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Published by Sarah Laurie Lifestyles Ltd 214-220 Queen St Auckland new Zealand
For more information about our resources please visit www.sarahlaurielifestyles.com A catalogue record of this book is available at the national Library of nZ
First published 2014 Text Š Sarah Laurie 2014 The moral rights of the author have been asserted ISBn 978 0 473 27958 5 This book is copyright. Except for the purposes of fair reviewing no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Design by Sheryl nicholson
“We are biologically designed to flourish‌ By understanding and utilising the simple, yet robust tools of the human body we become happier, healthier and more vitalâ€?
Sarah Laurie
Also by Sarah Laurie
Book Change your Life: 12 Principles for Beautiful Living e-workbooks Change your Life: 12 Principles for Beautiful Living S.P.A.R.K.L.E 7 Steps to Restore your Sparkle Linen bound Lifestyle Journals Be Journal Dream Journal Gratitude Journal Gorgeous Lifestyle Planners To Do lists Weekly Planner Meal Planner Chores Chart Shopping Lists Health & Wellbeing Planner Daily Happiness Habits Luxe Lifestyle Pieces Embossed Folio Embossed Case for ipad and devices
www.sarahlaurielifestyles.com
For my gorgeous children who inspire me every day - I treasure you
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION
.........................................................
13
CHAPTER ONE Ignite your inner gifts ....... Inspiration vs. Motivation ....................................... The Pyramid of Health, Happiness and Vitality .................................................................... Create robust, positive beliefs .............................. What are beliefs? ........................................................ Change your beliefs ................................................... Establish your priorities and values .................. What are values? ........................................................ Discover your values ................................................. Know and utilise your skills and attributes ... Physical lifestyle factors .......................................... Summary ........................................................................ Checklist .........................................................................
19 20
CHAPTER TWO Nourish your body ............... Love ................................................................................... Your inner dialogue ................................................... Affirming language ..................................................... Be solutions-oriented ................................................ Create consistent, positive patterns of behaviour .................................................................. Summary ........................................................................ Checklist .........................................................................
45 48 49 50 52
22 25 25 27 31 32 34 38 40 42 42
54 55 56
CHAPTER THREE Share your life well with others ................................................................... Mirror neuron system ............................................... The circles of relationships .................................... Enhance your relationships .................................. Be your best .................................................................. Engage ............................................................................. Listen ................................................................................ Have good intentions ................................................ Results ............................................................................. Sincerity .......................................................................... Give ................................................................................... Acknowledge ................................................................. Look with fresh eyes .................................................. Summary ........................................................................ Checklist ......................................................................... CHAPTER FOUR Prepare beautifully ........... Section One: The Hierarchy of Organisational Perspective ..................................................................... The order of the world .............................................. Nature knows best ..................................................... Organise in accordance with nature ................. Inherent personal order ........................................... Your wellbeing .............................................................. A day in your organised life ................................... Priorities .......................................................................... Rituals .............................................................................. Joy ..................................................................................... Tasks and responsibilities ......................................
58 59 61 63 64 64 65 66 66 67 67 67 68 68 69 71 72 73 74 76 77 79 84 88 90 94 95
Declutter ......................................................................... Identify your challenges .......................................... Know your triggers ..................................................... Use a well functioning to do list .......................... Create a weekly plan .................................................
96 101 101 102 104
Section Two: Manage your time beautifully .... The science of time .................................................... The psychology of time ............................................. 7 tips to improve your time perspective ...........
105 107 108 110
Section Three: Create lovely habits .................... 115 Understanding your habits .................................... 116 4 tips to assist you to create new habits ......... 116 Section Four: A list of lists ...................................... 35 Ideas for a fresh start ......................................... 6 tips for being calm and organised ................... 5 tips to be more organised in your home ...... 4 simple household joys – a new perspective Examples of seasonal tasks ................................... Summary ........................................................................ Checklist ......................................................................... CHAPTER FIVE: Indulge your sensory receptors ....................................................................... The disproportionate benefit of sensory attentiveness ................................................................. Daily happiness habits ............................................ A sensual home ...........................................................
118 119 124 125 128 130 134 135
137 138 138 139
A day in your home ................................................... Intuition – your beautiful sixth sense ............... Tune into your senses .............................................. Summary ........................................................................ Checklist .........................................................................
141 142 144 149 150
CHAPTER SIX: Restore your energy ........... Understanding physical exhaustion .................. Understanding emotional exhaustion ............... Replenish your emotional reserves .................... Another of the many lessons from my children .................................................................... Cultivate enthusiasm ................................................ Summary ........................................................................ Checklist .........................................................................
