Week 2: Breathe

This week, the series of challenges focused around breath. Using breathing to meditate, to calm oneself, to breathe properly. I really enjoyed meditating. I would find 10-15 minute guided meditations on my tablet and then listen to them. I find the effects not so much to put me to sleep but an all over relaxation and a much more calmer frame of mind.

This was really put into practice when Mel W in Qld sent a goodbye over instagram. everyone else went crazy and panicked going over and over what could they do to stop her. Emily B DID call her and got her to hospital. I made the decision to not answer the call for the meeting instead I breathed, stopped the freakout and sent a one line message..." Has anyone called her parents?" which solved everything. Mel is doing well apparently , I haven't called but again, I think for myself and her, a bit of breathing room is needed.

Focusing attention on my breath shuts out all the internal and external chatter....stops it in its tracks and then its like a reboot for me to reset, rethink and restart. Instead of just reacting, I'm now thinking first and not flying off the handle so much. Taking that time also to meditate and focus on my breathing contributes hugely to a greater peace of mind, I noticed my day flowed better, although it was tested on a few days with the death of my Em's cat, forgotten things, bad news from the dentist about Piper's teeth.....still I got through it all. It also slowed me down beautifully, my mind and my self and my eyes were opened to seeing some of the beauty around me....like the sunsets, the trees, the way the leaves blow and dance across the road.

Another benefit is the help controlling my breathing has on my running. I can go longer and a little faster, and I can notice how my breathing affects all that. When it starts getting a little weird, I can bring my attention back to the breath and regulate it evenly and get to rights again without having to stop.

I think looking ahead I will continue with breath focus particularly at the start of the day and if I start to feel tense. four or five deep breaths to set myself up for the day, even perhaps into changing situations like upon waking, upon getting to work, leaving work etc.

The Law of Attraction (week 1)  has been working in my life. Troy is leaving his job in a couple of months and I was so worried about how we'll make ends meet. But then, the other managers quit and his work have offered ( and he accepted) a rolling 12 week contract to work half hours for half pay....which will make transition so much easier. The Universe DOES truly provide.


So I think I will combine visualising my day with my breathing exercises to keep the practise of both up. A good way to do my breathing is to evaluate it against this part of a poem.

Are my waves of Breath, of Life, as gentle as a quiet sea, 

softly smoothing sandy stretches of yourself...? 

Or anxious, urgent, choppy waves....? 

Or the crashing tumult of the sea?

Week 1: Law of Attraction

Last year, 2014 saw my greatest success and my greatest fear all in one year. in May I ran my first marathon and ultra marathon in the Great Ocean Road marathon, battling injury and long training schedules....leading to loss of balance...something I do frequently. But I did it, proud of it and stands as my greatest triumph of my minds strength yet.

A few short months later I was in the doctors office discussing the possibility of ovarian cancer. This led to a total hysterectomy and everything for me just stopped. For years I had worked hard towards being fit and healthy where I was becoming obsessed with it. And I still ended up facing death sooner than I wanted to.

I became depressed and gave up at this point really. The next 12 weeks I drank what I wanted, ate what I wanted, put on weight....and became more miserable.

So this blog will be my journal. I completed 12 weeks of eating The Paleo Way with Pete Evans and feel healthier inside. Glad I ditched all the processed food, although I still sneak a bit here and there. The important thing is the guilt is gone.

I began running parkrun again and love it.

And I came across a book : How to live a Wholehearted Life by Susyn Reeve. This book has 52 weeks of exercises to complete that will help adjust your mindset and lead you to greater happiness and contentment...exactly what I had been seeking. This week had the topic Law of Attraction.

What did I learn about the Law of Attraction? 
Well my first exercise was not a complete success, visualising what I wanted  and putting it out to the universe. I envisioned a glass of red wine while in a candlelit bath. The bath happened but no wine. However, the sense of peace I was desiring DID occur, a fact I didn't realise until a few days later. So perhaps, the Law of attraction works on intent rather than wish fulfillment.

What did I learn about myself in relation to the Law of Attraction? 
When I exercised it and I concentrated I could feel a type of emanence, an energy or power in my visualising. However it was too easy to fall back into disappointing thoughts: " Oh it won't happen anyway", taking the belief away needed for the Law of attraction to work. I need the blind faith of a child. And I am still working on that. It seems far easier to be negative than positive within myself. I am focusing on stopping those thoughts when i have them and re visualising the positive but it is mentally hard work!

How can I consciously apply this Law of Attraction in my everyday life?
My goal is to upon waking, visualise how I want the day to go and to end. When I go to bed to sleep at night, I intend to use the same technique to picture the day ahead. I will report back on how successful i am at doing this.

One of the exercises was to write a happiness list. I think this will be a work in progress but I will record what I have already and add to it in future posts.

Happiness List

1. The sound of rain on the roof

2  Being caught in a 'leaf' fall in Autumn, and watching them dance on the paths ahead in the wind.

3. Snuggles in front of the fire

4. Puggy Snuffy kisses from Iko

5. Walking in the rainforest, or any forest for that matter
6. Running
7. Candelit nights
8. The moon in all her glorious guises
9. The feeling of a job well done.
10. The sense of being away from it all.
11. Hugs....ALL HUGS!
12. The feeling of being looked after.
13. Reading a book on the grass in the sun.
14. Meditating
15. Presents ;)
16. the 1950's woman ideal
17. Clean crisp sheets on the bed
18. A hot bath.
19. Massages
20. playing on swings
21. Building a blanket fort and hiding out.
22. Colouring in.


Next week will be interesting...it's about breath and the way we breathe.