I am astounded that I persisted through nearly 60 days of reworking what I eat and drink.

Persistence and patience are part of me and I thought it would be harder to change these old eating and drinking habits.

Let’s talk about Pain & Payoffs

There are pain and payoffs when you stay where you are even if it’s hurting you.

There are pain and payoffs when you choose to change an attitude, behaviour or situation.

I’ve seen people stay in relationships and patterns that are obviously hurting them because the payoff  is greater than the pain.

They are also resisting change because the perceived pain of moving away from what you know into the unknown is greater than the payoff

What can you do?

Change the balance of the scales

If you’re in pain in some aspect of your life and want to change then try this:

1. Decrease the payoffs of staying where you are and really increase the pain factor

2. Increase your sense of the payoffs of changing and decrease your perception of the pain of moving into the unknown

We stay in old patterns, old behaviours and old attitudes because one of the biggest payoffs is that it’s kinda comfortable and we know where we stand.

My Payoffs & Pain and the decision to create the 60 Day Energy Adventure

The pain of where I was became too much.

I was falling into a depression spiral, feeling anxious and eating/drinking in ways that weren’t helping.

The payoff of being in that space was that I didn’t have to change and I was lolling in a comfy rut.

I wasn’t ill so why change?

One day I woke up and was sick of feeling crappy and below par.

I didn’t want this to be my baseline for normal.

I created the 60 Day Energy Adventure to shake and stir myself up.

It worked.

Payoffs & Pain of doing the Energy Adventure

I seriously thought it would be harder.

There has been very little pain because from the start I felt the results of the changes I was making.

You can read about the whole journey in these posts

Day 1 – from bloody tired to fab

Day 9 – shit & sunshine

Day 21 – lots more sunshine

Day 36 – feeling amazing & there’s a present for you

Day 43 – clouds in icecream & mind energy

What I realised is that remembering the pain of where I was before starting on the Adventure acted as a very strong incentive to keep going.

That pain memory of feeling crap linked with real results [payoffs of change] acted as a huge motivator to keep going

I didn’t want to feel crappy, overweight and depressed

I wanted to feel calmer, energised, lighter and  able to enjoy each day

Results?

Let me count the payoffs:

1. Wake up feeling calm and looking forward to the day

2. Enjoy preparing my tasty/healthy meals

3. Everything tastes better

4. I can focus and concentrate for longer and my energy lasts all day

5. My knee is better as I have lost weight and walk every day for 1 to 2 hours with Coco dog

6. I don’t feel depressed or anxious or getting into that gerbil mind cycle

7. I feel a lot more optimistic and hopeful

8. Sleep like a cat

9. Lost 21 pounds

10. I now have experience rewards rather than using food and drink as a reward for effort

And yes  – I have had the odd glass or two of wine in the last few weeks and enjoyed them.

I haven’t been interested  in cakes and chocolate so the sugar cravings have gone.

New habits can take up to 6 weeks to stick

I felt better within a few days of cutting out gluten and sugar and dairy.

Weight dropped off and keeps dropping off.

I still choose to be conscious of old patterns and that’s a good thing.

I haven’t felt this good in a long time.

That’s the biggest payoff for choosing to change myself.

What’s next?

I’ve enjoyed doing this 60 day Energy Adventure so much that I’ll continue it indefinitely.

I kept a journal each day and I want to keep that going because it makes me more conscious of what I’m eating, drinking, feeling and thinking

A present for you

I created a Pain & Payoff activity sheet so you can explore what’s happening in your life and what you might choose to change.

You can download the pdf and type in it or print it off and write your thoughts.

Just click on the pic below

Pain & Payoffs have a key place in strategic life planning.

Are there areas of your life where you want to change things?

What is the main pain that might motivate you to change?

Love to hear your thoughts on this whole Pain/Payoff stuff

Leave a comment below and feel free to Share

Best wishes and thank you

Wishing & Hoping just won’t cut it

People that think they only need to dream and they’ll attract it all need help.

Seriously, there are peeps out there who believe that everything will come to them if they only think the right thoughts.

NOT     GOING      TO     HAPPEN

I totally believe in having dreams, passions and wishes that engage us and create a sense of enthusiasm.

Then there’s the GOYA bit

I talk about GOYA all the time.

It stands for Get Off Your Arse.

Focus on the grains of sand of your dreams to make them real.

Get up every day and have some idea of the next steps you need to take.

Get support.

Sort out what information, skills, people, money, buildings, ideas, technology … that you need.

Promises to Action

If your dream, goal, wish is important to you then make yourself a promise.

