Pattern VS Fruit

I love chatting to younger people (including my kids) about some of the concepts i’ve previously written about and are continuing to unpack in my next Book, because it forces me to break them down even further to a place of simplicity.

It’s in the simplicity where the #gold can actually be found.

In a life, where free-will is given, there is a combination of pattern and fruit. But one of them will be prominent at times. ‘Pattern’ and ‘fruit’ represent different aspects or outcomes of a persons actions, behaviors, or circumstances.

Pattern: A pattern refers to the recurrent, noticeable behavior or situation that tends to repeat itself over time. It could be a recurring theme in one’s life, such as consistently facing similar challenges, making the same mistakes, or experiencing familiar cycles of success and failure. Patterns can be positive or negative, and they often reflect underlying beliefs, habits, or external influences. Patterns take a lot of effort and a lot of time to unravel them and retrain a brain to act and think differently.

Fruit: Fruit, on the other hand, represents the tangible results or outcomes of one’s intentional actions, decisions, and circumstances over time. It signifies the consequences or rewards that emerge from the patterns one follows or the choices they make. Fruit can include achievements, relationships, personal growth, happiness, health, fulfillment, contentment, or any other measurable or experiential outcomes that result from one’s patterns of behavior. With continued intentional choices, fruit continues to grow, and then reproduce in season.

In essence, patterns are the underlying behaviors or situations that shape a person’s life, while fruit represents the visible outcomes or consequences of those patterns. Understanding the relationship between patterns and fruit can help us recognize and potentially alter the course of our lives, or the way we unlock what is within, aligning to our true identity, by addressing underlying behaviors or circumstances that may be influencing  outcomes and positioning.

It’s in the little decisions and choices that point you in the right (or wrong) direction, which start compounding, then snowballing. 

Doesn’t matter if you are 14, or 45. It’s where aligning Desires, Beliefs, Intentions & Actions, moment by moment, choice by choice, decision by decision, culminates in a masterpiece of a life you are proud of. Small decisions (which are little alignments & positioning moments) start compounding, then snowballing, culminating in a life. One full of pattern, or one full of fruit!

What underpins our choices, decisions and actions, should be our Identity. Unless we are clear of who we are, where are going, why we are here (what our purpose is), and who created us and powers our worlds, the push, pull and confusing, and mis-alignment will be automatic.  It’s the importance of intention.

Not sure about you, but i’d prefer to be unlocking the higher things in life and watching fruit come to fruition than the other. There is no greater peace than internal groundedness over internal turmoil, conflict, and compromise.

It’s what it takes to create a Masterpiece out of a life.

Much love.
Nic Jones
xxx

Your Best Life – A re-alignment

I truly believe that our best life, our best ‘Masterpiece’ starts with a journey of re-alignment to the life we were put here to live. It’s about working out how we can live the most authentic version of ourselves. The definition of authentic (adjective  au·​then·​tic | \ ə-ˈthen-tik, ȯ-\), is ‘conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features’. (Merriam Webster Definition). You are an original and like any good model, there are ‘essential features’ that make you unique! 

To unlock the fullness of anything in our lives, we need to pursue, seek, learn, grow and take action. Have you noticed that ten years ago you didn’t know what you know now? That there is always more to learn, that the more you seek, the more you find? Have you noticed that when you go somewhere new, or learn something new, just how much more of the world that opens up for you? It’s the same with every aspect of your life.  

Unfortunately humanity, by default, are not always seekers and finders. We get stuck, we think that what is in front of us, is all there is. We don’t realise early enough that there is more, that things can be different and that you really can carve out a new path, and get intentional about your world at ANY POINT in your existence. We so easily live by default. We have to really get intentional about asking God to show us who we were created to be, before the chaos of life, to align, carve out and bring out the very best within us.  The creation of a masterpiece out of our worlds, begins with the initial identification of the areas that we are living by default, then re-aligning to our best life with what has already been put within you. We can then actively make the most out of our lives by pursuing ‘the more’. 

