Do you believe in Santa Claus?
​​Do you know that - Just because you believe in something, it does NOT make it true?
Many beliefs have been changed and updating your beliefs can seriously improve your life.

​Do you believe in Santa Claus?
It’s a fair question.
If your childhood was anything like mine, as a child, you heard all the stories about this mystical man who would visit your house on one day a year and, if you were good throughout the year, he would bring you presents. You sang songs about his reindeers , how they drove his sleigh, you heard he would come down the chimney with his big sack filled with toys. You had to be asleep and not peek or he disappeared and left nothing.
There were pictures, films, songs, books all about him, and his elves, who made all the toys he would put under your tree. All around, you saw evidence he was real. Christmas trees, decorations, lights, and you even left him some milk and cookies (or beer and crisps in my house) and carrots for his reindeers.

Do you still believe all that you did then?
So what changed? Well, you grew up (a little). As a small child, you believed what adults told you; it made you feel safe, and let’s face it, you had nothing else to go on. Anyway, why would they lie?
Around the age of seven (give or take), you started to think for yourself and ask questions. It made little sense your house had no chimney for him to come down or that he could deliver presents to every boy and girl in just one night, did it?
And, as for flying reindeers–really. Oh, come on. Do I look that stupid?
BUT - you see evidence of him all around at Christmas; he leaves you lots of presents; how can he not be real?

Remember how, as a child, it looked to you as if adults had it all, no one telling them what to believe or do; they did what they wanted, whenever they wanted, you couldn’t wait to grow up and have the same freedom. Then, it happened, here you are and, you have no idea how you got here (so fast); it’s nothing like you imagined.
Becoming a grown-up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, is it? It comes with realisations and responsibilities that can overwhelm; what is true: how do I know; who can I trust?
Just because I can see it, does that make it real?
Your daily life is full of so many “what ifs”; sometimes it can be so hard to make any sense of it all. 
It was all so much simpler when you were a child and didn’t have to make sense of anything or think for yourself, wasn’t it?

A belief is something that you think-until someone or something gives you a reason not to believe in it. Your beliefs become your values, which form over time from your environment, influence from family, friends, and society. You form most of your core beliefs as a child. Beliefs are the software programs that run your life, much the same as the software programs that run your computer.
Your brain is like a supercomputer and has an inbuilt filter system called the reticular activating system–RAS for short. It's where the billions of bytes of information available to you get filtered to make sure you don't go mad.
RAS is to the brain what Google is to the internet.
When you type keywords into Google, it will filter through millions of websites and publications and give you results based on your preferences. The RAS does this in your brain.
If there is something you focus on, think about with intent, your RAS recognises this is important to you and allows messages to get through to support the object or subject.
Have you ever noticed when you decide you want a new car and suddenly the one you like seems to be everywhere?
The thing about your RAS is it looks for information that validates your belief system.
Like Google, it will filter based on your current beliefs/preferences. If you have not updated your belief system since childhood, you will experience the same information to support those beliefs again and again. This is the reason so many of us deal with the same issues throughout our life.
When you want to change anything in your life, it starts with updating your belief system in line with who you have become.
If you think about it, everything you want is because you believe you will feel better when it happens, or you have it.
​
What if I said-you have everything you need right now to live the life you want?
​You can make the decisions you need to make with confidence that they are right for you, feeling in control–and–it's child’s play.
Would you want to know more?
If you want to continue to believe in Santa Claus, that is your choice. Do not let anyone make those decisions for you.

What make impossible - I´M possible?  It´s quite simple really.....

Since time began, there have been things to which many people have said "impossible" and then, well, it turned out they were possible. 
So what changed? 
What made the difference?
We did, man did.
​Someone believed in the possibility and made it happen. 

​There are so many times I hear people saying "that´s impossible" about things that have not only been proved possible but also about things that even they have accomplished at one time, and now do not believe they can again. 
We quite often say it without thinking. Now that can have a really HUge impact because you see, the words we use and particularly the words we speak to ourselves are truly powerful. 
What if....within the impossible lies I´M possible?
Sometimes that's all it takes, to ask what if? and then imagine the possibility.
If you speak to any inventor, successful entrepreneur, or athlete, they will tell you that visualisation (imagination) is one of the most potent assets you have.
When you use your imagination often in your daily life-WOW!

Imagine all possibilities.
-Ask–what if? more often, and let your mind show you the “what if”
The only person stopping you from dreaming is you.
The only person preventing you from allowing your dreams-is you.

