Quitting Caffeine

With the highest of highs, came the lowest of lows.

October 8, 2022September 30, 2022 ClaireLeave a comment

I have been a massive fan of the popular cafe latte and chocolate topped cappuccino since I tried my first ‘proper’ barista coffee in 2005 and then, I was quite simply. . .”hooked”.

One of my favourite past times used to be going to my favourite coffee shop, having the perfect window seat and writing poems in my notepad – I really loved it! Such a simple thing to do and I could easily sit there for hours people watching, pondering, reflecting and writing away. It was soulful bliss to me.

I actually didn’t realise how much the caffeine was adding to my enjoyable experience and how my creative mind seemed to flood with rhyming words and magical rhythms as soon as the caffeine hit kicked in. I later discovered that although this caffeine intake was great in the short term moment, it wasn’t so great for my long term mindset, sleep and general mood.

For me the instant buzz of caffeine raised my output to another level and my creativity and performance, albeit for a short period, was off the charts. However, with the highest of highs came the lowest of lows and I soon realised my body needed more and more caffeine to achieve the same hit. Well, this started worrying me and in all fairness, I just didn’t like it.

The negative effects of caffeine on me were too much to tolerate to keep on taking it. I experienced mood swings, adrenal fatigue, anxiety, heart palpitations, trembling hands, acne and mild paranoia. Caffeine was making me slightly psychotic, so I had to give it up.

It took me 26 years of drinking coffee everyday to then realise how much it was negatively affecting me – that’s a lot of coffee and a lot of money to Mr Starbucks.

Since 2015 I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride with caffeine – sometimes I would stay off it for many months and then try it again to see if my body could handle the effects any better. Nope . . . . . if anything, it was just getting worse.

So fast forward to today, 30 September 2022 and I am caffeine free once more. This time I not only cut out caffeine coffees, tea and soda drinks, I also removed foods containing caffeine, such as chocolate – damn it – such a shame on that one, as I really do love chococate but I just can’t take the cocoa content.

What can I say – I genuinely feel I’ve found me again. The real me without the stimulants and I’m starting to really feel great again. My mood is now balanced, calm and focussed all of the time. My energy levels are increasing everyday and I am improving greatly with my running. My sleep is undisturbed and peaceful every night. My creativity is back to where it should be, without the need for that caffeine fix. If I want a coffee or tea it’s got to be decaf/herbal and I never drink soda anymore, sparkling water is my thing now.

I have never found the process of cutting out caffeine easy. As a matter of fact, when I do start the detox process, my mood is low and irritable for about two weeks and the caffeine withdrawal headaches are 48 hours of intense throbbing craziness.

Will I ever go back to caffeine again? Not on your life! Caffeine just messes with the very essence of me and I don’t want that messiness in my life anymore.

The last few months I have also massively reduced my refined sugar intake and I think that has also helped me to get back to me.

How does caffeine affect you? If you rely on your caffeine fix every day to ‘perk you up’ and ‘stay on it’, maybe you want to have a closer look at that?

Quitting caffeine was EXTREMELY hard for me. I once heard this quote: “If you do what’s easy everyday, your life will be hard, but if you do what’s hard everyday, your life will be easy.”

In the longterm I want an easy life, so today I will do what’s hard.

By Clarabelle

Article written on 30 September 2022
Posted to Blog on 8 October 2022

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In Time You’ll See

Inspiration lives in you

August 16, 2022August 16, 2022 ClaireLeave a comment

In time you’ll see the difference between those people that truly matter to you and those that don’t.

In time you’ll see that some of the things you once worried about are now so insignificant.

In time you’ll see how strong you truly are when you need to be.

In time you’ll see that we all have weaknesses and that’s actually okay.

In time you’ll see that the bad days can turn good and the good days can turn bad.

In time you’ll see that some people just ‘get you’ and quite simply, others do not.

In time you’ll see how important a good night’s sleep is.

In time you’ll see that perfection is in the imperfections.

In time you’ll see that the right people will cross your path when you least expect it.

In time you’ll see that kindness is one of the greatest qualities a person can have.

AND HOPEFULLY, in time you’ll see that inspiration lives in you and you must share your greatness with the world.

IN TIME YOU’LL SEE!

