This week I want to talk to you about why you should try to consciously do things unconsciously! I know it sounds a bit paradoxical, but by consistently doing thing through repetition, it often makes things easier for you overall. It’s really quite liberating!

Have you ever witnessed a transformation from effortful to effortless? When you consciously do something enough until it becomes second nature, what you do then seems natural and unconscious. By consciously repeating tasks, you train your subconscious to take over, which then frees up your mental space. It’s really fascinating.

Think of driving, for instance. Initially, every action requires thought, but eventually, it becomes second nature. Or take cooking as another example. You initially have to meticulously read every line of a recipe, but as you make it more, you find that chopping, mixing, and seasoning become almost automatic.

Think of it as practising something intentionally, because by choosing to do something again and again unconsciously, you soon become more proficient at it. It’s a simple but profound way that you can turn the mundane into something magical, which then makes your daily experiences so much better.

Here are some other examples.

- At first, playing a musical instrument like a guitar or piano takes immense focus. But soon, your fingers find chords and notes automatically, which then allows you to immerse yourself more in the music without thought. - Or imagine learning a new language. It is always challenging at first, but with practice, you soon learn to think and respond in that language without conscious effort and your conversations become more fluid. - Or think of typing, which usually begins with hunting and pecking at keys. But if you practise it enough consistently, your fingers eventually glide over the keyboard effortlessly and translate your thoughts into text.

But be careful. While unconscious tasks initially seem beneficial, they can lead to complacency. A conscious approach allows for mindfulness and presence in the moment, allowing continuous learning and adaptation. Doing something unconsciously can actually hinder creativity in problem-solving and the ability to think outside the box.

So this week, remember that doing things automatically can enhance your efficiency and free mental space for creativity. However, be careful that it doesn’t lead to complacency or stifle your creativity. Ultimately, you need to balance everything, but go on, try and consciously do something unconsciously - it really works!

This week, I want to explain why there's never a right time for bad news. It’s often the phrase that echoes in our minds when unexpected things come at us. It feels sometimes like the universe is pointing out that we don’t have as much control as we think!

We often feel like we're just passengers on an unpredictable journey in life. No matter how meticulously we plan, life sometimes delivers news to us that seems to halt everything. Bad news respects no timelines or events and doesn't wait for convenient moments. It always finds its way in.

You may try to shield yourself, but I'm afraid that even the most unsuspecting days bring challenges. Don’t worry, we all have surprise moments when the world seems to shift beneath us. We may pretend we're prepared for things, but the truth is we're never truly ready for unexpected blows.

Yet, when we face bad news, we usually discover inner resilience we never realised we had before. There seems to be something about the human spirit and it’s capacity to persevere or adapt that stands out during difficult times. We suddenly find strength and ability to navigate uncertainty we face.

Here are some examples:

- You may be enjoying a normal family dinner, when the phone rings telling you that an elderly relative has passed away. Sometimes. it’s even more unexpected or shocking because, although it’s somebody you don’t know as well, they’re of a similar age, or even younger than you. - Or you may be just about to go away on a long-awaited trip, when you receive a message about a parent becoming ill, or having had an accident, and you are then left with the dilemma as to whether to still go or not. - Or you may be celebrating your birthday, or even a big event like a wedding, when you hear whispers or receive news that you weren't expecting, such as a good friend or relative moving away, or somebody having problems you weren’t aware of, which affects your happiness.

But bad news is also a catalyst for growth. It helps develop resilience and adaptability, qualities perhaps lying dormant in your life until now. Also, bad news only disrupts life momentarily and reminds you of life’s impermanence, prompting you to appreciate good times and providing contrast between joy and sorrow.

So, remember this week that, unfortunately, bad news is inevitable in life and will usually arrive unexpectedly. Although we may feel like we are stumbling sometimes, we will still keep moving forward and find strength amongst chaos, as resilience always grows in spaces where we least expect it to!

This week, I want to talk about why it's so important to learn to take a breather and just pause sometimes. When you do this, you're giving your brain a moment to catch up. Trust me, you always feel better when you take a breather and look at things again.

Life can get incredibly hectic. It always feels like we're juggling a million things and trying to keep all the plates spinning in the air like in the circus. It's really amazing how a simple break can help you recharge and clear your mind.

When this happens, it’s best to try to step back, even for just a moment, because it helps you put things in perspective. Problems always seem less daunting, and solutions seem to come more naturally to you. It makes a world of difference.

We often think being relentlessly busy is the only way to achieve goals. But the funny thing is that taking breaks actually makes you more productive in the long run. It's really funny how this works. Even a short pause can save you hours in mental clarity and efficiency.

Here are some examples.

- Being outside doing an activity, such as walking, cycling, running, etc., helps you reset, allowing you to incorporate nature's force into daily life. Or, if you have something to write and are looking for mental clarity, writer's block always becomes easier after a few minutes of reflection. - When you have stressful deadlines to meet, they always seem to feel lighter if you stop for a minute and step outside, or into another context. You can breathe fresh air deeply outside, or just take a minute to breathe deeply if you're inside. - Conversations which are on the brink of people getting angry and losing their temper always seem to cool down when you or other pause to breathe before responding.

However, some people argue that taking constant breaks disrupts workflow and reduces productivity. They believe only sustained focus leads to efficiency and taking too many breaks leads to procrastination, making it harder to regain momentum with broken rhythm. Some also argue that frequent breaks hamper creativity, or are not practical.

So, this week, remember, life is much too short to be constantly stressed and taking a breather is a step towards leading a more balanced and fulfilling life. Embrace the power of a pause; you'll thank yourself later. And the more you practise it, the more natural it will become!