​Let me know how it goes. You can contact me here. 
​
Linda Ledwidge is or has been at one point in her life a human Be-ing, woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, nurse, midwife, head cook and bottle washer , among other things and her passion today is ​to hear you smile!
#FreeFloLiving #FeelingOnPurpose #KISS #RedressStress

Do you know? - 
                You have the power at any time to change the way you feel.
Many people go through life thinking that they feel good or bad, happy or sad, content or angry, because of the people in their life, the things that are happening around them, or the environment that they are living in.
They believe that the actions of other people, the environment they are living in, and the things that are happening in their lives, are what influence their mood, i.e.  affect the way they feel.
While it is true that these things CAN influence the way we feel, they can only do so IF we allow it - No one, No place, and No thing can MAKE you feel a certain way unless you allow it to. 
I am going to say that again because most people do not really get it -
No one, No place, and No thing can MAKE you feel a certain way unless you allow it to. 
We are even brainwashed into believing that our happiness SHOULD depend on all of these things outside of us and outwith our control!
We are taught this from a very young age. When we live with this belief, we give away our power to feel better every day. 
What if it was a lie? 
What if, no matter what was going on around you, you could choose to be at peace with it, or not?  

You have no control over anyone else or their behaviour.
You have no control over your government, your weather, or your pets. 
The only thing you CAN control is how you react to anything, this will determine how you feel, your actions, and in turn the reactions from those around you. 
This alone changes your whole world!
Go on, give it a try, you have nothing to lose. 
Start today. 
#FreeFLoLiving #FeelingOnPurpose #RedressStress #KISS​

I would love to hear your views. Contact me here.

FEAR
Wikipedia says Fear is an emotion induced by perceived danger or threat, which causes physiological changes and ultimately behavioral changes, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat.
FEAT
Wikipedia has no reference for Feat in the context I am using it in this article, however, in the Cambridge dictionary it says:
FEAT- something difficult needing a lot of skill, strength, courage, etc. to achieve it.

It is interesting to me that both words suggest something to be overcome and to me, the feat is the result of facing the fear.
"Fear" is the emotion we experience and when we conquer that fear we have achieved a "Feat". ​

How it works:
From childhood I had an extreme fear of water.
No, not the bath or shower (although I am sure some people do have that fear too!) it was fear of swimming pools and the sea. I suppose the fear was actually swimming, not really water. Anyway, I digress. 
At the age of 28 I decided I was going to take swimming lessons as I did not want to be scared all my life and not enjoy beaches and pool parties. I duly went for swimming lessons and was so proud of myself when I swam a breadth of the pool at the local swimming baths. That was it, I had overcome my fear or so I believed.
I had basically done enough to make me feel better about it and that was ok.
The thing was that I still avoided pools and beaches. 
When my daughter Keri was born, I was determined she would not be scared of water and I made sure I took her and then her sister and brother, first at 6 weeks to "dunk" them, as is the tradition, and then  for swimming lessons. I just made sure that someone else gave the lessons and I was not the one in the water with them. 
Throughout my 30´s and 40´s I convinced myself that I was not scared anymore I just preferred not to go in water out of my depth.
Then, I was unwell for a time and discovered "self-care" and with it the beaches!
As I live in Mallorca, there are many lovely beaches and I had never really benefited from their beauty, mainly because of my fear.
​Another 10 years on and my sister became seriously ill and that´s when I realised how fear paralyses us. I decided that I was not going to live my life in fear ever again. I took the time to examine the things that engendered fear in me, and guess what one of the biggest fears I had was - yes, you got it, swimming / water. 
I decided there and then, that I was going to conquer this for once and for all.
I had this amazing friend who started me off in a pool (haha) and gave me the encouragement and confidence I needed to go into the sea. I will be forever grateful to him for helping me to see other possibilities and take the 1st step. 

Am I 100% comfortable in deep water without diving gear? - No. I can honestly say that I am not; however, will I go into deep water, go on boats and swim out of my depth?- Yes, and I can honestly say it is one of my greatest feats. ​

We all like our ‘comfort’ foods, especially when we are feeling stressed. You know the kind I mean - fast food, big meals, takeout, fatty foods, sweet foods, and alcohol. Let’s face it – we all find some comfort in a tasty meal and a bottle of beer or glass of wine when we stress out or get upset about something.
There is nothing wrong with that in moderation; however, it’s not a good permanent solution.
When you are turning to what you regard as unhealthy foods you can feel better temporarily, but in the long run, you will feel worse. If your body is not getting the right nutrition, you will feel less energetic, more lethargic, and sometimes unable to concentrate and focus. What does that lead to? YES - even more stress.

