This week I was teaching my latest group of Reiki Master students, and I had a realisation about a key step in my growth.
I have a confession ... I was ashamed of my past ... and now I have reclaimed my shame.

We were talking about energy and life choices, I realised that during the process of following my spiritual path, travelling overseas, running my own business and writing my book (Finding my Soul at Sea) I’ve been gradually facing the truth about myself.
Each time I took a step out of my comfort zone a new level of understanding was gained.

Most significantly, this past year has been about launching my first book.
There is a lot of personal development that happens during the writing and publishing and marketing process.

I discovered that the reason it felt so hard to take the step of actually publishing my memoir ... it was because on some level, I felt ashamed of my actions, in the past, and particularly while working on board ships. 

You know how you only share certain things with certain people in your life.
Some stories for the family, some for your best friends and some for your work colleagues, right?
Well, this book is my truth ... on a platter ... my heart ... out there ... my whole self for all to see.

Obviously, NOW I get why my publisher and mentor (Ocean Reeve) told me that personal development is STEP 1 of the publishing process. You’ve always gotta come back to that or you won’t be able to do the rest of the steps.

I’ve got to admit that I was a bit too dismissive of his comments at the beginning.
I mean I’ve got lots of personal development tools and I run a business in spiritual coaching and wellness...
I thought "I can easily handle this."

But at times during the publishing journey I felt like my head and heart would explode ... with fear and shame and vulnerability and anxiety ... there were times that I lay in bed and thought “I can’t do it ... I just can’t show this to (insert names here)... I can’t let them hear the truth ...“
**Note: I’m not sure if it’s the same for fiction writers. Perhaps my author friends can reply and let me know. 

My whole way of presenting myself to the world was tied up in NOT telling those ship stories.
And anyone whose worked on board can attest to this ... we think that people who’ve never worked on board can’t fully understand the alternative universe that it is.

However, I’ve discovered ... not only DO people understand my truth ... they also resonate with it ... and have had similar experiences (in other environments) ...
And they've even told me they felt a shift in THEIR level of shame, by me sharing my truth.

Ahhhhhh that’s why we do this!
That’s why we write.
That’s why we share our stories.
That’s why ...
To help ourselves and others to shift, allow, accept and forgive ...

Your story is just as perfect as mine.
Your journey is equally valid and true.
Your message will heal you ... and others.

Write it because it’s true, it moves you and it takes you to a deeper knowing of your Soul  ... not because it might make money.

By writing my book, I learned the reason I didn’t tell my story before was fear of being rejected and judged ...
But I was doing the rejecting and judging of MYSELF.
I was comparing myself to an old version of me and I wasn’t that person anymore ... there is no comparison.
As you grow you transform.

Now I have reclaimed all the parts of mySelf ... the sexy parts, the funny parts, the physical parts, the magical parts, the spiritual parts, the lonely parts, the emotional parts, the crazy parts, the shy parts, the adventurous parts, and the caring parts.

Shame is an indicator emotion for me that I’m not claiming a part of myself.
Are you ready to reclaim your Shame?

Please, feel free to share your insights by replying to this email or you are welcome to comment on my Facebook page (Pip Coleman - Conscious Courses and Therapies)
Blessings
Pip

This week I'd like to talk about strong emotions ...
We all have them.  
Particularly now, with this worldwide situation that is at hand. 
The question I have this week is, how can we use our strong emotions to be more healthy, productive and happy? 

When I was working on board ships there were situations that really burned me up.
I would get so angry about the food not being very healthy; or the immigration process being so long and drawn out for the crew; or the passengers not doing what we asked them to do during boat drill. 

It all seems silly now, I mean, who cares if the passengers don’t want to put their life jacket on? 
Why can’t they eat a slice of pizza and drink their cocktail, while I tell them the safety instructions? 
The ship probably won’t sink this cruise. Right? (read more in Finding my Soul at Sea)

Right now there are LOTS of strong emotions being expressed within our families, within our communities and in the world. 
Anger. Frustration. Fear. Anxiety. ... 

