The True Passion of a DJ - by Maria Stivala

I had the opportunity to sit down with one of Malta's best, DJ Duncan F. I was quite taken aback with his humble attitude. He actually invited me over to his place for the interview, the place where he produces all his work.

As a practitioner in NLP, and an aspiring coach, I am always keen to learn about how the successful people do it. Do they think differently? Are they stronger than we are? Is it simply luck? What sets Duncan apart from other Djs? That's what I'm after!

Duncan started out as a music enthusiast playing the violin at the age of 8. He moved to piano and then the drums, when he was 11. From a young age he was faced with the social stigma, claiming that he moved to drums because it was seen as “more cool” than the violin. He finally sold his drums and bought a set of turntables and started training to become a professional Dj at 14!

Soon after, he started playing at popular nightclubs such as Places in Paceville. This did not go down well with other resident Djs who were now being replaced with the young boy. However, Duncan defeated the challenges with his ever-growing passion for music. His audience was increasing, and from then on, kept aiming high. He kept his eye on the prize, rather than the competition. 

When asked what sets him apart from other Djs, he told me that he still lives by this principle. He is driven by his love for music and not by competition.

We talked about the difficulties we go through to conquer both external and internal battles. We live in a world where obstacles are everywhere. Often, it is much easier to just let things go and quit. From his thirst for knowledge about music, to the respect he craved for from his peers, from missing special family occasions due to work commitments, to lost relationships, the journey was not smooth-sailing. 

It was determination that kept him in the game. Duncan also claimed that he is now “more determined than ever” to reach his goals. This is what successful people have embedded in their soul- perseverance. Against all odds, they fight with passion.

He told me how important it is to keep other passions alive in your life. Some of his include rock-climbing, scuba diving and traveling. “These are things that inspire me” he said, “they help me become more dynamic as a person”.

His closing was what truly mesmerized me. “Do not take things for granted. Now it feels worth it, but the journey is never-ending. The moment you think you know it all, is when you stop growing. I compete only with myself. I am always trying to beat my last performance. I am grateful everyday for having the opportunity to express that side of me and to have people appreciate it.”

It takes determination, courage and strength to reach our goals. It takes commitment and passion to believe in yourself when it seems that no one else does. This is the essence of those who succeed. They persevere when the prize is nowhere in sight.

Self Improvement - The Real You - by Claude Camilleri

Self Assessment


To become the well balanced person that is in tune with ourselves we must sit down and take some time out for ourselves to self assess. Like any business, if we are not heading in the right direction, we must sit down and find ways on how to improve our system. Why don’t we do this for our personal lives?

Many of us are so busy in our every day lives that we really do not take the time to assess where we are today and were we are going tomorrow. What happens of course is life passes us by. Then we suddenly find ourselves outside our comfort zones. We know we are capable of more, we know we can achieve more, yet we are distancing ourselves from our true passions and dreams.

When I first assessed myself a few years ago I was nowhere close to were I wanted to be. There were areas in my life which needed improvement. I needed to focus on finding ways to use my energy in a better way. Today, I am in total control of my destiny. I have worked in each area of my life and I am rich in happiness. I will continue to self assess myself every so often, in order to keep in-tune with the real me.

As I studied in depth the subject of a well balanced life, I noticed a trend in most of the books I was reading, each one gave an insight on how to change your mindset and focus, to achieve results.

Since these teachings were simple, yet had a profound impact on my personal life I thought I would share an easy exercise with you. If you feel you need a positive change in any areas of your life : health, finance, career, relationship and personal growth then keep on reading. Even if you are a bit skeptic, all I ask is to have a little faith, release the skepticism in you, and just try this out.

Get a piece of paper and a pen and make two columns, on the top of the first column write “where am I today” and on the second column write “where would I like to be”. In the first column write down the following subjects : health, finance, career, relationship and personal growth. Leave enough space to write a few sentences under each heading. Now write were you are at the moment under health.

For example,

Health - (6)

I am a smoker

I eat well

I do not exercise

I walk every morning to work

etc..

After you have written everything about your health, write down a number from 1-10, 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest on how you feel about this specific subject (write this next to the header).Do this for all the subjects.

I believe any subjects that have a score of 6 below need to have a new focus. If you have scored 7 or above that's great. Your ultimate goal would be 10 of course, your 100% satisfaction.

Now that you have your results, write down where you want to be on the second column. Your second column is the person you want to be.

Health -
Good eating habits
Want to feel Healthy and fit
Want to live a Smoke free life
Want to be Sporty and Energized

Now that you have completed both columns and given yourself a score, you have taken the first step to becoming the new you. The next step is to find the resources and tools necessary to start a positive change.

Finding Your Resources

What tools or resources do I need to make a positive change in my life ?

Now that you have written where you are today and were you want to be tomorrow, you can easily see what changes need to be done. If, for example you are scoring a low score in your health, and your true ambitions of tomorrow are nowhere close to today's, a change is imminent.

Some of us might find it hard to distinguish certain aspects in ourselves. I know I am not healthy, my score is low, but how can I become healthy, if I never have any time to work on my health. The idea is to make time, find time. I am sure if I had to observe your daily lives in a week, I would find a minimum of one hour a day for you to give to your health. Remember healthy body = healthy mind = healthy soul. You have one body, and this body will be with you all your life. You should respect your temple and your temple will respect you.

Ok, so I want to make a change. How do I start ? You have self assessed yourself and you have written that your bad traits are smoking and not exercising. There you are. These are the two areas you have to focus on to have good health. Stop smoking. Yes, I know it is not easy, nothing is. Stop making excuses, just stop this bad habit. You know what smoking can lead to. Exercise. It only takes an hour a day for your body to respect you. How great would it feel to go to the beach and feel comfortable in your own body.

Yes, that's true, maybe I can start swimming every day for a hour. When winter comes I’ll pick up my old mountain bike that has been locked in the garage for over two years. The idea is that whatever you do should be something you love.

I have a love/hate relationship with the gym. It simply does not attract me. I do not like going there, but once I am there I actually love it. Maybe the gym is not for you . Like me, maybe you are the sporty type. I much prefer playing squash with my friends. That's because it gives me a good work out and pushes me to the limits. I am very competitive and what better way to try your best to win. Winning is not everything, however trying to win is.

I have some great news for you. There are activities you can do by yourselves and sports that you can do with others. Find out what you love to do and “just do it” (quote from Nike). Maybe depending on your age you feel the gym or sports are not for you.

That's fine. My mum needed to find something that would adapt with her body and her life's philosophy. She chose Yoga. She has been practicing Yoga for a few years now. She tells me, that Yoga saved her life. She feels reenergized. She is in tune with herself and she loves it.

There are many resources we can use to achieve our goals and this goes for all the subjects we have discussed at the top of the page. If you need to find new ways to improve any areas of your lives, you need to find the tools and resources possible. We are in the internet age, a time when information is literally at our fingertips. Use the internet well, find out exactly what you can do to become the new you.

Once you know what you want and how to get it, the third and last step into becoming the new you is to take action and achieve your goals.

ACHIEVING YOU GOALS

Now that you have found what you need to do to improve your lives and to become the new you, all you need to take is ACTION. Without any action, there ain’t no satisfaction.

How can I achieve my goals? It takes small steps every day to reach your goals. Nothing can be done overnight, however a change in mindset can be done immediately. Change your mindset. I CAN, I WILL. Kick the pessimist talker in your mind away and welcome the optimist visionary.

When Arnold S set out to be the best body builder in the world. He took small steps every day to achieve his ultimate goal. He was not the champion in his first week, it took time and patience. If we start slowly, we too can be our own champions.

Pick up the phone. Call your friend. Join them in a game of tennis. Book a dancing class. Make time for yourself. If you are doing the same thing every week and weekend. A change would do no harm. Make it fun, make it happen.

If on your chart you were not happy with your finances. Seek professional help. Sometimes professional help works wonders. We always rely on family or friends for suggestions. Maybe this time you want to have a different perspective. Book an appointment with a financial adviser. It costs nothing, yet the benefits can be great.

