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

Granny Buttons...!

Image Credit - histper.co.uk

Monday Mantra - "I release unhealthy,addictive and self sabotaging behaviours in my life"

I would like to introduce you to a lovely lady that is doing incredible work helping people to get over Chocolate Addiction!  If I were to attend a CA meeting, I would be sheepishly putting my hand up and saying "My name is Jean and I am a chocoholic!"  I crave chocolate when I am stressed, upset or angry.  I have secretly been envious of people who say that they lose their appetite when things get tough. When the going gets tough for me....I get going to Cadburys World!  Cut out the middle man and drop me in the next batch of Dairy Milk!  One of my favourite scenes in a comedy is in the Vicar of Dibley when Dawn French launches herself head first into a chocolate fountain.....brilliant!  My cupboards are full of tempting morsels and I am affectionately known as Granny Buttons as I always have milk buttons on hand for my grandson! Well, lets face it, Granny Carrot Sticks just isn't cute...!

Well Carrie Eddins is on a one woman crusade to help us overcome our addictions by running Chocolate Rehab.  I confess, when I heard the name I hoped to book myself in, thinking I would choose the Galaxy room. However, Chocolate Rehab is a programme to help examine the causes and recover from the affects of chocolate addictions. 

This is taken from Carrie's recent blog

Symptoms of Chocolate Addiction
Often I am asked: " Carrie, how do I know if I am addicted to chocolate and have a problem?"  This is the most common question that  I am asked. I feel that you know when you are addicted to chocolate and when you are ‘using’ it. So, here’s my mini guide to help those of you confirm what you already know, and those of you who are a little unsure to ‘validate,’ your addiction to chocolate! Of course, it might be that there are some of you who will be able to confirm that your chocolate consumption is all in balance which is absolutely wonderful too !!

More often than not, a chocoholic does not take their addiction to chocolate seriously, as chocolate is such a socially-acceptable addiction that it often goes unnoticed by observers and even by the chocoholics themselves! In order to take your addiction to chocolate seriously it is vital to look at the symptoms of first to see whether it is necessary or not for you to take further action.
To begin with, pull out your notebook or journal and ask yourself the following questions:
a) Do you ‘use’ chocolate to help you to feel better about yourself at least 80% of the time?
b) Do you ‘use’ chocolate as a way of avoiding dealing with issues that are in your life whatever they might be.
c) Do you ‘use’ chocolate as way of avoiding intimacy and sexual expression with yourself and your partner, or even a potential partner?
d) Do you ‘use’ chocolate nearly every time you are stressed?
e) Do you love chocolate more often than not than yourself?
f) Do you ‘use’ chocolate instead of facing up to dealing with your emotions?
g) Do you experience, at times, insatiable cravings for chocolate when find yourself unable to control your chocolate eating?
h) Do you experience times of the month when you chocolate is the only thing that will ease your pain?
i) Do you often find that after the initial rush from chocolate has died down, and you might feel quite sick, you still want more?
j) Do you often find that after the initial rush from chocolate has died down, and even with a sick feeling, you still want more?
k) Do you often eat chocolate in good times and in bad times, therefore you have so many reasons or excuses to bring out the chocolate that you are not really conscious of?
l) Are there many reasons why you eat chocolate so much, many of which you are not even conscious of?
m) Are you embarrassed about how much chocolate you actually eat and therefore secretive about how and when you eat it?
If you answer ‘yes’ to at least six or more of the above questions, it might help you to finally take your chocolate addiction symptoms seriously and look at overcoming your addiction to chocolate.

I am in the process this week of launching my Chocolate Rehab Coaching Programme, so if you would like to know more about it,  email me for more details: carrie@chocolaterehab.com. There is a selection of coaching on offer from one–2-one coaching, digital coaching to group coaching, for everyone’s purse:)
Remember, when it feels right go for it, as I am a firm believer in the phrase: ‘when you resonate you accumulate,’ and this happens when you feel right working with someone, to coaching with someone to well anything!
I trust you will find that right way for you to overcome your addiction to chocolate, and this might be me and it might not be. Either way, I wish you every success in overcoming your addiction to chocolate and allowing 2011 to be your happiest year to date!
*********************************************************************************

As this is my year of self acceptance, I accept that I like chocolate a little too much to remain totally healthy!  Therefore I am using my mantra above to change my mind set, I may also be calling on Carrie for further advice if I fall off the wagon or is it the Wagon Wheel.....Maybe I need help sooner rather than later!!!

