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Monday, March 31, 2008

Kitchen Predictions




Some places relax and soothe us, and we enjoy every moment we're there.


... maybe like this gorgeous kitchen, a pic spied at Absolutely Beautiful Things?

Let's find out!

Feng Shui Predicts:

POSITIVE:
  1. The colour. Blue, white and yellow are the three colours that invite angelic blessing. This kitchen, if it was located in the west or north west, would bring happy entertaining opportunities and create strong female friendships.

  2. Tempering the strong metallic energy with the element wood.... the bamboo blind, the bowl of lemons and wooden materials both invite healthy wood chi into the room, great for abundance, prosperity, growth and a vibrant lifestyle.

  3. There's a lack of clutter, but the kitchen's not lifeless. Small accessories invite positive chi to linger longer and make a clean and clear space a warmer place to be. Ditto the abundance of natural light- brings a smile to our hearts and invites the outside in- welcoming positive new experiences and interactions.
NEGATIVE:
  1. Island benches create negativity in the kitchen if the sink is in the centre of the room. The element water drains Earth energy, which is vital in a kitchen, as it's usually the hub of family health and stability.

  2. Bodies perched on the stools are in the direct line of fast-moving chi from the doorway to the room. This, combined with their lack of leg room would make for uncomfy dining and irritable dinner conversation or digestion over time.

VERDICT:
A good Feng Shui Kitchen for entertaining and chatting. I'd advise everyone move into the dining room to eat, and 3 small earthenware pots or pile of river rocks placed to make a pretty display next to the sink, powering up the energy earth. Whenever possible, keep the plug in, and hang a clear quartz crystal from the window to further encourage laughter & joyful interactions.



Happy day filled with positive energy to you!


Love,


Samantha.



Thought of the day:
When you're just burning with curiousity to peek into your own future, visit http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/ for a wonderful prediction by Alison Day.
I suggest using the Tarot to indicate which areas of our life may be changing... with this information, we can focus on what we'd love to see unfolding- talking about it, imagining it, journalling about how wonderful the changes will be... thereby creating the best possible future unfolding for ourselves by harnessing the Law of Attraction.


What we focus on, grows!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Things to Do in the Dark


Earth hour or anytime we feel like switching off, here are three activities that don't need power to infuse us with positive energy.



1. Light a candle, and ignite the forces of attraction in your own life, by making a feng shui wish list.

Here's a question for you. If this was a year from today's date, and you've just had the most successful year of your life, what's different?


Take a chance to imagine what's changed in the areas of your life that would make a big difference... what's happened to your health? What's happened to your love life? to your relationships with family? to your friendships? in your career?


Feel free to imagine the happiest, most in-love-with-life version of you, you can. When you first IDENTIFY, and then, WRITE DOWN your prediction of what's changed, such as, "I've met someone really special and we're living in a beautiful home together", you'll be sending a powerful message to the universe that this is what you'd like to order, and forces will begin moving you towards your vision.
The Law of Attraction, in action.

2. DIY Flames of the Forest

Isn't this picture amazing? it's from the website http://www.flamesoftheforest.com.au/.com.au/ Here's a description of what it's about:
Light the flame of the forest...beneath the canopy of the oldest rainforest in the world...feel the wonder of this legendary place and explore the mysteries of time and culture in the spell binding candlelit drama that is the enchanted forest. Your evening includes champagne and canapés on arrival, Aboriginal cultural performance with didgeridoo and story telling, three course banquet with Australian wines and beers...


Wow! This experience alone puts Tropical North Queensland on my hot list of places to visit in 2008!


In the dark, in the rainforest or the desert, it's easy to create our own magical experience:

Place a few tea-lights in jars, and set cushions outside around in a circle.

A platter of scrumptious snacks in the centre and good company to share it with completes the setting for an evening of story-telling and speculation.


If you're going to host this sort of pow-wow, here are 2 great hints from my experience in creating Feng Shui Ceremonies:


  • Should your SO or visitors complain about their flagging eyesight and need for stronger light, solve the problem by challenging them to a blindfold and taste test.