Promise that you’ll do whatever it takes to make it real.

Promise that you’ll be patient and persistent.

Promise that you’ll give it a chance.

Don’t give up

I’m saying that as much to myself as to you.

Getting everything sorted to bring Life Dreaming to this stage has been monumental.

The last 9 months have been full of lists and thousands of actions.

Have I wanted to give up?

Hell yes.

Why haven’t I?

I’ve set a time frame to test how well Life Dreaming is going and if certain goals haven’t been reached then I will explore doing something else.

For now – I persist and tell myself daily to be patient and then do another action – and another …

What keeps you motivated when you’re working to make a dream real?

Love to hear your advice as it will help me and other readers.

Have a great week.

Best wishes and thank you for visiting.

If you’ve been following my Energy Adventure then you’ll know my body is happier than ever – more energy, lost weight, feel calm and skin looks fab.

Day 1 – from bloody tired to fab

Day 9 – shit & sunshine

Day 21 – lots more sunshine

Day 36 – feeling amazing & there’s a present for you

Feeling good in my body means that my mind is clearer, my heart is calmer and my intuition is having fun in my dreams.

You know when you’re sick and you think ‘can’t wait until I feel better again. I’ll really look after myself’ – and then you get better and forget what it felt like to be ill?

I decided on Saturday to fall off the wagon, eat a good hamburger and chips and drink some wine.

The food was fine but felt kind of heavy so I only ate half the hamburger. The wine was fine and I drank too much so I got to feel tired all day Sunday.

Don’t need to do that again for a while.

I’ve been working really well over the last few days on a marketing/biz course and have reams of new actions for Life Dreaming.

All I need is a clone to help me make it happen.

I’m housesitting alone in Wicklow [Coco is in dog kennels having fun] and am really putting time into growing Life Dreaming.

Clouds in icecream – really?

Last night I realised that the books I’ve been reading to relax are like sugar to my system and I was a tad bored.

I went on a serendipity look [which is really intuitive wandering and I adore it] through the library and picked 3 books.

I started reading them all, cross reading and seeing strands and patterns – what a delight.

[I read uber fast and it kind of creeps people out sometimes – Mum once said it proved I was an alien!]

Thich Nhat Hanhs  – No Death, No Fear sent my brain into a swirl and my intuition went ‘ahhhh’ like it recognised a friend.

No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life

I adore paradox and the idea of interconnectedness so sentences like this delight me

” Sooner or later the cloud will change into rain or snow … if you look deeply into the rain, you can see the cloud. The cloud is not lost; it is transformed into rain, and the rain is transformed into grass and the grass into cows and then to milk and then into the ice cream you eat.

… say ” Hello, cloud! I recognize you.”

Dr Maureen Gaffney’s Flourishing is a big book in more ways than one and I’m enjoying the way my heart is also affected by her writing.

Flourishing: How to Achieve A Deeper Sense of Well-Being, Meaning, and Purpose– Even When Facing Adversity

I only read 80 pages last night but there are 3 ideas that have already made my heart, mind and intuition stand at attention.

Idea 1 – Negativity Bias in Humanity –  we all have a negativity bias that is hardwired in our brain for survival so when something negative happens in our day [bad traffic; an argument; a lost contract] it will have a stronger impact physically and emotionally than a positive experience.

Idea 2 – Positivity Ratio – research has shown that for individuals there is a ratio between negative and positive experiences in any day, week, month that will help us to either flourish, average function or languish into depression.

Flourish – 5:1 – 5 positive experiences to every negative

Average functioning – 3:1 – 3 positive experiences to every negative

Languish – 2:1 – anything around 1 or 2 positive experiences to every negative

This ratio really has me thinking about how I can be more conscious of positive experiences in every day to counter the extra power of a negative experience. It’s also about how you and I define what is negative or positive.

Idea 3 – Negative experiences contract your focus – we focus very specifically on them and filter out other information. Positive experiences are expansive and we broaden out our perception – the positive feeling colours other events and people around us.

I took particular note of Maureen’s description of key positive and negative feelings.

Here’s a small list of emotions and you can add your own.

I believe that we can consciously focus and expand positive feeling as well as allowing negative feelings to have space but not dominate.

Click on the image above and you can download a pdf for your own musing

Ask yourself when you begin the day and as you travel through it

” How can I experience these positive feelings today?”

This morning as I walked around the gardens here I felt grateful that I had the chance to stay in this beauty. As I work away on my Life Dreaming biz I hold hope that it will grow and make a difference. I’m really proud of the time and effort I’ve put in the biz over the last 2 days. The donkeys made me laugh and I’m deeply grateful for my health. I feel contented.

