How to Let Go of the Drama & Become a Lioness (Interview with Kayla Ramsay)

OMG, I'm crazy excited for today's Girl Power series post! You know why? Because I am interview a fellow KIWI!!!! Yes, another New Zealand who is on the path of self improvement! It's like a found a new sister in my homeland, awwww.

Her name is Kayla Ramsay and she is one to watch. She writes the most beautiful poetry I've ever read. And she has that spark, that something that tells you without words that she's going places. Welcome Kayla!

1) Since discovering you I have become OBSESSED with your work. You write the most beautiful poetry I've read in a loooooong time & your writing is like a decadent truffle. Needless to say, I love you. Tell us what made you start writing?

Thanks Elise! I’ve been writing stories since I was old enough to hold a pencil. They were always highly imaginative but as I got older, the topics got darker and darker. I stopped writing when I was about 20 because I hadn’t yet learned to embrace or accept the pain that came out in my words.

In January of this year, I knew it was time for me to start writing again, but I didn’t know where to start. One night as I was lying awake in bed, the title of my book came to me. As soon as I had the title, the rest of the book followed all at once. I had to dictate it into my phone. The funny thing is that the book involves the retelling and reframing of the stories I wrote when I was younger. It almost feels as though the book was already decided before I was born.

I think I feel compelled to write because it’s how I make sense of things. Having dyspraxia means I not only think in quite an obsessive, detailed way, but I’m also unable to grasp any of those thoughts. It’s kind of like a having a room filled with butterflies, and trying to count or group them into categories. I have to pin them down in word form, so I can create order.

The other reason is because I feel things so intensely. If I don’t write them down, I feel like I’ll combust. My poetry is like short bursts of steam – ideal for when I’m too fired up and impatient to write it all down in a lengthy way! 

In summary, I do it because it's the only thing I want to do. Because writing can fill my heart, and my heart can fill the page.

2) You've overcome such adversity in your life, what were some of the key turning points that made you decide to change? 

If I really look back, I’ve had countless turning points. Despite my main struggle being with self-loathing, I’ve always fought for my own right to happiness. I was 12 when I first asked my parents to take me to a counsellor. Since then I have actively sought help through all means possible. I saw more than a dozen professionals and even completed a psychology degree.

The reason these interventions never “worked” was because recovery was not my lesson. Every time I became well I was struck down by another challenge – whether it was physical illness, mental illness or some kind of trauma. I was being given the same lesson over and over again because I wasn’t learning it; and that lesson was that recovery is not a permanent thing. Pain is as much a part of life as joy and when you can come to embrace and accept it, then and only then can you find peace.

3) What would be your biggest tip(s) for someone going through something similar?

Remember all the best things are born out of darkness. Every star starts out as a murky cloud of interstellar dust but when the heat is turned up and the pressure increases, it explodes into a massive, luminous sphere. 

Have hope when things are at their worst - it's a sign that something far better is to come. You're not having a breakdown, you're having a breakthrough. Just ride it out.

4) What are 5 habits you believe every woman in the world should learn to adapt?

1. Learn to breathe out the pain: We women go through a lot of pain in our lives. Pain can bring with it trauma and suffering or healing and learning – but if you can use it instead of resist it, you can make it a more positive, transformative experience.
2. Understand that love is always the answer: Learn to forgive others unconditionally. Respond to anger with love. Respond to hatred with love. By doing so you’re healing both yourself and others.
3. Realise that loving someone unconditionally means you don’t need them to love you back.
4. Know that you are a Lioness: Female energy is not a softness but a strength, and that strength is infinite.
5. Help yourself, then others: You can't take care of others unless you take care of yourself first. Self-nurturing is not a selfish act.

5) What is the best piece of wisdom you've ever heard?

I usually receive the right wisdom at the right time. I love when people give it to me straight; a good friend told me a few months back, “let go of the drama” and that was just what I needed to hear! But if I was going to stick to one piece of advice it would be to trust your own instinct and never hand over your power. Grace won’t take you where you can’t walk; if you’re faced with a challenge, you can handle it. Step up and stand up for yourself.

6) What's your advice for someone who is ready to give up and revert back to their old habits?

Self-talk. We’ve got a number of guiding voices within ourselves and sometimes we just need to call upon the right one. What you need in this case is the compassionate but firm version of you. The one who says, “You’re better than this. Remember?” Have a conversation with them. Let them do the talking. Bring back that sense of your own empowerment.

7) What do you love to do on days you don't feel so great?