152 154 154 155 163 167 171 172
CHAPTER SEVEN: Explore your beautiful life ................................................................ The wellbeing plan first ............................................ Write your ideas with a pen ................................... The left brain/right brain theory ......................... Memory and learning ................................................ Write about your beautiful life .............................. Create an annual lifestyle plan ............................ Try something new ..................................................... Summary ........................................................................ Checklist .........................................................................
174 175 176 177 178 178 180 184 184 185
The A – Z of happiness
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From Tired to Inspired
Inspiration breathes life into your world. It enriches the mundane. It weaves threads of content through the fabric of your everyday living.
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Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Today’s woman is more tired and busier than at any other time in history. I’ve worked with hundreds of wonderful women whose lives had become a haze of activities, responsibilities and deadlines. They would yearn for calm, for enough time, for success, for joy. And they would yearn for a time when money, jobs, responsibilities and ‘rush’ no longer robbed them of their beautiful life each day. Although many of these women came into my practice seemingly tired, overwhelmed, out of balance, or burnt out; what we discovered was it wasn’t always ‘tired’ we were working with – it was uninspired. These clever, loving, ambitious women have full lives. And upon excavation we discovered that the elements of their daily lives that were wearing them out were in fact the cherished, special, meaningful elements.
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From Tired to Inspired
Children, homes, passion-lead businesses, growing careers and lovers – draining us, yet sadly these are the elements that should be enriching us. So hence my exploration into the field of energy and inspiration - and what a wonderful field to explore. Of significance, what I’ve discovered is that we are missing a vital ingredient as we attempt to restore energy, be more productive and feel happier. Science is teaching us that with regard to our energy, the human condition has two key sources – physical and emotional. Examples of physical energy sources are sleep, nutritious food, drinking sufficient water, exercise. These are vital health and energy sources; however what we now also know is they make up only 30% of our body’s energy requirements. The remaining 70% of our body’s energy requirements are emotional. Some examples of emotional energy sources are robust, positive thoughts, meditation, knowing and living in accordance with your values, forgiveness, writing gratitude, adopting a future perspective. You could be forgiven for thinking that these emotional energy sources are somewhat lightweight. Research is teaching us otherwise. We now have research
that
demonstrates
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how
vital
these
Introduction
emotional energy requirements are to our health, happiness, success and wellbeing. There is also another factor that is integral to living a vital life. To understand it we need to distinguish between two words that are commonly interchanged, yet shouldn’t be - motivation and inspiration. By definition, motivation is said to be derived from external factors - for example to do lists, job descriptions, the family calendar, meals to plan, business deadlines to meet – all external factors that need adhering to. Motivation is about adhering to what needs doing, and mustering the resources to get things done. It is invariably driven by a focus on tasks, responsibilities and the expectations of others. We can source energy to motivate us in the short-term, however when we are continually driven by what needs doing we become tired. A task focus depletes our energy. As we expend our energy on these tasks our energy depletes. Conversely, inspiration is described as being derived from internal factors, for example our inherent beliefs, a personal set of values, utilising our unique and beautiful skills and attributes – inner gifts from Mother Nature.
An internal, values based focus
generates energy. A key factor in restoring energy
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From Tired to Inspired
is to link what we need to get done - our energy drainers, to what is meaningful and important to us, our energy generators. From Tired to Inspired is about assisting you to live a healthy, happy, vital life - to have energy. So that you no longer see your tiredness as a stage in your life that you must endure. Instead you will see your tiredness as a signal to introduce a new, simple set of lifestyle habits. I have outlined seven beautiful, nourishing steps - ignite your inner gifts, nourish your body, share your life well with others, prepare beautifully, indulge your sensory receptors, restore your energy and explore your beautiful life. My intention is that you come to view these as your biological resources – your recipe for energy and inspiration.
Where previously you may have
searched to muster your enthusiasm via external means – perhaps changing jobs so you feel happier, or updating your home so you like it more, or more simply, staying in on a Saturday night so you don’t feel so tired the next week or just trying to work a little harder to stay on top of things; let’s see that as yesterday’s cycle. Within the chapters of this book you will find a gentle blend of science, wellbeing practices, personal
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Introduction
stories and insights, practical examples, checklists, and fresh perspectives. My wish for you is that you see the cherished aspects of your life again, and learn a new formula. A formula that Mother Nature gifted you with for living a beautiful, inspired life...
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