Posted by: catalystonline on: June 7, 2009
As part of my Catalyst Newsletter I offer creative exercises and share resources that will give you pleasure and stimulate your own creative process. I was recently sent a stunning compilation of various artists around the world that gave me such pleasure that I want to pass it on.
If you have ever done The ARtist’s Way by Julia Scott Cameron you will known that in this year long course of creative exploration she advocates the weekly Artist’s Date where you just spend time doing something that adds to your creative process. Well, here is a stunning no-cost and no-effort brilliant Artist’s Date that you can enjoy by visiting http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741 and enjoying a great song and great musicians
The song is that classic standard “Stand By Me” that was originally released in 1955 by The Staple Singers and covered in 1961 by the Drifters so turn up the sound and prepare to have fun.
Oh, and the creative exercise part of this is where you write about a character who is willing to do that standing by, or tell the true story of someone who has stood by you – or that you have done that for.
Let me know what it brings to mind for you, and if you want more personal development and creative news then sign up for my weekly email catalyst newsletter at www.catalystonline.co.uk
Posted by: catalystonline on: June 1, 2009
I have a lot of time for spirituality, though I do struggle with religion, and I like to visit the wisdom of as many cultures and belief systems as I can. It is enriching to see other’s points of view and I came across this from the sayings of Buddha recently which I wanted to pass on as it is very fashionable at the moment to talk about the power of manifesting, or cosmic ordering, or whatever you want to call it. The idea has been around a lot longer than the current packaging might suggest:
“The thought manifests as the word.
The word manifests as the deed.
The deed develops into habit.
And the habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care.
And let it spring from love,
born out of concern for all beings.”
BUDDHA
What are the thoughts you most often have about yourself? How are they creating your current reality? I notice when I speak to clients how often their language about themselves is negative and even derogatory and this adds even more layers to self-doubt and criticism of our creativity and our lives generally. What negative thought could you change about yourself? The one I hear most often is ‘I am not good enough’ and the question that lies at the heart of that statement is ‘good enough for who’?
Posted by: catalystonline on: May 15, 2009
When you write, do you use a computer or word processor? Most of us do, and yet when it comes to writing poetry we revert to the old fashioned pen and paper. Why? Because poetry comes from the heart and expresses the feelings beyond the rational mind – which is where we are when we write on a typewriter or computer. Edna O’Brien, the Irish novelist, is famous for saying she writes only by hand because of the connection that runs through the blood and the sinews from the heart to the pen.
You can’t miss the fact that poetry is getting a big plug at the moment – just tune in to BBC 4 and BBC 2 next week if you don’t believe me. I think it’s because poetry is what we turn to at times of stress, deep emotion and a feeling of wanting to connect at a deeper and different level. Poetry can lift your spirits, make you laugh, and heal the bruises of your heart with the salve of understanding.
We all have poems we love and remember and they form an emotional tapestry that we draw around ourselves in times of need. One of my favourite poets is Emily Dickinson, who I discovered at University, and one of her verses has stayed with me through the years – though interestingly I have often interpreted it differently. That is the thing with poetry, your understanding of it grows with your experience and the ability to lift the veil of judgement and criticism and simply accept the feeling that the poem gives you. You don’t have to understand the technicalities, you just have to feel the intent and the effect. Just to prove that reading poetry need not be an endurance test, here is a short verse of hers:
Hope by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops –
at all -
Poems can also tell stories, so I am indulging myself by including one of my own that I wrote for a friend’s birthday. We had lost touch due to a number of circumstances, and this was my gift to her that year, and not intended for publication, but it might paint a picture for you:
Friendship by AnnA
Friendship, it seems to me, is a tender plant that needs much care
And yet will continue to thrive with benign neglect and the
occasional watering phone call
We are both set in the same earth with our roots entwined for mutual support
Through soil that is often barren and rocky and yet sustains us
We lean against one another in the high winds and heavy weather that life lashes us with
Managing to produce the beautiful flowers of joy and laughter
And a shared ability to see ourselves and the other as we truly are
The thorns of misunderstanding and confusion may jab and prick
A stem is broken, and the flower falls in the resulting tears and feelings of abandonment
But we both know it will grow again as we are so very willing to nurture it
with love and patience and a real caring of each for the other.
Could this be the week you write a poem? If not, why not?
Posted by: catalystonline on: April 28, 2009
Although Gordon Brown assures us Britain is well prepared to deal with an outbreak of Swine Flu, and the US seems to be not over concerned, I am always happier to take proactive action myself and there are some simple measures we can all take. They are not guaranteed to prevent you getting it, but they will certainly help.
