Secrets To Happiness

SECRETS TO HAPPINESS

By Sally Forrest

BSc, MRPharmS, MBA
Managing Director, www.soulcentre.org
25^th July 2018

I ask people a simple question “What do you want from life?”

Have you ever stopped and reflected on this question for your own life?

If not, today may be a good time to do so.

The most common answer I get is “Happiness” followed by “Inner Peace”.

Why does happiness elude so many? Why do we feel unhappy and not at peace with life?

Allow me to share some of my top secrets that bring happiness to life on a daily basis.

1) You are your own enemy.

You are tough on yourself, you constantly compare yourself to others and you chase after externals to make you happy.

No one is perfect, no one lives a perfect life, we are all perfectly imperfect.

The sooner you accept your imperfect life, the happier you will be.

I have clients who constantly change jobs, year after year they report back that the job is causing them stress, unhappiness and so they quit.

Clients who are on their 3^rd marriage because the spouse caused unhappiness to them…. I am sure you have met people like this in life.

Wisdom from the ancient masters explains “Wherever you go, there you are”. This means that it’s not the externals that cause unhappiness to you, it’s YOU and your inner chatter that causes unhappiness. Put yourself in any situation and you are finding unhappiness, it’s that simple!

The sooner we can accept the fact that happiness lies in OUR hands and not in the hands of others, then the sooner we can become happy and content inside.

2) Negative Voice

Inside our heads we have 2 voices.
The positive voice that tells you everything that can go well, that you can do, achieve and have. That you deserve the best in life and that life is great.

The negative voice that tells you not to try new things. That you will fail, that you are not good enough, who are you to even try? That life is hard, unfair and that you are getting the worst deal from life.

The question is “Which voice is strongest in your mind and which are you listening to?”

Reflect on your day so far, which voice have you been listening to?

3) Focus on your Blessings

The solution to feeling down and depressed is to STOP and focus on your blessings.

We all have bad days, even the rich and famous with all the wealth in the world have bad days.

So how do we get out of them? FOCUS on the good in your life! It’s that simple….

·      I have fresh air to breathe

·      I have a healthy mind and body

·      I have a place to stay

·      I have friends who care about me

·      I have clothes to wear

·      I have freedom and security

·      I have a dollar in my pocket

·      I have food to eat

The list can go on and on and the best solution is to write down 10 NEW blessings each morning - and soon happiness will be with you every day.

We are all born originals, beautiful and unique with so much to bring to the world.

Feeling unhappy, frustrated and disappointed is wasted energy!

Stop focusing on everyone else and start to focus on yourself.

Happiness comes from within, you are responsible for your own happiness, so let’s start creating that together!

Sally is the creator of “The Life Success Method” where she combines Eastern and Western Methods to create lives of happiness, success, significance and legacy.

She conducts group coaching as well as private one on one consultations.

To connect with Sally, please send an email to: info@soulcentre.org

-->

A flying start for SoulKids® Romania

A flying start for SoulKids® Romania

By Dana Ilies, SoulKids Mentor
16th July 2018

I want to start with a quote I got from Vikas in one of his Life Lessons about how to overcome challenges and changes that come into our lives:

“Turn your mess into a message”

This quote matches my story very well.

It all started in Singapore where my husband had the opportunity to work for Marina Bay Sands, a big company and a beautiful building with an infinity swimming pool on 57th floor. We were so happy and of course we took the chance.

Singapore was amazing. We had the expat life with all the benefits and were happy there.
One day I was drawn to a Facebook post in which SoulCentre was recruiting for office support and I decided to apply. Sally gave me the opportunity to join a team of awesome people. The day I stepped inside the office was the beginning of an amazing journey. Vikas and Sally are the best mentors in the world, and the support I got everyday from them is priceless. I can say without a doubt that they made me shine.

