I have been a bit quiet recently. But just on the blogging and newsletter front. You see there are huge, huge changes going on in my life right now, so there have been other priorities in my head. I would really like to share these exciting experiences just because I am learning so so much from them and my developments are just a living proof that with the right knowledge and support we can emerge from something potentially crushing simply shining, empowered and hugely excited about life.

Before I start, I would like give myself a little high-five for being so publicly open about my personal life in this post. A few years ago, I was too shy to even register on a forum let alone leave a comment, or write a blog post or anything like that. I’ve not always been this brave, but boy, is life fun when you start pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone!

Basically my whole life has gone upside down, inside out, side-step, tango, waltz, fox-trot and jitterbug.

Since April I have done the following:

- amicably ended a very lovely 8.5 year relationship

- changed my ‘day job’ (I quit an unfulfilling job in finance and now work part-time in Business Development for an inspiring company that works with personal development and leadership training and I will soon go on to facilitate workshops and coach individuals)

- finished renovating my house in order to put it on the market

- thought long, long, long and hard about where I want to live in this world (I’ll keep you posted on my decision!)

- re-homed my beautiful dog (heart-break city!) as I wont be able to give her the attention and time she needs to thrive after my house is sold

- started doing fun but brave things such as Dj:ing

- expanded my social life in Sweden and UK by about a million % (which takes quite a bit of coordinating actually!)

And at the same time making exciting progress with my company:

- qualified as a Vegetarian and Vegan Nutrition Consultant

- launched my coaching services and seen some amazing results with a fabulous client!

- joined up with 2 lovely girls to plan a fab High Energy workshop in London in November 2011 (read all about it here)

When writing this it just feels like a list of things, but it when you are actually in it and living it, it really is incredibly intense and challenging. And I am sure that if you have ever done any of these things you will appreciate just how much they can impact your life…let alone when all happening at the same time in the space of a few months!

The most amazing thing I have experienced is that by applying all the things I learned over the years, I have not only managed to survive this incredibly turbulent time, but I feel that I am leaping from it full of love and life and zest for new exciting things.

Here is what has been the key to keeping me sane, happy and healthy:

1. Raw Food
I have been really motivated to keep as high-raw as possible simply because I immediately notice the positive effects. Cooked food does not give me the clear mind and the super high energy that I have needed for this period. Having a clear mind means that I am able to analyse my feelings much better and make sensible decisions. It has also prevented me from comfort eating and numbing any pain with things like refined sugar or heavy comfort food like toast! Working through these feelings is far more progressive and healing I find!

2. Avoiding stimulants
Staying clear of coffee, refined sugar and alcohol has also reduced the risk of feeling any extra anxiety and keeps my blood sugar stable. If I feel I need pepping up then I will either go for a run, or have a little nibble on some raw chocolate instead, which does not shock my body like coffee does. If I need the relaxing effects that alcohol can give, I do some yoga or exercise and make sure I take a few deep deep breaths. I have also been very kind to myself and when I do really feel I need time out, I will take it. Sometimes that means saying no to some people and commitments, but in the long run this ’selfish act’ is a great investment and actually makes me a nicer person to be around!

3. Exercise
This has really been a saviour. Exercise relieves stress tremendously and there is nothing like a good work out to release mood-elevating endorphins. I am also finding it really fun to set myself physical goals and challenges which offers a great respite from the emotional ones I have been experiencing!

I have also found that I have stayed away from comfort eating rubbish food or binging on booze (like I have done in previous years when facing a challenging time) because moderate exercise makes me feel a lot better. And since I know how good working-out makes me feel, it means that I don’t want to feel hungover or sluggish from comfort eating and therefore refrain from eating and drinking naughtiness.

4. Positive supportive and inspiring people
I am so in love with the people that I have in my life these days! I find I tend to stay away from people who deal with their unhappiness by trying to bring others down with negative remarks and energy. At a time when you need to be really brave, you need people who support you. Even if you don’t personally know people like this, reading inspiring books and blogs, or connecting with others on the internet or by attending inspiring events is a true gift!

