The OTHER health impacts - looking beyond fitness & nutrition...

After listening to a really inspiring web lecture through the Coaching course I am doing – I started thinking about the impacts on our health other than the main components (well – the first that most people think about anyway), and particularly focusing in on the importance of relationships.

The host of the lecture was talking about a town in the US, who was recently noted as having the highest rates of death due to natural causes and old age – as opposed to death from accidents or lifestyle related illness (e.g heart disease, stroke, smoking related illnesses). This caused quite a bit of interest from medical researchers and academics; thinking that perhaps there was something in the water, or something different that no other person had thought of to improve life. The interesting finding was that the thing that was keeping people healthy was the quality of their relationships and feeling connected.

This particular town is of relatively low socio-economic status, many people co-habituated and most people worked blue collar jobs. Being a poor area, education in the community is generally lower due to different career choices and ability to pay for further study – which tend to go hand in hand with poor food selection, fresh and healthy food availability, and nutrition knowledge, an increased amount of smoking and drinking and also a lower rate of exercise (often due to a lack of time, resources, facilities and knowledge of it’s importance).

This particular town saw common practice in having a few glasses of wine each night – generally drinking with a group of friends. The town’s favorite foods of choice included deep fried chicken, fries and a very small amount of fresh fruit and vegetables. To look at – you would think these factors alone would see this town on par with other towns as being one of the biggest and most obese towns (and countries) in the world.

Our society in general has grown to one where people work independently, have to plan and pre-organise or schedule meetings with friends (if time allows between work and home duties), communication is largely by email or text message, dinner parties and home gatherings are becoming less of a norm as people organise adventurous and well thought out dinners or drinks in ‘the hottest new restaurant/bar/café’ in town and close connections with people are becoming less common.

This small town, was different. People lived close by to each other and most nights would just ‘drop in’ to see their friends or family on the way home from work. If people were doing things tough financially; the community would work together to provide support until that person found their feet, if someone was unwell or not themselves; people would check to see how they were going and bring them a ‘casserole’ or soup for dinner, if single mother’s needed to go to work to ensure they had money to feed their family; someone would be there in the community to babysit without hesitation. Several families lived under the same roof to make sure everybody was ‘under a roof’ and not living on the streets.

These people were connected with one another, each person felt as if they had a role to play in society and that they belonged. The emotional stress was minimal in everyone.

Take a moment to think about that for a brief period.

Think about how the community you live, work or ‘play’ in responds to those in need or makes people feel as if they are part of the group.

I know that in terms of health I understand and place great importance on making sure my physical and mental health are working in cohesion to ensure that I am living my BEST LIFE (well – as much as I can!), but in so many instances in ALL OF US we neglect the importance of the other parts of our life; career, relationships, spirituality to name a few. Each of these play a role bigger than you would first think. Here is an example – if you are unhappy at work, feeling unsatisfied, ‘stuck’ or not challenged – your stress hormone (cortisol) will increase. When there is an increase of this hormone in our bodies, other health issues arise – increase risk of high blood pressure, liver function issues, mental health issues, stomach and bowl trouble, back pain, fatigue, increased risk of cancer…..to name a few. The same occurs when we are not taking note of our spiritual side; feeling like we are walking in a ‘rat race’ each day without use of our creativity, or being able to show our individuality – again our cortisol levels rise.

So – rather than simply noting the importance of diet and exercise (which of course are incredibly important don’t get me wrong – I’m a huge advocate of their place in the world!), think about how strong your relationships are with those around you, think about whether you have any outlet to grow your spiritual side (and no – I don’t mean turn into a hippy and sit around a fire all day!) and be creative, think about how fulfilling your career is for you. These are the real primary health components.

YOU are the only one who can make the changes necessary to balance out the areas in your life that  are missing, neglected or raising your cortisol levels. Think about your passions, your goals, your interests. Reflect on the areas of your life that you are not feeling satisfied with. HOW can you change this? Where would you ideally like to see yourself in a few years’ time and is your current life playing out in a way that will get you to your ideal life?

