More to the Library than Books

Today 14^th January, I sit here in Bournemouth Library looking out of the window that overlooks an area called “The Triangle”. Aptly named due to the triangular shape of the green and shops surrounding it. Sitting within this quiet place only the sound of paperback books being opened, pages being turned and the odd sniffle hear and there. I sit and look out to what appears to be a soundless town, there is no noise coming from out there but just the movement of cars, buses and people walking along the pavement going to wherever it is they have decided to go today. It hits me how far I have come in my personal journey, I never imagined for a moment that I would be sitting in a library of all places. It just isn’t the sort of place I could see myself being let alone enjoying.

The peacefulness and most of all calmness is welcoming and gives me a feeling of safety. I have realised how something so small can give such pleasure. The reason I am here is down to a short film I watched on You Tube, the post appeared on my facebook wall as I am a fan of Louise Hay. It came up and was a film about being alone. For whatever reason I decided to watch it, it was reassuring to see others that are alone and how to embrace that life and enjoy all the things it can bring. One suggestion was going to the local library, and something about that made me want to go.

I had it in my mind, I was telling my friends and family about it and here I am sitting in this place by myself. My previous misconception of libraries was that they were boring, dull and uninteresting. How that has changed over the years, I am surrounding by thousands of books that people have spent a lot of time writing, the history of it. I have picked up five self help books and when opening the first one “The monk who sold his Ferrari” (Recommended to me) the inside cover revealed the old fashioned style booking in system where the librarian would stamp the book with the date it had to be back. The first stamp in this book is 12^th January 2006, that is nearly 6 years to the day of when I will be taking this book out.

So anyway, this new book doesn’t look too big which is always an attractive start. When they are huge with tiny writing it does tend to put me off a bit. I want to just write some of the synopsis on the back as it really did draw me into wanting to read it. So here it is “The monk who sold his Ferrari is the story of a superstar lawyer whose out-of-balance lifestyle leads him to an almost fatal heart attach in a packed courtroom. His physical collapse brings on a spiritual crisis that forces him to confront the condition of his life and seek answers to life’s most important questions..”. Doesn’t that make you want to read it too!

The next book I have picked up was also recommended to me by a very important friend, this book is called “Authentic Happiness” by Martin Seligman.  Martin Seligman focuses on positive psychology and having fun, laughter and happiness! Which to me makes me think, why wouldn’t I want to read a book about that. So that one is going on the pile of ones to take home. I am so excited at the thought of this but more overwhelmed by how something so simplistic can give me such inner pleasure. I mean I know I love shopping and going out with friends but this is something on a completely different level. If you haven’t experienced that then you may thinking I am talking all airy fairy or something equally similar. I dare you to just try something new that really fulfils a deep passion within you. Something that isn’t about greed or money, something just for you, with just you.

Do you visit your local library? I would love to hear of your experiences..

Take Care

Jo x

Our Inherant Greatness

Today I am thinking about all the good things, the good characteristics we have. The great skills and knowledge we have accumulated over the years. This will help us with our goals for 2012.

Do you know what yours are? I know it is easy for people to remember and recall the bits they don't like about themselves or what they didn't do right. So let's accept we know about that stuff. We can even see positives in our limitations if we look hard enough. I want us to know just as much and talk about the positives too. Most people I have met struggle to come up with their positives, which is a real shame as they are sitting on a gold mine.

I wonder if you have ever or when was the last time you thought about all the good. I would say my natural talents are organising, efficiency, helping others, being friendly, motivated and a do-er. What does your list consist of?

Maybe you can remember a time when you used those skills or knowledge and notice how it made you feel or maybe a picture comes to mind. For me, it would be a time when I am helping others which could well incorporate organising and some of my other skills. It gives me a feeling that is hard to explain, but I will do my best.

This feeling for me is one of complete and utter satisfaction and fulfilment. It gives me a warm feeling inside. Not because it has done something for me (which of course it has) but because it has helped some other person in a positive way and I can see their positive reaction, it is infectious. This is something I can do naturally and doesn't cost anything but the effect is valuable.

What natural talents do you have that make you feel great, maybe you have a flare for music, art, singing, making things.

How can we know what we want if we don't stop and think about it and what we are good at, and what is important to us. Take a look at my previous blog on goals.

If you want some help with finding out your positives then feel free to get in touch with me, info@joannehuey.co.uk or take a look at my website for more information.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, feel free to share it with your friends if you think it is relevant.

Jo x

Self Acceptance & Self Improvement




Self Acceptance

 

Happy New Year one and all.

Today has been a day so far or rest and relaxation. How has your first day of 2012 been?

I've spent some time today thinking about self acceptance and self improvement. At this time of year a lot of people are setting about achieving goals etc. I've read a lot about this and watched some You Tube clips on the subject. See below:

I have to agree with some of the things I've discovered. The goals have to be achievable/realistic and in line with your values otherwise they won't work. Also, we have to factor in an amount of "slips" that may happen. If we aren't use to exercising for months/years, then expecting regular workouts every day is not realistic.

I believe it is important to ensure we know what we are getting ourselves into. If we want to set something for ourselves for the coming year (s) then we need to think about them in line with our values. For example, if exercising it top of our list, but one of our values is our family and friends, will the amount of exercising interfere with the relationships we have with them? Just a simple example but I hope you get the point.

I might want to go travelling, but my friends and family are really important to me. It is worth me looking at my values and setting a goal that isn't going to conflict with them.

These things are all part of self-improvement.

Today I've been doing some work around self-acceptance and it has really given me a light bulb moment. The quote below is from the Oprah website... made a lot of sense to me.

"Self-improvement usually starts with the belief that something is lacking in you. Thus, your ego sets about working on itself, proving itself and making itself into a "somebody" that wins admiration and applause. The problem with self-improvement is that you are trying to improve upon a self that you haven't really gotten to know yet. Self-improvement causes you to overlook your true nature. No amount of self-improvement can make up for any lack of self-acceptance."

I wonder how many goals etc are set from feelings/thoughts of what we should or need to do rather than what we actually want!

Also we can often (some of us) say things like "If I lose x amount of weight I will be happy", or "If I get that job I will be happy". As Robert Holden and many others quote, it is about accepting what you have and who you are now. This is something I am in the process of learning myself.

We could waste our lives "waiting" for these things to make us happy when in fact we have a lot to be happy about right now.

Do you have any thoughts on this? Do you relate to anything I have written/referred to in this blog today? I would love to hear any comments you have.

Love Jo

x