I had business meeting last week and the person in question felt that life ‘owed them something’ a vile rant of negativity and bitterness. I excused myself from the meeting as I couldn’t be present any longer in such bitterness and venom. How could anyone work with this person or company is beyond me.
But then my integrity was brought into question as I didn’t want to surround myself with people like that. They thought I wouldn’t turn down a deal for minimum effort and a good pay day.
But a life lesson I learned many years ago if you can avoid working with DICKS or NEGATIVE NEDS on a project if you can survive financially without the gig. Then run a mile. The negative energy working against yourself with people who just pour out venom.
So I knew they wouldn’t take my rejection lightly so then it turned into a personal attack on me. I smiled back and just laughed. You see in life certain people can only hide behind their masks before you see the real character unfold before you.
So just think you are halfway through a project and then you are kicked down by people like this. Who you thought had your back but yet they just hid behind their masks.
Wow that got a bit dark but you have to speak the truth. Always go with your gut. Believe in you.
Now all about the blank page.
I had a massive fight with Ali last summer. I was shouting on the phone, telling her if she didn’t write a paragraph on a book that we all knew she had it in her, I wouldn’t speak to her.
I hated doing it but it had to be done. We didn’t speak for a short period of time. Then my phone rang, with an apology and she started to write something every day during the course of 5 days.
Now her book ‘Minding Mum’ has its launch next week in Dublin. I’m so proud of you Ali.
To all the Mothers out there, to all the single mothers and single fathers in the world. I salute you.
Buy ‘Minding Mum’.
But that is Lightning Positivity right there, a blank page, a push in the right direction and when you start to believe in you. Anything is possible.
Happy Tuesday Peeps.
Shine On .
Posts
A deal of the century was on the cards, too good to be true but my agents were confident. I was assured. My mind raced with wonderment and adventure. A financial deal that would look after me for the next two years.
But if the money ain’t in your bank account, the gig is not real. Late phone call we hit a stumbling block with contracts and legalities.
But I’ve been here before and I learnt from the past. So I was gutted but the deal wasn’t a banker for me.
Devastated over dinner, not hungry, still on my new healthy buzz but I stick with it. I pardon my company from the table. It’s late and there was a slight drizzle of rain in the air.
I got dressed into my walking/running gear and I put in my ear phones and I started to run in the rain. Looked up to the stars and started to dream.
The rain was beating off my face but I felt alive. It wasn’t meant to be. Every step I took it left a negative print behind me.
These things happen in life but its how we deal with these situations and use tools or mechanisms to get over the hump.
Walking at night does it for me. Just showing you my readers we all get kicked in the stomach and that has many shapes and forms.
But we can break through those barriers and learn and grow towards the future with a mind more focused than ever before.
Training our minds towards the positive isn’t easy but it’s about repetition.
Today was the first reading of my new play ‘The Unsung Hero’ this journey has taken years to reach this point. I feel alive again.
Starting with a blank page and your mind, anything is possible.
For this week’s Wellness Wednesday I’m chatting to Activities & Resources Manager with Pure Results Bootcamp Niall O’Callaghan. Pure Results Bootcamp is owned by TV Presenter Kathryn Thomas and I recently had the pleasure of being part of a wellness event in Arnotts with both Kathryn and some of her team including Niall. As a Fitness Instructor, Strength & Conditioning Coach and Life Coach, Niall has a varied role and quite a different one from his Engineering & Project Management background.
Niall also now runs his own Fitness Classes and provides the Corporate World with activities and workshops to help motivate people to be active and to be at their best, both for themselves, their families and everyone else around them! He loves to participate in Road Races, Marathons, Adventure Races & Triathlons. He works alongside his wife Jennifer, a Nutritional Therapist & Health & Wellness Coach and together they provide the complete package for everyone looking to make improvements in Health, Fitness & Wellbeing area of their lives. So just how does he balance it all? Read more to find out!
How would you describe your lifestyle?
I would consider my lifestyle a really exciting one. I’m really proud to say that I live an extraordinary life with lots of excitement, adventure, challenge, love, fun and really good people. Since I have started working with http://pureresultsbootcamp.com/ & Kathryn Thomas, I have found that I really enjoy what I do, and that lots of other exciting opportunities are coming up, which are all in line with how I want my future to pan out.
What’s your favorite food? Naughty or nice.
