Andjustimagine

Wishing you comfort, joy & hope this holiday season🌲

Coaching | &JustImagine &Justimagine certified life changing coaching

Have you ever heard of the Japanese art form, kintsugi?

It’s the art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas with a mixture of lacquer and gold, silver, or platinum.

As a philosophy, kintsugi treats both the breakage, and the repair, as part of the history of the object. And the precious highlights serve to increase the value, not decrease it.

In the end, the "cracks" are highlighted and honored, instead of hidden away in shame.

I heard about this concept recently from a student, who wrote me a beautiful poem of gratitude, using kintsugi as the inspiration.

It’s such a powerful concept, particularly for us Moms who tend to hide our scars away from the world, instead of allowing them to be part of our history… part of what makes us who we are today.

I believe that every part of you is beautiful and deserves to be loved.

Especially those precious scars.

Find a pocket of joy in your day today. You deserve it.

Barbara Decker🙏

p.s. I found this lovely article for further reading, if you’re interested in exploring more: KINTSUGI AND THE ART OF REPAIR: life is what makes us

& Just Imagine🌹
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Events from a negative relationship can stay with a person for all their lives. Try to identify toxic people earlier, and understand that sometimes leaving a relationship is the right thing to do🌹

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How to Help Your Daughter Deal With a Mean Girl Friendship We want our daughters to be kind, but we also need to remember that we need to help them learn how to identify toxic relationships.

Life is a journey of personal growth🌹

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At some point in your life
You learn the difference
Between love and attachment
Promises and potential
And actions and words
And to allow a person’s behaviour over time to reveal who they truly are
Rather than their positive intentions.

At some point in your life
Rather than awaiting the approval, validation and acceptance of others
You learn to water your own garden
Uplift your own spirit
Nourish your own soul
And become your own best friend
Understanding that the power to feel good about yourself
Build a better life
And rewrite your story and destiny
Has existed within you all along.

At some point in your life
Rather than remaining trapped in a perpetual state of fear, self-doubt and insecurity
You learn to face the world boldly and confidently
With your head held high

And to view yourself
As the hero of your life
Master of your destiny
And creator of your reality
And to not give anyone else the permission to shape how you view yourself and your potential
Through taking full responsibility for yourself, your life and your actions.

At some point in your life
Slowly but surely
You learn to approach life
From a perspective of love
And not allow the mistakes, fears, insecurities and limitations of others
To colour and shape your vision
Of what is possible for your own life
Or prevent you from seeing the beauty that exists in the world.

And at some point in your life
You learn to recognise your worth
And say no to what doesn’t promote growth, health, happiness and healing
Or anything that holds you back and keeps you feeling down
In order to soar freely

So that you may embrace life
For the truly magical adventure it can be.

Words by Tahlia Hunter

Inspired by a poem by Jorges Luis Borges, edited and revised by Veronica Shoffstall

Artwork by the very talented Loui Jover

Is there always a solution to our problem?

Any situation can become a problem the way we deal with it.

People deal with situations differently. Either they look at their problem, talk about it all the time and think of every possible way it can get worse, they look for a way to resolve it or ignore it completely. The way you handle your life situations greatly influences your level of comfort in life. To feel comfortable in every situation, you need to have a problem-solving approach.

Don't get trapped by your problems. Think of every possible solution to your situation, and try each one out. As you try, you will come up with more ideas. Talk to family, friends and people who might have been in a similar situation. Be patient, keep your trust and try your best.

& Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

Be in the moment you are living. Sadness will only be momentary, but happiness will become long-lasting.

Most people are not entirely present in the moment they are living. They either regret their past or worry about the future. When you live with limited awareness and are not fully involved with the people around you, you miss out on many little moments of joy, people around you feel neglected, and you don’t feel enthusiastic about life.

Don’t carry the burden of past and future all the time. Learn from your past so that you improve, prepare for your future so that you deal with what comes your way but be in your now because this is the only moment that truly belongs to you.

& Just Imagine🌹
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with .bhawna.gautam

Never try to fit in the mold of another person’s expectations🌹

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In dysfunctional families “family is first” or “it’s just what you do for family” is often used to defect, deny, or to dismissive abuse behavior.

This (usually) isn’t intentional or malicious.

Though it can be very confusing when family is wrapped up in hurtful patterns where our needs are ignored. Or where our reality is denied. This can leave us questioning our own sanity. Or wondering why we feel so empty or lonely even when around family members.

Family is naturally “everything” when it’s a safe secure base.

