Marie Brunger
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I am a life explorer. I am 65 years young. I live on the Gold Coast by the beach and love it. I climb aboard my 2-wheel push scooter each day and I go as fast as I can on a 5 km round trip as a part of my keep fit, having fun program. I spend a lot of time walking on the beach, body surfing, sitting on the dunes with a coffee and meditating, reflecting and receiving insights. This is nature at its best, my peace of heaven and gives me a delicious sense of freedom.
When I think about holidaying I crave for the polarities, the cooler climates, Antarctica (as you can see above), Alaska, Greenland, the North Pole etc. This both excites me and fascinates me. We all live life between the polarities of Black and white, better or worse, giving and receiving, yes and no, right and wrong, good and bad, fear and freedom, through our cravings and aversions. I didn't know until I hit my 40's that my unease came about from a deep-seated craving to be myself. Unbeknown to me the fear of what I would find created an aversion, and with that an inner tug-of -war followed me where ever I went. For most of my life I was going out there, trying hard, and striving, doing more and more to achieve more, to be better,forever changing to please others so I could feel good about myself, and to feel good enough in the eyes of family, friends and society so I could fit in. My idea of success was based on what one could be seen to be doing. I was constantly trying to prove and improve myself. No wonder I was driving myself crazy. With one hand, I wanted to be different and shine and with the other I wanted to be the same and fit in. The game of fear and freedom was being play out in my mind and life. In the end, this inner conflict turned into a self-imposed full-blown war and I ended up getting very sick and tired. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome woke me up to shedding those layers of fear and was he launching pad to becoming myself. I had no idea when that thought 'I'm going to find myself' came through, that giving up trying so hard to become someone, and becoming comfortable in my own skin, being whom I am would be my healing. I can see clearly now the only thing that stood between me and my true self was my conditioning. I separated myself from the essence of who I am with those false, fearful, not good enough beliefs I held about myself, God and love. I didn't consciously know then that the decision to 'do whatever it took' to heal my life would lead to a spiritual unfolding and a rememberingof who I am? I smile as I remember how I used to look for something outside of my self to fill the gaping hole inside, only to find that Being myselfIS the solution and fills that hole. When I stopped resisting, the surrender to my calling took place and I found that forever natural, faithful, powerful inspiration (inner spirit) and intuition (inner tutor). This life force became the foundations and the guidance allowing me to express a simple unique life that has become more than enough. It took a lot of unfolding but now I accept spirit as an integral and natural part of my holistic healing, the prevention and intervention of mental illness, and the key ingredient that is often missing in our efforts to regain holistic (mind, body spirit) well-being. Now, after twenty-five years my purpose still makes my heart sing. I continue to explore and to share my soul’s journey through inspirational talks, my writing, articles and blogs, through thiscommunity site and the pages of my books 'I AM … from fear to FREEDOM', and more recently 'I AM A Spiritual Approach to Mental Health. |
Marie Brunger's Messages
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A Mothers Love
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What Has Inspired You To Success?
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What Ripple Effect Do You Want To Start In The World and Why?
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What's Your Story?
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What's Your Story?
I don't remember being a big reader as a kid but I do remember loving reading the likes of Cinderella and Snow White, and other stories with fairy-tale endings. Now, 65 years young I still have that child-like belief of dreams coming true, and happy endings. As I turn the page and enter into yet another chapter of this story I call Life, I get to reassess and decide whether I want to continue along the same path or change direction. Only as I look back through new eyes can I see that even at the age of four I was deemed to teach. When my not good enough beliefs prevented me from becoming a P.E.Teacher, my only thought was, If not this, then what? In 1994 the blessing of an illness turned my life right around and I was led in the direction of alternative therapies. I applied a number of these foreign therapies in my life and was so fascinated by what I discovered that I became a qualified practitioner in many mind body healing therapies. It felt natural to share these new-found abilities, and I loved it. I soon realised that it didn't matter what tool I used the real power came from the inner spiritual depths of faith that turned these simple tools into power tools. My life's mission became one of raising Faith and lowering fear until faith became stronger and fear was no longer. Raising Faith became the foundations for my own growth and my life's work. Thirty years after failing those exams I became a teacher of P ersonal E mpowerment. Through personal experience and through my work, I discovered that all good things are possible for or all people who are willing to convert from fear to faith. My journey of raising Faith has now brought me to place where I am no longer willing to come in through the back door to address issues that require a Spiritual intervention. It's time to bring the Spiritual essence of faith out of the mental health closet and openly incorporate it as an essential element for holistic self-healing. We