  • Use the Native American tradition of the "talking stick" to makes sure one person doesn't hog the story-telling circle. You'll need a nice stick or another object, which is passed around the circle from person to person. Only the one holding the Talking Stick is permitted to share their story!

Or, 3. Get Wet.
"Floating is a wonderful way of attaining the deepest relaxation - it has been said that just one hour of floating can have the effect of four hours of deep sleep."- source: London Float Centre
Admittedly, if your bath's like mine, it may not be quite big enough for the perfect floatation experience (oh! must remind myself to find the soap and the bathplug before switching off the lights tonight!) but being in water in the dark... or under the stars... is a truly peace-inducing activity.

Don't light candles- the water and fire elements create an energy imbalance that won't help you fully relax. Instead, let your senses be caressed by the feel of the water against your skin and it's gentle noise filling the room.



Saving water? Two in the bath's double the fun, no?


It's my intention you'll be happy today, creating your own memorable and exciting Earth hour. I'd love to know what you did- leave a comment below!

love,

Samantha.



*Earth Hour-remember to turn lights and all non-essential appliances off- tonight, Saturday March 29 at 8pm for one hour in a massive world-wide action to promote environmental awareness. http://www.earthhour.org/

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Oil Wives Save The Planet!























"If we really cared about the environment, would we be living here at all?"

As Earth Hour approaches, I’ve really pondered the above question.

Maybe there’s a grain of truth in it. We all care about the environment, right?- as long as it doesn’t interfere with our personal livelihood. As an Oil Wife (a term I’ve come to understand refers to an ex-pat woman whose significant other works in the oil & petrochemical industries), I choose to be with my husband rather than live in a country with more eco-consciousness.

So, I may care about my family more than the environment. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about the environment. I may not be the greenie I thought I was, but I still love the sound of birdsong, and abhor waste. And, saying this, it lights me up inside. Instead of wailing about the traffic congestion, I realise a place like here is a great place to begin at the beginning.
I care about saving the planet. And I’m ready to make a difference.

Like in feng shui, when we have an existing structure we can’t alter, we have to find a “cure”. So I asked myself a great cure-seeking (problem-solving) question: How can I do what I can where I am to lessen my impact on the environment?
And came up with a fantastic framework of Green Acts I’m committed to.

Do you care, too? I invite you to join me!



Oil Wives save the Planet- it’s not an impossibility!

I’m committed:
1. To creating an oasis.
Plants indoors at home improve the air quality directly surrounding us, and adding trees and shrubs outdoors will contribute to long term climate change for the better.



2. To buying local products made in this country or it’s neighbours, thereby reducing my carbon footprint and growing other markets in the region, besides the oil & gas industries.


3. To turning my computer off at the switch when I’m not using it.
Did you know... one computer left on 24 hours a day for a year emits 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide. Trees absorb 3 to 15 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, so it'd take 100-500 trees to absorb the amount of CO2 one computer left on contributes! And 2/3 of a computers energy is used up by the monitor. So I'm going to turn my monitor off whenever I'm away from my desk, too.

4. To, instead of revving up the treadmill in the gym, jog or work out with a skipping rope and enjoy the balmy evenings of spring.



5. To purchasing secondhand furniture off expats leaving the country, and attending regular book and clothes-swaps. It’s a great way to meet new people and get a bargain, plus I won’t be supporting manufacturers that pollute the environment in the production of brand-new goods.