When we can go off into the world, navigate it freely, and return that safe secure base as our authentic selves. When we are seen, heard, and understood. When we feel supported. When we don’t fear saying no. When we know we are valued for who we actually are, rather than a role we are expected to fill (ex: fixer, peacemaker, caretaker.)

When we are trusted to do what is best for us and our own unique situation rather than fitting into the mold of another person’s expectations

Live for the tiny things🌻

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#

I have come to realize that I can't figure out my life at once. I can't understand the hows and whys of life. There are going to be times when the heaviness of all these responsibilities, my job, my family, my friends, my 'what's next' is going to ruin me. Life is already so difficult and I can't always exhaust myself thinking about what's in the future when I can't even live today. There's no golden day or hour that will suddenly arrive and wash away all my fears. It's going to take time, there are no shortcuts when it comes to living. So, I have decided to live for the little things. I have decided to live for the tiny goals, the small dreams that I carry. I can live for my Mother's letters, and the books that I order online. I can live for Sundays when I make pancakes for myself and even if they aren't as fluffy, it's okay; I can try again next time and sometimes, it is almost perfect. I have decided to live for the coffee break with my colleagues and picnics on cloudy days when I paint. Sometimes, I live for the stray cat that I feed and the librarian who often gives me the best movie recommendations. I sit alone in the cafe and look at people walking by, hurrying for the bus or laughing together while eating from hawkers, or just carrying their kids and listening to them talk, and all that chaos puts me to ease. I find silence and happiness in the very existence of others and myself. When I live for these tiny things, I realize that I can live for the greater things, too. I try my best in what I can do now, and that's how I can be my most earnest, honest self. It's good to envision a bigger picture but it's necessary to live every single day, skipping no parts, so that you can live for the present, and not a future that is uncertain and far away. Life is pretty easier when you don't always jump from one point to the other: 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

— Rae Pathak, friday reminders.
Follow at Instagram.com/raepathak

Illustration by Sam Yang ()

If you get to know something personal about someone, do you keep it to yourself?

Preserving someone's dignity is a representation of your own values. People with integrity always keep other people's lives to themselves because they give every life equal importance as their own.

Sometimes, we get to know something about a person they may not have disclosed to anyone. Many people spread this information to others because it gives them news to talk about. They forget that by doing so, they may be lowering someone's self-esteem and making life harder for them. It can make them feel vulnerable and emotionally exposed and affect their well being.

Value every person's life story regardless of whether it's told or untold. By maintaining their self-esteem, you only add more to your own worth.

& Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

Are you unable to forgive yourself?

Taking responsibility for your mistakes is a great way to learn but when we start blaming ourselves, we create suffering for ourselves.

When this happens, we only focus on things that went wrong and our contribution that led to that mishap. The regret takes over our minds so much that we make it difficult for ourselves to move on.

Don't keep reminding yourself of the mistake that cannot be rectified. Things go wrong, mistakes happen and at times our judgement can be poor. Learn from your mistakes and aim to improve and allow yourself to move on.

& Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

Appreciate you🌹

& Just Imagine🌹
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There are times in life when one wonders, "what about me?"

There are times in life when one feels forgotten.

There are times in life when one sees others and their dreams happen and it feels like life is a battle.

There are times in life when one feels alone.

There are times in life when one needs a friend.

There are times in life when one is struggling.

There are times in life when one is tired of being strong.

There are times in life when one just needs a break.

There are times in life when one looks for the rainbow in the storm.

There are times in life when one feels nostalgia.

There are times in life when one needs to let go.

There are times in life when one needs hope.

There are times, my friend.

There are also times in life when one is happy.

There are also times in life when one is full of hope.

There are also times in life when one is optimistic.

There are also times in life when one simply feels peace.

There are also times in life when one has an opportunity.

There are also times in life when one feels love.

Remember, there are times of both.

But, sweet friend, if you are in one of the first times, friend you are seen. You are important. You are worthy.

Thank you for your strength.
Thank you for your courage.

You are seen.

I appreciate you.

~Rachel
.

To all moms & dads (that cover the role as a mom too) Thank you & Happy Mother’s Day🌹

& Just Imagine🌹
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Do not let anyone desensitize you. It becomes a plunge into a dark hole & you don’t ever deserve that. You deserve better🌹

& Just Imagine🌹
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FACTS!

Do you judge others?

Judging others means that you make assumptions about a person or their situation. These assumptions are usually wrong because they are based on your perception of someone's life, not theirs.