When Sally offered me the chance to take the SoulKids Mentor training I said yes without a single doubt in my mind. If I were to reccomend a single, unique training in the whole world that will have the most impact on yourself, I’ll reccomend the SoulKids Mentor Training. It changed my life.
After becoming a SoulKids Mentor I had the opportunity to participate in many SoulKids programs and the SoulKids Manager, Vidhya Shailesh was the best support and mentor one could wish.

Everything about our life in Singapore seemed perfect, except for the fact that our two daughters were in Romania. We were missing them a lot and in the back of our minds the thought of going back was always there.

It all came to an end when my husband’s work contract ended and we had to return. From Singapore to Bucharest is a big step to take, and most of our friends and family thought that this step would turn out to be a bad one.
However, being a SoulKids Mentor, I learnt to always think positive and believe in myself. The lessons I taught to children all that time were now so useful for my own life.

Never give up! You are awesome! Be the best you that you can be! Follow your passion!

I did not even have to think about what I was going to do in Bucharest. Children in Romania can also benefit from the SoulKids Program.

We landed on 3rd of April and my first SoulKids Program in Romania was scheduled on 19th May.  I was completely unknown and SoulKids a brand new word for people in Romania. My drive was the fact that this program can make a huge difference in children’s lives and it is something unique. In no time the first program, SoulKids QuickStart, was sold out!

It was the first time doing it on my own and in Romanian, but the systems that Sally put into place for the management of the program were so helpful. I can say without any doubt that Sally is the most organised person I know. With her system you can’t go wrong even if you are doing it for the first time. Her check lists were very helpful and for me life saving!!

The program was a success, I got very good feedback from both parents and children and from there it all started to grow.
I started on 19th May, and by 5th July I successfully finished 5 SoulKids programs.
32 children had fun and learnt important life lessons for their future.

I’m looking forward to a bright future and I feel blessed for having the chance to make such a profound impact on the lives of Romanian children with this program.

I finish my story with an amazing feedback I got from one of the parents:

“ Since this morning Rares is a different child. In the morning he would usually ask for his phone to play on and to eat breakfast in bed, this morning he woke up, made his bed, brushed his teeth, went to his room and changed his clothes, prepared himself milk and cereals which he heated in the microwave and all this without anyone telling him anything. What can I say, he is a different child.”

Rares attended one of the SoulKids QuickStart programs. Because he wants more, he registered for the SoulKids Self-confidence program in the following week.

Thank you Vikas Malkani and Sally Forrest for creating this program and giving me the chance to share SoulKids to Romanian children and thank you Vidhya Shailesh for your guidance and mentoring on so many SoulKids programs in Singapore.

When you do what you LOVE and you LOVE what you do the results are amazing.

My advice for everyone out there who feels low and does not see a bright future ahead, is to find your passion and let it be your work or business. The results will be over the top!

To find out more about our programs for children, please visit www.soulkids.org or email us at:soulkids@soulcentre.org (Singapore)info@danailies.ro (Romania)

We offer group programs for different age groups of children and even offer one-on-one coaching if your child requires specific help and guidance. 

Digital Addiction – How to help my teenager

Digital Addiction – How to help my teenager

ByVidhya Shailesh
SoulKids® Program Manager, www.soulkids.org
2nd July 2018

The world we live in right now is massively different from the one we used to live in as children. Among the many changes, the digital revolution has been one that has changed our lives in many ways. Mobiles, tablets, laptops are no longer a luxury any more – they are a way of life.

While technology has its advantages, it is essential that we remain mindful of the ill effects of the same. With laptops and mobile phones becoming a necessary part of every child’s growing years and part of their learning in school, it is all the more necessary that we inculcate the right habits from the start among children.

We cannot live in our own little bubble and avoid technology completely. Instead we must learn to embrace it with the right habits. Here are a few ways we can do the same.