The symptoms are of course very similar to any other flu you might experience: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue so report to your doctor if you have these. However, what you also need to do is focus on strengthening your own immune response to prevent infection getting a hold and developing. These steps will help:
1 This time of year I usually have stopped taking Echinacea, but it is my first port of call to build up my defences and if you can get Echinacea tincture that is the most effective in my opinion. Boots produce their own and there is an excellent one made by Bioforce from helath stores. Take it daily for three weeks then a week off.
2 Next increase the amount of vitamin C you are taking, at least 1 gram a day in two 500mg doses is the most effective. Have as natural and unprocessed diet as you can, and juicing your fruit and vegetables gets you the maximum vitamins from them.
3 Your body requires oxygen for every cell to function properly because viruses can neither survive nor thrive in it. Therefore, the best defense against microbes, germs, harmful bacteria and viruses, such as the swine influenza virus, is to keep the body oxygenated and an easy way to do that is to add eggs to your diet. They are little powerhouses of nutrition, containing protein, essential amino acids, vitamins B, D, A, and riboflavin, and minerals, including calcium, potassium, and iron. Most importantly, they are also one of the few good sources of sulphur, which is essential for oxygen transport in the cells. A lack of oxygen can encourage viruses, fungus, bacteria and mould in the body as they cannot survive when good supplies of oxygen are present.
4 Are you breathing deeply enough? Shallow breathing will not bring enough oxygen into so your system, and being out in the fresh air every day is a must. Walking at a moderate pace while breathing in for a count of six, and out for a count of six, is one of the simplest ways to do this. If you find a count of six difficult, reduce it to four, or if it becomes easy increase to six or eight.
5 Limit foods and substances that stress the body such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, too much red meat and processed foods high in saturated and hydrogenated fats.
6 Finally, go back to basic hygiene and wash your hands in hot soapy water frequently and carry hand gel when you are out and use it after contact with others such as a handshake – and contact in public places with stair rails, lift buttons and so on.
It may all seem like a nonsense, but people have died from not taking this seriously. The good habits outlined here will help protect you, and if you maintain them you will have a solid barrier to prevent future infection.
For more healthy news visit my website at catalystonline.co.uk for your free email newsletter.
Posted by: catalystonline on: February 21, 2009
Two of the commonest problems that procrastinators can face are an inability to prioritise and to keep getting stuck on perfection. Let’s look at how to tackle prioritising because unless you learn to get the main thing done before the hundreds of other more interesting things claim your attention you will be stuck in that procrastinating rut and going nowhere.
I call this my ‘lifebelt’ tip because it literally can rescue from drowning in a sea of inaction and frustration. I work by the rule of three: each morning I write down on a sticky note the three things that MUST be done that day and I put it where I cannot miss it –in the middle of my computer screen.
In order to work I have to move the note, so if I want to check my emails I have a stark reminder that those are my priorities – and I get them done first before finding out whether my favourite astrology column says I should venture out of doors or what the members of the various forums I belong to are banging on about that day.
Notice, I am choosing to do those three things because I know that once they are out of the way I can do the more fun stuff; my ‘reward’ is the way I choose to look at it. These are my ABC’s and a typical day’s top three could be this:
A Contact agent about book synopsis sent off a month ago
B Write healthy newsletter
C Pay water bill
These are the ‘must-do’s’ and you will notice I have put them in order of importance. I don’t want to keep hanging on for that particular publisher if they are not interested in the book, so I want to move it on to offer to others and I need to know what the situation is.
So I make that phone call first, then move the post-it note to the side of the screen to write the newsletter, and then go online last to pay the water bill. As I am online I will probably then go on and check my emails, horoscope and the many newsgroups I belong to, but the point is I have done the prioritised list FIRST.
Remember that procrastination can ruin your health, happiness and relationships – but only if you let it. Next time let’s tackle that other problem for procrastinators – perfectionism.
AnnA is the author of ‘How To Kill Procrastination And Get On With Your Life’. She is an inspirational writer and speaker on health, personal development and creativity.
For free weekly procrastination postcards to motivate you, then visit http://www.procrastinationkiller.co.uk. For free email newsletters, creative resources and archives then visit her main website at http://www.catalystonline.co.uk
Posted by: catalystonline on: February 20, 2009
Stress is a natural part of life; it’s how you deal with it that makes the difference between health and illness, success and failure.