And when I felt fear [will anyone else book a place on the Voyage? What if I don’t get the money I need?] I listened and then told myself all the things I was doing to promote the event as well as asking for support.

This brings me to the third book I’m reading – Robert H Hopcke – There are no accidents – synchronicity and the story of our lives.

There Are No Accidents: Synchronicity and the Stories of Our Lives

I have a fondness for Jung and Robert’s book explores and provides stories about synchronicity.

Synchronicity has been defined as  the simultaneous occurrence of two meaningfully but not causally connected events – a kind of meaningful chance.

Synchronicity has 4 characteristics:

1. Acausal – there is no discernable sequence of events. I love this because it challenges  the key Western construct of cause and effect.

2. It’s a deep emotional experience

3. The content of the synchronous experience is always symbolic and related to

4. Important life transitions

Robert believes that synchronous events very often become a turning point in the stories of our lives.

I love synchronicity [meaningful chance] and serendipity [intuitive wandering in you mind, heart or body] and I can feel myself being more open to both as I go deeper into my Energy Adventure.

My serendipity wander in the library last night has provided me with some wonderful books that are truly food for thought and help me open my heart, mind and intuitive energies.

What’s next?

I have no idea in the big picture of my life – it truly is an adventure.

I want to continue on my healthy eating process as it makes me feel amazing.

Reading the three books and getting more ideas delights me.

Being more conscious of how I label an experience is on my list.

Asking myself what I could do to feel any of the positive feelings on a daily basis tickles my fancy.

I’ll ask for your support 

Working alone can be lonely and a tad exhausting.

You can help by sharing this post on any of your social media channels – there are sharing buttons that are just a click away.

I need to attract 6 more bookings to my Luxury Life Dreaming Voyage in October. There’s an early bird discount price of €165.

Please let people know about it as it will be a truly amazing day.

Send them this link – http://www.lifedreaming.me/life-dreaming-luxury-voyage/

Did I tell you how grateful I am that you read my posts?

See – another positive experience!

Best wishes and thank you

In case you missed the other posts here they are –  and my fave is day 9 because adventures have crap in them as well as fab stuff.

Day 1 – from bloody tired to fab

Day 9 – shit & sunshine

Day 21 – lots more sunshine

Calm is good energy

I think the biggest result from the 21 day elimination diet has been how calm I feel.

Prior to knocking out gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, corn and soya products I had been feeling as if I was on the worlds crappiest roller coaster – UP & DOWN all the time with a lovely dash of irritation and underlying exhaustion.

Can you relate to that?

I kept refocusing my goals, walking, deep breathing and I still woke up feeling like some kind of roiling monster of emotions.

I think that gluten and sugar are my poison because as soon as I took them out of my diet I felt calmer.

They’ve been gone for about 23 days now and I feel calm, energised and more focused.

The situations around me haven’t changed that much so the calmness is coming from the food and drink changes I’ve made.

Set the foundation for your energy

The first block of time in this adventure have been about getting my body cleaner and leaner.

Our bodies have to hold 4 energies – their own; heart energy; mind energy and intuition energy.

A body that isn’t fueled and treated well will have trouble holding the energies and that’s what was happening with me.

Good food = Good fuel and right now I’m feeling like a lamborghini!

What’s new in the Energy Adventure – reclaiming lost love

Let me tell you a story about lost love.

When I was in my teens and lived in Exmouth I trained 2 miles a day and loved swimming competitively.

I was good and it looked like I might be selected for the state trials.

Then I got really ill and had to give up swimming.

Just about broke my heart.

Actually, it did.

Swimming was something I was very good at and I loved the feeling of gliding through the water.

I haven’t really swum very much since – that’s over 40 years.

Last week I reclaimed swimming  – my lost love.

It was an experience reward for all the great effort I have put in to creating new eating and drinking patterns.

From the moment I got into the pool my body almost sighed ‘we’re home’.

Even after only 2 weeks I can feel my breathing improving and I can swim further and faster for longer.

It’s a 25 metre pool and yesterday I swam 16 lengths fast and without stopping.

Within a month I’ll be swimming 32 lengths.

Here’s a nice quick activity/musing for you

1. Think of something you loved doing when you were younger and gave up for some reason

[note – I’m not talking drugs, shoplifting or cake!]

2. Remember how much you enjoyed doing it and how you felt

3. Decide whether you want to reclaim it, find time for it and see if it still gives you joy

Intuition energy adventures are beginning

I’ve also started creating more conscious space for my intuition to be heard.

