Quote of the day
“You, a person with a vision, are like a pebble in a stream, moving ever outward to infinity, impacting all who come into contact with that ripple.” — Dr Wayne W. Dyer.
Mirror, mirror on the wall…
Did you know that every person you encounter acts as a mirror to you? With this in mind, you may begin to think quite differently about the people in front of you. What are they reflecting back?
As mirrors, those people you may find irritating, challenging and frustrating are actually reflecting back to you the very things about yourself which you want to improve, change and grow. Similarly, those things you admire and respect in others are certainly aspects of you as well – so it’s not all bad! Even events and situations highlight what you are currently learning. Although these observations may not necessarily be true of these people and situations, if it is your perception, then it is true to you and your learning.
Let’s take an example. Let’s say you are finding your boss overly critical and setting unrealistic expectations and deadlines. This reflection indicates that you may be exhibiting these traits within your own life. Where are you being overly critical of yourself or setting unrealistic expectations and demands on yourself and your life? Or maybe you admire your best friend’s warmth, nurturing manner and strength. Be sure that these are traits you exhibit too - so look for where you offer these aspects in your life.
After all, every person is put in front of us as a teacher – there is always something to learn in every situation, to help you grow and advance along your path. Although not everyone you meet will be a soul mate, you can be sure your soul mates will mirror a great deal back to you. Regardless of whether someone is a soul mate or not, they will still act as a mirror and their reflections can be extremely insightful and revealing.
Try this approach as a tool to identify what you are currently learning. Make a list of the people (whether a permanent person in your life or someone you pass in the street who strikes a response in you) and list the things you admire about them, as well as what may challenge you. Then try applying these observations in the broader aspect of your life. You may just be surprised at what you learn!
This post also featured on Miranda Kerr’s Kora Organics blog.
How to… quickly clear energy in the workplace
After a blissful long weekend, arriving back in the office today may blow your holiday calm. Often your reaction to being at work really is a choice, but each workplace (as well as homes, bedrooms and just about any other location for that matter) has its own energy — and it may be contributing to your unrest. So, it makes sense to clear the energy of your workplace so it matches your own clear, calm energy.
Here are a couple of quick fixes to clear the energy of your work environment which won’t have your work colleagues wondering what you’re up to.
- Salt water. Ever been to the beach and had that ‘ahhh’ feeling wash over you? Salt water is incredibly grounding and will help clear away negativity and worry. To replicate this, try filling a coffee mug with salt water and leave it at your desk or workspace. It will have the same balancing effect as the ocean – although on a much smaller scale! So, the bigger the water container, the better. Using such a small volume will mean you will need to frequently refresh the salt water.
- Fresh flowers or potted plants. Similar to the ocean, the great outdoors naturally cleanses and recharges your energy. Enjoying a bunch of your favourite flowers will not only help brighten your day, but they will also help balance your energy and clear away unwanted energy. The effect is even better if you can get a potted plant in your office space. Or better still, get outdoors as often as possible during the work day.
- Music. Even if you can’t choose the music for all your colleagues, listening to your iPod can help improve not only your mood, but help shift stagnant energy from your workplace.
Although there are other methods, these quick solutions are great for a busy workplace.
Quote of the day
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Inspired by… Phoebe Miller, Simply Phoebe
Who are you? Phoebe Miller, 30, Melbourne, Designer & Maker: Simply Phoebe.
Describe yourself in 5 words: Creative, entertaining, resourceful, generous, dreamer.
What is your passion/what do you do? I’m passionate about fashion, craft, style and design. I currently make a range of fabric neckpieces under my label Simply Phoebe.
When did you develop this passion/choose to follow your passion? Looking back, I’ve always had an interest in fashion and design and a passion. However for some reason I never considered it as a career path or explored it very deeply. I think when you do ok at school, you automatically feel steered toward academic rather than creative pursuits and, unless you are one of those amazing 17 year olds with clear passion and vision, it’s much easier to follow the path you think others expect you to.
It wasn’t until I was well out of school, had completed a business degree and was working in PR that the passion really started to stir. I was working for a not-for-profit organisation that ran op shops and we were holding a fashion show. I didn’t have a lot to do with it except helping promote it, but I remember this is when something sparked inside me that made me realise maybe I wasn’t heading in the right direction. However I persevered for a few years in the world of PR and marketing. The whole time it never felt quite right, and eventually I enrolled in a part time fashion design course. By this time I knew I wanted to do something in this world, but the niggling self doubt and feelings of insecurity meant it took me a while to make any further steps. However, after a lot of soul searching and a lot of encouragement from people around me, about two years ago I realised I needed to listen to my gut and go for it. I’m still working in PR part time, but now I have a lovely balance where I also get to indulge my creative passions.
What inspires you? On a personal level: people with conviction in what they do. From a design point of view: texture, structure, clean lines, classic shapes, colour, and multifunctional design.
Best advice you received on following your passion? It’s good for the soul. My Mum once said this to me about another creative pursuit when I was at school, but it really resonated with me. The other one is “Do what you love”. It seems so simple and obvious, but it can be so hard to follow!
Where can people find you? www.simplyphoebe.com.au
How to… interpret dreams
Dream interpretation provides great insight into what lessons you’re currently learning. Your dreams reveal a great deal about your current situation and also help you heal, release and forgive. Interpreting dreams needn’t be too difficult a task and you needn’t be a dream expert to do it. Here’s a simple, three-step approach to dream interpretation:
Step 1: Review.
Write down whatever you can remember about your dream, even if it is only a glimmer. You’re likely to remember more as you begin to write it down. With practice, you’ll be able to write down the plot or story line of your dream, but don’t be too worried if to begin with you can only remember a feeling or emotion. This is still useful in identifying what you’re currently processing in your life.
Step 2: Symbolism. Now write down each symbol from the dream and beside it write down what that symbol means to you. Use your intuition to determine what they mean to you. If you get stuck, simply look up a dream dictionary (you can purchase one cheaply from most bookstores, or simply search the internet). With time, you’ll develop your own dream dictionary. Also note any people in your dream as they too are symbols – write down what they represent to you.
Step 3: Interpret. Now rewrite the plot of the dream using the meaning of the symbols instead of the symbols themselves. In doing so, you’ll have reworked your dream to reveal its true meaning for you.
Quote of the day
“The spirit of love arranges all meetings in divine order for the highest good of all concerned.” — Alan Cohen.