I love home cooked food (something simple like a homemade turkey bolognaise) or a stir fry with lots of vegetables. I especially like these after being away from home for a few days. I’m also very lucky that Jen is always experimenting with new foods for her Nutrition Workshops so I get to try new and exciting foods (and some treats of course). I also love dark chocolate and a big treat for me is a double chocolate muffin (gluten free of course).
Do you exercise and if so what do you do to keep fit?
I exercise nearly every day, I’m a strong advocate of everyone getting some exercise, even if it’s a 20min walk, everyday. It’s also good to have a rest day from intense exercise at least once per week. I’m lucky that training is part of my job with Pure Results Bootcamp and I also have my own classes and clients.
I go through phases of my own training. I focus on the next event that I want to complete like a 10-mile road race, a marathon or an adventure race and base my activity to suit. It gives me a good variation and I like that. I love to do a marathon every 2-3 years so that when it comes around again I’m really hungry to do as well as I can. I really enjoy the training and lead up then.
How do you find balance in your day-to-day life?
I think it’s all about planning and preparation. If I’m very busy, I’ll try to get some exercise done in the morning and I’m tending to prefer the mornings now for exercise. This may mean getting up really early but that’s ok once I get enough sleep. I do get 7 hours quality sleep most nights. To keep a balance, I also like to have some quiet time for meditation, just 10-15 mins in the morning does me. I also like to have some time everyday to spend with Jen to catch up on what’s going on or just to chill out.
How do you manage stress in your life? Do you meditate? Have you ever tried it?
Yes, a good day for me is a day when I have meditation as part of it. I also recently started a new technique called priming. This really gets me in the zone! A little stress can be good when it’s causing me to go outside my comfort zone. I’m lucky that I don’t think I have much stress in my life at the moment. I heard recently that when you are very busy doing something you don’t like, its stressful, but when you love what you do, being busy is just “living with passion!”.
People often set goals or intentions as they go through life. Is this something you do?
Definitely, I have a workshop that I give which is based on Goal Setting and creating Habits for Success. I always set intentions as to how I want to approach something and how I want things to work out for me. I believe it’s good to have small and big goals but the intensity or focus of these may change. It’s good to sit back and reduce the high intensity at times too.
How do you unwind after a busy day?
I enjoy getting out for a walk with Jen where we can catch up on the day’s event. I also love to get to the pool and a few minutes in a Jacuzzi is always welcomed! A good comedy always helps to switch off the brain also.
It’s the weekend, what do you do for fun?
Fun is based around exercise a lot for me. I really enjoy events like races and get a great buzz from them. The weekend is also time to catch up with family and relax with them.
What’s your top health tip for our readers?
Be active and eat well. These bodies of ours were built to move and they will perform better when they do move. Sometimes it takes a big kick-start to change a habit, and that’s what’s great about Pure Results Bootcamp, as it provides that Massive Action to get the ball rolling. The momentum for this can then last for a long time. There is lots of wisdom available on exercise and nutrition, which is provided at Pure Results, and I’m very proud to be a part of this amazing team
Finish the sentence – Being complete for me means…
Being of great service by preparing well, working hard, celebrating and recovering….
YOU CAN FOLLOW NIALL ON
or his website dynamicsuccess.net
YOU CAN FOLLOW JENNIFER O’CALLAGHAN, Pure Results Nutritional Therapist on her website www.nutrition4living.ie
Check out Pure Results Bootcamp by Kathryn Thomas here www.pureresultsbootcamp.com
NO POTATOES, BREAD OR SUGAR FOR ME – BOO HOO
Howaya, don’t worry I’m not one of those fitness fanatics. But one of my friends is getting married in March. He wants to shift some weight for the big day. One of the grooms men is a professional footballer so he’s done up a two month plan of attack to get us in shape for the big day.
So I decided to join in for the craic, that means no bread, sugar in my tea or coffee and NO potatoes. I’m a meat & potato kinda guy. So let’s see if I can still be positive over the next few weeks till I get my potato.
But in life a positive shock to the system in always a good thing. Sometimes we can fall into a pattern of a safety net, which is cool but sometimes we have to get out of our comfort zone.
I’m trying to rewire my own programming with a new mind-set to stay focused on my own journey. Reminding myself in the morning that I am talented, that I can achieve the goals I’ve set out and I congratulate myself every day. I’ve noticed a difference and I can personally feel the change in me.
