Winter is here and so are the bugs! So many people have been grounded by the dreaded colds and flu recently and I know it happens every year but this time it seems to be difficult to shift. I’ve known so many people who have had terrible colds that have gone on for weeks. They think they’re almost better and then it comes back with a vengeance again. Some have had it for so many weeks and just can’t seem to shift it.

And I’ve just been bitten by the bug myself! The other evening my throat felt a bit sore and you get that oh-oh feeling cos you know what’s coming. Then it’s the nose and the coughing and you know the rest! So I wanted to share with you what I’ve learned to do when this happens to me.

Let me tell you my story about the soldiers.

If you imagine the cold/flu lurgy (and it will improve most illnesses) as being the enemy soldiers in a battle against you, and your immune system are your soldiers trying to fight the lurgy off. But the lurgy is winning and you don’t have enough soldiers to fight it and win. You need more soldiers!

So imagine that you (more…)

Did you know that chicken soup is actually good for you? Like scientifically “good for you”!

Apparently it can help to heal you when you’re sick. And it isn’t just an old wives’ tale – it’s said that eating chicken soup can actually help soothe a cold. The chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine, which helps thin mucus in the lungs, and the hot broth helps to keep nasal passages moist, prevent dehydration, and fight inflammation in the throat. Well it’s got to be worth a try, I’d say!

So is it true? Who knows!

But regardless of whether the physical benefits are actually true and scientifically proven, the psychological benefits of a warming bowl of chicken soup when you’re feeling under the weather and a bit sorry for yourself definitely are. And we can all feel this way sometimes I’m sure, whether we’re actually ill or we’re just having a bad day and feeling fed up with ourselves. Unfortunately, having an off-day is part of life.

So can a hot bowl of chicken soup make you feel better when you’re just feeling down? On those days when you can’t be bothered with anyone or anything, those days when you’d rather just hide away under the duvet until the darkness passes? Maybe it can, it depends on you. Maybe chicken soup can soothe you and make you feel better on those days. Who knows?

But let me explain. I’m sure you’ll agree that (more…)

Why is it so hard?

I hear you asking this question all the time.

You just want to do something, to change something, to improve something but…. Why is it so hard?

This is usually accompanied by other such questions as ‘Why do I always say I’m going to do it and then never do?’ ‘Why am I such a failure?’ ‘Why does this always happen to me?’ ‘Why am I not as good as this other person?’ ‘Why does nobody love me?’ And other such questions of a similar nature!

So what’s the answer? Why is it so hard?

Well let’s think about it in this way. If you genuinely wanted to know the answer to something then you would ask an expert wouldn’t you? Someone who could give you an accurate answer that would tell you where you are going wrong.

So who would you ask? Who is the expert of you? Who would know the precise answers to your questions? Well, it’s you of course! Or your own unconscious mind to be more precise. It has the answers to all our questions, we just have to learn to listen to it.

But how can we do this?

Well when you ask yourself a question listen to the answer and see what comes up. So for example you may ask the question ‘Why am I not as good as this other person?’ Now listen to the answers that come up. Such answers as ‘because you’re (more…)

Have you ever felt that life would be so much easier if everyone was just like you?
I know I have! And I’m sure you have too.

Who’s driving you crazy?

Is it your partner? Do you just not understand why they keep doing the same things that annoy the heck out of you? Or saying the same old thing when they must surely know that it drives you mad!

Why does your family or friends say things to try and “help you” when they really aren’t being helpful at all. In fact it just makes things even worse!

And what about your boss (or even the Government!)? Why do they say and do things that are just crazy. Why can’t they see that things could be so much better if only they did things your way? Can’t they see it makes better sense!

And your kids, or even” the youth of today” in general? Are they from a different planet you ask. Either you can’t get them going or you can’t shut them up.

And don’t get me started on shop assistants, call centres, companies and the like. Why do they always get stuff wrong? Can’t they see it’s simple? Why does it take them so many attempts before the job’s done right?

Oh why can’t everyone be just like me, you ask, it would make life so much easier.