By Clarabelle, London, UK
Created on 3 August 2022
Posted to blog on 16 August 2022

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The Courage Living in You

September 24, 2013July 27, 2015 Claire6 Comments

This is the second of the poems that I wrote last Friday, it is a poem about being strong, having courage and knowing that YOU really do make a difference in this world. I hope you like it and please share it with the people you love. Clarabelle 🙂

The Courage Living in You

Sometimes you may not always, get it right,
Sometimes you can’t, sleep at night.
Sometimes the thunder, drowns out your prayer,
Sometimes you’re lonely, when no one is there.

But a lot of times your smile, is brighter that the sun,
A lot of times you skip, no need to run.
A lot of times your happiness, cheers up a friend,
A lot of times your heart, reaches the rainbow’s end.

So when life gets you down, as it sometimes will,
When the frosty ice, is making you chill.

Remember the love, warming you up,
Remember the joy, filling your cup.
Remember you are strong, nothing can break you,
Remember the courage, living in what you do.

It’s so easy to forget, the difference you make,
It’s so easy to give, and never take.
But I want you to know, that I am here,
Always for you, bringing you cheer.

My smile is for you, my hand yours to hold,
Melting the ice, in the bitter cold.
A friend is in me, a friend is in you,
Together we’re stronger, this is so true.

Created by Clarabelle, 20 September 2013

Courage (withoutmyangel.wordpress.com)
The Meaning Behind Each Value (clarabelle.org)
Why You Do What You Do (clarabelle.org)
Love is a brave and courageous choice (claudialifecoach.wordpress.com)
“Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal; it’s the courage to continue that counts.” – Mike Ditka (priscillaajacks.wordpress.com)
Courage to Live (thinksweetthings.wordpress.com)

Stay strong…

September 6, 2013November 18, 2015 Claire5 Comments

Clarabelle Quotes

Photo and Quote by Clarabelle 🙂

Stay Strong Greeting Card by ClarabelleShop
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“No TV….Weirdo”

August 12, 2013July 25, 2015 Claire19 Comments

Coaching

I was coaching a client in July 2011 and she was talking about not having a TV anymore, there were lots of positives coming from this discussion, so much so that when I went home that evening I didn’t want to have a TV anymore either, so I got rid of it, that very day.

Positives

I must say, this has been one of the best things I ever did and so many positives have come from me not having a TV. I started to read more books, make more time for exercise, visit people more, talk to friends on the telephone, research into subjects I was interested in, focus more on developing myself and my business and one of the best positives was then having the time to start this Clarabelle blog and post on a regular basis.

Weird

When I made this decision the people around me thought I was being “weird”, some of them still do. The first thing people usually ask me when they come into my home is “Where is your TV?” and now I very proudly say I haven’t had a TV for over 2 years and I love not having a TV. Usually this is followed by “Really, well what do you then with your time then?” and I very happily tell them all the positive things I do which grow me as a person, maximise my wellbeing and build my relationships with other people, sometimes I will even refer them to this Clarabelle blog. 🙂

Self Development

I am not saying that not having a TV is for everyone, it just really works for me, I live myself and prefer now to read a good self development book rather than watch a drama on TV.

All in all a very good decision for me and the positive outcomes have been tremendous.

Below is a picture of my living room, living happily without a TV. 🙂

Clarabelle's Living Room — Clarabelle’s Living Room

You may want to keep your TV for various reasons but maybe you could consider reducing the time you watch it, for e.g. 1 hour less per day, that will then give you an extra 7 hours per week to do something else you may not have time for right now!! Just a thought 🙂

Wherever you are today, whatever you are doing, I do hope it is helping you to move closer to your goals. Lots of love to you today, Clarabelle.

