
Listen to you heart by silencing your mind….this next inspirational quote is for YOU. May the whispers of your heart, sing to you today. Love, Clarabelle.
Here are my thoughts on love, put into an inspirational quote for YOU. Much love to you today, Clarabelle. Wishing you a fulfilling day filled with pure love.
I love inspirational quotes, below is an inspirational quote created by me for YOU….because, your soul is truly beautiful!! Much love to you today, Clarabelle.
We’ve all had days when we feel a little bit ‘stuck’ and I include myself here, after all we are only human. It is possible for you to go from stuck to unstuck within moments and I believe the process for this is different for every person. When I created the poem below I was feeling in a ‘stuck’ place, but by the time I had finished the poem, I had moved to unstuck…the answer came from within and when I was in ‘creative flow’. What will you do today to help you move from a feeling of being ‘stuck’ to ‘unstuck’? There is a way, there is always a way, silence your mind, open your heart and let the answers flow. Much love to you, Clarabelle.
Moving from Stuck to Unstuck
Today I Was Stuck
It’s nearly midnight, and I’m lying in bed;
I think of my inaction, before I rest my head.
Today I was stuck, I didn’t play the game;
Life got the better of me, unleash this chain.
Many brick walls, are in my way;
Built up by me, getting higher each day.
I kick and I punch, the battle is in me;
I’m fighting myself, this I can see.
So what do I do, to turn this around?
Inside is the answer, this I have always found.
Let go of the fight, it’s not a war anymore;
Staring at these four walls, will not open the door.
Step outside, breathe in the air;
Replenish your spirit, feel the wind in your hair.
Dust yourself down, and put a smile on your face;
Slowly walk down the path, and gradually pick up the pace.
To master the mind, it not about control;
Release that desire, and you’ll discover your soul.
To all you creative writers out there, who share your passion with the world, this next poem is for you. Inspired by creative flow, written in creative flow. Wishing you all a day full of creativity and imagination. Lots of love Clarabelle
passion keeps you strong
Passion Keeps You Strong
To all my fellow bloggers, passion keeps you strong;
Expressions from your heart, that’s where you belong.
Creativity flows, when your soul talks to you;
Mesmerized in the moment, defining what you do.
I hear your calling, I feel it in your words;
The writing is on the wall, beneath the flight of birds.
Magic comes from you, you’re mystical for sure;
Your posts are like gold dust, to your audience they are so pure.
poemsbyclarabelle, 5 January 2013
To access the Poemcast for the above poem, then please click on the link below.
If you enjoy what you read here on this blog, you may be interested in borrowing for FREE and/or purchasing one of Clarabelle’s self-published inspirational poetry ebooks available to download now on Amazon Kindle, please refer to the Author page on this blog or clickHERE
What inspires you? What ignites your spirit from within? What would it take for you to feel inspired at this moment in time, right now? I just love the feeling of feeling inspired, it awakens the soul and lights up the fire inside. Like an explosion of excitement and abundance of enthusiasm, when you are truly inspired there is no mountain that you can’t climb. Wishing you a super inspired day. I hope you enjoy this next poem about inspiration.
Inspiration is full of heart, it comes from deep inside
It fills your soul with energy and captures you with pride
There is nothing greater, than feeling truly inspired
Connecting the mind, body and spirit, never feeling tired
In these inspirational moments, there is nothing you can’t do
Life feels amazing and fulfilled through and through
It moves you, it makes you, it changes your inner self
It masters your soul and gives you abundant health
poemsbyclarabelle, 29 May 2011
If you really like what you read here on this blog, you may be interested in purchasing one of Clarabelle’s self-published inspirational ebooks available to download now on Amazon Kindle, please refer to the Author page on this blog or click HERE
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