For the month of February 2019, I am focussing on self-esteem building with all of my clients and in all of my published articles. A solid amount of self-esteem is the strongest foundation upon which you can consciously create your life.

This Thursday, February 14th 2019 is Valentine’s Day. Although Valentine’s Day itself has some pretty dark roots attached, it is has become a yearly tradition for many to celebrate love, affection, and admiration.

Whether you celebrate this annual day of love or not, take the time this week to fall in love with yourself and check up on your self-esteem levels this Valentine’s day.

Although it is beautiful to acknowledge the people we love and admire, how often do we stop to consider how much we love and respect ourselves?

Whether you’re single, married or in a relationship, loving and appreciating yourself really is the most important thing you can do this Valentine’s Day — or on any day really!
I hope the following tips remind you to work on loving YOURSELF more this week.

Note to self- Nobody’s perfect

Always strive to be the best version of yourself, but it’s also important to accept that perfection is an unrealistic goal.

There will be NO self-judgment thankyou

How often do you say to yourself that you need to lose weight, or you wished you were a certain size or you want to be more like x, y, and z.
Judging yourself is a sure fire way to deplete your self-esteem levels. When you next notice that you are comparing yourself to others or judging yourself, take a moment to remind yourself that this is definitely not supporting you in a positive way. Replace comparisons and judgments with loving, positive and empowering thoughts that honor you.

Take a 2-minute self-appreciation break.

If self-love and building self-esteem feels unfamiliar, a simple and easy way to begin working on increasing both is to take 2 minutes each and every day for one month to appreciate yourself –
Here’s what you need to do daily:
Set aside 2 minutes every day
Take a deep and cleansing breath in and out.
Slow right down and ask yourself… What are 3 things I can appreciate about myself right now?
If the mental picture that you hold about yourself is not the best in the world, you definitely need to take the time every day to work on improving this – and appreciating yourself times 3 is a great practice to incorporate into your day. These short bursts of positivity can fill you with love, self-esteem and a deep appreciation for yourself.

Step outside

We all know that fresh air and sunshine are good for us, but it turns out they are also good for building self-esteem levels! According to a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, getting some activity outdoors for just five minutes can improve self-esteem. This could mean something quick and simple, like a short bike ride, a walk in the fresh air or even eating your lunch out in the sunshine during work hours. Take mini-breaks often.

Consider

Spend time getting to know yourself. Take time to identify who you are. Some things to think about include-
• identifying your strengths and talents
• acknowledging your value and worth, uncovering your passions
• understanding your values and what’s important to you
• thinking about how you want to serve or contribute to the world

” To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong relationship”

Oscar Wilde

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In psychology, the term self-esteem is used to describe a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value. In other words, how much you appreciate and like yourself.

It is easy to lose your sense of self when life becomes overwhelming though. There is so much pressure on us today. Everyone has their best show reel on display for the world to see and the demands to try and keep up can be exhausting. Even the most positive, confident people have days where they feel low and lacking in self-esteem. The good news is, every day we actually have a choice. We can choose to take action and introduce self-esteem building habits that will drastically improve our energy levels, the way we feel about ourselves and how we see the world around us.

When you value yourself and have a good level of self-esteem, you feel secure and worthwhile. You feel confident about achieving your goals, hopes and dreams and really, anything is possible because your energy levels – mentally, physically and spiritually are well supported.

Self-esteem affects virtually every facet of your life so it is important to check your levels often. Maintaining a healthy and positive view of yourself on a really deep level isn’t vain or arrogant. It is just as important as eating healthy, exercising or any other activity that supports your health and wellbeing.

Maybe you have had low self – esteem since you were a child, maybe life has thrown you some hard knocks and this has contributed to your self -esteem levels and how you feel about yourself, but always remember, we can grow and develop new and more positive ways of seeing ourselves at any age.

I hope the following tips inspire you to see yourself …maybe for the first time in your life, with a kind and loving heart.

Identify your competencies and good qualities and own them!
If we want to build self- esteem levels we only need to look at our past achievements, what is important to us, what we are good at and really honour those things. When we take the time to honour the achievements that matter to us, and when we really appreciate what we are good at, we can increase our self- esteem significantly. Take the time to acknowledge all of the good things about you. If you find yourself listing more weaknesses than strengths, this is a strong sign that you need to work on building up your self-esteem levels.
What are you good at?
Are you a great cook?
Are you the person that keeps everything functioning at work, home etc?
Are you a great artist, writer, creator?
Are you a great listener?
Are you caring and nurturing?
Identify what you have achieved to date and all of your positive qualities as a matter of urgency!