Strong emotion ... what does it mean? 
Well ... essentially it means ... THIS matters to me! 
It means I care about this person, job, situation or relationship ... A LOT. 

I’d like to offer a suggestion ... based on the teachings of Abraham Hicks. 
Together let's practice revelling in the positive AND the negative emotions ...
The idea is to REALLY sinking in and feel both. 

Squashing the negative emotions only makes it worse. Right? 
The more you try to stop being angry or afraid the more you feel.

So, why not practice ‘milking the juice’ from ALL of our emotions ... 

Abraham Hicks suggests that we practice sitting with and rolling around in our strong emotions ... 
When you feel angry, sad, anxious, fearful ... try to take a moment (a small step back) and say: 
“ohhhhhhh I’m soooo angry right now ... or I’m sooo sad right now ... or I’m sooooooo anxious .... I’m soooooo .... aaaaarrghhh ... I could spit fire! I feel like I might burst!! ... I really, really, really feel (your emotion) ....” 

NAME it ... SPEAK it ... HONOUR it. 

And your inner being will say “Ohhhhh this is gonna get good ...” 
When there is conscious awareness of your emotions (and therefore your desire), you can use it as a springboard to shift forward. 

When we feel strongly about something it means there is A LOT of momentum behind it ...
And there's no point trying to stop a car once it’s off the cliff. It’s best to just ride with it. It’ll be over soon. No point in chastising yourself either ... “you’ll have an opportunity to start again real soon.” Abraham Hicks jokes. 

The point is once you get going on a negative story, the best way to get through it quickly is to allow rather than resist it. 

So, first, allow it ... sit with it, accept and see if you can enjoy rather than resist.
 
Second, go and have a nap, or distract, and soothe yourself to lessen the resistance. 
**importantly, (and this might seem odd for a psychologist / counsellor / healer to say) please ... DON'T talk to someone else about it. You will only get confirmation and agreement of your negative vibes and keep it in your heart. DON'T beat the drum of bad. 

Third, during your normal day do deliberate feel good activities like meditation, laughing, walking on the beach, watching sunsets and sunrises, sitting in the grass ... and cultivate a dominant feeling of well-being. 

**please DO go to see a psychologist / counsellor or healer to help you with step 1 and 3 ... To practice letting go and feeling good. Get tools and skills and strategies, to stay healthy, connected and well.  NOT using them to justify your life's dis-ease. 

Then when you have resistance or a situation come up, that doesn’t feel good, you know how to reset yourself back on course.

Your negative emotion is a gift from the Universe. It tells you there is some tweaking to do in your vibration to move forward. 
Your vibrational world improves when you have a fit of negative emotion. 

Are you ready to move towards your desires or will you continue to stand in justification of not having what you want? 

“Your inner being sees you with much more loving eyes than your small self.” Abraham Hicks 

Blessings Pip xxx
​

​This morning I was listening to the audiobook of Uncharted by Colette Baron-Reid ... and she said “your intuition is not the sixth sense ... it’s the first sense”  ... it’s the one that happens first.
The gut feeling.
The inner ding.
The inspiration of the soul. 
The ripple of an excited shiver.
That vibe we get to tell us we are going the right way ...

Then I saw on Facebook Ocean Reeve (my publisher) has posted a quote:
“We are born creative. It is our nature to dance, sing, write and play. Share your story to the world. You never know who it will inspire.”

And it occurred to me  ... that’s the amazing thing about creativity ... inspiration is the source of it AND the outcome. 

Woah! Did you feel that in your heart and soul, like I did?

You know how it feels to be inspired.
You remember ... maybe it was yesterday, or last week ... or maybe it was when you were a child ...
We were ALL inspired creative beings then.

That’s why every coach I’ve EVER had says (at some point) “what was it you wanted to be as a child?” ... or “what did you love to do as a child?” ...

