You live with grace when you’re present and one with what is
(not what was or what may be)
Live With Grace
March 13, 2012
Be yourself, give freely without agenda,
and you will be loved all the more
Live For Now
March 11, 2012
Stop trying to get “somewhere”.
Live for now and what makes your heart sing!
The Universe Sees the Bigger Picture…
March 10, 2012
The Universe sees the bigger picture
of which we see only a few brush strokes
It’s Your Choice
March 9, 2012
There is nothing you have to do, only that which you choose to do
Prayer of Abundance
March 8, 2012
I acknowledge that the greatest service I can offer the world
Is to live a life of love and joy,
Living the life of my dreams, doing what I love the most
And sharing it with the world.
I allow abundance to flow to and through my life
In an ever widening, infinite stream,
Expanding my horizons, transforming my experiences
And growing the positive difference I make in the world.
I allow the creation of my visions and dreams
With ease and grace,
Along a beautiful and magical path of wonder and joy.
I choose to honour myself, taking delight in my journey
And the exciting new life that unfolds before me.
I allow the Universe to honour me abundantly in
Love, health, wealth, friendship, family and fun!!
Given and received with Thanks!
The voice of the soul is gentle and quiet,
therefore we must allow ourselves
moments of stillness in order to hear it.
My Comfort Zone
January 11, 2012I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.
I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.
I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.
If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!
~Author Uknown
A Prayer For The New Year
January 1, 2012One of the lovely readers of the Love This Moment newsletter sent me a beautiful poem that I’d love to share with you all as we start 2012.
A Prayer
by Kenn Carle
As I awake to begin this new day,
I thought I would take time to pray.
Please keep me calm and relaxed
Especially when troubles come my way.
I know you will protect me and be my guide;
As I travel down life’s roadside.
Help me to take things in stride
Especially when problems come and make me cry.
Let me know that you are here and there.
As I take time to say this prayer.
Let me handle all of the discomfort and despair;
And all the things that come that are unfair.
As I begin my journey home in the twilight,
My day will end and turn into night.
What appears before me is the moonlight.
WOW! It’s a beautiful sight.
As I go to bed to end the day,
I thought I would take one more time to pray.
Please watch over me while I sleep tonight;
Don’t ever for a minute, let me out of your sight.
Thank you Kenn for sharing your wonderful prayer with us all!
May 2012 be a year of outrageous fun, delicious love, vibrant health and overflowing abundance for you!
And if it isn’t all those things, may you still love this moment just as it is, so granting yourself peace through the grace of your spirit.
Much love for the New Year!! xo
My Christmas Wish For You…
December 23, 2011This year I decided to make a short video of all the things I wish for you this Christmas…and every day really! It includes some photos I’ve taken throughout the year and is accompanied by one of my favourite Christmas carols.
The making of it has been a great lesson for me in letting go a bit more of some of my perfectionist tendencies, and is helping me to embrace more and more my very last Christmas wish (keep an eye out for it – I think it’s something we all need reminding of!) And there’s also a short message from me at the end :) I hope you enjoy it!!
Sending you lots of love this Christmas,
xo Lisa
An Exciting Week!
November 2, 2011I’ve had a pretty exciting week for my photography. On Friday I won the “Natural Wonders” category in the Queensland Parks and Wildlife “It’s Better Outdoors” Photography Competition with this photo…
And on October 23 this photo…
…appeared in the Escape section of the Sunday Herald Sun newspaper. Pretty cool!! :)
The Limitation of Words
July 18, 2011While words undoubtedly have power, all words are, by their very nature, limiting. As soon as words are thought or spoken they define something, and every definition must, by definition, limit what is being spoken of.
No words could ever truly convey love. A year could be spent and still the ultimate truth of love could not be completely and wholly defined. In fact it’s likely more could be conveyed about love in a single smile than in all the words ever spoken of it.
And so no words can ever describe who you really are, though they can point to it. Eckhart Tolle says that words are not the truth, though they can point to the truth.
Therefore it is not the truth to say that who you really are is perfection, unity, joy, peace, freedom and love, however it points to the truth if you choose to look.
There is nothing you need to do to be who you really are – you already are – you just need to be aware of it.