Take action today. Your present lives will flourish into a balance of joy and gratitude. You will feel fantastic inside and outside. We only live once. Why not live it in the best way possible. Use your energy right. Make it happen.

Check your diary or calendar. Find out when you are available. Write down what you want to do and do it. If you write down specific dates and times you are most likely to do them. When you have met or done something that reflects a result on your new focus, put a smiley face or a BIG POSITIVE WORD like BEAUTIFUL or FANTASTIC. Hopefully after one or two months your diary or calendar will be full of positive images or words.

I hope you have got the picture by now. Even if you have faith in yourself you need to make the first move. All sorts of emotions will come your way, but at the end of the day, you will be proud of yourselves. I know it.

“take the first step into faith, you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” Martin Luther King Jr.

I do hope you have got inspired to self Assess yourselves, find out the tools and resources necessary to achieve your own wall of greatness and take positive action to succeeding.

www.successlodge.com

This is my story whats yours - by Maria Stivala

Our life is a blank canvas and we are all artists. From the day we are born, life lays down a number of choices for us. We get to choose the colour, texture and style of the paintings we want to become. How sad would it be if someone chooses the colour for us? What if that is not the painting we want to become?




I was invited to join Success Lodge via Facebook in December 2008 by someone very dear to me. To be frank, I was initially taken aback as I assumed this person had an ulterior motive for inviting me to the group. Nevertheless, my curiosity had the best of me and I accepted to form part of this online community, and weeks later I began receiving inspirational messages written by Claude Camilleri.. Life coaching was not new to me, I had looked into this in the past, but whenever I read articles from other life coaches, I always felt too distanced from the author. It almost felt as though I was obliged to pity my own life.
Somehow, these emails felt different. Claude claimed that he was not perfect; he was on a journey to becoming the person he wants to be just like the rest of us. In the first message I received he shared his newfound perspective on meditation, something I could easily relate to. I am blessed with a numerous family, but there have been times where I felt trapped, almost suffocated. Our new home was still under construction back then, and I was sharing my bedroom with my twin sister, this was something we had always done. We both craved the physical and emotional space, and I looked forward to dedicating fifteen minutes to meditation daily. I did this by standing in a comfortable position in peace and quiet, and focus entirely on my breathing. Immediately, I felt as though I was getting to know myself. After all these years, I felt at one with myself. my body, mind and soul had finally united.

As time went by, I continued following Claude’s journey. This was not a gossip blog, each message had its own inspirational significance, a hidden meaning, and snippets taken from his own personal experience. For a few minutes each time I felt as though someone was sharing his feelings with me, assuring me that I was not alone, and I came to realise that it is OK to feel lost, or to make mistakes. Above of all, that it is possible to rise from a fall.

Slowly but surely things started changing. I became aware that I could do so much more with my life. Consequently, my journey began...

I was finally getting to know who I really was. For the first time I was eager to become the person I had always wanted to become; this was not easy. My peers were used to seeing me fail, give up on my goals and eventually on myself. It was as though, the fact that I was unhealthy, sad and without direction was the way everybody perceived me. This projection was hard to beat, but as I began improving myself by making the most out of my days and analysing myself more closely, I could tell that they were proud of me.


My life was slowly getting back on track. I began to exercise often, eat healthily and most importantly, respect my body. My next goal was to regain my lost confidence. I attended a ‘Successlodge’ life coaching “Confidence” workshop by Claude Camilleri, along with my boyfriend in April 2008. It was such an amazing experience for both of us.I felt the need to boost my confidence when it came to approaching people whereas my partner felt he would have liked to strengthen his confidence in order to pursue his dreams. Claude moved us away of our comfort zone and challenged us to “get out of our shells and proudly show ourselves to the world.” I remember some of his words that are fixed in my mind: “We have every right to be here. We have every right to take pride in ourselves”. I felt as though the workshop had completely transformed me, and my confidence increased drastically; it really worked! My life improved and I noticed myself facing challenges instead of running away from them. I also felt I had the right to voice my opinions without feeling ashamed.

The next challenge was to listen to my own voice, I needed to fight back the negative thoughts and pursue my career. I had no direction; I did not know where to start and once again I turned to life coaching and booked myself a session with Claude who also specialises in career planning. Our session included brainstorming for over two hours.

I clearly remember him saying “You will not leave here until you give me an answer!” It was difficult at first, but by the end it was fun and exciting. He asked me what I liked doing most, what my hobbies were, and what my life philosophies included. Claude made things seem clearer to me. He saw the passion I have for life and my mission to pursuit a healthy lifestyle; combined the two, and convinced me that I was capable of actually doing this. The dream I had been nesting for a while, which was becoming a Nutritional Psychologist had finally spread its wings.

The past year has been a rollercoaster ride for me; highs and lows and dealing with twists and turns along the way. In retrospect however, I would not change a thing. My experiences have taught me immensely, and I am finally becoming the person I once dreamt of becoming.

Nowadays, I am a very energetic person. I try to make the best out of my time because I want to enjoy life by learning from my own mistakes, surrounding myself with good people, and having no regrets to look back on. I believe being positive in life attracts more positive energy. A few weeks ago, Claude Camilleri approached me and asked if I would join the SuccessLodge team. I gladly accepted, to me this was a dream come true. I was once helpless; I am now part of a community whose mission is to help people. Who would have ever thought that this was possible? My mission is to help SuccessLodge expand because I truly believe that we can make a difference and improve people’s lifestyles in the same way I improved my own.

Let us not waste any more time worrying about irrelevant things, but rather, focus on self improvement. Let us grow together and help one another in finding our own inner happiness. Let us work hand-in-hand to make our world a better place, It is never too late. Our life is a journey of learning and teaching; of creating art.

5 biblical keys to changing your life

written by Maria Stivala for the Successlodge Community
www.successlodge.com

Stress Management - Dealing With Stress At The Office

Let’s be honest - life can be stressful if we make it. An accumulation of little flaws over a day, a week, or a longer period of time, can build up and erupt in anger and anxiety. This can have a negative emotional and physical impact on you.
How can we prevent stress?
The key formula is preparation, which can give you the tranquility that you want. If you are having stressful days at the office, the first thing to do is to Analise your daily routine.

What exactly are you doing?
What is working and what isn’t?
What trends need to be changed and what should
remain the same?
First, check your sleeping, eating and drinking patterns. If you sleep very late at night and wake up as soon as the sun is up, that might need a change. Try sleeping earlier at night and set your alarm for an hour before you leave home. These small changes could be the answer to your stressful day.
Maybe it is your eating and drinking patterns that are fueling your stress.

What do you eat on a regular day?
Are you eating healthy and nutritious food?
Do you over- or under-eat?
Are you drinking enough water?
Are you addicted to caffeine?
You are what you eat - your eating and drinking patterns could be causing you stress.

 There are many great resources out there to help you find the perfect nutritious balance.
What about exercise?

Many of us overlook exercise, yet it is essential for our body to work right.
The only tangible thing we have till the last day we are alive is our body. Our body works like a car - the more you take care of it, the better it will work. Exercise is a great way to keep your body working well.

Once you master your sleeping, eating and exercise routines, stress would be the last thing on your mind. Still, other unforeseen circumstances can lead to discomfort.

What about dealing with stress at the office?
What can you do to avoid stress?

The most important thing is to find a job that you love. From personal experience, I can tell you that there is nothing worse then doing a job that you hate.
Another tip is to get to work 15 minutes early. This gives you ample time to settle down and to prepare your mind for the day ahead. Learn to take deep and long breaths on the hour and every hour. Once you start this routine you will notice that you are calmer and more focused.

If you spend most of your day sitting down, make sure that your chair is comfortable. There is nothing worse than sitting for hours on end on a bad chair. Also, do leg and feet exercises. Circular exercises like the ones previewed on long haul flights are necessary to keep blood circulation.

Every once in a while make sure you get up and have a walk - this is good for your circulation and gives your mind a rest too.
Also, if your job entails hours on the phone, ask for a hands free set - this is light, easy to use and gives you full movement access.

If there is something bothering you at work, make sure you bring it to your superior’s attention. Always choose the best time to bring up the subject and do this courteously.
Is your office well organized? If your office looks like a jungle of paper and files and nothing is in order, it would be a wise suggestion to take a morning off to get a proper system in place.

