It's all about being your own BF

I have discussed this concept so many times with clients I swore I had written about it before! Perhaps I have too but for now I cannot locate where, so it seems I will explore the idea here and now...

A real theme of late in sessions with clients, and indeed in my own life too, has been all about the intriguing dynamic that exists between a person and themselves. That relationship in which you relate to YOU.... yourself...

We never really stop to reflect consciously on the alliance, or lack thereof, between the person we spend the most time with...They say we become who we hang around most, and I argue that YOU are who you spend the predominant amount of your time with, so stop now and reflect on how that is working for you...

Observe how you speak to yourself.

Are you kind, supportive, nurturing, encouraging, honest, compassionate and forgiving?

Or are you judgemental, harsh, cold, critical, closed and deceptive?

My experience has been that when I stop in the moments I am feeling the most stressed, most down, most lost, most scared, most defeated, most ugly, most fat, most useless, most unworthy.....the voice I hear speaking to me is indeed of the latter kind.

When I started exploring this idea with clients, they too reported the same observations. Predominantly their own voice to themselves was terribly nasty, hurtful and one that they would wish to avoid as much as possible.

Isn't that interesting? The person we often need to escape from most is ourselves. No wonder we have come to depend on so many distractions, comforts and "buffers"; external things that make life with ourselves much more tolerable and bearable.

Television, chocolate, bad relationships, dramas, excessive exercise, work, alcohol, food.....We all have our "bandaids" of choice...the things we immerse ourselves in with abandon so that we can avoid, at all costs ourselves.

Ahhhhhh.....

Now, entertain me for a moment and imagine what life would be like IF you decided to start afresh with yourself...

Let's go back to when you were 5 or 6....you are at school in the playground and the teacher walks up to you with another, obviously new student.

She says,

"Hi (your name here). This is (your name here). She/he is new and I am wondering if you can please be kind to her/him and show her/him around. Please, can you take him/her by the hand, be a lovely friend and get to know her/him simply by spending some time with him/her. I think you will really like each other. You have a lot in common and I thought you would be excellent friends! It is SO nice to have a friend with whom you can share everything, especially the scary parts of life!"

With that, the teacher leaves you standing there looking at this other child. You are immediately curious and ever eager to have a playmate, so with that you do offer your hand and get on with the very important business of having FUN together and simply being yourselves...!

So.... how does that sound?

May seem corny, strange, weird, whatever....! Let me just say this though....

This ONE relationship will MAKE or BREAK you....

This ONE relationship will forever effect and impact every other relationship you ever dare to have...

This ONE relationship will permanently "colour" how you see and experience life....

This ONE relationship is the very and ONLY one you need to work most hard on...

When you can engage with YOU in a loving, nurturing, fun, open, supportive and kind way, the WHOLE world will be your playground!

You will have confidence that no matter what happens you have a friend- the VERY BEST- by your side. You will have someone to turn to when you need advice, are scared, lonely, depressed, anxious, stuck, overwhelmed...

This ONE relationship will bring to your life EVERYTHING you seek outside of yourself, IF ONLY you allow it to....

It is curious that we have entered into a world in which there are more distractions and stimulations than ever before....we have EVERY option and opportunity to AVOID getting to know us....to AVOID spending time with us....and, I believe, this is the root cause of most of our suffering today...

Please, if you do NOTHING else on your quest to be happier, healthier, thinner, more attractive, fit, rich, whatever.....Please spend some time getting to know YOU...

Make time and space to LISTEN....to allow yourself the opportunity to speak openly and honestly....confess all your innermost fears, shames and guilts....get it all out...let it all out...Learn that unconditional love means knowing all of this and still loving anyway....

I promise your world WILL be instantly transformed as you forge a beautiful bond between you and yourself.....

Let me know how you go on your journey in getting to know, and LOVE, you....

LOTS OF LOVE,

BridgetJane

Food Body Lifestyle Guru

www.newleafnutrition.com.au

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

I hope you stop and take 5 minutes to read this, I promise you will feel ENRICHED and ADJUSTED afterwards :)

Thank you to a very lovely friend for sharing this with me I am VERY APPRECIATIVE!

I have another email entitled something like, "The 5 Secrets to Life"...it contains amazing Slide show to beautiful music that I have shared before in my Email Newsletter (New Leaf BITES) and absolutely gives me goosebumps every time I watch it!!

I carry that slidehow with me in my heart and mind every step of my journey here on earth...

Here is another beautiful "reminder" of a similar sentiment...

If you are interested in the slide show I am speaking of, please email me :) Or join my e-newlsetter at www.newleafnutrition.com.au and access the archives :)

Remember though...LIFE IS NOW....and it IS ALL GOOD.....! :)

LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL!

xoxoxo

BridgetJane

Food Body Lifestyle Guru

www.newleafnutrition.com.au

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

By Bronnie Ware

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me - This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard - This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings - Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends - Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier - This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly.

Choose happiness.

The Power & Impact of Words

I never tire of reminders about just how special, important and impactful words can be, and the treasure of true heart expression. Often we are too sheepish or shy to express how we really feel about someone and often we forget how much these words can mean and make a difference to others...

I like this simple reminder...Go on...take every opportunity you can to let others know what magic you see in them...let it also serve as a reminder that words are powerful in the opposite degree just as MUCH or MORESO...