Chat with Clarabelle (clarabelle.org)
Take Root and Grow (poemsbyclarabelle.wordpress.com)
How-To Attract Positive Attitude and View of Life (skillcode.wordpress.com)
Discover Your Gift (clarabelle.org)
A Boost to Your intelligence (syl101.wordpress.com)

Wish Upon a Penny

July 17, 2013 Claire6 Comments

Here is a wee poem I wrote last week, STOP that inner critic, pick up a penny, hold it close to your heart, make a wish and pass the penny on……..now believe that your wish will come true, MAKE your wish come true. Wishing you wonderful moments of fulfilled wishes. Love Clarabelle

Wish Upon a Penny

I listen in the silence, sweet birdies do sing
Should I turn on the TV and drown out their din
I will ignore their calling, just for a while
I’ve a busy mind, chores they do pile
The sun it may shine, but my head’s in a cloud
A storm is brewing, amongst this crowd
I’m strangled in frustration, fighting the war
No one sees me and my internal decor
To just get by, another day,
Gives me hope, paves the way

Then Lightning strikes, STOP, look at your life
Look at your reactions, creating this strife
Sing another song, dance to another tune
Darkness will fade, here comes the moon
See the beauty, in each moment now
Look in the mirror, don’t ask how
Be grateful for your riches, you have many
Create a new you, wish upon a penny

poemsbyclarabelle, 7 July 2013

Birthday Wishes (clarabelle.org)
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The Power of Visualisation

July 4, 2013 Claire13 Comments

The power of visualisation

I love using the power of visualisation, I feel it is a very beneficial exercise to apply when you want to distance yourself from a current problem, so as to help you find the solution or if you want to think creatively about your future self. Here is a visualisation exercise that I came up with that really helped me to look at where I was at, what I was doing and what needed to change (if anything). I would recommend you have some quiet time and space to do this exercise effectively, you may also wish to have a notepad and pen available, so you can record your thoughts, feelings and any action points you may want to take from doing this exercise.

Imagination

Imagine yourself looking down on yourself from above, like having a birds-eye view of what you are doing. See yourself right now going about your business, look at how you operate, who you talk to, where you go, what your routine is like, what daily rituals you have and even listen to what you’re thinking and communicating. Now I want you to look at the things that are serving you well and think about why this is and in contrast to that I want you to think about the things that you are thinking and doing that are not serving you well. Let me give you an example:

Map

When I did this exercise a few months ago, I looked at the places I was going to, I then drew out a map of this on my notepad, I didn’t like what I seen because I had got into the habit of going to the same places and never really getting out of a 50 mile radius from where I lived……that really made me think and immediately I got to work on making choices and decisions that would change that for me. This then led me onto exploring new places, meeting new people who inspired me and from that I started doing some things a little differently which have served me very well.

Challenge Yourself

So today I want you to challenge yourself to do this visualisatoin exercise and step out of who you are and take a birds-eye view of you living your life. If you don’t like what you see, take a note of what you want to change, what you want to do more of, what you want to do less of, what you want to say ‘yes’ to and what you will say ‘no’ to. Take the time to reflect on it all because by applying these new insights, it could just be the turning point you need in your life right now.

Not happy? I challenge you to make the change today.

I hope you take the opportunity to try out this visualisation exercise and I would love to hear what new insights you got from it.

Much love to you today, Clarabelle

Dedication is… (theironmaidens.wordpress.com)
The Powers of Creative Visualisation and It’s Effects on Success (blogtheb.com)
Y is “Yes for a Change” (personalspiritualdevelopment.com)
First comes the decision, then the right choices and to win … plenty of visualisation. (skinnygran.wordpress.com)
Mastering our moods (theseeds4change.wordpress.com)
Mindset is your most powerful tool (sassyinsydney.wordpress.com)

The Zig Zag Way of Life

June 18, 2013January 5, 2016 Claire18 Comments

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“.

Much love to you today, I’m zig-zagging all the way to my goals, Clarabelle 🙂

Keep Your Body Guessing With the Zig Zag Method (weightloss.answers.com)
Zig Zag (lawlifeharmony.wordpress.com)
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Me and My Heart

June 17, 2013October 22, 2015 Claire7 Comments

You have a good heart, remember that and it is always with you. This next poem is inspired by just that. Have a lovely day with your heart today, Clarabelle

Me and My Heart

Me and My Heart, we travel together;
No matter what time, no matter the weather.
We are strong in the sunshine, stronger in the rain,
When we laugh out loud, we are free from pain.
Sometimes we are heavy, closed off to it all;
Sometimes we are happy, having a ball.
But one thing’s for sure, I’ll never change mine;
For me and my heart, we’re simply divine.

poemsbyclarabelle, 17 June 2013

Your Heart (cortneysays.wordpress.com)
Rain…drain my pain. (blo0butterfly.wordpress.com)
How to mend a borken heart. (onlifeandhope.com)
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Another Day (deetayls.wordpress.com)

Take Your First Flight

June 13, 2013June 13, 2013 Claire9 Comments

Take your first flight

I am waiting on a colleague to call me this morning and during this tranquil time before we speak I thought I would write a little poem, because I feel I haven’t shared a poem on here for a while. So here is what poured out of my being, it took less than 60 seconds to create, so I guess I must be connected to the right sources for this to happen – this is creative flow at its very best. I hope you enjoy, lots of love to you today, Clarabelle.

