Forgiveness is the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven. Though its not always easy to forgive someone and very possibly harder to forgive ourselves.  It’s all well and good for someone to say, Well you need to forgive them or just let go and move on.  Forgiveness doesn’t always feel easy. 
 
Though there are many benefits to forgiveness and it has been associated with reducing and lowering stress and depression within the body.  It has been connected to increased levels of life satisfaction and also increased feelings of wellbeing.  One study has also found that trait forgiveness is linked to experiencing better relationships with others. 
 
A few years ago, I came across a Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness call Ho’oponopono.  The word when translated into English means correction. Yet in the Hawaiian dictionary it is defined as: (a) to put right, correct, adjust, amend, rectify, tidy up, edit, to make ready; and (b) mental cleansing.  Ho’oponopono is a profound gift which allows us to expand our relationship with ourselves and others asking that our errors in though, deed, word and behavior be cleansed.
 
Ho’oponopono is centered around four key phrases.  Phrases which are often the hardest to say.  It takes us into a place of ownership and allows us to open up our hearts for healing to take place. The four phrases are:
 
Step 1: I’m Sorry (repentance).
Saying sorry is never easy and can often be associated with pain. You can just say, I’m sorry, or you can be more specific and state what you’re sorry before you state the above phrase.
 
Step 2: Please forgive me (Ask forgiveness)
 
Step 3: Thank you (gratitude)
Thank who ever it is you need forgiveness from  - yourself, someone else, your body, the Universe, God.
 
Step 4: I love you (love)
Again say it to which you are forgiving – yourself, your body, God, your challenges.
 
The four phrases can be said in any order and the beauty of it is its simplicity.  It creates a meditative effect with a mindfulness approach allowing us to remove our ego and to move into our heart.

If you'd like to talk more to one of our therapists, then feel free to contact our office on 5519 3338 to make an appointment.

​Body Mind Soul Clinic - Life by Design
 

​Life doesn’t always show up how we would like it to and sometimes it can be difficult to find our way through the tough times.  Though the one thing that can make a difference is developing some resilience.
 
So what is resilience? Well a lack of resilience is when we are struggling to overcome our challenges and we feel like we can’t get back into that more helpful or optimistic mindset. So resilience is feeling like we are able to bounce back even stronger, particularly when life knocks you down.  Through our resilience, we are able to find our ability to adapt better to adversity.
 
Imagine your level of resilience like a tree trunk, the wider the tree trunk the greater the resilience and the smaller the tree trunk then the less we have.
 
Just because we may be more resilient to challenges or tragedy, doesn’t mean that we don’t experience emotional distress or pain. In fact our journey to resilience may actually include emotional distress.
 
There are a number of contributing factors that helps build resilience such as:

• Our ability to make realistic plans and steps
• Having a more positive view of yourself and knowing your strengths
• Being able to problem solve
• Managing strong feelings and urges

 
We all develop resilience that works for us and such our path to this is very different. Though there are a number of similar approaches that we can all take to building this up.
 

• Create good relationships with family, friends and others. 
• Flip your thinking to state your problem in a more helpful way.  This opens up the mind to more positive possibilities.
• Change is a part of our lives and accepting circumstances that you can’t change.
• Having goals to move towards and accomplishing them (even if they are small) creates a sense of accomplishment.
• Act rather than react to situations.
• Keep growing as a person and walk the path of self-discovery.
• See yourself in a positive light.  This helps develop confidence and self trust in our selves.
• Keep things in perspective. Don’t see things bigger than what they are or even smaller than what they are…be realistic.
• Be optimistic towards ourselves and our future.
• Look after you. Self nurture and love yourself.

 
If we can take these simple steps to creating resilience and personalize them for ourselves, the stronger and more flexible we come in facing life’s challenges.
 
If you would like to know more, than either visit us at www.bodymindsoulclinic.com.au.
 
Or you can call us on 5519 3338 or request an appointment with one of our Clinicians today.
 

Yes here we are again with the silly season already underway, this is also a great time to be celebrating and appreciating all the good things in our lives today.  This time of year might be a great reminder, though what would life be like if you had that level of appreciation all year round?

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey.

What if by appreciating more, you attract more in to be grateful for? Where our focus goes our energy flows, so the more we cultivate this sense of gratitude, we not only increase our own sense of joy and contentment, we naturally attract more that we are grateful for in the process, regardless of what we do or don’t have. 
We are conditioned to focus more on what we don’t have, though by practicing gratitude daily, we can rewire our brain to experience and see more of what we do have.
Here are some simple ways to start cultivating an attitude for gratitude these holidays:

1. Take 5 minutes daily to write down what it is you appreciate and are grateful for in your life. What a great way to start the day!By doing this, you prime your mind to notice more of those things you’re grateful for each day.It also helps start the day in a positive way.
2. Appreciate 3 people in your life daily.When you let people know that you appreciate them, you are also helping to increase their own sense of self-worth and appreciation.This is a great way of encouraging someone to pay it forward as well.
3. Play the appreciation game. Make a time to appreciate everything that you come across.Appreciate the people you encounter, the road you’re driving on, the places you go, the weather at that moment….Train your brain up to see the good in each situation, even if you would have seen it negatively in the past.Make the cup half full, not half empty.
4. Carry a token of gratitude with you.Sometimes a physical reminder can bring you back into the mindset of gratitude.Just keep it close, in your pocket, handbag, desk draw or somewhere you can find it.Make a conscious effort to seek it out daily so you can experience the emotion of gratitude.
5. Be grateful for even the small things.Look around you.There is always something to be grateful for and sometimes seeking out the smallest of things can be the most powerful.What are those things you would normally take for granted? Your health, food on the table, a phone to call a friend, clean water to drink…Celebrate the simple blessings.
6. Appreciate yourself.Don’t forget to appreciate and be grateful for your own qualities and accomplishments.Celebrate the big and celebrate the small successes each day.The most important acknowledgment is that of which we give ourselves.

Appreciate, celebrate and be grateful for all that you have and cultivate your levels of joy and happiness daily with these simple habits.

Have a safe and joyful Christmas.