Don Migual Ruiz in The Four Agreements (amazing book which has had a LASTING impact on me that I recommend to ALL my clients!) talks about being "Impeccable with your Word"....indeed so...

LOTS OF LOVE to you all! xoxoxoxo

"Too Busy for a Friend?

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Iraq and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.'

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.'

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.'

Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.'

'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary'

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful.

If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.

If you're 'too busy' to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.

May Your Day Be Blessed You are Special!"

What LOVELY thing could you do today to have this impact on someone else?

I often do mentoring work with the Beacon Foundation and there is one especially beautiful exercise we do with the girls that is very similar to this...

We pin pieces of A4 coloured paper to the backs of each girl and everyone moves around the room to write something they like or admire about each person...

It is a beautiful exercise in which people feel safe to express themselves because of the anonymity...

Watching the girls faces as they read their paper once the exercise is done is priceless...! I LOVE IT!

Anyway, I try to be mindful of truly expressing how I feel about others no matter how silly I think they might think I am...it gets easier too, by the way...to tell others you love them and what you especially admire about them! :)

I send little cards here and there as I think of people, random texts/emails....just something that says, "Thinking of You" is often enough to give someone else a warm, fuzzy feeling that leaves them feeling that they ARE important and someone in the world thought so enough to let them know :)

Give it a go! :)

One word of caution here though...I learnt through early experiences that you must truly check in with your intention when you do reach out to express yourself in such ways...it is important to have NO EXPECTATIONS around the person you are communicating to reciprocating, or even acknowledging you or thanking you for your gesture. Often people do mean to say thank you or reply, but they just get busy and forget...sometimes they are unable to send the same feelings back...whatever the case you will only set yourself up for hurt if you have any (even SUBCONSCIOUS) expectations around a response of any kind..

When I send these thoughts to others I do so knowing it could be one way, they could think I'm a nutter and they may not reply at all....I have made true peace with that and know that to me it is most important that I express how I feel no matter what :)

I have let go of any expectations and simply choose to love and express freely! It feels GOOD! :)

LOTSA LOVE,

BridgetJane

Food Body Lifestyle Guru

www.newleafnutrition.com.au

What are you affirming?

There was a time when I thought Affirmations were kind of "fluffy" ideas about things we want. "Wishful ideas" about how we want our life to be. I understood them to be simply a kind of "positive thinking" brainwashing technique that could "trick" us that life is grand, WE are grand and everything is all rainbows and lollipops.

Before I truly understood the power and influence of the subconscious, versus conscious, minds on our daily lives and experiences, I had no way of understanding what Affirmations really were, how I was already affirming things all day, everyday and how to EFFECTIVELY begin to create a healthier headspace that would powerfully affect my daily reality.

Stop now for a moment. What are the thoughts running through your mind right now? What are the thoughts that run through your mind regularly in fact? Day in, day out?

Perhaps you have never given them much notice. Perhaps you believe that you "think nothing much at all".

I would beg to differ with you if that is the case, and I would also like to challenge you to pay special attention to the nearly continuous inner dialogue running through your mind every waking moment.

I guess one vivid moment in which I truly became aware of my inner dialogue and the incessant ideas it was generating about myself, life, the world, others, and just about anything else you could care to have an opinion on, was really quite recently.

It is a little embarrassing to share this deeply insightful experience with you, however, being the openly expressive, innocent, light and goofy being I truly am, I will not let that stop me from sharing with you one of my most profound learnings.

I was lying on the bed in my room trying to calm myself down. I had worked myself into a tiz packing frantically, and last minute, for a trip to Melbourne. I had an overwhelming feeling of dread, my throat was tight, my heart pounding and I could not think clearly. My partner, Brad, looked at me confused and asked, "Babe, what's wrong?"

At that very moment I became aware of all the insane, relentless and bullying ideas running through my mind, "You always overpack"; "You are hopeless"; "People are going to think you are mental"; "Why can't you ever pack sensibly?"; "For goodness sakes, you really are terrible".

I was aghast. Never did I imagine or realise my attitude to myself could be quite so horrible. It gave me a truly shifting insight into how I had been creating the entire struggle that my life was actually being at that time (not just at that moment).

I started to laugh. "Oh my goodness, Brad! You will have NO idea what is going through my mind right now! I had NO idea! No wonder I feel so terrible and am having such a tough time!"

Immediately I felt relaxed. Mental clarity completely restored and I suddenly became composed. I even began to feel light, excited and positive about my impending trip.

I also noticed the immediate accompanying change in my mental thoughts.

"So what if you have overpacked?"; "What's the big deal?"; "Everyone knows what you are like and they think it is funny; SO typical of Bridget!"; "It is not a bad thing to be as 'unique' as I am, that is ME, and those who know and love me, love and accept me for being exactly who I am".

Wow! The relief! The humour. How quickly my experience had changed. How immediate the shift in my physiology been.

I simply could not believe the power of what was going on in my mind and how REAL and SERIOUS it had made everything seem.

You do hear about it all the time though, don't you?

"You become and create what you think about most"

"Thoughts become things"

Many of us may think, "Yeah...yeah...whatever..."

We may think its fluff, "weirdo stuff" or only for the deeply spiritual and universally aware beings....

Let me say though, firstly, we ARE all spiritual and universally connected beings, although our awareness of this fact may be at various levels, AND secondly, you ARE already affirming things in your mind OVER and OVER anyway, so you may as well check in with them to see if they are what you want to be creating in your life, or not.