Build positive relationships
How many of us surround ourselves with the wrong kind of people?
It is easy to have relationships with toxic people when our self-esteem is low. Like a moth to a flame, we tend to attract them. If the people in your world bring you down or criticise you, then it is important to start spending less time with them or even better, distancing from them altogether. Seek out relationships with people who appreciate you and respect you.
Surround yourself with positive, uplifting and authentic people.
2019 is a great time to check who is in your circle of influence.

Express yourself
If we express our needs, wants, values and boundaries clearly and confidently to our family and friends, this will keep self-esteem levels well and truly overflowing. It is healthy to speak your truth and manage your energy. Both mental and physical energy requires attention and your energy can easily be depleted especially by others if you do not prioritize what feels right for you.

Stop worrying about what others think
We all want to be liked and appreciated and recognised for our talents, but when we constantly rely on what other people may or may not think about us, this is a problem. When we spend time worrying about what others think of us, we are never free to be completely and fully ourselves.
Nobody else is living your life or knows truly how you feel or even what might be best for you. Don’t give away your power.

Questions to ask yourself when working on self-esteem
What can I start doing right now to help strengthen my emotional balance?

What can I stop doing?

What is one small change I can make this week that will help me feel in control of my life and my emotions?

What changes can I make to develop a stronger relationship with myself?

What perceived flaws do I need to address and overcome so that I can accept myself fully?

Who are the people in my life that are supportive and love me for who I am right now?

What habits do I need to introduce that will suport my happiness and confidence this year?

What is one new positive action that I can start to work on today that will build my self-esteem?

To make changes, firstly you need to accept responsibility for your
self-esteem.
That includes accepting responsibility for getting the help you need if you feel you need help in this area.
Understand that your self-esteem depends on you. You need to do the work.
Jo Ettles

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I know I focus a lot in my articles on smashing goals, being the best version of yourself and living your most productive and beautiful life. I have always been really passionate about honouring our time here on earth and I will continue to remind people to LIVE and not EXIST for as long as I am able. Life is such a gift and I believe we must make every make every day count.

I know some of you must read my articles and think – seriously…what planet is she on. How can I possibly achieve all that and some plus make each day count while I am managing motherhood, a full time career and managing day to day life in general?

I totally understand how life just gets chaotic and often it feels like there is barely enough time to achieve the never-ending everyday demands let alone smash out your personal goals, vision, hopes and dreams.

Why is it that some of us achieve everything and more and then some of us…not so much?

I have always prioritised energy management as the greatest way to achieve the most out of your days and I know many of you are serious energy bankers now thanks to my teachings about managing your energy. But dont forget that one of the most effective skills you can have in life is powerful and effective time management and if you can master both time management and energy management, it is absolutely life changing.

The thing is, it is not about having the time, it is about freeing up time effectively and then making it count.

Unfortunately there are no 25 hour days on the horizon anytime soon so if not having enough time is an issue for you, the first step to rectifying this is to find out where your time actually goes each day.

Hopefully, the following tips might help you to improve your time management skills if they are an issue!

Digital Detox
Research shows that on average, adults spend 5.9 hours a day on digital media. A recent Australian survey reports that people now spend more time on their smartphones than they do talking to their partner or friends and some Australians are spending close to 10 hours a day on internet connected devices. It is really important to take stock of how much time you are spending on social media, emails, netflix, apps etc and if your technology time is excessive and unproductive,  power down and reclaim some of your lost time. Limit your time spent in this area to half even and use this time to work on your hopes, dreams, wellness or re-organising your life. 

 Get more sleep
I know you are thinking well, how on earth will getting more sleep free up some more time for me?To a degree, it doesnt even make sense!
When you feel well rested you are far more capable of managing all of your daily obligations. You have more energy and you are far better equipped to manage stress. So, instead of burning the candle at both ends, call it quits early and get a beautiful nights sleep. This is seriously vital for maintaining your energy bank and keeping up with time.