I usually meditate and just ride it out because I’m probably going through some sort of necessary process. If the blues stick around for too long then I’ll call upon a few tricks like waking up to watch the sunrise, listening to music, dancing, singing or exercising.

8) Who and what inspires you every day?

I find my best inspiration in nature. If you sit outdoors and just watch the plants, bugs and animals for a while, you’ll learn a lot from them. Things don’t have to be as complicated as we like to make them!

9) What's something BIG you wanna manifest and why?

I’ve learned that making wishes for my life is a bit like trying to paint a picture when I can only see 5% of the palette. I prefer to trust that I’m part of a plan more perfect than I can imagine, and allow myself to be as willing a participant as possible. So instead of manifesting, I see my goals and ambitions as part of an open conversation with the universe. Currently we’re in discussions about me publishing my book, buying a house in the country and running an animal rehabilitation centre!

10) What are your favourite things to do on a rainy day?

The sound of the rain is so soothing, so days like this are a great excuse to unwind. Have you ever noticed how otherwise energetic animals always (or only) sleep on rainy days? It’s almost like you have no choice but to hibernate. It's a good time to rest.

Is Your Relationship A Train-Wreck?

Once a year I like to watch one of my favourite movies of all time and absolutely ball my eyes out. The movie I speak of is called P.S I love you. I think you may have heard of it?

It's that movie that makes us book the next flight to Ireland in search of any man that looks like Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Dean Morgan to sweep us off our feet. Drool. Coincidentally my boyfriend just so happens to be tall, dark, sexy as hell, Irish and handsome. Jackpot baby!

But as much as we'd LOVE to have a relationship as profound as Holly's and Gerry's, the painful truth is that relationships don't just happen like that.

My early 20s conversations with my girlfriends were a mixtape of how miserable I was being in love with somebody who didn't love me back, how much I knew he was it or how if I just did this or said that or declared this, everything would change.

Needless to say my love life was a train-wreck.

Not long ago when I felt the fear of losing my current relationship due to my own insecurity (again), I had only two options.

1) Let the fear barrage through me & lose my relationship.

2) Ignore my habituated victim-mode, grab the reins & take action.

Can you tell which option I took?

Instead of crying myself to sleep, asking my boyfriend if he really loved me for the millionth time and picturing ways I would get back at him for "hurting me", I did the unthinkable. I went out and got a life.

I took the bull by it's balls and I got my ass to work. I declared to myself that there was no way in HELL I was gonna lose this relationship to the same self-sabotaging pattern again! The only way that would happen is if someone cheats, comes out of the closet or dies because this relationship was NOT ending because I was too needy.

So I googled every fear I had and ways to overcome it, I read a ton of books on love, sex and relationships, I sought out counseling, I joined a tennis club, I signed up to dance classes, I auditioned for a theatre show and I hung out with my friends more often.

And you know what getting a life did to my relationship? It made it f**king solid. We became closer, more intimate, more free with each other and best of all eliminated ALL neediness. Victory! Now we are happier, stronger and more in love than ever!

I turned my fear and my insecurity into a f**king EPIC love story. I took control and I changed my fate.

Is your relationship heading down a similar path? Or is it already a train-wreck? Ask yourself:

How can I take back the reins and turn my relationship into a f**king EPIC love story?

You deserve an AMAZING relationship filled with so much love, you have the power to change it into something OUTSTANDING, so no more depriving yourself of that okay?

If you're craving connection, join that book club and make some new friends. If you're pining for companionship, volunteer at an animal shelter. If you're missing familiarity, create a new boundary of comfortable. And if you're longing for excitement, dust off your bucket list and go and explore the world.

Now it's your turn: In the comments below, tell me one thing you're gonna do to start making your relationship an EPIC love story. I can't wait to hear your ideas!

How To Glitter Bomb Your Life With Love (Interview with Eyenie Schultz)

Argh! It's excitement all around! You know why? Because this week on Girl Power series I've got one of my fave self-improvement babes ready to dish to you her best kept secrets! Her name is Eyenie, (Ikr right, AMAZEBALLS name!), she lives in Paris, (my dream!) and she is hosting her very first retreat (something I want to do in the near future!) in Costa Rica!!!

Um can I say girl-crush right now?

In this interview you will learn how to start creating positive (glitter love bomb) change in your life and how to bust out of a funk. You'll also discover why mindset and beauty play important factors in creating a life you love and a crazy awesome tool that'll help manifest the things you want.