Good luck – would love to know how you ‘tackled’ it!

How asking for support opened my eyes to the world......

Over the last couple of weeks, the people I am closest to know that it has been a difficult, thought provoking, anxious, somewhat depressed time in my life.
I found myself in a place where I was no longer happy with the environment around me, uninspired and feeling in a sense 'stuck' in a place that I no longer wanted to be. I had big dreams and plenty of moments of inspiration, enthusiasm and passion over the past year - which has grown to the level that I feel as if there is a new path for me to follow.

Of course - I know that there are so many areas in my life that i love and are incredibly grateful for; my amazingly supportive fiancee, my 5 year old 'soon to be' step son, the learning path of Wellness/health coaching and Pilates fitness instruction I have been exposed to, the people I have met along the way, my unrepeatable and forever loving family, the blissful Bali adventures I was lucky enough to retreat to twice this year and many more.

The passion that has always been in me, but has grown and been encouraged to develop by several people and role models has come to a place where keeping it 'squashed' inside my heart and soul, just waiting to be released as bursts of inspiration is really getting to me.

I had to take some time off my usual workplace as a Teacher, which over the past 7 years (as a fully qualified teacher - with over 10 years as a 'Teacher in training' or Sports Coach) has had it's place and brought many moments, experiences, staff and students I have taught that have lead me to be the person I am today, and who have shaped much of my outlook on life, inner confidence and have taught me much more than I will ever realize. I am currently at a point in which feeling 'stuck' in a place between where conventional thinking says to stay (higher wage, consistent income, a profession well regarded in society), and heartfelt, intuitive thinking says to change.
Change is a scary place - particularly into a field that is less predictable, an income that is not always going to be consistent, a career that many people 'scoff' at as not being a 'real' career, and into something that may put extra financial and emotional pressure (as goes with starting a new business) on the people close to me (not to mention at a time when we are  planning a wedding and considering starting to try for a family in a years time).

My anxiety has been so extreme that it was being felt on a physical level (stomach aches, migraines, back pain, fatigue, nausea and a decrease in appetite), as well as an emotional level (tears, worry, insomnia and a constant feeling of being 'on-edge').

Throughout this period - the thing that has been able to make sense of everything and provide some sense of clarity to my thoughts has been sharing the pressure with those around me. For many months, my anxieties have been building and for that  time I have never shared the extent to which my worries and concerns have been getting to me - leaving me to continue on the path I am currently following in the hope that maybe things will become easier.

I've said before - conversing some of my thoughts with my amazing fiancee has been occurring throughout this time - but sometimes it takes someone or  a few people who are not so emotionally vested in you to provide a lifting hand to get you out of the hazy reality.

Over the past couple of weeks I have spoken with a Psychologist and an amazing, wise and generous lady from my workplace who have worked through the crazy and over-whelming thought processes clouding my brain. It's amazing how you can start to feel like some 'crazy person' or 'alien' from society when you are  left alone with your own thoughts and internal pressures for too long. These two special and supportive people have been able to reassure me how valid my reactions have been and helped me to work through not only a process to be able to move forward into the life that i am deeply passionate about as well as help me to address my inner self critic and lack of self confidence that adds to the anxieties of being able to reach my goals.

As much as I love teaching and preaching about these topics to others - until you have a good discussion with someone else, sometimes you don't realize the inner self sabotage that can take over a much larger part of your thinking than it should.

My point is - NEVER underestimate the power of communication, keeping people around you (not isolating yourself and pushing away those that want to help - like some of us can be great  at - me included!!) and ASKING FOR HELP.
When I think back to points in my life where things have felt incredibly overwhelming and difficult, it is often those around who you wouldn't consider to be your closest friends are those that are often the best people to help you through the process. Several people have approached me to support me through the past couple of weeks who I never would have thought knew I was even within their sights!