This is NOT about simply thinking positive and living in some la la land where all your dreams, desires and fantasies reside....

It IS however about getting REAL with yourself about the true power you have in creating your life and experience in every moment.

Most of us unconsciously have an attitude towards ourselves that quite frankly, SUCKS!

We would NEVER dream of talking to our best friend in the way in which we dialogue with ourselves ALL DAY LONG, and we would realise that if we wanted to positively encourage a young child to get a handle on something new (like walking for instance) we would NEVER CONTEMPLATE standing over them and chanting jives such as, "Look at you! You are hopeless! You fell! That means you will NEVER walk! You will NEVER do anything positive! You are so useless, worthless and shameful!"

YET, PEOPLE, WE OFTEN DO THIS TO OURSELVES ALL DAY LONG!!!

I am not saying for certain that we ALL do it- yes there are many of you out there who have become aware of your inner dialogue and realised the power it has in your life. Many of you have even been able to completely change this inner voice to be a more caring, compassionate, encouraging and supportive one.

I would vie though for the most of us that we sit somewhere on the scale from "completely unaware" to "consciously observing the 2 competing voices and trying to shift the power to the more supportive one"...

I know for me, the latter end of the scale is currently true for me.

I am completely aware- on the most part- of the wicked, bratty, evil little voice in my head and how often it tries to convince me of things that if I thought RATIONALLY and with CLARITY about, I would KNOW are not true, however, it is still a daily, ongoing journey that requires much CONSCIOUS practice to retrain myself to give the power to the "other voice".

I can say with true joy however that I DO now have- or rather are now simply more AWARE of- the positive, supportive, caring and rational voice.

The part of me that says, "Thats ok Bridget, you are doing your best"; "You are a beautiful person with good intentions, you love life and people and have nothing to fear"; "You are safe to be who you really are and to express your truth in the world".

It IS such a relief to now often hear that reassuring part of me. That part that needs no external validation, no outer provided joys, no exterior comforts, escapes or medicating distractions.

That part of me that sees all, knows all and can navigate life with clarity, truth, confidence and joy.

That part of me that dreams, fantasises and helps me bring to life the outward expression of who I truly am on the inside.

The part of me that lets me write, speak and express freely without fear of ridicule, judgement or exposure.

That part that simply allows me to be ME!

What a truly incredible shift and what a truly invaluable gift....!

Give this to yourself too....

In a very quick nutshell, here is how I foster the life and flourish-ment of my lovely inner voice and let go of entertaining and feeding the bratty, evil and contorting inner dialogue.

1) I have learnt to RELAX- not just superficially, whilst still thinking of what I have to do next, where I should be, who I have to talk to, call, follow up, email, etc etc!

I have learnt to DEEPLY relax, eliciting the deep, slow, regenerative and restorative alpha brain wave patterns that are so healing to our bodies and minds. I cannot go into detail here, but lets just say that when you TRULY relax and immerse yourself in a peaceful state, you create POWERFUL physiological changes within your body that actually heal and create good health.

Let me also add, this was a GRADUAL process which I learnt to do OVER TIME with PRACTICE and CONSISTENCY. I started with a minimum of 5 minutes of daily meditation- which I had NO idea how to do! There are MANY ways...simply find a technique that resonates with you....

2) I REFUSE to be busy- yes we may have lots to do in a day and we may feel pressured to get it all done, however I have learnt that it is VITAL to have boundaries, to learn to say NO and that I do NOT have to be everywhere and taking up EVERY opportunity that comes my way. I have learnt to TRUST that my path is MINE alone and I am free to navigate it how I wish...

3) I make time to CONSCIOUSLY ENJOY my life everyday! Once upon a time I had no inclination or interest to smell the roses. I thought wind and rain were an inconvenience and that everyone should get out of my way so I could get where I needed to be! (yes, true! How facetious!)

These days I have a very "Come what may" attitude to life. I receive and enjoy the beauty and wonder of life NOW in THIS MOMENT and I now honestly feel that if I were to die tomorrow, I would have NO regrets!

Sure, I may not have written an International Best Seller. I may not have been on Oprah and changed millions of lives pioneering a Worldwide Wellness Movement, but you know what?

I TRULY LOVED the beauty and simplicity of life and felt TRULY connected to an ALL ONE energy and force that needs no tangible expression. I'm not sure if you will get what I mean here, but this view and experience of life is one I believe is truly invaluable, humbling and blissfully fulfilling....

It is also one that took me a while to "wake up" to consciously. I would also add, it is one that requires ongoing, daily, moment to moment nurturing and fostering....

Oh....! I have so much more to say......!

And therein lies the reason I MUST WRITE! :)

So....as long as I can keep the brat at bay....expect to hear MUCH more on how to live your GREATEST LIFE! :)

Lots of LOVE to you!

BridgetJane

Food, Body, Lifestyle Guru

www.newleafnutrition.com.au

If you want insight into just what really goes on on your head, take a look at your life right now......

My 'No-Regrets' Life Policy

Just last night, I found myself in yet another argument with my partner.....Don't you just love it?! You look SO forward to Friday night as you have been so busy throughout the week that you haven't had time to PROPERLY savour your most loved one/s, and wouldn't you know it, just at the time you DO have to ENJOY each other, "the sh*t hits the fan", as my delightful father would say!



