Enjoy the Good Life

‘When you’re happy like a fool, let it take you over
When everything is out you gotta take it in
Oh, this has gotta be the good life’
– One Republic, Good Life –

As I sit here typing an email to confirm the details for the bank account that my partner and I are opening for our new conscious clothing company, Katkin, I’m listening to Good Life by One Republic. And its a very simple message that I want to share with you today and that is about appreciating the good life.

 

Life is always going to throw us curve balls. People are sometimes going to act out of turn and blindside you. People might get sick. You may have disappointments or things that make you confused or sad. However, with every down there is an up. Without the sour we can’t enjoy the sweet. And this is the magical and varied tapestry of the thing we call life. And no matter what happens, essentially we are here to enjoy the ride and the journey.

So, whatever goes on in your life. Feel it, experience it, observe it, and ultimately aim to enjoy it and make the most of it, because this is the opportunity that we have in every moment that we are alive in these beautiful bodies living upon this exquisite planet.

So, this blog post is dedicated to enjoying the good life. And whenever life is giving you lemons, you always have the opportunity to turn them into lemonade. It just takes a little sugar and water. 🙂

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light,

Kat x x x

Image gratitude – http://miriamskalli.de/Enjoy-the-good-life

For more inspiration read my other blog posts

Enjoy the Ride

Enjoy the Ride (Part 2)

 

 

Be there for you

“Yeah she’s got light in her face, she don’t need no rescuing she’s okay.
Yeah, she’s got life in her veins, she don’t need no rescuing she’s okay
No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she’s fine out there.”

– Yuna, Rescue –

Today has been super awesome so far. I really do feel as though I have light in my face and life in my veins. And the highlight at this point? The most wonderful Restorative Hatha Yoga class today with my lovely teacher Kylie, who has the voice of an angel and blesses us with her beautiful singing voice throughout the class. Followed by a very delicious swim in the sea. Yum!

We set a strong intention to let go of something in class today, and for me, it was the negative stories that don’t serve me. And we also set the intention to let more of something into our lives? For me, this was more joy and more self-love. And I am really, really feeling that right now as I type, and it is being infused in the words that I type.

And as I jumped into the shower after my mini adventure in the sea, I listened to this incredibly uplifting and inspiring song by Yuna. And the words really did resonate with me. I don’t need rescuing anymore by anyone. I’m all good. And in fact, I’m all there. I’m there for myself 100%. I don’t need anyone outside of me to love me or care for me or support me, I can provide that for myself. Fulfilling all of my needs 100%. Creating an opportunity for everyone else in my life to be their own awesome selves, 100%. It’s all good.

 

And as she sings in the song,

‘That girl is you yeah and that girl is me, that girl is stronger than the raging sea.’

 

Here’s to having light in our faces and life in our veins.

Sending you all love, hugs & light,

Kat x x x

Stop being responsible

‘I want to stop being responsible in order to be happy.’

– Abraham Hicks, channelled by Esther Hicks –

When talking with a very good friend of mine yesterday about why some slightly tricky things are happening in my life related to people who I love, she gave me a very interesting piece of advice. That piece of advice was ‘Stop being responsible Kat’.

This was a curious observation and reflection for me and illuminated something that had clearly become a blind spot. And despite the fact that I wrote a blog post to this effect just a couple of days ago, I had obviously understood the concept intellectually, but the Universe was now giving me an opportunity to actually embody this and properly experience the advice I was giving, for myself.

Another beautiful friend of mine then sent me a link to an Abraham video about being positive after a relationship breakdown, which was very helpful, and the link that I clicked on after that was this fantastic teaching about the importance of stopping being responsible.

I’m not even going to say any more on the subject, because Abraham says it all.

Enjoy. 🙂

Love, hugs and light to you all,

Kat x x x

Advice on life

It seems as though most of my posts recently have been starting, ‘I just watched this awesome video and wanted to share it with you’, so I will continue on that theme today.

I have just watched a fantastic Graduation Speech by the very wonderful and funny comedic, musical genius that is Mr Tim Minchin that he gave recently at the University of Western Australia.

He gives advice to the graduates on life and outlines 8 suggestions throughout his speech:

1. You don’t have to have a dream
2. Don’t seek happiness
3. It’s all luck
4. Exercise
5. Be hard on your opinions
6. Be a teacher
7. Define yourself by what you love
8. Respect people with less power than you
9. Don’t rush

In isolation, they don’t make a whole heap of sense, but in the context of his speech they are poetic, philosophical and really very profound. So if you have a spare 11 minutes today, I can highly recommend indulging them in watching the clip.

This aside I have been having some pretty interesting thoughts and feelings on life myself recently. I have dedicated the last 18 months to starting and running my own business, and despite the fact I have put my heart and soul into making it successful and everything I could wish it to be, things have not been moving in the direction I thought they might.

I’ve struggled to find people who need the services that I offer (conscious brand consulting) and even when I’ve found people who love me and what I do, they haven’t been able to pay me for my services. As such, I have come to the conclusion recently that either there is something that I’m not doing, that I should be doing, or that perhaps it’s just not meant to be.