It’s not an easy thing to access so I use a number of different tools

I’ve done 3 things:

1. Started a journal where I do left and right hand writing. My dominant hand [right] is the adult Liz and my less dominant hand [left] is my intuition/unconscious. I write a question using my left hand and it’s answered by my right hand. I realised that fear instead of trust in myself had been driving me for the last few years. I need to create a new trust and belief in myself.

2. Began reading my celtic tarot again. I bought the celtic tarot 21 years ago when I was leaving Oz for Ireland. I haven’t used it for years and decided to start again because it gives me interesting insights into my own character, behaviour and patterns. Jung saw the tarot as a means to access the unconscious within ourselves and I agree with him. I’m not using it as a divination tool because I believe the future is fluid and we have a say in our lives.

3. I ask a question and wait and see through the day if any answers arise. I have been asking ‘ How do I trust myself?’ and words, memories and ideas wander in as the day goes on. My intuition [probably also linked to my heart and mind] give me memories of times when trust and faith in myself were my default. I’m working on making it part of my new and evolving life patterns.

I’m still lovin’

I walk Coco dog every day and on weekends we can go for 2 and 3 hour wanders to Phoenix Park.

Walking with Coco dog is always an adventure as I watch her delight in just being outside.

She teaches me a lot about being very present to the sights, sounds and scents of the places we wander.

I’ve found the new calmness means that my brain doesn’t whirl like gerbils – it’s more like an easier flow of ideas, thoughts and musings.

I’ve now lost 14 pounds, my measurements have gone down by inches [46/40/45 to 42.5/33/42.5] and I’m sleeping like a cat.

I love the food I’m making and eating – LOVE IT.

I love it so much I’m going to do it for another 2 to 3 weeks.

There’s a winner, an early birdy and a present for you

I mentioned in the last post that the Morgan Hotel marketing team were running a competition and someone would win a free place on my Luxury Life Dreaming Voyage

A winner was chosen and she’ll be having a fab time on October 18 with 9 other women and me in the penthouse of the Morgan Hotel.

I also decided to reward people who have been supporters of Life Dreaming by offering an Early Birdy discount.

Until September 25 the price for the day will be €165 instead of €180.

The day would be a great gift to yourself or a loved one who needs time and space to relax and muse about what’s next in luxury surroundings.

And here’s a present for you.

I created this simple 3 x 3 recipe book of my fave food that I’ve created on this adventure.

I think it’s important to keep decisions about meals to a minimum so you don’t get into analysis paralysis and end up ordering pizza and a bottle of wine [been there and done that!].

Click on the pic and you can download the recipe book – no sign ups or anything – just wanted to give you a prezzie.

I am so glad I started this Energy Adventure.

I’m making changes that I want to stay in my life.

Best wishes

You can read the other posts from the beginning:

Day 1 – from bloody tired to fab

Day 9 – shit & sunshine

Serendipity is all part of the adventure

Adventure is a mix of knowing what you’d like to do and then all the unknowing stuff that happens along the way.

My core goals are the same

Increase my energy and get to a healthy weight

What I didn’t realise is that new things come up that can startle and jolt – new learning as well as chances to change old patterns.

My birthday was crappy

I had fab plans for my birthday on July 26 and they didn’t happen.

I woke up and felt crap emotionally, deeply tired and realised I wouldn’t be fit for any human company.

Sometimes you gotta just let it all be felt before you can move yourself into a space that feels much much better.

I knew that I needed to take some deeper action and saw a post by a friend in Portland about a 21 day elimination diet.

She ended up buying it as a birthday present for me.

Being more mindful of what and why I eat stuff has been – interesting

I get the information about the diet and part of me is saying ” no way can you do this”

Always worth letting the goblins have a say.

My friend started a really small private facebook group and we post ideas and cheer each other on – it’s helped me a lot to be accountable.

When I did the reading and saw what I was eliminating for 21 days I wasn’t too fussed  – except for no wine for 21 days!

I know and you know and dogs know – alcohol is full of sugar and is a depressant and I love my bubbles and wine.

I also adore bread, butter, cheese, potatoes, cake – yup – stuff that will put me in a kind of stupor.

I started the diet [and I have no problems calling it a diet – it’s just another eating plan] 8 days ago and here’s what I found profoundly interesting.

I use food and alcohol as a reward for effort and a way to fill a hole when I’m bored or depressed

Now there’s nothing wrong with a bottle of wine to celebrate or some cake.

The issue with me is that I can get into a spiral of ‘celebration’ that isn’t great for my body or my emotions.