The key to getting through difficult times is your ability to OPEN UP and trust that people want to help you, support you and even just be a sounding board for ideas. I have always had issues with sharing my deepest thoughts with people (even those who are most closest to me!), in fear of them judging me or having an unwanted reaction. You know what - my 'joining of the dots' has NEVER been a true reflection of what happened once I do tell them what is going. I have always managed to build an idea in my head of the outcome of conversations or actions that I have taken without it being built on actual evidence. The only thing this will help you to do is increase your anxiety, decrease your self confidence and lead you to never following your heart or your dreams.

Communicate, involve people around you in your difficult times (as well as amazing times of course!!) and be willing to ask for help if you feel yourself going in a downward spiral.

For now - I continue to write, read and take on board this advice which is helping me to see that there is no such thing as 'stuck', only an imaginary idea we can sometimes create in our own minds.

Would love to hear your thoughts and own journeys!

Why you should be doing yoga as part of your daily routine....

So we've all heard that Yoga is meant to be 'good' for us. But what does it actually do for us and how do we go about finding a type of class that suits us; after all, it can be quite overwhelming to look at your gym timetable to see six different types of yoga sessions held over the week!

I started doing Yoga a few weeks ago after a long few years of only completing mostly running, pilates and swimming based workouts.
I love the calmness and sense of control of your own body, your movements, your posture, your thoughts and your breathing. Even one hour long session a week seems to clear my mind for the week ahead. My energy levels are a little bit higher due to the reduced amount of tension in both my mind and body, and even my nervous mannerisms seem to stop because I become a lot more mindful of my own body. The answer - a confident, chilled out and energized Miss!!

So what are some of the other benefits of yoga?

Increasing Flexibility – yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised.

Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons – likewise, the well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body.
Surprisingly it has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously work upon. Why? It is here that the remarkable research behind yoga positions proves its mettle. Seemingly unrelated “non strenuous” yoga positions act upon certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily.

Massaging of ALL Organs of the Body – Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate - that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.

Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.

Excellent toning of the muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.

http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/yoga/Benefits.aspx


Sounds awesome? Well here is a brief run down of what to expect from some of the main types of yoga to ease your decision about which one to attend....

- In the yoga world, classes abound for women (and men) looking to move quickly, slim down, and maybe fast-forward through most of the chants and meditations. Classes in this group—which tend to have names like Dynamic Flow and Power Yoga—are heavy on speedy sequences, keep the music modern (think Adele and Prince remixes, not Enya), and take more creative liberties with their poses and sequences.

- If you love the heart-pumping, muscle-building benefits but want something more traditional, Bikram may be more your style. It always flows through the same 26 postures every class—but in a steaming-hot studio. It should be noted that "hot yoga" is not synonymous with Bikram. This personally 'killed me', but there are plenty of people who love this style!

- While still focusing on mindful meditation, instructors also zero in on helping you understand why certain poses are difficult and finding individual solutions—one reason alignment-focused vinyasa sessions are great for beginners.

- Of course, yoga is not only concerned with what your body is doing. Mental strength and serenity are just as fundamental. A great example: Ashtanga yoga, one of the godfathers of the yoga world. Also called Mysore style (for the city in India where it began), it is serious—like, six days a week, early morning, in a quiet room serious. Often, a teacher will walk you through a series, with set "asanas" (a.k.a. postures) that remain mostly the same from day to day. The whole practice is about breath, movement, and discipline.

- BODYBALANCE™ is the Les Mills Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates workout that builds flexibility and strength and leaves you feeling centred and calm. Controlled breathing, concentration and a carefully structured series of stretches, moves and poses to music create a holistic workout that brings the body into a state of harmony and balance.

- That sense of ease is a yogi's main goal and the reason meditation is so crucial to the practice. Kundalini yoga,  focuses on building spiritual strength. If you don't exercise your body, what results can you expect? You can't expect an extraordinary shift in your mind without meditation.

There are classes available at your local gym and many Yoga schools which can be found through a simple 'Google search'!
I dare you try give it a go for a few weeks and see if you notice the difference. Not only will it help to clear your head and calm your racing thoughts, but it will also help strengthen your muscles, improve your 'office chair slump' posture and actually improve your performance in other physical activities!