I still don’t have the absolute and final answer, but I’m pretty close to giving up and admitting defeat. Which is OK.

Either way, I guess the learning that I have is, sometimes you just need to let go. Sometimes you need to stop pushing. Sometimes things don’t work out as you’d hope. Sometimes you need to stop doing what you’re doing. Sometimes you need to allow something to fall away, so that you can create space for something else equally (if not more) wonderful to fill its place.

I have no idea how things will roll with Thought Cloud. All I do know is that I’ve come to terms with the fact that it might be time to allow the final curtain to fall and get ready for the next Act to start. Who knows? I’m just going to allow the Universe to do its work and guide me and be open to whoever and whatever shows up in my life to help me out.

Be fearless. Be trusting. Be resilient. Be open. And allow the Universe to take care of you. It knows more about what is right for you in every moment that you can possibly imagine.

Sending you lots of love,

Kat x x x

Image gratitude – http://allwomenstalk.com/8-pieces-of-expert-advice-about-life

Smile more

 

“I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish.”

– Mother Teresa –

I came across this delightful TED talk entitled ‘The Hidden Power of Smiling‘ by a very sweet guy called Ron Gutman and I wanted to share it with you. It also follows on quite nicely from the post that I wrote yesterday ‘Lighten Up.’

In his talk, Ron emphasises the importance of smiling more.

He also highlights a stack of research that provides evidence that smiling can have a really positive effect on your life. Not only can one smile create the same amount of positive brain stimulation that 2000 bars of chocolate could create, but smiling is as stimulating as receiving 1600 pounds Sterling in cash.

Smiling also makes you healthier by reducing levels of stress enhancing hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine, and also increases mood enhancing hormones such as endorphins, which in turn help to reduce blood pressure.

Smiling also makes you look good in the eyes of others, as when we smile people perceive us to be more confident and competent.

He also talks about how we’re smiling when we’re born, we smile when we’re little and we’re smiling even when we’re in the womb.

Children can smile up to 400 times a day, whereas only a third of adults smile more than 20 times a day.

And he also highlights a study that was done on images of people (smiling and not smiling) and how they indicate how long you’re going to live. According to the study, the span of your smile can predict the span of your life.

So, want to feel happier, healthier and live a longer life? Smile more.

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light,

Kat x x x

Inspiration for this post

Ron Gutman’s TED talk ‘The Hidden Power of Smiling’

Image reference – http://pinterest.com/pin/501236633497986116/

Music makes you feel happy you’re alive

“If music be the food of love, play on.”

– William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night –

In my humble opinion, Matt Corby is a living legend. He is also the closest thing I have ever heard the legendary Mr Jeff Buckley, who immortalised Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah with his own very special version.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Matt by a very good friend of mine (Mr Ben Levy) one day when we were driving together. He was giving me a lift to a place where I would be cat sitting in Manly for a friend of theirs for a week or so over the Christmas period (Dec 2011). We were listening to Triple J (an awesome alternative radio station in Australia) and just as we pulled up to the house, Matt Corby’s ‘Brother’ came on. He told me that I needed to listen to him, so we sat in the stationary, parked car and listened to the entire song all the way through. I was blown away, and that was the day that I fell in love with his voice and his music. Captivating, mesmerizing and very beautiful.

I then started to read up a little about him and realised that he had taken the number 3 spot (behind Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know at 1 and The Black Key’s ‘Lonely Boy’ at 2) of Triple J’s hottest 100 in 2011 for Brother. Later in 2012 I went to see him play at the Metro in Sydney with Ben’s girlfriend’s sister, Sabrina. We had a blast and both drooled over him and his music all night. A month or so later I was lucky enough to score tickets to see him play at Cockatoo Island in Sydney and took another girlfriend. It was an electric night and his music electrified the island. Truly fantastic.

Which brings me to now. Darren and I went to see him at the iconic and eponymous Enmore Theatre on Friday night and he kicked ass. His voice sounded as stunning as usual, at times so smooth it could melt butter and others so raw you could feel the emotion that was in him when he wrote the song.

His music is (in my humble opinion) a blend of Jeff Buckley’s voice, with the earthy rawness of Mumford & Sons and I just stumbled across a recording of the last song that he played (My False) to demonstrate, just how brilliant he is live. The entire venue lit up when he played this, and it was just the most perfect way to end his set.

He recently spent a while in the UK with Mumford & Sons, and he is also signed to Ben Lovett’s record label, Communion, so you can see that there is a definite influence from them in this song.

Today’s post is about how music can make you feel happy you’re alive, and Matt’s music makes me feel happy that I am alive to listen to it and witness it live. Is there music that makes you feel like that in your life? If so, fill it with more of it!

Inspiration for this post

Matt Corby live at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney – My False

Matt Corby – Brother

Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah

Don’t be a fainting goat

“Don’t let yourself be paralyzed by fear, which prevents so many people from living out their dreams.”