Check Carries website out if you would like more information (Miss R, this would benefit you enormously!)
http://chocolaterehab.com/

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

Easy Chi-sy..!

Image Credit - masagatani.com

As winter is drawing to an end and spring is ready to be sprung, I am starting to think about spring cleaning and I have consulted my Feng Shui books to see what advice they offer.  I am ready to clear out the old and welcome the new in to my life, these are my findings on successfully clearing and decluttering.  Do one room at a time and ask yourself these questions before holding onto clutter-

Do I Love it?
Do I need it?
Is it essential?
Does in enhance my life?

Spring is the season of renewal, manifestation, celebration and falling in love. Now is the time to take those bold feng shui steps and go full-force into action to make your New Year's resolutions happen. Feng shui is here to help.

If you still feel sluggish and low-energy after a long and maybe challenging winter, here are some proven-and-true feng shui steps to lift your energy up. Spring cleaning and clutter clearing are the keywords and the goal is get rid of everything that does not serve you anymore. Make space for new, fresh feng shui energy to come into your life.

·         If you are striving to improve your health, get rid of all the items that are cluttering and blocking the energy flow in your kitchen (especially your cupboards and the freezer.) The state of your kitchen is the state of your health, so do yourself a favor and thoroughly clean that kitchen!

De-clutter the refrigerator; clean the stove and all the pots and pans. Let go of all harsh chemical kitchen cleaners and go for natural ones. Clean out all the drawers, surfaces, light fixtures, etc - create a fresh pathway for strong vibrant Chi to flow and nourish your energy.

. Bring three new pots with vibrant feng shui green plants to refresh the energy of your space and symbolize, as well as ground, the energy of new beginnings. If you plan to place them in the kitchen, go for lush and aromatic herbs, such as basil, rosemary or mint. Focus on your main entrance, as well as your kitchen, as both are strongly connected to your health.

·         If you would like to welcome a new love relationship into your life, make space, and I mean actual, physical space, for this new person to be in your home. Clear out your closets for a better flow and more space. You literally have to create an open flow of energy in your home to be able to attract and manifest more of what you are looking for.

·         Last but not least, be sure you understand the importance of space clearing and are comfortable with at least a simple feng shui space clearing session for your home. Better yet, make time to do a major space clearing session; now is the best time for it.

Clarify, purify and let go. Renew your space and renew your body. Step into a new way of being, fill it with a happy and healthy energy of excitement and creativity. Happy new and fresh beginnings, fun celebrations and precious memories to behold!

After you read the feng shui spring cleaning tips you might be thinking: "All well and good, but where do I actually start if I have no energy for it?"

It's true, the spring cleaning feng shui efforts might feel a bit of a catch-22 situation. In order to get more energy, you need to do spring cleaning. But in order to do the spring cleaning, you sure need a lot of energy!

Here is the best feng shui way to go. Start with this very easy feng shui clutter clearing sessions and do not go over 35-45 min. I am serious.

Allow yourself to start wherever you fee like it - it might be your closet, or maybe you bathroom vanity.

Go with the flow and see where there is most excitement for you. Yes, I did use the word excitement, as spring cleaning can be a lot of fun with just a tiny shift in your attitude.

After you have done several small spring cleaning sessions, go for a longer one, but again, do not over-do it. Finish cleaning while you still feel fresh and can look forward to the next session.

Another feng shui tip is to never ever start your spring cleaning efforts with the hardest task. Unless, of course, you are absolutely sure and confident you have the energy for it!

It is best to start in a gentle and easy way, with small spring cleaning sessions that bring visible results. This way your enjoyment, as well as your confidence grows, and yes, you might be looking forward for more and more spring cleaning and clutter clearing of your home.