“Love and do what you will!”
Being Authentic
June 7, 2011
Today I thought I’d chat about authenticity since it gives us power, freedom and helps life to work, yet we can often give it up without even noticing.
Included in the video are a recent lesson I had about being inauthentic, the number one thing I give up authenticity for, some truths about my journey and a new and freeing perspective I have on disappointment.
What do you find yourself sacrificing your authenticity for? I’d love to hear from you!
Honouring Yourself
May 18, 2011Or… “How Pneumonia Taught Me a Great Lesson!”
It’s been a while so I thought I’d do something new and create a video!!!
How important do you think it is to truly honour yourself? Are there certain situations or people where you’re not honouring yourself, maybe without even realising it? I’d love to hear from you!
The Great Aussie Spirit
January 26, 2011Yesterday my niece was showing me some of the truly “bonza” items she’d bought for Australia Day (find me an Australian that still uses the word bonza and you’ll be showing me a fossil from times past…a shame really that we’ve lost some of that Aussie uniqueness and down-to-earth spirit in our day-to-day life). She’d never bought any before, but she’d realised she was proud to be Australian and wanted to show that through some of the truly cheesy products many Australians don this one day of the year (and boy did she come up trumps with the Aussie sweat bands!)
Funnily it’s something I’ve never done either, and I have to admit I’d not thought much about whether I was proud to be Australian before too. But she started me thinking, and I have to say that while there’s always things that can be improved in this fair country, I sure am grateful I was born in Australia, thankful I’m privileged to live in Australia, and absolutely proud to be Australian.
This morning as I was hanging my bathers on the old hills hoist I discovered a huge spider web built between the line and the surrounding plants, glistening in the sunshine beaming down from the bright blue sky. And while it was the web that truly inspired me to write today, can’t you just feel the heart of Australia seeping through that scene?
In fact, I just need to become aware of life outside my window right now to be reminded of some of what it is to be Australian, what with the sound and smell of a neighbour mowing their lawn, cicadas chirping away in the bushes and lorikeets chattering in the trees.
But I digress. After hanging up my bathers I grabbed my camera and took some photos of the spider web, and while I was realised what a great metaphor it is for some of the spirit that truly makes me proud to be Australian.
For when a spider’s web is destroyed the spider doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for itself, it just gets on with building another one.
While the recent flooding in Queensland brought tragedy – certainly none more so than the families and friends of those who lost their lives – it also brought a reminder of the great Aussie spirit.
A spirit that says we won’t give up. A spirit that says we’ll help strangers in need as though they were our best friends. A spirit that allows us to laugh in the face of tragedy.
It’s a spirit that’s well to be remembered, and even better to be lived by every single day, rather than just some days. Lived in all the little things in life, rather than just the big things.
What if that spirit was present whenever someone was cut off in traffic? The person cut off would just laugh and say, “Geez, someone’s in a hurry!”
What if that spirit was present whenever someone made a mistake? Those around them would just clap them on the back and say, “Looks like you need a hand.”
I’m certainly proud to be Australian, and I’d love to be proud in every way, not just most ways. As with everything in life all I can really do is start with me!
Happy Australia Day!
The Heart of Love This Moment…
December 7, 2010Last week my Mum told me a story that reminded me what truly lies at the heart of Love This Moment, and given it’s Christmas time I’d really love to share it with you!
My parents have two shops on the Gold Coast selling kitchenware (not surprising really given they’re called The Kitchen Shop!) They also sell some giftware, and being the loving and generous parents they are they stock a fair range of Love This Moment products.
Last week Mum was in one of their stores and had a lady tell her this story…
This lady was going through a very difficult time – so much so she prayed to God for help. God replied to her prayers, telling her to go to the Westfield shopping centre and look for the man in a hat…seemingly a strange message for God to give, yet she trusted in it and went in search of the help she’d asked for.
She parked at the far end of the shopping centre and it wasn’t until she reached my parent’s shop that she found the man in a hat – otherwise known as Sam the mannequin who stands at the door of the shop every day, and on whose head my Mum had placed a Santa hat just the day before.
