Today I Am Alive

Margaret reflects on what it means to truly present in the moment, of taking time to pause and consider where we've been, where we are now, and where we are heading, and how life can be dramatically enriched by finding the joy in everything we do.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Thoughts and feelings drift through us and around us like water in a stream or clouds in a sky. We should delight in them as we delight in the passing of nature.
• Everyone hopes they will avoid the worst that life has to offer, but unfortunately these experiences happen, causing great suffering. But at the same time trauma can also be a powerful force for awakening.
• Transformation happens to people for a higher purpose. This is evident in the experiences of the great leaders of the world most of which have overcome and conquered traumas and adverse challenge.
• Darkness can cause suffering, but also joy. We can take any situation and find the wonder in it, even if it simply the recognition of our resilience and strength.

BEST MOMENTS

'I observe the stream of water flowing'

'What is it then that brings meaning to life?'

'Dealing with trauma is a long process - truly a death leading to a rebirth'

'Trauma sent them on a path that they never would have found otherwise'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcomed the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she became aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

As we move into a new season of Today I Am Alive, and a new year, it's time to take a look at the habitual goals that might be holding us back from feeling better, achieving more, and making the most of the bright future that lies ahead!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The year ahead is one that will be filled with innovation, discovery, and opportunity. We should embrace it as a new slate and look forward to writing our own empowering stories.
• Now is the time for reflection. Look at the things we have achieved and how far we have come. It can help us to realise how much can be done in a single year.
• The more we perform a task, the more it becomes an autopilot way of thinking. These can build until they become a hindrance to our achieving the goals we want.
• If you keep on thinking what you are thinking, you will keep on thinking what you are thinking. If you are doing what you are doing, you will get what you are doing.

BEST MOMENTS

'As the light of the new year cascades around us, it's the chance to start fresh and reinvent ourselves'

'Pause, think, and write down what you have accomplished'

'You can still embrace 2023 with a spirit of passion, persistence and mindfulness'

'Most of us are in too much of a hurry to achieve our goals'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcomed the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she became aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

It's that special time of year when people are preparing for the festive period, filled with expectations of spending time with happy loving family and friends. But there are many people who are alone, do not have happy loving families and friends to celebrate with and may feel a sense of isolation or loneliness.

In this special episode, Margaret discusses the value in finding a happy path through the festive period when you're spending it alone.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Expectations around the festive period are a source of great anxiety for some. For many, the prospect of being forced to spend time with family member who have hurt us and continue to do so, can be a generator of fear and negativity.
• There are benefits in spending time alone, and it can provide a more suitable, happy environment when we need one.
• Use this time alone to reflect and refocus upon what is important to you. It'll give you good grounding for the new year ahead and help you to make 2023 a time for prosperity.
• Time spent alone and in the act of self-nourishment and replenishment, helps you to manifest a deeper understanding of yourself, and a greater realisation about the things you think and feel about what is happening in your life.

BEST MOMENTS

'We are told that the cornerstone of our happiness is in socialising'

'There are benefits in spending time alone'

'Reflect, refocus, realign and react'

'I had to embrace the changes that were happening internally and externally'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcomed the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she became aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

Life is a gift. Life is an adventure. Life is a risk...  Join Margaret this week, as she reads to you a selection of raw emotional poetry written specifically as she traveled through her own journey of healing from her dramatic life-threatening traumas of almost being killed by her narcissistic ex-partner, which instigated the tragic loss of her second son, including the removal of her cancerous right kidney.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Nature isn't just for healing our physical ailments, but can also provide mental stimulation when we need it most.
• How we think creates the shape of who we are. To become the creator of our own lives, we need to embrace our energy and thoughts.
• Poetry as an art form can act as a form of catharsis and can help us attune ourselves to feelings that may not appear on the surface of our thoughts.
• We often see trauma as a bad thing, but they can be reframed into positive experiences if we view them as lessons and opportunities for growth.

BEST MOMENTS

'Nature has so many valuable benefits'

'Out thoughts and energy, and the vibrations of our thoughts, shape who we are and what we become.'

