How To Get Out Of a Funk INSTANTLY!

June 12, 2010 by Tia · 19 Comments
Filed under: Fun, Inspired Action, Intention, Law of Attraction, happiness, love 

I spend a lot of time “hanging out” at the Good Vibe University, my fave Law of Attraction & Conscious Creation resource, where a fellow GVUer just started the coolest thread ever.

It’s such a happy, joy inducing thread that I got inspired to start one here.

Behold, the secret weapon! A quick, fast, easy, simple and super fun way to get out of a funk / make a bad day turn awesome:

Take a trip down memory lane.

(Thank you Robert!)

I’ll start us off with a list of some of my favourite memories, feel free to use them as a feel-good tool anytime you want but even better, add yours to the list after you’re done reading!

  • Lying on the lawn with my mom, dad and brother after dinner, counting stars and pointing out constellations – I always looked for the Big Dipper and North Star
  • My favourite Uncle surprising us with visits on his military breaks. Oh HOW my brother and I would squeal and scream and jump all over him when we came home from school and found out he was there!
  • Hiding behind curtains watching my parents dance at parties
  • Playing Monopoly surrounded by a ton of 5 star Cadbury chocolates that my Uncle would bring us. There was never a game of Monopoly played with more enthusiasm or more chocolates (I only have 4 fillings, thank you very much!)
  • Spending 2 months every summer with my cousins at Grandpa’s home in the paternal village
  • Dad flying past said house in ‘his’ helicopter, hovering above to drop off chocolates and goodies that would float down in little kerchief sized parachutes which we’d run about catching
  • Always screaming “PAPA! PAPA!” EVERY time my brother & I saw a helicopter .. LOL!!
  • Riding in a rickshaw to go see an Indian movie titled “I am a Disco Dancer” and er… disco dancing like him :D
  • Hosting my 1st (and probably last) “Midnight Feast” brought on by too many Enid Blyton books (age 11)
  • Playing dress ups

  • Sleepovers with my best friends, 4 of us piled up on top of each other talking through the night about crushes & first loves
  • My first Jam Session (co-ed dance evening) at the DSOI (Defence Services Officers Club)
  • Waking up the day (or was it midnight?) of my 20th birthday to find a bucket FULL of roses waiting outside my front door from my boyfriend at the time
    • Creating a story out of thin air that had my friend Mandira totally fooled for a WEEK and the 4 of us laughing as we finally told her the truth
    • Christmas eve at my friend Nina’s in the 90’s where I’d put up decorations and be rewarded by her mum’s yummiest, most-amazing-Fudge-in-the-world
    • That one time at my Uncle’s playing Pictionary where he tried to cheat but collapsed with laughter instead and his daughter caught on – so many laughs & giggles that night :)
    • Singing very loudly in cars with my best friends, totally off key and having the best time :)
    • The time Amanda, Sally and I sang “Drops of Jupiter” and waited for the “even when you’re wrong” part so we could yell loudly at each other!
    • Winning a hula hoop competition at Amanda’s Slip n Slide party, the 1st time I ever hula hooped (age 27)
    • Amanda’s Parties!! The BEST parties ever, ever, ever that made my 2 years in the US so fun!

    • Swing dancing with my friend Matt who was the bestest, awesomest swing dancer and effortlessly swung me around
    • Oh also my friend Rob, that time he dipped me on the floor and said I won’t drop you. And he didn’t.
    • So many Hotlanta nights of dancing till 3am, going home exhausted, tired and happy
    • Camping at Tugaloo with my Atlanta friends and late night swims in the lake ;)
    • St Patrick’s day 2002 in Savannah, Georgia. 200 of us took 4 buses out from Atlanta to Savannah and by the time we got there at noon, we were all in a state of Irish inebriation. Good times!
    • My birthday in 2001 when my friends hosted a wonderful party for me and made me wear a crown that slipped & cut my nose
    • Watching Kenny Rogers at Chastain Park, Atlanta with my friend John and crying tears of happiness cos Kenny reminded me of my dad who I missed and was the source of my love of country music
    • Finding out my New Zealand work visa had been granted and I was on my way to Queenstown, NZ

