We want to be with you every step of the way, so we’re staying in touch.

Richard’s Quote

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
~ J.K. Rowling

Tips from Richard

You are always more than your states.  Be mindful to identify your states, rather than identify with them.  This can be one of your guideposts to freedom.  Learn to quickly recognise when you are in a state, slow it all down, remember you are always more than your state and then identify the state itself.   “I am not sad but rather, sadness is moving through my body-mind.”   Herein you will create a gap and that gap is an opportunity for freedom.  From this recognition proceed into upgrading.

Richards Book Pick

Transformation: Understanding the Three Levels of Masculine Consciousness … by Robert A. Johnson

This little book can serve as a map for discovering ‘where’ you might be on your journey. It is applicable for both men and women and it uses the tales of Don Quixote, Hamlet, and Faust to clearly illustrate these levels.

Valuable Link

Remember, everytime you experience a strong reaction, feeling, emotion that “upsets” you, what is actually being upset is not you, but the belief or beliefs that the event, comment, person or event has triggered in you that you hold, and are now experiencing the effects of.

Remember to give yourself a timeout buffer, to regroup, inspect what you were thinking at the time, follow the thread to see what belief you have about yourself/life that was triggered, and Upgrade to a more realistic understanding.

A helpful way to remember this for those of you who are visual learners is this story:

Imagine sitting at a table, working away and you momentarily stop what you are doing because of an uncomfortable feeling.  You reach down and pluck a heavy scrap of “something” that has slipped out of your back pocket, and is caught in the stitching of your jeans. You unattach it, lift it up to the light, turning it this way and that, curious to see what it is…then realise its an old, rusty little gadget you vaguely remember thinking was very important to hang onto, ages ago.

With this inspection complete, and dawning realisation its no longer needed, you drop it into the bin. You carry on with what you were doing, only this time you feel much more comfortable as the heaviness of the object is no longer weighing you down.

This analogy reminds us of the steps to respond authentically – stop, breathe, step aside to find the real cause, inspect and discard (Upgrade) whats no longer working or serving us, continue with your path, adding to your wisdom and appreciation.

Jo’s Pick

• Do you find it hard to forgive yourself or someone else?
• Can you or someone else have behaved any differently, in any moment?
• Do you believe that if you forgive someone, you are condoning their behaviour?
• Is there a situation that you can’t understand or accept?

I would like to share this beautiful story with you.
Hope you like it.
The story of “Two wolves” illustrates a battle of character building or character destruction.

Two Wolves

An old Indian Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice.
Grandfather said “Let me tell you a story:”

I too have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they have done.  But hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy.  It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die.  I have struggled with these feelings many times.

Grandfather continued….

There is a battle that goes inside of us all.  It is as if there are two wolves battling inside each of us.

One is:
“Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.  He does no harm.  He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended.  He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.  He saves all his energy for the right fight.” 

The second is:
“Anger, envy, sorrow, regret greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority.  The smallest things will send him into a fit of temper.  He fights everyone all the time for no reason.  He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great.  It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.  Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside of us, for both will try and dominate our spirit.”

The boy looked intently into Grandfather’s eyes and asked…
“Which wolf wins, Grandfather?”!

The Grandfather smiled and quietly said…
“The one you feed.”

 

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 8 litres water to boil

Ingredients to add to boiling water:

• 1/2 Tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 Tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 Tsp fresh time
• 1/4 Tsp dried Chilli (optional)
• 3 cups of chopped or diced Italian tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1/4 cup vegetable stock (organic)
• 1 large onion – finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic – finely chopped

Add to pot of boiling stock

• 3 Celery sticks – finely chopped
• 2 carrots – cut into cubes
• 3 potatoes – cut into cubes
• 3 zucchini – cut into cubes

Note:  Optional – add Hungarian salami

Cook for at least 1-½ hours (until potatoes are cooked & the soup thickens)

• Add 1 can of red kidney beans
• Add the rind of 1/2 a lemon
• Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon

Optional:

• Cook ½ a cup of small organic gluten free macaroni pasta as per the packet instructions – cool down
• Just before serving add ¼ cup of chopped fresh bail leaves, macaroni pasta, salt and pepper to taste.

Bona apatite

The best of Aravindha’s
Italian soup
Chef, The Health Retreat

Middle Eastern Style Chickpea & Vegetable Soup

Enjoy
Zoe
Chef, The Health Retreat

Paul (Champ), with Jason & Andy            Paul & his sister Mary, giving a few boxing tips

             

If you wish to share your news, please send through you contributions to helga@thehealthretreat.net.au   (Only first names will be published)

The 38 Best Methods of Successful Exercisers –Part 1

(thanks Richard for finding these great handy excercise tips…looking forward to seeing next months Part 2 tips…)

1. Stop looking at it as a habit and instead as a lifestyle and an important part of your self-care.
2. Work out first thing in the morning.  You get it out of the way and it provides you with an abundance of energy for the rest of the day.
3. Crank up your favorite music!  I often see suggested play lists for workouts, but just listen to what excited you.  It will get you moving.
4. When I started running I started out at 1/2 km and increased 1/4 km increments (I usually average 5km runs).  It didn’t happen overnight – give your lungs and muscles time to adjust.  Same with weight training – start light and build your way up.  Results will start to show in about 3 to 4 weeks.
5. Making it my #1 priority and doing it first thing in the morning.
6. 30 day yoga challenges for myself and I then give updates on my Blog – accountability!
7. If I workout in the morning, before day starts, I “earn: chocolate/beer/carb later in the day.  Otherwise no treats for me!”
8. No excuses.  I never miss more than 2 days.  You have to insist on it and protect it!
9. Also just put your workout clothes on.  Once you do that it feels silly not to start.  Just commit to 10 minutes.  You will probably do more.
10. Also: no one ever regrets working out.  Is there anything else in the world you can do, and know 100% you won’t regret it?

• more tips from the life coaches
• scrumptious recipes
• recommended reading
• exercise tips
• Helga’s boot camp champ
• and more…