Make 2 lists
List one – Acknowledge your joy
What do you love to do?
Make a short list including at least 3 things that bring you joy and make sure these 3 things are factored into your week.
List two-Acknowledge your time wasters
 What weekly activities can you eliminate or reduce?
What regular activities do you partake in that are not necessarily the best use of your time?
Are there ways to reduce, minimize or eliminate these things?
For example – Do you grocery shop everyday, once a week or online?
Do you fuss with meal prep everyday or are you totally organised and prepared for a new week by having a Sunday meal prepping session that covers a few family dinners?
 Eliminate anything that is an unnecessary waste of your time and if it cant be eliminated, find a better way to achieve the end result.

Re-think your routines
Often we get totally stuck in routines that are anything but productive.
Carefully examine your current routines.
Are they working for you?
Can they be improved,scaled back or eliminated all together? 
You’re in charge of your life. If you are running the same routine daily out of habit and it is way passed it’s used by date, maybe it is time to change things up. Every hour of your life you spend poorly is a piece of your life wasted so create effective routines that will allow you to free up some time and space so you can do more of the things you love. 

Tell yourself that you have plenty of time
If you hear yourself saying, ‘I don’t have enough time,’
then you need to stop that phrase in it’s tracks.
Instead, start telling yourself…
 ‘I have all the time I need for all the things I need to do.’  
Declaring your intentions verbally in a positive way has a wonderful effect not only on your mind but also on your body. It helps to relax you instantly. I hear people say constantly that they dont have enough time to follow their dreams, but seriously, take the time to question this belief. Instead of lamenting lack of time, make the absolute most of it.

Declutter
 I cannot stress enough how powerful it is to live without clutter.
I am so passionate about decluttering our minds, our hearts, our bodies, our environment, our circle of influence, I wrote a book on it!
When our homes, our workplaces, and our lives have a sense of order and organisation,
we feel more in control and less stressed out. If you failed to declutter before the beginning of  2019, don’t despair. Spend 15 minutes a day from today decluttering whatever needs to be decluttered. Before you know it, you will feel more in control and you can start to focus on all the beautiful and joyous things you want to add to your life.

We all get the same amount of time each day -24 hours, that is non-negotiable.
I think it is vital to manage your energy first and foremost but understand that to be really productive and achieve all that and more, be mindful of your energy, plus your time, plus your attention. 
All three are absolutely essential if you want to make the most out of each day.
Jo Ettles

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There are a plethora of excuses available to all of us at any given moment. Every excuse is capable of limiting us from reaching our full potential and improving our life. Whether it is not taking care of ourselves, not working towards our goals and visions, not improving what needs to be improved, it is quite easy to find excuses that rationalise our actions as to why we cant.

When it comes to changing our lives for the better, excuses are more often than not the main reason why people are unable to achieve what they want to achieve.  If you are already finding ways to support why you can’t….one of the best habits you can get into right now is to –STOP MAKING EXCUSES  and instead, start taking the steps, even if they are baby steps, that are necessary to help you achieve what you want out of life.

Really, there are only two options….
make changes or make excuses!
I hope the following tips challenge you to stop with the excuses…

 Is this true?
It is really important  that we have narratives that help us make sense of our lives but it is more important that these narratives are supporting us in a positive way. If your narratives are full of excuses that let you off the hook when something seems too hard or too challenging, it is time to tell yourself a different story.  Pay attention to when you are making an excuse. Recognize the excuses and stories you are running and ask yourself – is this true? Chances are, the stories that you are telling yourself about how and why you can’t, are absolutely NOT TRUE.
 Nothing is permanent. You can create a new and powerful, positive story anytime you want. You can change anything at any time. Do your stories need a little edit or perhaps a total rewrite?

 BUT nothing!
Stop ending your sentences with but…….
I hear this word a lot especially in sessions.
“ I would love to achieve that, but……..” you get what I mean.
The word BUT has the power to stop you from moving forwards. It has the power to stop you from participating in activities that could add so much joy and value to your life.  Consider the word BUT to be a roadblock or an obstacle that stops you in your tracks. This week, pay attention to how many times you use the word BUT in a sentence. This simple activity will really help you to identify how many times you make excuses.

