Seven Daily Habits

7 daily habits, that will change your life;
1 – wake up 
2 – complain less
3 – teach others
4 – roll with change
5 – be on time
6 – practice kindness
7 – stay positive

Life according to me, in thought and action……

Living life according to me in thoughts and actions looks and feels something like this;

• I try to keep everything simple, but when I want to achieve something, I do it with all my heart! That sometimes, goes awry.

• I am a over-thinker. Letting the truth, be told I have 100s of imaginary scenario playing in my head  at any one time….sometimes this makes situations more difficult than it should be but well this is how I am and it’s how I make the magic happen.

• Health and life issues will always challenge me, as I aren’t someone who keep things to themselves anymore. I used to hold it all inside until I became toxic to anyone or anything, now I will confront the challenges head on, till I am facing back in the right direction. I am real and raw and that’s not always easy, but it’s the difficult times that push me back through to better days. Although I know life can’t be perfect, it’s the want of perfection that makes think a lot which at times causes the challenges that mess up particular situations.

• I am one of the best listeners. I can listen to others stories all day, everyday and I  will listen to every story with keen interest even if it’s about something I don’t understand. I know the importance of listening and I want others to reciprocate that.

So this is me and this is how I wander the shores of the globe preaching and teaching about my experiences and beliefs. It may not be normal, but what is normal anyway!

Much love

Harmoni 💋

http://www.twitter.com/just_1_goddess

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Just How Do I Define Invisible Illness…….I Do It By #lightingtheflame 🔥

So how do I define invisible illness; I could say it’s an illness or disability that is hidden or not apparent, but that doesn’t even begin to define what some of these illnesses really are, or how they impact the many millions that live with them everyday. You see, some people with sight or hearing disabilities may not wear glasses or hearing aids, BUT they are invisibly disabled.  Someone that may have to sit day in, day out because they have chronic back or joint problems sitting, can be categorised as having a invisible impairment. Invisible disability/ illness creates so many challenges for the people that live with them. There are so many more examples that I could give to define a invisible disability. The reality of invisible illness or disability, is that they can be so difficult for others to recognise or acknowledge. This makes it  difficult to understand the cause of the problem or problems, because they can’t see evidence of it in a visible way. So these invisible conditions have been captured under an umbrella term that captures the whole spectrum of hidden disabilities, known as ‘invisible illnesses’. Having so many illnesses and conditions under the one umbrella, means it is so hard to decipher and diagnose what is actually happening to a person that presents with unseen symptoms.

People with invisible illnesses can find it difficult to  make others understand how their  symptoms of such things as extreme fatigue, dizziness, pain, can be so debilitating.  This misunderstanding, will in many cases be met with hostility, judgement and stigma by the bigger community and world.

People living with invisible illnesses and chronic pain are often accused of faking or imagining their disabilities. These symptoms are real, they can occur due to bouts of chronic illness, chronic pain, injury, birth disorders, they can even just come out of the blue and most importantly are not always obvious to the onlooker.

 Many millions of people around the world, have a medical condition which could be considered a type of invisible illness or disability. Let me explain it this way, there are many that have a chronic medical condition of one kind or another, some of these people are not considered to be disabled, as their medical conditions do not impair their normal everyday activities. These people do not use an assistive device and most look and act healthy. So I’ve explained one side of illness invisibility, this is the other side, the side that causes and increases what can be debilitating physical or mental impairment that can lessen one or more major life activity.  

It saddens me that when somebody sees a person in a wheelchair, wearing a hearing aid, or carrying a white cane, it tells us a person is impaired in some way. But for people living with invisible illness and/or disability living is a bit more difficult for many people in the world to acknowledge. 

