Success in Life

Success in Life

By Sally Forrest
BSc, MRPharmS, MBA
12^th September 2018

Success means different things to different people.
The question is “What does life success mean to you?”

Imagine that life is like pieces of a Jigsaw, each piece joins together to create an image.
What image are you creating for your Life?

In this moment I want you to simply STOP and reflect on your life.
Are you happy and content with the image you are creating, or do you want to alter the image in some way?
Your past does not have to determine your future and at any moment you have the ability to make changes to life.

I work with many clients to first identify what are their natural strengths.
What skills and talents did you arrive with?
Believe it or not this is actually written into your date of birth and by using elemental analysis I can explain exactly the make-up of your skill set.

For example: 

Fire element is all about inspiring other, showing your passion and leading the way.
Metal element is law abiding, disciplined and great at setting up systems and processes.
Wood element loves to learn and grow, to teach others.
Water element likes speed of implementation, expansion and is able to change form.
Earth element is trustworthy, stable and reassuring.

What elements you are born with and how they interact is the first step to understanding what pieces you have in your jigsaw. My philosophy is that you follow your strengths, you grow these to excellence as these are the pieces of the jigsaw that you arrived with.
Along your journey you collect new pieces each year and these are also explained through a series of cycles.

Not everyone has all 5 elements and this will also give an indication of what roles are not suited to you as well as weaker areas to develop.

Together we formulate a Life Success Method that is tailored to you, and may include Health, Wealth, Relationships, Purpose, Work, Growth and Legacy…
The pieces are up to you as Success is your own creation and will mean different things to different people.

To book a one on one session with Sally please connect on: sally@soulcentre.org

Meditation for Families

Meditation for Families

By Vidhya Shailesh
SoulCentre Certified Meditation Teacher
22^nd  August 2018

Meditation is called the science of Freedom and Power. It is a science as it is logical, step-by-step and guarantees results when practiced. It is often misunderstood as a practice meant for those who wish to shun their responsibilities or those that wish to live in solitude. The truth however, is very different.

Meditation has been around for centuries and has withstood the test of time for a simple reason – It Works! Meditation is a way of life. The wisdom of meditation not just rewires your mind; it also rewires your life for the better. Why then would it be reserved for the select few? Ancient masters knew and understood the effects that meditation has on the human mind and hence prescribed it in one form or the other to every single person that approached them. Be it a child who wishes to develop deeper focus and concentration, or a teenager trying to manage their emotions or an adult who would like to create their life by choice. Meditation works for everyone, whatever stage of life they might be at or whatever state of mind they might be at.

As families, it is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. Learning to meditate together, or simply following and living by some of the wisdom and teachings of meditation, drastically improves your quality of life individually and together as a family. Meditation helps you develop greater focus and clarity. It helps you become more compassionate and loving. This inner state of wellbeing and peace finds expression even in your external life and in your environment. You find that your relationships become more harmonious. And no matter what happens in your life, you always have a way of handling it well. Meditation helps you become a solution seeker rather than being a problem seeker. Family meditation practices can help reduce anxiety and stress and promote health and happiness in busy parents and children.

Storms are the nature of the sea. Similarly storms in life are inevitable. The wisdom of meditation helps us to keep our balance and sail through the storms with ease. Be it a child, or a teenager or an adult, the wisdom applies to one and all. A family that meditates together is grounded in wisdom and more supportive of each other. Life has the ability to throw us off guard. In all the ups and down of life, it is necessary for us to have the right balance. Meditation gives us the wisdom, tools and the techniques to find this inner balance. It gives us the right mindset to sail through life. Meditation teaches us to keep our focus and have greater clarity on what we would like out of our lives.

Masters live by choice, not by chance. Meditation helps us become the masters of our own lives. When parents are well anchored in wisdom and meditation, they can guide their children well through their growing up years. Conditioning is often handed down from the parents to the children. A healthy meditation practice helps us break down conditioning and beliefs that do not serve us. It helps us instill the right skills and belief systems in our children. Each generation serves as teachers to the next. It is therefore wise to invest in ourselves so we can become better teachers for our children and the generations to come.

