Take Heart!

Image Credit - relationshiptherapylondon.co.uk

In the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man craved a heart, only to discover that he had one all along!  We see many articles about the heart being linked to romance and love.  We see many articles encouraging healthy eating and exercise to create a healthier heart.  I came across this article from Ed and Deb Shapiro on listening to your heart!

Your heart is more than your body's most important organ—it's also the essence of your spiritual and emotional being. Find out why listening to your heart is much more valuable than always making decisions with just your head.

"A good heart is better than all the heads in the world."
— Robert Bulwer-Lytton

When you fall in love, you feel your heart flutter, beat loudly or leap for joy; when you're rejected, your heart breaks. You are called heartless or cold-hearted when you show no care or love...and big-hearted when you extend your concern to others. You "take things to heart" or "talk heart-to-heart" about deeply personal issues. You love someone "from the bottom of your heart" but are half-hearted about something when you're emotionally uninvolved. You experience your heart as the center of your feelings, as seen on Valentine's Day when love-filled hearts abound. You know this instinctively, as you always physically point to your heart when you say "I" or want to express your deeper feelings.

Yet your heart is so much more than a vessel for romance. It has been described as the king, with the mind as the king's adviser. When faced with a decision, the king may ask his advisers for advice, may even send him out into the world to gather information, but ultimately it is the king that makes the final decision. Even though the advisers do not always agree with the king's decision, the king is invariably right, because the king's view not only sees the bigger picture but is also aware of the needs of others.

In the same way, when faced with a decision or conflict, your mind may come up with numerous, different and quite logical reasons why you should act as it advises, but if you listen to and trust your heart—however illogical or irrational it may seem—it is usually right and you are happier as a result.

There is great brilliance and beauty inherent within the mind, because it is capable of understanding the most intricate scientific and mathematical theories and can make complicated corporate decisions. Yet the same mind can get caught up in trivia and nonsense, becoming upset or even unglued over a seemingly harmless remark. It runs your life, pushing and pulling you in all directions, from attraction to repulsion, creating endless dramas in acting out your insecurities and fears, because it is not in touch with your deeper feelings. Living inside your head all the time is actually not much fun!

While the mind is the content of who you are, your heart is your essence. Your true heart is not subject to chaos or limited by pain, fear and neuroses, but is joyful, creative and loving. Some believe the heart can be too uncertain and even misguided, but that is the head talking! It is actually a source of great richness, and this wealth is one that cannot be squandered or lost. It is the core, the essence of your being, a reservoir of joy, powerful love and infinite compassion that lies within you.

I hope you enjoyed this article.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

I win you lose na na na na na

Image Credit - myzerowaste.com

On Sunday I learned something about myself that I have never noticed before, I am not proud of this shadow trait that I possess......I am a bad winner!!!

Mr T and I took up badminton two years ago in an attempt to get fitter and to take our potato soft bottoms out of the chair at least once a week.  Every week I have diligently got dressed into tracksuit bottoms and trainers, braved rain, wind, snow, ice and extreme heats to go and play Mr T at badminton.  You would think that after playing for two years I would have significantly improved and be an able match for Mr T. Alas, sadly this is not the case.  Mr T is fairly good, he reads my moves well and anticipates where to hit the shuttlecock to cause me the most difficulty.  My mission and aim is to just hit the shuttlecock back over the net!!! My mantra is God loves a trier and I really do try every week!

Mr T wins almost every week apart from two fluke evenings when I managed to win by a hare's whisker.  I live in hope that he will take pity on my losing ways and throw a few games to make me feel good but he is a competitive man and shows no mercy.  I know most people want to earn their victories but I would happily take any winning pickings I could get.  Especially as Mr T usually has me running around that court like an extra from a Benny Hill comedy sketch!!

Today, things were different, we went along to the sports centre and almost from the first game I felt a sense that I could gain the upper hand. I swooshed and swatted that shuttlecock, I whacked it and batted it and after 45 minutes, Mr T could take no more and I was the WINNER!!  I was ecstatic, I came out of that sports centre on air, the sun was brighter, the air was clearer and I was gloating and crowing whilst poor Mr T hobbled behind me clutching his back.  Did I not say that he wasn't on form today as he has a sore back...........? Well as I said earlier I take pickings where I can get them!

