Sunday 24 June 2007

Abundance and "The Secret"

"If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have
more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll
never have enough."

- Oprah Winfrey

So true. "The Secret" tells us to be grateful for what we have, really show gratitude rather than being dissatisfied. What we focus on is our reality. Focus on what we do not have and it will never be ours. Focus on the abundance we already enjoy and that abundance will be magnified.

Go here to download an audio book of "The Secret".



Antonia Stuart-James is an English Hypnotherapist in Belgium.

Thursday 14 June 2007

Big Brother Earnings

I just heard on "Big Brother's Little Brother" that all of the housemates can expect to earn large sums of money when they leave the house in appearances, endorsements and stories.

Currently, their friends and families are earning from sending photos of the housemates to the press.

Our society really is obsessed with fame for fame's sake, even of non-famous people. Yet the really important people who are contributing to society eg scientists developing cures for illnesses, surgeons developing new eyehole surgery techniques etc. are only known of in their fields. What a sorry world we live in.

Antonia Stuart-James is an English hypnotherapist living in Belgium.

Big Brother

I have never understood why people spend hours watching Big Brother obsessively. Get a life!

Why watch other people doing ordinary things, all trying to stand out and become famous. Famous for what?

However, I watched the launch of the last UK Celebrity Big Brother because I thought I should be aware of who was in the house as people would be talking about it for weeks. I watched a little of the coverage but lost interest.

When the new series started two weeks ago, I again watched the launch to find out about the characters chosen as housemates. I then watched a few minutes here and there and am now pretty much hooked.

As a hypnotherapist helping people to change, I am fascinated by people's character, habits, thoughts and behaviour. Big Brother gives us a snapshot of watching how total strangers cope in such a limited environment with no contact with the outside world, no writing materials, no books to read and no idea what the public's opinions of them are. I personally could not stand the boredom of being a housemate as I need to do things. I would suffer from PC-deprivation at least.

So I watch "Big Brother's Little Brother" when having my breakfast and catch up before I go to bed.

Co-incidentally, I picked up a library book by Ben Elton called "Dead Famous" which is about a murder committed in a house. I did not realize it was about a Big Brother scenario fictiously called "House Arrest." The programme producer deliberately skews the editing to tell the story she wants, portray the character as she wishes rather than a true representation. Does this happen in Big Brother?

Did I say it was a coincidence I found this novel? No such thing. Read "The Celestine Prophecy."

Latest news from Channel 4 Big Brother



Antonia Stuart-James is an English hypnotherapist living in Belgium.

Cycling

It seems everyone in Belgium has a bicycle. Motorists are very careful regardless of whether cycle tracks are laid or not and cycling is encouraged as a healthy option. Bicycle stands are seen everywhere in towns and by bus stops. Many cities and towns offer free bicycle hire.

Yesterday my two boys of 6 and 9 rode without stabilizer wheels on their bicycles for the first time. I was so pleased and proud. All the children here can ride bicycles but as we lived in England then Spain before, there was no opportunity for the boys to learn. Cycling in both those countries can be dangerous as motorists do not give consideration to cyclists. It was very hilly where we lived in Spain and the motorists drove badly, often ignoring red lights and zebra crossings so I never felt comfortable allowing my children to cycle. I myself had not been on a bicycle for 24 years until three weeks ago when I bought a new bicycle.

This morning, the boys strapped on their helmets and we all three cycled up to their school, 1km away. We crossed one main road with a roundabout but the motorists just stopped when they saw us.

We live in Limburg, called "Fiets Paradijs" (bicycle paradise) so we shall enjoy cycling here.

Antonia Stuart-James is an English hypnotherapist living in Limburg, Belgium.