I have been writing and talking about health for over 20 years, and in that time I have seen so many people challenged by the stresses of their everyday lives. In today’s challenging economic climate the pressures on all of us have increased a hundred fold and learning how to deal with stress is a vital part of staying healthy, productive and happy. What I want to share with you are the many ways you can begin to tackle the effects that stress is having on your health and happiness. First let me tell you about my simple and effective 3 point plan.
1 ACKNOWLEDGE it. We often ignore stress and pretend everything is ok. We don’t want others to know that we are stressed, and in the workplace most employees would rather tell their boss they have taken the day off for a dentist’s appointment than admit they are stressed and couldn’t face going in. We don’t give stress the importance it warrants because we are afraid to face up to it. The first step is acknowledging that you are stressed, and that it is not a weakness but a genuine physical condition that is affecting your health, happiness and relationships – and your performance at work.
2 IDENTIFY the stressors. Once you have acknowledged the stress the immediate next step is to identify just what is the greatest factor that causes you stress. This is about being honest, and doing some self monitoring. Don’t judge, just observe your own physical and emotional reactions throughout the day and write them down. It’s a log that will help you see exactly what stresses you, for example if you get irritable or a headache after a meeting with your boss then that is an obvious stressor – but what exactly is it that does the damage. Does your boss have unrealistic expectations of your workload? Do they fail to acknowledge the good work you do or are they always criticising you? Knowledge is power, and you need to know where to apply it.
3 ACT on the information you now have. Understanding is the booby prize in stress management. The real prize is in your understanding and taking action. There are so many options available to you to handle your stress and taking even the smallest action will begin the process of handling and reducing it.
Just those three actions will make all the difference between being at the effect of your stress, or being in control of it.
AnnA is the author of ‘How To Handle Stress’ and is an inspirational writer and speaker on health, personal development and creativity. For more information visit http://www.sortingstressout.com and for free email newsletters,creative resources and archives then visit her main website at http://www.catalystonline.co.uk
Posted by: catalystonline on: January 8, 2009
If you have found yourself making the same resolutions every year, then please stop doing it and ask yourself how much you really want it? The answer is going to be ‘not much’ if you have repeated the same ones – they are usually very general and revolve around worthy aims like losing weight, getting more exercise, taking care of your family better ..yadda, yadda, yadda.
It’s time for a change, make a resolution that you feel passionate about – not an ought or a should, but a resounding yes! My resolution for 2009 is to be responsible for my own actions as near to a 100 per cent as I can manage. Taking responsibility is something that used to be automatic, but I see less and less of it in a culture where we are looking for someone to blame, or sue.
A spiritual teacher of mine once told me that responsibility was merely the ability to respond, and that gave me pause. When you see something you know is not right, have we lost the ability to respond appropriately or has it just been buried under a layer of the social fear that seems so much more prevalent now?
I was on a train from London recently that was crowded and when I got on there was just one seat left and a man sitting in it with his bag next to him. I smiled and asked him to move it so I could sit down; he clearly didn’t want to and rather defensively said it was too heavy for him to lift onto the rack. I could have agreed, let it go and stood all the way to Brighton, or I could take responsibility for the fact that I didn’t have to support his selfish behaviour. So, what I did was to say ‘no problem, I will put it on the rack for you’ and lifted it up off the seat and looked for a space on the rack. There wasn’t one nearby so I called to a young man who was standing further down and asked if he would put it up for me, which he happily did and I got to sit down for the next 50 minutes.
I could have blamed the man for his lack of consideration, and grumbled to myself as I stood there, but I decided to take responsibility and take action. It could have worked out differently, but that isn’t a reason not to act, it’s a reason to think it through. I wasn’t facing a knife wielding thug but a middle aged man who put his comfort and convenience above everyone else’s so my action was just my way of restoring some basic equity in the situation.
What would you have done, or where would you like to take more responsibility for your life? What most upsets and aggravates you, and who do you blame? What would it take to stop blaming and start seeing how to fix it?
Let’s have more compassion, trust and understanding and less fear, defensiveness and cynicism. Couldn’t that be a great resolution for 2009?
Posted by: catalystonline on: December 30, 2008
No matter what your good intentions, it can happen that you might have raised a glass too many to see in the New Year and are faced with the effects of a hangover. If you have then there are some natural remedies that can help, but first let me just suggest that however you feel, before you go to bed do drink a large glass of water, preferably with some vitamin C to counteract the dehydration alcohol can bring. Then in the morning, try these:
** Honey and Lemon may be something you associate with a cold, but it is a wonderful way to get plenty of liquid and the sugars that are also lost when you overindulge. Couldn’t be simpler, just squeeze a lemon into a mug, add honey and hot water then stir and sip. Please don’t substitute sugar for honey, as you need the fructose honey contains as it prevents the rapid change in alcohol levels that results in headaches. Plain sugar contains sucrose, which isn’t absorbed as quickly, so get out the honey jar and make several cups a day to help you recover.