1. Accept don't resist
Once we have given our children access to mobiles or laptops, there is no point resisting it and fighting over why they spend so much time on it. If in your teenage years you spent hours speaking to your friends on the phone, today the children do it on WhatsApp or snapchat. It is a part of their growing up years and constantly blaming them for it only creates a very negative environment. Instead encourage open communication. Discuss what they watch / do on their computers openly. Perhaps watch some of the shows with them. This helps foster a sense of openness and helps them be honest with you. Confrontation will only make them lie.

2. Encourage them to segregate screen time
Children need to be guided to understand how hours can be spent on your digital equipment. What might start as a simple google search might end up in hours of aimless reading. Help them understand this. Encourage them to set aside specific times for the tasks that they are doing. For example, if it is a school evening, encourage them to leave their phones on silent while they do their work. There are apps like focus available for computers as well which can help you block out any form of distractions for specific periods of time. This helps them focus on getting their work done. And once the work is complete, they can catch up on any messages on their phones. Cultivate a sense of responsibility for their own school work.

3. Encourage healthy habits like taking frequent breaks from their computers. Encourage them to put their digital devices away while they are in the company of people. Perhaps family time is a good way to start. Encourage them to set aside their devices during family time and make sure you do the same. Let this time be one where everyone engages in conversation perhaps over a meal or while doing an activity together.

4. Encourage them to spend lots of time in the outdoors. Perhaps playing their favorite sport or going for a run or a walk or biking. This is a great way to beat stress during exams, to help clear your mind and energize the body.

5. Encourage them to develop a love for reading. 
Make it a habit to help them pick out a few books to read during their holidays. Frequent trips to the library can ensure they have enough to read in their spare time. This will also ensure they don’t just sit with their phones the entire time. Encourage them to keep a wish list of books that they would like to read. And every time there is a holiday, help them source the books so they can keep themselves engaged.

While the distractions that digital devices provide are plenty, they must understand that there is a lot more they can do without it too. Lead them by example, let them see you put away your devices for specific periods of time. Some of these habits when inculcated early can help your teenagers develop the right approach towards digital distractions.

Life-skills education can go a long way in encouraging the right mindset towards life and the many distractions in it including digital distractions. At SoulKids® we teach children essential life-skills that help them create their own happiness and success.

To find out more about our programs for children, please visit www.soulkids.org or email us at soulkids@soulcentre.org for more information. We offer group programs for different age groups and even offer one-on-one coaching if your child requires specific help and guidance.

The Reiki Secrets

The Reiki Secrets

By Sally Forrest

BSc, MRPharmS, MBA

Managing Director, www.soulcentre.org

28^th June 2018

Reiki is a way of life.

Once you learn Reiki then you find that life changes on so many levels.

As a medical pharmacist I love to teach the deeper aspects of Reiki and how they link back to the physical, emotional and mental aspects of health and healing.

Physical

Reiki is able to bring the body into a state of complete harmony. Many of us push our bodies beyond their limits. We eat too much processed food, we push ourselves to do more and more and often do not get enough sleep. We stay connected to our gadgets most of the day and increase our stress levels by allowing too much stimulus to enter our thoughts….

We rarely take time out and just relax. Using Reiki on yourself each day allows the body to reconnect to a state of balance and wholeness.

It is easy and simple to do Reiki, simply put your hands on your body and the healing energy will flow.

Make Reiki a habit. On waking simply connect your hands to your body and give yourself a Reiki healing for 5 minutes before you jump out of bed and start your day.

Emotional

All emotions arise as a result of a thought we have. We make a judgement as to whether it is good or bad based on our thinking. This leads to an emotion such as happiness if we judge something as “good”, or stress if we judge as “bad”. Reiki allows you to understand more about the emotions that arise and to take ownership for them.

All emotions are held in the body and give rise to symptoms which we can feel and see.

For example, a headache may mean we put too much pressure on ourselves.

A stomach ache means we worry too much.

Aching legs may mean we are not keen on “moving forward’ on something that life is offering.

Once you learn Reiki you understand the mind-body connections and start to see for yourself the connections between your thinking and your body responses.