Here are a few ways to embrace meditation as a family:

1) Learn and practice together. Even if it is a short practice sit and do it together. Talk about how it feels and your observations.

2) Let your children watch you practice. As they watch, they will get inclined towards practicing it themselves. Talk about how you apply the wisdom on a day to day basis. Be dedicated to an everyday practice.

3) Create a little corner for meditation or set a routine perhaps a bedtime one where you meditate for a short period of time before you fall asleep each night. Simple breathing exercises, reflection on the day gone by, gratitude for what life offers are all great ways to start.

4) Start with short periods of time and gradually increase the time you sit for meditation. Expect some resistance but don’t give up. With some practice, it becomes easier.

At SoulCentre, we teach Meditation at all levels from beginner to advance. Our sessions are short, easy to learn, practical and produce results right from day one. When learnt properly, you will develop a love for the practice as you can see the results unfold in your own life. Learning to meditate is the best investment you can make for yourself.

The next Meditation Made Simple ™ program is on September 11/12/18/19. In 4 short sessions, you can learn several valuable lessons and techniques, which are guaranteed to help on an ongoing basis. To find out more, get in touch with us at info@soulcentre.org or visit http://www.soulcentre.org/events

How to manage stress in children

How to manage stress in children

By Vikas Malkani
Founder of SoulKids®, www.soulkids.org13th August 2018

The task of raising children and making them future ready, brings many challenges. From academic stress, to teenage issues; from low self-esteem to intense peer pressure, children face it all in their years of learning and growing.

And parents feel the stress too. Parenting is one the most challenging jobs there is. It tests our patience, positivity and persistence. It can bring out our inner potential, or it can kill it completely.

The word 'stress' originates from the French word 'estrece' meaning 'narrowness' and depicts a limiting or constriction of our power and abilities.

We have the feeling of being stressed out when we think we have too much to handle either on a mental, emotional or physical level. Stress also occurs when we view change and pressure as burdens rather than as challenges.

Interestingly, what makes a person stress-full may be quite an ordinary event for another person. The secret to releasing stress is to realize that stress is created not by the event or circumstance itself, but by the way we respond to what happens to us.

Decide today to live a life that’s free of stress. The first step to this is learning how to manage stress when it crops up. It's never too late to make your children and the job of parenting, stress-free and joyful. Remember - Life is too short to postpone happiness until the conditions are just perfect.

Here are 3 stress management tips that lead to greater happiness for you and your children.

TIP 1 - START YOUR DAY WITH GRATITUDE

All of us have a lot to be grateful for, but most times, we don’t realize it. Children take for granted whatever their parents provide for them.

Train your children to start every day with 5 minutes of focusing on gratitude. Gratitude helps to cultivate a positive mind-set. Remember, as your day begins, you don’t know what the day will bring to you, but you can decide what you will bring to this day! So, choose to bring a grateful and happy ‘you’ to your day and see the benefits happen.

If you constantly think about what is wrong or what you lack, you will be more stressed out. Instead, spend 5 minutes before you get active in the morning reminding yourself what is great in your life. You can do this exercise together with your children at the start of the day.

TIP 2 – MEDITATE

In every situation, you always have two choices - either curse the darkness, or light a candle.  Meditation helps you to train your mind to choose the more positive attitude.

Simply put, stress is the result of the way you think. And if you develop the ability to change the way you think, you will have in your hands the power to manage stress regardless of what the causes may be.

Stress arises out of the way you think, and since meditation is the skill of training your mind, and becoming aware of your thoughts, meditation is also one of the most effective antidotes to stress. Negative thinking produces stress and thinking positively releases it, it’s that simple in most cases. 

Invest in meditation. Find an authentic and reputable teacher and make sure you and your children learn the skills of meditation. Training your mind through the ancient science of meditation shows you the way to create your own happiness and joy.

