inspiration Archives - Lisa McDonald

02/04/2019 by Lisa McDonald

When Strength Becomes Weakness

“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face
with your greatest weakness.” – Susan Gale

I love this quote about strength and weakness, and this image of a woman hanging on as she scales a rock race..

We all have some place we want to get to, a pinnacle we are trying to climb. That may be a good, a dream or some important aspiration you have. It can be hard work, and the struggle can sometimes make us want to quit. ⁣

The Struggle Can Make Us Want To Quit

⁣At this moment we have a choice – we can keep doing the same thing, we can give up, or we can do something different.

This moment of weakness, or vulnerability can push you to a place where you have to dig deep in order to find the inner resources to move forward. ⁣Thus your weaknesses move you towards your strengths.⁣

Choices

It took a long time to conceive my son. Along the way there was plenty of struggles to navigate. There were many moments where I felt vulnerable and weak. There were also numerous times where I had to consider my options. Would i keep doing the same thing, do something different or quit and move on?

Each time I had to make a decision, I had to summons my inner resources to figure out what was right for me and how to move forward. One of my biggest lessons was in learning to let go.

What pinnacle are you trying to climb? Where is the perceived weakness? What strength is your struggle pushing you towards?

With warm regards

Lisa

PS if you’d like some help to address your struggle or climb your pinnacle, click here to book a chat with me.

19/12/2018 by Lisa McDonald Leave a Comment

Come Back To The Heart of Christmas

During the Christmas season it’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season and to get distracted by issues, obligations and stories. Today I’d like to encourage you to put aside the trappings and commercialism of the season for a moment, to come back to the heart of Christmas and to share your good will with others.

Connecting To The Heart of Christmas

Christmas is one of the most celebrated events around the world, and is a busy time for many people. Too often though, people loose sight of the big picture. Instead they get caught up in busyness, obligations and inflated expectations. That’s why it can be really beneficial to stop for a moment and to reconnect with what’s important.

Below are the lyrics and music video for Matthew West’s beautiful song, “The Heart of Christmas”. Take a few moments now to watch and listen to the music video of Matthew West’s song, and to connect with the heart of Christmas for you. Click here

Lyrics:

I’m going to make a wish this Christmas
I’m going to say a little prayer
Im going to stop here for a moment
Before the moment disappears

The World’s in a hurry this December
The city street’s a shopping mall
I wish we could slow down and remember
the meaning of it all

Wherever you are no matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure that they know it
And don’t miss it, the heart of Christmas

Let’s make it feel the way it used to
Let’s find the wonder of a child
You can see the magic all around you
Come on and open up your eyes

Well you can find it in the warm embrace of your family
Or call up a long lost friend
You can even find it in the eyes of a stranger
When you reach out a helping hand

In this shadow of a feeling
It’s the star that lights the way
You will find you need an angel
The heart of Christmas has a way

I’m going to make a wish this Christmas
I’m going to say a little prayer

Wherever you are, not matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it

Wherever you are, not matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas

Spreading Goodwill

Some people find Christmas a difficult time, and find it hard to be merry. Take a few minutes now to consider someone who finds it hard to be merry, or is going through a tough time. They may be someone you know well, an acquaintance or someone you’ve just come into contact with. It might even be you …

Here’s a way you can spread your own goodwill at Christmas:

Come back to your own heart
What loving goodwill message is within your heart
Picture someone who find’s it hard to be merry;
In your mind, connect with them.
Send a prayer or wish to them, sharing your own heart felt message

Remember spreading love and goodwill shouldn’t just be confined to social, cultural or religious celebrations. So … connect with your heart … spread your love and goodwill … all year round.

You can take steps today to connect with the heart of your Christmas. Then, spread your goodwill with others.

Warm Regards

Lisa

17/09/2018 by Lisa McDonald

Quote: The Greatest Obstacles To Inner Peace

Today’s quote comes from the Dalai Lama, a man committed to empowering himself and others to let go of emotions that disturb happiness …

Quote:

“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery
… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace.
The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions
such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion,
while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility
are the sources of peace and happiness.”
—Dalai Lama

Emotional Obstacles

Take a moment to consider where are you experiencing emotional disturbances. Where are they creating obstacles in your life?