Invisible illness and disability can and do significantly impair normal activities of daily living.
Examples of Invisible illness Disability vary, here are just a few;

• Chronic Pain can be the cause from a variety of conditions. A few reasons for chronic pain may be because of back problems, bone disease, physical injuries, and many more reasons. Chronic pain may not be clear to people who do not understand the specific medical condition.
• Chronic Fatigue is a type of disability that refers to an individual who constantly feels tired. This can be extremely debilitating and affect every aspect of a persons every day life. It is totally invisible to the greater community.
• Mental Illness is a term for many illnesses of the mind. Examples are depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, agoraphobia, bipolar and the list goes on. These illnesses can also be completely debilitating to the person suffering and can make performing everyday tasks extremely difficult, if not impossible.
• Chronic Dizziness is often associated with problems of the inner ear, chronic dizziness can lead to impairment when walking, driving, working, sleeping, and other common tasks.

I hope you are beginning to see that being invisibly ill, effects many areas of health which effects many areas of life. Many people living with a hidden physical or mental challenge are still able to be active in their hobbies, work and even be active in sports, but their are others that struggle just to get through their day and cannot work at all. 

I want us all to be able to come together in understanding the true level of invisible illness and disability. Because, when we do we will truly begin to see awareness and support bringing better research and thus treatments. 

I will finish today with a list of invisible illnesses that I’ve been creating to show the world just how wide the umbrella is…….but even I may have forgotten some. If I have, please let me know and I will add your illness/disability to the list;

INVISIBLE ILLNESSES 

ADHD

Anxiety disorders

Allergies

Arachnoiditis

Asperger Syndrome

Asthma

Autism

Bipolar disorder

Brain injuries

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic pain

Chromosome Duplication

Chromosome Triplication

Coeliac Disease

Conversion Disorder 

Crohn’s disease

Depression

Diabetes

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Endometreosis

Epilepsy

Fibromyalgia

Food allergies

Fructose malabsorption

Functional Neurological Disorder 

Hypoglycemia

Inflammatory bowel disease

Interstitial cystitis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Lactose Intolerance

Lupus

Lyme Disease

Major depression

Metabolic syndrome

Migraines

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Myasthenia Gravis

Narcolepsy

Personality disorders

Primary immunodeficiency

Psychiatric disabilities

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Repetitive stress injuries

Rheumatoid arthritis

Sarcoidosis 

Schnitzler’s Syndrome

Schizophrenia

Scleroderma

Seizures 

Sjogren’s syndrome

Transverse Myelitis

Ulcerative Colitis

Invisible illness and/or disability creates challenges for the people who have them. I’ve said it before and I will say it again and again, the reality of these conditions can be difficult for others to recognise or acknowledge. You may not even understand the cause of the problems, because you cannot see evidence of it in a visible way. So, I say to you – YES, YOU out there in the big wide world, if you can’t see something, how can you judge it! Let’s begin walking together supporting those that are impacted by the many forms of invisible illness. Let’s raise awareness and bring about more real life research so better information and treatments can be formulated to change the way we all see and relate to invisible illness and disability.

If you’ve liked this post, please let me know and if we haven’t connected on social media, let’s do so here;

http://www.facebook.com/TheBarefootGoddessAU

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Much love to you all
TBG 💋

A late night journal, sitting by the water meditating!

At the waters edge in this mornings meditation, has brought me such truth towards my vision, mission & purpose!

Let me tell you why and it’s all about going to bed with a profound journaling session ;

I HAVE A VISION, WITH A MISSION & PURPOSE TO LIVE…..
What is it, well it is simply to inspire and motivate the world that despite chronic health conditions, cancer and life’s roadblocks, have it all! I wander this life free to heal mentally, physically , emotionally and spiritually now that I can be me. 

Who is me – Well basically I am a ocean loving vegan, yogini, ballerina and abstract yarn artist who uses all of these modalities to transform my life and my life’s purpose to bring such a positive vibe and change to the people that I connect with globally.
I will never tell you out in the real world that I know everything, because I don’t know everything! But I do know, by continuing to wander the twisted bends of this world, the universe knows exactly the step that each of us needs to take.
I CAN STEP FORWARDS WITH MY VISION , MISSION & PURPOSE BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE VITALITY FOR LIVING & LOVING LIFE WITH ALL OF MY HEART!
I am the barefoot goddess, and together with you, I will walk, talk and shine in this big crazy world . 
AND so I slept mindfully and soundly and breathed my truth into this mornings breath session.