So, find a good teacher and learn the skills of meditation and mindfulness. Countless studies have shown that meditation and mindfulness help you to manage stress better.

TIP 3 – PERFECTION DOESN’T HAPPEN

It’s a fact that we all have imperfections. This includes your children too; remember that they are not perfect and are not meant to be, they are wonderful and unique just the way they are and your job as a parent is not to make them different, but rather to make them the best version of who they authentically are.

Expecting your children to be perfect will create more stress, I promise. So ease up a little, check the expectations you carry and lower them if necessary, and see how much more you can enjoy parenting and your life. You will be happily surprised.  

Trying to control every moment and outcome of your life will always cause more stress for you. Instead, release a bit of control, take the action the present moment requires, and then, stop clinging to the results.

There are also important lessons adults can learn from children about managing stress. Here is one - HAVE FUN. Being around children has taught me the simple power of pursuing fun -- again and again. A simple game like hide and seek can keep a child happy and occupied for hours. The price of the game: nothing. The fun: priceless.

But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life or it won’t happen. Life's too short to not have it. In my perspective, life is what you make it to be, nothing more, nothing less.

So HAVE FUN with your children and make your family happier and stress free!

If you wish to become a stress-free parent, I highly recommend our ‘Meditation Made Simple’ program as the perfect first step. 

Click here to see dates and register http://www.soulcentre.org/events

Vikas Malkani is an authority and one of the world’s leading teachers of meditation and mindfulness. He has taught the secrets of meditation to CEO’s, Hollywood Stars, Royalty, Entrepreneurs, Doctors, Psychologists and Sports Champions.

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation, Mindfulness & Stress-Management. www.soulcentre.org

SoulKids is an award-winning life skills program that makes children future-ready by teaching them leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, teamwork and more.

Find out more about SoulKids programs and one-on-one coaching here www.soulkids.org or email us at info@soulcentre.org

Meditation: My Secret Weapon

Meditation: My Secret Weapon

By Mary Jo Pokorski

SoulCentre Meditation Teacher, www.soulcentre.org

8^th August 2018

Why did you want to become a teacher of meditation?

           

As I underwent my meditation classes with Vikas, I started realizing how powerful and useful this ancient teaching was. What really was amazing to me was noticing what a profound effect it had begun to have in my own life in such a very short amount of time. I started releasing my fears and no longer lived a life overshadowed by anxiety. As I was finally dropping my burdens and started standing high again, I began noticing how my fellow students were all experiencing a similar renewed passion for life and were achieving a sense of freedom. When I saw how many of us were being brought forward to live our highest life, I realized that I had to share this in my turn and help as many people as possible by becoming a teacher of meditation. 

How did you feel on conducting your first program?

           

I was beyond excited. I was sharing my passion at last. I knew that the program’s content was mind-blowing and that it would change lives.

How has the feedback been?

           

I have always had very positive feedback. People often begin thinking that meditation is something mystical and a little beyond everyday life. After undergoing the class, they look at life through fresh eyes, empowered by wisdom and practical tools that allow them to deal with anything life offers at any time.

Can you give an example of someone who’s life has changed?

One of my most heartening experiences was when a client whose partner had left them came to seek support. They had been recommended to me by another one of my students. This person came in with the weight of their world on their shoulders. Under tremendous emotional stress: overwhelming sadness, anger, worry, sense of loss, you name it. As the sessions progressed, it was touching and inspiring to see this person opening to life as they connected with the ancient wisdom of meditation and benefited from immediate effects that meditation brings. By the final session this person was able to smile and laugh again, knowing that whatever came, they would be able to address it serenely.

How has meditation helps you personally?

Meditation has been a life-changer for me. I used to be overwhelmed by emotional ups and downs. I was especially prone to crippling anxiety for years. Meditation finally gave me an effective way to free myself from all of these inner stressors, and allowed me to create inner peace, as well as a sense of freedom and stability I was craving for.

Anyone and everyone can learn Meditation.