Our children and our inner child are a wonderful source of truth and wisdom.
If we tap into that wisdom and listen, we can really shift and heal our lives.

You might say “Well Pip, I loved to swing on the monkey bars and roll down grassy hills until I threw up. Am I supposed to do that as a career now as an adult?”
And I say “Yes ... smartass!” *grin*

Sure ... you might be a gymnast, or an acrobat, or a clip n climb instructor ... or a landscape gardener ... or perhaps just someone who likes to be outside.
Do you go outside into nature every day? No
Do you work outside now? No
Maybe your inner child is calling you to go outside.
Follow the clues. Be open to the wisdom. 

When I was trying to discover my perfect job, I listed all the things I loved to do ... and they were: travel, talk to people, laugh and get paid. So I looked for things to do that fit those criteria. And I got the job as a social host on a cruise ship.

Then I wanted to stop travelling and have time on land, help people be happy, have deep conversations but still have a laugh and get paid. So I did my Reiki Master training and started a business in wellness classes.

Then I wanted to share my story of spiritual awakening and help people be happy further than my local community. So I wrote and published a book (Finding my Soul at Sea) and now I’m talking about what I love, with people who inspire me and getting paid.

Ask yourself those questions above and REALLY listen.
Then follow the guidance. Try it ... you won’t regret it.
Your inner child is SO excited right now. Can you feel it?

Blessings Pip

You’re NOT insignificant


In this world of Facebook likes and Instagram hearts and comments that fly by before you’ve even had a chance to digest the comments.

I wanted to remind you all (y’all all) that YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT ...

I know it is to be drawn into the panic of missing out.

I do it .... yep.

Admit it ... sometimes I will look at my phone and there will be 1 x like on Facebook notifications and I can’t leave it. I have to look.

Wow. We are really addicted huh?

Addicted to the desire to be acknowledged.


Normally in a day you might be smiled at, or waved to, or you’ll have a few conversations ... and each time you will feel acknowledged... it’ll boost to self esteem ... your energy rises ... and good hormones flood your body.

On social media you can be acknowledged hundreds of times a day. No wonder we love it!


So today I’m asking you to be AWAKE and AWARE to the needy feelings.

Practise being observant and present.

You can be drawn into drama, panic and buying things (... but I needed those non-slip things for the bottom of my chairs) ... if you are scrolling mindlessly.


Don’t get me wrong, it’s really important to reach out and let people know you’re there.

Please do, we are physically distancing but we all need social connection now.

Let’s do it more intentionally.

Choose your connections with your heart.

Find groups that are peaceful and joyful - not full of drama queens.

Share lightness and fun.

You ARE significant.

You ARE aware.

You ARE a high vibrational soul.

And you can help others to feel safe and happy by embracing these truths.

Just after my book was launched in November last year people started to ask me ‘So, when’s the next one coming out?’ and 'have you decided on a prequel or a sequel?' ...
It was like when you get engaged and everyone asks you 'So, when's the big day?' ...
And then when you get married and everyone ask you 'When're you going to have kids?' ...

Well ... honestly I’ve been reluctant to write another after only just finishing my first book ...
But last week, as I enthusiastically read my new author friend, Jenny Old’s new book (Innocent Nurses Abroad) something shifted in me ...

I was having memories of my own travels overseas.

I was feeling excited and joyful, as I read about countries that I’d visited too.

I was feeling inspired ... itching to write down my own adventures and lessons.

And then ... one morning I woke up and started to write.

So, you’re the first people to see this … here is my draft forward and one of the first stories ...


Forward to ‘Not My Trip’ … (working title)

Have you ever been doing your life only to realise one day that’s it’s not yours?
You’ve been following someone else’s guidelines.
You’ve been making decisions to suit others.
You’ve dated (or married) someone your parents liked.
You’ve joined a 12 month round-the-world tour because someone loved you. 😁
These moments in life when you realise you’re not doing YOU, are the key moments of growth and expansion.
Oprah calls them ‘aha moments’.
This might seem like a collection of my travel stories, (to Africa, Europe, UK, and South America) but it is SO much more.
It’s a series of magical moments when I gradually woke up and realised that I wanted (no needed!) to take control of my own life.
As you read these stories, my intention is that you wake up too.