My final recommendation is to enjoy yourself. Have fun and learn to smile more. Laugh when you can.
Some of the Successlodge community have given me recommendations on how to control your stress at your workplace, including playing some background music, lighting up aromatherapy oils,taking up yoga, meditating, having a stress ball to release unwanted energy, and playing relaxing music when driving to work.

How should your life be?
Picture yourself smiling, happy that you feel good with yourself, and satisfied that you are taking care of your body, mind and soul. You are nourishing your temple with good food and plenty of water.

You exercise frequently.
You feel great.
You hear the sounds of success.
Your new found balance makes you calmer, more focused and above all happier. It’s your turn to share this wisdom with your peers.

400 Breakthrough Stress Elimination Strategies

www.successlodge.com

Living with an invisible Chronic Condition - by Rosanne Caruana - for the Successlodge Community

Most people in my opinion, think that all chronic conditions are visible, but this is not the fact.

There are many different chronic conditions that are invisible, like Fibromyalgia, M.E (myalgic encephalomyelitis), CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and many more, but today I am only going to write about Fibromyalgia.

The name fibromyalgia comes from the Latin word 'fibro' which means fibrous tissues referring for tendons & ligaments, 'my' means muscles and 'algia' means pain.
I would like to share with you my personal experience and how a person feels when having an invisible chronic condition. I would also like to bring up more awareness on these conditions, especially Fibromyalgia.

As a person who has this condition myself, I can say it`s not easy to live with, especially when it has to do with pain and fatigue, which varies from mild to moderate and moderate to severe. At times this will leave you disabled and unable to maintain your daily routine, like holding a mug, brushing your hair, able to maintain a full time or part time job, taking frequent sick leave, at times it can leave you bedbound and much more problems, which we as sufferers encounter in our daily lives.

No one really knows the exact cause of fibromyalgia and research into this cause is still being done. The three major symptoms are: widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, fatigue and trouble sleeping. There are more than other fifty symptoms, which vary from a person to another. Muscle, ligament and tendon stiffness become prone to spasm.

A person with fibromyalgia is very sensitive to touch. Being touched is a sensation for most persons, but in fibromyalgia sufferers, touch means pain. Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although the condition affects more women than men. It occurs between the ages of 35-60, but it can develop in people of any age, including children and the elderly. It is common in woman but there are men who have this condition as well.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but treatment can and may ease the symptoms. A sufferer can treat this condition by a combination of medical treatment, complementary therapies and lifestyle changes. As we are all different, even in this condition treatment has to be done on an individual basis. What is good for a person, it`s not always good for another.

Symptoms may sometimes get better or worse, depending on certain factors which can bring up a flare up of this condition, like stress, bereavement, broken relationships, trauma, after an operation, changes in weather and more.

Persons, who have fibromyalgia, are unlikely that the condition will ever resolve permanently, although there may be a period of time when symptoms lessens. Most people have to learn to live with the condition long-term. However, fibromyalgia is not life-threatening and does not reduce life expectancy.

Being an active person, working long hour shifts, having a social life, never makes you think that due to this condition, all this has to change; you have to change your lifestyle. When you start feeling pain, muscle stiffness and/or spasms, fatigue which worsen if you don`t rest and at times it won`t even go by rest, finding it difficult to sleep, difficulty concentrating (fibro fog), chronic headaches, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) together with many other symptoms, leaves you unable to keep your normal daily activities.

Partners, relatives, friends and colleagues don`t understand what it really feels like, being in pain, feel fatigue, because we look normal, but inside we suffer a lot and sometimes in silence. All this will make it more difficult for us sufferers to find support in those persons around us. On the other hand these persons need support too and they need to be aware more of this condition. In some cases psychological support is needed for sufferers, partners and relatives.

I always say that I want to be understood and don`t want others around me to feel sorry for me, this will make things worse. I want to be positive and if I am surrounded by persons who are negative, it will make my positive thinking go down. With all the respect, I would like and try not to pay attention to these persons, but after all I am human and a caring person!

Having this condition for more than eight years has changed my life a lot; I needed to change my lifestyle, tried different medical treatments but not all has effect and if pain subsides for some time, tried to avoid medicine as much as possible due to the side effects. I don`t wish to have more problems but prefer avoiding them if I can! In the last eight years I also experimented with different therapies like; hydrotherapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy, massages, gentle exercises and more. Normally massages are really very helpful, but due to financial problems I could not have them on a regular basis.

I will to continue to try and experiment different complimentary therapies, until I feel better and better.

After sharing my experience, I can tell you that since I was diagnosed of having fibromyalgia, I passed from a lot of stress, bereavements and other health problems. Having all this made my symptoms worse because I was having regular flare ups. But I didn`t stop there, but continued to look forward in a positive way, asking for professional help when I needed it. All this make me grow more and I feel stronger than before. Life is fragile, but we all need to have positive thinking in all situations, I know it`s not easy.

By moaning all the time will only makes your life and those around you in a heavy and negative environment. Come on, we need to breath!
I don`t want to be a victim, I want to be a Survivor!

Resist, Owner of myself, Self confidence, Assertiveness, Nice thoughts, No to negativity
  Empoweredwith positivity

If you suffer with chronic pain, we suggest 11 Chronic Pain eBooks

written by Rosanne Caruana
for the Successlodge Community
www.successlodge.com

Dealing with an Eating Disorder - by Stephanie Camilleri - for the Successlodge Community

Allow me to introduce myself.. My name is Stephanie Camilleri and I suffer from an eating disorder. I have been ‘clean’ for 2 months now and I would like to share my experience.. how my dream became reality.
Whenever people would ask me what my dreams and ambitions were, I used to panic. I would invent an answer.. travel, raise a family, career, anything to shut them up but I knew exactly what dream was.. to be free from my eating disorder. My whole life revolved around it. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about before I slept. Unknowingly I was killing myself both physically, mentally and spirituality. I knew I couldn’t live like this but my eating disorder was in total control of my life. I would read success stories on the subject..

I was so envious I would cry myself to sleep, thinking I was weak and there was no way out. I felt guilty and shameful. How could I have lost the plot in this way? My life seemed to be over, then one day I hit rock bottom, I moved to Montreal 6 months before this day and I just wanted to pack up and leave, run away from my eating disorder, move back home to my family and friends to my comfort zone.

And then… the little voice inside of me remembered my dream TO BE FREE FROM MY EATING DISORDER. All of a sudden I stopped and spoke to myself, I spoke to Stephanie. I told myself, God put me on this earth, he created me, I need to take care of myself. I can do this. I decided to take the reigns again. I knew it was going to be hard but I was determined to live.. and to live fully – body, mind and spirit.
The first thing I did was seek professional help. I also decided that I really need to be honest with all the people who were important to me, my family, my friends, my co-workers. This was scary. The feelings of guilt and shame that come along with this eating disorder are incredible, but once I opened up to everybody I was surprised at how understanding everybody was. Not only did I get positive responses but they now had some light on why I acted the way I did.
Opening up to people was a whole new experience. By opening up I started to hear my own voice, I felt like layers were slowly being peeled off. And to my amazement I realized I like myself. I am definitely not perfect but hey I like myself. It’s amazing ghow when you accept yourself the way you are , the world just pens up to you.
I have made peace with myself, and God. I am grateful for this precious life. Life is too beautiful to wither away. Although I cannot undo the past, I have learnt from it. Strangely enough, I am happy I suffer from an eating disorder (I use the present tense because it is still a daily battle) because everyday I fight it, and every day I am more appreciative of my new life.. or more precisely my new attitude towards life. My new life is filled with dreams, friendships, love, joy, sadness, laughter, crying..
One of my assignments for my therapy sessions was to make a magic wand and write down my dream. This was my what I wrote (plus I made a fancy wand too!):
I, Stephanie, want to be REAL
R – rediscover life
E – Energetic
A – Attitude of gratitude
L – Live life to the fullest
My dream is now reality. I am focused and determined to be REAL. The road isn’t always going to a straight one, but those bumps and curves all serve as life learning experiences. Life is beautiful. I’m actually in love with life. Achieveing my dream has lead to joy, peace and happiness within myself.
Dreams can turn into reality! I hope that through my experience you too realise that whatever dreams you have, no matter how big or small, you can achieve it. It will change your life! Go for it.. it’s worth it.