I encourage you to use the Dali Lama’s wise words to inspire your next step towards removing these obstacles, so you can live a happier life.

07/03/2018 by Lisa McDonald Leave a Comment

Celebrating International Women’s Day

International-Womens-Day

Today it’s International Women’s Day. It’s been around now for over a hundred years, and held on the same day every year since 1914 – 8 March. So:

Happy International Women’s Day to all we women out there,
and to all of us who have significant women in our lives 🙂 .

Today in celebration, and as a woman and a coach who empowers women, I thought I’d shine a light on this special day. Read on for six key facts about its background which you may not know about this important day, this year’s theme and how you can take tangible action in 2018 to support women.

The Background to International Women’s Day

It’s purpose

It’s a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

The History – 6 Facts You May Not Be Aware Of

Here are some key background facts to the international Women’s Day I found on Wikipedia:

The first observance of a “National Women’s Day” was held 29 February 1909 in New York, and was organised by the Socialist Party of America.
The first International Women’s Conference was held in August 1910. It was planned as a one time event to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the meeting it was proposed, and agreed by delegates (100 women from 47 different countries) that it become an annual event. It was to be used as a strategy to promote equal rights including suffrage for women.
The first International Women’s Day took place on 19 March 1911, and was marked for the first time by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
During the first year, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire alone, there were 300 demonstrations. And in Russia a strike by women textile workers on March 8 became the start of the Russian Revolution. In Vienna, women paraded and carried banners honouring the martyrs of the Paris Commune. Women demanded that they be given the right to vote and to hold public office. They also protested against sex discrimination in employment.
There were many more protests in a variety of countries over the first few years including on March 8 1914 when the famous suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested on her way to address a rally in London. International Women’s Day has been on March 8 ever since.
In 1975 it was adopted and first celebrated by the United Nations. Up until then it was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries. In 1977, they proclaimed March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.

International Women’s Day Themes

Happy Women's Day

Each year the International Women’s Day has a theme. Here’s four key topics they’ve focused on:

Peace
Violence against women
Poverty and hunger
Gender equity

The Theme for 2018: #PressForProgress

The World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings revealed that gender parity is over 200 years away. That’s why the theme for 2018 is #PressForProgress – which is focused on encouraging people to press for progress on gender parity.

How You Can Take Tangible Action To Support Women

As part of the 2018 #PressForProgress theme, they are calling for people to support women by committing to take tangible action in at least one key way.

5 Actions You Can Take To Support Women in 2018

Here are five areas the International Women’s Day organisers have nominated as examples for action:

Maintaining a gender parity mindset
Challenge stereotypes and bias
Forge positive visibility
Influence the beliefs and actions of others
Celebrate womens achievements

If you’d like to make a commitment to #PressForProgress, I encourage you to click below:

You can advance the empowerment of women by making a commitment to do so, and by taking at least one action step today.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Warm regards

Lisa

07/02/2018 by Lisa McDonald Leave a Comment

Are You One of The 36% or 64% of People?

Are you one of the 36% OR one of the 64% of people? That’ the question I want you to ask yourself today.

It’s February already! And to state the obvious – that’s one month gone of 2018.

That means there’s less than 11 months remaining to achieve any new years resolutions or goals you resolved to achieve in 2018. Have you converted them into written goals that you’ve started implementing?

Are You One of 36% or 64% of People

If you’re still focused and taking action on your new year’s resolutions, then well done, because that means [Read more…]

“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” – Susan Gale

The Struggle Can Make Us Want To Quit

Choices

Connecting To The Heart of Christmas

Lyrics:

Spreading Goodwill

Quote:

Emotional Obstacles

The Background to International Women’s Day

The Theme for 2018: #PressForProgress

How You Can Take Tangible Action To Support Women

Are You One of 36% or 64% of People

“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face
with your greatest weakness.” – Susan Gale