​A little challenge for you…
 
How about choosing one day per week as your time to live simply? Perhaps you could talk less, and listen more, with your full attention. Do something incognito and kind for someone you’re close to. Eat simple and natural food. Switch off devices and screens when you don’t need them on. Create pockets of time for not doing anything - just walk, look around, live the moment. Open your mind to a more profound and silent way of being. Appreciate each scene and each person as they are.
 
Try it for a day and observe the impact on your well-being.

​I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently, about how life is all about choices. When you remove all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you respond to situations. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. You choose how people affect your mood. You might not like the choices you have, but they are still choices. (Of course, I’m referring to choices made as adults, not ‘choices’ that are foisted on children or the more vulnerable, who have no actual choice.)
 
This is where I stumble a little: it’s difficult when I allow other people’s strong (often negative) moods to affect my own – but I still have a choice. I can descend with them into a pit of despair, or I can decide to go my own way. It’s up to me and only I have the power to make that choice – no one else. 
 
And the trick is finding what helps you make the right choice at the time, what helps you keep momentum and drive to be able to choose what’s best for you. It’ll be no surprise to regular readers that ensuring I have enough sleep is my ‘magical’ power, as my brain seems to suffer on too little sleep. So, if you find yourself being affected by others’ moods, consider what helps you function well and do more of that. 

It’s guest blog time!
 
This month’s blog comes from my colleague and friend, Lisa Bedlow, who I met over 10 years ago when I was working for the school improvement team at a local authority. Since leaving her role as an executive head teacher, Lisa has set up a social enterprise called Gabriels. Here’s more about it:
 
"Gabriels Wellbeing and Education supports children and families with balancing emotions, creating self-love, success and happiness using nature to encourage children to be self-confident, sociable, interactive and not bound by technology. We have a range of wellbeing sessions from toddlers to teenagers. We have a highly successful programme offering one-to-one support for a range of conditions from anxiety, eating disorders, depression, autism, ADHD and others.
 
As a former headteacher, I am so passionate about helping children to release any limiting beliefs so that they can shine and achieve in whatever way they choose.
 
One of my most powerful techniques to share with children is the power of deep belly breathing. When we are anxious, we tend to breathe shallowly, which is a throwback to our caveman roots, preparing for fight or flight. However, we are not in danger: we just sense that we are, so to breathe slowly and deeply into the tummy for two minutes reassures the body that all is calm and well. It truly is our very own super power. As a qualified and advanced Pranic healer, I have many more strategies that I share when treating clients."
 
Find out more about Gabriels here: www.gabrielseducation.com.