** Rice, Soup, or Toast is what you need to give you some energy, and although you may not feel like eating you do have to give your body some fuel to start the rebuilding process. You don’t want a heavy meal, but some easy to digest foods are just what your body wants so either use an organic vegetable stock cube and make a cup of soup for yourself or if you can manage it have some plain toast, very lightly buttered and with no topping, or some plain boiled rice with just a little miso or soy sauce to flavour it. .
** Slippery elm bark was traditionally used by Native Americans as a poultice for boils, ulcers and for wounds in general. If you were caught up in the obligatory hugging and kissing at the stroke of midnight then you might have a few bruises if the hugging got too enthusiastic, but generally it’s recommended for that irritated stomach that often follows over indulgence. It has been used to treat IBS because of it’s soothing effect on tissue and will certainly help calm down an upset stomach. It can be obtained in powder or capsule form, and personally I would get the capsules as the texture of the powder when mixed with water is quite gelatinous in nature and some find it difficult to swallow.
Oh and if you also get an unbearable headache, it’s probably dehyrdration so keep up the water intake and massage a little lavender oil into your temples. Oh, and lying down in a quiet darkened room will probably help too!
For more natural health help, vist the Healthy News archives at www.catalystonline.co.uk
Posted by: catalystonline on: December 27, 2008
If you have found yourself making the same resolutions every year, then please stop doing it and ask yourself how much you really want it? The answer is going to be ‘not much’ if you have repeated the same ones – they are usually very general and revolve around worthy aims like losing weight, getting more exercise, taking care of your family better ..yadda, yadda, yadda.
It’s time for a change, make a resolution that you feel passionate about – not an ought or a should, but a resounding yes! My resolution for 2009 is to be responsible for my own actions as near to a 100 per cent as I can manage. Taking responsibility is something that used to be automatic, but I see less and less of it in a culture where we are looking for someone to blame, or sue.
A spiritual teacher of mine once told me that responsibility was merely the ability to respond, and that gave me pause. When you see something you know is not right, have we lost the ability to respond appropriately or has it just been buried under a layer of the social fear that seems so much more prevalent now? . I was on a train from London recently that was crowded and when I got on there was just one seat left and a man sitting in it with his bag next to him. I smiled and asked him to move it so I could sit down; he clearly didn’t want to and rather defensively said it was too heavy for him to lift onto the rack. I could have agreed, let it go and stood all the way to Brighton, or I could take responsibility for the fact that I didn’t have to support his selfish behaviour. So, what I did was to say ‘no problem, I will put it on the rack for you’ and lifted it up off the seat and looked for a space on the rack. There wasn’t one nearby so I called to a young man who was standing further down and asked if he would put it up for me, which he happily did and I got to sit down for the next 50 minutes. I could have blamed the man for his lack of consideration, and grumbled to myself as I stood there, but I decided to take responsibility and take action. It could have worked out differently, but that isn’t a reason not to act, it’s a reason to think it through. I wasn’t facing a knife wielding thug but a middle aged man who put his comfort and convenience above everyone else’s so my action was just my way of restoring some basic equity in the situation.
What would you have done, or where would you like to take more responsibility for your life? What most upsets and aggravates you, and who do you blame? What would it take to stop blaming and start seeing how to fix it? Couldn’t that be a great resolution for 2009?
Also I received an interesting email from Angela, a regular correspondent, who was commenting on something I had written about families and who added her own thoughts about what now seems to be missing from life, and I quote part of what she wrote to me:
“I also feel that trust has disappeared from life too. So many people don’t trust anymore – tense and worried, they find it difficult to relax and be themselves. There is also a lot of fear, suspicion and cynicism about. Perhaps because life is so competitive now that the only way to reach the top of your game is to seize every opportunity through strength and to be totally single minded which leaves little room for compassion, trust and understanding.”
That sounds like a very good resolution for 2009; let’s have more compassion, trust and understanding and less fear, defensiveness and cynicism
Posted by: catalystonline on: December 21, 2008
I like to think of this as my ’Christmas Survival Guide’ and like my ‘Natural First Aid Kit’ it can be a real blessing at this time of year. So whatever ails you, I hope this helps.