Xxx

What we can learn from women around the world...

After a lovely sunny catch up with some great friends yesterday afternoon - the girls in the group quickly 'peeled' away and started catching up on lost time, gossiping and just having general  'as girls do'.
One of the girls had just returned from a getaway to South America and began to share stories with us all of the adventures she had (when the conversation began with the exciting news of her engagement with her new fiancee - it was heading in a super energetic and enthusiastic direction quite quickly!).

We started talking about how different the 'body confidence' culture between women in Australia/the US/UK is compared to the South American and Latino culture.
My gorgeous, yoga loving friend was explaining how she wanted to go and buy some bikini's (as you do when you're in a beach lined, tropical weathered country holidaying with 'the man of your dreams!'). She trawled through the entire country (or I should say countries as it was a 'roaming adventure holiday and South America is very large for those who have recently checked out a map!) searching from store to store, trying to find something that covered her bottom (and not just her 'crack') and something that fit her breast area. But nope - no luck!

Obviously the common body shape differs between cultures and backgrounds of people, but it was still a hot topic to speak about amoungst us girls when they're boobs are often much LARGER, and their bottoms much BIGGER - but they only sell SMALLER bikinis!
We started reminiscing about our experiences from our own holidays about the confidence level of many South  American (particularly Brazilian and Argentinian) women and men.
The curves and shape of a woman is seen as beautiful the more shape you have. Here; it has almost become a culture of having NO curves and being quite flat in the stomach, 'booty' and chest area as women strive to be thing.
The women over there will be more than comfortable walking the streets in skin tight, short dresses, tony denim shorts with NO top or even just their bikini's with some nice heels. That is normal. Women accept and love their shape, no matter what size and thrive on the love and attention they get from passers by.

The men over there love the openness of women (and other men I might add), their ability to love their shape, their figure, their own souls and to be so willing to share this love with all of their friends, family and acquaintences.
The affection and body contact shown in the South American culture is far different to that seen in even the 'cheesiest' clubs around Australia. I must admit, when I was over there, I was very reserved and shy initially when complete strangers would come up to me to dance the salsa and tango; rubbing their bodies against mine and looking your directly into your eyes. It was quite intimidating and uncomfortable initially.
The thing is - they are so connected with their body and soul that they  are able to appreciate and speak to each other through their eyes, their expressions, their body and that makes communication so much more powerful than typing on someones facebook or instagram account!

you can only imagine the environment that the little girls of that culture would grow up into. They grow up dancing, moving their body to show their emotions, singing out loud, laughing with their eyes and enjoying just being alive.
Yet - in the culture that has developed in our country (and many other westernized cultures), our daughters have grown into a world where they learn to be as 'perfect' as the models and celebrities in the movies they watch or as high pressured and severely lacking in self esteem as their own mothers or women role models speak about diets, sugar and counting calories.
How much can we learn from the women of these South American nations? More than we could ever hope to imagine. A world where women and society in general embrace individuality, shape, love and enjoyment over perfectionism, high achieving and 'fitspo' stereotyped instagram culture - just  take a moment to reflect on which you would rather bring your own daughters (both now and in the future) into.

I certainly know which I would rather.

It doesn't take much to start looking around and taking note of the rising mental health issues, eating disorders and low body confidence issues that surround us each day. I highly doubt that there are many (or any) of you that have not been touched in some way by a friend or family member who has suffered the agony of one of the above which is partly something society is responsible for.

Perhaps it's time to take a moment to reflect on how you view your own selves; your body, spirit, mind and personality and how you take care of it.
What needs to change to be able to live freely, with a healthy self image, confidence and enthusiasm for life to go and chase your dreams.

What would can you do to change this culture? to change yourself? and to ultimately change the world?

Xxx

How we sabotage our goals with FEAR & EXCUSES, and how to get past them....