We get to colour it up with all the things we love. We are drawn to certain things because it aligns with something on the inside of us. We get to use our free will and choice to get creative with our worlds. Colouring up our worlds and creating a life by design, is really about us taking intentional steps to bring our worlds back in line with the initial unique design that was planned for us.

I realised that my first re-alignment, was my most important: Re-alignment with the God that powers my existence, the one that continues to breathe life into my lungs. Once I did that, I realised that everything lying dormant within me, came alive. It was much easier to get clear on who I was and why I was here. Then I started implementing little changes, little tweaks, little re-alignments, which snowballed into big re-alignments. All of a sudden, I was LIVING; I was THRIVING, and not just surviving.  

That’s where true life is lived, the ‘exceedingly above and beyond’ is experienced, and we are at our most peaceful, joyful, and fulfilled. It’s why some things feel so ‘right’, so ‘aligned’, so ‘home’ and so ‘peaceful’. That’s where peace that ‘passes all understanding’, and ‘unspeakable joy’ flow from. Regardless, of what is going on around us, or what has already transpired.

Getting clear on who you are

We have to do the hard yards, and get clear on who we are. Without that understanding, things will continue to feel mis-aligned. It’s like asking a child what they want, without them even knowing what they want! It is about unlocking your potential, finding out what lights you up, identifying what you want out of life. It’s all within you waiting to be unlocked. If you seek, you will always find. If you knock, the door will open. When you know who you are, you get clear on what you need, what you want, what you will and will not accept, it’s the pathway to freedom and living a masterpiece of a life. You know what and who, does and doesn’t align. 

We’ve been given everything we need to live, thrive, and be whole human beings.  It is up to us to use what we have been given and pursue the complete unlocking of it.   

The more intentional we get about aligning with the right things, the right way, the quicker our masterpiece is coloured up. We can get creative in the process by adding in new colours such as treasuring and appreciating the things and people that help us find our thrive, being present with today and taking in some of life’s beauty, enjoying some time out and doing the things that light us up on the inside, things that speak to us personally. It’s your masterpiece, no-one else’s.

Much love.
Nic Jones
xxx

The notion that we can ‘live’ a life by design can be a somewhat contradictory concept. If I’m honest, I’ve wrestled with this as I wrote ‘Your Life Your Masterpiece‘. I had to keep asking myself if what I was feeling led to write was on point or out of line. But as I sat with the core of the concept, the picture all started to fall into place and open up before me. 

Created as a Masterpiece

We all have different beliefs, some consciously, some sub-consciously. As a Christian, I believe that God created the world, created me and put me here for a purpose. He knit me together in the womb (Psalm 139:13-14), he knew what my purpose was, he knew what would light me up and he knew everything about me. He knew I would write books, be someone that would be brave enough to ‘challenge what was, to create something new’, that I would be ready to ‘unlock potential’ in many contexts. He knew what my life would look like, and what I would achieve, and what mistakes I would make, all before I even officially entered the world. He had a plan for me, and it was up to me to turn up the right person to unlock the fullness of this and continue to align myself with it. 

There’s no-one else out there, with exactly the same makeup, internally and externally, like you and I. There is no-one else that brings the same mix to the table that you and I do. There is no-one else that has the same mix of responsibilities and opportunities, we have been created intrinsically individual, with a unique mix of giftings, talents, passions, purpose, and natural likes and dislikes for certain things. We are all one-of-a-kind. 

God created you, uniquely, as a masterpiece. You have your own ‘outline’. There is no-one out there that looks exactly the same as you, feels exactly the same as you, has the same passions, purpose and opportunity, and intrinsic makeup that you do. God has created you to live in a world that he created. You are actually a puzzle piece in the greater puzzle of life. 

We’ve been given the foundation (the blank canvas), the outline of our existence (the complete package, all you are created to be), the paint (we’ve been given everything we need, even the guidance), and the free will and choice (the paintbrush, ‘to paint or not to paint’ is a key question), to create, to define, to unlock. The more we intentionally embrace all of these things and take action, the more colourful the painting becomes. The mistakes, the struggles, the hard things, the roadblocks, the challenges, become the brush strokes that add depth to our masterpiece of a life. As you look back on your life’s journey, you’ll notice that in the midst of the depth, there are silver linings, and gold threads, all working together for your good, helping you become who you are today and positioning you for your future.  