And it probably would. But it would be a very dull world if (more…)

Have you heard the story about the hare and the tortoise? Where they both have a race and the tortoise wins?

The hare races off as fast as he can thinking that the tortoise has no chance whatsoever of winning him in a race. But before the finish line he decides to stop for a little rest. Maybe because he’s tired or because he’s showing off but he decides to stop for a bit and he ends up nodding off.

Meanwhile the tortoise has been slowly plodding on, just keeping on putting one foot in front of another. And though it seems to be taking him quite some time he is making steady progress. So much so that he sees the hare having a nap and quietly passes him which puts the tortoise in the lead.

Just before the tortoise passes the finish line the hare wakes up and notices what is happening but even though he goes as fast as he can he’s unable to catch up and the triumphant tortoise wins the race!

I love the story and the moral of it because I think it’s a lot like that in life, don’t you?

Life is so fast paced these days that we want everything to happen right now, we can’t wait, we seem to have run out of stamina for things.

Maybe it’s your weight and you want to lose say two stone as soon as possible (more…)

Are You A Water Skier Or A Deep Sea Diver?

I heard this phrase the other day and it really hit home with me so I thought I’d share it with you and see what you think.

So let me explain the difference.

If you think of a water skier they whizz along skimming over the surface of the water, it’s a quick spin around and they’re back. In comparison, a deep sea diver will immerse himself into the deep water searching around for ages to find what lies within.

So which one are you?

Personally I’m definitely a Water Skier! But is this a good thing or a bad thing? And who decides anyway?!

I believe that nothing is intrinsically good or bad. It’s just our perception of it, it’s all subjective. Some people might view something as a good thing but yet others may believe that it’s a bad thing. It really is an individual choice and yet we get bogged down by what we think we should be or do, by other people’s opinions and by society’s point of view in general.

And I haven’t always been aware of this. I too have, and sometimes still do, feel obliged to go along with the general consensus of other people’s opinions and values. But really it’s no-one’s business but our own. Who is anyone to tell (more…)

Whatever it is that you are trying to achieve, is there something that is hindering you?

You keep trying to do something but never quite get there. What is stopping you, what’s your ‘excuse’?

And I use the word ‘excuse’ not in a bad way because there is a real reason why you aren’t achieving what you want to. And by pinpointing what is in your way you take the first step to changing it.

If it remains there then you will always struggle, whether it is losing weight, changing your life, becoming more confident, whatever it is. So think about that first.

Let’s take the example of losing weight. If you struggle to lose weight because you’re too busy and you’re never organized enough then that will always be your downfall. So instead of trying and failing doing the same thing again and again, why not find a way to make a little time to be more organized. Even if it’s just 5 minutes before you go to bed to decide what you’re going to eat the next day and when you could move a bit more. Then when tomorrow comes and you’re busy you’re more likely to make the right choices.

So think, what small things can you do to solve the obstacle first and this will make your actual goal a lot easier to achieve.

Imagine someone on an assault course. You know the sort I mean, like an army training course, out in the mud, trying to (more…)

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Cup half empty or cup half full? A winner or just a contender?

Have you been struggling recently and it’s been getting you down? Or have you maybe struggled with something in the past? If you answer ‘No’ then I’m amazed! I’m sure we all struggle in life at one time or another, it’s just how life is. Ups and downs, two steps forward one step back! But please know this, you are not the only one.

I’ve been struggling recently, with various things!

Some people may know and some may not but I’ve recently had an operation for a torn cartilage in my knee. I’ve been hobbling about on it for quite a few months hoping and praying that it would mend itself but it didn’t happen. I kept thinking “don’t make a fuss, you’re strong, you can do it yourself, you don’t need any help from others”, I thought “You can do it!”

Only I obviously couldn’t do it!

I continued to suffer on, hoping and praying for a miracle, but nothing got any better and nothing changed. I did this for many months! They say don’t they “If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve done things differently”.

But would we?

How many times have we all said that before but then gone on to act in exactly the same way again? Why do we keep on doing the same things again and again and yet expect (more…)