The Lakeland Festival of Light – Being A Light
The Lakeland Festival of Light events have been raising funds in our stunning Lakeland environment for various charities over the past few years including relief projects in Nepal since the earthquake there in 2015, and local Lakeland Mountain Rescue Teams.
The events brings folk together from around the country who want to show solidarity in making a difference in this world, people who simply want to be a light.
Andrew Galloway Photography
And this week was no exception as the north west facing ridge of Fleetwith Pike, Buttermere, was illuminated by the head torches of those who braved the cold to raise funds for Cumbria Youth Alliance (CYA).
Nick Landels Photography
CYA believe with a passion that all young people have potential but that some simply need a helping hand to realise that potential. Their mission is to “Work with and for young people in Cumbria to help them reach their full potential”, particularly those who may be disadvantaged.
This week’s light festival was the third and final event of the team’s year, raising over £1,200 for CYA’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme and bringing the 2018 total to more than £13,000 for various good causes.
To find out more about the Lakeland Festival of Light series, you can click here
Stephen & Grace on Fleetwith Pike
Of course, you don’t have to put a head torch on and climb a hill at night to be a light in the community where you live. Through words of encouragement; even just a quick phone call to someone who’s on your mind, and simple acts of kindness; even offering to make a cup of tea for a busy colleague, we can easily look out for one another and be there for one another to make a difference, to be a light in their world, and cumulatively, wow, what illumination we can bring. That’s what true community is about.
As the weekend approaches and we reflect on the week that’s past and the week that lays ahead, may we give thanks for those who’ve been a light on our journey, and seek ways to be the same to others on their journey.
The Mind Body Connection
This week I wanted to share a thought with you about the Mind-Body Connection.
Did you know it’s only since the middle ages that the mind, body and spirit have been considered separate?
Before that, we were considered whole integrated people.
Writing as I am from the UK, it’s noticeable how our Western culture has been influenced by reductionism – splitting into parts and specialisation. Each aspect is now cared for separately: surgeons for the physical, psychiatrists for the mental and clergy for the spiritual.
Matters of health tend to be viewed by many as purely physical however, it’s not that simple. For example, the Reticular Activating System connects the cortex and the sub-brain; physical stimulation affects the mind and mental stressors affect the body, generating physical responses. In other words, our physical state of health affects our mental health and vice-versa.
Let us look for a moment at what we think, believe and meditate on and it’s relation to our physical state.
The belief of the mind has enormous influence over our physical abilities to the extent that sports psychology is the determining factor in many athletes physical performance.
Most people know the basic story of Roger Bannister, who, on May 6, 1954, broke the 4 minute mile with a time of 3 minutes 59 seconds. But what many people forget is that runners had been chasing the goal seriously since at least 1886 and that the challenge involved the most brilliant coaches and gifted athletes in North America, Europe, and Australia. For years runners had been striving against the clock, but the elusive four minutes had always beaten them to the extent that it had become as much a psychological barrier as a physical one.
When Bannister eventually broke the record, even his most ardent rivals breathed a sigh of relief. At last, somebody did it! And once they saw it could be done, they did it too. Only 46 days after Bannister’s feat, John Landy, an Australian runner, broke the barrier again, with an even faster time of 3 minutes 58 seconds! Then, just a year later, three runners broke the four-minute barrier in a single race. Over the last half century, more than a thousand runners have conquered a barrier that had once been considered hopelessly out of reach (the current record is 3 minutes 43 seconds).
Many studies have reviewed this phenomena of a sudden surge of success in the physical realm. They concluded that a positive mindset based on a belief of what could be possible is actually what helped those runners beat that record.
So does that mean we can all run a sub-4 minute mile if we simply believe it?
No. Because as whole integrated people there are other factors around health and fitness we also need to take into consideration. It does mean, however, that when it comes to success and wellbeing, in whatever sphere of life, what we think, believe and meditate on is key.
So, take control of those limiting thoughts that come your way; remember you have a purpose in this world that you can fulfil through a life of integrity.
If you have a dream in your heart, you don’t have to work out every detail of it before you take your first step. Instead, take one small step today and leave the other steps for tomorrow. Focus on what you can do now. Believe you will succeed and you will!
Here’s to fulfilling your dream!
Ruth
You Are One In A Million
Do you know you are one in a million?
Last week we looked at why on a personal and business level it’s important to not only map out and prioritise our values, but also to live them out. Because the danger is, if we don’t check in with our values, and we just let the ups and downs of life happen to us, we may find ourselves off course with our true purpose.
Anyway, as I was having breakfast with my daughters one morning this week I heard over the radio the musician Joel Vaughn share the story behind his song ‘One In A Million’ which came about from a conversation he himself had with his 5yr old daughter one morning.
His story emphasises the importance of value and purpose in our lives.
I found a snippet of it on youtube which I’d like to share with you:
The point is, young or old, we all have true value and a purpose in this world.
“You don’t have to live without a purpose
Without a cause … and feeling flawed
There’s so much more beneath the surface
In every heart … a work of art
You’re made, for more
Than you could ever know
Don’t you, let go!
You’re one in a million
And you gotta know it’s true (and you gotta know it’s true)
No one else within the universe
Could ever be just like you (could ever be just like you)”
(Joel Vaughn – One In A Million)
Remember you do have a purpose in this world.
Remember you are one in a million.
A Brand That’s Congruent With Your Values
Can I ask you a question?