People usually judge others because it satisfies their own ego. They want to prove to themselves that they are no less. So whether it is a person's achievement or situation, they always make negative assumptions. While some judgment is unavoidable, as it aids in creating an initial connection, we need to avoid the one that negatively influences our minds.

Never be a judge of someone's life. You only know their lives today; what you don't know is their struggle, hardships, and situations that made them what they have become today.

& Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

Are you living your life out of expectation versus choice?

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why I totally broke tradition I broke the rules of my own life today. It was Easter and for my entire life I've gone to church. Now, before you think that this is about me becoming a heathen and denying

Is it true that love can be felt?

Love is an emotion that originates from the depth of our soul. When we connect with someone from deep within, we carry pure emotions. Pure emotions can always make their way to the other person's heart.

Sometimes when we love someone, we are unsure if the other person can feel our love or not. We need to remember that even though we might not always find the rights words or the right way to express ourselves; the good vibes, the positivity, and wishes can always make a way through to them.

It doesn't matter whether they are near or far; able to say it or not, if you love someone deeply, you will always be able to touch their heart.

And Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

It doesn't interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn't interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

The Invitation
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

An olde but goldie # # #

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Have you ever wondered why some people are so forgiving? It is the love within them and love for others that make them forgive.

Being forgiving doesn't mean that you don't respect yourself but that even if you are hurt, you find reasons to love that person. Many times when people make a mistake that hurts us badly, it can be difficult to forgive. It is hard to forgive because we expect that everyone we love, must only love us back and meet our expectations. This doesn't always happen and people do make mistakes.

Whether someone has made a mistake or done something on purpose, don't wait for them to apologize. Holding pain and grudges won't change what has been done but it may change how you feel about yourself. Fill your heart with so much love that you don't have to wait for someone else to make you feel better rather the love within you heals all the pain.

Always forgive people whether or not they have apologized. True meaning of love is forgiveness, once you learn to forgive, you will experience true love. Do this for you❤️

And Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

You, the real you,
knows the truth.
The truth is you aren’t the things that have happened to you..
You aren’t the things you’ve done..
You aren’t the things you failed to do..
You aren’t your wounds or the ones you inflicted.. You aren’t your regrets..
You aren’t in any way a should have, could have, or would have..
You are fully human and fully divine.
You are the very incarnation of God.
No not the only one, but no less than one.
The unique prism of your life reminds us of who we are too.
Thank you for your colors.
Thank you for your light.
Thank you for being a stained-glass picture window story of glory.

~ roger wolsey
(painting by Tara Turner “The imagination of trees”)

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It’s been a long time since I’ve been truly happy with myself.
I’ve been not been true to myself for a while and it’s been tearing me apart.
It’s a hard thing when you lose yourself along the way and don’t really know how to find the way back to your true nature.
So, I stopped trying to think about what I should do and started feeling my way back instead.
I think I had lost myself in all the busyness of life and had forgotten how to lose myself in the moments and emotions of who I was.
That girl that I was-
The one full of love, peace and happiness had been there all along..
I guess I just put her aside as I chased life and got caught up in all the stuff I wanted.
She waited for me patiently until I remembered who I was and the things that made me happy and at peace.
Truthfully, I just needed to slow down and breathe in the beauty more.
I couldn’t let the beautiful magic of the moments back into my heart until I was ready..
And that girl inside of me needed to know that it was time to come out again..
That it was safe to blossom and emerge freely once more.
It’s ironic how we sometimes get swept away in the chasing of our dreams and need to be reminded that being true to ourselves is important too.
Making the time to fill our souls with peace and love is just as crucial as pursuing our dreams..
So, I’m calling that girl that’s been waiting for me to invite her back.
I’ve let her be neglected for too long and I need her back.
She needs to feel the wind in her hair and the sunlight on her face.
It’s time to finally come home.
I can’t wait.
It’s time to stop walking..
Now I realize what I always knew before:
I was born to dance through the days and fly high through my life.
It’s a great day to be alive.
|ravenwolf

& Just Imagine🌹
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Will you...
Hold my hand for a little while?
I don’t need you to save me
No need for you to fix anything
No need for you to hold my pain
But will you simply hold my hand?
I do not need your words
Your thoughts
Nor your shoulders to carry me
But will you sit here for a while with me?
Whilst my tears they stream
Whilst my heart it shatters
Whilst my mind plays tricks on me
Will you with your presence let me know that I am not alone, whilst I wander into my inner unknown?
For my darkness is mine to face
My pain is mine to feel
And my wounds are mine to heal
But will you sit with me here, while I courageously show up for it all my dear?
For I am bright because of my darkness
Beautiful because of my brokenness
And strong due to my tender heart
But will you take my hand lovingly, when I sometimes journey into the dark?
I don’t ask for you to take my darkness away
I don’t expect for you to brighten my day
And I don’t believe that you can mend my pain
But I would surely love if you could sit for a while and hold my hand, until I find my way out of my shadowland!
So will you...
Hold my hand until I return again?”~

& Just Imagine🌹
www.andjustimagine.com

with Zoe Johansen

Are you feeling like giving up?