Thanks for listening.

Stephanie Camilleri, Malta


Learn how to deal with an eating disorder
Anorexia Bulimia Recovery - Eating Disorders Treatment Book.

www.successlodge.com

Law of Attraction by Maria Stivala, Successlodge Associate

 

Maria Stivala,    Using Neuro Linguistic Programing

Ever since I discovered NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), life started to make sense. Now, for everything I am experiencing there seems to be an explanation. I understand that whatever I am experiencing in my life, I have been attracted there - like a magnet. I have drawn in these things by virtue of the images that I hold in my mind- my thoughts, says Maria Stivala. People often talk about time management, but they don't think about 'mental' management. We underestimate the role that thoughts play in our lives. We put aside thoughts that express our feelings to our loved ones, and instead waste our energy worrying about what is not working in the relationship. Whatever it is we think about, we are bound to attract it into our life, and love is no exception. If we are focusing on how bad our partner is making us feel and how empty our relationship is, guess what? That is what we are going to get more of. The moment we start measuring what we are not getting, we step out of love and into fear, anger and resentment. That's right, we all work with this one infinite power. We abide with one universal law; it is the Law of Attraction. By shifting negative thoughts, we can literally transform our relationship into a happier one. You will start attracting good things into your love life once you programme your mind to focus on the things you want in your relationship rather than what you do not want. For instance, “I want my partner to comprehend what my dreams and passions are” rather than, “my partner doesn't get me, he/she does not care what my passions are”. Without exception, the law of attraction works every time. It is important that we keep reminding ourselves of how lucky we are. Look around and cherish the love. Look at your partner in the eye and smile, remind yourself that your soul mate is right next to you. Remind each other of what brought you two together and ultimately, what is keeping you together. NLP puts people in the right frame of mind in order to translate negativity into thoughts of gratitude and positivity. So what is NLP anyway? Neuro Linguistic Programming is an attitude, a methodology, and a technology that teaches people how to improve their quality of life. It is an educational tool that teaches us how to communicate more effectively within ourselves and with others. It is a structure of how we think, and how we experience the world. Richard Bandler (the co-creator of NLP) sums up this exercise as the “ Falling More in Love” Pattern in his most recent book Get the life you want: 1. Close your eyes and think of your loved one. 2. Remember the first time that you fell in love with them. Imagine it like it was yesterday. See what you saw, hear what you heard and feel what you felt at that very moment. Spin those feelings inside your body. 3.Now, think of anything that bothers you about your partner. Make a mental image, as if looking through your eyes but seeing only them in the picture. 4.Immediately bring up all the memories of times where you loved being with them and step into those images, but this time, you are seeing yourself with your partner and experiencing what you saw and feeling what you felt at that time. 5.Run through all these wonderful experiences and amplify the feeling of love and spin it throughout your body. 6.Now open your eyes and look at your loved one. Notice yourself feeling like you did the first time you fell for them. Take the opportunity to rekindle the magic this Valentine's day. Give the best gift of all, the gift of love and passion. After all, it really is the thought that counts!

www.successlodge.com

Grandmother's prayer to life- written by my Mum (Denise Camilleri)

“Come on children, get up brush your teeth and wash your face, it's already eight o'clock and we have to go to mass at ten.”

“I want to stay in bed, it's so cosy, I get up early all week, why do I have to wake up just because you want to go to church.”

That is how it was every Sunday morning; the rush to the bathroom, breakfast, shiny shoes, a veil on my head and off we went to mass. Generally, by the time we got there, my grandmother was already in the front pew, her little hat perched on her head and her rosary beads rolling in between her fingers.

Mass was standard routine for me, I would sit and listen to a priest drone on about how great (or not) our religion was, how much Jesus loved us or to what extent he suffered for us. This always confused me immensely, I could never understand if Jesus was actually cross with me or if he loved me unconditionally. As time went along, I was told that I would be doing my first holy communion and that my parents would be throwing a party in my honour. I was thrilled! Sweets and presents both sounded like a great idea. I always secretly wondered however how my grandmother managed to smile throughout these religious services; she never seemed bored or fidgety but always exhumed a sense of peace and tranquillity.

As time passed I started to understand better her life philosophies. After mass every Sunday, my entire extended family and I would normally go for lunch at her house for as long as I can remember. Everybody gathered around a big table talking and enjoying her Sunday roast or stuffed chicken. I also remember the fact that we were forced to go through all our vegetables even if we didn’t quite like them if we wanted desert after lunch. The highlight of these Sunday lunches came after that though, we would all gather around my grandma who would relate various childhood stories of hers to us.

To me she was a wise old woman, we would ask her all sorts of questions and she always had a reply for us. My staple question generally focused around mass and Jesus; why was it so boring and why did we have to attend mass every single week. One day she decided to share her secret with me.

My grandma had had a very difficult childhood, her mother had passed away when she was still a baby and her father, being unable to cope with the family had given her up to be fostered. Eventually she became a teacher and met a man who was much older than her, he took her out, and spoiled her, for the first time she felt as though everything she had missed out on in life up till now was coming her way; champagne, beautiful dresses, laughter and dancing. However all that glitters is not gold and her dream life soon came to a sharp halt when her boyfriend was involved in a fatal road accident.

This tragedy cost her a year in hospital, and she was told that she would never walk again. In her opinion, this was one of God’s many tests of faith.. My grandma admitted to not having been particularly religious at the time, and had not gone to church for years. Being bed-ridden for two months gave her ample time to reflect on her life, her past and her relationship with God. Gradually she began laying her faith in Christ and her patron saint, St. Anne by praying more and having complete and absolute faith in their mercy.


Even though there appeared to be no physical improvement, her spirits lifted a little more each day as she was convinced that her faith would save her, and that she would be able to overcome this period in her life and walk again someday. Her faith was strong and eventually she started walking again, amazing both medical staff and family members.

After this incident her life changed completely, she met my grandfather and they started a family together. Her faith remained strong and she made it a point never to skip a mass or miss out on saying the rosary. She admitted that God had placed further challenges throughout her life path, however she never gave up or doubted her faith. According to her, feeling close to God made her feel safe.

Nowadays I am a mother myself and am able to appreciate her wisdom further and cherish her memory forever in my heart. I finally understand the beautiful gift of love she left me.
Thank you grandma for understanding how I felt as a child, for guiding me in the right path and teaching me how to love, respect and honour life and our Creator.
www.successlodge.com

A green land project idea - by Claude Camilleri

Yesterday was an amazing day, a time of reflection and positive thought.

I packed up my cooler, my fold-able chair and my hammock. Put everything in my car along with my good pal, Milo, my dog and headed to Riviera, a spot in Malta which brings me serenity and re-energizes me.

I got their before my friends. I tied my hammock up and laid down for a while.

The sea breeze came up the steep hills and blew fresh air into my nostrils. I took long deep breathes, visualized the beauty and enjoyed the silence.

Soon my friends came along and enjoyed the surroundings. The moment was bliss. Peaceful.

Whilst absorbing the true beauty of nature, a few big birds flew over us. This was amazing. Amazing because our island has had an unfortunate battle against hunters for many years now, they hunted most of the seasons. Luckily these days, laws have been kinder to the birds, thus the enjoyment to my eyes.

Not long after this spectacle, my friend Sandro, picked up a rock. This rock consisted of stone, salt crystals and sand. I spent at least twenty minutes gazing at its raw beauty. I am not a geologist ,but I can definitely say this rock was thousands of years old.

So there I was completely relaxed, free and happy. As I took in all the energy that surrounded me, a past idea came to my mind.

My idea is to find a huge area of green land in Malta (Green land in Malta is an area where people cannot build buildings) and buy it using funds from everyone. The land, which will be sold per meter square, will give the buyer a piece of their island, a contribution to nature.

(please note, green land continues to be taken from the community, and since we are an island we only have so much land).