Take Your First Flight

The experience of life, will make you strong,
Your spirit will uplift you, to where you belong.
All is whole, truth and more,
Welcome the world, open the door.
A grateful heart, will always smile,
Magical moments, are felt for a while.
And as the curtain falls, and the audience moves on,
Stand there tall, for you have not gone.
Your soul is forever, it sparkles and shines,
Listen to, its beautiful chimes.
Take your frequency, as high as a kite
The Universe is waiting, take your first flight.

poemsbyclarabelle, 13 June 2013

Smile (ginzandtonic.wordpress.com)
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Happy People (coca-cola.com)

Winning Starts Now

May 11, 2013 Claire8 Comments

Winning starts NOW, not yesterday, not tomorrow, not one hour from now, WINNING STARTS NOW!! Go, Go, Go!! This next poem is inspired by just that. May you keep on winning today, love Clarabelle.

Winning Starts Now

Winning Starts Now

To win in your heart, will keep you alive;

Do your best, grow and thrive.

It’s not about the past, that’s forever gone;

Rise with the sun, from dusk til dawn.

Winning is now, feel it from within;

Strive to be better, for you just win.

Keep motivation high, do what you say;

Live in this moment, live for today.

People will come, people will go;

Truth never leaves you, this I know.

Keep focus strong, create all you can;

Abundance will follow, every woman and man.

poemsbyclarabelle, 11 May 2013

Win Or Defeat. (meenas17.com)
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (thefrugalbloggistlovinlife.wordpress.com)
Procastination (junkiethots.wordpress.com)
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Go Ahead, Change (mirrorgirlblog.com)

Inside of Me

May 11, 2013 Claire5 Comments

I watched a motivational video today on YouTube (see below), immediately after watching it, I wrote the following quote:

“My motivation
to inspire others
will never die,
because inspiration
lives inside of me.”
[Clarabelle]

Wishing you an inspired day today, much love to you, Clarabelle

The Gummy Bear Song By Gummibär No 1 Most Watched Indie Music Video Of All Time On YouTube. (prweb.com)
YouTube probes subscription idea (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)
YouTube: Not TV, Not Netflix, Focusing On “Generation C” (business2community.com)
Silicon Alley Insider: YouTube Offers Millions Of Dollars In Ad Discounts To Attract New Advertisers (businessinsider.com)
YouTube May Start Paid Subscription for Some Channels (business2community.com)

Love Stirs Your Soul

March 15, 2013March 26, 2013 Claire9 Comments

The beauty of love is all around us, sometimes we don’t see it, sometimes we forget it is always there, deep inside of us, blooming like a flower in springtime. Every time you smile, love was there first, just remember that, I know you are smiling now. This next inspirational quote is for you…feel the love, Clarabelle.

“Love stirs your soul

and makes your heart smile inside.”

(Clarabelle)

You can also purchase Ladies or Gents T-Shirts detailing the above original quote by Clarabelle. Click on the T-Shirt images below for product description details, choice of colours/sizes available and how to purchase.

Love Stirs Your Soul (poemsbyclarabelle.wordpress.com)

Magic is in You

March 5, 2013February 17, 2013 Claire2 Comments

You are the miracle of your life, you are the magic, welcome it with open arms, embrace each moment as an opportunity to be a better version of you. This next inspirational quote by me is all about that. Wishing you a magical day, love Clarabelle.

“The silent lake speaks many words,

true magic comes from within you.”

(Clarabelle)

Change is Opportunity NOW

March 1, 2013January 5, 2016 Claire5 Comments

Go Get It!!

