I believe that there is something about the energy of this year - if only because of all the hype about it - that is making life all the more interesting. And with this I don't mean it's all roses - I've myself climbed more than one mountain already this year and I have been helping friends who have as well.

This seems to be the pattern... you start from zero or from very low; you work yourself up to a state, by practising some new habit or learning more about yourself or challenging the way you think; you seem to gain momentum; you find yourself in a new platform where everything seems to be going fine, like you've finally achieved some sort of stability from which to move on... and the next day you find yourself landing flat on your face, wondering where all that progress and momentum went.

I have certainly experienced it being this way myself, to the point of doubting that I can actually share anything of value here. Then I realize that what's going on is that the eternal cycle of death and rebirth is showing up more acutely than ever... and so it's all the more important to not get hung up on anything. To live loose, to live with as much flexibility as one can - that seems to be a key factor to be able to ride all kind of waves.

And in this way I find it important to keep on releasing stuff - energy stuck, thoughts, things... see more about releasing in the thought of the month. I find that the lighter we are, in all senses, the easier it is to be flexible.

Oh, a little side note: if you find yourself landing flat on your face more times than you would want, don't worry about it. The point is not that you don't fall; the point is that you get up again eventually. Be assured that you're learning - a lot - in your journey.

And talking about release, I'm busy preparing an ebook that I will launch, if all goes well, on my birthday: 8th June :) It will be a lighthearted ebook, with inspiring writing, pictures, and drawings, which I want to make the first of a series, each of the ebooks containing 33 pieces of writing. I plan to make this ebook very affordable, and on top there will be a discount for you as a reader of my newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox, I will tell you a bit more about this ebook as my birthday approaches ;)

I wish you enjoy this issue of 'Dare To Play It Big' - and that you keep on making the best of life, wherever you are, whatever the weather ;)

You may remember that in the last issue of this newsletter I spoke about Novelty and told you about a few ways in which I've been bringing novelty into my life.

There's also a very important element that goes together with novelty, which is Release. I'd think that Release (of the old) would come before Novelty, but in my case, lately, it looks like it has been all the way around.

See, in the past month I've found myself enjoying the energy of release. I've been feeling an urge for releasing all kinds of things: from thoughts to clothes to books to old spices (seriously, I can't believe that I had nutmeg which had expired a couple of years ago...).

You'd have probably noticed how 'fresh' and 'new' you feel after you do one of those big-wardrobe-clearouts or drawer-cleanouts and you get rid of old clothes and stacks of papers. So just imagine wanting to feel that same feeling, almost constantly.

"Mad", you may think. Actually no, actually it's much easier than you may imagine - and it's the nutshell of what I want to share this month with you. You can actually use your body as a mechanism for release. And it feels very good.

If you've never experienced releasing energy from your body you may need to practice a bit before you get the hang of it. If you've done yoga or tai-chi you may well already know what I'm talking about.

So here it goes, this is what you do to release stuck energy from your body:

1. Standing, sitting or laying down, adopt a comfortable position. I find laying down the easiest because all muscles that you use to keep upright can relax.

2. Bring your attention to your body, as if you were feeling it 'from the inside'. Notice if there's any part of your body that feels stuck or 'wanting to receive attention' - for instance, your chest, your neck, one of your knees...

3. Focus your attention on that particular part of your body, as if bringing curiosity to what's going on there. You may keep an intention of encouraging release, or you may even say, mentally or aloud, a word like "release" or "open" or "clarity" or any other that feels appropriate to you.

4. After some time you will feel some sort of 'inside movement' in that particular part of your body. That is the energy which was stuck, now being released.

I get to think that as we untangle and release stuck energy in our bodies so our stuck patterns of thought give way to a more flexible and adaptable manner of looking at life. Double bonus! :)

Try it - see how releasing energy from your body works for you. You may just find that you're able to navigate your day feeling much more relaxed and much more in control of your thoughts. Here's for a relaxed-out month for you!

Every month I receive emails from readers - some of them contain questions or comments, and some of them are contributions, such as a positive story, an article or a tip.

This month Sandy, from Ontario, Canada, shared this piece of gratitude:

Thanks, Sandy! :-)

This month I'm bringing to you two different videos that will touch you and will enlighten you...

The first one is a very touching video - it's the footage of the reaction of a man in a nursing home when he hears music from his era... A friend passed it on to me just a few days ago, and it's so moving that I had to share it with you: Man lights up with music.

The second one is a very interesting documentary which explores the connection between mind and body, and how our thoughts have a great deal to do with the illnesses we experience. It also shows how we can create the life that we want to experience through our thoughts: "Pill or Perception?"

I wish you enjoy them both!

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... jacket potatoes. I only discovered jacket potatoes when I came to live in the UK. See, in Spain we don't quite do jacket potatoes like they do them here, so it was such a whole new thing for me: a baked, enormous potato, with butter, salt, pepper, beans and melted cheese all over... delicious! At present I've swapped the dairy ingredients for vegan-friendly ones - but still - I love a jacket potato! :)

Thankful for... my bed. I love it when a good day finishes and after having experienced the joy of being alive in many ways I get to land myself on my comfortable bed... I'm thankful that it transforms me overnight and brings me all fresh on to a new day, again full of possibilities.

What are you thankful for? Share your gratitude on this page and read what others are thankful for!

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

P.S. Feeling stressed and worried because of problems at work? Then check my handbook "From Conflict To Calm" - based on my own experience with conflict with my boss, my handbook gives you the keys to move from a powerless situation to one of peace.

P.S.S. Tired of procrastinating? Wish you got more out of your own life but you don't know how? In my handbook "Power Over Procrastination" you will find the exact plan, techniques and tools I use to get things done easily - leaving procrastination behind altogether!