I have contributed to many causes, yet, I have never set one up myself. If any of you have hands on experience here, please send me a message, lets make this idea happen. It will take years to get all the money for the land, but I am ready to take a step each day like I am sure many of you are.

Be part of the project where ever you live. Mother nature is for us all. Take one minute of your time to try our POLL, this is to find a name for this project, step one.

Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

If you have had hands on experience on starting up a project like this, please e mail claude.camilleri@successlodge.com

is NLP FOR YOU ?

What if I told you that by learning NLP you could reprogram your mind to achieve specific results ?

What if I told you that by learning NLP you could apply positive change in the areas that need change?

Would you decide to become an NLP Practitioner ?

Read on and find out “NLP IS FOR YOU” :

This is a generalization, but I could be pretty sure, that many of us have a few things we would personally like to change.

You see, NLP is a methodology that can help you fine tune yourself.

Imagine you had a list of all your habits, good or not so good. and as you go through your list you tell yourself,

mmhh “need a bit more confidence,
need to be more organized,
need to get things done,
need to learn how to be happy”... and the list goes on and on.

NLP works ? By becoming an NLP Practitioner you are given a handful of tools. Once you practice these tools you will feel, see and hear things differently and
POSITIVE CHANGE WILL HAPPEN.

Lets say your belief is “I am never happy”, how can an NLP Practitioner help you.

They would find out a time when you were happy, get in your mind (so to speak) and make that happy memory even more appealing, exciting. They would then anchor that feeling either auditory (hearing) kin-esthetically (feeling) or visually.

Once the anchor is in place they would make you remember a time when you felt unhappy, and distort the memory and place the happy anchor. This will confuse your minds and that unhappy memory (which you could still remember)will feel, sound and look differently, it will have a whole new meaning.

This can help people who are mourning a loved one many years after the loved ones death, to move on without feeling guilty. It can help people who have had abusive pasts.

NLP IS LIFE CHANGING

I have seen amazing transformation with my clients, most in one or two sessions.

NLP IS FOR YOU :

By learning NLP you can do stuff that you might have thought was impossible, like Public Speaking, getting over your fear of heights and so much more.

If you are disorganized. You are probably using the same method for your work, wardrobe even car. This disorganization could cost you time, energy and money. By using NLP techniques, you can find out your exact formula and change your formula to the way you like it.

This is great for shopaholics, people who cannot save a dime. I worked with a shopaholic, a compulsive buyer, who literally bought anything that made her feel good. This had an effect on her finance, so it was a change she wanted to tackle. In less then 30 minutes, her old formula was replaced by her new and better formula.

so is NLP FOR YOU ?

Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Successlodge Poll - What messages do you want Successlodge to share with you ?

What messages would you like Successlodge to share with you ?

• Why should I get coached ?
• Why should I learn NLP ?
• How do I deal with breakups ?
• How can I build my self confidence ?
• I'm so depressed, will I ever be happy ?
• How can I be part of Successlodge ?

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ASK to RECEIVE - BE PRO ACTIVE

How many times do we want something and never ASK for it ?

How many times do we want to have something badly enough and we are too scared to ASK for it?
The answer is rejection. Rejection is something not everyone is comfortable with. Rejection is what separates the strong from the weak. This can all change when you get the courage and take the first step forward. YOU CAN. YOU ARE. STRONG. So unleash the POWER inside you and CHANGE for the BETTER. YOU CAN DO IT.

The truth is, if we never ASK we will never receive.
Imagine you have been working at the same firm for a few years. You are comfortable with your job, yet you know you can do better and achieve more.

Why shouldn't you ASK your boss for a promotion, for a wage increase or even for a share in the company.

If you never ASK you will never know what you are missing out on. Your life could improve from ASKING.

After working for a couple of years in a senior role in Emirates, I wanted to get a better position. I was confident in myself, I knew I was capable of achieving this new role. I went to the management and ASKED for a promotion. They looked at my records and accepted my offer. The new Position would take six months to WORK on. Six months later I became a PURSER with Emirates, after only five years with the company. That felt good, I ASKED and I RECEIVED. I was PRO ACTIVE!

I too have had rejections. Everyone has had them. Of course if we always got what we asked for, life would be mundane, even too easy. The secret is not to give up on the first obstacle. Insist and Persist.
So this Week, ASK to RECEIVE, take the initiative. Try it, believe in yourself, believe you can make a difference. What would the worst case scenario be ? I’ll tell you, you will be in the same exact position, you found yourself in before you asked.

You can only GAIN by ASKING. This can work in all areas of your life. You could like someone and are too shy to ask them out on a date. Well, if you do not ask you will never know were you stand.
 I am sure you saw the Film SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. The main character wanted to open a library in Jail. He had no funds. He decided to write a letter to the government for funds. Each week a letter would come back saying, no funds could be available for his project. He kept writing each week, then biweekly, until he got the funds he AKSED for.

The morale of the story is, PERSIST, INSIST and ASK and you will RECEIVE.
 
GIVE to RECEIVE

What legacy do you want to leave behind ?
How do you want to be remembered ?
In a material world it is not hard to get caught up in all the gizmos and gadgets. Sure we want everything and everything seems so pleasurable to have.

Do not get me wrong, you reap what you sow, if you work so hard, you should be rewarded, and rewards are GREAT. They tell us that we are achieving something, that we are doing something worth while.

The question is DO you GIVE to Receive ?
 Some might say " If I was rich I would" or why don't the rich give, I cant afford it".
Well surely the rich can give bigger amounts. Yes they might have bigger resources. The answer is not in how much you have. Its how much you give. Mother Theresa had nothing, yet she gave more than she ever had back.

  I know of so many amazing people, wealthy and who live moderately, who have made such a difference. In all there humbleness, they remain distant from an ego that could comfort
them. They are a great Inspiration in my eyes.

When you GIVE the REWARDS are unreal. You do not need to tell anyone about this, this is for you only, what you will RECEIVE in return money cant buy.

When I was 10 years old at school I remember a teacher was collecting funds for a CAUSE, I felt embarrassed as I only had penny's. I went to the teacher when no one was looking and told her my charity was far from great. She looked me in the eye, and said "Claude, every little bit counts and she smiled at me", the message stayed with me all these years.

Many of us think they are generous and are, but never take any steps to demonstrate it. Being generous does not necessary mean giving money only. You could help out in your community. You could teach someone a new skill. You can find ways to make a difference.

As a life coach, one of my goals is to give back to the community. I plan to give talks to school children. I plan to motivate and inspire them to discover there passion, pursue there goals and follow there dreams.

The legacy I want to leave behind is of someone who helped people and was honest and giving. I want to be remembered as someone who made a difference in this world.

Final Thought
  
 Believe in yourself. Ask to receive. Be pro active. Do not be afraid. Take the first step in faith.
 Give to receive. Make a difference. Give a helping hand. Your life will have a whole new meaning. I promise ;)

Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Positive Communication

If I had the power to give positivity to everyone, I would start by our language, our communication.

What do I mean by this ?

By this I mean changing our verbal communication from negative to positive. By this I mean I would eliminate all the “I Cant’s” with “I Can’s”.

You see linguistics play an important role in our lives. Words that come out of our own mouths are very powerful, yet because we have been programed to use the words we are use to, our subconscious catches on and follows our commands.

Let me give you an example
If someone tells you “How are you? Some of us, inclusive of myself in the past, would say “not bad”....

Not bad here means “actually I am bad, could be better”.

If someone asked you “How are you today” and you answered “Fantastic, brilliant, Great”. They would look at you with a different perspective, they might even be surprised (why is she/he so happy?).

The most common answer I get to creating positive communication amongst my clients is

“But I do not feel great, fantastic, brilliant, why should I say this”

You might not feel great, fantastic, brilliant, thats true, but with enough persuasion, your subconscious mind will follow your command, and within a short time period, change will happen.

If we had to use the same philosophy at work and we decided today we would start a fresh and inject positive verbal communication, our work could change dramatically.

Example
How’s work going ? Work is very rewarding. I challenge myself to become better everyday. I love to push myself to find solutions, I love to work with my team, work is brilliant.

