Happiness Wednesday: Positive Thinking

(image: via)

Hello everyone,


Happy Wednesday! I must confess that this week it has been a struggle to think positively however I would like to spread some happiness and feel happy too!


So....


Positive thinking is vital for a healthy mind and soul. Visualise a time when you were at your most happiest and carry it with you all day, keep referring back to that image. Let it fill you with joy and know that you can create your future and you have the power to change your life, and become joyful again.


Divert your mind with happy thoughts! You could make a happiness mantra ' e.g. happiness, peace, joy' that you say to yourself every morning, write out in your journal or just think when things are going wrong.


Listen to calming music- I recommend India Arie. Her lyrics and melodies are inspiring and heart warming.


If you find yourself thinking a negative thought, replace it with a positive thought. Why waste time on the negative when you could be focusing on your blessings?


Positive thinking can be a struggle, but you can change your mindset. That doesn't mean thinking sad and negative thoughts is wrong, but if you find yourself thinking them too much, switch to thoughts of happiness and peace. Your heart will thank you for it.


Have a happy Wednesday- remember, calming music, happiness mantra, visualisation and happy thoughts. Write out your thoughts in a journal and challenge them on paper.


Love


El xxxx  

Todays photo inspiration.

This old school picture of Marilyn. I love her make up.


x


(image: via)

Happiness Wednesday: Overcoming Fears.

Dear friends,

(image: blog)


Today is Happiness Wednesday again! The weeks are going so fast..


'I will face my fear . I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. When the fear has gone... only I will remain'- Frank Herbert  


Today is a very happy day because I have managed to overcome certain fears that had been holding me back in my life. I never believed that I could get rid of a fear that was at one point- a real phobia and making my life quite difficult. It took a while, many months and reading and following specific books and ideas (mainly using distraction of the mind) to get over this phobia. To desensitise myself and make myself stronger and happier. My friends have been a huge bed rock of support too.


And so yesterday I was able to kick the phobias butt :P and just have a happy and enjoyable day with friends, frolicking in a beautiful town called Windsor outside London where the Queen has a home! (castle), walking through trees and pathways, viewing the castle and hills and of course visiting fudge shop and my favourite place in the world- Cath Kidston!.


So i want to reach out to anyone reading this who also suffers any type of anxiety or phobia- because you can and will get there. I honestly thought my anxiety would hold me back forever but it hasnt ! I've worked on it slowly over many months to get better and I would say i'm 95 percent there. There are days when I have bad days and days when I have good days, you just have to feel it, go with it and above all... distract your mind so those thoughts and sensations don't flood in.


If you are feeling fearful- remember- you are the one in control. And if you have a good support network, you can do anything. I was taught that even if you don't have a good support network- you must rely on you.You are stronger and more capable than you could ever imagine.


I send you love and happy thoughts today.


xx

Paths and Trails.

(image: visualizeus.com)


Last night I found my folder where I keep things, pictures and cuttings that inspire me. And as I made sense of all these pictures of life, fun, laughter, pain, retro fashion, the eiffel tower, funny love notes printed in magazines.... I found a quote amongst them all printed in black and white. I hadn't seen  it for a long time and didn't remember it was there...   


It said,


'My motto is from George Eliot: Do not go where the path may lead: go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. That says it all...'


Heres to finding our path.
x 

Your Heart.

'If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders..'- anon.



(inage: Marie ALamode Blog)

Soul Love.

'Thank you Thank you Thankyou to every soul that has ever touched mine. I have realised in this life of love, lust, pain, vision, hate, dreams, confusion, colour or lack of and everything and anything we think and feel, there is so much to take from it all and so much to give. I guess thats what pushes us to make Art. In giving we are taking. I have a conversation with someone on a train and that's a song or a poem or painting. People should never get bored when we are surrounded by everything to inspire us. So I am grateful for that, so thank you world! Joss xo'-



Joss Stone from new album LP1. (my favourite singer)






(image:Gig Junkie)

East Africa Crisis... YOU can make a difference.

Dear friends,

I have often refrained from writing posts that are too serious on this blog because no one likes to read about depressing news. However, today I have decided to write about a serious crisis going on in our world, with the hope that you will read this and help make a difference.


This week, the UN declared a famine in the south of Somalia, East Africa. Millions of people, men, women, children are at risk of death. There is already acute malnutrition and livestock have died. The last declared famine was in Ethiopia in the 1980s, of which the Live Aid concerts were created to raise money to feed those at risk.


Millions across Kenya, South Sudan are also suffering from malnutrition and disease. 


Although our governments have given money in aid, it is not enough.  Here in the UK, an appeal managed to raise 15 million pounds. But, we have to help our African brothers and sisters before it is too late.