6. It has to be said- I’m newly committed to minimising our waste. In despair at the amount of bottles, aluminium cans and cardboard cartons we throw away, I came up with a hot list of actions, below. If your new country doesn’t offer the opportunity for recycling, or even if it does, cutting down on packaging is often quite simple. Just like:

Instead of…
Bottled water purchased from the supermarket
Choose…
A filtered water machine with refillable delivered bottles




Instead of…
Cling film and freezer bags


Choose...
Re-using plastic take away containers




Instead of…
Pre-packaged nuts, seeds, spices & dried fruit

Choose...
Weighed by the kilo produce, displayed market-style



Instead of…
Tinned fruits, veg and aluminium canned drinks

Choose...
Fresh locally grown fruit & veg, making our own soft drink using boiled water, fruit juice and sugar or sweetener


And, of course, to 7. Bringing my own bags to the supermarket. I’m going to disregard the “crazy woman” stares I receive when I pull out a pile of previously used shopping bags in line at Carrefour. It’s the de-riguer thing to do back in Oz, as it was when I lived in New York and Wiltshire, UK... It may not be today or tomorrow, but soon the whole world will be doing the same, and it’s time we set the example.

Did you know..? Plastic shopping bags choke up waterways and injure sea creatures and livestock when they mistake them for food or are foraging. As bags break down, toxins are released into the soil which contaminate crops and lead to human sickness and disease.

There are so many things we can do, and none of the above are rocket science. I bet you could name a dozen more!

The bottom line is- we care. As women anywhere, we can’t help but care. So don’t despair when it looks like everyone around you doesn’t. I’ll be doing these green acts with you. Together we will make a difference!
love, Samantha.



P.S. Remember to join in Earth hour at 8pm local time on Saturday, 29 March 2008. Turn out your lights and non-essential appliances for positive environmental action! Spread the word! For inspiring info, visit: http://www.earthhour.org


Oil burn-off. The above pics were taken of a rig offshore of Qatar last week.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Dinner Table Scramble


What a Girl!
Good evening. Again, a delicious dinner. I feel truly grateful for all the abundance in my life. Especially having just seen the Oprah show aired here...
Now that's cool. Giving one milllion of your own dollars to make sure children are fed at school in Africa. Drew Barrymore just provided 4 million kids with a cup of rice or porridge in their tummies, which will enable them to digest their AIDS medicine and learn their ABCs.
Did anyone else cheer when she presented her one million cheque with so much passionate enthusiam to the World Food Program on the Oprah show?
We probably can't each give a million dollars, but we can have fun & give for free on this website everyday: http://www.freerice.com Take a look!
Each word we get right donates 20 grains of rice to the World Food Program.
I play every morning before I check my emails. Will you make it a habit, too?
***
Tonight, after a quick googling of our best directions, (check your directions here!) Husby and I swapped seats at the dining table. Although it felt a little back-to-front, we had a fascinating conversation and I couldn't even manage some chocolate rabbit for dessert after chewing slowly and thoughtfully on our meal together. This is Doha nightlife..?
ANYWAY, here's an Easter toast: To inviting refreshing energy into life with the feng shui "Dinner Table Scramble":
Swap seats at the dinner table when you next sit down to a meal. The different orientation really "scrambles" your routine. Depending which feng shui life area you face, you'll find you talk about different topics, eat new combinations of the foods presented and enjoy a different evening ambience with your dining companions.
***
Oh, and Drew- What a girl!
No child should go hungry. Together, we can put this problem in our past.



Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Moving towards what the heart yearns for...
















"A seed hidden in the heart of an apple
Is an orchard invisible."

Welsh Proverb

Let the beauty we love be what we do...

"Let the beauty we love be what we do... there are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." -Rumi

Life by the Sea


Monday, March 17, 2008

Backyard Feng Shui



Get a Feng Shui Garden in 4 Simple Steps- by Samantha Honey- click here:





http://www.uktherapy.info/readarticle.asp?ID=76








feng shui tip of the day- The Feng Shui clothes-line





Call me patriotic, but as I stood out at my clothlesline this evening, gazing as a red sun set on the Arabian peninsula, I felt the heart-twinge for a Hills Hoist and true blue sky dotted with cotton-wool blobs of cloud.



And I remembered an interesting feng shui story, which prompts me to ask you this question:
what outlook do you have from your clothesline?


A client of mine had always wanted to travel, and there was nothing wrong with her Helpful Friends & Travel Sector, the North West. People were always visiting her from overseas, and she always found herself at Tullamarine doing the "send-off".