Of course I probably wouldn't be so keen to share this information with you in the relatively recent past as, you know, we are CONDITIONED as humans to put on a happy front and always appear as though you have it together.

This year though I realised that the thing I love MOST about life, people, things and myself, is AUTHENTICITY....! There is SO much available to learn when you are open to seeing the WHOLE of something- a person, place, situation, thing and yes, yourself...

In the past, I know I was addicted to the positive, feel-good side of life and people. I wanted to live there all the time...This actually made life quite tough as in REALITY there is 2 sides to everything....It meant too that I lived in denial a lot of the time and quite often could not see the forest for the trees in certain situations, people included....Quite a dangerous way to navigate life...!



I have since learnt that life- and people (myself included)- is/are much more rewarding, enriching, beautiful and fulfilling when you choose to embrace and SEE the WHOLE picture....There is just as much beauty, wonder and richness in the "dark" as there is the "light", and the truth is, it is only US and our conditioning that will label and judge something as good/bad/right/wrong/etc in the first place!

Anyway, back to my original point!

So, my partner and I were arguing and I was frustrated....! Majorly...! It just seemed like we were on totally different planes, speaking languages that the other just did not comprehend. I could see blatantly a whole lot of blame, justification and excuses being bandied around and it was really p***ing me off!

Instead of yelling and screaming like I used to, I have learnt a brilliant way of life this year that is much less about reaction and more about reflection..It is also about learning to communicate authentically from the heart...

So instead of chucking my ego in the equation, as I know exactly how that would play out and end, I found some weird inner voice emerge from me that I have never quite experienced before...it was that voice of truth that lives inside of me, however stays within the protective bounds of my inner sacred self as it seems so precious that to risk it being damaged is just way too scary to contemplate...

So without ANY THOUGHT, out came this voice....it spoke automatically...clearly...calmly...with pure love and pure truth...it was amazing...the atmosphere change was immediate and my partners energy shifted instantly....he sat still, softening and transfixed to the spot....

I shared with my partner in that moment the ABSOLUTE TRUTH of who I am and what I TRULY believe about life....It seems incredulous that the person who is meant to be the closest to you may not know this information, however if you have never shared it- openly, unedited, clearly and from love- how can they possibly GET IT/US...?

Furthermore, I think last night, I learnt a lot about me that until that point I had not consciously acknowledged to myself....of course then, it makes sense that my partner could not have known!!

Last night was a true turning point for me, and our relationship, as I discovered a deeper level of truth that I didn't realised had not yet been penetrated....



I learnt a few things from last night's squabble...

-learning to communicate with authenticity, from our hearts and without any sign of ego is an INVALUABLE skill that will only ever lead to an enriched experience of life and relationships, even though it may mean TEMPORARY pain...

-many of us automatically and unconsciously ASSUME that our partner GETS US....we get frustrated and annoyed when they don't and hardly ever take the time to consider how WE play 50% of the role in miscommunication, misunderstanding and in creating hurtful experiences

-I have a perspective on life that is INCREDIBLY unique and something I need to talk about MUCH more as it is a truly valuable and life-shifting gift that many others take a LIFETIME to learn, or sadly, never learn. Until last night I took this perspective for granted and didn't realise just how much it determines WHY I truly AM so happy AND could happily die at any moment and have NO REGRETS....!

I know that my partner was truly captured when I shared with him my ABSOLUTE TRUTH on how I think, feel and interact with life, so I'd LOVE to share it with you...

I guess my "conscious" life really started for me when I was around the age of 10. I had spent a lot of my childhood being fat, unfit, picked on and feeling not just self-conscious, but INCREDIBLY ASHAMED of my physical self. I truly HATED my body and had so much discontent and resentment for it and how it impacted my life...

I would cry most days in my room imagining how I could simply "cut off" the fat parts of my body and then have a vessel that was beautiful like everyone else's, that fitted into jeans and other trendy clothes.. (you can see the piccies on my website here)

So, a lot of my life at that age was CONSUMED with feeling SHAME, HATE and utter DESPAIR...I wanted more than anything to BE in life...to HAVE FUN like everyone else and FEEL GOOD about just hanging out completely CARE FREE and not at all conscious of my physical self...

I experienced SO much pain in this time of my life that it prompted a life shift that has made me WHO I AM TODAY...

I am SO grateful for these childhood experiences...

I decided through that pain that I would not sit on the sidelines of life anymore! I would NOT go to high school being overweight and picked on...

I would learn how to LOVE good food that would enable me to TRULY enjoy eating (as it was and always WILL BE, one of my TRUE great loves!) and TRULY ENJOY life! I would allow myself to become a person I was proud of and AT HOME within my own body...

I refused to DIET; I refused to DEPRIVE and PUNISH my body....I wanted to do it the SMART way....

And so marked the beginning of a life-long journey that will of course continue until the day I cease to be...

I will not bore you with all the details, however, I thought it important to share with you just what it was that got me to start living with such awareness as many people do ask me how it is I have come to "be so wise".....

Basically PAIN...LOTS OF PAIN....

I do not necessarily think that pain is a vital catalyst to living a conscious life...it simply was mine...

I think too that often we deny, ignore or push PAIN away not realising the incredible gift it has to offer us...it truly can hold the SEED to an incredible life...it simply takes courage and commitment to not "medicate" it, but rather, face it head on with utter truth and deepself-reflection...

This has been my learning anyway...You may have another perspective all together which of course is perfect! We are completely UNIQUE beings, and that is one of the true beauty's of life!

