Lessons From My Blog

December 8, 2014 inspiringmax

What’s the most important (or interesting, or unexpected) thing about blogging you know today that you didn’t know a month ago?

Blogging is a never-ending journey. This is my 150th post. And I am excited there is always something new to learn or do. So what are some of the things I have learnt recently?

1. Working out what my audience wants is tricky and seems to vary.

2. Connecting with others is the key. I don’t expect others to stop by my site without me reaching out to them. This is only half the journey and doesn’t work.

3. I make sure that my writing is clear and not open to interpretation. I use the KIS principle, keep it simple.

4. Writing daily makes it easier. I stopped for a few days and I lost momentum. Now it takes me longer to write my posts until I get back into a system.

5. The more I blog, the more I want to blog. I love that you can sit at your computer anywhere in the world, share people’s lives and they can share mine.

6. The more I blog, the more I realise the power of the internet and the role of my voice online.

7. Finding viewers is hard but working my blog helps keep them. I appreciate everyone who stops by and visits my blog.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/recently-acquired/

Following Your Gut

December 7, 2014 inspiringmax

When’s the last time you followed your instinct despite not being sure it was the right thing to do? Did it end up being the right call?

I cannot tell you when I started relying on my gut. It is what I do. I am naturally intuitive and regularly just know things before they happen. My family has learnt to go with it, even though it often seems strange.

Over the years, I have chosen to hone this skill. I can’t tell you how I started but if you are interested,begin by learning to listen to your thoughts and instincts. Don’t judge. Some gut instincts will seem far-fetched at first. The more you trust yourself however, the more you can go with them.

I use my gut instinct in my counselling. It is surprising how often even the most outrageous statement is exactly on point and what the person needs to hear. Although I may not have known all the facts when, by following my gut, I have been able to respond in the right way.

Listen and its amazing what you can hear.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/gut-feeling/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Sydney 2000 Flame

December 7, 2014December 7, 2014 inspiringmax

Show us something that is lost, but not forgotten.

Cauldron From Sydney Olympics

The Sydney Olympics ended 14 years ago, however the Australian Olympic spirit lives on. This cauldron once adorned the stadium. It has been mounted on legs and now forms a beautiful sculpture in Cathy Freeman Park.

Every four years during the Olympics, our flame is re-lit. I love watching it. These photos were taken during the 2012 London Olympics. It still has the water attached, which is turned on periodically during hot summer days as a place for the children to cool off.

Sydney 2000 has gone but is definitely not forgotten.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/gone-but-not-forgotten/

Control Your MInd

December 6, 2014December 6, 2014 inspiringmax

“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere,” goes the famous song about New York City. Is there a place — a city, a school, a company — about which you think (or thought) the same? Tell us why, and if you ever tried to prove that claim.

Success begins in our minds. We decide our own fate. Whether we make it or not is up to us. It is our responsibility to control our thoughts. In response, our thoughts will control our outcomes.

Jack Canfield asks “do you take 100% responsibility for your life?” I believe if you want to make it, you need to take 100% control of your self-belief.

Decide what you want to do and control your self-doubt. You can’t make it in New York City or anywhere else with self-doubt driving you. Your mind controls your success, so control your mind. Five years ago, I began writing my book on eating disorder recovery. Initially, I was excited. I was doing what I always wanted to. Then suddenly, the more I wrote, the more I doubted others would be interested in what I had to say. My self-doubt had kicked in, but I didn’t let it stop me.

“What right do you have to be writer? Who wants to read what you have to say anyway?” said my self-doubt.

“Of course, I have something valuable to say. I have helped people with my advice for years” I replied.

This was a regular conversation/argument in my brain. However, over time the more I wrote, the easier it was to shut down my self-doubt. From here my self-confidence and self-belief grew. Allowing me to share my work with others, receive positive feedback and take my journey to the next level by self-publishing next year.

So, wherever or in whatever field you want to make it, remember the first step to making it, is to control your mind.

DREAM

BELIEVE

ACHIEVE

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/make-it-anywhere/

Countdown To Christmas

December 5, 2014December 6, 2014 inspiringmax

‘Tis the season for suspense-building lists.

‘Tis the season to be jolly. This year however, it took a long time to come. After 12 months of planning, my husband and I are exploring Canada on our countdown to our first white Christmas.

As Australians, the usual question is “how hot will Christmas day be? or “will the bush fires stay away till at least boxing day?” This year the question is “will it snow on Christmas day and how cold will it be?” As we are having Christmas day in Old Quebec City one of the top places in the world to guarantee snow falling as well as being on the ground, we are hopeful.

Just a week ago we began our grand adventure and countdown to Christmas.

We are fascinated by life in Northern Hemisphere, eating afternoon tea in a house older than our country, adjusting to walking on snow and ice as well as trying and learning about new things.

Our six week Canadian adventure includes visiting:

1. St John’s Newfoundland

2. Halifax, Nova Scotia

3. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

4. Moncton, New Brunswick

5. Montreal, Quebec

6. Kingston, Ontario

7. Toronto, Ontario

8. Niagara Falls, Ontario

9. Old Quebec City, Quebec

10. Ottawa, Ontario

Whilst we will be missing our usual Christmas traditions, we are proud to be sharing new ones with others half a world away.

View over Quidi Vidi Lake, Newfoundland

Christmas Tree Government House St John’s

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_writing_challenge/countdown/

Supplies Aussie Style

December 2, 2014 inspiringmax

We’ve all been asked what five objects we’d take with us to a desert island. Now it’s your best friend’s (or close relative’s) turn to be stranded: what five objects would you send him/her off with?

The phone rang. It was my mother. She was letting me know that one of our relatives was stranded on a desert island. Being practical, I had been voted the family representative to send supplies. After careful consideration, I sent the following 5 items to help our loved one get through.

1. Large bag of flour – this can be used to make a damper ( flour, salt and water) cooked in a camp fire into a bread. This insures my relative can eat daily.

2. Billy – a metal tin or cooking pot complete with wire handle used to boil water or cook over a campfire. This allows water to be boiled ensuring it is clean and safe to drink.

3. Box of waterproof matches – to make sure a fire can be lit in all conditions.

4. Multi-purpose tool – a portable tool including a hammer, screwdriver, pliers, saw, knife and other associated tools that may come in handy. This tool would allow my loved one to build a shelter for protection.

5. Vegemite – no Australian should be stranded on a desert island without Vegemite, our national spread. It is an Aussie staple and full of vitamins. Uses for Vegemite include being spread on the damper or dissolved in water as an alternate hot drink.

I hope they get home safely soon. I would love to know how helpful my items were.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/someone-elses-island/

Writing Streak

December 1, 2014 inspiringmax

What’s the longest stretch you’ve ever pulled off of posting daily to your blog? What did you learn about blogging through that achievement, and what made you break the streak?

Blogging is an art and a passion. Since returning to my blog in late August, I have posted on 96 of the last 98 days. This score anywhere else would give me a high distinction, my first ever. The two single days I missed were in early September and since then I have decided to commit to blogging daily.

As I am developing my online voice, I am learning inspiration comes in many ways. It is everywhere. Now I noticed things to blog about so much that on many occasions I have posted twice a day. The more I do this, the more I connect with my audience, which I love and helps me to understand what interests them and develop stronger relationships.

Ironically, as I am on holidays in Canada seeking new inspiration to blog on, I may at times be unable to keep up my current blogging schedule. Not to worry, either way flexibility is the key. Blogging needs to add to my life not make it stressful. Thanks for visiting my world.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/winning-streak/