Our Next Meditation program is on 14/15/20/21 August and our next weekend program on 29/30 September.

At SoulCentre we teach all the way from Beginner to Advanced level and many of our students decide to become Teachers of Meditation and to share the wisdom.

Please do connect with us to start your Meditation journey. You are in great hands at SoulCentre.

Click here to register on Meditation Made Simple http://www.soulcentre.org/events
Or drop us an email at info@soulcentre.org

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How SoulKids Changed My Life

How SoulKids Changed My Life

By Sashwika S Venkatraman
SoulKids Ambassador, www.soulkids.org

30th July 2018

Hello, my name is Sashwika and I am 14 years old.

Today I would like to talk about my experience with SoulKids and how it has helped and changed me throughout my growing years. I know that as teens it is crucial to develop a healthy mindset and that is a fundamental step that leads to a happy and successful future.

I began my SoulKids journey at the age of 9. Frankly, at that time I didn’t know what I was signing up for. I was a shy, introverted kid that just did what my mum insisted on. I remember on the way to SoulKids my mother was excited and kept talking about how beneficial this was going to be for me. I didn't really believe her at that time but I am who I am today because of this step my mother took for me and SoulKids really did change my life.

SoulKids has played a significant role in making me into the positive person I am today. The environment at SoulKids was so open, positive and friendly. The mentors were friendly and at the end of the session, you wouldn't want to leave. It was a very safe space and you could happily speak your mind without being judged or feeling shy. At SoulKids, critical life lessons are conveyed in engaging ways. We learn these through many stories and games that are both interesting and fun. SoulKids has been such a game changer in my life and I will now share with you how.

When I had just started SoulKids at the age of 9, I was kind but very shy. I wouldn’t speak my mind and would hide from social situations in school. I wasn’t worried about this until I started to get bullied. I kept questioning everything. Why was I getting bullied when nothing was wrong with me? How come I got targeted just because I was slightly different, I mean wasn’t everyone different in their own way? For a while, I was trying to hold my ground but soon I started to develop insecurities relating to my personality, appearance, and ethnicity. I was so sad coming back from school and I felt like life was so unfair. I would constantly cry and wish I was someone else till I came to SoulKids.

Two SoulKids stories really stuck with me then and continue to do so even now. These stories taught me that my happiness was in my own hands, not in other people’s control. I had the power to make myself happy and no one could take that away from me. This gave me a new outlook on life and I started to consciously make an effort to think positive.

As teenagers, we continue to face challenges in the form of peer pressure or the media. Social media plays a huge role in our lives. Yes, it has its benefits such as the ability to communicate with others and make new friends and catch up but it can have a negative effect as well. It can often set unrealistic standards for both behaviour and appearance which can be quite harmful to a teenagers mental and physical health. Not to forget the bullying that can also happen. The SoulKids lessons have always helped me keep myself in check.

The lessons are deeply ingrained in my mind. I now realize and believe that I am unique and special in my own way and I should love myself for that. The most important thing I learnt was that you should never compare yourself to others because you are you and not them. This has had a great impact on my thoughts and helped me feel more confident about myself. It has helped me focus on everything I like about myself and enjoy doing. I am a happier person now and I am no longer an insecure girl that was defined by others standards. SoulKids taught me to be the best me that I could be and that completely changed me.  

As I am only 14, I understand that these aren't the only obstacles that are in my path. There are many more to come but through SoulKids I have the confidence that I can manage them no matter what and keep a positive mind always. Whenever my life takes a turn I always look at it from a different perspective instead of getting flustered, angry or sad. There is always a SoulKids story or lesson to go back to. My method of dealing with issues has changed and I am able to help those around me to be the best people they can be as well. When I look at myself now I realise that I am the confident, positive girl all thanks to my SoulKids experience. 

My gratitude goes entirely to SoulKids for helping me become the person I am today. I wish all children could experience SoulKids just like me!

Best Regards,
Sashwika

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

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

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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.