Spring is coming to London, slowly but surely, and the sun, the light, the longer days, the life sprouting, it all gives a certain glow to life. You may have found it easier to get up and get going when the sun is out - not surprisingly, it has been scientifically proved that the light of the sun creates a number of chemical reactions in our bodies which contribute to make us feel good. I'm all ready for spring - bring on the beautiful sunny days!

I've also been preparing the balcony for the good weather: I want it full of gorgeous plants by the summer, because it's a pleasure to sit in the balcony surrounded by the sweet smell of flowers and the beauty of many different plants. Thus I have started making seeds sprout in the way I did when I was a kid: by placing them on damp cotton in a warm and humid environment. Once the little root is out, it's much easier to have the plant grow in soil.

As a result, my desk and adjacent sets of draws are covered by little pots and plastic containers with seeds... I love having all this life around me, knowing it's continuously growing. Check the pictures I took of a sweet pea plant over the period of ten days - I have placed the pics in order throughout the newsletter for your enjoyment.

On the geek side of life, I'm on Twitter! I've discovered how nice it is to get in touch in real time with people who are into positive thinking and into creating a better reality for all of us, raising our consciousness and sharing the experience of beautiful lives.

I use Twitter to share links to interesting stuff which goes beyond the scope of the web site - for instance, an online interactive meditation labyrinth, or short articles on positive attitude - as well as to give updates on the latest things I've added on to the web site. Feel like having access to all those links? Add me on Twitter! Find me as TBOPT.

I wish you're also enjoying a good weather and are (at least on the North side of Earth) getting ready for Spring!

Thanks to new research using a technique called CymaScope, scientists can now see what the language of dolphins looks like. The CymaScope captures actual sound vibrations from the dolphins imprinted in the water, and creates a "picture" of the dolphin sounds. This is quite interesting as for the first time we can deepen into the communication system of one of the most intelligent animals on Earth.

Read the full news at SpeakDolphin.com. You can even listen to a sample of dolphins voices - click the link on the left hand-side navigation bar on their web site.

Positive thinking is a strategy to navigate our way in life, to help us arrive at our true selves in the easiest, perhaps most pleasant manner. However, there is something else that comes before thinking, and that is being.

Being can be defined as the stillness that exists within each of us, and which is sometimes obscured by the noise of mental activity. Being happens when you are fully immersed in the present moment.

Being gives way to our internal compass. You could call it our intuition, our internal guide, the "little voice inside" for some. This voice is the one that "tells" us, in any given situation, what the most appropriate action is for the best development of the situation, even over personal preferences. Sometimes it is more like a feeling of what is the smartest thing to do.

For instance, a situation I have experienced: it's late in the night and I've got the choice of replying to a few more emails (or chatting over Skype or Twittering or whatever) or go to sleep. My internal voice may tell me that it is best to go to sleep, for the sake of good health and many other reasons.

In this example, I may choose to ignore that voice and stay up working at my computer - and of course, whatever I choose to do will have different consequences. My point is that it is up to us to listen to that voice. So why would we choose to follow its guidance?

I believe that when we listen to our internal compass our lives seem to get a bit better. In a straight-forward way, following the example I've given you, if I choose to go to sleep I may find myself with more energy the next morning. In a more complex scenario, if I listen to the internal voice that tells me to let go of a relationship, I may find that I make space for my own development or for a more suitable relationship.

A couple of things happen about this internal voice of ours. The first one is that sometimes this voice tells us something our ego doesn't agree with - and so we choose to go with the ego. The voice may tell you to let go of the relationship, but your ego clings on to it as if your life depended on it.

The second thing that happens is, I believe, that we fear our own greatness. Because if we were following our internal compass more often, we would find ourselves with better health, better relationships, better opportunities, more money, perhaps even a better job. We would really be very powerful and great. Can we handle that? Do we deserve it? Is there a catch to it, is there any sacrifice we need to do in another front?

No, there is no catch; yes, we more than deserve it; yes, we can handle it. I'm not interested that much in what it is that holds us back from embracing our greatness, rather than on actually stepping forward and embracing it. It's a matter of following our internal compass to the point that life actually becomes easy, really easy - no more having to arrive with our minds at a conclusion about what to do, our guidance simply tells us.

My suggestion to you for this coming weeks is that you listen to (and follow) your inner compass more often. You may start observing how you find more peace, more happiness, more satisfaction, and an increasingly easier way to live life. Feel free to let me know how you are doing through the contact me form, I'd love to hear of your successes!

"Infinite Possibilities: The Art of Living Your Dreams" is an all-round manual to create the life we want. I had purchased this set of 12 recordings a while ago, but it wasn't until the last few weeks that I listened to all of them - and took notes, all to say, because they are full of great advice.

Through his engaging speech Mike Dooley takes us step by step through all the elements in place to start creating the life we want, from the key "Thoughts Become Things" to our beliefs, our negative emotions, using affirmations, or using our intuition. There is also plenty of practical advice regarding relationships, wealth, health, how to deal with stress, or what to do when our life "isn't working".

Besides, there are true gems in these recordings. I'm in love with recording number 6, "Magical Universe", for it's truly inspirational and motivating. You cannot listen to just twenty minutes of it and not feel terribly inspired to get on to creating the life you want to experience.

I wrote a full review of "Infinite Possibilities" in which I tell you much more about what this set of recordings contains. Check it out - there are few programs out there as good as "Infinite Possibilities".

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... books. I love books. I used to read a lot of fiction when I was a kid, but I now read books from which I learn about anything new or get practical information. I love the feeling of sitting on a comfortable couch (my Buddha Bag is my favourite) with a tea or a coffee and a good book - it makes for a cozy afternoon on a rainy day.

Thankful for... grapefruits. Would you believe, I have never been too keen on eating fruit, but for the last two months or so I have started eating fruit first thing in the morning. And I've discovered that I love having a juicy red grapefruit - I love the ritual of taking the flesh out on a plate, the having time for it, and then sitting in the balcony to eat it. Not only it's delicious, but also I have noticed my skin looking smoother and healthier than ever before. Here's my thankfulness for grapefruits.

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