    • Realising that a guy I was crazy about liked me back and was about to ask me out – oh that moment is etched forever
    • Walking up Queenstown Hill with my ex and him singing the silliest song ever that went like “Rin tin tin tin tin HEY!” over and over and over again with accompanying dance movements, till I was laughing so hard I was in tears
    • Getting a red rose every month on the anniversary of our 1st date from the same ex :)
    • In Feb this year, waking up at 6am to go see Arnold Scharznegger light the Olympic flame and getting out of breath from running around from spot to spot and STILL missing him totally
    • Weaving through hundreds of people with my friend Jakob to get pictures of the Olympic Flame
    • The Olympic nights on Granville Street, the euphoria and excitement in the air
    • Watching Canada win Olympic Hockey Gold at the Cambie, woohoo!
    • Getting laid off from my “last job ever” in Vancouver  in 2008 and realising that this was the start of a fantastic new future, smiling and telling the firing manager that as she was fighting off tears
    • Discovering coaching and the exciting world of Entrepreneurship, the moment I knew that I would never again work for the Establishment

    Wow, wow, wow I could go on all day. Going through my memories made me aware of just how great a life I’ve had and continue to have, full of many amazing times, friends, events.

    The next time you feel like the world is out to get you or the sky is going to fall on your head and everything just sucks, try this.

    Start writing down a list of your favourite memories.  I’ll just bet you won’t be able to stop once you get started. Total, INSTANT Vibe Shifter! I’m only stopping so you don’t get tired of reading, ha!

    Ok, over to you now – what are some of your favourite memories?

    Share them here and add to the good vibes spilling all over this post :D

    I can’t WAIT to hear from you!!


    Tags: , , , ,

    Mac vs PC – A Social Media Revelation.

    May 26, 2010 by Tia · 17 Comments
    Filed under: Business, Inspired Action, Intention, Marketing & Branding, happiness, love 

    I bought my first ever laptop, an HP, 2 years ago.

    Back then, I considered an Apple Macbook briefly but then thought the better of it cos it seemed an awfully over-priced, cute but scary contraption to me.

    Twice the amount of $$ for something that does “pretty much the same thing” as a-half-the-price PC?

    No thanks, suckers!

    And then, 2 days ago, my HP died. I’d never gotten a virus or had any trouble (apart from the stuff that started when I dropped it!) so was planning to get another one when I decided to throw out this question on Facebook:

    Which would you choose –  a Mac or a PC?

    If you’re a Mac user, why are you so crazy about it?


    Within minutes I had a few responses, within a couple of hours, about 40 comments with conversations going back and forth (with 1 or 2 advocating a PC). I did the same on twitter and got over 30 well thought out responses in favour of Macs.

    Now, I’ve just finished reading Tara Hunt’s “The Whuffie Factor” in which she talks about how Apple has built not just a company, but a tribe of dedicated, loyal, near fanatical Mac users.

    Don’t worry, I’m not about to start preaching the tech / usability aspects of MacBooks here (I’ll save you that spiel).

    Instead, I really want to highlight the experience that I had and what I got from it, so we can see the power of a unique offering & strategy in creating a strong community & business success.

    It was a great lesson in seeing first hand the level of engagement, interest and sheer passion for a company unlike any other.

    Here’s what I realised.

    1) Social Media is powerful and fast!

    I always knew that but holy cow! Within a couple of hours I had real information, right down from what people loved about their Macs to what software to get (iworks) and what I could do without (MSOffice for Macs), how long the battery lasts, to whether I needed one-on-one lessons (no).

    If I’d tried googling this information it would’ve taken me way longer and I still would not have gotten the amount of feedback, information and help that my Facebook and Twitter friends gave me instantly.

    Plus, I TRUST these people and their opinions cos I’ve intentionally surrounded myself with them.

    Q Tip: Are you using social media intentionally? Do you trust the people you’re connecting with?