5. Coaching
I draw on the wisdom I get from my coach and from my own knowledge of coaching. This is such a powerful tool for personal growth and bursting through challenging times. Becoming aware of why we think and act in certain ways is hugely empowering, and mastering the skills of breaking things down into small achievable steps is so useful . Oh, I could go on and on about this, but I wont. But it really has made the difference between crumbling into a heap of despair and rising out the ashes like a glorious, sassy phoenix!

So, dear friend, that is what my life has been the past few months. There are lots of exciting and challenging times ahead, but I am learning so much and am actually feeling pretty bloomin’ spectacular.

I really hope this post inspires you to see any challenging period you experience as an opportunity to grow and do brave things. It really is quite amazing!

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A few weeks ago I shared with you the tale of our blocked toilet. If you have not yet read this piece of life-altering material than you can find it here.

The blockage is now thankfully clear but shortly after we had fixed the problem an emotional block that I was experiencing cleared too. I have read that emotional issues can be manifested in seemingly unrelated physical occurrences. For example your front door may be difficult to open, representing a problem that you have with ‘letting people in’ and making yourself vulnerable and open to other people. I am wondering if this is what had happened to me.

About the time that our toilet problem started to occur (which was several weeks before it became completely apparent) I had come up against some problems of a technical and practical nature in the setting up of my venture www.miss-best.com . It was a bit of a stinker at first (much like the first signs of our toilet issue) but I didn’t think it was going to be much of a problem. Well, it needn’t have been if I had just gotten on and tried to resolve it as soon as possible, but I sort of sat on it for a while (the problem, not the toilet!). I knew it would have to be dealt with eventually, but the more days that passed, the more of a block it had mentally created for me until about the time of the peak of the toilet blockage when I really felt I had ground to a halt. This had prompted me to question my ideas, my ability, commitment and enthusiasm to a point that it made me want to give up on the whole idea and go and work for McDonalds. Well, not really…I would never be that desperate. I would rather work as a go-go dancer than for that company. That place is the antithesis of my planned venture. I am hoping to inspire people to live a joyful and fulfilled life and to reach good health. I hope to promote earth, animal, body and soul friendly food and to choose respect over profit.

Anyway, having almost giving up on my planned projects, one can say it left me with a sense of lacking purpose. But it took me a while to figure that out, and in the meantime I was going around with a confused question mark above my head. I knew something was up, so I decided to award myself a ‘free day’ to try and heal and figure out what was going on. So, on that day, instead of plowing on lovelessly with practical things, I stayed in bed.

I woke up without an alarm clock, trotted downstairs and made myself a yummy and healthy breakfast and a big pot of tea, and went back to bed where I allowed my thoughts to wonder freely as I stared at the ceiling, propped against a comfy cushion with a pile of books and notepads at my side. I wasn’t cured of my blockage immediately, but it treated my inner self to a restful day. A day that I prize more than a stay at a 5 star spa. (Why do we only allow ourselves to linger in bed when we are ill and not able to enjoy the experience as fully as we would do were we not coughing and sneezing or nursing a pounding head? It really is such a restorative and healing thing to do for ourselves – you should ask for a day in bed for your next birthday/anniversary/Mother’s day present. Find a nice distraction/minder for your little ones, turn off the phone, resist plugging in online, make a pot of tea/jug of juice or smoothie and just delight in your duvet enshrined paradise.)

But a couple of days ago, for no apparent reason, I felt inside of me an unblockage (and not in the bowel department either!) I suddenly saw my projects with rested eyes, and realised the potential that I have to create the life that I want to lead.

Since then I have resolved the initial problem that initiated this little diversion of mine which then opened up a new phase in my start-up plan. The seeds that I had sown have started to grow a little. Well, you can after all grow pretty flowers from a pile of shit. There I go again, I think I am getting a bit obsessed with toilets. Wonder what that is a sign of?

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