I know I should be ashamed of my behaviour, I know that gloating at someone else's misfortune is not kind, but.............the sweet smell of success in my nostrils is making want to dance and sing Na Na Na Na Na, its not big and its not clever but is oh so very sweet!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor - future champion Badminton player of the world maybe even the universe!

Seeing the beauty in everything

Image Credit flickr.com

Monday Mantra - today I have chosen "I choose to see the beauty in everything!"

Sometimes it is easy to believe that we lead very ordinary lives with a few extraordinary moments thrown in.  However, life is just one huge miracle from start to finish.  If we are prepared to look at life in a different way, we will find beauty in everything.  How many times do we feel fed up doing household chores and wondering if everyone else is living full and exciting lives.  There is beauty in the seemingly mundane.  When I was washing up this morning, I thought about the water, both hot and cold that was filling the basin, pumped into our homes in abundance, I thought about the soapy bubbles and the scientist who created the concoction of chemicals, smells and colours that clean our plates thoroughly.  I wondered about the artist who created a design on my plate, the kiln owner who fired the plate, the people involved in the making of that one plate from the supplier of materials to make it right through the process of making it, designing it, packaging it, marketing it, selling it, transporting it etc etc.  How often do you really look at everything around you and truly appreciate it?

Try today to see the beauty in everything. Jonathan Mead from Think Simple Now writes,

• Find beauty in the little things. It’s amazing to me how when I stop the incessant mental chatter, and actually just see things, I am blown away by how beautiful they are. The trees swaying, the leaves blowing around on the ground, the waves crashing on the shore. The simplest of things have the most profound beauty. But you can only see them if you’re really there. If your mind is brooding, if you’re off somewhere else, you’ll completely miss them.
• Embrace your artistry. If you think you’re not a creative person, I’m here to respectably tell you – you’re wrong. You couldn’t not create, even if you wanted to. Every time you open your mouth, every story you tell yourself about the drama in your life, is an act of creation. You’re constantly shaping, reinventing, and writing the story of your life. Once you recognize this, it’s much more powerful for you to see yourself as an artist, rather than a non-creative person. So the question is: What story will you create today?
• Live without limits. Some limits are positive and necessary (like speed limits), but a lot of the limits we place on our lives block us from experiencing our full potential. Arbitrary limits, like fearing to reach out to a homeless person or talk to strangers, restrict the flow of love in our lives.
• Realize that beauty can be found in the most mundane. Beauty is not always realized through a life-changing moment or a great epiphany. It’s not always hidden in a rainbow, in an earth-shattering orgasm, or found skydiving at 5,000 feet above the ground. Beauty is often found through looking into a newborn’s eyes, in the blooming of a flower, or in paint peeling off an old fence. It’s often where you least expect it.
• See for the first time. Sometimes we get bogged down in schedules and obligations, and we lose our sense of wonder about the simple joys of life. Just quieting yourself internally and opening yourself up to an experience can allow you to view it again for the very first time. When you’re listening to music, imagine that you might have not been born with the ability to hear. When you reach out to touch someone, think about how many people don’t have use of their limbs. When you observe your surroundings, imagine you’re seeing color for the first time.
• Live intimately with life. The next time you have a drink of coffee or tea, completely take in the smell and the flavor of the beverage. When you breathe, feel the air enter your lungs. When you walk, really feel the ground beneath your feet. The amount of beauty you experience in life is largely related to your level of intimacy with life. If you’re walking around disconnected, you overlook the wealth of artistry that is available to you right now.
• Make your passion a priority. It’s easy to get wrapped up in doing all of the things that we think must get done. Wanting everything to be perfect gets in the way of having time for the things you really care about. While the errands and things on your to-do list might be necessary, it’s important to make the things you love a priority. If you have a hard time with distractions getting in your way, make a specific time during your day that is sacred, where you only do what you really want to do. Maybe it’s an hour of Kung Fu or Yoga in the morning before the rest of the world wakes up. Maybe it’s 30 minutes of Mahjong before you turn in for the night. Whatever it is, you have to make it a priority or it will get lost in the vacuum of the minutiae abyss.
• Focus on the good. The reason still puzzles me, but we humans have a tendency to focus on the negative in events, circumstances, and people. We have a tendency to count our misfortunes and all the things that are lacking before we count our blessings. Make a habit of focusing on all the things you’re grateful for and you will open yourself up to experiencing the beauty of life.
• Give something away. I’ve found that the best way to reconnect with how beautiful life can be is to give something away. It doesn’t have to be anything material. It can be a compliment, a smile, or a positive intention for someone else. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is sincerely giving your presence.