By applying Reiki on a daily basis, emotions start to stabilize and as a result your health improves.

Mental

Have you ever met someone and asked them how they are, only to hear a story about what happened 10 years ago? This is a mental holding-on to issues of the past.

Usually it’s a negative occurrence and for whatever reason it is being kept “alive” in the mind of the owner.

This is similar to holding on to a hot piece of coal and complaining that it is burning the hand, yet not letting go.

It seems crazy, yet many of us do this.

We re-play our issues over and over and thus we keep them alive.

Reiki allows a mental relaxation and the ability to see things in a new light.

The more you use Reiki on yourself, the more you start to realize that happiness and contentment are firmly in your hands.

The mind starts to relax and let go of past traumas and life becomes joyful once again.

At SoulCentre we teach Reiki from absolute beginner all the way to Master level.

Thousands of people have benefitted from the Reiki training and all report immediate benefits to their health and happiness. It’s almost like having a complete reset of the mind and body!

It’s now your time and your turn!

The world is your oyster once you learn Reiki, so make a beautiful Pearl.

A select number of students go on to become Reiki teachers with us at SoulCentre and may become professional therapists.

Sally’s next Self-Healing Workshop is on 4/5 August.

To book a place simply connect with us on;

info@soulcentre.org

Sally is a medical pharmacist and for the past 18 years has been studying eastern methods of natural healing. She is able to combine the east and the west and enlightens her clients on the path to happiness, health and wholeness.

Why I Love SoulKids

By Ikabella Heaps
SoulKids Ambassador, www.soulkids.org

18th June 2018

Hello! My name is Ikabella and I’m 14 years old. I am a proud SoulKids ambassador! 

Today, I would like to share with you my experience in SoulKids and how it has impacted my life as a teenager. I believe the learnings we have as teens have the most everlasting impact on our lives and it’s important that we equip ourselves with a proper mindset along with life skills. 

I first started SoulKids when I was about 9 or 10 years old, my mother was keen on signing me up at the SoulKid’s self-confidence workshop because she thought that it would be very beneficial for me in the long run. She was definitely right as the fun and engaging lessons have definitely taught me something special. 

SoulKids is not like any other program that you will attend, it is a fun and meaningful experience that will last you for a very long time! One of the reasons why I really love SoulKids is that the lessons are very engaging and impactful! They are conducted in a way where the children are able to participate and engage actively in the session which really give a memorable experience. As children, we do not really think much of it, but when we look back and reflect, a bigger conclusion can be drawn from the experiences. SoulKids has definitely been able to help me achieve this outcome!  And so, I will share with you next on how it has impacted me.

Being a teen, it’s sometimes difficult to cope with the ever changing expectations society has of us. The media in this case has a very big role to play in this setting, an example is the unrealistic portrayal on how people should look like. This, in my belief, has a massive impact on teens like myself. Teens go to different extents to try to achieve this “amazing goal” as the media says. These heights that teens sometimes go to is often detrimental to - both mental and physical health, we start to lose ourselves and dislike ourselves for who we are. 

However in SoulKids one very important lesson I’ve learnt is the true value of oneself, it is not determined by one’s looks or how others view them, but what is truly on the inside. Pushing yourself to be someone that you know is not you does not prove your self worth or being. I believe that knowing our personal value will help us to be able to accept and love ourselves for who we are, not being told by the media that this is how you should look so on and so forth. SoulKids has really helped me put  this mindset in to action and apply in my daily life! 

I would like to end off my sharing by saying I am very grateful that I have been given this opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences with all of you! Hopefully this compels you to try out a SoulKids workshop and see the change from within!

Thank you again for the amazing opportunities you have given to me! 

Regards, 
Ikabella

SoulKids is an award-winning training program of essential life-skills for children.

Read more about SoulKids here www.soulkids.org

The next SoulKids Self-Confidence program is coming up on 6 / 7  / 8  August. An ideal moment for your child to grow self-confidence and have fun during the school holidays at the same time.

