11 minute read
Tell me your fears and I’ll tell you your dreams
BY CATHERINE SCHASSER
Have you ever experienced this? You’re happily driving, listening to the chatter of your children in the back of the car or singing along to the radio when “whoa!” someone pulls out right in front of you … and then has the audacity to rage at you. Or have you ever found yourself railroaded by shoppers so eager to get in front of you they almost topple you over?
Your mood suddenly goes from happy to fuming in five seconds flat.
But it doesn’t stop there. Your body tenses. You’re in complete shock and still flabbergasted when you arrive home. You’ve vented to your significant other and remain bothered by this incident. For a split second, you wonder how your day went from good to awful. Or did it? You certainly experienced an episode or event you’re not impressed with, but can I share a little secret with you? You’ve actually been gifted. Let me explain. 1. You’re now a step closer to your Dream you. Yep, that’s right. Your Dream you is the highest version of yourself. The woman you would present on your best day. You’d feel the positive emotions you long for. You’d hear the communication that expands your heart. You’d speak, act and be all you desire to be. This is the opposite of what you’ve just experienced. Your visceral and immediate reaction to the event that took you from one emotion to the polar opposite in five seconds flat is showing you who you don’t want to be, how you don’t want to act and how you don’t want to impact others. See? You’ve just received the gift of clarity of how you’re certainly not going to behave. 2. In addition, when y ou experience an intense emotional response to the behaviour of some else, there’s an opportunity for you to explore why this may be so. I’m sure you know people in your life who would not have been as upset by this situation as you were. So, if you again find yourself upset, look a little deeper at your why by asking yourself, what’s the real
reason this event bothered me? When you’re next triggered by the behaviours of someone or something else (let’s say, over the holiday season perhaps?) take a moment and pause. Breathe deeply, then look within, asking yourself, ‘What can I learn from this? What can I learn about myself? How can I use this opportunity to step further into the woman I Dream of?’ Reframe the moment by reminding yourself you’ve one, been gifted, and two, are offered an opportunity to learn something more about yourself. This promotes personal growth and personal empowerment and increases happiness. Now that’s a win for everyone!
Take your feelings and your fears and make them the path to your dreams.
Catherine
Catherine is the co-founder of Developing Dreams, a local company 'empowering children one adult at a time'. This vision is achieved through the educational curriculum at Developing Dreams Early Learning Centre named 2019 Best Small, Private, Regional Centre in NSW, and through coaching programs written and facilitated by Catherine. Email catherine@developingdreams.com.au for further information or to find out how you can be EMPOWERED in your life.
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Summer of surrender time to love and let be
BY SARAH TOLMIE
It is officially Summer. School is done. Holidays are here. The weather is great…I hope. We are busy with Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with family and friends. So why does a little part of me dread all this?
I have to confess, there is a secret Grinch inside of me that says “enough fun and frivolity”, “too much good times”, “leave me alone”! There is a shadow side of me, my inner killjoy scrooge that resents the enforced bling and baubles of Christmas and the chaos and uncontained consumerism. I mean, where’s the meaning?
At some point in the silly season, I begin to get overwhelmed by it all and crave the return of normalcy. I even want to get back to work and for the kids to be back at school. I get agitated by too much relaxing and socialising. I want my routine and rhythm which includes healthy doses of ‘alone time’ and ‘creative space’.
Now I wouldn’t have ever defined myself as a ‘control freak’, but I think I might be. It seems that everything I do is highly diarised, scheduled and intentional. I need to know why I am doing something and see a result; produce an outcome. The whole idea of having a holiday and relaxing…doing nothing…is hard for me to surrender to, but surrender is what I need to do.
Surrender allows us to STEP into our lives ready to receive, completely able to manifest and willing to embrace everything – the good, the bad, and the ugly – with an open heart. It’s from this place that real magic happens.
Ok ok I get it, I’m blocking the magic. I’m trying to create the moment instead of just creating the space to allow it to unfold, to trust and let things happen. To just be.
Here is my Christmas wish list: I r eally want to be able to lie on the beach all day and read a trashy novel, and be ok with that. I’ d really love to declare today a pyjama and movie day marathon and not feel guilty. I’d really love the whole family to have a…(gasp!)...media-free day. That means no newspapers or books, no email, no phone, no TV, no Facebook, no games or internet of any kind! I’ d really love to jump in the car with the kids and a tent and have no idea of where we end up, and feel completely excited by that. I’ d really love to be able to spontaneously host a BBQ for thirty friends and their children and not spiral into a complete stress and panic. Normally, of course, any of that would unhinge me and stress me out badly. And the huge irony of it all, my Christmas wish list of ways for letting go, is still really controlling. I am defining the ways and means for how I will let go.
Do you find this letting go thing hard to do too? Does this sound like you? Then maybe you might like to join me in an experiment, to love and let be.
For this silly season and holiday period, each day, I am going to begin my day with a prayer. Here is my prayer for invoking within me the Spirit of Christmas and Summer Holidays. Feel free to use it and share it:
A Prayer of Love & Let Be Dear Spirit, fill my heart with unconditional love for my family and friends Spirit, guide me to the people, places, experiences and events where my gifts and presence are of best service Spirit, fill me with grace and faith in the perfection of the now, so I can fully participate in the great unknowing and go with the flow of life and love Spirit, fill me with generosity and joy so I can freely share it with everyone I meet Spirit, fill me with wonder for nature and gratitude for everything, so I can see the sacred all around me. Spirit, relax my body, mind and soul, so I can be renewed and refreshed to be present in each moment Spirit, I give thanks for the blessings and gifts that are always there to be found. And so be it.
Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Much love and peace to you all. Love Sarah
Sarah Tolmie assists people to celebrate, navigate, grow and heal through all their life & love transitions. Her practice focuses on love & relationships, families & children; life success & fulfilment, illness, death & grief. As an Holistic Celebrant Sarah creates profound and meaningful ceremonies for all life & love events. Sarah is also a Marriage Therapist, Bespoke Funeral Director and End-of-Life Consultant. You can visit her website www.sarahtolmie.com.au and Facebook page at Sarah Tolmie – Life & Love.
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Shoes but no stockings for Le Père Noël
Children during their weekly French sessions were amazed to find out that if they lived in France, polishing their shoes would be an essential part of the preparations for Christmas.
Celebrating the end of term with a Christmas party, they discovered that French children traditionally leave out their shoes for Le Père Noël, instead of hanging up a stocking.
Club leader Nathalie Roy said “Children can take it for granted that festivals are celebrated in ‘our’ way in other countries, and they are very interested to see that things are sometimes done differently in France.
The same is true for other traditions, such as when a child loses a tooth: in France they receive a toy from La Petite Souris (the little mouse), instead of a coin from the Tooth Fairy.”
With the emphasis on songs, games, role-play and other fun activities, the children learn practical, everyday French, Spanish or Mandarin easily and without inhibitions.
Fun Language Clubs Central Coast and Northern Beaches are growing fast across many preschools, childcare centres and primary schools teaching French, Spanish Mandarin and German to children aged 2-12 years old. French class at Erina Heights PS. from top left : Adelaide, Maddie, Henry, Mathilde Saskia, Ruby and Neve
Activities may include: Drama, cooking, art, craft, songs, games – all based on the Target language and culture. More information on clubs in your area is available from www.lcfclubs.com.au. You can also phone your local manager Nathalie Roy, on 0430 286 590 or email Nathalie.roy@lcfclubs.com.au Article written by Nathalie Roy
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f r e e e v e n t
30 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
