FindmyFlis

  “There is no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.” Robert Tew In a world ever more obsessed with image, with not only people "in real life" to please, but now maintaining a desirable digital life as well, is it any wonder that the perfectionist inside us is actively growing?! What is it that keeps us spinning away on our perfectionist hamster wheels day and night when what we really crave is balance? And how do we even begin to attempt to switch on cruise control in a world that drives us forward at dangerously challenging speeds? It's actually the early hours of the morning as I'm writing this. I know that I'm not alone in this quest for balance as it seems to be the subject of choice for magazine articles and self help books these days. Indeed, the very planet we are living in is out of balance. You just have to look at the natural disasters happening due to climate change and the increase in so...

  How many times have you thought about taking another direction only for the realities of life to keep you spinning away on your never-ending hamster wheel? Sometimes it takes a significant life event to bring us to a complete standstill, forcing us to take stock of our current circumstances and truly consider what our dreams and life goals really are. We are constantly bombarded by TV and magazine articles and motivational speeches, all encouraging self-improvement, many referencing exceptional individuals who have overcome difficulties in their own lives to achieve something extraordinary. But how do we apply the lessons learnt by these examples to our own lives? Life goes at an incredibly swift pace and trying to keep up can be exhausting. So many cases of burn out stem from trying to emulate someone they know or to be who they feel they 'should' be, due to external pressures, not simply the best version of themselves. Trying to meet all the requirements and follow the advi...

  Matthew 7:13-14 'Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change'  Bob Kerry The light in another's eyes when your gaze meets theirs and you both smile. You are called in for a blood test. The nurse, although clearly under a lot of pressure with the volume of work, cheerfully greets you. " How are you?" you ask, and she replies " Thank you.You know, you are the only person who has asked me that!" You return home to find a bag full of food supplies on your doorstep from a neighbour. A friend hasn't contacted you for ages so you call them just to ask " Hi, how are things going?" Nowadays, with our frenetic and chaotic lives, lots of things have gone on the back burner. We are running around in a constant state of "busyness" that leaves little time for the people and things that really matter, or even for ourselves. Half the time, if we're honest, we don't even know what we h...

  Nearly eight months ago I found out that I had a herniated disc and sciatica in my right leg, which has made me completely re-evaluate the way I am living. At the beginning, I was barely able to walk. As an extremely active person, whose main loves are walking, running and playing the piano, this was a devastating blow for me. I had never previously suffered from even the mildest backache and in all honesty had no idea of the consequences. I had to halt my job hunt, even though a good job opportunity arose. I then embarked on intense physiotherapy and acupuncture, enlisting the help of a posture specialist, and did specially advised exercises in a heated swimming pool three times a week. I had to dig deep, trying to keep motivation going, when I struggled to move in the pool during the first few months. It was extremely frustrating, but I will never forget the encouragement that I received from all those in rehabilitation. Friends and family really came through for me. They helpe...

  Nowadays it’s all or nothing. The idea of hard graft and gradual success makes us shiver at the thought. Yet real, tough graft with lasting effects is just that and it’s so easy to shun away from this for immediate, short-term gratification. If you want to do something well, and I mean really well, excellent maybe, it’s not just something that your grandparents did and never again because you want it all now, it’s something that is very real and even more so with all the quick fixes that are available. I am all for learning a language efficiently or getting on with a project, not procrastinating, but I think hard work shouldn’t be seen as a negative. If you want something you need to keep going at a project with determination, but without running yourself into the ground. There are however ways to achieve goals with long-lasting effects that don’t necessarily involve multitasking and working on six things simultaneously to save time. I’m sorry to say it, but it doesn’t always pay...

  When you leave a country to try new things and experience other cultures, there will probably be moments when you feel that you simply aren't hitting the mark, but I just want to reassure any language learners and say that you have to be bold, enthusiastic and hopeful even when you feel like you've bitten off more than you can chew. For more than seventeen years I have intensively studied numerous languages, never backing down from reaching my goals in spite of sometimes being on the receiving end of strong criticism, and I would encourage you to do the same. Everyone's journey is different, but no less important. I think sometimes we can get caught up in trying to please everyone's definition of what fluency is and where we should be at on a certain stage of our journey. There may be people who try to stifle your progress because change can be uncomfortable for others and it can seem to put into question more than just languages. However, something I've learnt is...

  When you have spent more than three years searching for regular work with a strong curriculum and ample experience at home and abroad, patience becomes strained and you start to ask 'why me?' It is precisely at that time that you have to dig deep and find out what really motivates you. For me, the transition from a stable, permanent job to 'accept what arrives' was a real wake up call. What I would suggest is not to become a victim of circumstance. It is easy to fall into the trap as you start to doubt yourself and your abilities, but it is important to stay focused. The secret is to keep moving, get out and about, meet people, use social media and contacts. This is a time to refine your skills. It has been said many times, I know, but the key is how you go about this. It can make you more resourceful and can give you new skills, which in turn can help others. For example, rewriting CVs and knowing how to prepare a good presentation. Do not waste time trying to improv...