As we move through our lives, we learn that painting outside the ‘outline’, creates mis-alignment, stress and uncertainty. The picture won’t look the way we want it to, it will need work, a re-alignment of boundaries, a shift, change, intentional effort, learning from the chaos, surrending up a hell of a lot, a reminder and refocus on the overall picture, purpose and plan. Sometimes, painting outside the ‘outline’ is important for progress and growth. But as we intentionally re-align, it becomes part of the ever-growing picture, the masterpiece is enlarged, and all things are worked in together for our good. The masterpiece of a life continues to take shape. You grow into all that God has for you, as the years progress.  

So if God has everything sorted why do we need to put in the hard work and turn up to continue to create? God has created you as a whole being, with the gifts, talents and abilities to tap into what he has already laid out for you. We’ve been gifted free will to do whatever we want with our lives. Ironically, true freedom comes when we align with the God that created us, with his plans and his purposes for our lives, and when we realise we are always a work in progress.

God has given you everything you need to live a thriving and purpose driven life. It’s up to us to unlock the fullness of this.  

We were created to thrive, not just survive.  Our lives will always be a masterpiece, but it’s up to us to keep using what is in front of us, and keep painting, creating and coloring up our worlds.

Much love.
Nic Jones
xxx

You may have noticed that ‘Authenticity’ is a buzzword right now and for good reason. Authenticity as a characteristic attributed to humans, is what it means to be oneself, at one with oneself or truly representing one’s self.

The world has had enough of fake people, false expectations, fake religions and ideologies and fake news.

We want #REAL, and we want and need it YESTERDAY!. There is a movement arising from so many different angles that is challenging the world to be real and authentic. Christianity, Religion, Hollywood, in Business, reality TV shows and so much more.

Pain into Gain

Pain is inevitable. Hard relationships, marriage breakdowns, losing a child or family member, dysfunctional families, addiction, abuse, it’s all part of living with humanity in a temporary world. Sometimes we bring pain upon ourselves. Sometimes even with best intentions, things don’t always go to plan and while much of what we experience is out of our control we have to understand that pain is never the end.

Just because you are struggling doesn’t mean you are failing. 

One of my biggest learnings over the years, is that pain does change you. BUT, it’s up to us as to whether we use it for our good, whether we learn from it, how we process it, or whether we let it hinder us for years to come. The timeframe of our pain can be dictated by the way we process it and how we get intentional about shifting it. It will keep coming up until we deal with it. 

We simply cannot be in denial of our reality. Feel it, embrace it, deal with it, but don’t stay there. Let it grow you and change you for the better.  Look higher and deeper, and decide that it won’t destroy you, or stop you from unlocking the next, the more, the future, when the time is right. You will get through, and the pressure of it all will become diamonds in your crown. Turn your pain to gain!

I can remember back to those really hard, soul destroying times. But I also remember choosing to go and work on something that would better my future. I would work on books, resources, business programs or ecourses. Anything that would help me look forward. I wasn’t in denial, I was feeling every bit of the pain and I allowed myself to do that. But I was intentionally choosing not to stay there. I was deciding that there would be a more aligned future ahead. It was all about positioning myself for better, in the midst of the storm. I didn’t know it then, but I look back and I see it now. 

Part of my Book ‘Your life Your Masterpiece‘, was written back in those tough days.  There is so much gold, and depth of life lived, and now understood, and I’m so grateful the story didn’t end there, grateful that I got to experience and live the other side. I never imagined myself having such an incredible purpose and living it out daily through everything I do. The story wouldn’t be so powerful without the pain. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it either. 

‘I am a winner but I went through a lot of losing to get here’ – SSgt. McGill A. USMC

Identify your pain; deal with it for as long as it takes, for your benefit, no-one else’s, then let it power you into new seasons. The ironic thing is that when you turn your pain to gain, you end up helping unlock someone else’s prison. It’s that full circle thing. 