– Mark Fisher –

According to Wikipedia, “a myotonic goat, otherwise known as the fainting goat, is a domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat feels panic. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side.”

There are things that happen in life that startle us, scare or frighten us, but rather than freezing, being scared or feeling debilitated by fear, we can choose a different reaction if we so wish.

And even though it’s pretty funny to watch these goats fall over every time they get frightened or excited, I’d much rather be a regular goat. One that deals with life as it happens, and goes with the flow.

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light, Kat x x x

Inspiration for this post

Fainting Goats – You Tube Clip

Love makes us human

“To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human.”

– Morpheus, The Matrix –

Darren and I watched one of the most fantastic films I have seen in a very long time last night, Warm Bodies.

Not only is it a brilliant zomromcom (Zombie Romantic Comedy a la Shaun of the Dead), but it is also an incredible metaphor for how unconscious we can become with how we live our lives.

After suffering burnout and severe depression several years ago, I know what it’s like to feel like a zombie. Dead on the inside and out. You feel numb, empty, purposeless. And there are so many of us just shuffling about our lives, from day-to-day, numbing the pain or suffering, of the fact that we’re not really that happy with our situation with pharmaceuticals, drugs, alcohol or even just indifference. Pretending that everything is OK, when actually it isn’t.

Comfortably numb.

But there is a way out. There is a solution. And it’s very simple.

Love.

Love is the answer. Love is the key. Love is the cure to the emptiness.

And it starts with loving yourself. When you love yourself, and decide that you care enough about yourself, your life and your future, you’re in a really good position to start to make a change.

And when you start to love yourself more, you are able to find love in others and life in general.

And it begins with the simple things. If you’re unhappy with something in your life at the moment, or someone or something is causing you discomfort, do something about it. Make a change. Have a conversation, be honest. And even more importantly, get clear on what you do want.

So for anyone out there who is having a bit of a rubbish time at the moment, or perhaps even just simply wants to tweak a few things in their life, here are some simple steps to get you moving:

6 simple steps to get you moving

1. Decide where you wish to be and what you wish to be doing in the next 3 years and write it down.

2. Decide how much money you wish to be earning and what you’re going to do to earn it.

3. Share this with at least one person in your family or someone who is close to you, and one other person who will be selling your services to, or who can help you move into the job or profession that you desire.

4. Start to take the necessary action (even if it’s something small), every day, to make this dream a reality. You need to show the Universe that you are committed to making this change.

5. Believe that this change is possible.

6. Trust that the Universe will bring you whatever and whoever you need to achieve this wish.

7. Receive everything and everyone that comes into your life and know that the Universe has brought them to you to help you achieve your wish.

Most importantly, ensure that these are things that you wish for and desire, things that you would love to have in your life and look forward to what will start to come your way. Embrace the positive change you are creating in your life.

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light,

Kat x x x

Inspiration for this post

Warm Bodies – You Tube trailer

Forgive and forget

“So don’t you worry
You will be my resolution
Characters of no illusion
You will be my resolution”

– Matt Corby –

For a long time in my life, I was always happy to forgive, but not forget. Little did I know how detrimental that would be to my happiness.

It’s taken me a while to work it out, but the sooner you can truly, holistically and unconditionally forgive and forget anyone or anything that you feel or believe did you wrong in the past, the sooner you can free yourself from carrying that anger or resentment around with you and live a happier life.

Because, when we forgive others, we forgive ourself, as we are all one and mirrors of one another.

And when we forget, we release ourselves from our past and free ourselves up to be able to live in the present moment.

So, who do you need to forgive and what events in your past do you need to forget in order to allow yourself to be more present? Is it as simple as just deciding in this very moment, right now, today that you’re finally going to let go of something that you have been carrying around for far too long? Is there a phone call you can make? Is there an email, letter or Facebook message you can write to help in letting go? Is there someone who you perhaps need to apologise to?

Be kind to yourself, forgive and forget and free yourself from the past, so you can enjoy the present and live in the now.

Sending you lots of love, hugs and light,

Kat x x x

Inspiration for this post

Matt Corby’s brand new song – Resolution (You Tube video)

All you need is love

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.”

– Lucille Ball –

I’ve been feeling a lot of love today, so I’m just wanting to share it through my blog.

And there’s no better way to spread it than through song and some of the most fantastic lyrics, written and performed by my favourite band in the entire world.

Here are the best bits from the song:

“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy

Nothing you can make that can’t be made
No one you can save that can’t be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It’s easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Nothing you can know that isn’t known
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be
It’s easy”

And most importantly, all you need is love for yourself.

If you make time for yourself, are kind to your self, are loving to yourself, take care of yourself, fill your body with good, healthy food, fill your mind with good, healthy, happy thoughts, you will find that not only will you be emitting love, but attracting love like a magnetic into your heart and into your life. It really is that easy.

Love, hugs and light as always x x x

Inspiration for this post

The Beatles – All You Need Is Love