There is another life-shifting memory that I went on to share with my partner last night, and that I would also love to share with you, as I realise now it too marked another point in which CONSCIOUS CHOICE and taking the "path less travelled" truly served me and enabled me to live the BLESSED and BLISSFUL life I do today...

It was the memory of living in Melbourne and having the most incredible job I could imagine, working with the most DIVINE team and being paid more than most dietetic managers get paid after working in the hospital system for 30 years...!!..I had a gorgeous partner who couldn't do enough for me, or do more to make my life utterly enjoyable; 2 beautiful dogs; a lovely and comfy home in a great location; 2 thriving Private Practices which I had worked very hard to get to that point, and life was GOOD...! At least, it SHOULD have been...right?!

Well yes, I felt I SHOULD have been more grateful and appreciative of my life yet I could not find that fire of passion within me that I so desperately wanted and KNEW was somewhere to discover....



I would drive home often exhausted, grumpy, feeling hollow and trying to figure out why I just wasn't happy....I had a LOT of time to reflect as it was an hour and twenty minutes drive ONE way in NO traffic from where I worked 2-3 days a week...!

Life got to such a point that I felt exactly as though I was living GROUNDHOG day, day after day, after day....! I know many others get to this point too....

I KNEW there was something not quite right...something that was calling me from elsewhere, yet I just could not work out what that was...

Then one day I did something completely spontaneous- and for me- dramatic! I decided ON THE SPOT, as I sat in my clinic in Woodend, that I was taking a HOLIDAY...! I could not remember the last time I had taken a HOLIDAY for no other reason than to CHILL and ENJOY life....

My prior 22 years had all been about being "constructive" with my time; "learning something new" at least once a day and consuming and digesting all the information I possibly could...I just had NO IDEA how to sit down for more than 3 seconds and simply ENJOY the moment...as for smelling the roses, why the hell would I do that...?!

What was the point...?! I still remember the attitude I owned which lead me to boldly proclaim to my partner, "Don't waste money buying me flowers, they just die...Instead, if you ever feel like buying them for me, put the money aside and buy me a bottle of perfume instead.."!!!

I am almost too ashamed to admit that...! How utterly facetious!



These days, flowers are one of those simple pleasures I adore and indulge in EVERY WEEK! I still cannot believe how different my perspective was back then...how much LIFE I was unknowingly missing out on....!

Anyway, yes, I decided to book a holiday! One of my good childhood friends had moved to the Sunny State of Queensland a few years earlier and I had always promised I would go and see her, but had never managed to carve out the time...

So, it was in a state of utter fatigue and dissatisfaction with life that I decided I would GO!

Within not too long I found myself in the most utterly divine place I could imagine...! I was incredulous that such a place could exist and even more staggered at just how I could possibly continue to live in Melbourne, knowing that there was A HEAVEN on EARTH...!

I felt for the FIRST TIME that thing I was yearning for...that FIRE of PASSION that I was so desperately missing in Melbourne....that thing that made me EXCITED and INSPIRED about life again...like I had, for the first time, experienced life in RICH, BOLD and CAPTIVATING colour, rather than drab, dull and uninspiring shades of GREY...!

I KNEW I had to move....I KNEW I could not continue life as I had been living it, EVEN THOUGH I enjoyed quite a charmed life....

I didn't care for the money, the success, the opportunities, the connections, the career-experience I was immersed in almost unboundedly...

When I told people my plans, I was met with nothing but remarks of complete discouragement... "What?!" "Why?!" "You'll hate it!" "You'll be back!" "They are 20 years behind" "There are NO career opportunities up there!" "Why would you go backwards??!"

Not too many people (if ANY at all) were encouraging...!

One of the most critical was of course my mum (bless her heart!) who exclaimed with embarrassment, "Don't tell people that! They'll think you are CRAZY! " to which I gleefully and defiantly replied, "I don't care what they think, that is what I am doing!"

So with that, within 2 months I had recruited a friend from Uni to take over the world's best ever Dietetics Position at my true love clinic in Woodend; found replacements for my 2 other Private Practices in Surrey Hills and Croyden; notified my landlord that I was breaking the lease; packed up my home; left another job I had at a Care Facility in Knox; said Goodbye to my friends and family and HIT THE ROAD in my loaded-to-the-brim '91 Honda Civic, on my way to Canberra. Yes, I conveniently co-incided my departure with the AIS's Sports Nutrition course so I could earn the credential of Sports Dietitian. (see, never one to miss an opportunity to add to my knowledge bank! haha)

So after quite a journey I found myself in Sunny QLD, waitressing on the Mooloolaba Esplanade, living with family friends and blissing out at how magical life was...!

This is really JUST THE BEGINNING of THE STORY OF MY LIFE...The past 4 years here in QLD really has lead to such a profound DISCOVERY OF ME, and if the truth be told, of the BEAUTY OF LIFE....

I will not go further into the details however, let me just say it was an INCREDIBLY tough journey at times, and there were moments I almost gave up and went home...it honestly got THAT hard...

I am pleased to say that I am SO GLAD I stuck it out....!

Again, through PAIN- sometimes more than I thought I could bare- I found the seeds of my YUMMY LIFE ;p



There you have it..!. Quite a ramble...!

The essence of what I am getting at though is I am so glad to have learned early that THE MOST IMPORTANT thing to me IS TO LIVE an AUTHENTIC life, ALIGNED with my TRUE self in which I have NO REGRETS...