‘But what if we took it one step further and made an effort to actually transform our pain into something beautiful?  What if we went full out and made an effort to transform other people’s pain into something beautiful?  Danielle Laporte

Much love.
Nic Jones
xxx

12 months ago I was recovering from a short season of being unwell (about 6 months). It was short because I honored it, slowed down, and as a single parent at the time, allowed my tribe + family step up for me in ways I can never truly thank them for. The months of continuous flowers, meals, coffee, daily texts + calls, friends driving me to hospital appointments and my mum and dad being here for me weeks at a time, is a picture in my mind I will never forget. It preceded a season of celebration of turning 40. Something I didn’t care in previous seasons if I made or not.

I had the privilege of attending a wedding this weekend, literally just over the back of where I live (literally!), and looking at the photos, I can say i’ve never looked and felt healthier (some of these photos clearly a few years old) and as I look at my very imperfect but #neveradullmoment, #livingmybest #intentional world. My thoughts tonight are…

Get SO protective and intentional about your health, wellbeing + your thrive! Wow, I am blown away by the difference.

❤️ Our THRIVE is OUR responsibility. DAILY! People will come and go in our worlds, don’t give them that power over your present or future. I can’t change your past, but I can walk beside you and champion you into your best. That happens to be one of my favorite things in life, championing others and unlocking their best. ONE STEP, ONE DECISION AT A TIME.

❤️ Just because your life looks what it is today, doesn’t mean anything! My life is completely different, it blows my mind, and i’m only half way through. I’m still #intentionally working HARD to create, to thrive, to achieve balance, to get the mix right.

❤️ So grateful for the people in my world. I truly am surrounded by the absolute best! Seriously! I always have been at EVERY step of my journey, maybe I can be that for you. I wrote you a book afterall.

Balance is: ensuring you pay attention and bring into order, every aspect of your world: spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. You can’t do three well without the fourth. Its not your best! #justsaying.

❤️ We are never put here on earth to fend for ourselves, people in our world’s matter. We get to step up for each other at different times, that’s the way its meant to be. Don’t try to be a hero and navigate life on your own.

❤️ Living an intensely amazing life, also means the hard stuff behind the scenes is many times intensely hard! We don’t give up tho, it comes with the territory. It’s like running through an obstacle course not walking but CHOOSING not to give up, to push through regardless of how much it hurts, stuff comes at us quicker, hits harder, bruises easier. Keep walking, running whatever! JUST DON’T GET STUCK!

❤️ I am nothing without the God I believe in. You don’t have to believe the same, but I have too many stories and things happen to not believe!

❤️ Trial + error in life. Make it the norm, who cares! You’ll always be a step ahead of a society that unintentionally chooses DEFAULT LIVING.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 12 MONTHS CAN MAKE! Don’t under-estimate it!!

❤️ Ditch PERFECT + NORMAL. They don’t exist. It’s what you choose to allow and create that matters.

❤️ Celebrate more. That is all.

You can totally age backwards…i’m looking forward to that continuing. ❤️

Here’s to our ABSOLUTE BEST!  The future is bright, if we actively deal with the past and allow it to be brighter, no matter how long it takes. What you do TODAY to move yourself forward MATTERS. The best is ALWAYS yet to come. I’m living proof.

I cannot wait to literally #runamuck in all the right ways, create memories, have fun with the kids and the adults, and go define what it means to live my best.

Let’s do this!

Much love.
Nic Jones
xxx

Seasons…

I shared earlier in the year how i’ve been through a season of being unwell. I’m pretty much back to full capacity, and feeling vibrant and healthy, but with a lung condition, I always have to be a little more careful than normal. From early April onwards, I had a 6 week break from tests (perfect timing as I celebrated my 40th, finished a book, went to Fiji with my Daughter as part of our Grade 8 cohort for a missions trip, amongst other things). My last few tests started with a Cardiac MRI. I find them a little scary, but they are necessary for me to be able to sign off this health focused season properly.

I could have quite easily diagnosed myself as better (even though i’m not 100%) but not completed my due diligence in ensuring every box is ticked (i’m nearly there now!), most likely landing myself back in hospital in the very near future or significantly harming my lungs and heart further if something remained un-dealt with.