    2) Create an offering – service or product – that inspires fierce loyalty & passion

    If you’re a Mac user, you know this already. If not, here’s what I mean (comments on my facebook query):

    “Mac Mac Mac!! I got my first one two years ago & will NEVER go back to a PC!” – Laura
    “Mac all the way-no question. Nuff said :) ” – Garry
    “I think you’re working with creative entrepreneurs and leaders? Most use the Mac :) ” – Shane
    “No one has ever earnestly turned to a fellow human being and said, “Hey, have you considered Windows?” Not in the real world at any rate.” – Cole

    Q Tip: What’s something you can create that is compelling to your clients / readers/ buyers?

    3) Engage your tribe such that THEY do the marketing for you

    By the time I walked into a Mac store, I knew exactly what model I was going to get and what extra S/W I needed, so didn’t require any hand holding. In and out, easiest buyer experience ever (er.. apart from the hard pitch on a 3 year guarantee which wasn’t from Apple but the store person.)

    As you can see from all of the above, Apple’s really got their backs covered.

    Another great example of this is Jeannette Maw, the GoodVibeCoach. She’s attracted a group of people (including me) who love and adore anything she creates cos she inspires us, has unique products and services, gives her time and attention generously and shares her wealth.

    Q Tip: What can you do to inspire and engage your “tribe” today?

    To conclude, this experience was really fun and enlightening and I came away with some great insights.

    Oh and a brand new 13.3 inch MacBook Pro, the sexiest, sleekest, silveriest, most gorgeous machine ever.

    Ladies & gentlemen, boys & girls, behold the latest convert to the tribe of “once you go Mac, you never go back”.

    Head over HEELS, madly in love with Mr Maccu Singh (go ahead, giggle, that’s his name & I’m sticking with it ;)

    Thank you my friends, Facebook, Twitter, MasterCard and Apple for your help.

    (In an upcoming post I’m going to talk about how a little book on Feng Shui made this happen, and how it’s changing my life all around. Stay tuned.)

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Curious: Is there a brand, person, product or service that you can’t stop talking about or promoting passionately? What do you love about it / them?

    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

    I Can Do ANYTHING!

    May 13, 2010 by Tia · 17 Comments
    Filed under: Conscious Creation, Inspired Action, Life, Passion, happiness, love 

    I am SO inspired by this little girl!

    Had to share this video which is quickly going viral on youtube. It’s so awesome!! If she can do it, so can YOU! And me.

    I think I’m going to do a 7 day daily affirmation in front of the mirror just like Jessica and see what happens… join me? :D

    Tags:

    What Do You Want To Be Known For?

    March 4, 2010 by Tia · 6 Comments
    Filed under: Conscious Creation, Inspired Action, Law of Attraction, Passion, Spirituality, happiness, love 

    “What is it that you want to be ‘known’ for?

    What idea do you want to represent?

    The next 24 hours bring insights, signs and sudden revelation!”

    Kim Falconer asked this question yesterday.

    I let it sit with me.

    At first my mind ran through all the things my social self wants to be known for, things like:

    • Making a big difference in this world
    • Inspiring thousands of people to live their best lives ever
    • Making the most of my life & opportunities
    • Being a successful coach
    • Helping tons of people get clarity in their lives
    • And so on

    I let it sit some more.

    It was about 10 hours later, that by pure synchronicity, Carol posted this Abe video on Living With Passion on the Good Vibe U forum.



    And as I was watching it, it suddenly struck me.

    JOY!

    Yes, I want to accomplish a lot and make my time here on Earth “worthwhile”.

    Yes, I want to inspire people to follow their dreams.

    Yes, I want all this and much, much more and still do.

    But above all, I want most of all to Further Joy!

    To be known for being  a JoyGiver, JoySpreader, JoyMonger & ALL things JOY.

    It was so ridiculously simple that I had to catch my breath.

    Could it be THIS simple? THIS easy!?

    As I sat there wondering, I realised my essential self, the part of me that wants to give and share without wanting anything in return was speaking to me loud and clear.

    The part of me that knows living my purpose is more about Being than about Doing.