Sugar and gluten are particular nasties for my system and they start their own cravings.

Being more aware and mindful of the effect of food on my emotions has been an eye opener.

If I’m bored now I have to do something about it rather than eat something or have another glass of wine.

I have created experience rewards  and the results are amazing

Over the last 8 days [and there are 13 to go] I have eliminated :- gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs and soya from my diet. I eat lots of raw and roasted vege with quinoa, fish and chicken. I drink loads of water and herbal teas. There’s a smoothie I drink each morning that has fresh berries, pea protein powder, cacoa, goji and chia seeds with a dash of vanilla.

I walk Coco dog a lot.

I’m really enjoying preparing food and taking my time savoring the taste.

No cravings at all even when a good friend came round for dinner and she had a beer – I had water.

Let’s look at the results

1. Less ups and downs emotionally. Nothing has changed situationally so it’s eliminating certain foods [and alcohol] that’s making a difference.

2. I’m not worrying as much about the future and feel really calm. I’m pretty sure sugar and gluten were doing the equivalent of cocaine – ups and downs all over the place.

3. My skin looks amazing and 2 exczema spots are nearly gone from my face.

4. My energy and focus is much better. I don’t feel weary.

5. I’ve changed an old pattern and not using food and alcohol as a reward for effort. I’m creating experiences instead and bought some Clarins to care for my skin.

6. I’ve lost 7 pounds in 8 days and 9 pounds in total since the start of the 60 day adventure.

Change takes awareness, patience, persistence and support

The first week of the 60 Day Energy Adventure was all about being aware of how I was feeling in my heart, mind, body and intuition.

The last week has been about making some real changes in the food I put into my body.

The results speak for themselves.

I’ve kept a daily journal that helps me see how change is happening and how I’m feeling in my heart and mind [you can download the table in this post].

Change in any area of our lives is possible but it won’t happen overnight AND you need to be patient and persistent.

Be accountable and get support.

Other great news – I get pr support for my 1 Day Life Dreaming Luxury Voyage

I’m getting amazing pr support from the Morgan Hotel in Dublin.

I’ve booked their penthouse to run a 1 Day Life Dreaming Luxury Voyage for women on October 18.

Their team are providing beyond exceptional support and they’re genuinely excited about the day.

What’s Next on the Adventure?

I’ll be staying on my 21 day mini food adventure as the results are making me very happy in my head, body, heart and intuition.

As you know, I’ve spent a lot of time redesigning and rewriting this site as well as blogging more often; creating videos; developing the Luxury Voyage and launching the Expedition.

I’m aiming to grow the number of people who subscribe to my email digital magazine  – so do sign up if you want to keep in touch.

I also realized that I’m not great at sales and pricing so I’m getting some help with that area of the biz.

I’m also exploring starting swimming again.

What adventures are you on at the moment – head, heart, body, intuition and life in general?

Love to hear from you.

Best wishes

Ever had people say this to you when you told them about a dream, an idea a vision you had about the life you want to live?

It’s often the people who love us the most who say this.

Whether they know it or not they may really be saying:

” I love you but if you change then I might have to as well”

” You might get hurt”

Here’s a story from the beginning of my career.

I was in my mid 20’s, had 2 part time jobs and just completed my post grad in Recreation.

Along came an offer of a 3 month contract with the Dept. for Sport and Recreation.

The catch?

Give up the stable and steady income, move 400 miles away for 3 months and no guarantee of future work.

Be Realistic?

Being realistic may have meant turning down the offer and waiting until work turned up where I lived.

Luckily reality and I have only a passing acquaintance

I tend to leap where whole legions of angels fear to tread

I leapt at the chance and got to work with amazing people and organised a gathering of young people from the southwest of West Australia for a day long visioning exercise as well as heaps of other things.

If I’d listened to ‘Be Realistic’ I wouldn’t have had that opportunity.

I did get more contract work and ended up working with the Department for 4 years before I leapt into another adventure, and another … it’s become a lovely habit.

Be Realistic contains you

Throughout history ‘Be Realistic’ has been used as a way to contain and constrain the beauty and power of:

• Women – ‘ Be realistic [good, well behaved, quiet] … you don’t have the capacity to … vote, run your own biz, change the world’
• Older people – ‘ Be realistic and act your age’ [that one makes me want to spit]
• Men – ‘Be realistic – you can’t be a househusband/nurturer …’
• People of colour – ‘ Be realistic – you’ll never be president or able to run your own business or …’
• LGBT people – ‘ Be realistic – you’ll only get hurt and you’ll never have your own tv show’ [hi Ellen]

If I had listened to ‘ Be realistic’ [which is often a subtext for women to be good, quiet and not rock the boat] I would never have done the work I do, lived in Australia and Ireland and created Life Dreaming.