I don't know about you, but if someone told me this, I’d probably want to come and work with you. Yes, that's right, it can be that simple.

Try something new this week/weekend or fine tune yourself.
Use positive communication and see what happens.

Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Routine or Not Routine That is the Question

The last seven days have been absolutely splendid. I went on a one weeks vacation to Corfu, a Greek Island, with my wife and one of my best friends and his girlfriend. We stayed in a holiday resort. We did a little exploring outside the resort but spent most of our time lazing by the beach, reading books, magazines, swimming and fishing.

Every morning I would wake up much earlier then everyone, so I showered and made my way to the resorts canteen to enjoy my breakfast. After this I would return to my room and continue reading till my wife woke up.

After she was up and ready to set off, we would head down to the poolside, by the beach, to join my friends.

After soaking up some sun we would have lunch. Our day would then continue by the beach. After a long day relaxing we would head back to our rooms for a shower and then we would meet up for a dinner.

This became our weeks routine.

When I thought about my weeks trip, one word came to my mind,
ROUTINE.
I had created a routine within a week.

I thought to myself do I have a routine back home ? I sure did.

So if my routine was the best routine ever, would I produce the best results ever too?
Interesting I thought.

Imagine we go step by step into our daily routines. The time we wake up. Our first actions. What we eat for breakfast. What we do before we go to work. How we work. What we eat for lunch. What we do after work. How we spend our time in the evenings. What time we go to sleep etc.

What could we learn from our routine?
We could make our routine work in our advantage. We could find out ways of how to improve our lives. Our current routine can help us find solutions to a better, healthier and richer live.

Let me give you an example.

You would love to learn to play the guitar. You look at your routine. You notice that money and time were your two biggest concerns.

Now your current routine tells you that you go for a coffee before work and at lunch from Monday to Friday, and that every day after 6pm you watch TV till 9pm.

What could be done?

Instead of buying coffee twice daily, five days a week, you put your money aside for your first guitar. Once you have a deposit for the guitar, you take lessons, two times a week, during your TV hours.

After one year you join a band. After four years with the band you get a record deal. Who would have imagined ! go figure :)

This can help you if you have weight problems or bad eating habits - In your new routine you could eat a healthy breakfast, have a good lunch and a light snack for dinner (you would feel great in no time, you will notice change)

this can help you if you want to get fit - In your new routine you could replace playing games on your PC with a jog around the block (imagine the effect after two weeks, a month)

this can give you opportunities - In your new routine, you could find time to study a subject that would give you better opportunities in your working field (imagine the benefits in the long run)

Think about your routine today. If you can fine tune yourself, you could be on your way to being the best you can be, now thats brilliant.

Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Making a Difference

Communication is the key to solving many problems worldwide.

Having a Blog that can REALLY make a difference could only be a dream,

but with real solutions come results.

Therefore this is the start of something new for Successlodge.

We have heard of many great Blogs and we would love to be

amongst the ones that make a positive difference

For the Well Being Of Society.

Here we have the chance to discuss topics that are well worth talking about,

topics that maybe are not discussed so much in the media, either because of

politics or because of lack of resources or creative ideas.

This Blog is everyones blog.

This Blog is a communication table were we can find solutions and take action.

We do hope you share your knowledge and experience to make a difference.

Welcome to the Successlodge Blog "For the Well Being of Society".

We are now open to suggestions for some serious topics.

Please participate and make a difference.

What do you think needs a good positive change?

Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

The Doers and the Moaners

Since I have been enjoying my holiday in Malta I have bumped into many of my old friends and aquaintences. It's always great seeing how people progress in their lives as time passes by.

One thing really got me thinking? How come some seem to be loving life more than others.
I started asking the same question to everyone. Instead of how are you I asked them "How is life treating you"?

I'll be honest when I say, a bit more than half of them said "It's always the same here, life is expensive, the euro, the government, the wife, the girlfriend, the job, the pay, the house, business is slow, etc etc etc etc etc etc........

The more I Kept LISTENING the more I kept asking the same question in my head" So what are you going to do about it".

When my turn came to speak, I would not continue in the downward spiral, rather I opted to change the conversation into " Malta is looking absolutely fabulous, the sun is out, there are Tourists everywhere, there must be such great opportunity here"

I had one or two faces stare at me, as if I was an alien. HOW COME THIS GUY IS NOT FEEDING MY NEGATIVITY. The answer, in my opinion is, some people seem to enjoy "THE POOR ME strategy", I don't.

This has happenend to many people who work with me in the Airline Industry. When they tell me all the things they hate about the job, and continue and continue, guess what I say.... So What are you doing here ? What are you doing about it ? Most of them have no answers or say "Ahh well, its because of this this and this.....

Think about it, You are doing what you are doing now, because YOU CHOSE IT, NO ONE ELSE.

Life is what you make it. Some people think that a super natural power is going to come and do everything for them, the answer is

" NO WAY MATE, THAT AINT GONNA HAPPEN"....

This is the time, not tomorrow, not yesterday, TODAY !!

TODAY IS the day, you say, I CAN and I WILL.
You chose your life and NO ONE ELSE.

On the other hand, I was gobsmacked at how well some other friends and aquaintences were doing. They have an Aura around them of passion and love. I could listen to them for hours and never lose interest.

What is the difference between the two ?

I believe their are the DOERS and THE MOANERS.

The moaners are the ones who can do everything, if they could, but for some reason never do. They are great talkers. They live in the past. Talk about the future. They are the Poor ME people.When I revisit some of them after I while, I could ask them the same questions, and I probably would get the same answers......

The Doers, my favourite people, are the people who are not afraid of anything, even defeat. They fall down, they stand up, they continue. Everytime I come visit them, they fascinate me.
They keep trying. They move on. They go with Evolution, they move on, they see the glass half full, they LIVE FOR TODAY and think ABOUT TOMORROW. The DOERS are the ONES who believe in themselves.

What person are you?

Do you want a rich and exciting life ?
Do you want a life full of surprises ?
or
Do you want to sit and dream?
Do you want to sit and moan?

THIS IS YOUR LIFE, THIS IS YOUS CHOICE ?

I hope everytime I bump into you, you enjoy my energy and Aura, cause I am gonna live life to its fullest.


Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Inspiration Comes Knocking at Your Door

Last week something magical happened to me. I got Inspired by my surroundings.

I woke up very early, just as the sun awoke and yawned it's orange tulip rays down on Xlendi, a Gozitan fishing village, (Malta's sister island) were I stood.

In this serene spectacle my eyes gazed until nearly into a trance like state. Suddenly I was empty of taught, head clear and free.

With this powerful notion I took deep long breathes and felt the pureness of the air. I was feeling fantastic, I started to smile, I was happy. Then I had a feeling, I felt I needed to express my joy, I needed to paint.

Although I have been painting all my life, I have not touched a paint brush in a few years, it's not because I was to busy or just over it, the reason was I lacked inspiration to paint.

So I ask myself what triggers INSPIRATION?

Do we have to be in a relaxed environment to get inspired. Do we need to see someone else's success to get inspired? Can we only succeed in life through inspiration? Does Inspiration stay with us for a short time or can we keep the fire burning?

Personally I feel if Inspiration does not come knocking at your door, you should invite it in your life. Be open to new things. Research New Topics. Find out who is doing what you love and approach them. Be adventurous. Be strong. Keep Your head high. Smile. Be positive. Be aware. Look at the bright side of situations.

With the right frame of mind, Inspiration will knock on your door, and something magical will happen.

When we get inspired, something inside of us changes, a natural force, a feeling of Yesness, a feeling of "I CAN".

If we all got Inspired today, imagine what tomorrow would look like. If I had to say one word to the entire world, it would be YES..

Yes to Believe
Yes to Love
Yes to Enjoy
Yes to be Strong
Yes to Action
Yes to Focus
Yes to INSPIRATION ;)

I hope you enjoyed this one. I hope you got INSPIREd. If you have any feedback or suggestions, I would love to hear from you,
I wish you all a great week,
enjoy life,


Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Face Your Fears

All my life I have had a fear of heights. Every time I find myself at a high altitude looking down, my heart starts pumping twice its usual rate and I feel uneasy, out of my comfort zone.The irony of all this is I fly for a living.