Put your hands up if you have ever had an awesome idea, a dream, a goal that gave you a feeling of butterflies that lifted you with exuberance out of bed in the morning?

Put your hand up if the closer you got to reaching your goal, the further it seemed - to the point where you gave up?

Yes - I completely relate! And I know that there are many of you who would feel the same way.
It  can be quite exhausting and leave you feeling flat and burnt out to have 'all these grand plans' in the forefront of your mind, but then over-think them to the point that they become too hard or with too many obstacles for it to be realistic.

Sometimes rather than being REASONS for not being able to reach our goal, we think of EXCUSES - both internally and externally.

Sometimes these excuses aren't even real - they may be fed to us by the media, through speaking with other people (and the 'reasons' or excuses that have prevented them from reaching their goal), or perhaps it is something that is subconsciously in our thought processes from something our parents or another said to us a child.
More often than not - these are NOT real, and unfortunately are destructive; keeping many of  us from doing what we are really capable of.

In actual reality - these thought processes form the actions we do to get  ourselves closer to where we want to be or what we want to be doing. These are the very often (and I do understand that sometimes certain things  are simply difficult or unattainable at THIS point in time) only thoughts and the excuses or boundaries we place in front of ourselves. So - in fact, it is US that are holding ourselves back!

Think about some of the following 'excuses' and see if they resonate in you?

1) You're not smart enough.
There is no reason why you should be any less capable than anyone else. So you haven't been to the best uni course, or even finished school - did you know that some of the most successful people have come from backgrounds where school was almost a 'non - event' or was the most horrible academic experience of their lives!) My brother and best friend are two examples who I admire greatly.
Both only just finished year 12 (very disinterested in the whole idea of study and school). My brother now runs his own successful arbor business and makes more money than a lot  of people I know, and my best friend has gone on to complete her PHD in exercise science focusing on altitude  training and elite athletes. Don't get me wrong - it hasn't always been the easy road for them - but it just shows you that if you have drive and passion, you can do a 'hell of a lot' with your life!

2) You're too young.
Just think about the guys who developed Facebook and Myspace and even google - these guys certainly weren't in the older age bracket  when they become leaders in the business and finance world! If you're keen, and willing to learn from everything around you - you're probably much more receptive and able to grow and be THE BEST in your chosen field than someone who is older and quite often stale or set in their ways within their industry. Ever heard of the saying - 'Fresh and new talent'?

3) You haven't been to university.
Again - think back to my first point! There is ALWAYS a way to around it. Experiences, ideas, commitment and passion get you a long way in any field of work. Even if you wanted to go to university down the track - this IS possible!

4) You don't have what it takes.
If you are  willing to work hard to 'have what it takes' - then here's some words of advice - you HAVE what it takes! Most people fall by the wayside and don't want to compromise, sacrifice or put in the hard work to get them to where they want to be. If you do - you have just put yourself a head in front of MANY. Just remember to stay focused on the stuff that matters and let go of some of the things that don't.

5) You haven't 'done your time'.
To some extent and in some industries this is true - but you know what, if that is where you want to be, there will be a few small sacrifices you can make to STILL get there (and gain the experience along the way). Experiences also don't mean the same for every person. you might be in your workplace for five years and not move forward fro your current role, compared to someone who has been in it for two years and have brought forward several new ideas to achieve and add value to their organisation. Put yourself out there and have a go at  trying a few of those 'great ideas' inside that head of yours!

6) You're unskilled.
Have you had a look at the hundreds (even thousands) of training organisations and volunteer opportunities on the internet recently? Get out there and 'up-skill'. They don't always have to cost money either. Simply volunteering at an organisation in the industry you want can be incredibly helpful. Keep yourself 'read up' on new trends in the industry you want to be in.

7) You don't have the money to make it happen.
Have a closer look at your weekly spending - what do your really NEED? What do you WANT? (Think buying lunches and dinners, coffees, Foxtel, clothes......). Many courses or business start  ups come from either borrowing money or simply starting on a smaller scale until the business/goal builds to a point where they can continue to grow it. You don't go out and buy a million dollar inner city house for your first home do you? No - but if you're smart about your money, in years to come you will. Loans can be an option if you are willing to work the money back and look closely at where you can keep costs low.