This list is, by no means, exhaustive. These are just the things that have worked for me. Experiment on your own and take chances. Sometimes a deep breath or a smile at a stranger is all it takes to bring you back into a state of presence.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Inspirational Clips by Sivan Garr

Image credit - wallpaperseek.com

Here are some lovely You Tube clips that are loving, nurturing and inspirational from Sivan Garr! Whenever your faith in YOU wavers, play these for a boost of joy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVQJPeRwKek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es0B-rfF6wc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMIM3wF9YfQ&feature=related

I Love you, I believe in you, You are beautiful!

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Who you are makes a difference

Image Credit - desertculinary.blogspot.com

I opened an email this morning from a lovely friend Kim and found this inspirational story.  I felt really moved and wanted to share this story with others.  I strongly believe in self acceptance and self belief.  I strongly believe in appreciating yourself, your skills, your talents and you as a whole person.  This story is also a reminder that we need to tell others how much they mean to us.  Whether its our parents, children, partner, friends or colleagues, we should tell the people we care about how much they mean to us and why!

Not to put a morbid dampener on the day but I have chosen James Taylor's "Shower the people you love with love" as my funeral song because it hopefully represents the life I have lived, telling those who I love and care for that I really DO love and care for them, I make it a habit to tell them a lot!  I hope this story inspires you to tell someone what a difference they have made to your life.

Who YOU Are ... Makes a Difference
-- Author Unknown

A teacher in New York City decided to honor each of her graduating high school seniors by telling each of them the difference she felt they made as an individual.
She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told the student how they had made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters reading: "Who I Am Makes a Difference."
She noticed a considerable attitudinal change in the class. So she decided to do a class project to determine what impact such recognition could have on their local community.
She gave each student three more ribbons, and asked them to go out and spread an “acknowledgment ceremony.”
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt.
Then the boy gave the executive two extra ribbons and asked him to find someone else to honor, and to in turn give them the extra blue ribbon so they could acknowledge a third person. The student asked the executive to report back to tell him what happened.
Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who was known as a rather bad-tempered man. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss was very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and asked for permission to pin it on him.
His surprised boss gave his permission. The executive pinned the blue ribbon on his boss's jacket directly above his heart. Then he gave his boss the third blue ribbon, and told him of the boy’s request.
That night the boss sat his 14-year-old son down and told him: "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of my junior executives came in and told me he admired me, He gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine that. He thinks I'm a creative genius.”
He then told his son he wanted to honor him, and pinned the last remaining blue ribbon on his son’s t-shirt.
The startled boy began to sob. He couldn't stop. His whole body shook. He looked at his father through his tears and told him: "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom explaining why I was killing myself, and asking you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide after you were asleep. I didn't think you cared for me at all.”
His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain. The envelope was addressed, "Mom and Dad."
The boss went back to work a changed man. He called in each employee one at a time to let them know that they made a difference.
Who you are DOES make a difference!
Don’t forget it!
And make sure the people in your life
know how special they are!

Love and Blessings to you all,

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Good, Good, Good, Good Vibrations..!

Image Credit writeforhelp.com


I make it a daily practise to raise the vibration of my thoughts and beliefs.  I keep a copy of The Secret and The Power at the side of my bed and I dip in and out of those books every day, usually at bedtime.  I research ideas and concepts for my blogs, talks and workshops.  Thinking, feeling and being spiritual and being conscious every day requires dedication and application.  I still have moments where I am not living in the moment and my mind has wandered into the past or I worry about the future, but I am getting better at catching myself and bringing myself back to the present moment.

Recently, I found myself hurt and angry at a comment a loved one had made.  I let myself wallow for a short period as I accept that anger and feeling pain are part of who I am. Then I consciously chose to raise my vibrational thoughts and release that anger before it became embedded, making me bitter and frustrated.  Life has improved dramatically because of this practise.  I accept I am emotional and I accept that when I am hormonal I have to work extra hard to improve my mood but making it a daily practise really does help.

In my research I came across Aine Belton's article which I would like to share.  Reading these tips regularly reminds me to live life consciously.