Once you actually experience the feeling of lightness and freshness that comes after even small amounts of spring cleaning, the rest is easy.

Do not forget to support your energy with good feng shui energy props, be it music, fresh flowers or your favourite scent in an aromatherapy diffuser.

Treat yourself well by treating your home well, and everything else will fall into place.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

Love and Blessings

Jean Fisher-Taylor. x

Crystal Magic!

Image Credit - sacredbliss.co.uk

I came across this article and wanted to share it with you!  Crystals are known for their healing and soothing properties.  This article discusses the best crystals to use to increase self esteem and self acceptance.  A lovely friend of mine Kim told me that the best way for women to carry crystals is in their bras. For men, pockets would be fine for you unless of course you would like to fashion a rock holder out of a partners underwear!!  If ever we should meet in person and I rattle when we shake hands.......its the crystals in my bra! Oh and my unusal shaped breasts....they are my own!

Article Source - http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Simmons

Self-Esteem, just what is it? Well it is the way we see ourselves for instance. Liking you for who you are. Knowing your strengths and also knowing that you are a worthy person.
Some of the things that we use to judge our self-esteem levels:
It is How you see your value as a person.
How you think others see you and how you feel about it.
Where you fit in and your purpose in life.
The type of job you do and how happy you are doing it.
Things that you have or have not achieved in your life.
How you see your potential for success.
Whether you can stand on your own two feet.
How independent you feel and are.
Low Self-Esteem is caused by all your negative and defeating emotions about yourself. Not Good Enough- No Self-Confidence-Unhappy etc.
High Self-Esteem is brought about by your positive feelings about yourself. Confident Happy and Sure of Yourself etc.
There is also another side to Self-Esteem and that is:
"Excessive Self-Esteem" this can show up as being Over-Confident-Superior Attitude- Bragging. Some recent studies have shown that Bullying may not be due to "Low Self-Esteem" as has been the long held reason, but to actually due to "Excessive Self-Esteem" being better than anyone else. (This is just some information that I have come across and if you or anyone you know of has ever suffered from low self-esteem it seems to make sense. Well it does to me).
There are some things that we can do to help us improve our Self-Esteem:
Forgive yourself when you make a mistake.
Be Proud and Happy about your strengths and achievements
Stop putting yourself down.
Don't feel guilty about what you think or feel are your weaknesses learn from them.
Stop judging yourself by unreasonable high standards. Not everyone is the same and that does not mean that you are not as good as the next person.
We bring Low Self-Esteem on ourselves mainly by devaluing our own worth and judging ourselves by others.
Here are a list of Healing Crystals that will help you with your Self-Esteem issues.

Moss Agate: Strengthens Positive Personal Traits, Improve Ego, Brings Emotional Balance, Allows you to see the beauty in all things.

Amazonite: Balance Emotions, Brings Positive Energy, Helps bring and keep Universal Love.

Citrine: Removes Negativity, Promotes Optimism, Balances the Emotions and provides for a Happy Disposition.

Hematite: Helps to Sort Things Out, Dissolves Negativity, Promotes Inner Happiness and helps to remove Self-Limiting Ideas.

Sodalite: Encourages Self-Esteem and Self-Trust, Brings Truth to our Emotions and provides Direction and Purpose.

You can wear the healing crystals or carry them on your person. Place them in your work or home environment. Remember to cleanse them from time to time (no need to clean Citrine as it is self Cleaning and if you use it with other healing crystals it will clean them as well.)You will know when you no longer need the crystals to help you heal.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor xxx

The Happiness Project

    
Inspiration comes from many sources.  Sometimes we can be inspired by one person who is making a difference in the world or we encounter a group of like minded individuals who have made it their life's mission to improve the lives of others.  I would like to introduce you to a group of people who have inspired me and continue to inspire me daily. 