If you are struggling, take yourself to the waters edge, sit in silence and breathe through your truth and magic ,
Good Morning and blissful energy to you all today,
The Barefoot Goddess 💋
Please connect with me on social media at(

http://www.facebook.com/IAmFNDAware

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http://www.instagram.com/fnd_goddess
“Wandering Towards Wellness, Globally”

Loving Life, Living Life….

To be loving life and living life is the greatest magic of all. But what does this mean? Well to be honest my journey of life has been a full of ups and downs, highs and lows, leading me to the now where my journey of life looks something like this;

When you’ve wandered so many paths looking for that tranquil river to sit quietly beside, BUT all you find is a messy and unkept pile of rocks – you are forced to stop! That forced stop, allows you to actually restart the journey of life, as I have found. You see, being swallowed whole and then spat out, has taught me that being on the journey of life, is the ability to completely surrender into myself. It’s about accepting that i am IMPERFECTLY perfect. Living passionately with all the raw edges glowing gives me sass to be able to wander in just the right vibe and energy. There is no one but me,  who is capable of actioning every step as required, within and through challenges to take me to my preferred destination.

Thinking about living life afflicted by multiple chronic illnesses left me oh so dark and changed, every aspect of my being, but finally getting the assistance I need has awakened me, it’s allowed me to see and feel fully in love totally with the awareness that being happy gives. Living life, on that messy bed of rocks doesn’t give me life. That path walked allowed me, two seconds of joy and then everything soon became dark and twisted. I was left feeling like my star had lost its sparkle or in fact had shattered into pieces. Being forced to take different action and direction, I also ensure that nobody or anything can stop my love of living life. So from NOW, everyday I need to give myself permission to stop and breathe allowing my sun and stars to shine brightly because I can then wander chasing the rainbows of life that are so clearly visioned inside of my heart and soul. Being on this journey, then allows others to see me and then wander alongside me creating the same vibe and energy.

 So living and loving life means being able to wander with all of your raw edges showing, stepping forward with all the sass of a star shining brightly, but yet knowing that you can step behind a cloud when it’s time to rest. It means loving every step and wiping out the misery of any health and subsequent challenges that you may have found on past paths wandered and let’s you join so many on a bright and magical walk of life! Let’s all begin to wander together by telling our stories and showing each other who we really are, so that the world can then breathe togetherness – that’s what loving and living life is!

I’d love to know what loving and living life to you is? Please feel free to let me know here in this space or in one of my social media channels;

http://www.facebook.com/IAmFNDaware

http://www.twitter.com/FND_Goddess

http://www.instagram.com/fnd_goddess

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Much Love

Lisa-Raie (The Barefoot Goddess) 👣

What’s The Worst Thing About My Journey With Chronic Illness???

“What’s the worst thing about my journey with chronic illness ?” I would have to say without a doubt that is the hardest question to answer. But, let me wander this journey with you here and explain why.

The struggles with chronic illness are all too real and present with every breath and step in life that I can’t just pick one thing that depicts my worst. But allowing myself to stop and reflect, I’ve realised that so many times I’ve doubted myself and my life choices. 

WHY – well with my illnesses and disorders there are so many challenges that have bombarded my body for so many years now that unfortunately my mind has become a victim too. I now see life and the world through different eyes because I’ve seen everyday  feeling the worst pain, having the most horrible symptoms, unable to experience and enjoy my favourite activities and no matter how calm and positive I tried to feel, there is such a negative anxiety filling me up. It was at that point and it’s only been recently let me tell you that I realised I had a further problem and that was depression. Life, was slowly spiralling out of control and it wasn’t until I was hospitalised that I became all too aware of what it was doing to me, so I think that’s probably the worst thing within in my chronic illness journey. 