'Poetry has been one of my instrumental lifelines'

‘Life is a lesson ground’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcomed the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she became aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

Happiness is a key part of life but is a changeable emotion. Join Margaret as she explains how our relationship with the pursuit of happiness impacts our life and the happiness we desire is different for us all. Discover what drives the true seed of happiness for you and how you can start to feel happy again. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• We all want to know how to be happy and at present, many of us are questioning the purpose of seeking happiness. In this fast-paced world where we have all been through several traumatic situations, you start to feel like you can never be happy.
• Happiness is pursued as a key part of life. Many people think of things that make them happy and make it their life's mission to try and get them.
• What is the true seed of happiness? Is it healthy and beautiful? Is it designer brands? Is it meeting your soulmate or celebrating Christmas with your family? Happiness means different things to different people. 
• While happiness has many different definitions, it is generally described as a positive emotion, a state of being, a feeling of pleasure or contentment, but not to be confused with bliss or other more intense feelings. 
• People relentlessly pursue happiness as an unrealistic goal because it isn't constant. Happiness isn't a long-lasting permanent feature or personality trait, but more of a fleeting feeling and changeable state.

BEST MOMENTS

“The struggle to find happiness is a daily one for many people, and being rich or poor doesn't really matter.” 

“I have spent many years searching for happiness, and it's been quite a bumpy journey.”

“In this era of my life, I'm a healthy, peaceful and happy spirit. I am not wealthy, but I've had a measure of achievement and happiness.”  

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcomed the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she became aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

“I wonder if maybe I was pressuring myself to forgive others or maybe I wasn't ready to forgive.” In this episode of Today, I Am Alive! Discover the truth behind forgiveness, why you must forgive yourself before anyone else and how holding on to past trauma will only affect your happiness in the present.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• How could you forgive others for their misgivings when you hadn't forgiven yourself? The majority of us have made some terrible mistakes. Some mistakes may have cost us our marriage, our jobs, a close relationship, or even the loss of a loved one's life.
• Forgiving others can be challenging, it seems much easier to forgive others than it is to forgive yourself.
• The constant pain of your past can be crippling and it's hard to come to terms with something that you didn't do intentionally and doesn't line up with your values or beliefs.
• Dwelling on the past can only affect your happiness in the present. If you choose to carry trauma forward it will harm your future and you must remember that you can't change what happened in the past.
• There is one simple truth about us human beings. We think that we are perfect. Each of us is a multilayered, imperfect being with a mixed bag of character flaws and vulnerability and at some point, we all make mistakes.

BEST MOMENTS

“Some mistakes we have made have been so horrific. It may feel like it will take a couple of years before we can look at ourselves in the mirror again.”

“There are so many damaging expectations in our culture, society, education, religion, and social media, and we ourselves put on ourselves to be perfect human beings in this physical world.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcome the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she came aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

Welcome to Why Forgive part 2: The keys to freeing yourself. Join Margaret as she explores why people often find it hard to forgive and why society is comfortable clinging to the past and to trauma. Discover how to embrace, let go and change your life, learn how to become more loving and compassionate, and understand how to forgive in this episode of Today I Am Alive!

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Why do people find it hard to forgive? Forgiveness is difficult because human consciousness has a hard time living in the present. If we keep anger and resentment in our hearts, then we have no space. No space for living in the now. 

• Even though the hurt has been done to us, what remains is simply a thought, a feeling, a persistent memory, replaying the scene over and over again, stored in our subconscious mind. Resentment and anger are locked in our hearts.

• It feels more comfortable clinging to trauma, bitterness and resentment than doing the thing that scares us so much. Letting go and embracing the change that enters our lives.

• Even if forgiveness may not be acknowledged or accepted, it is crucial to our own healing and personal and spiritual. Allowing us to take a more loving and compassionate stance towards ourselves. 

BEST MOMENTS 

“A few years on my healing journey of forgiving. I had a deeper awakening about forgiveness while attending a three-day spiritual seminar in Oxford.”

“Nursing those thoughts or grievances lingers in our mind. “

“The root of trauma is deep. Many of us often cling to bitterness and resentment.”