What are your strengths?
Excuses support our shortcomings and tend to focus on our weaknesses. When we focus on why we can’t do something, it lowers our vibration and reduces our energy. When you find yourself making excuses, pay attention to how it makes you feel, and I mean really pay attention to how it depletes you on every level. Interrupt this process by focussing on your strengths.
What can you do? What are you capable of? What makes you feel strong?
Use these strengths to support you and fuel you. The right mindset is crucial to change.

 Excuses are easier
Excuses are an easier option because they allow us to stay in our comfort zone. In 2019, you can either accept this option or you can eliminate all of your excuses and take control of your future. It’s one thing to say you have control of your life and another to actually take control.

Questions
The key to change is to first become aware of the excuses you use.
Here are some questions to ask yourself during the process –
What excuses do I tend to make?
How often do I make them?
Do I use the same excuses often?
What am I settling for?
Why am I making these excuses?
How do these excuses prevent me from moving forward?

Here’s the thing….
Your life is important and you matter.
When you routinely make excuses for why you can’t do something when deep down you know you really can, you sell yourself and the rest of the people in your world short. This week, have the courage to STOP making excuses and start making changes.
Jo Ettles

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January’s word of the month is – GOAL SETTING!
But here’s the thing. It really is much easier to set goals then to actually achieve them. It is so much easier to write your goals down and then just sit back and think about all the things we are going to achieve.

It is fairly common that all this January enthusiasm runs out of steam for many by the first week of February. Despite our initial commitment to “making big changes ”, life generally takes over and all our grand plans and visions are out the window!

Why is it that so many of us struggle to hold onto that January enthusiasm all year long?

I see clients constantly  who come in with great intentions of changing their lives and achieving their goals, hopes and dreams. BUT how many of them actually follow through and make their vision a reality?

When clients ask me to motivate them on a continuous basis, for example, I often get asked to coach people weekly, I always decline. In my opinion, motivation doesn’t work, not in the long term anyway. When clients want me to motivate them, I offer them this advice…….
Instead of getting motivated, get inspired!

You see, motivation requires a lot of effort but inspiration is effortless.

Motivation is an external force. Think deadlines and struggle and pushing to achieve something in a certain time frame. Its about constantly psyching yourself up, keeping up and sometimes even competing. 
All in all, hard work and alot of pressure.

Inspiration on the other hand is an internal force. Inspiration gives us that fire in the belly that drives us naturally. You don’t need anyone or anything to get you moving. It comes from a completely different place.

If you are having problems staying MOTIVATED when it comes to your goals in 2019, forget about finding someone or something to motivate you and get inspired instead. Motivation is the push where inspiration is the pull. Be mindful of what is driving you to achieve your vision and goals. Your true feelings will allow you to gauge whether inspiration or motivation is your driving force.
Whatever your vision is for this new year-
To get healthier
To stress less
To change careers
To grow your business
To create a business
To be more mindful
Get inspired in 2019. If you have lost your drive already, maybe the problem lies in how you are fueling yourself.
Consider the following tips today ……

Excuses – Excuses!
I have heard every excuse under the sun in my coaching career. I started coaching in 2008 so that is ALOT of excuses!
Most people think that I have a magic wand placed in the top draw of my desk. After I have given them guidance on how to move forward, they think that I will magically whip this wand out and wave it around and voilà, their grand vision will just happen! They skip the part where I say…oh by the way, YOU have to do the work. Excuses are man’s best friend and when it comes to making big changes, they are our greatest enemy.  So next time you hear yourself making an excuse as to why you need to eat that unhealthy food, or why you don’t have enough time to make something happen, face your excuses head on. Remind yourself why you want to achieve something and stop the excuses. If you keep believing the false stories you tell yourself, you will never achieve anything. Keep challenging your excuses until you completely disrupt this behaviour.
Not enough time in the day? Get up earlier.
Too tired? Go to bed earlier, exercise, eat right, manage your stress.
Too busy? Seriously, manage your energy and your time better.
Overwhelmed? Declutter every area of your life as well as your mind, body & spirit.

Reframe
Seriously, it really does require commitment on many levels to change your life and achieve your vision, your goals, your dreams. Many of us think that such a huge commitment is hard work.
Don’t think of it as hard work.
Instead, think of it as life changing, rewarding, inspiring and really living. Don’t think in terms of hard, frustrating, tiring, and impossible. Think about how amazing the journey will be and how fantastic things will be when you achieve your vision. Change hard to challenging, rewarding and exciting. 