So she walks into the shop, wondering what on Earth could be in a kitchenware store that could help her! She looks around the shelves until she reaches my book, “Love This Moment”, opens it to the story at the back where I share why I wrote the book, and on reading it immediately knows she’s found the help she prayed to God for.
She was so grateful, and asked Mum to pass on her thanks and her story to me, which really blew me away and left me all teary and goosebumpy!
For me this story is a reminder of many great things, not the least of which is what an amazing Universe we live in…much more wondrous and mysterious than we can ever know!
It also reminded me of the importance of asking for help, and how asking can open the door to allow light to come in to our lives.
It reminded me of trusting in yourself and in the Universe and following inspiration when it comes to you, even though your mind may not understand it and may even dismiss it as ridiculous.
And it reminded me how truly important it is to do what you love and are passionate about, and to share that with the world, because you have absolutely no idea of the difference it can – and does – make.
In fact, you have no idea of the difference you make. And just like this lady looking for the help she prayed to God for, the difference you make is something you just have to take on faith, because it’s something you can never truly know or understand. This Christmas more than anything I truly hope you get that.
For myself personally, I’m so grateful for this lady sharing her story and reminding me why I created Love This Moment and why I want to share its message with as many people as I can.
And so I say to you now with absolute love and sincerity, if you are still looking for something to give this Christmas I can truly think of no more beautiful gift than the “Love This Moment” book.
And $5 from every copy of “Love This Moment” also goes to Opportunity International’s program to transform the lives of people living in poverty, so you’ll be making an even greater difference.
To give a “Love This Moment” gift book this Christmas just go to:
http://www.lovethismomentbook.com
And I’m more than happy to sign the book or write a message if you want – just write that in the “Comments” too!
May you love every moment this Christmas!
xo Lisa
The Power of Laughter
October 28, 2010How much more joyous is life when we light-heartedly laugh at ourselves? When we view our slip-ups as an opportunity for mirth instead of recrimination?
A few years ago it occurred to me I was taking myself waaaay too seriously, so I resolved to turn things around, go easier on myself and lighten up!
Recently I was afforded a wonderful opportunity to do just that!
As you may know I’m an Ambassador for Opportunity International, a non-profit organisation who provide micro-finance for the poor in developing countries, giving them the chance to start or grow their own business and take themselves and their family permanently out of poverty.
Two weeks ago Opportunity International held their annual Ambassadors Forum in Sydney, which I flew down to attend so I could share with the other Ambassadors my Challenge to transform 1,000 families lives by raising funds for Opportunity International through my book Love This Moment. I also just love being around such an inspiring group of people!
The night before the Forum was the opening dinner. Though I was an hour late (a less interesting story altogether) I noted when I arrived there was another empty chair at the table.
About 45 mins later the occupant finally arrived – a tired looking lady who said she’d been at another function.
After I finished a conversation with the man on my left (an inspiring fellow who’d swum 12km+ from Bondi to Sydney Harbour to fundraise for Opportunity International) I joined in the conversation with the couple on my right and the newcomer to the table.
Soon she politely asked all our names. After I’d told her mine I then asked for hers as she hadn’t introduced herself.
After a very slight pause she replied, “Kristina.”
A little later Peter Costello – who was the guest speaker for the night – came over, greeted Kristina and started up a familiar seeming conversation. Though I couldn’t hear what they said as I watched them I rubbed my chin and thought, “Hmmm…anyone this familiar with the former Deputy Prime Minister must be someone of significance too.”
I turned to the lady on my right and sheepishly asked, “I should know who Kristina is, shouldn’t I?”
To which she kindly replied, “Oh no, you’re from Queensland and she’s the Premier of New South Wales.”
While I’m sure my cheeks did flush I had a good laugh at the fact I’d been afforded the honour of sitting on the same table as the NSW Premier and didn’t even know who she was!
The me of the past would have been mortified. The me of today is actually delighted! And how much happier am I recounting the story and laughing about it than berating myself for being so ignorant?!
There really is so much to laugh about, as the world is actually a pretty ridiculous place when you look at it. I mean, had I realised Kristina was the NSW Premier I probably would have been nervous and cautious, because I – like a lot of people – often forget high-profile people are Human Beings just like you and me.