Be Realistic – Trust yourself and fly

Connect to your passion [see my vid]

Energise and engage with your life and dreams

Find ways to make things happen

Leap + Laugh + Live

When you or people around you say ‘Be realistic’ then challenge those 2 words by asking:

‘ What does realistic mean?’

‘ Is being realistic just another way to keep me quiet, well behaved and contained?’

‘ Am I prepared to take the leap, the risk and seize the adventure?’

‘ If I do leap then where can I get the different resources and supports I need?’

People who have ignored ‘Be realistic’ have pushed boundaries for themselves and others

4 minute mile anyone?

Don’t ever let 2 words contain you.

Click on the picture to download a Be Realistic activity sheet

I hope you’re enjoying my off the cuff videos.

The next one is called ‘Living an adventurous life every day’

Do sign up so you don’t miss new videos [with poster and activity sheet] AND I’ll be giving everyone a free present in one of my August blog posts.

I hope your adventures are going well.

Do let me know how you are.

Best wishes

9 days into the 60 Day Energy Adventure and gotta say – shit.

In the last post I explained why I was doing the Energy Adventure.

I want to increase my energy on many levels and feel less tired.

Taking a long view is important and 9 days is but a speck in the eye of time.

One result ‘should’ have lifted my energy  – I’ve lost 4 pounds in the 9 days.

It hasn’t.

Being conscious without judging – start with the food

In this opening week I asked myself to just be aware of what I was eating and not judge.

I’ve been recording everything I eat and drink as well as how I’m feeling.

I made a present for you below.

Creating tasty and healthy food has been delightful as I adore cooking.

My poached egg on rocket is a fave brekky.

I roasted a free range organic chicken on Monday and it’s spread across the week in a number of dishes  – including a very happy Coco dogs.

The best thing I’ve done is to cook a large amount of quinoa in organic vegetable stock and add in lots of raw vegetables:

• tomatoes
• onions
• cucumber
• peppers (capsicum)
• chilli
• mint
• parsley
• seeds – flax, sesame – whatever you have in the cupboard
• juice of lemon/lime and a dash of balsamic vinegar
• you can add any fave vegetable

I have it in the fridge and can add chicken or salmon to it for any meal.

Quinoa is quite an amazing food as it has lots of great properties:

• high in protein & contains all 9 essential amino acids
• contains iron
• rich in magnesium
• high in riboflavin B2 [great for energy]
• fiber rich
• acts as a prebiotic that feeds microflora [good bacteria] in the intestines
• low GL
• low in calories
• is an antioxidant
• is gluten free
• it has a high satiation rating – meaning it gives you a full feeling

It’s not a grain but part of the spinach, beets and swiss chard family.

So, why don’t I feel better about losing 4 pounds?

Eating well over the last 9 days has helped a few pounds disappear and that’s fab.

Why aren’t I more delighted?

Because being conscious of what I’m eating has also highlighted how I turn to food and alcohol when I feel down or upset.

That happened a few times this week and I didn’t judge as I ate a few more sweet things and had an extra G&T.

This week was all about being conscious of my current behaviours and what triggers them without trying to change them.

It was important for me to be clear about these old patterns and habits without giving myself a hard time.

And the short term rush of sugar or dulling of feeling became clearer because I have slowed down and am listening and watching myself more closely.

The Goblins got louder & louder when I slowed down

Slowing down has it’s delightful side – sleeping in, lolling with a book, playing with Coco dog, sitting out the back listening to the birds and watching Coco worship them.

Slowing down has it’s startling side as the Goblins started shouting and feelings roiled.

The tiredness turned to sadness.

I had promised myself to be conscious of everything – my feelings, thoughts & actions

It’s bloody hard and hurts – not every second or hour of the day but enough

Sadness frightens me because it has been a precursor to deeper depression over the years.

Somehow I don’t think I’m going to tip into the darkness because I am trying not to own the feelings – just let them be.

It’s also important for me to listen to the Goblins because they have valid things to say.

Life is complex, full of regrets and sadness is a valid emotion.

Where were the Fairies/ Amazons with Attitude when you need them?

The Goblins have a right to be heard AND then I give the Fairies/Amazons with Attitude equal time.

They had a hard time being heard over the Goblins but they did get through.