If you are on the verge of giving up, probably you have tried enough and starting to feel weak. Maybe the challenge is beginning to appear bigger than your abilities to handle it.

When we face a difficult challenge in life, sometimes it can become very overwhelming. It becomes even more difficult if we have tried to overcome it several times with no success. We often start to doubt ourselves and once we have self-doubts, we begin to crumble. At this point in time, we need to keep ourselves together and remind ourselves that no matter what we face in life, we are always more powerful than what we face.

When you ever feel weak, take support from people you trust. Be inspired by other challenges you overcame in life. Above all, keep your trust, faith and pray. Praying will add to your strength.

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with Dr Bhawna Gautam



How do some people keep strong even in the toughest times?

They just don't allow any situation to break them.

Tough time is a part of everyone's life but not everyone is able to overcome this time without breaking apart. The ones who stay intact are those who don't lose trust in themselves.

When we experience a difficult time in life, we try our best to fight through it. If this time becomes longer and we don't see things changing, we start to break apart. Slowly we reach that stage when we feel too weak to move. Even at that moment in life, when nothing seems to be favourable, there is a bit inside us that want us to continue.

Believe in this bit, this is your stronger self that refuses to give up and so should you.

& Just Imagine🌹
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with Dr Bhawna Gautam

You cant make someone change no matter how much you want them to change🥺 They have to want to change 🔄

And Just Imagine
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Trying to set boundaries for someone else is, er, bad boundaries.

We can’t set a boundary for someone else.

Only they can do that.

What we CAN do is set some boundaries for ourselves.

🌼 Boundaries are about our personal power.

🌸 Boundaries are the lines where we start and stop.

🌺 Boundaries help us know what we are responsible for and what we are not.

🌻 Boundaries show us what we will and will not put up with.

And the fact is, we can’t control the behavior and choices of another adult.

(Heck, we can barely control our own, most days)!

We aren’t in charge of the lives of other adults. Even if we think we’d do a better job…

It’s their life. It’s not ours.

We can offer to help, or come alongside when appropriate, but we can’t force change.

It’s their life. They get to decide.

But, guess what?

We *are* in charge of our life. 💛

That means we can make choices and decisions for *our* life.

That’s where our power is.

Not with someone else’s choices, but with our own.

And that’s where beautiful changes can begin to happen. If not for them, then at least for us.

& Just Imagine🌹
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❤️

by Molly Davis (Wild Goose Counselling)

Is your love giving comfort to your loved ones?

When we love someone, we care for them. We try to look after their little needs and when the vital needs of life are fulfilled, life becomes comfortable.

Love is a beautiful feeling. It changes the way we feel about a person. It makes someone else feel like a part of us every time we do anything, we try so that our actions only make their life easier. Many times to care for others, we even forget about ourselves because we feel joy in seeing our loved ones happy.

Admire the people who care for you. These are the ones who hold true love for you❤️

& Just Imagine🌹
www.andjustimagine.com

with Dr Bhawna Gautam

So… the 5 reasons to follow your dreams are:

1. They make life worth living.
If you love what you're doing, it won't feel like work. Your dreams are the reason to keep going even when life seems hard.

2. You can be an inspiration to others.
If you follow your dreams, you'll inspire others along the way and this will lead to many meaningful relationships and experiences.

3. You'll meet amazing people.
When you are motivated and excited about your dreams, you'll meet other high achievers that will continue to support you in everything you do.

4. You'll make yourself proud.
When you go after something you're passionate about, your confidence will skyrocket & you'll be ecstatic that you achieved something you've always wanted to do.

5. You'll achieve amazing joy.
Life without purpose can be bland and unsatisfying. When you go after your dreams - you'll notice a positive transformation in your outlook on life.

Life is short, so why not spend it doing something you love?

It's time to make the decision to follow your most audacious goals right now 🙂

To your abundant success,

And Just Imagine🌹
www.andjustimagine.com

written by Natalie ~ Mind Movies
Photo by William Smith