 Revisit your vision often
Sometimes we have to keep re-adjusting our vision. As we travel down the pathway towards what we are trying to achieve, things pop up along the way to challenge us and if we are not careful, they can derail us altogether. You need to be flexible enough in your mindset to re-adjust what may seem overwhelming and near impossible. This just happened to me actually. I have started a new project for 2019 and the rules and guidelines accompanying this project are vastly different to anything I have encountered and as I am not much of a rule girl, part of me is like –
computer says NO!
When I feel a little overwhelmed by what may seem really foreign to me, I take a step back, sleep on it and then  re-visit the vision and everything that accompanies it the next day. This allows me to work from a more effective place. Get as clear as you can on your vision and re-visit it often.
This vision is the source of your inspiration so it is vitally important to adjust accordingly.

Reflection
It is easy to lose sight of everything when we have a million commitments and most of them are supporting other people’s dreams and not our own. At the end of each day, prioritise some time for reflection. Self-evaluation is critical when it comes to what works and what doesn’t work for you personally. Be ruthless with what works for you energetically, physically and emotionally. Being continually inspired is only possible if we stop and take the time every day to re-align our energy.
If you are tired of starting over, then take a moment to check with what is really fuelling you. Inspiration combined with action is a powerful force. 
Jo Ettles

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It’s a brand new year and some of us know exactly where we are going. We have plans in place, we have clear direction on what we want to achieve and we have already begun the process of creating our vision for 2019.

But what happens if we find ourselves at a dead end, or a huge crossroads, or on a path that seems to be going nowhere?

lf you have begun 2019 in a state of confusion about how to move forward with any area of your life, if you are uncertain how to proceed, then take the time to re-evaluate every area of your life.

Ask yourself questions….
big ones, small ones, hard ones and everything in between. Take the time to acknowledge what is working and what isn’t working in your world. It is important to acknowledge what matters to us so we can get clear on the direction we want to take.

Every day, not just January 1st is a chance to change your life and your direction for the better.

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads.
Not knowing where I am going is what inspires me to travel it.”
Rosalia De Castro

Go within
If you feel overwhelmed with any area of your life, take heart in knowing that every answer you ever need regarding your life is always at your disposal. All you need to do is have faith in yourself and your own guidance and then begin to tap into that guidance. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, become still and focus on moving forwards with the emphasis being on what is best for you. Give yourself enough time  to really tap into your own inner wisdom. Trust what you feel, hear and see.
You know what’s best.

 Honor your truth
It is often the case we seek advice from friends, family and even colleagues when we are confused about what direction we should take with our lives. This can be helpful if the person you are confiding in truly has your best interest at heart. But be mindful to move right away from what others think you SHOULD do, especially if it is NOT what you want to do and honor your truth. Always move in the direction that resonates with YOU, not someone else. Crossroads occur time and time again throughout our lives but if you think about it….crossroads give you the opportunity to explore your next level. Accept and embrace them and see a crossroads as a positive opportunity.

 Don’t rush the process
When we are at a crossroads, we often rush decision making in order to begin the process of moving forwards and away from the confusion associated with which direction to take. When you are faced with a crossroads, don’t rush the decision making process. Crossroads continuously appear and they give you the opportunity to re-examine your life and the choices you have made so far, so really trust the importance of being right here right now. This is a good thing so embrace a crossroads for what it is…a chance to make better decisions and improve your life.

 You ARE in control, even though you may feel out of control.
You absolutely have total control over every thought and action you take, so be mindful of your thoughts, words and actions. Every positive thought, word and action is a stepping stone that has the potential to lead you towards something great.

Questions
If you are at a crossroads and feel overwhelmed about your future, ask yourself the following questions to help get clarity around your life.
What is most important to me in my life?
Do my actions support what is most important to me?
What is my intuition telling me about the way forward?
What am I not seeing clearly?
What am I avoiding and what excuses am I making?
What areas of my life need decluttering so I can lighten the load and open up those pathways to opportunity?

There really is no right or wrong way to go when you’re at a crossroads – there’s only your way and remember that it is OK to not have all the answers right now. 
Whatever direction you choose, remember, the universe always creates a pathway for you,, so no matter which road you travel, the importance is on not what you do but how you do it!