You are the fun and loving creator of Lucid Musing where you help unicorns believe in themselves, what made you venture down this path?

First, I want to say how effing excited and honored I am to be doing this interview with you Elise! (Teehee! Thanx Eyenie!x)

Here goes…

Oy vey, it’s a looooong story as you can imagine, but I’ll give you the nitty gritty. It’s funny because now when I look back on it, it’s as if I awakened from this intense trance or something…

I grew up being the good girl, dutiful daughter and rule follower because I sought approval and praise and accolades and high-fives to satisfy my ego. I did “everything I was supposed to do”—and it made me feel inadequate, unworthy, ugly, and like a freak show. It kept me frozen in my tracks.

I’ve always had this intense need to show other people how amazing and beautiful they are—to dazzle people by highlighting what’s best about them. I didn’t know what to do with that, and I had no idea that doing anything with it was even an option!

After years of corporate work and crying in my cubicle or in the hall on my way to the bathroom singing Bjork’s “There’s More to Life Than This”, I realized that I wanted…no, YEARNED to be a life coach! The idea scared the frick frack crapola out of me, and I was frozen, not wanting to take action, so I just hung out knowing that I really wanted to do this amazing work, but kept on plugging away at the “should”…

It hurts my guts to see other women totally missing out on their beauty and WOWness…everything that makes them magical unicorns! My mission with LucidMusing is to help women see how beautiful, dreamy, crushworthy, strong they are so they can go after what they want in life. Every woman is a magical unicorn, but so many of them don’t know it….

What inspired you to start teaching your message?

When I found out I was pregnant, I experienced a deep shift in my mindset. I realized that I wanted to be a bright-n-shiny example of “YES! YOU CAN LIVE YOUR DREAM!” and “YOU CREATE YOUR REALITY!” and “YOU CAN MAKE MONEY BY DOING WHAT YOU LOVE AND BEING OF SERVICE!” for my tiny human.

So, I grabbed my, well, proverbial cojones, and signed up to get my life coaching certification. Voila, the rest has been a result of that first mega important step!

Every single woman has amazing magical powers, beauty, strength, passion to be lived…and when I see them stuck like I used to be, feeling inadequate and/or seeking approval instead of doing what makes them gush with joy and giddiness, my first instinct is to show them all the WOW things they have going for them so that they can start truly living their lives, loving themselves and rocking all they have to rock with Technicolor confidence!

What do you believe is an important factor to creating an awesome life?

Well, I have two HUGE ones: First is MINDSET and paying attention to the thoughts that are keeping you from living vibrantly, happily.

If you lug around the mindset, “I’m not enough and life is hard!” then that’s the reality you create for yourself. When you shift this to, “I am perfectly me and I live every day with flow and ease!” it seriously is a game-changer!! YAY!

The second thing is BEAUTY. Focus on it, create more of it, see it in yourself and in others, give it away, feel it, touch it, smell it, be grateful for it. The more you do all of this, the more beauty you will float in, and the happier and more confident you will feel!

Do you have a daily ritual you like to do? If so, what are some things you do each day?

Girl, you know I do! My routine varies a little, but essentially I eat a lovely breakfast including a crazy juice mix (whatever I have available, in it goes along with some chia, ginger, flax seeds, cinnamon and loads of greens!) I often put on some music in the background to make it an event and set the tone for the day.

Then I do some meditating to open my heart and connect to the Earth and to the Universe/Source/Kosmos/God and set the intention for the day, like, “Today I am productive, but give myself space for fun!” I move my body to shake out any negative or yucky stuff. Most mornings I write a few declarations in my manifestation journal and/or spend a few minutes repeating some of the lovely things I would like to invite into my life.

Oh! And I always light a candle and some incense (I’m hooked on coconut scented lately, it is simply wowy zowy!!!!) Recently, I started doing exercise again, so after that about 20-minute experience, I do some kick-ass cardio or interval training. Voila!

What are your tips for someone who wants to start making positive change in their lives?

If you are truly ready to make change, the first thing you can do is accept that all things that are out of your circle of control (anything that is not decided/done/undone by you directly) is the way it is, and you cannot change it. Woooh, I even have to take a breath after that because it’s big.

Certain things, circumstances, people simply will not change, so why spend so much of your time, energy and mental space worrying about it? Just release it and know it is perfect as it is.

The second thing I would recommend is really focusing on today. The past happened, and the future is ahead, and that’s great, but what can you do *today* to make your existence a more pleasant one?