Below are some timeless tips for raising your vibration, enhancing your manifesting success and experiencing more of the magnificent being that you are!

1. Gratitude

Gratitude opens your heart and connects and aligns your energy to that which you love and is good in your life, attracting more of the same. It is a way to give (in its appreciation) and receive (through the opening created by that giving). The more you value and feel grateful for something, the more there will be to value. What you appreciate, appreciates!

2. Responsibility

Responsibility brings freedom and empowerment. The more you take responsibility for your life, the better able you are to change it. You create or allow all experience, whether you are conscious of it or not. As James Allen so neatly puts it, "Circumstance does not make a man, it reveals him to himself".

Become aware of the thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes that are creating your world. Take responsibility for them and choose those that serve you and your world. Get exciting about the future, own your power and get manifesting. You can move from victim to victor, from blame to gain, from fear or failure, to triumph and success!

3. Suspend Judgment

Judging others or yourself lowers your energy and separates you from love, truth and joy. It is a way of making yourself superior and above another by making them 'less than' or 'wrong', whilst projecting hidden guilt and self-attack on another.

The more you love and accept yourself, the less you judge others. We all make mistakes. Seek to forgive, understand and love both the one you are tempted to judge and any potential shadows within you that they are reflecting.

4. Meditate

Meditation has so many gifts, many of which are now being scientifically recognized and documented. Meditation allows a calm and balanced perspective to be reached and negative states to dissipate and wash away as you centre and realign.

It also creates a gateway through which higher states awareness can be reached, and the love and wisdom of your Higher Self more readily accessed. Meditation returns you to a place of clarity, truth and peace, and allows your energy to clear and recharge.

3. Trust

Trust takes you towards happy desired outcomes in a magical, effortless way. Trust yourself and your power as a creator. Trust the universe and the gifts it wishes to bestow open you. Trust the doors that are opening and those that are closing. Relinquish control and allow yourself to be carried along the river of trust, the universal flow, that will take you to your goals with grace and ease.

6. Honour Your Emotions

Honour your emotions and listen to what they are telling you about what's going on inside. If they are negative or uncomfortable what thoughts or beliefs are they pointing to that may need changing or aligning?

Express and release your feelings rather than deny, repress, control or judge them. This doesn't mean wallowing in them or giving them undue attention if they do not serve you (i.e. nip that self-pity in the bud!), nor does it mean venting at someone inappropriately (writing a letter and burning it would be far 'cleaner'). Honour your emotions by accepting them and allowing them to be experienced and released, be that by feeling them, writing them down, sharing them with a friend, or expressing them through creativity, for example.

7. Know You Are Loved

You are loved totally and unconditionally by the source of creation. There is nothing you need do to win that love and nothing you can do to lose it. Become aware of this truth and allow it in. Open to receive this love. Doing so will enable you to experience more of your inherent value, increase your sense of worth and sense of deserving, heal pain of separation and loneliness, and experience more of incredible love that is there for you in every moment.

8. Forgive Yourself & Others

Forgiveness of self and others is the ultimate mind-body-soul detox. It liberates you from toxic emotions and sets you free from draining attachments . It can also dispel feelings of guilt, shame and undeserving that can otherwise block you from happiness and success. It is an immensely powerful force for healing and transformation and a most gracious gift you can give yourself and another.

9. Have Fun

Fun will attract success into your life like iron filings to a magnet. It is the antidote to stress, struggle, tediousness and seriousness. When you are having fun you are open and sharing of who you are and ride on the current of spontaneity and joy. What brings you fun, happiness and joy? Commit to more of it in all areas of your life!

10. Love, Love, Love!

Love yourself and others. There may be times this is easier than others, but make it your overriding intention. Love lies at the heart of all that you seek, and separation from it lies at the root of your troubles and pain. Let love be a guiding light in your life that will steer your ship through stormy waters back to the shore of truth, happiness and joy. We all love to love and be loved! It doesn't get better than that! It is the highest vibration there is. The more you love yourself and others, the happier, brighter and more successful your life will become.

Aine's website is http://www.magicalmindpower.com/aine_belton.htm

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Patience Please....!

Image Credit - elev8.com

Tuesdays Tips - How to be a little more patient in life...!

"Patience is something you do, not something you have. It's like a muscle. We all have them, but some people's are stronger than others because they work out. Patience is a decision made again and again. Much of life requires waiting and we choose whether to do it happily or miserably."
MJ Ryan

I have been researching how to become more patient and found some interesting tips to bring a little more patience into our lives!