8) I'm not ready to make a change.
Who is ever ready??! Most of us fight change and resist change because it is new and uncomfortable. If we need to change something - it is usually because whatever we are doing NOW is no longer working for us. Yes, it will take courage, persistence, energy and commitment - but think about your future and your life happiness. If you aren't where you want to be - what do you need to change to get yourself there?

9) What if it doesn't work out?
"But oh - what if it does!". Think about your vision. How will it look, feel, sound when you reach your goal. What will change if you reach your goal? There is no point in letting something you desire NOT happen because you are afraid of something that has NEVER even happened? If worst case scenario it doesn't work - you will deal with it. The most  successful people are those who have tried to build their dreams, fallen and learnt from the experience to build something BIGGER. Use the resources around you to help fine tune what you need to do differently and to get through it.

So - Think about the excuses that  are  currently stopping you from doing the things you dream about or want to do.
What can you do/think differently to get the result you want in the future?
What resources do you need to help you get there?

Good luck!

Vision Boards - the how to's and why they're AWESOME!

I've recently discovered the 'power of a vision board'! A vision board is basically a tool (as simple as it sounds, it is a large board with lots of images posted to it), that you can use to help remind you of the goals you wish to reach. It can also be a tool in helping to remind us of all of the amazing things we have done in our lifetime (which are so often forgotten when we get caught up in the fast paced lives of the modern world). It is something to keep your focus on your intentions in a way that is meaningful to you.


Try to envisage what your “better life” looks like. For those of us who find that somewhat difficult, making a vision board can be a great help; not to mention fun to make! In order to create your vision board, you should seek images that represent specific details of this wonderful new life you have 'envisaged'. That means narrowing it down to specifics. For some, a better life might mean having a new car or home. Others may be seeking a new relationship or improvements in existing relationships. Many of you have probably heard the saying "most of us never get what we want because we don’t know what we want". Making a vision board is an awesome way to bring clarity to that general desire and turn it into an achievable goal. http://www.makeavisionboard.com/what-is-a-vision-board.html

Once you dream it, the next step is to believe it. In addition to images, vision boards can include words, phrases or sentences that affirm your intentions. Affirmations express who you really are, release you from those limiting beliefs (you know that cheeky voice in our head that makes us all aware of the negative!), and allow you to know that the possibilities really are unlimited.


Your vision board can be as specific or general as you like. The beauty of it is, that it is yours! You can add what you like, make it as big or small, colourful and bright, written or pictured, personal photos or related images, it could be made on the computer or simply attached to a cardboard sheet....there are not right or wrong ways of doing it.

These are examples of the vision boards I have created:

- A destination/goal board: Which includes what you ideal destination in life look like. It could include a dream job, a sporting/fitness goal, financial goals (such as purchasing a house), or it could simply include things like  family, friends and all the areas of life that you wish to continue to keep in your life for the years ahead.
- A happy board: This is my favourite, and get prime position in my lounge room! This might just be a big collection of things that make you happy, past experiences or memories, bits and pieces from overseas trips, letters from friends, photos, favourite quotes.... it should be something that makes you smile on the inside (and the outside!). In fact, recent research has shown that people who smile (even if it is forced) have a reduced level of stress as opposed to when they are frowning or concentrating.

You can change it and update it as you reach your goals, or simply decide to move in a different direction form your initial thoughts.
 
Now get creating girl!!

Xxx

One of those days.....how to get past it!

So - this morning I woke up at 5.18am (yes, weird I know, but those extra  2minutes make all the difference in me showering or not showering!!).
I jumped in the shower, had my green juice, picked up my bags (to passers by I would've closely resembled a 'pack horse' or 'camel on a voyage across the Sahara desert) and hopped into my little black Mazda - 3.