Since life coaching involves working on goals, one of mine was certainly to overcome this fear, I had to move on. After reading and doing some research I found out this trigger for heights had to come from somewhere.

I thought about it for a while and then I remembered. When I was a kid, probably around the age between 8-10, I climbed a big tree with my friend. Thinking I was as agile as a monkey in his natural surroundings I swung from branch to branch just like my friend did. I was loving this, until to my disappointment a branch gave in and suddenly I was on my way to hell. Thankfully another two branches slowed my impact on ground zero. This event led to a visit to hospital and I still remember vividly the pain I had at the time.

So here it was, everything that happens in your childhood could create triggers and I found mine. Something had to be done.

Only a week ago, my maltese friend Clint, swapped his flight on mine. We were heading to Houston Texas. Amazing.

We had made a few plans for the forty eight hour lay over. The choice was either Nasa, WWF, NBA, Baseball... Then another friend of mine Adrian Grech recommended we go to Six Flags, In Fiesta, San Antonio, three hours from Houston.

Six Flags is notorious around the world as having the best roller costers in the world. What a great opportunity to LET GO of my fear. What a great opportunity to FEEL FREE again.

I felt ready for the new challenge that lay ahead. In my head I had already beaten this obstacle, then I came face to face with reality. Sometimes we focus on the end result and then when we are facing our obstacles, Mr I cannot do it appears. In our minds, he goes "Chicken you cannot do it, impossible, you hate heights, who are you kidding"....

I looked at my friend courageously and put on a brave face and waited for my turn !!! Suddenly I found myself strapped in, No Way out !! Here I was, someone afraid of heights, going on a insane roller coster. I turned to my friend, and panic erupted "Mate cant do it, cant do it".

On top of the edge, the roller coster let free and before I knew it I was turning upside down, round and around....

The feeling was no pleasant, I was so scared instead of crying I laughed so much, I created instant wrinkles.

I taught the first ride was the last one and I would create a great excuse not to continue. Something inside me was saying "Go on brother, it ain't so bad, you CAN DO IT..."

I went on the second, same feeling.. An uncomfortable one.

This is not working at all.....

However something different happened on the third one, I felt confident, truly, deep inside I was enjoying the battle within myself.

Clint could not believe how my focus changed the third time running. I was now showing off, I put both my hands in the air. This symbolic gesture meant freedom in my eyes. In my head I was saying to Mr I cannot "Eat my dust", "Kiss my backside"..

After Superman and Goliath (trust me) my fear was over.

We all have our little battles and Fears to conquer. Some seem meaningless in other peoples eyes. Of course, they do not understand how hard it is on us.

They feel confident - We do not
They can do it - We cannot

And the list goes on and on

Do not be fooled, everyone has that INNER STRENGTH, we all have it, we need to GET IT OUT and USE IT.

You have the strength !!
You have the power!!
Do not fear!!
GO FOR IT.

Sometimes we read on newspapers about regular people who put themselves in dangerous situations to help others.
Usually when they talk about their experience they tell us " Something came over me, I had this inner strength"

I can tell you, when the chance came to overturn my own obstacle I was weary. When I was actually just about to drop into the unknown I had butterflies. When I conquered my fear, I FELT LIKE A KING. It was not bad after all. I actually did not want to stop.

If their is something you need to really do and you know it, just do it, try it. The worst case scenario you will find yourself back at square one. The best scenario you will discover your true potential. I am not telling you to jump out of a plane to seek the adrenaline rush. All I ask is that you TRY.

No Pain, No Gain.

I loved writing this message, I hope you got inspired to kiss your fears goodbye. Be courageous, Go FOR IT!!

If you have any feedback or suggestions I would love to hear from you, I am only a message away.
Keep Smiling and best of all enjoy life,


Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

De-Clutter Your Life

Our home is our castle. Our home is an extension of our own character. The state we keep our own living area reflects on our personalities.

Some people are so organized they label their boxes, color code their clothes and place everything symmetrically. What could this tell you of someone's character ?

Probably they are the type to get to work on time. Make plans and like to stick to them. Keep track of their accounts. These people I call the PERFECTIONISTS.

The good thing about them is that they like to do everything properly. They like a job well done.

The downfall is that some of them do not take feedback well, they know it all.

Then their are those who I call the SOMETIMES people. They like to keep their places clean. Sometimes they feel the need to have a break. Their place can become a mess, but thats ok, cause once the dishes are looking like the tower of pisa, they will take their time to do them.

These people like listening to other people. They get excited about new challenges or goals.

The downfall is, a job done, could be a job half done. They need constant pushing to achieve results.

Then their are the WHATEVER people. Whatever happens will not make a difference. As long as we breathe fresh air that's fine. They are at peace with themselves. Never break a sweat.

The downfall is, life just passes by them, and before they know it, they are far away from their dreams.

We all pretty much fit into one of these three types or share some common elements with each one. Each one of us however is different. We are all original. We all have our own traits. We need to find the elements that will make us stronger and work on them.

One thing we could all benefit from is to De-clutter our lives. When I say this I mean, let go of the useless, keep the needy and make space for the new.

Whenever I get the chance to sit and watch TV, the programs that interest me are those makeover shows, that either change the image or mindset of an individual or those programs that change the living environment or habitat of someone.

Some of these transformations are just incredible.

Since at least one fourth of your time is spent in your own castle, you should consider organizing it, so it's fit for a king or queen (Thats You).

As the years pass by we accumulate so many things. We keep anything and everything. When this question pops up "Should I keep it ? We tell ourselves "Yes of course, maybe my children will want it in the future.....

We find it hard to let go.

What is the best solution ?

I believe less is more.

Why ?

Suddenly everything you have will have more meaning.

Have you ever asked yourself this question ?

If my house was on fire and only three things would be saved, what would they be ?

I would'nt go and grab the skateboard I rode when I was a kid...

No !!! I'd take something that would have that special meaning. Something dear to me.

for my past, I would take - My photos
for the present, I would take - My computer
for the future, I would take - My synthesizer( for music production).

When your place is clutter free, you will be able to relax and de-stress yourselves from a days work. You will be able to smile and laugh. You will be able to unwind.

If your castle is not fit for you, take a full day off and dedicate this day to your personal living environment. Have fun. Get dirty. Let loose. Play some good music. Have a drink.

At the end of the day you will feel a whole lot better. You will be smiling.

Take the time and ask yourself, if I could take more things with me when the castle is burning, what would I take and why would I take it?

If you are honest with yourself, your home will be void of unneeded stuff. and would look Clutter free.

BE CREATIVE - BRING FUN INTO THE GAME

Heck you could even organize a garage sale or join a car boot sale.

This could be a fun day out too. Go with your partner or invite a friend. Make some sandwiches and drinks. Become a good salesman. Meet new people. Have a laugh.

Once the day is over :

a) You could use the money to buy something that has been on your wants list

b) donate the money to your favorite charity

The point of this message is to let go of unneeded baggage, keep what is close to you and look forward to what the future will bring.

If you feel you are already in this living state, yet for some reason, your home is not in tune with yourselves. I suggest you read a book about Feng Shui. This will give you an understanding of energies and a deeper understanding of the main elements.

De-Clutter your lives, let your energies be stronger and smoother.

Enjoy living in your personal space. This is very important. If you are not happy at home, do something about it. Home is where you live. Home is the one place you need to feel good in.

Light some candles, burn some incense, play some music, feel the energy, feed your castle with love.

Life will have a whole new meaning. That's a promise.

I hope you got INSPIREd to take that challenge and de-clutter your lives. If you have any topics you would like to discuss or any feedback or suggestions, please feel free to message me.

On this positive note. I would like to thank you all for the strong support and feedback you have been giving me. I love to write. I love to share whatever I learn or discover. Life is absolutely great. Every day just gets better and better.

Keep Well
Always
Claude Camilleri
 
Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Take a Risk

Most of us live in our comfort zone. We do the same things, day in and day out. We get a paycheck every month. Every month we pay our bills. We also end up having the same amount of money to spend each month. This life I call the safe Haven.