Wishing you wellness in mind, body & spirit
Jo Ettles

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Many of us are working on our goals, plans and vision for 2019. It’s hard to ignore this annual ritual. If you are on social media, you will notice that there are a ton of coaches and motivators live streaming and sharing information on Goal Setting 24/7. The most common goal setting strategy taught by coaches is called SMART Goals – I am sure that you would have heard of this strategy. (Specific  Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time specific}. SMART goal setting brings structure and trackability into your goals and objectives. Instead of vague resolutions, SMART goal setting creates verifiable trajectories towards a certain objective, with clear milestones and an estimation of the goal’s attainabililty. 

Now, I personally dont use SMART goals. If I was to plan my year by setting SMART goals, it would quite literally hold me back. I would never have achieved all that I have achieved in the last few years by following this particular method.  SMART goals are not ideal for those of us with big dreams and visions because they encourage big dreamers to focus on the attainable and realistic. SMART goals tell us it’s better not to overextend ourselves and rest within our limitations. Very few great innovations or human leaps forward came from a predictable path or an idea that was immediately ‘attainable’ or ‘realistic. So what I am saying here is – It is important to identify whether or not SMART goals is the best strategy for you.
 
Far too many people have lost all grand ambitions for achieving big dreams by heeding the advice of those who insist  on telling us to follow their simple and basic ways of goal setting and living life. How sad that so many are achieving alot less than their true potential by following standard advice. If you are spending time right now, setting goals and planning your vision for 2019, here’s  another goal setting strategy called DUMB Goals – for those of you who dont want to settle for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. 

Dream-driven
Let’s have vision for our lives, not just focus on our tasks. Let’s dream big again and get our heads out of our to-dos. Are the goals we’re setting aligned with our bigger vision for our lives and our contributions?
Uplifting
How is it that smart goals have no prerequisite for positivity?
Shouldn’t our goals inspire something in us more than a need to meet a deadline? Let’s set inspiring, positive, joyous, uplifting goals for ourselves.
Method-friendly
 If we’re going to take aim at something, let it be something  that is friendly to developing practices of mastery. Martial arts, yoga, and common sports all have methods, practices, forms, and habits that are built around a broader goal and help people move to mastery. A good goal allows us to create methods and practices that help us move toward them. If we can’t build a practice around it, then we don’t have a goal, we have a task.
Behavior triggered
 When we set a goal, we should create a behavioral trigger that reminds us to chase it. For example, if we want to be a better parent, then we can set a behavior trigger to accomplish it, like a rule, so that when we pull into the driveway at night our first thought is to take a moment to center ourselves and finding a calm and loving space before entering the house. Or, if our goal is to become healthy, the trigger can be that every time we drop the kids off, we drive to the health food store. A trigger means: if I am already doing A, then I’m going to add behavior B right after in order to habitually move toward my goal; it’s a reminder and an activator.

Now, there is always an opposite to every piece of advice out there,including mine so it is important that you perhaps consider all the strategies, advice and information available when it comes to bringing your 2019 vision to life, but really, before you commit to following someone elses principles, including mine, you want to be very sure that their methods are not going to slow you down! In 2013, when I was exploring everyone’s different goal setting methods, I had scribbled down in my diary the word  DARE. I had dared myself to write 3 books in 5 years.. I achieved this goal and exceeded my own expectations because I believed that I could and I followed my own life plan – not someone elses.

My DARE strategy is as follows –
Dream
If you have a dream, decide that 2018 is the year that you will follow that dream and work towards bringing it into reality. To achieve your dream, you need to believe in yourself and absolutely ignore the naysayers. I have encountered many of them over the years. You must have absolute faith that you are good enough and great enough to make your dream happen…so right now if you are thinking of your dream and you feel like perhaps you arent good enough to achieve it, work on your own self esteem first. This will lay the foundation and allow you to work towards your biggest brightest dream!
Action
Dreaming is nothing without action.
If you want to write a book, you have to write. If you want to run a marathon, you have to train.  If you want to feel healthier,you have to choose beautiful, healthy food.  Nothing will come to fruition without some serious action. Even if your daily actions are small,even if you devote just one hour a day, every day towards your dream, just imagine what you can achieve by this time next year. AIM FOR THE STARS and take ACTION every day without fail or distraction.
Religiously – follow your dream
Religiously follow your dream and commit to doing the work. There are so many twists and turns on the way to achieving a big dream and if you have  rigid expectations and rigid goals in place, you are going to experience some real disappointments when things dont go as expected..
 Learn to be flexible and resilient so that you can still move forward  when certain things along the road don’t go exactly to plan.
Everyday
Everyday that you take action towards achieving your big dream,
you actually build momentum. Once you’ve got momentum on your side you become an unstoppable force. Everyday , ensure that you hold an unshakeable, positive and determined mindset. Everyday, acknowledge that it is just a matter of time before you achieve your big dream.