Every moment of every day this week wasn’t sad for me

It’s vital to be as conscious of the calm and peaceful moments

The Fairies/Amazons with Attitude are heard in the quiet times

They remind me that I’m a person who feels passionately and delights in life

They show me how I’ve made a difference

They reveal my best qualities that engage me with the world

They remind me that I have the power to be enchanted and enchanting

They tell me that I’m a resilient survivor who somehow stays hopeful

I woke this morning feeling better and ready to focus on some Life Dreaming work – this post.

It’s been an interesting start to the Adventure

The 60 Day Energy Adventure is 9 days in and it’s been more powerful than I expected.

It feels like a cleansing and decluttering of my heart, mind, body and intuition.

Every day I record a few key things:

• brekky
• lunch
• dinner
• snacks
• body energy [1 to 10]
• heart energy [1 to 10]
• comments

The next week or so will be about small changes in old patterns:

• not making all rewards for effort food or alcohol based
• limiting the amount of alcohol and sweet food I use in a week when I feel down

I am pleased that I’m eating gorgeous healthy food and that I haven’t run away from the Goblins.

Changes are happening and my energy is slowly increasing.

If you’d like to follow my 60 Day Energy Adventure and other Life Dreaming Adventures then click on the gorgeous box below.

I hope your adventures are going well.

Do let me know how you are.

Best wishes

I’ve been tired for weeks now and that’s affected me on all levels – mind, heart, body and intuition.

I’m prone to depression so I keep an eye out on how I’m feeling so I don’t fall into the pit.

Life Dreaming sorting, designing, learning, planning, thinking and doing for the last 7 months has left me exhausted.

I started wondering whether it was even something people would need or want and then the spiral of goblin talk started and seemed to take up residence for the last few weeks.

You know the chatter

” Who would want to do Life Dreaming? There’s so much stuff out there already and your voice will get drowned. Give it all up.”

Well, feck that and all the feckin goblin talk.

When energy is low for more than a week then stop and take stock

That’s what I’m doing this week and I’ve decided to start with the foundation – my body energy.

When I get tired I tend to slip down the slope into crap eating behaviour and we all know that’s just – CRAP.

All the crap makes me feel crappier and then the spiral starts.

I have the power to make some choices & change the crap

Let the Energy Adventure begin – first things first

There’s a few things I need to sort out before leaping into the adventure:

1. Why am I doing the 60 Day Adventure?  To increase my energy and get to a healthy weight.
2. What will I need to do? Research some great recipes; keep a diary of what I’m eating and how I’m feeling; only weigh myself once a week; refocus on why I love Life Dreaming.
3. How will I make sure I stick to my goals? Make it public [like here on the blog and on my social media channels]; ask for support; be very conscious of what I’m doing, feeling and saying to myself; take measurements and see how clothes fit over 60 days; set up rewards that aren’t food focused; enjoy eating lovely healthy food.

Recording the Adventure & how you can help

I will keep track of the lovely tasty healthy food and my walking with Coco dog.

I won’t be posting here every day – maybe once a week.

I’ll post recipes and anything else I’m doing that is helping increase my energy.

If you have a tasty healthy recipe for any meal of the day I’d love to hear about it.

And if you’d like to follow the 60 Day Energy Adventure [and get some great free presents along the way] then click on the button below.

Wish me luck

p.s the image above is from brekky. Not sure what’s for lunch or dinner as I’m still printing off recipes and planning stuff. Lots of water will be drunk though.

It should have been.

Defining life moments should come with scary music and a cackle or two.

What was the moment that helped me decide whether to live or die?

It wasn’t when I had to give up my dream of representing my state [and perhaps my country] in swimming when I was 15.

Although it could’ve been.

It wasn’t when my folks split up when I was 16.

Although it could’ve been.

It was what I did when I got  a ‘Dear Liz’ letter from John when I was in my early 20’s.

That was the moment I chose between living and dying.

It looked like I was starting again from zero

He’d cleared out the bank account and taken everything we owned to the other side of Australia.

I had no where to live.

I had no money or a job.

I was 3 units short of my psychology degree – so, no qualifications.

He’d told me so many times that I was fat and ugly and lucky to have him.

I believed him.

I stood with the letter in my hand and screamed from a place I didn’t know existed.

I quickly thought of a few ways to kill myself – run under a bus [nope]; head in oven [nope, it’s electric]; take lots of pills [nope, might wake up]; slit my wrists [nope, hate my brother to have to clean up the mess].

Then I laughed because it seemed that I couldn’t even think of a decent way to kill myself.

In that moment I felt completely lost, betrayed, stupid, scared, helpless, unloved and unloveable.