I drove the usual dark and quiet street venture out to Pilates, which is about a twenty minute drive away. I was about two minutes from reaching the lit up and rose smelling studio on Chapel street in Melbourne - when I was shocked out of my wits and realised the tram in front of me had come to a stop, and a person was stepping outfrom the carraige.
I slammed my brakes on as my heart rode inot my chest and missed the petrified twenty something woman who was now two metres in front of the front bumber of my car.
Anyone who has ever come close or has been in a collision either as a pedestrian, a bike rider or a vehicle drive knows that feeling. Your heart jumps up so high that it feels like you are almost vomiting. Your brain goes into a sense of alertness and shock as you realize what could of nearly just happened. You feel a deep sense of guilt that your actions could have in effect, changed someones life or had a detrimental effect. You panic thinking how stupid you were for not focusing for the split second knowing the consequences that could've followed. You throw your arms up in the air and whimper with sincere apology and then you feel a wave of emotion come to the fore-front of your mind as you battle bursting into tears.

This morning, that was me to a tea. The only difference was that today the Tram driver stopped the tram in the middle of the main intersection of a busy Melbourne inner city street, stepped out of the driver seat onto the road next to me and began to shake his head, wave his arms in the air and repeat for the next five minutes (that was the longest five minutes  of my life!) "You stupid, brainless, idiotic Bitch!" over and over.

I did what anyone else would do and burst into tears, sinking into my car seat (by this stage the entire tram was leaning over to the side window to see what the commotion was about) - as I whispered hoarsely through my tears "Ok - I know, I'm so sorry - you don't have to call me a stupid Bitch".

Eventually the driver returned to his seat in the front of the Tram and he slowly continued on down the main road - leaving me to slowly drive squinting through the tears of guilt trying to calm myself down so I could walk into Pilates in a somewhat respectable state.

I made it in.
I put my big yellow sports bag into the change-room locker and quickly scanned through my emails before class started. I recently sold my new Nike runners on Ebay (for a 'steal might I add - I brought them for $180, wore them once and found they were too big so ended up selling them on Ebay for $95 including the $17 interstate postage), to a buyer who wanted a refund as they were too small. In asking whether she had sent my shoes back so I could sell them to another buyer - she had sold them and kept my refunded money.

Great  start to the day. It was only 6am.

I walked out of the change rooms to get to my class and was pushed over by another girl who didn't say sorry, or even acknowledge that it happened!
Argh - do I scream, do I let the water works start up, do I crawl back into bed and claim that I was sick or my car broke down??!!

I revved myself up to do the - let me say tough and uncomfortable leg session on the reformer. A few emotions were put back in their box as I forcefully worked my muscles and tried to focus on my breathing.

After class I had to get a blood test done before work - so 'Yay' for such an awesome morning!

One more - I was told I had to start  work an hour earlier (no extra pay for all those 'over-time workers' unfortunately) to cover someone who is not coming in tomorrow. I'll have to wake up at  5am.

Anyway - I thought I'd take a moment to take a breathe, think about all of the GOOD, no - GREAT things that  are around me and ahead of me and break those negative thoughts down in their tracks.

We've all been here before, where 'one of those days' thought processes starts to take over your energy levels, motivation, inspiration and passion for life. It's all very easy to fall inot that trap of wanting to just give up.

You know what? Surely after a run of 'negative' things to happen, that just leaves a doorway for a hell of a LOT of positive thing to walk into your life.
A few sayings and quotes come to my mind in this type of situation - which I thank my precious Dad for; 'After a long hill, there is ALWAYS the easy ride down the other side' and 'Good things come to those who wait'. They sound like just a bunch of words that some 'philosopher' thought up while sitting at his desk looking out on the green pastures of their 'fields of gold'.

Before you dismiss them - take a moment to reflect on them. How have they appeared or 'worked' in your life in the past? List them.
Now - transfer those experiences and thought processes the next time you have 'one of those days' and see how diffrent or how quickly you can turn your thought process around.

Good luck!