Robert Holden, Avril Carson, Ben Renshaw and Ian Lynch are the team that make up the Happiness Project.  I attended a Coaching Happiness course for a week last year and had the time of my life.  The book Be Happy, written by Robert Holden is an overview of the eight week course Be Happy.  This book encourages you to dig deep and make self enquiry a regular practise.  You will discover things about yourself that you never knew.  I highly recommend this book if you get the chance to read it.

The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project became a household name in 1996 when the BBC broadcast a BBC QED documentary called How to be Happy. Five million viewers tuned in to watch three volunteers, Caroline, Dawn, and Keith, embark upon a unique 8–week happiness course, designed by Dr Robert Holden. Their progress was monitored each week by a team of independent psychologists and scientists. The results were remarkable. The scientists hailed the course as “a genuine fast-track to happiness.”

Caroline, Dawn, and Keith each made positive breakthroughs while on the course. Scientists continued to monitor their progress for six months after, and they concluded that, “The positive results were lasting.” How so? One reason may be that the scientists discovered the happiness course had changed the hard wiring of the brain. Professor Richard Davidson, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who measured the brain function of the volunteers over the course of eight weeks, concluded:

“This happiness training not only changes the way you feel;
it actually changes the way your brain functions.”

The How to be Happy documentary has since been shown in 16 countries to over 30 million viewers. Today, The Happiness Project is thriving. Each year we participate in a rich program of public workshops (including the 8-week happiness course), corporate consultancy (with brands like Dove and Virgin) media events, and ongoing research. Robert Holden, Ben Renshaw, Avril Carson, Ian Lynch and other members of the Happiness Project team continue to create new offerings—all of which you can read about at this website.

Click our portraits to read our profiles.

Robert Holden, Ph.D., is the Founder and Director of The Happiness Project and Success Intelligence. His innovative work on happiness and success has been featured on Oprah and in two major BBC TV documentaries, The Happiness Formula and How to Be Happy. Robert coaches leaders in the field of business, education, politics and health care. Notably, he has worked for Dove and the “Real Beauty Campaign,” and also for leading brands such as Virgin and The Body Shop. Robert is author of the best selling books: Happiness NOW!, Shift Happens!, and Success Intelligence. His new book, published in April 2009, is Be Happy. Visit www.robertholden.org for more information

I hope you take the time to look at their website http://www.happiness.co.uk/index.php and see their wonderful work for yourself!

 

Love and Blessings,

 

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

Tips - Less doing more being!

Image Credit - wizardnow.com

Following on from yesterday's Mantra "I am a human being not a human doing", I have put together a list of tips about just being at one with yourself followed by a short meditation.

Tips for less doing more being!

1. Begin to reduce non essential commitments
2. Say no to requests that sap your energy
3. Enjoy silence once in a while, no TV, no Ipod, no radio, just blissful silence
4. Step away from the computer, Facebook, Twitter, Email and the Internet will be still be there in 15  minutes.
5. Enjoy idle day dreaming and the art of fantasy, let your imagination run riot!
6. Schedule in down time in your diary every day.
7. For five minutes every day concentrate on your breathing, this can be done anywhere, even at work.
8. Set limits on the number of tasks you must complete daily.

Meditation

1. Sit quietly with your eyes closed and notice what you are experiencing. Don't judge it. Just for a moment, let go of the feeling of wanting a different experience, and pay attention to the Now.
2. Focus your attention inward and notice what you're feeling. What mood are you in? Resist the urge to judge your mood or change it. Is there a particular emotion you're feeling that you might not have been aware of a moment ago? Is there another emotion below that one, maybe subtler but still affecting how you feel?
3. Now focus your attention outward. What sounds and smells do you notice that you weren't aware of a moment ago? What sensations can you feel in your body that your mind has been filtering out until now? Focus on your big toe on your left foot or how it feels to sit in your chair. Now focus on the temperature of the air that you're breathing, the feeling in your chest as it expands and contracts, and the sound your breath makes.
Don't you feel more alive when you are present? Are you surprised by all of the things you noticed--inside and out--that you hadn't noticed before? These sensations were there all the time, only you weren't paying attention to them.

If you have any ideas of your own, please share them with me.  I am always open to suggestions and tips.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor