Jack of All Trades, A Master of 10

While flipping though The Peak, an interview with Jeffrey Seah, South-east Asia CEO of global brand communications group Starcom Mediavest caught my eye.

 

"My hope is that every Singaporean will be a jack of all trades and a master of 10. It is not easy to be an all-rounder, as everyone wants to excel in one particular field. Having this awareness and a positive reaction to such stimuli will be the true application of Darwinism. The marketing and communications industry in Singapore will benefit with such mindsets."

 

What an interesting positive spin on an adage that could be perceived as a limiting statement and belief!

When someone has a multitude of interests and skills sets, they are often encouraged to focus so that they can master one or two of them. But there are some of us who simply enjoy learning new skills and acquiring new portfolios and hats.

Take for example, my publisher Kok Hwa from Candid Creation Publishing. 4 years after our first meeting, he is now an Action Learning Coach as well as a trainer with his own workshop ‘So You Want to Be an Author?’. The expansion and continuous mastery of new trades have opened up new opportunities and an exciting new world for him.

 

Singapore's 'Mother Teresa', the late Teresa Hsu who passed on in 2011 aged 113 is another example. At aged 47, she enrolled and was accepted into a three- year nursing course in London meant for students under 25. At 67, she founded one of the first home for the aged sick in Singapore in the 1960s where she worked until she was 85 years old. She picked up yoga at the age of 69 and started teaching it to the young and old at temples, associations, hospitals and schools. Truly inspiring!

 

And there are many other examples.  

 

The key operative word here is mastery. It is not simply a shallow interest or shallow application but a deep desire to delve as deep as possible, and apply the new skills to its best possible use whether for one’s personal development or the betterment of the world around us. An on-going attitude of curious and open learning not limited by age nor the naysayers surrounding us.

 

It makes life all the richer for ourselves, and those around us.

 

 

3 Reflective Activities to Usher in 2015

If we celebrate the years behind us they become stepping-stones of strength and joy for the years ahead.

It is two days before the dawn of 2015. A perfect time for reflection in preparation for a brand new year.

Here are three suggestions for reflective activities:

What Would You Like 2015 to be Like?

For the past few years, I have set a new year resolution for example, my resolution for 2014 is to be anchored in bliss, feel bliss, gift bliss and be bliss. While people often cite that resolutions do not work, and studies show that most people fail, I believe that resolutions can work for you if you decide to be guided by it as much as possible. I did not feel pressured nor restricted by it so it became easier to follow.

I used to set specific goals but since 2011, I started to set intentions instead which works very well for me. The intentions provide a 'roadmap' for what you want to do, to be and to have. For those of you who work better with setting specific goals, please do so. Utilise the system which works best for you. :)

Tip 1: when you are setting your resolution and intentions, please feel happy and joyous doing it so that you are amplifying happy energies!

Tip 2: State what you want and not what you do not want.


What Makes You Happy?

For those of you who are in a stormy period of your life, perhaps this reflective exercise of knowing what makes you happy would be useful.

If you do not know what would make you happy then most likely, you will find yourself caught in an endless web of unhappiness. If you do not know what would make you happy, then it is challenging or near impossible for anyone else in your life to help give a little nudge.

If you are feeling unhappy right now, take some time off for yourself. Have a cup of tea or coffee, relax and then start thinking about what would make you happy. If your mind starts to go "but I can't achieve that", "how can I get that" etc, STOP and bring your attention back to what would make you happy.

During the session, if your mind is a blank when it comes to what would make you happy, then that's an important realisation and insight for you isn't it? If that happens, then recognise your new insight and start to focus on the future.

For those who are experiencing severe pain and this is an impossible exercise to do...be brave to seek and accept help. Confide in a friend or make an appointment to speak with a counsellor, coach or therapist. Everyone deserves to live a life of joy and dignity.


Creating Your Dream Boards

In 2007,my dear friend M encouraged me to put up my vision (dream) boards - not just the typical one that most people do but three separate boards for me to paste pictures of the things I'd like to be doing, having and being.

The boards forced me to reflect on what I truly wanted in life at that given point in time (you have to think before you put stuff up!), allowed me to dream bigger and gave me that extra dosage of sunshine when I felt down. 

Bit by bit, month by month, year by year... what I like to be doing, having and being became a manifested reality. Some quicker, while some took a wee longer. The boards helped me to creatively energetically Visual-Realise my dreams while embarking on the many learning journeys helped to accelerate the transformation of my life.  

Instead of 3 boards, you could combine them into one. Besides pictures, you can also include written words or phrases. You can review and change your board(s) along the way.


 

Celebrating Others' Goodness

Its your road, and yours alone.
others may walk it with you,
but no one can walk it for you. ~ Rumi

Years ago, I used to envy the lives of others. Lives that I perceive as being happier than mine. The thing about envy is that it rarely spurs you to respond or react positively. Instead, it salts the wounds and the bleeding of bitterness starts once more. Envy also prevents us from being 100% happy for someone's good news. Instead, the question "why can't it happen to me?" pops in to over heat the self-pity soup leaving us burnt.

Then wise mentors appeared to remind and teach me to embrace and celebrate my own life. To embrace the sufferings, the pains, the anguish that appears on my own road. Just like I would embrace and enjoy the goodness, the joys, the learnings that is mine.  And to practice being 100% happy for others' goodness and joys. 

This is a teaching worth absorbing.
This is a practice worth living.
This is a path into total bliss.

 

Thank you mentors.

 

Painting by B: Called to Love, 13 September 2013

 

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

Last month, I was invited by  the Business Women's Network of SAP Singapore as their guest speaker. 

The topic "Break Out of Your Comfort Zone" is one that is very close to my heart. 

As I laughingly shared with the participants, it seem that I  have had to constantly and consistently practice this throughout my life. And judging from the large turnout (the organisers shared with me later on that it was the best ever turnout), it is a topic that resonates with many.


 

Even though the session was just for an hour, I wanted it to be packed with strategies and tips that participants could use straight away. And of course, it has to be interactive and fun as well!

And during the session, when I shared the story about my mum and how proud I am of her for breaking out of her comfort zone, one of the participants excitedly shared that she knows who my mum is! So it was a nice story to pass on to my mum after the the event. 

As a lovely bonus, I met a friend whom I have not seen since our graduation. 

I had so much fun at the event and it once again affirms the importance of breaking out of one's comfort zone. If I did not take the first step (years ago) to do my very first speaking engagement, I would not have realised that I truly enjoy it. By moving into a new comfort zone, I allowed the unfolding of goodness. And if we focus on this unfolding of goodness, it gives us the added courage and boost to conquer the fears of moving beyond our limitations and often, self imposed boundaries.  

Daydreaming

It was sheer luxury to be able to take two weeks off from 'work' to recharge and rejuvenate. I needed that break badly. And as such, am grateful for the abundance that came my way for me to do this. 

2012 was a different sort of year and the break allowed me to process all that has happened as well as to rest. Internal recharging. 

I have just started to ease back into 'work'. Am doing it at a slower pace than initially planned because I am listening to and honouring my inner self's desire for a little more break time. Again, I am grateful to be able to do this. 

My inner self needs to be 100% recharged and revitalised. To spend some time just enjoying being, meditating, visualising. To daydream. 

Daydreaming allows me to be in touch with my heart's true desires and to manifest the realities dreamt. As a young child, I engaged in daydreaming a lot. But oftentimes, the daydreams were probably 'wasted energy' because they were scattered and peppered with fears.

The difference is now, with all of life's experiences and the different courses/ trainings I have attended...daydreaming takes on a whole new dimension.

Like attract like. 
Goodness attract goodness. 
Compassion at core.

Daydreaming allows me to become a better person. Because to manifest the reality dreamt, inner change-work is needed. 

Daydreaming allows me to remain positive. Regardless of life's flow, I can imagine and dream of a better reality. And choose my response that will manifest that reality. 

Daydreaming allows me to continue being a dream catalyst. I can harness all of my learnings, tools and abilities to be of help to myself and others. 

Daydreaming allows me to just be.

   

Turning 40 and feeling...

fabulous! What a contrast to 10 years ago when I celebrated my 30th birthday. 

The birthday bash that my friends threw me to usher in a new birth year was the best ever - they planned, rehearsed (there was a surprise dance item by 10 of the males in our group) and celebrated big style with lots of laughter, love and kindness! 


But pain laced the celebration because at that time, my marriage was in shambles and my carefully constructed happy facade was melting. My friends sensed my pain yet respected my reluctance to talk. So they threw me the love-filled celebration to hopefully offer a distraction and respite. 


The years that followed were dark ones. Broke and in debt, heart ache from a subsequent failed relationship, self-confidence shredded.... sure felt like a complete failure. But I continued with my healing journey with the hope that life will be different and be the one that I dream about. I attended courses, read even more, self-reflected, went for healing sessions and did self-healing and whenever I grew weary and tired (and self-pity overwhelmed me), I recharged from the supportive strength of my family and friends and bask in the embrace of God. Step by step, part by part, patience layered with patience... life transformed. 

Today, I am living the life I dreamt about and that's why, each birthday is an appreciation of how life can truly change for the better. 

And my dearest wish is that if anyone is facing a dark night, may he or she too, be able to bask in the warmth of sunshine and enjoy a changed life. 

Launch of the HAPPY catalyst

My web guy and I have been busy with the preparation work (he's truly fantastic and awesome!) and yes, we are ready for the launch of the HAPPY catalyst next week!

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

In the newsletter, I'll be featuring ways to further enhance your life and well-being, and share tips to improve your healing techniques.

You can also read about my interviews with Smile Catalysts - people who transform the lives of people around them. I hope you will be inspired by their interesting insights, just as much as I am!

My dream is that the newsletter will be a little boost of energy and sunshine to brighten your month, and a catalyst of encouragement on your journey. :)

ACTION REQUIRED: OPTING IN FOR THE NEWSLETTER

I understand that many of you are inundated with emails and spam. As such, I'm making the newsletter available only through a mailing list which you can choose to opt-in to.

If you wish to be in the newsletter mailing list, simply head to http://www.thedreamcatalyst.com/newsletter  and sign up! The signup process is easy and will take you less than 5 minutes! 

Thank you for being a part of this wonderful journey. 

Wishing you blissful and delightful days!

:) B

Abundance for one and all

Last Friday, I met up with an FB friend Dennis Ng and he generously offered to help promote my book Fly Free on his website. I enjoyed my chat with him and it is obvious that he is someone who has an abundance mindset. He happily shared valuable advice with me even though it was our first meeting.

In all we do, keeping an abundance mindset, feeling abundant and being abundant allows greater joy to flow into our lives and the lives of others. We remain centred on goodness and love, for self and for others. Infinite abundance for everyone.

When we hold on tightly to our ego and sense of self worth, to fear of competition and our sense that we are not good enough, what follows is pain, self-centredness and a focus on self and only self. Scarcity mentality. That there is finite goodness to be shared so one must grab one's larger share. That we must compete in order to survive and succeed. Living in this sort of world is certainly not a blissful one.

We can begin to cultivate and live with an abundance mindset through (1) awareness and (2) putting it into practice in our daily living. When I first started living this, it was not on auto pilot. Before doing an action or when I felt an emotion, I had to ask myself "am I coming from a place of abundance or scarcity?". Through time and practice, it became easier and became a way of living. 


I enjoying living and being in this abundant universe, free from competition and petty emotions. And living in abundance also means attracting a continuous in-flow of goodness. 

Abundance for one and all. 

Healing a loved one

Doing healing for a loved one or a close friend is not easy especially if its not just a headache or a sprain. This is when we have to be able to detach and stay non attached. And when the people around you goes into a fear frenzy, you have to be able to internally go...

whoah - pause - i am not aligning myself to this -
breathe breathe breathe - centred & calm

Because you know as well as I do that when we as therapist goes into a fear or stressed mode, the vibration isn't useful for the healing process. When we are able to stay calm and centred, in turn we will help those around us to feel likewise. Then, we are able to move onwards and upwards.

8 seconds to awesomeness

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, that's all the time you need to create a being moment.

Inhale 4 counts and feel goodness flowing in, exhale 4 counts feeling totally relaxed.

When you include pockets of these 8 seconds of awesomeness in your day, you will feel recharged in spite a busy schedule. And when you feel in a less than useful state, including this being moment will give you a burst of calming energy.

The key to this 8 seconds is to totally be in the moment and enjoy your breath. Breathe in.... breathe out.... enjoy and be.

Savour Your Glass of Water

Was chatting with a dear friend yesterday and we came to the topic of water.

She reminded me that our ability to drink water is a joyous moment. Unfortunately, it has become a task or action that most people take for granted or in many cases, neglected. We are not drinking enough water and even when we do, we tend to gulp it down quickly and efficiently.

How about savouring your water for a difference?

Take a sip of water and as you swallow, imagine or visualise your body cells happily receiving this gift of life. You could hear your cells going "yes yes yes".

Take the next sip, enjoy the sensation of the water and again, visualise your cells being nourished. Continue to do this till you finish drinking your glass of water. Yes, it does take a little more time but the bonus benefit is that when you do this exercise, you are naturally in a being state. Besides hydrating your body, you are also resting your mind and body for those few mins.

For those of you who are energy trained, you can charge your water first before drinking it.

Btw, came across this article on Drink Water to Lose Weight. :)

Doing QT for my loved ones

"I would like to use QT to help/ heal my loved ones."

This is one of the most often cited reasons given by participants at my QT workshop. It is also one of the reasons why I love it; it is a tool that allows us to change a helpless state into a helpful one. For example, both my grandmothers are getting on in years (my paternal grandma celebrated her 86th birthday while maternal grandma celebrated her 103rd birthday) and have their share of aches/ pains. Instead feeling helpless about it, I do distance healing sessions for them plus visit them.

Yet, given our busy and hectic schedules, many of my participants find it difficult to spend enough time QTing all their loved ones. As a result, instead of a joyous experience, they often share that they feel bad not spending enough time working on their family.

I too faced the same issue initially because there were too many family members that I felt would benefit from QT. Then at the start of this year, I decided that I will work on two or three family members over a period of time and then move on to another two or three family members. My formula is a 15 mins daily distance healing session over 40 days (continuously) for each person. A wise mentor shared with me about the benefits of a 40 days' period, it is the completion of a cycle so I implemented it as such.

It is a discipline following through with the 40 days' period. On days when my schedule is packed, it takes effort to sit, be still and do the sessions. Yet, in spite of my fatigue, I know I will feel this joyous burst of energy each time. And at the end of the sessions, I am recharged. While the sessions are an anonymous gift to my family, I've realised that they are also a gift to me. For when we do the healing sessions for others, we are also healing ourselves in the process. As such, I am stronger and better for it.

If you find yourself stretched for time, you can choose to work on one family member once a week or 5 mins a day over a week etc. Choose a time frame that is comfortable for you. It does not matter if you can only spend 15 mins on your family member. That 15 mins is precious and he/ she is better for it than not having it.

Above all, enJOY the process!

Core of Light and Love

I met a new friend for tea last week and it was delightful to exchange insights and stories. Among the stories she shared, one made me paused in indignation.

She had related the harrowing experience of attending a course due to the behaviour of the instructor. Instead of being an encouraging and affirmative instructor, the instructor talked down to them and even called the participants names such as "bodoh" which means stupid. The instructor also made light of the feedback/ feelings of the participants and did nothing to be of help.

When she shared this, I remembered the posting that I wrote on therapists with core of light. This applies to trainers, teachers and instructors too. If we decide to be catalysts of transformation and hope, then let love and light be our core.

Rather than cause someone to feel less, why not do the best we can to offer them hope?

State What You Want

When we are doing a healing session or setting an intention, it is more effective to state what you want and not what you do not want.

For example, instead of "I do not want to be sick", change it to "I am healthy". So when you are running energy on yourself, state that as an intention and during the session, visualise yourself as being strong, healthy etc.

When you state what you want, the energy becomes a positive flow and the vibration also increases. As such, you would also find yourself enjoying the healing session more and will be in a joyous happy state.

When you focus on what you do not want, often you will find yourself feeling agitation or are irritated when you are doing the healing session. This is not a useful state to be in when working with energy as like attract like. As such, being in a happy and positive state will attract increased goodness into your life.

So before doing a session, check your emotional and mental state. If you are in a angry, frustrated or irritated mood, it might be more beneficial to first do some self-healing so that you can return to a calm or neutral state. Then after that, do the session for your desired outcome.

Integrity

Received an sms from a client/ friend requesting for my HappyPrint Scan for herself and the HappyPrint Scan for effective parenting for her two kids.

I replied that the scan would certainly be useful for her kids. As for herself, she need not do the scan as she has done so previousy. Instead, I recommended her to go for another therapist's session which I feel would benefit her more. She shared that she appreciates my integrity.

Integrity. That's a key value and being needed especially in our healing profession. We need to recommend what's needed to benefit the client and not what benefits our business or bank accounts.

I've adhered to this strictly these past years. As a result, my clients trust and follow my recommendations because they know that it will be useful for them. If its one session needed, then its one. If its five sessions needed, then its five. If its a combinations of complementary therapies, then it is as such.

Set the foundation strong and a good abundant practice follows.

Abundant business with integrity and heart

I've been told that I am perhaps... a little inflexible in terms of the way I desire to do business.

For example, in my model of the world, selling = recommendation. Hence, I take a very personal interest to ensure that whatever I "sell" or will be "selling" truly benefits the clients.

Therefore, if I am uncertain that my services can and will benefit someone, I will not recommend it. If the requests of my clients breach my ethics and intergrity, I will not take on the engagement. For example, a client of mine requested for me to do a HappyPrint Scan for her husband without his knowledge. I rejected her request because this is a breach of confidentality. Initially, she was annoyed then later on, she shared that she respected my professionalism.

In the same way, I've been asked/ approached to "sell" certain products which would have had made me a bundle of money. But because I am uncertain about the true benefits and in some instances, I do not consider myself an expert on the product, I decided not to.

To some people, it appears that I have an issue with making money. To me, I know it is not so. I desire to walk the light path and I believe that building a business with integrity and heart can also bring in abundance. It would take a long term view but the abundance would be both wealth and goodness.

Take the case of this couple who owns a crystal shop. One day, I finally understood why they do not have a Visa machine in their shop. They only accept cash or NETS. From a business angle, it would make $$$$ sense to have a Visa machine to faciliate sales and purchases (research has shown that people spend more when using credit cards). But from their business with heart angle, they wanted to ensure that when customers make a purchase, it is with money that they can afford to spend. For them, their objective is to sell the right crystal to the right customer and not sales per se. As such, I've observed numerous occasions when they've advised customers against buying a certain crystal because it is not suitable. Customer focus rather than sales-oriented. They are very different from many crystal sellers that I came across. I respect their integrity and heart. It is a concept and business principle that I resonate with.

Transmuting negative emotional energy

In the past month, I've been experimenting with...initially, was going to use the word "transforming" but then the word "transmuting" popped in and it better describes the feel of what I am doing. A couple of seconds ago, I went to search what transmuting means:

trans·mut·ed, trans·mut·ing, trans·mutes: To change from one form, nature, substance, or state into another; transform: Alchemists tried to transmute lead into gold.

Aha.

I'm not working on lead. Rather, have been working on transmuting negative emotional energy into pure loving energy. In the past, when I am affected by someone or a situation in a negative manner be it anger, sadness, irritation etc, what I'll do is to detox it from my system. Now, instead of detoxing it, I'm practicising changing the negative energy into loving energy.

Take for example when I received an email that annoyed me. It annoyed me because I felt it was uncalled for. Instead of simply detoxing it from my system, I took it in and filled it with loving vibrational energy instead (worked on heart chakra and meditated on love). The result? If I used the detox system, I would have simply ignore the annoying email and remained neutral to the party. When I transmute it, I could make effort to reply in a loving manner because I felt and mean it (and not because it is the right thing to do). The result is a true softening and opening of the relationship.

Being patient with yourself

Woke up this morning and the title for this post popped into my head. Wasn't planning to blog today but guess greater energies at work! Okie, this is for you, the someone somewhere who is looking for this sharing. :)

My clients/ friends/ students often tell me: "I want to scan like you do", "I want to feel happy like you do", "I want to be as successful like you", "I want to enjoy life the way you do", "I want, I want.."

Sure, we all have wants. The key is to have YOUR wants or dreams and not compare/ benchmark against someone else. What makes YOU happy and not what makes you happy because it makes ABC happy.

That's the lesson I learnt. In my book, I wrote about how I used to strive to be the best in all I do - the best student, the best daughter, the best friend, the best volunteer, the best employee, the best..the best.. the best. An endless and tiring list because I strove to be the best as that would make people like me or fulfill others' expectations. At that time, I did not like myself very much and so external validation of my self worth was so very important. As I went on my self-healing journey, self-acceptance and self-love became personalised and lived. No longer just a concept.

The second lesson I learnt is to be patient with myself. This is as challenging as learning to love myself. Efficiency and fast results were two key words in my operating vocabulary and so I had to overcome my impatience as I started to rebuild my life.

My skills and gifting came with time and the dream life I'm leading was achieved through effort, mistakes, learnings, tears, joys, support, setbacks, challenges, positivity. It took time. Friends who have journeyed with me will share with you that I certainly went on a pretty long journey to get here. Periods of sadness and despair coupled with doubts that life can be different. Patience was so very needed then. (Btw, it is also needed now as I continue on this new phase of life. I have to be patient as I grow my passion into a successful practice.)

We are on a perfecting journey. So rather than live a life regretting what you have done or not done, focus your energies on how you can be better the next time or do things differently. Above all, be patient with yourself and be kind to yourself as you go on this perfecting journey. We are often our harshest critics and that's the internal blockage that we face. When released, we will then allow flow to happen. Bliss.

Quote for today

Was happily chatting with a client-turned-friend and out popped: "You can be of significance even before your are significant".

Wow. This will be one of my favourite self-quotes.

You can be love, be joy, be help, be kindness, be service, be light... anytime. That's my belief. It does not have to wait till when you're a millionaire, till when you are pure loving being, till when you have free time, till when you're retired, till when the other person is nicer to you, till when you are out of that dreadful situation, till when.....

Shine. Be significance tonight, tomorrow, all time.

Wallowing in pure energy

I've scheduled in a daily morning walk at the Bedok Reservoir as part of my cleansing, exercising and strengthening routine and today was the first morning. As I stepped out of my house, I was refreshed by the splendour of a dawning sky. I simply just basked in the energy swirls of blues and cream. Gratitude for life. Peace. Bliss. Calm.










The blaring horns of the busy frantic parents getting their children to school on time and people getting to work on time broke my meditative state. It was jarring for a couple of seconds till I retreat once more into my centre of calm and bliss.


Soon I reached my sanctuary. Lush greenery, pure energy. It's been a while since I went for a walk and yet, it feels completely familiar. As I walked on earth, I did grounding and detoxifying. Feels lighter with each step that I took.

It's a beautiful conducive environment for meditation. Tranquil, peaceful and blissful as I soaked in pure energy.







It's a beyond-great way to start off one's day, wallowing in pure blissful energy. As I made my way back, this beautiful sight greeted me - a tree haloed by sunlight.


As we become increasingly attuned to the flows of energy, it corresponds to an increased appreciation of the splendid beauty of nature as well as the immense energy to be tapped on. Yet in our busyness, we hardly make time to be in the presence of pure energy. I was guilty of that. Today's walk made me realise how much I missed my walks and yes, I will continue with them.

What about you? :)