Making the most of the challenge 

I recently found out that I have an extra heartbeat which turned the normal 30 minute test into over an hour. #inNHJstyle I spent my 1 hour intentionally not dreading, getting anxious, overwhelmed, fearful or emotional, rather reflecting on the incredible favour and blessing I have experienced this year to date.  Don’t get me wrong, I had moments when I was naturally overwhelmed and feeling like I wanted to break.  But, it was a choice to focus on the good not the challenging, and to find things to be grateful for, and there were so many. To reflect on and identify the silver linings and gold threads. It’s been an intense year, but I’ve never felt so blessed and grateful in my entire life.

The more we choose to see the good in a situation, the more we find! When we focus on the negative we miss the beauty that can ONLY unfold when we are in a tough season.

While I was doing what I was told through my headphones (multitasking!) I reflected on the tribe of people that have cooked us meals, the rolling flowers in my home since February, my parents supporting me a few weeks at a time, friends driving me to doctors appointments, and the people that have and continue texting me every day to see how I am, and the ability to keep everything moving. I’ve been LITERALLY CARRIED through this VERY SHORT season. #reflectionispowerful

It’s a short season because i’m honoring it not denying it.

Don’t fight the process, honor it. 

Fighting the process, no matter how random it can be, is stressful. Honoring the process, is powerful. There will always be some sort of challenge in front of us. We can’t change what happens in life, we can be faithful at every step.  The way we are faithful with our next few steps or the way we deny (intentionally or unintentionally) a situation, determines the length of the situation, whether it’s a short one or a lifetime, and whether it can power you forward into better, more aligned and authentic seasons, and ultimately, your best life.  I can’t be living my best life, if i’m not at my best physically.  Everything suffers.  A short few months of taking life a little slower (that’s a big thing for me!), resting a little more than usual, and backing out of any extra responsibilities that I can for a short season, was part of me being faithful with what was in front of me.  It means I can hit the ground running again when the time is right, and give 100%.

On this particular day, I intentionally walked in there with complete #ease (my word for the year), and walked out blown away by the little blessings that had unfolded within the space of 2 hours. I was greeted in the car park with someone random who led me straight into a car park, personally delivered to where I was meant to be by a lovely random (or not so) male doctor who saw I was a little lost, the most beautiful nurse with me the whole time #anothertwinmum #alwaysagreatconversation and some very on-trend scrubs to rock the test with.

It’s so tempting to hurry things along or skip important steps, but we do ourselves no favors and we miss out some of the most important steps. The way we sign off this season, becomes the way we begin the next. Honor and respect yourself enough to be faithful with what’s in front of you. You matter, and the season you are in matters.

Faithful, diligent, present.

Be faithful, be diligent, be present, and be grateful! Just get it done regardless of what it takes. Six months, or a year is better than a lifetime. You will get good at moving through things much quicker than most, address things, grow and move one stronger and more aligned, and be coloring up that masterpiece of a life in the meantime!

 We’re alive!

The most amazing thing that comes out of a season of being unwell, is the realisation that we’re ALIVE!

We all need that wake-up call from time to time! Count it a blessing.
Turn up, frock up, scrub up, and get it done!

#Intention and #positioning at it’s absolute finest.
This is our best!
Nic
xxx

PS. How unstoppable do you feel after you #nailed something challenging? #letsdothis

PPS. And my heart will sing, how great is our GOD!

I spent my teenage years as a youth leader, investing in other teenagers and helping run Teen Challenge programs. At the time we were asked to read ‘Who moved my cheese’. Remember that book? I haven’t read it since, we’re talking 22+ years on!  But, I had a ‘change’ conversation with someone last week and we talked about that book and how back then it was such a BIG thing to embrace change. The ‘this is the way we’ve always done it’ was rife!  Unfortunately, we sub-consciously still get stuck there from time to time. These days, we live in a society that is constantly changing, and those that don’t embrace it, are being left behind.