In 2019, whether your dream is small or whether your dream is massively huge and has the potential to change lives around the world for the better… now is the time to make it happen.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year
Jo Ettles

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I can’t believe that Christmas is just around the corner and we will soon be stepping into 2019. I was chatting with some colleagues the other day and we all agreed that 2018 has flown by with lightning speed. 2018 was another interesting year for me personally. It was filled with challenges, loss and grief, some real uphill battles but equally it was filled with love, joy, peace, success, some huge AHA moments and of course, many lessons.
I was also blessed to have connected with so many incredibly inspiring people who are all committed to living their lives with real purpose and passion. Every single client I worked with this year inspired me in some unique way.

This is the time of the year that people naturally start to express their relief that it is almost over. You only have to scroll through social media feeds to read the endless posts saying – Thank God it is almost behind us! Bring on 2019! Worst year ever! Annus Horribilis!

It really is human nature to focus on all of the negative things experienced more intensely and in more detail than the positive ones and it seems that there may be an evolutionary basis for this. Studies have shown that individuals who were more attuned to bad things and potential danger would have been more likely to survive threats in the Stone Age and consequently, this in itself would have increased the probability of surviving long term. It seems that survival back then required urgent attention to possible bad outcomes and way less urgent attention with regard to good ones. Based on this theory, it seems that our capacity to weigh negative input so heavily has most likely evolved for a very good reason—to keep us out of harm’s way.

After reading some really interesting studies on human psychology and our brains negative bias, I have come to the conclusion that I would never have survived the Stone Age. Had I been faced with a Sabre Tooth Tiger or a Woolly Mammoth, I would have more than likely been so taken with their greatness and beauty, I would have been oblivious to the threat that they imposed, and consequently, I would have been history! My ability to look for the good would have easily outweighed any threat.

Life is filled with highs and lows, valleys and peaks that will test your resilience, that will push you to overcome challenges, and the lessons you’ll learn on your way to the top will only make you stronger and better.

As we move towards the end of 2018, take the time to focus on the gifts that you received this past year. Even in our darkest of times, I can assure you that if you look hard enough, there is always a gift. When we spend more time counting our blessings and acknowledging all of the positives in our lives, little by little, the act of gratitude really does tip the scales toward a happier and more beautiful life. While you acknowledge your gifts, remember that every new day is a gift. It’s a gift denied to so many. A new day is a new beginning and another chance to change your life for the better. Just as importantly, a New Year is also a chance to reflect, reset and begin again.

Let’s finish 2018 focusing on all the good and let’s embrace 2019 with optimism. Let’s look back with love and gratitude and let’s look forward with hope and confidence for a better, brighter and even more beautiful future, not just for ourselves but for all of humanity.

Like every year past, I intend to finish 2018 counting my blessings, not my problems and in the true spirit of Christmas, I will acknowledge the small things, the big things and everything in between. If you want to begin 2019 feeling prosperous, look back with gratitude. True prosperity and living a rich life can only emerge from appreciating what you already have and all that you have learnt.

If you are currently writing a Christmas TO DO list, I hope you will consider including the following –

Slow down and pace yourself. What is the rush? Breathe deeply when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Give gifts made with love or give gifts of your time to family and friends. They mean more when they come from the heart.

Focus on being present. We can miss out on the most precious of moments that are happening continuously when we take for granted what is right in front of us.

Be kind to everyone you encounter, especially those under pressure to meet Christmas demands. It costs nothing to be courteous, gracious and in fact, it will uplift your spirits as well as the energy of all those around you.

Acknowledge your colleagues, friends and loved ones. Especially those that have supported you throughout the year unconditionally. Forgo the gifts. Words of gratitude are priceless.