    Have you asked yourself questions like:

    • What’s my purpose, my mission in life?
    • Why am I here?
    • What am I meant to do with my life?
    • How can I best use my talents to help people?
    • How can I be happy?
    • What fulfills me?

    Yeah, me too. In a quest to answer these questions I read a lot.

    From Wayne Dyer to Steve Pavlina to Don Miguel Ruiz to Lynn Grabhorn to Eckart Tolle to Abraham-Hicks, you name it, I’ve read their books.

    I also discovered coaching, got myself a coach, attended coach training, became a coach, kept attending workshops (and still do), listened to hundreds of audios and watched countless videos.

    With each passing month, I had a better idea of what I wanted to accomplish with my time here.

    And yet, it felt like I was trying too hard.

    I’d decide what I want and then change my mind as though the “thing” I’d settled on – like inspiring thousands of people to live their best lives ever – somehow seemed hollow and vacuous.

    What the heck does that mean anyways? Inspire people to live into their potential?

    And who was *I* to take on this mission? Something about it just didn’t sit right. Could my life purpose really be about other people instead of about me?

    Got me thinking about Mother Teresa – what was hers? Was it to provide support and help the poor? Or was it to love? Seems to me that everything she did came from Love. She was BEING love, not just giving love.

    Too often we make ours about “doing something for others”.

    When you realise it’s about being who you were meant to be, the doing comes naturally.

    It’s not important to know what to do before you know what or who to be.

    So last night when it came to me with intense clarity that I needed to let the answer come to me rather than go chasing to it, it sure surprised me when it did.

    Cos joy is something I take for granted, not something I thought could actually be my purpose.

    I’d thought my purpose was something bigger…. grander….. on a larger scale that would make me feel like I’d REALLY made a difference.

    A little thing like Joy? Really?

    Yes, really.

    I haven’t stopped smiling since this revelation. I’m not sure how exactly I’ll do this but I have an idea – to start with, I’m bringing joy into what I do, how I engage with people, my thoughts, my actions. I already practice this, and with this new awareness, it seems a lot more delicious.

    Fancy my purpose being something I can live each day, every day!

    Fancy it being something I’m already being and doing :)

    (No co-incidences there, hey!)

    Now, I’ve got a little exercise for you.

    First, write down what comes to mind when I ask “what do you want to be known for”?
    - Leave a comment & let me know.

    Second, take this question with you into your day.
    - Let it sit with you as you go about your routine.
    - Every now and then ask yourself the question again and write down what comes to mind.
    - Don’t try to force it, or write what you think you should write.
    - Let it flow.
    - At the end of the day, revisit your list and see what pops out at you.

    I have a feeling whatever you think it is right now, it’s probably simpler and more basic than that :) It’s something you are ALREADY being and doing, and just haven’t fully realised yet. Or maybe you have? Can’t wait to hear it!

    What is your soul calling you to be or do?

    _____________________________________________________________

    I’d love to hear if the answer changed or remained the same after a while. Enjoy the process and thanks for sharing your thoughts, as always, you inspire me!

    Tags: ,

    Pursuing Happiness Is A Trap & YOU’RE in it.

    December 14, 2009 by Tia · 25 Comments
    Filed under: Intention, Life, Passion, Spirituality, happiness 

    happiness trap Ever feel like you did something really stupid?

    Irrational.

    Something that made no sense at all.

    Ever then kicked yourself when you did it again?

    And again. And again?

    You’re so aware, you really should’ve known better..

    Ever made an assumption that turned out to be totally wrong?

    What about the “good” assumptions – like assuming birthdays should be extra special days just cos you were born on that day. Like the best time to set new intentions is when it’s a new moon.

    Like someone you love should love the same things you do.

    How do these serve you?

    When you assume something, it’s most likely based in fear. Fear that keeps you from truly being happy as long as you associate those thoughts with past actions and experiences.

    I was thinking about assumptions and anticipation today as I wandered into my favourite little crystal / mystic shop near Queenstown.