Depression is not some imaginative little scene dancing within my head – it’s full of the most raw and real emotion that creates so many negative and hopeless thoughts than anybody could ever fathom. When in the deepest and darkest moments of despair even the most positive of people could not even bring the good energy out of me and this left me feeling more hopeless, alone and definitely lead me to doubting myself and making choices that I would not normally make. Depression has this power over the mind like the chronic symptoms impacting my body. Because of the impact of physical impairment, through my physical illnesses I learned that my brain functions had slipped a few levels on the ‘normality’ scale with my mental illness. Alas, all the inner walls cave in.

Here, I was just thinking that my new physical symptoms like limb paralysis and weakness, speech problems, etc were part of my longer walked journey illnesses and would be flares that would fade over certain time just as the other physical flares do. But this I learned was about what my health conditions, had developed into. When I and so many have had to live with physical ailments for a long period, the brain also then becomes ill. Working with a number of specialists i realised it is going to take even more work and medication to bring myself back to a level of mindful existence and allowing a quality of life that I desire. With, this new knowledge, I could of sunk further into depression and regressed further into myself and a land of unknown BUT I knew that’s not what my life was meant for. 

Looking at life with different eyes, I was excited to step in and take action to begin a journey of regaining mental health so that I could continue tackling the physical challenges on health firstly and importantly for ME but also so I could show others what is possible. Life lead me to having to overcome fears of being seen a certain way , it was accepting that my vulnerable state had been compromised. In accepting and stepping into these challenges I could accept help. 
So bring me forward to, today I am wandering a path back to the light of day with ME back on the agenda for what has always been my vision, purpose and message of living a life to love. I have accepted that I need assistance with a 4 wheeler walker to reclaim balance and strength to walk again. I know that I need to stop and take time to breathe and rest. Best of all I know that I need teams of people around me, because when i surround myself with a range of different people and experiences, I will have all the power and strength that I need to stay well and live well. My medical team are of a neurologist, rheumatologist, psychologist, neuro-physio and a list that goes on will give me mental and physical health. Family & friends will give me my passion to shine and walk my dreams. Then there are the new team of soul sista’s that I am connecting with globally that inspires and motivates me to walk and talk my story building awareness for all that are walking a journey with chronic illnesses looking for a life to love.

So the worst part about my chronic illness is, definitely depression and the inability to see and feel that my mind was my own worst enemy and causing me so much further despair. Now, sitting happier on my sofa i’m beginning to again enjoy bliss of being comfortable in my own life so that I can step into your lives. 

Life is a ever changing collection of movements and I know that I need to be slow and steady to wander my goddess journey. I accept all of my illnesses and yes there will still be days of utter frustration that will take me to that cliff edge, BUT I now understand that those days are just a inner message from my mind and body that I am going to fast. Wander slowly, breathe deeply and believe and live every dream because it is possible. Me landing in depression with a damaged mental health, was my trigger that my journey had got off track , and yes it’s the worst thing but it was probably also the saviour in a crazy kind of way.

Please if you’ve resonated with this in anyway, I would love to hear your feedback and if you too are walking a life with chronic illness- what is the worst thing you’ve found along your journey.

Much Love 

💋

** Special Mention; To my new connected soul sista’s, you all light me up everyday and allow me to rebuild dreams that had been lost in darkness.

** To my husband-you’ve been so strong and with me through everything and even when I lost faith-you still had it! That is why, now I’m stepping with a new breath more powerful than before. I often, tell you I love you BUT seriously you will never realise how blessed I am to have you. 

** To My youngest child – you are a guardian angel, however your journey has been so very difficult and not even I can understand the path that you’ve had to endure, with ASD, genetic mutations and other intellectual differences to direct you through life. You are the most loving now young adult that inspires me to keep walking tall for my dream of a health and life to live. 

Please if you would like to connect further, find me on social media at;

http://www.facebook.com/IAmFNDaware

http://www.twitter.com/FND_Goddess

http://www.instagram.com/fnd_goddess

“Let’s Walk Together And Not Tear Each Other Down”