The Heart Knows...

"One of the most creative acts you will ever undertake is the act of creating yourself."

~ Deepak Chopra

I love this quote because it reminds me that as we go through life and live through experiences, we are learning and growing and through this process, creating who we are. Our values and beliefs; the things we hold close to our hearts; what motivates our decisions.

We are all responsible for creating our own experiences and this is a very powerful concept. Ask yourself, what are some of the things that you truly ache for in your life? How can you change your circumstances to create what you desire? 

Amidst confusion, clarity exists. It is learning how to tap into our inner knowing and trust what our hearts tell us that is the key. Go somewhere quiet and ask yourself "What does my heart want me to know?" And then listen. Trust what you hear because your heart will never lie to you. 

Listening to our hearts hones our ability to trust our instincts and brings greater clarity - and joy. 

The Power of Self-Love

The Voice
There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
"I feel that this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong."
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What's right for you--just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.
~ Shel Silverstein

I love this! It helps me to remember to listen to and trust my inner wisdom.

Your inner wisdome is the voice that speaks from your heart. The more you listen to it the more power you give it - and the louder it becomes.

Ask your heart "what do you want me to know right now?" - and listen for the answer. The voice from your heart is the voice of self-love. And positive body image is all about loving who we are from the inside out.

Believe in YOU!

When you have come to the edge of all the light you have and step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of the two will happen to you; either you'll find something solid to stand on or you'll be taught how to fly!

~ Richard Bach

I love this quote because it reminds me that even in times of hopelessness and darkness, if we hold on to the notion that things will change, and believe in this with all our hearts, a shift can't help but begin.

 

Sometimes in the darkness we feel disempowered and lost. But if we change the lens through which we view our situation, the situation changes. So instead of viewing our circumstances as hopeless, what if instead we chose to look for the light? In every difficult situation there is a gift, whether we learn something new or change the way we do something that leads us down a new or unexpected pathway.

 

This process brings greater clarity and helps hone our ability to trust our instincts and harness the courage to follow our hearts. Believe that transformation is possible and magic will unfold!



Why Celebrating Diversity Will Help Save Lives

Over the weekend I came across an article that highlighted an interesting point about Vogue magazine; despite having a readership that's one-fifth women over 50, Vogue has only featured one woman over 40 on the cover in the past year — Halle Berry.

However, this trend is not limited to Vogue. The article also states that research shows fashion magazines portray women over 40 sparingly, if at all.

According to a review of eating disorder research published in June in the journal Clinical Psychology Review, about 4.5 percent of middle-age women have eating disorders, and some studies have found increased admissions of middle-age women into eating disorder clinics in the past decade.

The same review found only two earlier studies that investigated the link between media consumption and eating disorders in older women. A study published in 2008 found that pressure from family, peers and media was linked with a desire for thinness and disordered eating. Another study, published in 2003, found that family pressure was the most influential path to an eating disorder, though perceived media pressure had a small to medium influence as well.

It is my personal view that we need to celebrate diversity and therefore women of all ages, shapes and sizes need to be portrayed in the media as this provides a realistic picture of what constitutes 'normal'. Celebrating diversity encourages self-acceptance and self-love and this helps to foster positive body image. If we can help women feel good about themselves from the inside out, we have a very real chance of reducing the alarming incidence of eating disorders in our community and ultimately saving lives.

Dare to Dream...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~ Mark Twain

 

I love this quote because it reminds me to stay true to my goals no matter what obstacles I may face. Sometimes life can take an unexpected turn and yank the rug from under us. The process of facing and working through adversity can leave us feeling disempowered. We feel helpless and lost, and as a result, end up making poor choices. But it doesn't have to be that way.

 

It is my belief that in difficult times we can choose to create transformational moments.

 

The process of working through and conquering obstacles can lead us to greater clarity - and teach us about trusting our instincts and having the courage to follow our hearts. And this in turn garners an inner conviction that spurs us on to strive for nothing less than magnificence!

 

I hope this post inspires you to explore, dream and discover. You have everything you need inside of you to create the amazing life that you deserve.