Instead of buying fast food and eating in your car thinking about how much your job sucks (I’ve been guilty of that, so I ain’t judgin’!), buy a salad, and take your headphones to eat at a nearby park and think of everything that *is* going right in your life. It’s these tiny experiences that actually make up the whole of your life!

Sometimes we don't feel so fantastic, what are some of your tips to help get out of the funkiness?

When we feel icky, many times the first thing we want to do is just lie down, eat bad stuff and watch TV.

We mope and it feels like our body can barely keep itself up! An easy peasy and really effective fix for this is to MOVE! Put on a song that you find irresistible to dance to, and make yourself stand up and start dancing. Once you get over the whole, “but I don’t feel like dancing”, the song’ll getcha, and you’ll get your groove on.

Make sure to jump and shake out your hands and legs to move any stuck energy around. If you don’t have music available, jump up and down shaking your arms and legs and throw some hip swivels in if you can. Another thing that works like magic is taking like 2 minutes to list 10 or 15 things that you are grateful for, that make you feel abundant, and that are good in your life.

They can be really mega simple, like, breakfast was delicious this morning, my neighbor told me my hair looks nice, the flowers I bought smell delightful. It shifts your focus and cures yuckiness stat!

What are your 5 FAAAAAAVE things to do on a mellow day?

Ooooh! Let me think, you good question-asker! I’m imagining this mellow day as rainy..

Here’s my list in no particular order:

1. Craft! I love to make things out of scraps and what may seem to be junk. The hot glue gun is my pal. We go way back.
2. Read and write.
3. Play with my tiny dancer.
4. Have a spontaneous dance party or magical meal (candles, music, even dress up sometimes)
5. Go on a dreamy enchanted forest/river/urban paradise walk

What's a magically amazing thing that has happened to you in your life?

Right after college I decided I wanted to work and live in France for a year. I bought my plane ticket and committed to sharing an apartment with a friend even though I had no idea where I would work, or how I would get my visa to stay for an entire year. I contacted the US Embassy in Paris to see if they had any jobs I could apply for, and they had nothing. Also, I had no money to take with me.

It was one week before I was supposed to leave for a year, and I was, uh, freaking out! No job lined up in France, no visa, no mula. Yowzers. So, I decided to chant like nobody’s business. I did it every single day, multiple times believing that I would magically get a visa, a job and money and that everything would be ok. Three days before my departure, I got an unexpected and beyond generous check in the mail from an old high school teacher as a college graduation gift—I was stunned and sooo grateful. A total shocker. Money—check!

Then, a couple days later I received an email about a job as an assistant that would allow me to apply for my work visa. It came from someone who I would have never thought to ask. Job—check! I contacted the embassy to let them know I had a job, and the employee said that even though I had a job lined up, it would take at least a month to process the paperwork for my visa…OH NO! A frick frack month? I was panicking because I had no money to change my ticket and would need to send my friend rent for the apartment.

I’m not sure why, but she called me later that day and said that she had called in a favor and would process my visa THE SAME DAY and overnight it to me. I got it the morning of my flight!!! Visa—check!!!! It worked out beautifully because I stopped and just believed (while taking inspired action, of course!) Manifestation at its finest! Toots, I still get goose-bumps just thinking about it!

Where is your favourite place to go in the world and why?

My grandparents’ house in Mexico City. I would go there every summer when I was a little kid.

There was always singing, dancing, piano playing, dress up! My grandmother is the one who taught me all about showing others how to see and showcase their beauty. She also taught me about manifesting and believing that anything is possible as well as making the moment as pleasant as possible.

 I remember there was a hammock outside in the backyard, and I used to swing on it and would imagine swinging so high that I’d shoot up to the sky and start flying. It’s still an overall magical, creative place for me.

What are 5 essential habits/beliefs you believe women should adapt in their lives?