In consultation, I began to discover that her mind loved to wander when she was outdoors, and she often daydreamed of travelling. With her busy lifestyle sometimes the only moments she got outside were to hang the clothes on the line. And to do this, she faced a brick wall that was a blight to her garden. Daydreaming actually creates our new future if we do it in a positive state of mind, according to the Law of Attraction, so I encouraged her to change the direction of her clothes line and, on the wall, encourage a pretty creeper insted.


Now she looks into the big blue without any thoughts of negativity about the wall crowding her mind when she hangs the clothes on the line, and has just booked her first overseas trip in ten years. It's a small island holiday...


If you consider the position and outlook of your own clothesline, you'll know whether you need to change your outlook, or not- I guarantee it. Go- take a look now!





Love n Blessings on your path!





Samantha.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Celebrating Spring!



First day of frizzy hair. Real heat’s on its way. Here at Feng Shui by the Sea in the Gulf hq, there are two springtime plans cookin’...

1. The Evening Sky- Inside, at the top of our villa, the roof is dome-shaped, just begging for a feng shui trompe l’oeil. The moon holds such powerful symbolism to the Arabs and personally, with results to show for the powerful knowledge of planting, and creating energy rituals by the moon. The roof of a home represents the North in feng shui, and the dark blue velvet colour of an Arabian sky, filled with sparkling stars, a crescent moon and a shooting comet or two is powerful symbolism for your chosen profession, saying, “The Sky’s the Limit!”

2. The Arboretum- An arboretum is "a place where trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes." And there’s going to be one under our stairs! We’ll grow sage, for space clearing, plus keep all the feng shui indoor plants. Here’s a list:

• Chinese money plant- the jade, it’s a powerful wealth symbol
• Peace lilies, which absorb toxicity and electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
• Date palms, which absorb xylene,which can be omitted by some art supplies and petroleum storage
• Ficus plants- absorb formaldehyde, which all interior surfaces and industrial areas omit, they’re especially good in offices.
• English Ivy- thrives in a spot of high earth radiation and a good absorber of EMR
• Bamboo, for it’s symbolism of longevity, abundance, good health and heavenly support.
• The Banana plant- absorbs Sha Chi, or “poison arrows”
• Baby’s tears, aka Irish Moss, an excellent decharger, and you’ll feel your tension dissipate as you hold your hads over it’s soft leaves.

Oh, it will be lovely. Blessings to you if you’re inspired to create your own! Have you been inspired… or driven to, quite literally?


The Aboretum in this villa’s become a necessity due to the Feng Shui Nightmare that arrived last night…

Feng Shui Nightmare


Now, motorcycles are not in themselves bad feng shui…

Except when they live in your dining room.


I have to tell you, I am so grateful. The brute (speaking of the motorbike, not Husby) proved too heavy to pull up the stairs and into the Wealth & Prosperity corner, where Husby had his heart set on exhibiting it. 200kgs of metal in a Wood area would result in an incredible amount of bad feng shui to overcome, and to any client, I would have advised them to move the thing, or risk almost certain financial disaster.

Now, it rests in the dining room/feng shui study. It’s on my right hand side as I write this. We’re in the West- the children, fun and pleasure direction, almost ideal for it’s placement in feng shui- except an item such as this should not be indoors at all.

But it is. And so, a feng shui cure is needed. My choice to combat this large metallic energy thing here in the house is to really power up the wood energy in the same area. So, one of the lovely jobs here at Feng Shui By The Sea in the Gulf hq will be to create "a place where trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes"- an Aboretum.

Happy with this decision, I can appreciate that gorgeous piece of machinery- it’s practically a work of art. Although, if I was treating myself to the same degree, it would have been with an original by a renaissance painter... that I’d shopped for on a luxurious weekend in Florence...
Must be time to feng shui the husband!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Beautiful Friends




We have just spent the most lovely four days with some incredible friends. Aren't nice people a treasure to know? Husby and I have been on a high since they've left, excitedly chatting about the new memories we've made and happy times we want to create again.

