It’s the Little Things 09.10.16 *The ‘Let’s Shake It Up’ Edition

October 9, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 5 Comments

This week I have zero photographs to show you!

Gasp! Horror!

NOT because I haven’t experienced anything that made me smile – however it was limited as I was in bed with an infection for most of the week, but because I thought we were due a little bit of a shake up.

Today the focus is on you; to get you really thinking about what makes you smile.

If you know what brings a little pleasure to your day, then maybe you can go about intentionally tweaking a few things here and there and adding a few well chosen ideas to your daily routines?

Let’s dive in:

💋 What’s the first thought you have of the day (before you have even got out of bed)?

Is it how much you have to get done whilst mindlessly checking your social media? Or do you set your intentions, telling your mind exactly how you want to feel today and the positives you are going to focus on? Can you think about what areas today may need a little extra care, laughter or love?

💋 What does your morning routine look like?

Is it rushed, grabbing a pastry whilst running out the door? Or do you take the time to sit and savour your favourite food, whilst calmly contemplating the day, read or write your to do list? Is it a fight for the bathroom or do you get up earlier to allow yourself the time you need?

💋 Do you dress in such a way that there’s a little bit of you in what you’re wearing?

Do you have a signature look, piece of jewellery, lip colour? Do you wear clothes that fit well and make you feel fabulous all day long? Or do you just throw on the first thing to hand without much thought? Even if you have to wear a uniform, maybe you have an amazing handbag or signature perfume to accessorise!

💋 During the day, how often do you go out of your way to intentionally make someone else smile?

Do you look for the good in people? Compliment them on a job well done? Talk kindly behind their backs? Enquire about their well being? Do you believe in ‘what goes around comes around’? What do you want to be known for?

💋 Do you put aside some time during the day to do something that recharges or rebalances you?

Do you spend time alone with your thoughts, reflecting on the day? Do you exercise, create, read? Do you show yourself some love, watch something beautiful, listen to something you enjoy? Do you believe it is important or that you are worthy?

In each of these areas, there will be a way you can enhance just one element to make it more pleasurable for you and make you smile.

Even the boring stuff! Honestly!

Take for example cleaning up after dinner – a job I loathe! So to improve something that I regularly do, I decided to add a little shimmer to the experience…

💛 First up – I bought my favourite washing up liquid and cute cleaning brushes.

💛 Then I transformed the area by the sink by putting the utensils and dishwasher tablets in beautiful pots and jars, on a silver tray.

💛 Next, I tell myself that after it’s done, I will reward myself with a cup of my favourite coffee, from my favourite mug whilst I sit for 5 minutes to put on my favourite hand cream and read a few pages from my current book.

Et voila! A few little treats and within no time the job is done. I haven’t done anything unusual, I’d do all of these things anyway – but I’m programming my mind to look for the things that will make me smile. Thus enhancing a boring, mundane task.

Up for the challenge?

Take one area of your day that does not make you smile and see where you can add a little fun, glamour, ease, beauty or enjoyment; shimmerify it!

Let me know below how you get on.

Why Daydreaming is Good For You

October 6, 2016September 25, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 17 Comments

Do you ever stare unseeing out of the window, whilst dreaming of another life; another time; another place?

I always feel they are like little pauses for your mind.

A delightful daydream just for a few precious seconds, might just be your mind curiously contemplating for something to be different.

You should take note.

Where does your mind go? What do you dream of?

It’s like a little nudge from your soul.

Something needs your attention, needs rebalancing, needs a little love.

So, next time you catch yourself staring into space; don’t berate yourself. Instead thank your psyche – it’s communicating.

The question is…are you listening?

Why you should embrace the glorious mess that you are

September 29, 2016September 26, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 17 Comments

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The person you are right now was shaped, created and moulded by all of your experiences up to this point.

Everything you have gone through, watched, felt, lived and thought about has become a part of you somehow. Every negative thought, behaviour and suffering has embedded itself in your DNA and has had an effect on who you are today.

I went through a difficult time a few years ago so I truly understand the effect these experiences can have.

I felt a failure after the death of my younger brother because I didn’t function properly for months and crumbled under the pressure to ‘get over it’.

I hated feeling sad. I mean I really disliked it. I would get cross with myself because I couldn’t control my feelings nor stem the tears that flowed, some days without stopping.

I felt embarrassed because I couldn’t say my brothers name without getting upset.

I felt uncomfortable for the people who tried to show me kindness but who eventually found me too difficult to be around and so stopped trying.

I would get angry when people would moan about insignificant, mundane stuff because I wished that was all I had to moan about.

I hated all of these negative feelings; I tried to push them deep down and not acknowledge them. I tried to not think about them.

The truth is, I can never forget them. Never forget what I have been through and how these experiences shaped me.

Now I understand that it was simply part of my journey.

Mine.

You will have been on your own journey; experienced your own hurts, made difficult choices and plans will have gone askew.

You can never forget what has happened to you, replace it or pretend it didn’t happen. And why would you? It is a part of you.

Remember that.

⭐️ If you feel sad. Feel it. Really sit with it for a moment and ‘be sad’. Acknowledge that it’s there and that right now it is a part of you.

Eventually it will ease and you will develop gratitude as you understand the importance of being thankful for what we have right now. You will be aware of what is really important in life.

⭐️ If you are confused. Be kind to yourself. Acknowledge that you don’t have the answers or know what to do. Then take a step back and allow yourself to come to an understanding when the time is right.

In time you will be more decisive; taking the time to see all the options and the make the right choices for you. You will become really clear on what you want and how to get it.

⭐️ If you are hurting. Feel the hurt. Let it in and acknowledge that something has caused you to feel this way. It’s okay.

Over time you will develop empathy. You will ‘grow’ compassion, as you understand that everyone has stuff they are going through.

These feelings are not a sign of weakness nor something to be embarrassed about. They are teachers. They can help us learn and grow and change. They are as important as all the positive, good stuff that happens in our lives.

Life is a balance of both.