For registration, click here.

For all upcoming SoulKids events click http://www.soulkids.org/events

One on One coaching sessions can be booked at your convenience by contacting the SoulKids Manager, Vidhya on soulkids@soulcentre.org. 

How to Develop a Positive Mindset in Children

HOW TO DEVELOP A POSITIVE MINDSET IN CHILDREN

By Vikas Malkani, Founder of SoulKids, www.soulkids.org
4th June 2018

"Every child is born with a mind. No child is born with a mind-set " – Vikas Malkani

A positive mind-set doesn’t develop on its own, it must be created consciously.

At SoulKids we live with the understanding that every child is born with a mind, but not a mindset. This means that every child comes equipped with all the tools needed for perception and comprehension, but this still needs to be developed into a mindset that is either helpful or harmful. And that is the job of parents and teachers.

The greatest tool you can help your child create, is a positive mindset which also contains a strong and positive sense of self-esteem.

In my research I have found that the 2 important things we all seek in life are Happiness and Success, and that both of them are easier attained when one has a positive mindset and a strong self-confidence and self-esteem.

A positive mindset, once developed, will serve your child for the future and will help them to create happiness and success as they grow.

At SoulKids, we specialize in teaching children essential life skills through the use of wisdom stories, leadership games, teamwork skills, and lesson-based experiential learning, amongst other teaching tools.

SoulKids is highly effective in training children to create a positive mindset, raising children’s self-esteem and also gives them a strong foundation upon which to build further. In fact, we have won numerous awards in recognition of this excellence.

Let me share with you 3 simple ways you can inculcate a positive mindset, self-confidence and self-esteem in your child.

1) TRAIN YOUR MIND TO FEED POSITIVE THOUGHTS - Many years ago, I wrote a life-changing story which children love:

A grandmother and her 8-year-old grandson are walking down the road when they see 2 dogs fighting. As they watch, the grandson predicts that the bigger, stronger dog will win. He is soon proved right, as the stronger, bigger dog overpowers the smaller, weaker one.

The grandmother then tells her grandson ‘Like the dogs on the street, there are 2 dogs in your mind too. These 2 dogs are also fighting because they don’t get along. The first dog is your inner positive voice that encourages you, finds the good in you and always gives you confidence. The other dog is your inner negative voice that says you are not good enough, that everywhere there are problems, and it always lowers your self-esteem.’

She reminds him that he must always remember that even in his own mind, the bigger, stronger dog will win. And that whichever dog one feeds more, always becomes bigger and wins the fight.

This story teaches us that we must feed our positive thoughts and inner voice, to make it stronger, till it becomes our mindset.

Feeding positive thoughts repeatedly trains the mindset to become more positive. And since the mind is the filter through which we see everything in this world, it creates a positive perspective on life. The results are increased happiness and easier success as the child grows into an adult.

So, start your day with your child on a positive note. Remind your child that you love them; that you will always support and guide them to happiness and success. Be the most positive person you can be with your child. Feed your positive dog and feed your child’s positive dog too.

2) HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN TO DO THINGS - At every age, there are new things for kids to learn. When a child does something new, it gets them out of their zone of comfort and into their zone of discovery and growth; it makes them grow.

Doing new things is absolutely essential for the constant development of a child and also great for building a positive mind-set.

When teaching kids how to do things, show and help them at first. Then let them do what they can, even if they make mistakes. Be sure your child has lots of opportunities to learn, try, and feel proud. 

Don't make new challenges too easy — or too hard.

3) STOP NEGATIVE CRITICISM - 

The messages kids hear about themselves from others easily translate into how they feel about themselves. Harsh words such as ‘You're so lazy’ are harmful, and not motivating at all. When children absorb negative messages about themselves, especially from the parents or family, they feel bad about themselves, and act accordingly.