Firstly, What are your core values, and secondly, do you really live by them?
OK, that’s two questions, not one, and don’t worry, you don’t have to tell me the answer, but I just want to encourage you to think about your values.
You see our global society in 2018 is probably the most transient ever. Stability certainly cannot be found in a career, the idea of a ‘job for life’ really is just an idea, and even ‘morally’ founded establishments are exposed for fraud and abuse of trust, so can we even lean on an establishment?
As we look around, we find ourselves moved from pillar to post, what was a sure thing yesterday isn’t around today, and a myriad of opinions abound as to the solution.
So my question is, in this sea of uncertainty, have you taken the time to understand what your core values are, and set a plan of action in place to live by them?
Here’s just 4 reasons why I believe we should not only map out and prioritise our values, but live them out in this world:
1. Our values help steer a course in this world of uncertainty.
Someone’s values are guiding you in this world. Make sure they are yours.
2. Our values will repel those who reject our values.
It’s a relief to know we’re not meant to ‘hit it off’ with everyone. There are some personal and business relationships we should move on from.
3. Our values will attract those people who embrace our values.
If we don’t articulate our values through word and deed, we will miss out on personal and business relationships with those who want to share our values on life’s journey.
4. Our core values shouldn’t remain hidden in our core, but should be our external brand.
On a personal and business level, the exhibition of our values will be the foundation of our conversation to build trust and add our unique value to the world.
Note: Digi Life Enabled is itself a sub-set of the Stephen & Ruth brand:
The danger
The danger is, if we don’t check in with your values, and we just let the ups and downs of life happen to us, we may find ourselves off course with our true purpose, and a victim of the temporary winds of circumstance.
So, time spent mapping out and prioritising your values is time well spent, just as time spent looking at a map / GPS on a journey is time well spent if you’re serious about your destination.
This enables you to get from a place of ‘out of balance’ to an awareness of those areas that are out of balance with your values so you can create the space for your core values to shine and make a difference in this world.
One of the appeals to us of The Six Figure Mentors (SFM) and Digital Experts Academy (DEA) was their professional branding process. Before we went through the process we naively thought branding was just a ‘logo’ you could buy. However, we came to learn from those who are successful in online business that the true winning factor to branding is about coming from a place of genuine integrity that flows seamlessly through your entire business.
It was through this process we came to appreciate that understanding your mission, your personal values, your vision, is imperative to growing a successful and congruent brand.
To understand the science behind a successful business, family, and message to the world, the DEA’s Platinum Brand Incubator offer you the unique opportunity to work with their in-house “Why discovery” mentor. This is the path to fully appreciating what inspires you, what motivates you, giving you the opportunity to move forward in your journey with confidence and authenticity.
These principles can be applied to your existing business, or a new start up business.
So, if you are an existing business owner, or are someone looking for mentorship in starting your own online business which is congruent with your core values, then you can register for our FREE 7 Day Video series here. The series introduces you to the fundamentals to starting a profitable online business from scratch.
Or, if you’ve already registered for our free 7 day video series, then take advantage of our FREE TRIAL of the SFM system here.
Remember, it won’t cost you anything for the free trial, and you can cancel at any time at no additional cost to yourself. Simply register here.
Then you can judge for yourself what the program has to offer, and schedule a free consultation with one of the System Consultants, who will be happy to explain the opportunities in detail and answer any specific questions you may have.
Finally, in the uncertain days ahead, may you make it a habit to bury your fears and not your values.
You are never too old to learn
We used to dream big.
We were going to climb the highest mountain, sail the deepest sea, whatever it was, we were going to make a real difference in this world despite the risks. Then we got older, and this world told us why we couldn’t have our dreams, they didn’t belong in this world. So after a while, many of us stopped dreaming.
In this context, it’s humbling to reflect on the conversations I now have with my kids about their big dreams. I tend to point out the negative dangers of those dreams, the costs and risks involved. They smile back and simply point out the positive benefits.
I hope they don’t lose their positive perspective as they grow old in this world.
I like the story of 88-year-old Ursula Shepherd from Devon, England. It’s a story of holding onto a dream to learn which I’d like to share with you.
Even a year ago, Ursula couldn’t read, and what inspires me most about Ursula is that she didn’t let this world rob her of her dream, a dream to be able to read to a class of children.
You see, Ursula had a number of learning difficulties which weren’t recognised in the 1930s, so she didn’t have the opportunity that many of us have had to a proper education.
“I would sit with a girl and she was reading but I couldn’t read, so when she turned the pages I turned my page over because I didn’t understand.” Says Ursula. “I felt sad because I always wanted to read, you see, and they just put me in the corner. I felt like I missed out.”
Through her life, she has had to rely on others to read for her. But even at this stage of her life, she has had the courage, and perseverance to take the first step to fulfilling her dream to learn to read.
She learned as all of us have to, one letter at a time, and now at 88, Ursula has fulfilled her dream and has read to class of children.
So what about our dreams?
They may have been muted, for whatever reason, but we all still have them.
Well, Ursula shows us it doesn’t matter how old we are, if we simply focus on starting small ‘one letter at a time‘ and ignore the world’s opinion, we too will get there…
Oh, and I have to tell you this. Learning to read has inspired Ursula to try other new things too. Last year she went on an aeroplane for the first time and now she wants to skydive when she’s 90!
If you would like to learn about starting an online business from scratch, even if you’ve no idea where to start, then check out our free 7 day video series which shows you how by clicking here.