Please do the following:


Donate money to an NGO working to get food and medical supplies to the region e.g. Save The Children, UNICEF, Action Aid UK/ USA, Oxfam or Oxfam America, Action Against Hunger etc. Even a small amount of money makes a difference.


Please sign this petition, to call upon our leaders to make a change to the short term and long term elimination of poverty.


This is an avoidable tragedy. There is enough food to feed everyone in the world.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBdfKn8Ld6A&feature=player_embedded


Make that change today.


El xxxxxx


ps- please read: http://globalpovertyproject.com/blog/view/432

(image:  islamic-relief.org.uk)

Imagine.

This is my thought for the day. If it can be envisioned it can be achieved.


Happy Monday!
El xxx


(images:    1. allthatyoullsee blog via weheartit         2.blog via weheartit)

Who You Are

This song (Who You Are by Jessie J) sums up how I'm feeling at the moment. I'm experiencing a lot of fear about certain situations and I need to find the self confidence and strength to get over it. Its so difficult. But like Jessie J says here, 'its ok not to be ok'. Isn't she great? ps. I love that shes singing this on the New York subway!
Hope youve been having a good Monday 
xx

(video: youtube)

Weddings.

'And we were dressed from head to toe in love. The only label that never goes out of style'- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City.

Today I am posting about weddings because my friends are getting married today! (well they already have got married) and I was unable to make it as I'm not feeling well. *sigh* Congratulations to you both!!!


I love weddings and all they symbolise. The love element is of course the most important and to me the most beautiful, special thing in the world. To give to someone throughout your life on that level, to constantly give out of kindness for the welfare and joy of the other person, is quite simply, spell binding. Difficult, hard work but in some ways, although I may be romanticising it, if you love and you give, it can be a magical journey.


After all, if we stop believing in love what have we got left? 

xx

(images: google, flickr, weheart it)

'Trying to sleep in the tree house'

'Summer was our best season. It was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house, Summer was everything good to eat, it was a thousand colours in a parched landscape.' - from To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee 



(images: google/ weheartit.com)

A random post and WELCOME

Hello blog readers!

I just wanted to say its so amazing that you read and comment on my little corner of the blog world. It makes me smile. I also wanted to say WELCOME to my new followers and hope you enjoy reading- thanks for following. I want to know all about you too :).


So this post is going to be quite random. I had a lovely day today. I made a home-made birthday collage card for my sister who turns 21 tomorrow. And I caught up with a friend I hadn't seen in ages, with peanut butter toast and a comfy couch! Its so nice to share stories, and laugh and be silly... eat chocolate and kick your shoes off every once in a while.


At the moment I am loving:


* My sunflower shoots- they are growing so quickly with all the rain here in England that they are going to need to be replanted soon! I can't wait to see them grow into actual flowers :)


* Made in Chelsea- the English version of the Hills. It is so addictive, set in Chelsea, Central London. I love the characters especially Caggy. Does anyone else watch it?


* Discovering new novels. I have just finished reading 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer, recommended to me by Anna at 'Little Reminders of Love' and am eagerly awaiting my next read. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a beautiful book!

*Aloe Blacc's music- especially when he sings live and acoustically.    


*Scrapbooking. I have been making collages of photos I love and theming each page. This is a project that is taking a while and I'm not sure what I'll do with it next.... but it's good to express myself creatively.

Lastly, I am in awe of the work of Action Against Hunger UK. Take a look at their website here! 


Hope you are having a wonderful week. What are you doing and loving?


xx




(all images: google)

You can take life's knocks. x

"So, my little Amelie, your bones aren't made of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance go by, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So go ahead, dammit."

(the old man in 'Amelie')







(image:google)

Quote of inspiration.

'I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.'
Walt Whitman

(images: google)

I have learnt....

I have learnt.....that LOVE is the most important thing. Creating it, giving it, sharing it and of course recieving it.  I have learnt.... that sometimes when we are down, we can pick ourselves up by reading novels, sharing thoughts, growing sunflowers and living life to the full. I have learnt.... that friends and family are precious and such an important support network. I have learnt that in life whatever happens to us, we can try to dust ourselves off and start again. We are like re-energising flowers who emerge after a long winter :) (thats how I like to think of it).  


I have learnt to love the seasons, to love the small things of beauty- the pink rose in the garden, the white clouds in the sky, the smile of a little one, the fact that I am alive and I can type my thoughts and emotions...
I have learnt gratitude- such an important tool.


What have you learnt? Have a wonderful week! 
El xxx


Ps- The sunflowers are growing wonderfully, have lots of shoots coming through but as i don't have a camera at the mo, I cant put pics up! 


(image: google)