are mind, body and spirit. If we leave one of these out of the equation we disable our selves. When we get this, we realise we already have the missing formula for the prevention and intervention of depression and anxiety right here, right under our nose, right inside our self. And, when we openly combine this natural power of Faith with the conventional and complimentary healing practices and medicines, we will individually and collectively celebrate more success in the recovery of good health and enjoy ongoing well-being. Surely, we owe it to our kids to ensure they have the best chance of being themselves and expressing who they are, drug and dis-ease free. So, as I take that leap of Faith into the next chapter of Life's story, I invite you to come with me. Are you ready to covert fear into Faith? Are you ready to put those horror stories to bed and begin a new story, in Faith that dreams really do come true and happy endings are possible? Are you ready to allow that natural essence of faith to flow, grow and over-flow, creating ripples that will positively influence those around you, freely, easily and naturally? My website offers some more valuable information and some free services that make it possible to reach and support people and communities across the world. My book, I AM A Spiritual Approach to Mental Health, can also be purchased from this site, if you choose. Finally thank you 1000 Ripples Effects for inviting me to be a part of something so precious. Blessings Marie What is the toughest decision you have ever made? Taking this leap of faith into this new chapter of life. What is the easiest decision you have ever made? When I was sick I made a decision to do what ever it took to heal my life and to help others to help themselves to do the same. I didn't really think about it. It was as if the decision was already made at a much deeper level and all I had to do was to align with it. Who is your role model and why? I am fortunate enough to have many role models in my life. I feel the children I have worked with have been my inspiration. Their willingness to see things differently, to change, to support each other was amazing. I believe our children are our best teachers, if we adults are willing to become their students. One person who comes to mind is Carolyn. Carolyn had Downs syndrome. Her intellectual disability left us scratching our heads to find a way to communicate. I ended up writing some I AM affirmations onto a sheet of A4 paper and asked her to copy me in writing it and speaking it. Out of the blue she looked at me, thumped her chest and declared very strongly I AM Heart. I Think with my heart. This became an affirmation for me. Now, when I get caught up in my head, I remember her words and I drop down and I think with my heart. What is your SUPER Power? Being myself. Being my self allows Faith to flow through and I become a conduit for making a natural difference in our world. When have you been the most satisfied in your life? When I know that I know that I am on track even if I don't know the how to. What things do you not like to do? I don't like it when I am in the process of a mind-stretch and I don't know that I know. I question my decisions. I feel like I'm off track and I want to know the how to. What is the most important thing about what you want to do? I want us individually and collectively to recover Faith as the driving force in our lives so we can become like ripples, or waves or even like a Tsunami reaching people and communities far and wide, positively influencing healing, and bringing about more peace, loving relationships and holistic well-being. Do you believe books can change the world? I was never an avid reader until I became sick. My intention to do what ever it took to heal my life attracted an array of books into my life which became my launching pad into a world of new horizons. Writing and having my books published were a part of my healing and I am certain will have a positive affect on those who read them. What is your ultimate goal? Someone asked me once what my purpose was and to my surprise and his, I replied to be kind. He said is that all? I think if we all made being kind our purpose wouldn't this world be a different place. So my mission is to continue to raise faith and lower fear so that the ripples of the foundations of man-kind flows outwardly positively infecting and affecting those around me easily and naturally. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? I would have |Faith restored in every human being. What do you prefer? Beach or Mountains? I love the polarities in life. I love the beach and ocean the most but when I get to the mountains, particularly the snow covered mountains I fall in love all over again. Sweet or spicy? I'm not one for too much spice but I love the balance of sweet, savoury and spice. Window or aisle? I love the window seat to look out of. But for convenience I love the aisle seat as I can get in and out easier. Ice-Cream or Custard? Again I love them both but custard just gets the nudge. Dessert First or last? Desert is not my favourite food but what this means is that if I am in the mood I can have it any time of day. |
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What is your Favourite Quote?
I love Mother Teresa's quote: we can do no great things in this world, only little things with great love. I feel that if we show our kids the value of a smile, a kind word, a simple act and the way it can significantly change a person's life we will be doing them the greatest favour in the world. Trying to compete and compare our selves with the greatness of others can often be our down-fall. Recognising our own greatness in the little things we do with great love is possible for everyone. |
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What Ripple Effect Would you start in the world and why?
I would start the ripple of faith and watch it take our global community across that fine line from fear to freedom. |
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