Stress-less foods
If you’ve been feeling more stressed out than usual lately, it’s important to know which foods to choose and which to avoid when it comes to redressing stress and helping you to deal with feelings of anxiety.
With food and nutrition, the best way to stress-less is to have a healthy, balanced diet, which includes each of the different food groups.
Filling up on foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, and lean proteins as the basic staples of your diet is the best way to ensure your body gets the optimum amounts of nutrients to fight both physical and mental health problems. When choosing the foods to eat, remember many have a range of magnificent properties that help the body redress stress. Choosing stress-less foods will help to heal and calm your mind permanently, rather than providing a temporary fix.
​
Some of the best stress-less foods include:

• Avocado – Avocados are a creamy and versatile fruit that you can eat in a range of different ways whether you enjoy it raw, made into sauces, dressings and dips, or in a smoothie. These nutrient-dense fruits have the properties to stress-proof your body, thanks to their high glutathione content, which specifically blocks the intestinal absorption of certain fats that cause oxidative damage. Avocados also contain higher levels of vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene than any other fruit, which boosts their stress-less properties. 
• Blueberries – If you’re feeling stressed out and reaching for the snacks, swapping chocolate or chips for one of the best superfoods is a great way to help you deal with your stress levels and achieve a higher level of calm. Blueberries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, especially anthocyanin. This berry has links to a wide range of health benefits including sharper cognition, better focus, and a clearer mind – all of which can help you stress-less.
• Chamomile Tea – Of course, it’s not all about what you’re eating, what you’re drinking can also ease or increase the stress you’re feeling. Drinking liquids high in sugars and caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks or soda, can increase your stress levels if consumed regularly. Chamomile tea is a natural bedtime soother, and clinical trials have determined that chamomile is effective in reducing the symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder.
• Chocolate – Although it’s usually seen as an unhealthy treat, there is an undeniable link between chocolate and our mood. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can actually make you happier. However, that doesn’t mean that you can start munching on chocolate bars every time you’re stressed out – chocolate helps you stress-less when eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Dark chocolate particularly is best for you, as it contains more flavonols and polyphenols, two hugely important antioxidants that can help redress stress, more than many fruit juices.
• Beef – Grass-fed beef is not only kinder to the planet and to animals; it is good for people too. Grass-fed beef has a huge range of antioxidants, including beta-carotene and Vitamin C and E, which can help your body to stress-less. If you are looking for more reasons to spend a little more money on organic, grass-fed beef, it is also lower in fat than grain-fed beef whilst being higher in omega-3.
• Oatmeal – Oatmeal can be a filling comfort food, but also has many healthy properties to make you feel better from the inside out. A complex carbohydrate, oatmeal causes your brain to produce higher levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, helping you to feel calmer and stress-less. Studies have shown that kids who choose oatmeal for breakfast have a tendency to be much sharper throughout the morning in school compared to kids who had alternative breakfasts.
• Walnuts – If you are looking for a healthy snacking option that will help you stay in control of your stress levels, walnuts are a superb choice. Walnuts have a sweet, pleasant flavour and are a tasty snack for in-between meals or as part of a desert. A versatile nut, walnuts are great for salads, or add them to a sweet treat such as coffee and walnut cake.
• Pistachios – another great snacking food that helps to redress stress and anxiety in the long term is pistachios. Did you know, simply eating two small, snack-size portions of pistachios per day can lower vascular constriction during stress, which puts less pressure on your heart by dilating your arteries. Along with this, the rhythmic, repetitive act of shelling pistachios can actually be quite therapeutic.
• Green Leafy Vegetables – leafy, green vegetables should be a pivotal part of everyone´s diet. Along with helping you to stress-less, leafy greens are full of nutrients and antioxidants, which help to fight off disease and leave your body feeling healthier and more energised. Dark leafy greens, for example spinach, are especially good for you since they are rich in folate, which helps your body to produce more mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin - a ‘feel-good’ chemical. Making leafy greens a part of your diet will help you feel happier and stress-less.
• Fermented foods – eating fermented foods like yogurt can help to keep your gut healthy, improve your mental health, and reduce stress levels. The beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods have a direct effect on your brain chemistry and transmit positive mood and behaviour regulating signals to your brain via the vagus nerve.

Plan to stress-less
Planning your meals wisely is the key to  staying physically fit and healthy, mentally strong, and being able to stress-less. It really helps to know the foods to avoid and the foods that are best to reach for as snacks when you are feeling worried and anxious. 
During stress it can be tempting to eat classic ‘comfort foods’ – these are usually foods high in sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However, although these foods can make you feel temporarily better, they will  make you feel worse in the long run.
Stress-less snacks include:

• fresh berries
• dark chocolate
• yogurt
• walnuts
• pistachios
• fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is one of the best ways to stress-less.
When you are dealing with worry or anxiety leading to stress, it is a good idea to make sure you have a selection of stress-less foods in your kitchen. Making sure that your meals include foods such as lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier overall, it will improve your mental health and stress levels, too.

An example of a healthy, stress-less menu:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries / fruit smoothie with avocado and berries
Mid-morning snack: Natural yogurt with fruit /handful of pistachio nuts
Lunch: A whole-grain pasta salad filled with plenty of leafy greens
Afternoon snack: Dark chocolate
Dinner: Grass-fed beef with vegetables
Before bed: Chamomile tea
 
There is a saying – “you are what you eat”.
Make sure you are filling yourself up with foods that are good for your mental health.
Everything in moderation - and balance is the key! Stress-less!

Find out how to Redress Stress in 5 easy steps here....