This is a post I wrote for another business blog in 2011, I came across it today and thought I would share it with you, there may be some value in it for you and please feel free to share away. I wish you a day filled with opportunities for the taking, it’s your life, go get it!! Clarabelle.

An Exciting Challenge

I was on the phone to my business partner Debbie and we were talking about ‘change’, for me ‘change is opportunity’. Why do I say this? Well as much as some of us might dread the thought of change, I absolutely love it and find it an exciting challenge. I don’t want to sit in my ‘comfort zone’ all my life, it is important for me to get out there, embrace new challenges and live life. If I fail, well I feel I have only learned some great lessons that will strengthen me as a person.

I was sent this wonderful quote last night by my friend Stephen, “if we never fail at anything we are not being adventurous enough” by Peter Huntley, MD of Go North East buses, what a truly wonderful quote that is. I would rather try and fail 1000 times than not try at all. Determination, persistence, passion, consistency, self-discipline and never giving up is the qualities that I feel will get me everywhere. We all know the famous saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ so I would also throw in some ‘love and patience’ to this amazing mix of ingredients.

What I would say however is that to make change happen you need to know exactly your answers to the following questions:

Where you are going?
What do you specifically want to achieve?
What is your life’s purpose?
What do you need to be, do and have to get there?
What activities can you take action on NOW that will have the greatest impact on moving you forward towards your change goal?

Change is a choice and once you make that full commitment to change anything in your life you must take ‘MASSIVE ACTION’ to initiate the process. When you start taking meaningful action towards your change goal you will get more and more motivated by the results you start to see – the fruits of your labour.

To change effectively and for the long term you must start at the core, with the root “the roots determine the fruits”. That means change the way you think, which will change the way you feel and ultimately this will change your behaviours and it is in what you do that will help you get real results.

So make that decision today, challenge yourself, be open, flexible and adaptable to change, welcome it with open arms and express who you really are because the only constant in life is change and if you stand still, I believe you are actually going backwards, as others make changes to drive ahead they will most definitely overtake you – so don’t be left for dust, change is opportunity NOW!!

poemsbyclarabelle, Blog post created in 2011

Whispers in her Soul

March 1, 2013July 26, 2015 Claire6 Comments

“Dreams build momentum as faith grows inside. Believe in yourself, believe it, have pride.” (Clarabelle)

When the time feels right and you’ve held onto your dreams for long enough, you will know when it is time to let go, to free your soul and release your dreams to the world. The heart will speak, the universe will give you signs, then you will know, you will just feel it and know. Dream it, Do it. Go forth in the direction of your dreams. Love Clarabelle.

Whispers in her Soul

She wakes up every day, with a song in her heart;

Her Vision is so strong, sweet music – the missing part.

Like a jigsaw puzzle, being pieced together;

Her motivation is high, no matter the weather.

For in the purpose of her heart, there lies the key;

A bright flame is burning, mesmerizing she.

She knows her faith, is stronger than ever;

She believes in herself, deeper than the river.

She swims against the current, going her own way;

Touching hearts, each and every day.

Her music is silent, it whispers in her soul;

One day she will empty it, making her whole.

The dream is building, time is nearly here;

Nothing is in her way, not even one fear.

Embrace yourself world, get ready to listen;

For when her sound is heard, the universe will glisten.

poemsbyclarabelle, 28 February 2013

Happy and Bright

February 20, 2013February 17, 2013 Claire8 Comments

Sometimes a few simple words share a whole lot of meaning. The next poem may be short and sweet but the silence between each line speak many heartfelt words. Wishing you a beautiful day, Clarabelle.

Happy and Bright

Beauty is love;

Beauty is light.

Feel it in your soul;

Happy and bright.

poemsbyclarabelle, 9 February 2013

Beautiful People

February 13, 2013February 11, 2013 Claire13 Comments

I have come across a lot of very beautiful people recently, people who are full of love, light, passion and happiness. I dedicate this next poem to the three people I am thinking about in particular, and their first names all being with the letter “A”. I will call them my three “Angels”, may you continue to bless hearts with your love, you truly are beautiful people. Whatever you are doing today, may you spread a little happiness and love around you. Much love to you, as always, Clarabelle

Beautiful People

I have a happy little feeling, dancing inside;

Beautiful people, are being my guide.

Their love is shining, brightly on me;

Giving me hope, filling me with glee.