I forget they’re just people with thoughts and feelings, opinions and beliefs and a job to do, and they’re most probably doing the best they can and what they believe is right. To forget others Humanity because of their profile really is ridiculous…and just between you and me I think that’s barely scratching the surface of the ridiculous ways in which we Humans act!
My ignorance was actually a blessing as it allowed me to see Kristina as a person, not as the role she currently holds, and that, coupled with my self-laughter, makes me glad all over again for the perfection of my imperfection. It makes me happy to just be me!
Do We Live in a Magical World?
September 15, 2010Do you remember as a child how even the common could appear wondrous? How you could see magic in the mundane? How you were filled with curiosity about what else there was to see and know about the world?
Do you remember how adventuresome you were? How the unknown – the different, the new – filled you with a sense of excitement, rather than fear? And speaking of fear, do you remember how you could even find fear delightful!?
That child filled with wonder and awe – the one who believes in magic and Santa Claus – still lives inside all of us, though sometimes we neglect it for so long it gets bored and goes to sleep!
I’ve been awakening my inner-child, and it’s a beautiful and inspiring thing to discover the world is still a magical place!
This morning as I walked in the forest near my home I imagined gnomes scampering through the long grass and fairies flitting through the tree-tops.
Passing down a grassy, tree-lined avenue I saw knights galloping past on an urgent mission, while later on I came across a wandering family of gypsies camped beside a dam, with a small fire crackling and the sounds of flutes and laughter carried on the breeze.
While imagining all this – while looking for the fairies and elves and knights – I noticed butterflies meandering under the trees and the silken threads of spider webs glinting in the sun.
I stopped to admire a grand tree with spreading limbs and the tiniest grass flowers of purple and yellow – smaller than a babies fingernail.
At the top of a dead tree I noticed a bird’s mud home, while elsewhere I saw a magpie gathering straw for its nest.
In one spot there was such a sudden and gorgeous aroma from the tiny blossoms in the surrounding trees I halted in my tracks and just stood there to drink in the smell.
I heard the sounds of birds singing and chattering away, bees busily buzzing and insects chirping to the world.
Truly, my morning walk was transformed into an enchantment – a complete delight!
The relationship between imagination and reality is a perfect one – imagination makes us more perceptive to the world and turns us all into Magicians by allowing us to create something from nothing, while the world feeds our imaginations, breathing life into our creations.
Oh yes indeed there is magic all around us!
From all the infinite wonders of nature…
What a miraculous thing our body is! How spectacular the colours of a sunset! How unique and perfect each snowflake! How amazing the diversity and balance of our home the Earth! How vast and incomprehensible the Universe is!
…to the myriad of never-ending creations of man…
What an unthinkable feat to build the great pyramids! How completely stupendous we can see and speak to people on the other side of the world! How truly astounding that man can fly! What a gift to the spirit is music and art!
As the now legendary editorial from 1897 proclaims…
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”
…and he lives in the heart of us all.
The Universe will Always Provide…
July 21, 2010
The Universe will always provide, because the Universe always has.
Has there ever been a point when the Universe has not provided? In truth No, because if that were the case you would not be here now.
When you get the true sense of the magnitude of this you will be filled with awe and wonder -
For I’m not simply talking about the Universe providing for you throughout your lifetime – though it has, else you would not be here now.
I’m talking about during the lifetime of every one of your millions of ancestors, for whom the Universe provided so you can be here now.
I’m talking about every process and every life form throughout evolution, for whom the Universe provided so you could be here now.
I’m talking about the creation of life on Earth, for whom the Universe provided so you can be here now.
I’m talking about the creation of our Solar System, the Sun, our Galaxy, the Stars, the entirety of the Universe itself, for whom the Universe provided so you could be here now.
If the Universe has provided all of that which has gone before to enable you to be here now, don’t you think you can trust it to continue providing for you – regardless of how things may appear?
The Universe will always provide, because that is what it does…that is what it is.
For the Universe is Life – that is it’s very nature – and not for a single moment has it ever been, or will ever be, otherwise. If you can trust in nothing else, trust in that.