Here are a few feng shui adjustments in the home I attribute to the re-entry, and pleasureable time we've just enjoyed:


Indoors, in the last week I've placed:
  1. A tall glass vase of fresh flowers- eucalypt, tiger lilies and fern
  2. A gorgeous peace lily, which grows out of my shiny metal Moet & Chandon wine bucket

Outdoors, in the last week I've placed:
  1. Our darling Banana plant, repotted in a solid, shiny terracotta pot
  2. The resurgence- yes, they're alive!- of my basil and parsley seeds, as they sprout in my kitchen garden in this corner
These enhancements have all been added to my Helpful friends & Travel area, the North West, either by the compass, or closest right hand corner to the front door of the home.


Yes- Husby is a lovely person to have made these friends in the first place, and,
Yes- they were coming to visit anyway,
BUT
I never expected to have such a wonderful time, and we have never felt so relaxed enjoying their good company before. This is the enjoyment of good feng shui.


Enjoy creating yours, too- I'd love to hear about your experiments and results- so leave your comments below!!





Love,



Samantha

xxx

What It Costs




feng shui thought of the day

I love this thought. It's a wonderfully memorable
saying we can use whenever we're faced with a life dilemma.



"It's easy to say No when there's a bigger Yes you're aiming for"

So, next time you're tempted... be it by a second
dip at the chocolate fountain, a gorgeous new pair of shoes, or company
overtime- quickly ask yourself- what's my bigger
Yes?
What are you really aiming for? Dropping a dress size
this year? Saving for your next property? Spending quality time with
your husband, or kids? You won't need motivation
anymore. All you'll feel is self pride, and no regrets, as you move closer
to what you truly desire!




Feng Shui By The Sea in the Gulf consultation fees start from 400QAR an hour.
This includes:
Home & Business Consultations;
Consultations by Email
Chat through Skype for a personal reading or feng shui dilemma
Procurement of feng shui enhancements for your space.

All our feng shui consultations come complete with a personal report for your future reference and yearly refresher at each turn of Chinese New Year.

In consultation, I use the schools of form & compass and flying star feng shui, combined with four pillars and Black Hat for individual cures to your particular life situation. In this blog you'll find easily-implemented enhancements which usually access the universal Bagua technique of feng shui...

So, if you're looking to create your dream oasis in the desert, feel free to get in touch.
Call me with any questions or to book, on (+974) 5044768.

And- send me your questions to answer here, without charge, now: What one thing would make the world of difference in your life, if it was to change, right now?

Feng Shui WILL help.



Blessings on your path!

Samantha.

using the Law of Attraction and feng shui to re-create our life anew.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Feng Shui traffic fix on Wednesday at peak-hour...

feng shui THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Feng Shui traffic Doha

Try this neat energy trick next time a muse-less driver cuts you off on a roundabout: hiss like a snake. Place your tongue up behind your front teeth and exhale powerfully with a ssssttt-ing sound. Much more effective at releasing negative chi than normal swear words, this sound actually gives the feeling of what
you're doing- releasing poison from your body- as your tension dissipates. SSSSTTTTT !!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Feng Shui your Mother


Mums+gardens+life's lessons= beauty & betterment in Life



"When we acknowledge that no matter what has happened, it’s an invitation to grow in a wonderful new direction, we become shining examples of individuals living fearlessly in the face of the unexpected."


Today started a little different from usual. Woke up with the alarm at 2am to call Australia and make sure the florist got our order to send Mum a bouquet for this milestone birthday. Florist John happily confirmed roses and lilies were on their way, and that he was especially busy this morning, it being UK Mother's Day. How auspicious for my Mum! It seems a very good omen for both days to fall together, and a good excuse for a double-strength celebration, if she'd like one.

In her honour, I thought here to offer Feng Shui tips for Mums; but instead, I'd like to share with you a little piece I put together about how to create good energy when "Shift Happens"- a little bit more personal, and I predict, exactly what you need right now.