To make up my OWN story about what life is about and LIVE by that, rather than buying into EVERYONE else's view of life...

You see I too could have easily ended up being one of "those people" who gets to the end of their life wondering, "What if?"

I could easily have stayed in my charmed and comfortable life in Melbourne, climbing the career ladder, being caught in the 9-5 rat race that so many people accept as "reality"....

Life, I'm sure would have been fine....good....pleasant....

It just wouldn't have been UNREAL....! AMAZING! SPECTACULAR! It wouldn't have made me TINGLE with sheer joy, excitement and BLISS....it wouldn't have made me laugh, cry and gasp with at times impossible-to-withold PASSION and GRATITUDE....!

I am SO GRATEFUL to have realised that I had a CHOICE... I am so glad that I allowed myself to follow my dream and listen to my quiet inner whisper....

I am SO thankful that I somehow found the courage and audacity to pave my own path....

I shared with my partner last night that I live my life ALL of the time KNOWING that any moment could be my last....

I live FULLY EXPRESSING my love, passion, emotions and inner truths, even though at times it leads to ridicule, judgement and "behind my back" sniggers....

Yes, there are things I would LOVE to do and I am confident I WILL get to one day....These are NOT things though that if I died tomorrow I would regret that I never did...They are simply experiences that I know will enrich my life further and be enjoyable to live through...

I am no longer in a rush to GET somewhere, ACHIEVE certain things or BE someone more....

I have learnt and realised that LIFE is NOW and WHO I am has nothing to do with what I am or am not DOING....what I have or have not ACHIEVED... what MATERIAL wealth I have or have not accumulated...

I have learnt to appreciate the MAGIC and MIRACLE of life in every MOMENT and truly feel RICH, BLESSED and AMAZED at the DEPTH of BEAUTY in life that I continue to uncover and discover...

I can honestly say that if and when I ever get to a point in life again where I feel and hear that yearn and whisper within...I will listen...and I will obey....

Living life ON PURPOSE is truly the most magical thing you could ever experience and LIVNG WITH NO REGRETS is truly my number 1 Life Policy......



What is yours? :)

For one of the most INCREDIBLE slide shows you will ever watch on the 5 Secrets to Life as shared by hundreds of people AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE....click here.....

This truly made me STOP AND THINK and I am ever so GRATEFUL I had the privilege to receive from it the wisdom of retrospect from so many lives lived before mine.....Every time I watch it I buzz with gratitude for my life and life in general....

I share it with as many people as I can, as I truly believe it is a gift...I hope you enjoy it too! :)

LOTS OF LOVE,

BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant

Become a FACEBOOK FAN


www.newleafnutrition.com.au
http://bridgetjaneguru.blogspot.com
http://bridgetthompson.blogspot.com


Sunshine Coast, QLD

"Your health is everything...Discover your TRUE health potential"

The FLOOD...Reinventing you...

A common element of discussion of late with my clients has been, of course, around Identity. You know, that IDEA of who we think we are; who we project out to the world; the definitions and beliefs we have of and about ourselves; the assumptions we carry about who we are, what we are capable of and what type of person we are or are not.



It is rare that we actually stop to ponder the hard-wired program that is US. Each day and moment are so automatic; our responses and way of being so assumed; our understanding of WHO WE ARE simply accepted and played out as Gospel.

It is only when we start to dis-identify with ourselves and our way of being and instead begin to OBSERVE ourselves; our thoughts and actions, that we start to get some true insight into how all of these unspoken definitions, assumptions, judgements and labels play out in our life and create the picture of our current reality.

There are many examples lately that I could discuss here, however, one in particular stands out as an incredibly powerful experience to share.

One is of a lady in her forties, lets call her Pollyanna. Married with two children, I have been working with this gorgeous spirit for quite some time now. All along I could feel that there was something she was holding back; an impenetrable guard that stood between her soul and true essence, and the rest of the world, including me and even her own awareness.

You could quite frankly say, her heart was locked. A beautiful and endearing woman with a true heart of gold, however, when you looked more deeply, very guarded and beneath that, very fearful of being too vulnerable and open for hurt.



In order for me to make true progress with a person and to see true transformation, I need to work with my clients at a very DEEP level. Playing on the surface and rearranging the more tangible and visible aspects of life might SLOWLY lead to change, however it is often VERY HARD work and definitely NOT SUSTAINABLE. Working at this level requires LOTS of motivation, conscious effort and is VERY ENERGY DRAINING.

In contrast, when we work from the heart and soul level, change is INSPIRED and GUIDED and the possibilities are ENDLESS.

So although I knew that there was this block or barrier to making true change and shifts, I also knew too, that NOW was not the right time to push and prod. I knew simply to WAIT for this stuck state to reveal itself.

Well, the other day it did. It was so magical, so touching, so soul tingling-ly CLEAR, the shift JUST HAPPENED. By allowing the space, time, nurturing and patience required, it revealed its truth flowingly and with so much courage. It was such an amazing moment that it cannot be aptly described in words.

Here this woman's heart opened like a gorgeous rose, ready to bloom and show its true beauty. The vulnerability, the realness, the rawness...in that moment I witnessed true feminine liberation and power. It truly was earth-shatteringly spectacular.

I can confidently tell you that NOW this woman's true change will occur. By opening her heart to TRUTH, something she had closed off from for fear of the incredible hurt, Pollyanna was freed.