I’m more focused than I have ever been. Try it out; you’ve got nothing to lose unless you are saying it to yourself in the car while stuck in traffic and both cars either side of you are thinking who is this crazy coconut.
Ah don’t mind people who slag off your Positive attitude, or what books you read. I’ve had enough negative Neds tell me so. And you know what? I don’t care and I never will if people get me or don’t. My life, my choices, my belief. I believe in the power of Lightning Positivity.
Now I just hope I don’t dream of sugar and my beloved potatoes this week as I have to wait two weeks before I can bite one.
Happy Friday Peeps
Shine On
Imagine making 12 positive changes to your lifestyle in just one year?
Thats a lot right!
Well by introducing just one small change each month its entirely possible and fun
Shine Bright
Ali xx
BE THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU WANT TO MEET
- NEGATIVE SELF-TALK
If there’s one thing you do in 2016 give up beating your self up about everything big and small. I spent most of my life doing this and let me tell you its painful, a waste of time and gets you no where so take it easy on yourself and always think: Would I talk to someone I love this way? You’ll probably find that the answer is no so please don’t do it to yourself.
- RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR PROBLEMS
Another one of my many talents! I worked hard at running away and became very good at it. I also had an awesome job as a model that helped make it even easier. The day I stopped running was the day I started really living though. The longer you run the harder it will be to catch up with yourself but it’s never to late to stop. Dealing with your problems can be really hard but in the end its so worth it to breathe easy and live freely.
- PLACING YOUR HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE
If you are not happy with what you have right now you will never be happy with what you want in the future. Right now is all there is. So for 2016 quit being a “when I get..” or “When That happens..” I’ll be happy person. Be happy with and grateful for what you have right now. Stop focusing on the end game all the time!
- PROCRASTINATING
If you constantly think about what you have to do and get anxiety because of it 2016 is the year you need to just get up and get things done. Procrastinating does nothing but cause unnecessary worry and fear. So stop thinking and start doing!!
- LETTING YOUR PAST DEFINE WHO YOU ARE
Make forgiveness a part of 2016. Start using the ‘F’ word for yourself and start healing! Your past does not define who you are today or in the future. Don’t listen to people who tell you that you can’t change. The ability to change for the better is within us all. Be the best You that you can be and live your truth.
So just do the best that you can do every day and have fun along the way. What are the top things you’re letting go of for 2016? Leave your comment below!
Shine Bright,
Ali xxxx
Hope all my readers are having a very festive Christmas! I always love this time of year and season.
Now I recently went to town with my Mother for lunch on Christmas Eve. Walking the streets of Dublin brought her back fond memories when she would meet my Father in The Westbury Hotel for midweek dates.
She asked me a question that I couldn’t answer. Out of all my various career paths, what would I wish for to happen to me in 2016? What would I love to happen?
I didn’t know! That question has sat with me since Christmas Eve. I knew I’d be writing this article today and still the answer hasn’t come to me yet.
First things first, I have a draft 1 deadline for a new play by January 15th with my dramaturg (a dramaturg is a professional position within a theatre or opera company that deals mainly with research and development of plays or operas.)
But I’m going to take out my cork board and plan my goals and wishes and what I want because right now, I don’t know. Am I fazed? Nope I’m actually quite happy. So all I can say is right now all I want is to have the banter and laugh, smile throughout 2016. But for now I’m just thinking, reflecting on the year ahead.
But next week I’ll share my goals and wish list when the light will shine and the penny will drop.
Now don’t forget there will be people around your circle in life who will tell you different, that you can’t achieve this or wish for that or plan this goal.
Always remember those “Coffee & kicks” I always talk about and the negative Ned’s who suck the life & energy out of you.
I was told I’d never make it as a professional actor, box ticked. Ah you’ll never make it as an actor in the west end, box ticked. Ah you want to make plays leave that to the professionals, box ticked.
Be butchered in the reviews, nope 5 Star Reviews. Ah he’s only an Irishplaywright, your work won’t travel, London, America, box ticked. Who’d produce or translate your work, box ticked, translated in three languages and produced in three different countries. Ah he only had one play in him; anyone can do that, one trick pony, “My Bedsit Window” my most successful play to date. Ah sure he won’t get commissioned, box ticked. This joker wants to be a screenwriter, joker, box ticked. This joker wants to sell films scripts, Walter Mitty, box ticked.
What’s the pattern? Have you noticed I’ve had people put me down, laugh at me, stab in the front and the back? Every hurdle I jump, every road block, I smash on through. Every achievement, belittled.