The Safe Haven is were people stay in a protected field. They would love to try going out of it sometimes, but outside is out of bounds. Out side is the "But what will happen if" side... These people never risk. Risk is not in their vocabulary. The great side is well, everything will always be the same. The low side is, well everything will be the same.

Then there are the TRY IT ONCE people. They are like the SAFE HAVEN people, yet once in a while, they follow their intuition and step out of their comfort zone. The great side of these people is if they are outside their comfort zone they might get lucky, they might hit the jackpot and suddenly their life would be surreal . The low side is if they go out of their comfort zone and what they try does not work the first time,they give up the fight, they become SAFE HAVEN PEOPLE. They knew deep inside and all along it would not work. Of course it never works. It never works for me. I will never try it again.

Then there are the SO BLOODY WHAT people. They could bet their mama's knickers that what they do is going to work. The great side of them is, they keep trying and trying. The low side is, they are going to fail sometimes, but so what.

Many of us look up to them. Oh I wish I could be like them. They have it all. Why are we different....

We all pretty much share some of these elements. I have lived all three. I get paid every month by the company I work for. Same bills every month. I know how much I make. I feel safe. I have tried things once and taught. It never works for me. Why ? Does success always happen to others.... I have also been on the lets risk it all and just have some faith...

I believe to get a life worth living for, you should be shuffling between the three. Sometimes you have to risk a lot. WIth that risk can come stability and peace of mind. Then once everything becomes comfortable again, maybe you can try or risk again to get at an even better place. Worst case you go back to the start. So WHAT.....

...................................................................................................

A risk in my eyes means, doing something without knowing the consequence or final result. Of course with such a definition, why would you take a risk?

Calculated risks ?

Ok, so your life has been the same for the last five years. Actually at the pace you are going, I can predict it will continue to be the same for another ten. I love my job. I love my house. I wish I had more time to travel ? So what if I took an equity fund from my house and buy those shares my cousin is talking about. A new CEO is going to take over and there are plans for expansion. Should I buy some shares in the company? It is a calculated risk. Yes, I am going to do it. If I do so I could make some money and finally do the traveling I have always wanted to do.

Faith risks ?

I have been living in the same country for 10 years now. Same old thing, same old place. TO be honest it is getting a bit boring. WHat would happen if I packed my bags and left tomorrow. How great it would be to live in Paris. Oh Paris, so romantic. What if I decided I want to live there. Should I try it ? Should I ?

Have some faith in yourself, have some faith in life. Everything happens for a reason and everything will work out. You just need to have faith.

Risk it all ?

I am ready to risk it all. I have faith in myself. I know I can do it. I know it will happen. I will quit my job tomorrow. I will then look for an investor to invest in my project. I will succeed, there is no option. I can. I will.

Life is full of surprises. Thats the way it should be. Sometimes we have to try a little if we want to be surprised. Sometimes we have to risk a little in order to better our lives. Sometimes we have to risk a lot to change the way we live today. You have the power to take decisions. Remember a decision taken is better than no decision at all. Do not be afraid of trying. Do not be afraid of taking a small risk.

If you have had something on your mind for some time. Your gut intuition tells you, I should, I should. Then do it. It is a risk of course. But what if it works. Then what ;)
If it does not work, fantastic. This means I will try another strategy next time.

Do not go gamble everything you have worked for at the casino. That is no risk. That would be insane. However if you have that feeling deep inside, follow it, follow your heart.

Take a risk, take a calculated risk, don't look back, look forward and believe...

I hope you got INSPIREd to have some faith. If you would like to discuss any topic, or have any feedback or suggestions, please feel free to message me.
Till then.

Keep WELL
Have A FANTASTIC weekend
and keep smiling ;)
Claude Camilleri


Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

The Present

About two years ago I read this easy to read book called "The Present". The book talked about the three phases of life, the past, the present and the future. It explained each area with easy examples. I liked this book very much, because in all its simplicity, it struck a chord deep in my soul.

This is some of my shared and own thoughts of the subject.

The Past

We all have a past. We all have memories. Some are great. Some not as good. The past has passed. We can remember it. We can think about it. We can learn from it. The past is not the present. The past is not the future.

Some of us can look back at the past and use our memories to overcome todays challenges. This we call experience.

Some of us tend to live in the past.
"Oh life was so great when we used to live here", "I always had money", "I was fit and healthy", "I ran five k's every day".

Over the years, I have noticed that quite a few of us live in the past. Let me tell you "The PAST has PASSED, MOVE ON". I know you did so great. You can talk about the past and tell me all your successes, your achievements, I know how great you were. But what about today !! What about tomorrow !!

The Present

Guess why "The present" is called the present. Well it really means "The gift of life", "the Now", not "the Yesterday". I think they should have called the present, "THE GIFT", why, because if you use this beautiful gift called life, the present will be ever so present.

Live in the Now, live in Today. Take small actions every day to make your present fruitful and fulfilling.

Today should be the best day of your life. Today you are here. Today you have the energy to move mountains. This is your present. This is your gift. Enjoy your gift. You have this gift every moment of your life.

When you open a gift how do you feel ? Excited, Curious, Happy. Life should be like this.

The Future

As we focus on the now. Take some time to focus on the future. Build your castle brick by brick. Like the turtle who moves slowly, you will get to the finish line, you will build your castle.

The future can be great. The future is the present tomorrow.

I was watching the cartoon animation Kung-fu Panda when at one stage, a quote was mentioned "Thats why the present is called the present (because it is a gift)". As soon as I heard that quote, it triggered me to rethink about what I had read. I had to share it with you.

The Past, The Present and The Future are all very important. Make the Present become worthy for a good past. Make the Present become worthy of a good future. Remind yourself, Life is what you make it, so make it happen.

This is my present to you
Keep Well
Claude Camilleri


Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com

Friends are For Life

During our life we meet many interesting people. We find we can connect to some more than others. We share the same values, morales and ethics. We have lots of things in common. These people become a big part of our lives. These people become our close confidants. We call these people our friends.

Friends are a very important balance in our personal lives. We have to spend time with our friends not because we have too, but because we should do.

Some of us get into a relationship and suddenly forget about our friends. Why ? Is it for fear of our partners. If this is the reason then, you need to find a better balance with your partner.

Rochelle and I make it a point to meet our friends regularly. This keeps our life well balanced. I love being in the company of my wife, of course, I married her ;) , however sometimes I just want to hang around my buddies, have a beer and talk about music.

Dedicate one night during the week to meet up with your friends and tell your partner to do the same. The guys can go play football, release some energy and the ladies can meet up and indulge in multiple delights, such as their favorites chocolates and wine (Saw that on TV).

Make the event a fun one. It should be. They are your best friends.

As we evolve in our lives, some of us can change our friends, not because we lose out, No !! Because of our circumstances. Some of us go to live overseas. Some of us change schools. Some of us change jobs. Some of us work completely different hours.

Like many of you I am sure, I feel blessed to have met many amazing friends along life's wonderful journey. I am even Godfather to one of my best friends daughter.

As time passes by, and because I have lived in three different continents I sometimes take a day during the month and dedicate it to my friends. I make sure I write an e mail or give my friends a call. This always excites me. I love my friends very much. Now some of us males find it hard to express their feelings. I think it is a whole load of nonsense. I tell all my friends I love them and that feels great.

Sometimes we need to remind our friends how fortunate we are to have them. We do not have to go all Lovey dovey with them. Instead you can invite them over to your place for a nice meal. Buy them a small present. Something with meaning. Thank them for being around, in the good times and the bad.

So here it is all short and sweet. If you have some good friends who you have not talked to in ages. Pick up the phone and give them a ring. If you have a night off. Make it a point to invite your friends over for a fun night in. Make a themed night, be creative. If you never get to see your friends. Create one day during the week to meet up.

I know for a fact your relationships will improve. Your life will be well balanced.
I hope you enjoyed this message and have got INSPIREd to initiate a friends night, if you have any feedback, comments or suggestions I would be very happy to hear from you.

Keep Your Friendship alive,
All the best
As Always
Claude Camilleri
Written by Claude Camilleri,
Master NLP Practitioner, Malta
founder of Successlodge
www.successlodge.com