***

So when love knocks on your door, greet it with light;

It will sparkle so magically, all through the night.

Uplifting your soul, touching your heart;

A special connection, the missing part.

***

For life is a jigsaw, the puzzle is you;

Once you’ve mastered yourself, dreams can come true.

To share your spirit, with another one;

Unleashes new energy, embrace the sun.

The rainbow is real, a miracle sign;

Thank you loving angels, you are truly divine.

poemsbyclarabelle, 9 February 2013

Living Life Now

February 11, 2013 Claire7 Comments

You can always make a fresh start moment to moment, by living in the now and using your mindfulness to change your immediate thinking. It is always important to remember to come from a place of love, because when you let love run freely from your heart, it will always make sure it does its job. This next poem is inspired by living life now, go on make it happen, because every moment, is a moment to change for the better. Lots of love to you today, Clarabelle.

Living Life Now

Living life now;

Frees you from the how.

Just let go;

Let love in you, flow.

Take a step, achieve;

Really do believe.

That you can have it all;

Aim high, stand up tall.

Let worry, pass you by;

There’s a smile, behind your cry.

The pain will come and go;

This, I want you to know.

Today’s a brand new day;

Stay focused and go your own way.

poemsbyclarabelle, 24 January 2013

Keep a Strong Mind

February 1, 2013January 30, 2013 Claire10 Comments

Life Throws Us Many Challenges

Life throws us many challenges and sometimes just when you think you’ve got a little closer to the mountain top, darkness falls and fears and frustrations kick in. No one said life was ever going to be easy, but we must remember there are many things in life to be grateful for right now. Having an attitude of gratitude will become your inner torch, and will fill up your soul with an abundance of love and light. This next poem was written by me, during a challenging time in my life and my self expression through my poetry, at times, was my saving grace. I now share this with you in the hope that it will help you in some way to move forward regardless of the barriers that are in your way. Much love to you today and always, Clarabelle.

Keep a Strong Mind

Too many things, so much to do;

One day feeling bright, the other feeling blue.

At this age now, I look life in the eyes;

Where am I going? Where’s the surprise?

It’s gone a bit stale, I feel the dust;

I need to take action, this is a must.

The mountain is high, and the weather is bleak;

I must keep a strong mind, even though I feel weak.

Trudge, trudge, every step up the hill;

Moves me closer, this dream I will fulfill.

To escape in my imagination, makes me feel free;

It uplifts my spirits, like the wind’s carrying me.

For I come alive, when I write through my soul;

It opens the straight jacket, and fills up the black hole.

There are no boundaries, no pain my way;

The creativity is flowing, I’m listening to what I say.

It feels like magic, the words they come fast;

Meaningful moments, inspiration that lasts.

This feels easy, as I explore deep inside;

The experiences I hold, come in like the tide.

This I must do, it’s where I feel best;

Forget the distractions and let my mind just rest.

For here I find peace, just the silence and me;

My world is not empty, when I just be.

poemsbyclarabelle, 17 April 2012

How to Create a Vision Wall

January 23, 2013January 29, 2013 Claire3 Comments

You can also listen to the Poemcast of this blog at Clarabelle’s Poemcast Channel, please click on the link below to listen.

PBC Poemcast 17 – How to Create a Vision Wall?

How to Create a Vision Wall

Hello and welcome to my Vision Wall post. I wrote a couple of poems regarding the creation of my Vision Wall, you can check them out on my poems home page. I took some photographs of my Vision Wall (see below) to share with you and I thought it would be a good idea to dedicate a whole post to it so I can take you through the creative process that I went through, in the hope that you may want to try it for yourself one day. Below are some answers to questions around the process and some photographs I took of my Vision Wall:

What gave you the idea of creating a Vision Wall?

I am a highly Visionary person and I am really self-motivated by working towards achieving my goals in life. I have come across the term ‘vision board’ before and thought about creating one about 4 years ago but never really got round to it. I am so glad I waited until now to do one, as I have grown so much as person over the last few years and feel that the Vision Wall (its new name), I have created now is much more purposeful, meaningful, in direct alignment with my core values and absolutely 100% true to myself. One of my Facebook friends from America was talking about creating a Vision Board about a month ago and this then inspired me to do one now. I felt I was definitely ready and fully committed to doing this.

