living - Living Expressions

21 April 202111 May 2021

Finding your purpose

Purpose is like the breath of life. Or for some it could be more the breadth, depth and width of life. The times when we think most about our purpose is usually when we are struggling: as a teenager wondering what job we will do and/or university course; when we become dissatisfied with our job, career direction or course; and when we su fer trauma or health issues and lose the role we loved. I’ve been through all three and the worst was the latter one. When you finally found that role that fits you like a glove, you’re passionate about it, you love going to work, being part of the team and then everything is taken from beneath you. Not only have I experienced it, but I’ve also witnessed and stood beside thousands of police o ficers and Defence personnel going through this change once labelled ‘hurt on duty’ then medically discharged. How do we recover from this loss? Not only loss of something we loved, but loss of our mental health and perhaps physical health, loss of our passion and drive as well as loss of our purpose.

One thing I discovered on my journey through this is that my purpose was actually never lost, the way that I executed it needed changing. It will certainly be di ferent and when we get our head around that and it is okay, then opportunities start to arise. My purpose throughout life has always been education, motivational speaking and supporting others to be the best they can be. What I started to do post-police and navy in various roles, I could see that my drive, passion and purpose was still thriving. I just had to find the right avenue with my limitations.

After you decide to move forward, what happens next is truly amazing. It is like the shifting forces of nature were engulfing your whole being beforehand, even most days felt like you were trying to move in the opposite direction through a massive wind storm. Then, the day it all becomes too much, sand is flickering into your eyes disabling your sight and you feel totally exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. It seems impossible to go on. At this point we have a choice and we think the choices are to give up or keep battling, but there is another choice. Let go. Let go of everything we are holding on tightly. Allow the storm to pass. Rest our mind and our body, then start working on the root cause slowly and steadily. Yes, it’s hard work, but the result is amazing. Things in life start to align again. We feel more connected to life, to friends, to nature, to the world! Indeed, we feel alive! We are survivors and becoming people who can empower others to reach that amazing place too.

Feel free to download a free tool on how to discover your purpose and meaning.

Latest publication on purpose out now at your local Blurb

9 March 202111 May 2021

Connection

If there was one golden key that we needed to find in life that we can’t live without, it would be connection. Our existence on this planet can only be because of our connection to all living things and beings. The more we connect with people, nature and animals, the more we will thrive. However, in the 21st Century, connection through the day has largely changed to be with technology! This takes us away from the very fabric of what connection actually means.

As a society we are feeling more disempowered. Mental illnesses are on the rise. Suicide rates are higher than ever before. 3.96 billion people from around the globe are on social media every day for approximately 2 hours and our teenagers are glued to their smart phones or tablets for 7.5 hours per day on average!

What is this actually doing to our mental health and well-being? It is creating a culture of panic, fear, anxiety, depression, sadness, discontentment and loneliness. We are masking our true feelings through cute emojis and through an online presence that shows how good we are doing, not how bad we are feeling. It is forcing ourselves into a world screaming of attention, with a shallow mindset, creating more internal wounds.

The ability to engage and find people to connect and empower each other is possible! The way to find connection that brings empowerment and contentment is to engage physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually with others face to face, time in nature and with animals, caring for our planet and doing what is best for our growth.

How much time do you spend with technology versus living things/beings? If the former is higher than the latter, then finding balance may be near impossible. Aim to connect with the “living” at least 50% of the day.

Mel

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18 February 2021

Balance, Unity and Harmony

You definitely know when you feel balanced. Life feels goods. You are not exhausted. You are having that “top of the mountain” experience. Those moments that rarely happen. Can we help ourselves to be more in-tuned and more balanced? Yes. In fact, most of us most likely do the opposite of bringing balance, unity and harmony in our lives.

In my wellbeing research, regardless if you are a healthy adult or suffering from a mental health disorder or gone through trauma, a BALANCED LIFE was the lowest category.

What thoughts and behaviours do you have that unbalance you? The law of attraction theory states that we essentially become what we think about all day long. Do you dwell on what’s missing from your life? Do you have conversations heavily weighted with what’s lacking in your life? Do you cultivate an inner picture of yourself in the negative or being unlucky?

If you think scarcity, you will create scarcity. If you analyse shortages or downfalls constantly in your life, more will appear. If you talk negatively, you will attract more negatives and wonder why bad things keep happening in your life.

Seven thought systems that keep us being unbalanced in life:

Not believing in yourself
- instead enjoy the fullness of life, believe that you can do anything
Making excuses
- instead don’t limit yourself, there is an infinite supply of abundance, resources, what we need to live a full life
Saying “I don’t deserve it”
- instead cultivate an inner affirmation of who you really are, you are worthy, you are worth it
- realign your desires with your thinking
Believing you have limited abilities and talents
- instead don’t compare yourself with others, you are a unique individual given abilities and talents just for you – some receive many (like me get bored easily), some receive a few (that’s all they need) and others receive one (as it is part of who they are to do one thing exceptionally well).
- create an inner picture of yourself already living an abundant life, then become the abundance you desire utilising your gift/s
Saying “I’ve never been lucky”
- low negative thoughts attracts low energy (depression) instead positive calming thoughts in the spiritual activate the desires of your heart
- no such thing as luck, accidents happens, it was a moment that went wrong
Believing it’s always been this way
- instead learn from your mistakes, keeping your thoughts on your past mistakes will guarantee them into your present moment!
- rather, look upon your entire history as a series of steps you needed to take in order to bring you to this moment – you have everything you need for what is coming
- restoring balance is releasing yourself from the past and focusing on the present and where you desire to be – doing meditation, Tai Chi, Qigong all helpful for this
Saying “I don’t know how to think abundance for myself”
- instead start saying to yourself “I am abundant. I am balanced with the desire of my heart aligned with my Creator. I will not think negatively about myself again.”

You are entitled to live a balanced abundant life. Start living it! Start believing it! Start aligning your desires and thoughts towards it.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you, don’t go back to sleep.
Rumi, a Sudi poet

27 June 202017 November 2020

Broken to Open

Fragmented pieces of life float away. My brokenness. They are like boomerangs. The more I want the pieces to be lost, the more they will come back to haunt.

Fragile cracks form. Lightening explodes. Black & white. Fire erupts. Colour embedded. I need to walk the path ahead. Feel the fear. Touch the pieces as they drift by.

My openness seeks to soar. To find my objectivity. To speak of words that will empower. To free oneself from the chains that bind. I know too well this path. I travel on the spectrum of life moving forward, to find myself two steps behind.

A journey begins.