March finds me in Seville, visiting my family for ten days. Relaxing days - full of sun, family visits, quiet and peace, and at the same time plenty of time to get some of my things done - such as writing this newsletter, an ebook, and a page offering my consultation services :-)

March 2010 is proving to be the month of changes. Me, my husband and our flatmate are moving! We're leaving our cozy flat in central London because the landlord needs to make some renovations. We've decided to move the three of us together - since by now we really are like a small family.

Serendipity working full time, we have found another house to move in through a friend of my husband - it's a bit on the outside of London, but it is an actual house with plenty of space and even a small garden. Well guess where I'm going to be spending most of summer :-)

I am loving that the more I trust in life, the more things happen smoothly and life delivers everything I need. I am putting my full trust in Life for a couple more projects I've got going - I'm looking forward to telling you about them shortly :-)

I only learned about the Fairtrade Fortnight in Britain (22 February to 7 March) after it had already happened, but nevertheless I find it a great initiative that we can all put in practice anytime.

The Fairtrade Fortnight consisted in people like you and me swapping a product they normally use for its equivalent fairtrade. You got people swapping bananas, tea bags, and even cotton socks for fairtrade bananas, fairtrade tea bags, and fairtrade cotton socks.

More than one million swaps have been made in that fortnight. And I say, let's all do that anytime.

Follow this link to learn more about the Fairtrade Fortnight.

The only constant in life is change. That is how life flows and evolves - change is necessary for life to continue.

Most of us do not want stagnation, and like novelty - but we have a hard time actually accepting and dealing with changes. Why is it that most of us resist change so much?

At the base of resisting change is fear - fear of the unknown, and fear of losing an apparent security and stability.

One of the most useful skills I have found in life is to accept and welcome changes - this is extremely beneficial to let go of stress and worry about what changes bring. As with everything, welcoming changes gets easier and easier the more we practice it.

Is all change good?

I get the feeling that we could all deal with change much more easily if we were fully assured that all change is for good. But is it?

I am myself at a stage full of changes and I am having a blast going through them - which is easy, since it involves new and exciting things like living in a larger space or putting forward my consultation services, which means expanding myself.

I have observed other people going through unexpected and normally labelled "difficult" changes, such as being fired, and yet making the most out of it: for instance, my friend Deb Schanilec, who is an authentic example of blissmongering - check the Positive Recommendation of the month, where I talk a bit more about her and her most recent ebook.

However, you could reasonably tell me that some changes are definitely for worst. For instance...

I have a friend who was diagnosed with a terminal illness two years ago. This illness has visible symptoms, which is the most difficult thing for my friend to deal with since he looks different.

Had you asked him if he agrees that all change is for good when he was diagnosed with his illness, he would have asked you if you were crazy - he was basically told he would die sooner than he had ever thought!

Something interesting has happened with my friend, though. These past two years have been very tough for him. He has had to slow down, make peace with and accept his illness, and change his lifestyle dramatically.

Throughout these changes, and for the first time in his life, he has taken the time to care for himself and to do things that he likes doing. His outlook on life has changed quite a lot. His attitude is a lot more positive than I have ever seen.

I spoke to him the other day. He literally told me, "You know, I would not wish my illness to my worst enemy, but it is only thanks to what I've gone through that I have really started to discover what it means to be alive. So maybe I actually have to be thankful that I have this illness."

My take... even when we think that changes are bad, they may bring unexpected surprises.

I just would like to leave you with the thought that changes happen whether we want them or not. Resisting them is futile. Embracing them, however, opens new doors and allows for possibilities. What changes could you start accepting and embracing today?

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 Charlotte shared this piece of gratitude and this lovely picture:

There are so many reasons...

I know that there is a higher power and I strive to know him/her. I am alive. I am in excellent health, I have a fiancee who loves me openly and unconditionally.

I have a family, friends, and my job... I have a roof over my head, food in my belly every day... I am able to pay my bills.

I had a decent education, I have survived the many trials and tribulations in my life and learned many lessons from it...

I have had and continue to have opportunities to change my circumstances, to make new, different or better choices in my life.

I live in a nation that allows me freedom to pursue my dreams... I am capable of giving, receiving and living love... and I am thankful that I am aware of the importance of being thankful!

You can read this gratitude piece on its page at "Thankful for being thankful!"

Thanks, Charlotte! :-)

Do you feel stuck with old negative patterns of thought? Do you see yourself reacting in the same old way to things that trigger a negative response in you?

Then Deb Schanilec's "Resistance Toys: Clever Distractions Designed to Change Your Mind One Neuropathway at a Time" may just be the perfect ebook for you to help you make a change of direction.

I have had the pleasure to review "Resistance Toys" for you. This special ebook offers a completely different approach to dealing with negative patterns of thought - it's fun, creative, and unique!

Besides, you now have the chance to win a copy of Deb's attractive ebook through the "Resistance Toys" contest. This contest is open until Sunday 21st March 2010, and all you have to do to enter is submit your best answer to the question "What outmoded beliefs could you begin to retire from your repertoire if you knew how?"

Follow this link to enter the contest - you will find a form to do so at the bottom of the page.

We're looking forward to your entry - good luck! :-)

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... being alive! You know, we spend so much time fuzzing over this and that, things that go well and things that don't... when the actual marvel is just being alive.

I highly recommend you listen to a very cool music meditation on the power of being alive: make your way to DubSpirit and choose the song "SuperJoyMeditation" in the right-hand box (you will need to scroll down once in the box to find the meditation song) - a music meditation by Barefoot Doctor.

Thankful for... books. I love the hours of fun, adventure, learning and discovery that books have given me. I also love the actual act of reading - sitting cozily on a comfy sofa with a hot tea and an interesting book, or lying in the sun with an inspiring novel... I am book-thankful!

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

Thank you for reading this issue of Dare To Play It Big, the free positive thinking newsletter of The Benefits Of Positive Thinking.

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