But I let the anger go, I focused on my positive, my career goals for me and only for me. I want you to know before you start your journey for today and throughout 2016 there will always be one plonker Rodney, but don’t waste any time on them. Smile & laugh for you and only you.
Lightning Positivity helps me push on through. Can we be positive 24/7 not at all? I always say embrace those horrible, murky grey duvet days and admit that ya know what? Today was awful but tomorrow will be beautiful.
I just want you to push on through. I love people, helping people but I don’t know what I want for 2016 but all I know is that I hope its The Year of the Banter for all of my readers.
I’ll always be open & honest with you guys.
I stated that from my first article.
Don’t let negative Ned’s decide your future.
Being struck by lightning thought me the most valuable life lesson, the GIFT of being alive for another day.
Shine On
DG
This #MindfulMonday I wanted to tell you about my Jar of Goals. 2015 has been a truly transformational year for me. This time last year I had so many hopes and dreams. I wanted to write a book, rebrand my website, finally kick my addictions and so much more.
That is not just any old list and it’s a pretty big ask but in the years building up to 2015 I had already been making small changes which helped me to turn corners this year.
Years ago I used to say things like ah feck it I can party like a rockstar and treat myself really poorly, eat shit food, sit on the couch and feel depressed because after Christmas I’m going to turn my life around. That my friend’s is a load of bullshit and you know it!!
“Living a healthy and happier lifestyle is something you do 365 days a year and not just for January.”
Waking up January 1st, joining the gym, cutting out all tasty food and eating bland boring seemingly healthy food (healthy food is not boring!!) will make even the toughest and most determined amongst us miserable.
The 1st thing you need to work on is your mindset. We all want to be happier but that doesn’t come from sacrificing the things that you perceive to bring you joy. It comes from changing your habits and understanding that some of the things we have been told about being healthy are lies like:
- You will be boring
- Life will be less exciting
- Food will be horrible
- You’ll have to torture yourself with exercise you hate
This list is endless but you get my point. Simply stop doing things you don’t enjoy because you think you have too!! Find an exercise you like, get creative with food, try new things and step outside your comfort zone.
So instead of trying to overhaul your life in January try a different approach:
- Write down 12 goals on small pieces of paper
- Fold them up and put them in a small jar
- Plan on working on just one a month
- Open the jar at the end of 2016 to see what you have done
I opened my jar and although I didn’t do them all I did pretty well. I wrote a book, started a new website, gave up drinking and started being nicer to myself. The things I didn’t get to are going back in the jar with new exciting ones for 2016.
So give yourself a break this New Year and don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t overestimate what you can do in January and underestimate what you can achieve in a year!
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK FOR DAILY INSPIRATIONS
Ali xx
This Christmas all I ask of my readers is to reach out to friends or family who will be lonely. It costs nothing and can be the most rewarding gift of all.
I worked in the meals & wheels and I’ve seen how the elderly can be left on their own. I was their only point of contact. Made it my business to have the chat with them all and it was the best gift I could ever give and I’m still left with fond memories.
Now don’t get me wrong some of them would test your bloody patience. We all have the Bahumbug friend who hates you & Christmas but don’t give up on them and offer them a hand or just let them rant to someone. Your good deed for the festive holiday.
So before Christmas day find an hour for you. Grab a hot or cold drink and think about visualising your goals for January. We talk about it, think about it but do we actually commit fully to visualising in such detail we believe in the picture we’ve created.
Think about one great moment this year, one achievement, one happy memory that’s three great feelings in one year. Let’s not think or dwell on the negatives and the dark days. Let those happy memories take over your body for now. Fill you with joy of something you achieved.
My own goal is about visualisation and all of us achieving small goals together in whatever career path or life journey.
I just feel something magical right now. There’s something within the energy in the air right now. I want you to tap into that (Ah no he’s talking crazy right now, what’s he on now!!). But there really is a positive energy in the air right now.
Love to all my readers on living another year. That’s another achievement.
Don’t let anyone put you down, laugh at your visons and goals. I believe in you.
Simple exercise, certain people can drain your energy. So I imagine a block of white energy passing through my body with warm colours of blue to protect me. Always helps me visualising colours and forces of energy.
Now you may think this is a lot of hot air and you could be right but it works for me.
Merry Christmas to all of my readers.
Pain will always end, so hold on.
Love always
Shine On
DG
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