grateful

A New Beginning...

I’m back everybody! It’s been a while since I last wrote an article for my blog. I am here in response to the countless clients, friends and relatives who have been asking what I’ve been up to. Well here it is! Over the last 19 months I’ve been entirely focused on finishing my first book. Woo Hooo. It’s been a journey filled with beauty and excitement, mystery and drama; soul expansion and golden nugget discoveries and most of all, profound moments of pure wonder and humble amazement.

These last few months have left me full of joy and gratitude. With the book almost ready to be shared with you all, I return to you refreshed and fulfilled and raring to start this new chapter of my life. Let the ride continue.

Many of my closest friends have been asking me how to describe the experience of writing a book. Some of them had the idea that it would involve experiencing tension and frustration caused by mental blocks. To be completely honest with you, it’s been one of the most intimate experiences of my life as many hours were spent in either silent reflection or in meditation or in silent typing and editing. Never before have I spent so much time with myself.  It was never a life long dream or goal of mine to write a book, however two years ago without much warning my life’s path took a sudden and dramatic detour.  I enjoyed a life changing experience and since this blissful day, during which my soul made a promise that my physical self would keep, an omnipresent spiritual force has undeniably guided me. With my chakras aligned and intuition attuned, my higher self reassured me I could simply surrender to this spiritual guidance and I so I did. Pausing my professional life, I chose to dedicate all my energy to fulfilling my promise. When I was not typing, I was reading and delving further into the truth. I have had lots of fun and through me, this spiritual force has written the book to be shared with you all in just under 12 months.  

In the beginning I was not sure how I was going to publish this book. I knew it would be published, someway somehow, but I didn’t exactly know how or when.  

I of course approached one of my favourite traditional publishers in the UK as part of their annual book competition. If selected from the several dozen other novice writers competing, they would offer a book contract, prize money for book marketing and agree to publish my book two years later. At the time I thought it sounded like a great opportunity.  Hiring the services of a well-established and professional company, I gave it my best shot to put together the best book proposal I could. What an intense six months process! It definitely helped me up my game. I was pretty sure they would give me an opportunity but fortunately I was not chosen. Yes! That is what I said. It’s not a typo. Fortunately I was not chosen. Yes of course it took me few days to see that despite my best efforts and spending the last of my savings, it was not my path to walk. The Universe had other plans for me. It was a test of trust. I surrendered once again.

Feeling a little unsettled and doubtful I took a break and forgot all about the book for a couple of months choosing instead to enjoy the summer months with my family. Then one day, I felt the urge to read through my manuscript and with fresh eyes, I devoured it from beginning to end, making some much needed improvements to the text. That is when I accepted it was not ready when I had presented it for the book competition. It was when I also realised I would not give up. I know in my heart that the powerful messages in this book deserve to land in the hands of so many people around the world.

Reignited, I felt this force taking over the show once more and I started to search for different ways to publish my book. I even sold my beloved campervan to finance the completion of this book. One day while reading one of my favourites authors I saw the name of an independent publisher from a different continent. I couldn’t help but check their website and my intuition said: ‘do not hesitate and send them your manuscript now’. So I did. Some days later the publisher’s CEO replied directly to me announcing that my manuscript had been accepted and, if I decided to work with them, that the book would be published within the next three months. Wooo Hooo. I couldn’t believe my eyes!  

As if that wasn’t enough good news, I also have full control over the publication, which would not have been the case if I had been chosen as winner of the book competition. There are no coincidences, only synchronicity in the Universe. This is clearly my path to walk and I’m so happy it worked out like this. I feel free to do things my way. I feel free to follow my heart all the way. WHICH IS WHAT THE BOOK IS ALL ABOUT!

It is not a coincidence you are reading this article, so please subscribe to my bi-weekly blog to keep you updated on the publication of what I hope will become a cherished book for you. Ok Ok ! I hear you say!  What is the booked called the Ray??

 ‘Love is the Answer: Wake Up Who You Really Are And Live the Live You are Meant to Live’.

It’ll be ready for Christmas for you to stick it in ya stocking!

Peace, Love & Light,

Ray Deekes
Self-Love and Happiness Life Coach

What can you do being stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak?

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The best thing you can do during these difficult times being stuck at home is to talk to the one that is inside you. To connect with yourself now that you don’t have all the distractions we normally have everyday.

This is the best moment to meditate. To practice gratitude. We all have many things to be grateful for in our lives; the love of our loved ones, our health, one more day of life on this beautiful planet, listening to the birds singing, looking at the sky in the morning or the stars at night, to feel the sun on our face, on our skin (even through a window), to hear our children tells that they love us, to see their smiles and hear their giggles.  

Many people feel lonely in these times. The worst solitude is the one we have inside us. Make friends with yourselfEnjoy your own company. We can always relive happy moments when we remember them. Even with loved ones that are no longer with us.  

If you love life, then ask yourself how you want to spend your life. Do we spend it paying bills, buying things we don’t really need or in actually living it? If you love life then spend it really living life to the fullest. 

And what is living? It’s trying to feel happy. It’s to spend most of our time doing the things that make us feel alive, things that gratify us with out causing harm to others. Remember that life has an expiration day. Let’s use this precious time to reconnect with ourselves. As long as you have a reason to live and to fight for your dreams you will find a way to move forward. We all are going to leave this world at some point. What we take with us and what we leave behind for our loved ones are memories of how we lived. That is why we should make the most of our limited time in this beautiful world to make our lives extraordinary. 

The enforced lockdown offers each and every one of you a unique opportunity to reconnect with your love ones, to learn to connect with yourself and to reflect on your life. Where you have been and where you are going. To learn, to grow and to improve. Every day is truly a gift so don’t waste it. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.  

LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST. MAKE IT A MASTERPIECE.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Deekes is a firestarter. He is passionate about inspiring and empowering others to reach their true potential and to live a fulfilling life.

He brings a mix of stress management acumen and understanding on peak performance, health & wellbeing learnt from his studies in Stress Management, Health & Wellbeing (Centre for Stress Management, London) as well over 20 years of experience in high demanding jobs working with top executives from around the world and over 30 years of sports practice. Ray is also a enthusiastic practitioner of Mindfulness (Monash University) and very passionate about promoting healthy eating (University of Aberdeen).

www.rayoflight.online