You see, the Mums in my family- and maybe yours- all have 2 things in common: their green thumbs, and their ability to deal successfully with any of the wild cards life may throw at them. You name one of life's big tragedies, turns of bad luck, or disappointments; and it's happened to the generation of women before me in my family. But after the dust has settled, wherever they may be, they've found themselves still sane, and with a beautiful garden blooming around them. In sandy soil by the sea, near the desert and on bushrock, despite their life's circumstances, they have coaxed life out of the ground and made pretty spaces that soothe the eye and give a sense of achievement. Generally favouring natives and plants that will grow strong and tall, bearing fruit or providing shade, every garden- and there are many of them!- my mum, aunties and their mother have turned soft but willing hands to, are creating a healing environment for other families at this moment...


My green thumb is still sprouting (unlike the basil and parsley I planted in pots last week- which have turned a sad, yellow colour) but the other legacy these women left me- their ability to successfully deal with change- has already developed through my own wins and losses.

Are you unsure of something thats Changing in your life? It's my intention that the tricks below will help you grab your life change by the handle, and turn it to open the door on wonderful new Harmony, Prosperity and Success in your life.


Many happy returns MM, and enjoy a beautiful Mothering Sunday.


http://www.starflorist.com.au/ -Lovely to deal with, and I hear the blooms are stunning!


xxx


Bloom where you’re planted

How to use Change to positively shape your new life.


Has life ever moved so fast for you, you don’t know what’s happened? When life pulls a fast one and “Shift happens”, it’s the universe’s call to us saying we’re required to change, too.


Often these changes are so distressing for us because they challenge the very idea of who we are. We’re forced to regard ourselves in a brand new way. Our brain likes to make sense of things, and when the stories we tell ourselves don’t fit anymore, we’re required to make new ones up to make sense of situations and get on with life.


It’s all very well to “Bloom where you’re planted” but as any gardener knows, plants need time to adjust to new soil and positions before they can display beautiful flowers. The more unfamiliar we are with Change and new territory, the more resistant we’ll be and the longer it’ll take us to bloom. This little blog is about how to make the transition into a new period of life smooth and enjoyable, and help us to bloom more beautifully than ever before at our earliest convenience.


Seeing Change as our friend


Sometimes, the change we’re called to adapt to has been self-imposed; at other times, it’s like life’s pulled the rug out from underneath us in a way we could never have predicted!

Whichever of these that has brought Change to your door, welcome it as you would a friend with an invitation for you. You wouldn’t keep the door locked and bolted, pretending your friend isn’t there, would you? Invite it in to have a cup of tea. Find out what this friend is offering you.

When we acknowledge that no matter what has happened, it’s an invitation to grow in a wonderful new direction, we become shining examples of individuals living fearlessly in the face of the unexpected.


If you’re not a natural fatalist who believes everything happens for a reason, here are some great quotes from people that do, that can help you begin to believe that this truly, is the way things are:


I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.-Tony Robbins


I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. -Mother Teresa


Choosing to respond, not react


We’ve all heard about the lottery winners who, less than 12 months later, are right back in their previous financial situation. This is an example of reacting, rather than responding, to change. How do you feel about looking your Change in the face and carefully considering what to do with it? Often, if the Change is unpleasant, we just can’t bring ourselves to do this. It’s upsetting, it hurts, and it tells us things we don’t want to know about ourselves. We feel like we can’t continue our future living the way we’ve been living, and we have no idea what will possibly make us happy next.


This is a far cry from a more pleasant Change, like winning the lottery. But as you can see, both changes have the effect of, on less brave individuals, creating a “head in the sand” or knee-jerk effect.

Here are examples: With a disappointing change, we want to pretend nothing has happened, and go on with life as usual, or we react according to the expectations of other people, which are influenced by their own histories, and the media. Typical reactions are to become depressed, throw ourselves into a new fitness regime, or join a support group.