What creative process did you go through to create your Vision Wall?

Firstly, I did some further research on creating Vision Boards (the original name). I researched on the internet and came across various blogs and websites about different processes. I then decided to fine tune and adapt that process to what I felt would work best for me. So the following steps are based on that and completely bespoke to me as an individual. This part took me about 2 hours.
I then looked out a number of magazines, brochures, newspapers that I had lying around the house that I wanted to start going through and cut out the words and images that made an inspiring connection with me. This part took me about 3 hours.
I wanted to make the experience as enjoyable as possible, so I did some research into what music would compliment the creative process. I chose a variety of music that I felt would work for me, such as Classical, Meditation, Motivational and Self-Hypnosis tracks. I got most of these from searching on Youtube. This part took me about 1 hour.
When the time was right, I closed myself off from all distractions, played my music and started going through all my magazines and brochures and cut out words and images that made a real connection with me. This was a very inspiring part of the process, I could really feel myself getting excited about the significance of what I was coming across. This part took me about 6 hours.
Once I had looked through about 20 magazines/brochures, I was happy that I had cut out everything that made a real connection with me. I then headed off to the local supermarket (Tesco) as I wanted to buy paper, crayons, glue etc…. to start my Vision Board – this was when the name changed from Vision Board to Vision Wall as I knew one piece of flipchart paper would not be suffice or indeed be as empowering, I knew it had to be much more than that, so I purchased a roll of white paper, 5 metres long to do the job. Thus the name Vision Wall was born. This part took about 1 hour.
Next, again I got myself into a quiet place, put the music on and carefully laid out the roll of paper that was going to contain all my words and images that I had cut out….then I got to work. This was the most time consuming part but such a wonderful, inspiring experience, piecing it all together felt really amazing. This part in total took about 10 hours.
Hooray, my Vision Wall was now complete and the next challenge was getting this masterpiece of a Vision Wall up on my house wall and also deciding which wall. I live myself, so it felt perfectly right to put my Vision Wall on my living room wall – I wanted to be inspired by it every day and in as many moments as possible, so for me the living room was the perfect home for it. This part took me 30 minutes, after all the Vision Wall is over 3 metres long!!
Honestly, I feel so proud of myself for creating the Vision Wall and more importantly its contents and what they mean to me. The words, the images, the order, the colours and the very fact that I committed to achieving it is so inspiring for me. I look at it all the time and I am totally feeling the benefits of producing it and having it there in front of me. And to share this whole experience with you, this part took me 2 hours. But the process isn’t over yet, it’s only the beginning, please read on……..

So now that your Vision Wall is complete, what happens next?

Well, as we all know, it is not just about dreaming, we have to create a plan of action to turn our dreams into reality, so that is my next step. For each section within my Vision Wall I will now create an action plan and I will commit to following through on it. And in those famous words by Jim Rohn, “What gets measured gets done”, I will ensure that I am measuring and evaluating my progress, this will all be included as part of my action plan. The more results I get, the more self-motivated I become and the momentum builds into something truly fabulous for me and others around me. I know and truly believe that I will have helped thousands and thousands of people through my work – so everyone involved benefits. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” Ghandi – so this is where it all starts and I am excited.

What are the benefits of creating a Vision Wall?

Now that I have gone through the creative process myself I can offer my own honest opinion of what I have personally experienced by doing this. Here you go:

It’s an empowering and spiritual process which I feel was very beneficial for my own wellbeing.
It helped me to get especially connected to the core of my being, who I really am, what makes me tick, what inspires me, what my core values are and what will give me life fulfilment.
It provided me with the space to think creatively about what I want out of life, what I want for me, what I need to be, do and have to achieve all that I want.
It helped me to separate ‘me’ from the materialistic things in life, it got me thinking about my own mental, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing – who I need to be first to attract all that I want in life. The focus was on me growing and developing as a person, not on the materialistic things in life. This is a fairly recent shift in my thinking which is already getting me results
It has given me an amazing sense of achievement by doing something for me that is so powerful and impactful in my life. It really has made me much happier inside, I get excited everytime I look at my Vision Wall.
It has given me the opportunity to share this experience with you in the hope that if you choose to create a Vision Wall for yourself you feel the real benefits of it the way I have done.
I am closely monitoring and evaluating its impact, I am noticing positive changes in my thinking, feeling and doing – I am behaving in a way that is keeping me more in alignment with the goals on my Vision Wall – I know it is seeping into my sub-conscious in such a positive way when making decisions and choices throughout my day.
It makes me feel just great, I can’t really explain how it makes me feel, I just love it, LOVE IT and I welcome and encourage you to create a Vision Wall for yourself one day. In the words on my Vision Wall, I’m away to ‘Celebrate the new me‘. Lots of love Clarabelle.