I asked myself ” Do you want to stay down here for the rest of your life or do you choose to pick yourself up and see what you can do next? It’s your life and your choice.”

Choosing to pick myself up was the defining moment in my life

It was the moment I decided to own my power and not expect other people to make me happy/successful/loveable/purposeful.

It was the moment that eventually led me to shine my light and be ‘too much’ for the rest of my life

It was hard and fear was often present – it still is.

AND – my family and friends became my champions and my sanctuary.

I found a deep inner power and strength [some call it stubborn persistence] to just ask for what I needed even when people said it wasn’t possible

I had 3 units to get my psychology degree and when I rang to enrol I was told I had to wait until the following year as they only took in students in the first term and had NEVER taken in students in the second term.

For the first time I refused to take ‘no’ for an answer,

I rang the Dean of the university and asked for an appointment.

I told him about what had happened in my life over the previous year and that I needed to finish those 3 units in that semester and couldn’t put my life on hold for another year. I needed to find a focus for my life and getting the Psych degree was the next step.

He listened and then explained that it was university policy not to enrol students in the second semester unless they had been enrolled in the first semester.

I said that I was happy to become the exception to their rule and that my persistence should show him how important this was to my life.

He thanked me and said he would consider what I’d said and write to me in a week.

Longest bloody week of my life

This time I received a letter with good news.

The Dean over ruled policy and let me enrol in the second semester!!

I worked like a demon and with a new kind of heart and mind energy.

I learnt that I had the power to define what was important in my life and the persistence to make it happen.

Over the following months I:

• found a place to live
• talked myself into a new job
• graduated with a degree in psychology
• learnt to care about myself
• learnt to care less about what other people thought of me
• re found my delight in wine and food and my friends

I became a lot more myself.

I found I had a talent for working with people and whole communities – working with them  to continue creating their powerful, just and celebratory lives.

It’s the work I’ve done for 30 years and where Life Dreaming comes from

I meet and delight in the company of powerful women who have created their own lives with their own unique style.

There have been other defining moments but not quite the shattering breaking of innocence and trust of that ‘Dear Liz’ letter from John.

I wouldn’t be me without that moment so – Thank you John.

You bastard.

[ Really? You thought I was some kind of angel who forgives and forgets? I may have dodged the bullet but I don’t have to love the gun.]

What was the defining moment in your life that made you the beautiful and powerful woman you are today?

We didn’t become the women we are today by sitting in a comfort zone.

We didn’t see ‘no’ as the last step.

We persisted and delighted and danced in our lives.

If  this post connected with you then I’d be delighted to hear from you. Leave a thought, comment or suggestion for a new post below.

Take good care

The last few months have been fascinating – in a discombobulating way.

Lots of stuckness and confusion as well as some nice insights and clarity.

I’ve invested time, money and energy into some learning so I can make Life Dreaming much much more.

I’m a Discombobulator

You know when people ask you

What do you do?

For over 30 years my friends and family have asked me that question.

There has never been a lovely one word answer like:

• Stripper
• Author
• Pilot
• Robber
• President

All the work I have been doing lately helped me dig down and find the word that describes all the myriad of things I’ve done

Discombobulator

 

I can now rest in peace!

What does that have to do with Passion?

Everything.

It’s all about deciding:

• what’s important to you
• how you want to live your life 
• the kind of person you want to be

It’s about feeling engaged, enthusiastic and energised in your life and by it.

The last few months have been discombobulating because I needed to reconnect, reaffirm and recreate my passion with Life Dreaming.

I feel more energised and enthusiastic and also a little dizzy with all the work that needs to be done in the next few months.

Moving outside my lolling and comfort zone

Creating challenges for myself is one way I engage with my life.

Last week I challenged myself to start making videos for Life Dreaming that didn’t require scripts, makeup, a gorgeous venue and lots of reasons why I couldn’t do it.

I did it.

I took my camera when I was walking Coco dog to Phoenix Park in Dublin.

I relaxed and waited to see what topic came to mind as I was walking.

I sat under a tree, held up the camera  and just talked away.

Coco dog stars in the end!

Not only did I do a series of vids, I also got a friend to take pics of me for pr purposes

Then I got stuck

My vid editor wouldn’t work and I spent hours doing techie things to sort it.

I kind of gave up.

Then I read a post today about vids and decided to just edit it in the You Tube editor.

Getting something done imperfectly is better than doing nothing

Now I’m unstuck and the vid is up on You Tube

And the topic?

Passion isn’t lost.

Love to know what you think of my off the cuff video.

Take good care.