Since the last newsletter on December 17, I went to my family in Spain for Christmas - and that feels ages ago already! Now immersed in middle January, we are all looking ahead, full of energy for this new year.

I've been participating in a "game" called Focus Pocus, together with other seven people from different corners of the world, since January 2. This "game" consists on each of us choosing a goal we want to achieve, and working towards it for 30 days, reporting on our progress daily on a blog and giving encouragement to the other participants on their goals. The target is "to make fabulous progress" - and believe you me, we are all making it!

What is amazing as well is the synergy that has come through the group: the advice that someone gives to an individual comes handy for someone else; knowledge is shared and resources exchanged. And love and lightheartedness are part of the whole scene. Wonderful!

The facilitator of all this is my friend Susan Minarik, an inspired soul, a writer, a helper in goal achievement, and many more things. Susan publishes a newsletter, "The Magical Mirror Machine", that is a pleasure to read, full of insights and practical advice to take you where you want to be. Check out the latest January edition of "The Magical Mirror Machine".

For an amazing year to you!

This month I'm bringing you an article rather than a piece of news as such. I found this article while browsing and wanted to share it with you.

Having hope, having goals and being happy are connected elements of our lives. Doug Turner explains this relationship and how positive psychology helps in achieving a positive outlook on life.

Read the full article at Positive Psychology.

A few days ago I found myself into a situation, feeling sad and angry, and realizing my feelings. I tried a few ways to get myself out of those feelings and into a more positive emotion, without success.

My friend Susan reminded me then of the great word "acceptance", which I like to practice but forgot to bring to the table at that moment. Acceptance of the situation, but specially acceptance of my own feelings of sadness.

Lesley Garner, in "Everything I've ever done that worked", proposes a fantastic technique to practice acceptance: it is called the "Fleeting Feelings" technique, and consists in telling yourself "Feelings of sadness are passing through me", "Feelings of isolation are passing through me".

By acknowledging and accepting our feelings, we naturally move up a level. We are then in no hurry to change our present situation, but accept that it will change when it has to.

Acceptance itself may be difficult to practice at times, for it involves overriding the ego. And the ego may stand up and say, "Hey, what about me?". You see, the thing is that you don't have to sort or understand every situation you are in; you can, if you like, but you don't have to.

So when you accept what you feel you accept the situation as well, and let go of the need to sort out or understand. There is huge relief in that.

In one way or another, I guess we are all trying to live our lives with calm, peace and happiness. As my friend reminded me, we don't need to feel good all the time either; we can just be who you are, with our negative emotions, still accepting ourselves completely. And it's Ok.

It's an all win situation: pat on the back for keeping a positive attitude, pat on the back for accepting our feelings, pat on the back for just being. :-)

The so called Alexander Technique is in fact a form of self-awareness of our bodies, that helps correct posture and back problems, among other body misalignments.

Although the best way to go about it is to take a course on it, where a skilled tutor shows you in which ways you are forcing your body into a posture, you can also get a book that includes practical exercises.

What is more interesting, I've found, is that by learning to move your body more naturally, the sense of grounding and awareness expands to the mind, helping us find more grounding and awareness in other areas of our lives.

Learn more about the Alexander Technique here.

I believe that being grateful for something is one of the most powerful tools to feel better immediately. Here are the two thanking bits of the month:

Thankful for... my little family at Focus Pocus. These seven people give me encouragement, handy advice and care with their words every day. Even if I've never heard their voices or seen them, they are loving human beings commited to grow and help others grow. Bravo!

Thankful for... all that life brings me: good or bad, and all the range in between. I grow through it all and I am a fuller person, better able to deal with the next thing.

What are you thankful for? Send me an email trough the Contact Me form and let me know!

Care to send me your thoughts about this issue's topics? Email me and let me know!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please pass it along to your friends, family and colleagues, or send them to the Dare To Play It Big sign up page. I thank you in advance.

Stay well,

Cristina