Change is Creativity

I love change! It helps me keep it real, keep it fun, keep it aligned, mix it up, try different ways to do things (and many times find smarter ways to do things!), tweak stuff as I go over waiting years before major life change is needed, allows me to get creative, facilitates freedom over being stuck, and allows me to create a shift when I see one needed. It also keeps me flexible in approach.

When creating a masterpiece of a life, it can be really challenging initially to embrace change. When we don’t feel powerful on the inside, know who we are, or where we are heading, it can have negative connotations. Especially if someone else is telling you you have to change, or there appears to be confusion on where to start.

Change can either be something negative that paralyses you to make no change, can hold you back, be perceived as weakness, dis-empowerment, or that there is something wrong with you. OR you can take charge, own it, embrace it, and use it as fuel to help you build a life that you don’t have to run away from, your best life.

Change to me, is a form of creativity. We have a choice to embrace and use change as power, in creating a masterpiece out of our world. Mix it up I say!

Review Regularly…

One of my quarterly review questions is ‘What isn’t working, and how can I do it differently?’. I’ve been noticing that it is my ‘go to’ question much more regularly in recent months as I juggle everything. I’m not even talking major things, but little things with kids, preparation for school and work, the use of my time, more rest less hustle, the cards I refuse to play, household management, commitments, less of what drains me, more of what lights me up.

Some of my biggest ahha moments, wins, positioning, opportunities and life-changing moments, have been when i’ve actively pursued and embraced change. You don’t realise what is achievable until you try different ways to do things, and you don’t always realise your own potential until you challenge yourself.

Change, is so.much.fun. Make it a way of life, and watch your existence go to brand new levels.

View change as a form of creativity, and make it work for you!

Nic
xxx

If we are too busy for people, we are too busy.

Recently I got to give back to an amazing woman who literally saved my life when I was really sick in 2010. If I hadn’t of gone to hospital that day, at 51kgs, unable to breathe, my outcome would have been a lot worse! She was literally an angel sent to care and support me. You know those times when you really don’t even have the energy to move, let alone cook, clean and deal with kids and life? When you feel so sick, that you’d rather just die than get better? It was hard.

This mother of 6 kids who i’d met not long before, cooked 8 weeks of meals for us, and helped with my kids and house. The twins were only 11 months old at the time and both sets of parents were interstate, so you can imagine how challenging the situation was. It took me 12 months to recover enough to get on with life. She was there every step of the way, a true God send!

So, Mel along with her dad and brother wanted to do a bit of a special trip to honor their late mum and wife by visiting all the places in Hahndorf she loved. They had flown in for a wedding and wanted some photos. I was honored to be asked to join them and take some family photos. I got to give back and honor someone who gave out of the depth of who she was, into my world, in ways that were quite frankly, divine provision.

This is what doing life with people looks like. Having each other’s backs, being able to step in and use your gifts when needed, giving out of the depth of who you are when you are presented an opportunity to, being able to give back and support each other through the good and the bad, and being able to celebrate the journey of life along the way, oh and have some fun! So many laughs, so much fun, so much joy, so many photos ha!.

Our masterpiece of a life, is not complete without people. We just need to get intentional about realising that there is always purpose, and that people matter. People are one of the ways we get to colour up our worlds. We were never meant to do life on our own. There’s a reason why we are planted in places, surrounded by certain people, for certain seasons. We don’t ever get where we are without the input, encouragement and support of others. It’s important that we honor them, here and now, not when they are gone. Have no regrets!

> When someone has an impact on your life, tell them.
> When you see something amazing in someone, call it.
> If you struggle to tell your closest that you love them, work on it, make it happen! Genuinely intentionally say it and show it until it’s normal in your home, in your families, and relationships. Those in my world cop it all the time ?. I’d prefer they know that they matter to me, before it’s too late.
> When you get the chance to give back, make sure you do.
> Pay it forward when you get the opportunity to.

Society says we wait until someone dies before we truly honour them, because we are forced to. I say we get intentional about creating a culture of honour here and now. We can honour people not only with our words, but also with our time and resource.

People matter. Much of life’s beauty, is experienced through people. Who can you honour this week?

Oh and if you need to get your inner angel on, visit Hahndorf!

Nic
xxx