Really stop and give thanks for all that is wonderful in your life. Do you have a roof over your head, a warm bed, family and friends who love you, the ability to choose, access to fresh food, healthcare? Then you are truly blessed.

Instead of focusing on what you will get, how about focusing on what you can give. Can you change someone else’s life for the better this Christmas? Can you donate time, perform an act of kindness or even donate money to a charity?

When you think about your intentions for 2019, don’t forget to include goals like –
Live in the moment

Pay it forward

Be grateful

Practice patience

Practice forgiveness

Keep it simple

Live with passion

Live with purpose

One of the greatest ways that you can show love to your family this Christmas is to invest in yourself. Be responsible for your own health and wellness on every level. Be mindful of your actions, your energy and the energy you share with each other and the world. Wishing you more love, less stress, true prosperity and an abundance of health and wellness for the festive season and the New Year. – Jo Ettles

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Because of this, I always let go of fixed ideas associated with everything in my life and trust that what will be …will be. This act of releasing the expected outcome and allowing things to take their natural course has changed my life for the better.

But how do you let go of something that is so important to you?
What if your emotional attachment to the outcome effects your finances, your life, your work, your relationships, your desires, your plans, your hopes, your dreams?

How on earth do you let go and just trust that things will work out for the best? 

I’ve learned to let go and trust in the  power of the universe. I’ve finally come to realize that by trying to control  the outcome of every situation, this act in itself limits my potential and seriously blocks the flow of something better than expected to happen.

If you are struggling with flow in your life or if you are just struggling in general….
maybe it is time to let go of the emotional attachment to expected outcomes. It can bring you a whole lot of peace if you embrace allowing instead of controlling.

Allowing versus Controlling
You actually have a choice. You can live your life allowing or controlling.
When you find  that you are controlling a situation or are seriously attached to a particular outcome, it is easy to become stressed and anxious. Things flow much better and more smoothly when  we give up the need to control and instead just allow things to happen. Now that doesnt mean we stop working towards the desired outcome, it just means that if we trust that we’re okay no matter what circumstances come our way, we  release a whole lot of stress and anxiety and instead  open ourselves up to all sorts of wonderful possibilities that perhaps would not happen if we are so totally attched to what we consider to be the perfect path to follow.

Let it be
It can take some work but practice makes perfect so start practicing – letting things be. Now that doesn’t mean that you can’t actively work  at creating a wonderful life, instead it means becoming fully present and totally engaged in the moment. Instead of worrying about what WILL be, just LET it be. Come from a place of acceptance – accepting that everything will work out as intended. Expectations set in stone can certainly result in disappointment. If we are attached to a certain outcome, it can be devestating when things do not follow as expected.Let the outcome BE.

Become aware
Pay attention to how often you are focussing on expectations. When you find that you’re assessing an outcome before it’s time and the focus on that outcome becomes all consuming,
that is the exact moment to let go of it.
Remove it from your thoughts and choose to let life run its course.

Think about it…
What if, instead of trying to be in constant control, you simply surrendered control to something bigger than yourself? What if, instead of working so hard to figure out every last answer, you allowed yourself to be guided?  I am grateful everyday for my awareness and I trust my intuition completely allowing it to lead me forward as intended. I am open to signs, I pay attention to my gut feelings  and I listen to those subtle messages and nudges from the universe that constantly point me in the right direction. Do you?

Meditate to control the crazy energy
Sometimes life leaves us hanging in a state of limbo. Maybe we are waiting for something important to be confirmed like a promotion, a job or even results from a medical test. Perhaps you have created a business and it is not panning out the way you planned. The energy associated with not having control can be frantic. When you feel out of control, take a few minutes to meditate. Find your center and calm your mind. 

Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra wrote a book called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.
One of his laws is- The Law Of Detachment. See below….

1. Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.

2. Today I will factor in uncertainty as an essential ingredient of my experience. In my willingness to accept uncertainty, solutions will spontaneously emerge out of the problem, out of the confusion, disorder, and chaos. The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.

3. I will step into the field of all possibilities and anticipate the excitement that can occur when I remain open to an infinity of choices. When I step into the field of all possibilities, I will experience all the fun, adventure, magic, and mystery of life.

Now with all that in mind, perhaps it is worthwhile thinking of detachment as a positive thing that has the potential for unlimited possibilities.

Wishing you wellness in Mind, Body & Spirit
Jo Ettles

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