Africa stories

In shower before he left. 
As the water ran over my face I couldn’t tell which droplets were from the shower or my tears …
How can this be happening? I’ve only known him for 6 months. I can’t be in love. I thought.
It was the morning that J was leaving for his 12 month world trip.
I knew it was coming.
It was the first thing he told me when we met in my kitchen at Miriam’s birthday party.
Hey Pip, M told me you love to travel, me too! I’m planning a world trip next year.”
His blue eyes sparkled and he tucked his blonde surfer hair over his ear.
“Oh really!? That’s so cool... where are you going?” I handed him a beer.
“Well, Africa first ... then the UK, work in London for a bit ... then as much of Europe as I can afford, and then South East Asia on the way home.”
I sighed. “Wow ... that sounds amazing! I Can’t wait to finish my post grad and travel the world. Why Africa first?”
We spent the next few hours huddled together discussing the details of his trip. He was so enthusiastic and confident. I think I actually fell right then.
And so, standing in the shower I kicked myself for knowingly entering into a dead end relationship...
Stupid ... stupid ... stupid
Then his arms were around me ...
I leaned my head back in his chest, letting the water fall on my face.
He kissed my cheek.
And he whispered “I’ll come back for you.”
My heart broke a little more and yet there was also some hope.

I look forward to sharing more excerpts … so excited!! 
And may your isolation bring the inspiration that is right for you.
Blessings
Pip x
p.s. Look out for this week's Friday Freebie … I'm sharing Jean Haner's descriptions of the 5 personality types based on the Chinese feng shui elements and how they will help you to find your inspiration in isolation. The key is to understand and align with the energy of your personality type and your life will be more happy and go more smoothly. 

This week I was listening to Radleigh Valentine talking about how he is a self-confessed, totally out-of-the closet … MASSIVE supporter of silliness. *grin* 
He was reminding us all that we need to be silly to balance out the seriousness of our lives (and the world right now).
There is SO much power in silliness to dissolve fear, pain, anger, worry and anxiety. 
He even called silliness the ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY. 
I LOVED that he said that!!
Because I totally agree!!
But here are his 3 magical tips to tap into the power of silliness …

1. Get yourself a SILLINESS BUDDY … there is more oomph with a silliness 'partner-in-crime' … Get on a phone call or Facetime session and play. Kids are great at embracing the silliness - they have no issues with being self-conscious. Animals will always join in on a session of silliness … rolling on the ground, chasing each other around the yard (or living room), dressing up in crazy clothes or making faces with Facebook filters, or TikTok, or whatever makes you laugh the most.

2.  FIND THE FUNNY in everything you can … laugh and laugh and laugh … at cat videos, your favourite comedian on YouTube (I love Michael McIntyre) or just set up a Zoom or Skype with your parents … that will have you laughing in no time … "Move over the left Mum  … Dad I can only see your ear … Erica why are you sideways right now?" 

3. TEXT SOMETHING SILLY to your best friends or post online (and encourage them to reply) … there are plenty of funny memes and quotes and cartoons floating around … or you can make up your own. My sister (who is a teacher) has been sending me funny answers to her daily trivia sessions with her students. What a crack up!!! I love it. 

Let's get those 'feel-good' endorphins in your brain flooding the whole body. 
The bonus of this is … your immune system will be boosted too. 
I want to remind you that taking care of your mental and emotional health is PARAMOUNT right now. 
Please don't let the chaos of the outside world affect your personal (inner) world.
Meditation and exercise are also fantastic anxiety-relieving tools … combined with silliness you'd have the perfect wellness kit. 
Choose more silliness and you will notice a shift.
Blessings 
Pip x