With a happy change, we want to celebrate, and again are influenced by the expectations of other people and the media; for instance, if we receive a windfall of money, by going on a fabulous holiday or a wonderful shopping spree. Some of these reactions may be the perfect response for you. However it’s important to realise that there’s a lot more choice out there than first appears! Remember, it may seem that Change is making you do something- but how you do it is entirely your own decision.

Some great questions to ask, putting you back in control of this outside event, include:


What would I like to see happen next?

What else could I do?

What definitely wouldn’t work?

What would be the craziest thing I could do with this?

How does this allow me to do something I’ve always wanted to do?


Only you know how to Bloom


Pay careful attention to the things you love around the time that Change appears in your life. If our paths are an adventure, signposted along the way, don’t be too quick to take a path which may not suit you.

It’s a mistake Gemma made when her husband left her. “Everyone assumed I would go back to Queensland and live with my family. And so, I did. But after a while I began to think, is this what I really want? I know I was looking for support after Andrew left; and that’s why I just sort of did what was expected. But now, when a change hits again, I’ll take the time to stop and consider exactly which direction I want to head in.”

It’s easy to get swept away in the excitement of change, and helpful to set ourselves time limits to allow us to consider all that’s being offered before committing.

Patrick felt pressured to accept a new job opportunity with an increased salary and excellent relocation package. But the more he kicked around the pros and cons in his mind, the more confused he became. “So I requested to be given ten days to make my decision. It was the best thing I could have done. The new employer backed off, and I was able to focus on the work I was doing and work out what the advantages would be, either in staying or accepting the new job. By the time the decision had to be made, I felt clear and confident.”

Influences as to how we should react to change sometimes don’t just come from the most obvious places- they can be deeply ingrained, and require serious thought to challenge. Penny realised this after she got married and her husband was working overseas; “I started saying to him, let’s get a new car, let’s get pets, let’s get a house,” she recalls, “and my family were saying things like, it’s wonderful you’re going to settle down now. But luckily my husband wasn’t convinced and I realised although I was tempted, we weren’t done travelling or ready to set up a home yet. Our choice may be unconventional, but I feel confident and happy I’ve used the change to both our lives to take me in the direction I want to go.”


Get role models


Embrace this: no matter how crazy, tragic or unusual the change that has happened to you, there is a wonderful resource that can help you deal with it- the collective human experience. Somewhere in the world, someone has been in your situation and successfully dealt with it. Those who have come through "Shift" are usually very helpful to others in a similar situation. Wouldn’t you be? Seek them out. Their knowledge and example can inspire you, uplift you and give you new ideas.

Often those in your closest circle aren’t the ones that have this knowledge, and especially of your change is large, they are probably adjusting to your new situation, too. So use resources like the internet, casual acquaintances, or if you can, visit new places and explore the ideas of people there.


Using our greatest (and most enjoyable) tool of all- Imagination


The famous quote by Albert Einstein “Imagination is more important than knowledge”, takes on a new meaning when we are dealing with change. We don’t have the knowledge of how, or exactly what we’re going to do next. But, we can use our imagination to picture a bright and successful future. It takes a brave heart to look into the realms of the unknown and imagine what’s there. So see yourself as a courageous pioneer or captain of a ship, heading for a brave new world. What would you like to be waiting for you?

The first few suggestions your brain comes up with may be run of the mill, boring things. So keep exploring. What else would you like to see in your brave new world? What else?

If can’t picture yourself as an explorer, try a softer variation of this game on for size. Abraham-Hicks, in the book “Ask and it is Given”, recommends a gentle and positive technique to create a bright future, called, “Wouldn’t it be nice if…” Try asking yourself this question for ten minutes at a time when you’d like to brainstorm your future, and you’ll be surprised with your own creativity and brilliantly exciting desires.

Armed with a new understanding of who you are and what you want, you won’t need to "successfully integrate change into your life"- yawn!

Instead, you’ll be moving with the change and using it’s energy to direct and shape a wonderful new life for yourself… one that will soon be blooming with the incomparable hues of rich and rewarding life experience.


Love and blessings on your path of courage-



Samantha.