In that moment of truth of all the labels, lies and assumptions she had made about herself, her life, how she "should" be, how she "should" feel, how she "should" deal with life, simply DISSOLVED.

And from that platform of TRUE CLARITY and SPACE, the opportunity for new AWARENESS, DEFINITIONS and EXPERIENCES flooded open.



This woman became free to REINVENT herself; to observe and question, with honesty, how she was relating to herself, the world and others and to start to really CHOOSE how she will now do this, so that it BEST SERVES her.

You see as women, we often put our needs, desires and true feelings aside so that we can ensure our children and family are looked after first and foremost.

The thing is though, when we do not FIRST truly LOVE, NUTURE, HONOUR, FORGIVE and LOOK AFTER OURSELVES, we slowly push our heart, soul and true selves into the background, where our true love and light cannot be consistently seen or felt by those we love most.

It is true, in order to truly LOVE, FORGIVE and HONOUR others, we must FIRST do this for ourselves.

I am truly excited by the possibilities that have now opened for Pollyanna and the true LOVE she can now slowly EMBODY and EMBRACE allowing it to thereby naturally emanate out to all those she encounters.

Through pain, comes healing and the opportunity for true self reflection and awareness. Through pain we get to know ourselves better and how we allow the world to treat us; essentially how we treat ourselves.

Pain is not a necessary catalyst as such, however, if we embrace pain, rather than resist it when it comes up, it can be one of the most powerful transformational tools.

So the moral of the story with Pollyanna really is that a LIFETIME of denying and bottling up her PAIN, HURT, TRUTH and FEELINGS created an impenetrable barrier which kept her STUCK and perpetuating the same CURRENT REALITY over and over again, when she truly CRAVED change and growth.

By opening her heart to the FLOOD of pain and truth that she had been holding back, Pollyanna was able to start anew, from a completely cleared and freed up space.

Just as in nature, floods carry away and wipeout a landscape leaving it clear and free for REDEVELOPMENT, new beginnings, and recreation, so too do they at a soul level, if allowed. After clearing the devastation and destruction, there is space for the NEW, an entirely re-created landscape.



POWERFUL.

Perhaps, reflect and ponder where in YOUR life you hold back TRUTH and PAIN, in order to protect yourself. Consider too, how at any time you can let down this guard, allow the flood to occur, and then with time, love, courage and patience, allow healing and awakening to present to you to an entirely new possibility of yourself and life.

Realise that in any moment you can WIPE OUT the definitions, assumptions and labels that keep YOU STUCK and disempowered.

Any moment you can gracefully allow the flood and make way for a REINVENTION of you!


Have fun fellow creators :P

LOTS OF LOVE,

BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant

Become a FACEBOOK FAN


www.newleafnutrition.com.au
http://bridgetjaneguru.blogspot.com
http://bridgetthompson.blogspot.com


Sunshine Coast, QLD

"Your health is everything...Discover your TRUE health potential"

Courage, Commitment and Patience

The following is an excerpt of a reply I wrote to someone who asked me, "what are your favorite dishes for a healthy body that you have tried so far?"

I found myself pouring out my heart and soul and felt the need to share this with you :)

I hope you enjoy and get something from it for yourself! :)

"In terms of my healthiest dishes....well as I kind of indicated in my post (Facebook post)

"Listening2&honouring ur truth takes honesty, courage& patience..it means doing things differently, going thru perhaps uncomfortable&confronting experiences,even a little pain...a life lived out of alignment with ur true self is definitely much more painful..allow me2honour my souls calling..I'm changing direction..I'm scared of the unknown..&I'm doing it anyway!Cheers2adventure! :) xxx"

...I am going through a transition period... I have always been drawn to the RAW/VEGAN thing, however, never had the courage to actually follow through :) I am exploring this in much more depth now and bringing more of the RAW food concept into my life :)

I LOVE sprouted legumes- chickpeas, beans, lentils etc so I need to learn how to prepare these :) I LOVED the RAW salad I made the other day which I posted on my New Leaf Nutrition fan page- so be sure to check that one out cause it was SUPER simple and SUPER amazing! :)

In a world where the food system is more local, natural and eco-friendly, I do LOVE salmon and healthy versions of Indian meals. I love balsamic roasted vegies and seafood. However, as the world is changing and the food system is truly out of alignment with my innermost values, I am finding the need to adjust how I feed my body....

Hope this makes sense...? Anyway...exploring and changing :)

It takes courage, commitment and patience...

Why courage simply to change the way I eat?

Well, my BIGGEST goal in life is to simply inspire OTHERS to live happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives. I love nothing more than to connect to others HEARTS, to see them in their truth and incredible power, creating a life they love. My fear has always been that if I pursue MY bliss, MY passion, MY desire to explore the VEGAN/RAW option, that I will become too un-relatable for other people and hence be of no use to them at all. So it is taking me courage to move beyond that "story"; that belief of the way things are...

Commitment, because the way modern society is, it is 1000% easier to take "quick" options...to buy into the "story" that sourcing whole, organic, gorgeous food is too expensive, time consuming and "unrealistic". It is also 1000% easier to give in to the endless temptations around us. Those masterful marketers and manufacturers know just how to lure our taste-buds...more sugar, more salt, more fat....How can we mere mortals resist?!