    About how I anticipated this trip and how I assumed it would make me feel. Getting here to find that it’s neither how I dreamed, nor how I expected.

    (You’ve been with me as I planned this trip, excitedly booked flights, got my visa, and packed excitedly)

    So where did that state of sheer happiness go?

    Don’t get me wrong – it’s all going well and I AM happy, it’s just that I might have mistaken high energy and anticipation for happiness.

    Thinking that cos it wasn’t as warm (weather wise) or as much of a homecoming I thought it would be, I would have to do something to be ‘happier’.

    You see, in my mind, it was ’supposed’ to be a certain way.

    As I browsed the shop still musing, I was drawn to a book.

    Hello, the Happiness Trap. Resonance! What I read struck me: Did you know you’re shooting yourself in the foot when you make ‘looking for happiness’ your main goal in life?

    Living a values based life is what will bring you true happiness, as opposed to living a goals based life – quoted non verbatim.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about dreams and goals and the pursuit of happiness is definitely one of human-kind’s biggies.

    It’s when we assume that anything less than a happy vibe will take us away from this ultimate goal, that we pay a huge price – fear, anxiety and stress.

    To live an illusion of happiness, most people shy away from negative feelings and do whatever they can to make them ‘go away’. These people are sometimes you and me.

    (Even though for the most part, we DO know better, yay us!)

    You’re smart enough to allow emotions and feelings to be fully experienced, knowing that what you resist persists.

    You know all you want is to feel good again and being LOA and personal development savvy, you’ll stay with it so you can get past it. The way out of it is often through it.

    It happened to me when I talked about being dragged into the emotions and drama of being a victim in the past, when I was hard on myself for being in that place again, till I realised just how far I had actually come.

    But this book really got me seeing things differently again.

    It made me see that anxiety is normal. Contrary to belief, happiness is not yet our normal state of being and is influenced by the fears of others around us as we’re growing up.

    (I believe we ARE headed that way one little step at a time, just not fully there yet).

    Happiness is not the same as feeling good.

    It’s a feeling of being alive, full of life force energy. And by its very nature, life force energy covers all human emotions and ranges.

    Just like the tide ebbs and flows, nature reinvents itself, trees and plants grow and die, life begins and ends, there is always a polar opposite of every emotion and feeling known to us.

    This brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘acceptance’.

    Accept not just the feeling that is in the moment, but also the fact that life WILL be up and down, you WILL sink back into old unwanted patterns every now and then, things will not always work out like you want, you WILL be sad, mad, bad, glad many more times in your life.

    Accept that no matter how much spiritual work you do, how aware you are, how much you’ve learned and grown, you will experience the full range of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, as long as you live.

    I’ve ‘ ed’ good and bad because it’s time to stop labelling these emotions. When you label, you separate and create pain by questioning why.

    Accept that this is really, truly, ok. Like Charlie of Productive Flourishing says, what would happen if you didn’t think it was ‘bad’ to feel down?

    Let go of that damn happiness “goal”.

    The happiness that comes from achieving a goal or a dream is short-lived. If you’re like me, 20 seconds later you’re wondering what’s next. Goals will come and go and keep getting achieved.

    Enjoy the anticipation instead!

    The thing with anticipation (aka the journey) is that it’s almost always more fun than the actual event (aka the goal) you’ve been waiting for to happen.

    It’s been said before and I’ll say it again – really, really, enjoy the ride. Cos when it’s over, that’s what you’ll remember.

    Don’t make the memory about getting off the roller coaster and being sick, make it be about the stars you saw on top of the ride, the people who looked like ants below, and the gobs of fun you had squealing and laughing.

    The moments each day is made up of, the tears and smiles, the ups and downs.

    And one more thing – Forgive yourself. Love yourself. That is all.

    __________________________________________________________________

    So .. watchu thinking? What’s your take on Happiness as a Goal vs a Value? What do you believe is your natural state of being? Do you agree or disagree with this post? I’m inviting your comments and would love to know what you’ve got to say! Cheers!

    Tags: , , , ,

    Next Page »