Never belittle your child's feelings. If you get angry take a short break so you don't say anything you'll regret later. And remember, you can dislike a child's actions without disliking the child.

Words have power, so be conscious of what you speak to and around your child.

In SoulKids we believe that a positive mindset is important because when children feel good about themselves, it sets them up for success — in everything from school to friendships. A positive mindset helps children try new challenges, cope with mistakes, and try again.

In contrast, children with a negative mindset feel unsure of themselves, think others won't accept them, and have a hard time standing up for themselves. They also give up on their goals and dreams easier and are unable to persist in the achieving worthy goals.

SoulKids is an award-winning training program of essential life-skills for children.

Read more about SoulKids here www.soulkids.org

The next SoulKids Self-Confidence program is coming up on 11 / 12  / 13 June. An ideal moment for your child to grow self-confidence and have fun during the school holidays at the same time.

For registration, click here.

For all upcoming SoulKids events click http://www.soulkids.org/events

One on One coaching sessions can be booked at your convenience by contacting the SoulKids Manager, Vidhya on soulkids@soulcentre.org.

3 TOP TIPS TO RAISE A CONFIDENT CHILD  

By Sally Forrest

Managing Director, SoulKids, www.soulkids.org

21st May 2018

One of the most attractive qualities a person can have is self-confidence.

It starts young and it is a skill worth learning.

One of the core principles of SoulKids is that confidence is a teachable and learnable skill.

Here are 3 top tips that you can start with for your child (and of course for yourself):

1) CULTIVATE POSITIVE THINKING

At any moment, we have a choice. We can see the good in a situation, or we can see the bad. No matter what the situation, develop the habit of thinking “What positives can I find in this situation?”

For example, if your child brings home their grade card and 4 subjects are above average and 2 are below average, do not over-react and start to focus on the negatives.

Instead treat each moment as a learning opportunity.

Ask your child what went well, and how they feel about those subjects. Also ask your child what did not go well and why that was. Ask your child for their action steps to make improvements going forwards.

You can also encourage the child to take accountability for their own success. This way the conversation is positive and productive and you do not react to the disappointment of a few low grades.

2) VISUALIZE POSITIVE OUTCOMES

At SoulKids we believe that Visualization is a powerful tool to use.

Encourage your child to learn the art of visualizing positive outcomes in all aspects of their life.

Visualize doing well in school exams.

Visualize winning at sports.

Visualize having a healthy body.

Visualize having great friends.

Once the mind visualizes a positive outcome, the body responds, your child will begin to feel more confident and will take more positive actions, which naturally will have better results than taking action half-heartedly.

The child will develop confidence in this technique with practice. The more you practice doing positive visualizations, the easier it becomes.

3) CREATE A NETWORK OF SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS

At SoulKids we coach children on the truth that ‘You become who you surround yourself with’ and this is very important to understand if you want to have a positive life and future.

Who your child mixes with, will play a large role in their life.

If your child mixes with friends who encourage and support them, then they will become more confident and grounded in life.

If your child gets in with the wrong crowd and starts to do things to please others, then they are in effect moving away from their own personality and confidence.

It is important to explain to a child early the importance of relationships and what to nurture in them. Encourage positive friends and discuss with your child how these relationships will indeed support them going forwards in life.

These are 3 simple SoulKids tips that are easy to implement and that will make a positive difference in the lives of your children.

Your child learns best from experience, so become a role model in these aspects and your child will learn from your actions.

Sally Forrest is the founder of SoulKids.

If you would like your child to benefit from a SoulKids program, a personal coaching or by reading the SoulKids books, then please do connect on www.soulkids.org

The next SoulKids Self-Confidence program is coming up on 11 / 12  / 13 June. An ideal moment for your child to grow self-confidence and have fun during the school holidays at the same time.

For registration, click here.

One on One coaching sessions can be booked at your convenience by contacting the SoulKids Manager, Vidhya on soulkids@soulcentre.org.