With the best will in the world it is easy to overstretch and overstress yourself over the holiday period. Lots of intense activity, probably more food and drink than usual – and richer probably than your everyday diet – can all combine to put you out of sorts. Instead of the medicine cabinet, try these natural remedies to help prevent, and alleviate, those Christmas blues. It can be your seasonal ‘first aid’ kit so make sure you keep it handy.
1 Shock and bruising
Arnica is a wonderful homoeopathic remedy for shock – and you often get quite a few of those in the heat of family exchanges or unwrapping the world’s most unsuitable present. Taken as a couple of tablets under the tongue it will help you recover, and in its cream salve form it works wonders on bruises. In all that rushing about you can get bumped more than usual as your mind is distracted with all those lists and trying to remember if cousin George is still vegetarian or if that was just a short-term effect brought on by last girlfriend. Rub the cream onto the bruise – but only if the skin is unbroken – and it’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties will not only bring you relief from the pain but bring the bruising out faster so it passes quicker. As Arnica also helps restore emotional balance – which can seesaw rather violently at this time of year – it is always an excellent remedy to have on hand during the festive season
2 Healing cuts, scrapes, grazes
Under stress our nerves can show in many ways and one of the most popular seems to be picking or biting at cuticles until they bleed, or you might just not be looking carefully enough as you slice the turkey or fight your way through the crowds to get to the last ‘most popular toy of the year’ in the store. Calendula is a herb that has been used for centuries in folk medicine whenever cuts or sores need healing. It contains triterpenes which encourage new cell growth, as well as being antiseptic, and Nelson’s make a Hypercal cream which contains calendula and hypericum which can ease the pain of the wound and Boots the Chemist also make their own version. Make sure wound is clean first by bathing with warm water into which a few drops of tea tree oil have been added as this too is antiseptic and will help clear any infection.
3 Burns
As I am incapable of wresting a roast from the oven, or ironing anything at all, without burning myself somewhere I have amassed several useful remedies. My first option is another homoeopathic remedy from Nelsons, this time specifically for burns, and the second is lavender oil. Apply either immediately to the skin and you will soon feel the heat receding, use the oil neat and reapply as needed. Though if the burn is around food you might want to use the Nelson’s cream instead as lavender oil is rather pungent. If you have an aloe vera plant in the house, then that too is an excellent remedy to treat burns and scars. Just remove a leaf, cut across the tip and squeeze out the gel onto your skin. Aloe vera is one of the remedies used treat radiation burns after Hiroshima and it is very effective at quickly reducing heat and keeping the skin supple and moisturised. .
4 Stomach upsets
Well first of all prevention is better than cure, so make a Christmas resolution to be kind to your liver and don’t overload it with too much food and drink – particularly rich foods and things you are not used to having regularly. Avoid things that can irritate or upset the stomach, so cut down on coffee and acid foods and try these natural remedies instead.
** peppermint tea as it soothes the stomach and aids digestion.
** ginger helps with nausea so drink ginger ale or steep ginger slices in a cup with honey and add hot water or eat some candied ginger.
** bananas soothe the stomach and counteract the acids that can cause an upset stomach. They are also easily digested and can help ease diarrhea.
** nux vom is a homoeopathic remedy that is excellent for when you have over-indulged in too much, or too rich, foods. Two tablets of 6 x potency under the tongue and repeated hourly will soon help you overcome any nauseous feelings.
5 Headaches
Lavender oil can be helpful here, just put a couple of dabs either side of your temples, just above your eyebrows and gently massage it in with a circular motion. Do not get the oil anywhere near your eyes. If the headache is very severe you can try a mixture of peppermint oil with lavender and clove in equal parts and inhale this regularly to clear your head If your head is aching then an ice pack might help, so put some crushed iced in a plastic bag, wrap it in a dry towel, and use it as a compress. Ice all been used in the drinks? No problem, just run the cold tap and soak a facecloth then wring it out, lie down and place on your forehead. Close your eyes until you feel better.
6 Emotional overload
If you find yourself weeping into the Brussel sprouts –and who wouldn’t – then keep a bottle of Rescue Remedy to hand. Just a few drops on the tongue of this mixture of floral and herb extracts helps restore emotional balance, reduces shock, calms the nerves and is my first port of call for anyone who is suffering from anxiety and stress. Lavender oil is another fast lifter of the spirit, just open the bottle and inhale, or dab a couple of drops on your wrist and keep sniffing to keep yourself calm and on an even keel –works with virtually everything but no guarantees for insufferable in laws or being left with all the washing up.
AnnA is an author and speaker on health, personal development and creativity. More information and downloads at www.catalystonline.co.uk