As I mentioned though this is a "story" and I truly believe that WE are the authors of our lives and what we "buy into" (believe) is what we will surely create and experience as our reality! So obviously I have some work here to "edit" my current view of my life :)

Patience, because I live in an environment in which EVERYONE else around me eats a different way and so creating a lifestyle that supports what I'd ultimately LOVE my days to be like is going to take quite some re-engineering AND research! I know a few people who live this way in Sydney and they are IMMERSED in raw/vegan/eco-friendly culture! They have raw/vegan/eco-friendly partners, friends, shopping locations....a WHOLE community that embraces, lives and breathes the philosophy..

I need to source where I can get the supplies I need in PLENTIFUL quantities from a wholesaler...I need to be strong to remember everyday who I am, what I love and what is true for me. I need to build strength to not give my power away to those I love most (for example my partner), by short-selling myself and not staying true to what I love and how I'd love to live everyday...

Does that make sense?? What I mean is...I love to NOT watch TV, sit at a table when I eat dinner, without TV/distractions, to be in nature, to be active, to wake early, to set up the kitchen so it fully supports the way I'd love to nourish my body and to live in presence and peace always.

Currently my partner and I live a lifestyle that is not that way, yet I love him loads, I love our life loads and I am trying to establish what I believe to be a balance of all of that.

For example, is it better to let go of needing things to be a certain way and simply let them be as they are? OR do I honour how I'd love it to be and simply be patient and persistent in creating that? This seems like hard work as my environment supports all too easily, slipping into existing habits....a change of environment may help...who knows? I simply know that beating myself up about it right now helps LITTLE, so I am being patient and allowing myself to be guided here and to listen more to me. To reflect more I guess :)

WOW! There you go! Such a massive answer and almost like a journal entry for me! I think I will use this as a blog entry...I really need to build my courage in expressing my thoughts OUT THERE as writing and eventually publishing a few books is my ULTIMATE dream! I have been approached by a publisher before and am constantly asked when I will be releasing a book! LOL. This is just another part of my journey! Confidence in expression :) I used to be UBER-confident....however...I realised it cut me off from a lot of people so I slowly worked on not being so LOUD, OUT THERE and OPINIONATED...again now finding the balance :)

Anyway, I must go! Enjoy reading the STORY OF MY LIFE! haha

Have a brilliant day! xooxo"

So there you have it...the story of my life as it currently is....completely open, completely honest and now OUT THERE! Wow! Sitting with that...!

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on how Courage, Commitment and Patience influence your life and if you too are needing to strengthen these traits to create a life you love...

Living in BLISS and BEING IN LOVE everyday is NOT an unrealistic ideal....unfortunately many of us have brought into this all too common view...

Join me in re-creating a world in which this is NATURAL, NURTURED and SUPPORTED :)

LOADS of love to you all!


BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant

Become a FACEBOOK FAN


www.newleafnutrition.com.au
http://bridgetjaneguru.blogspot.com
http://bridgetthompson.blogspot.com


Sunshine Coast, QLD

"Your health is everything...Discover your TRUE health potential"

Acceptance and Peace

Upon reflecting on this past week and thinking over the "themes" of my sessions with clients, I really felt and urge to share some reflections with you...

An email I wrote to a client early this morning prompted me further to share some ponderings, so here they are...

ACCEPTANCE...of self, where you are, how life is and how you have been in life up until now is paramount....its about truly accepting everything your life has been to date and owning your power in regards to that...recognising that YOU have always had the power and choice, even if it has not felt that way...you have made the choices you have, and there is no GUILT, SHAME, or WRONG to hold onto in regards to these...

You are where you are meant to be...you have always done what you know and what you believed to be right...You could not have done any differently...

Embrace all the lessons and go DEEPLY into true acceptance, even give thanks and gratitude...

Who you are today...your essence, your soul, your spirit could not be possible without the EXACT path you have travelled....

Look for all the lessons, the gold....If you are feeling resentment or regrets, you are simply missing the value in the learnings...go deeper and find them... Hold onto them with true love and appreciation and recognise NOW the power you have to direct and choose how the story goes from here...

Whenever you are feeling uneasy, anxious, depressed or angry, it is about going deeper and deeper within with TRUE LOVE, COMPASSION and ACCEPTANCE...

Reflect with love, curiosity and absolutely no fear, guilt or shame....

Let go of everything you think in terms of how it SHOULD be...how you SHOULD have been, or done....how life COULD have been, or SHOULD be different...

Acceptance is about wholly and fully owning yourself, your life and finding and being at PEACE with that.....genuinely...this can, and usually does, take time....retreat and allow it all to settle into your BONES :)

Go deeper and deeper within...living and looking for answers on the outside will only add to your discontentment, dissatisfaction and disconnection...everything you are looking for...all the answers...all the love...all the truth....it is all there waiting for you...all you need to do is be in alignment to receive...

There is a reminder here to connect with Mother Nature, as there magic and miracles abound....

Remember that every day there is a sunset...no matter what has happened :)

I hope this resonates and helps to reaffirm what you already know to be true :)

LOADS OF LOVE TO YOU!

xoxo


BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant

Become a FACEBOOK FAN
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www.newleafnutrition.com.au
http://bridgetjaneguru.blogspot.com
http://bridgetthompson.blogspot.com
http://bridget-jane.blogspot.com


Mob 0421332243
Sunshine Coast, QLD

"Your health is everything...Discover your TRUE health potential"



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