Here are some tips that might help you become more patient, with practice:

1. Tally marks. This is the first strategy, if you have real problems with patience: start by simply keeping tally marks on a little sheet of paper every time you lose your patience. This is one of the most effective and important methods for controlling an impulse — by learning to become more aware of it. Once you become aware of your impulses, you can work out an alternative reaction.
2. Figure out your triggers. As you become more aware of losing your patience, pay close attention to the things that trigger you to lose that patience. Is it when your co-worker does something particularly irritating? When your spouse leaves dirty dishes in the sink? When your child doesn’t clean up her mess? Certain triggers will recur more frequently than others — these are the things you should focus on the most.
3. Deep breaths. When you first start to lose your patience, take a deep breath, and breathe out slowly. Then take another. And another. These three breaths will often do the trick, as your frustration will slowly melt away.
4. Count to 10. This one really works. When you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry, stop. Count slowly to 10 (you can do this in your head). When you’re done, most of the initial impulse to yell or do something out of frustration will go away. Combine this with the breathing tip for even more effectiveness.
5. Start small. Don’t try to become as patient as Job overnight. It won’t happen. Start with something small and manageable. Look for a trigger that only induces a mild impatience within you — not something that gets your blood boiling. Then focus on this, and forget the other triggers for now. Work on controlling your temper for that one trigger. If you can get this one under control, use what you learned to focus on the next small trigger. One at a time, and with practice, you’ll get there.
6. Take a time out. Often it’s best just to walk away for a few minutes. Take a break from the situation, just for 5-10 minutes, let yourself calm down, plan out your words and actions and solution, and then come back calm as a monk.
7. Remember what’s important. Sometimes we tend to get upset over little things. In the long run, these things tend not to matter, but in the heat of the moment, we might forget this. Stop yourself, and try to get things in perspective.
8. Keep practicing. Every time a situation stretches your patience to dangerous thinness, just think of it as an opportunity to practice your patience. Because that’s what it take to become patient — practice, practice, more practice, and even more practice. And then some more. And the more you practice, the better you’ll get. So cherish these wonderful opportunities to practice.
9. Visualize. This works best if you do it before the frustrating situation comes up. When you’re alone and in a quiet place. Visualize how you want to react the next time your trigger happens. How do you handle the situation? How do you look? What do you say? How does the other person react? How does it help your relationship, your life? Think about all these things, visualize the perfect situation, and then try to actually make that happen when the situation actually comes up.
10. Remember that things can take time. Nothing good happens right away. If you expect things to happen at the snap of your fingers, you’ll get impatient every time. Instead, realize that things will take time, and this realization can help your patience tremendously.
11. Teach. This is something that helps me a lot. I remember that no one is perfect, and that everyone has a lot to learn. Be patient, and teach others how to do things — even if you’ve tried before, it might be the 11th time when things click. And remember, none of us learn things on the first try. Find new ways to teach something, and you’re more likely to be successful.
12. Find healthy ways to relieve frustration. Frustration can build up like steam in a pressure cooker, and if you don’t relieve that steam, you’ll explode. So find ways to relieve that frustration in a healthy way. Punching a pillow, going outside to a place where you’re all alone and yelling, exercise, kickboxing … these are just a few examples. Once you get that frustration out of your system, you usually feel better.
13. Try meditation. You can’t meditate in the middle of a frustrating situation, usually, but often meditation can help you to learn to find a center of calm within yourself. Once you learn how to go to this calm place, you can go there when you begin to get angry. Meditation can also help you to be in the moment, instead of always wanting to get to the future, or instead of dwelling on the past and getting angry about it.
14. Just laugh. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that no one is perfect, that we should be enjoying this time with our loved ones, and that life should be fun — and funny. Smile, laugh, be happy. Doesn’t always work, but it’s good to remind yourself of this now and then.
15. Just love. Instead of reacting with anger, teach yourself to react with love. Your child spills something or has a messy room or breaks your family heirloom? Your spouse yells at you or is cranky after work? React with love. It’s the best solution.

“Genius is eternal patience.” - Michelangelo

Written by Leo Babauta - Zen Habits

Love and  Blessings for infinite patience to you all!

Jean Fisher-Taylor