Do you feel you don’t have enough time to create your own Vision Wall?

After all it did take me more than 25 hours of my time over a 3 week period, so that’s an average of just over 1 hour per day. How much time do you spend watching TV? Could you give up an hour of that time and replace it with creating a Vision Wall for yourself, just a thought. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” (that statement’s on my Vision Wall too)!! I do hope you choose to Go For It 🙂

Rescue Me

January 7, 2013January 11, 2013 Claire6 Comments

We all go through some very tough times in life and for me it is no different. I have lived with my own inner battles and often find, that is when my creative self-expression is at its very best, because I am living the pain but moving forward at the same time. This next poem was written about a time in my life when I was in a challenging place, this I feel to me was a breakthrough poem. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, believe that and you shall see and experience that for yourself. Lots of love Clarabelle

Rescue Me

It’s been a tough old week,

Feeling stressed, and out of peak.

But by releasing the feelings,

It allows me, to start my healings.

I’ve cried and I’ve struggled with the pain,

But I’ll use my learning to recover again.

The answer is there,

In the darkness, I stare.

Asking for help, does anyone hear?

The answer is within, there is nothing to fear.

***

So I look at my life, from a helicopter above,

Amongst the clouds, I search for the dove.

I raise my body, out of my soul,

Floating above, I see my heart with a hole.

I begin to imagine, life is so dear,

Swimming in the bluest of oceans, near the edge of the pier.

I drift back down and join my mind,

By taking myself out, the answers I find.

To appreciate life, and all it will be,

Is discovering the truth, and then you will see.

***

That to end it all now, would not rescue me,

To not wake up tomorrow, will not set me free.

Emotions are high, and the tension is real,

But to give up now, on a punctured wheel,

Is to say that this low, will not change in time,

I’m in control, for this life is mine.

So I smile with a tear, and get off my bike,

This journey ain’t over, it’s a wonderful hike.

So I lift my head high, and carry on,

The horizon is so beautiful, and from dusk till dawn, I will stay strong.

poemsbyclarabelle, 16 March 2012

To listen to the Poemcast for the above poem, please click on the link below:

PBC Poemcast 9 – Rescue Me

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 click HERE

Poetry the New Therapy

January 6, 2013August 18, 2015 Claire11 Comments

I subscribe to Psychologies Magazine (UK) and I was pleasantly surprised and excited to read their 4 page article on “The Healing Power of Poetry” in their February 2013 edition.

You see, I have always felt that self-expression through my own poetry writing has been very meaningful and therapeutic for me and it was wonderful to read some real evidence of this happening in the real world, and yes people actually give poetry therapy sessions as part of their business.

I feel that my own blog here “Poems by Clarabelle” is somewhat along the same lines, I have received some wonderful messages from my blog followers who have made a real connection with my poetry in a positive way in their life. To hear this is so gratifying because I have always tried in some way through my own poetry writings to inspire, encourage, motivate, empower, mentor, coach and softly guide others through my own poetry reflections and life experiences.

The Psychologies article by Claire Longrigg states “Poetry can transform our lives, lift our mood, and be a powerful tool for self-development” and I really do truly believe this. The article shares some poems that can help an individual who is suffering from joylessness, fearfulness, feeling stuck and loneliness…..just have a quick look at the categories on the right side of this blog and I am sure there will be something there for you or for someone you know.

I know there are alot of talented bloggers, creative writers and poets out there and I thought it would be good to share this new found information with you.

Onwards and upwards dear fellow bloggers, I have always believed “imagination is the highest kite one can fly”….I hope you will fly yours today!! Lots of love Clarabelle

Related link: http://www.psychologies.co.uk/magazine