Man alive, this is a good one! Here goes:

1. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! Find a word that means “beautiful” to you, and OWN IT! It doesn’t matter if you’re not “perfect” or if you think you don’t meet someone’s expectations—all that matters is what YOU think!!! Seriously!
2. Make decisions + take action from a space of LOVE not FEAR. Love for yourself, others, life… When we do things based on fear, the outcome ain’t pretty! We end up doing things that don’t feel good, and that can get messy and mucked up. Acting from LOVE can be difficult at first, but it’s wonderful for your confidence, self-love and overall happy dappy living.
3. Kick negative self-talk to the curb. Pay attention to yucky thoughts you have repeatedly that make you feel like crapola, and replace them and breath. They aren’t “real” or “true”…but they make you react and live as if they were. Choose positive, uplifting, kick-ass motivating thoughts that make you feel lovely and all “hell yeah!” instead!
4. Be grateful! Look around you every live long day and make note of all the dreamy, floaty, wow in your life! If you can keep it logged in a gratitude jar or journal, all the better for easy reference when you’re having a yuck day or moment.
5. Send glitter bombs of love. When you want to talk smack about or to someone, or when you find yourself annoyed, send the person (or yourself!) a blessing and some light instead! You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel about the world and yourself.
6. BONUS!! I just couldn’t resist this one because it is SO important! Remember to HAVE FUN!! It’s sacred and vital to a happy and healthy life! Make room for it in your agenda, seek it out, create it, invoke and invite it in, say yes to it! FUN is just as important as being productive, working, honoring your commitments, etc. So off you go to have some!!!

YAY!!

How To Live Ambitiously & Stay Spiritual (Interview with Rachael Lynn)

When you think about the people you admire today, I'm sure you've found yourself wondering how they got there. Well, the woman I am interviewing today is one of those people you are gonna wonder about years down the track. So just so you know, you saw her HERE first! :P

She's volunteered for Deepak Chopra, created her own spiritual practice AND is about to become a New Yorker! In this weeks Girl Power Series we have the goooooorgeous Rachael Lynn of Living Ambitiously!

1) You are all about living ambitiously, what does that mean for you and how did you come to discover this concept as a way of being?

I asked someone who knew me well to pick a word to describe me back when I started my very first blog. They said "ambitious". I was very proud of that. Today, my definition of ambition is totally different than what it was then. Let me explain.

A lot of people think being ambitious means working hard, pushing your limits, reaching success. Actually, the dictionary defines ambition as: A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. And that's exactly what I thought it was too.

I was that person - working two part time jobs, full time student, gave the speech at my University Graduation (it's floating out on YouTube somewhere), and got a "real" job right out of school.

But, as you can probably guess, none of that stuff made me happy. I mean, it did temporarily, but I had that gut feeling of something missing that we talk about so much on our blogs.

Today, I don't believe in hard work. I've reached that point in my spiritual practice where I know that life and getting what we want is less work and more play. So now, Living Ambitiously means being determined to follow your heart, your dreams, and follow love, wherever that might take you - without all the stress.

2) What made you decide to volunteer at the Chopra Center run by Deepak Chopra?

A desire to finally "get" what I was looking for emotionally. I had a pretty regular meditation practice at the time, but I felt like I needed something to immerse myself in in order to get a jump start on something life-changing.

I scanned the Chopra.com website, sent in a request for volunteering, and forgot about it. Weeks later I was contacted by their volunteer coordinator at the time, Wendi, and I was so excited. The trip itself (from Buffalo, NY to Chicago and a week at a hotel) cost me money I wouldn't "usually" spend, but that week changed my life.

If you've ever meditated, imagine that feeling being amplified by 200 people meditating around you - being open, vulnerable, and smiling the whole time. It's not something you could ever regret. Plus, I wanted to see if Deepak was for real. All I can say is that he is an enlightened spirit with some very human qualities, which was nice to see.

3) Are you a very spiritual person? What are some of your practices? 

We are ALL spiritual people! It took me a while to figure that out. Spirit isn't just present when we meditate or do yoga. It is always there. I've learned to speak to my spirit as if it is a second person, an older, wiser self whose opinion I respect very much. I try to check in with her as many times a day as I can, even if just to acknowledge that she's there. I notice that I forget to talk to her the most when I am stressed. To bring her back out I write, light candles, go to Bikram Yoga, or meditate with incense.

But I believe that spiritual activities and activities that bring pleasure are the same. Feeling pleasure means we are making our spirit feel good. And by pleasure I mean anything - eating chocolate, getting a pedicure, or lovin' your partner. Whatever works ;)

4) What are your tips for people wanting to live more ambitiously?

Stop trying to be/have/do it all. Remember that the visible sides you see of people are usually only the good sides (or the sides they want you to see), you never know what's going on behind the scenes. So chase your own dream.

Love yourself first. Always Always Always. That's why I love reading what Elise writes so much, because if I'm forgetting to take care of myself that day, I'm reminded to stop and find a way.

Then, spend time with people who are doing what you want to be doing. People who are better, smarter, or stronger than you. There is no reason to be intimidated by these people or ashamed of where you are. Use them as inspiration and motivation to teach you some of the tools you can use to complete your journey.

5) And for the days when we can't see the light, what would you recommend doing?

Make a conscious decision to choose when to stop feeling miserable. It is important to feel whatever you are feeling and understand that it's not bad, but if you listen close enough, you will know exactly what your body/spirit is asking for. In my experience, it has always been SELF LOVE.

Recently, I've gotten so caught up in this move I'm about to make (I'm moving to New York City!) that I have felt totally drained. My body is so in tune with my emotions that if I stop taking care of myself for even two days, it becomes extremely fatigued, irritable, and I get headaches that make me nauseous.

I went through that for three days this week wondering "WTF is happening?". Finally, last night, I went to bed at 9pm, and I slept until 8am. I feel so much better! Never underestimate the power of taking care of yourself. Or sleep, I love sleeping.

6) What are you craving more of in life right now?

Sun. Literally, in Buffalo right now it is cold and a combination of rain/snow. I am craving summer so badly. To me summer will always bring ice cream, pretty clothes, flowers and hopscotch. I am craving more of those opportunities to bring pleasure into my day.

7) Who inspires you? 

Any woman who does what she wants; who shows me that you can work from the beach and make your own schedule and make money. Also, anyone who allows themselves to be vulnerable.

Vulnerability takes so much courage that I think the definitions of Strength and Vulnerability should be swapped. If you want specifics, I choose Jennifer Pastiloff. I've uncovered her recently and her writing is so raw that it will evoke emotion in anyone.

8) If you could manifest anything you wanted, what would it be and why?

Short term: A freaking great apartment in New York. There are really great places there you just have to know where to look. NYC is somewhere that can easily make a person feel lost. I want a place to come home to that I can decorate and have a sanctuary. I'm seeing Buddha's, Candles, lots of turquoise, and a 5 minute walk to the water.

Long Term: A portable stream of income. By portable, I mean that I can take it with me from NYC to California to Toronto, New Zealand, Thailand, and anywhere else I want to. I have this dream to help people from other countries find their voice. You see, as an American I'm always somewhat ashamed of our ignorance. We have many positives, but being internationally aware is not (in my opinion) one of them.

I guess this only started to develop in me in University when I became friends with all sorts of international students and I was amazed by how much we had in common. But why should we be amazed? We're all people, after all. So long term I would like to find a way to use my online platform to bring awareness to my beautiful country.

Both of these things are going to happen, this I know - but sometimes a girl is just so impatient!

9) What can we expect from LivingAmbitiously.com?

While I am going through this transition of uprooting my whole life and moving it somewhere very different, I am sure to go through a lot of things. I want to be able to share them with my readers along the way. I may even depend on you guys to be my support for a little while.

I also plan on incorporating a little more "culture" to the site. The life lessons you can learn from people of different backgrounds are invaluable, and I think I'll be meeting a lot more inspirational people! I can't wait to share that with everyone.

How to Easily Practice Gratitude On A Busy Schedule

How awesome is it that we have the gift of gratitude?

The reason I call it a gift is because whatever you bestow your gratitude on becomes more in harmony with the universe.

Now that's amazing right?!

So how often do you practice gratitude anyway? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? (Even if it was once a year that would still be enough).

Sometimes it can be a little hard to remember to practice gratitude everyday. What with uni, work, sports, hobbies, family, relationships and 'you-time' - it can fall a little to the wayside.

I've found that in my own busy life, there are ways to get your daily gratitude fix without trying to find and force time for it.

The simplest way to practice gratitude is...

At the end of your day when lying in bed and ready to fall off to sleep, go back in time to the moment you woke that day and slowly go through your day thanking life for all of the beautiful things that happened.

You may even find you're grateful for things you didn't notice at the time but sub-consciously registered.

Start off slow at first, spend maybe 1 - 2 minutes going through your day. If you're a rusher like I can be sometimes, spend the first week only taking short amounts of time.

As you progress, you'll find you can recall more detail and even savor the moments all over again. You may become more excited about delighting in these moments that you go to bed earlier just so you can spend 10, 20 or even 30 minutes appreciating the day you just lived.

The added benefits are, not only are you re-training your mind to automatically find the good in every detail of your life, you're also improving your memory and guaranteeing yourself a harmonious sleep. Waking in the morning feels joyful, energizing and centering.

Action Step: In the comments below, tell me what's one thing that happened today in your life that you're grateful for?