“Forgiveness allows us to take our power back, to let go of the negative energy that weighs us down and keeps us mentally stuck.” 

“We think we are imprisoning those who have hurt us by not forgiving them. Wrong. What has happened has happened. We cannot change that. Now is the time to forgive.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother is available from Amazon.

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcome the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she came aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

“The most important thing I have learned is the word ‘forgiven’. Forgiveness changed my life forever.” Join Margaret as she explores how forgiveness is a gift received from the healing of past trauma, how to learn to forgive and why you have to dig deep into the root core of your pain in order to forgive. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• When you face life threatening traumas, all the baggage laden thoughts that usually burden your mind will eventually slip away like leaves falling from trees into autumn.
• Forgiveness can get lost in multiple life challenging storms and layers of conflicting beliefs, habits and external influences. 
• We are in an era surrounded by violence, anger, and bitterness that we scarcely notice. It is so common in our lives and in our society and media that we accept it as normal as a kind of background noise. 
• We ourselves put so much pressure on forgiveness and how it is an act of strength and deliverance. Yet it seems that our society justifies the way the world is today and the expense of peace, love, and forgiveness.
• Forcing ourselves to forgive or pretending to forgive when we really have can actually prevent us from healing and moving on with our life. 
• Forgiveness is the seed of personal and spiritual growth and self-worth. It comes from the heart, and it's a healing process in which you make a conscious decision to let go, whether the person deserves it or not. 
• To generally forgive and release our suffering, we have to dig deep into the root core of our pain and confront what triggered the feeling of anger and resentment.

BEST MOMENTS
“The ability to forgive is a gift received from the healing of trauma.”
“The common misconception about forgiveness is that most of us think it's a feeling.”
“Forgiveness is a doing. Not a feeling, but it's a hard thing to do.” 

VALUABLE RESOURCES
Priceless Roles of a Mother'
[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/
Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST
A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcomed the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she became aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…

November is a time of reflection and gratitude and in this episode of Today I Am Alive! Margaret explains how, even in our darkest and most challenging moments, the sun will rise again. Learn how to be grateful for your past trauma, discover how to overcome limiting beliefs, and understand that we can turn dark into light.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Be grateful for the dark times because it is during those times that you will grow. No matter how hard it is, the sun will always rise again. Despite today’s crisis of poverty, war, political disaster, human trafficking and domestic abuse rising, climate change, scoring heat and drought, and people suffering and in pain. The sun will rise again.
• It can be hard to find things you are grateful for or even have the awareness to notice the good in our lives when we are burdened with so many challenges and a feeling.
• Everything happens for a reason. Dark times have been thrown into our past to test our strengths and weaknesses and to show us who we are on whom we choose to be.
• Dark times are actually here to bring out something amazing and magnificent. Dark times enable us to grow throughout our lives, change for the better, and overcome limiting beliefs to bring about deeper and more meaningful beliefs.
• We are here to turn darkness into light and become real core creators. To build a divine world with exquisite presence and mindfulness and all of nature's natural beauty.

BEST MOMENTS

“I felt a deep connection with an abundance of gratitude for the fresh start of a new day.”

“Nobody would choose hard times over good. But most people will say that it's the dark times that have crafted who they are and has given them a newfound appreciation of life.

“Some people may fear dark times in an angry, anxious, and stressful way. While others like myself embrace them because they give us the time to soulfully, meditate and connect with ourselves, The Creator, and nature.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother'

[email protected]

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and was almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcome the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she came aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it was her last…

Margaret is joined by alcohol survivor Dana Sealy in today’s episode of Today I Am Alive! Dana shares her personal story of overcoming her demons, her battle with alcohol and how she has learned to beat alcoholism and learn to like and love herself.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Drinking often feels like it can offer you stability and confidence, but in truth, it is used to mask and hide your true feelings. Alcoholism can hide pain because there are always smiles and laughter but it is all a temporary mask put on to make you feel better and an excuse to shy away from your real thoughts and feelings.
• Alcoholics are people pleasers and will do anything to please someone else, even if it was of harm or difficult to them.
• It’s very important to realise where you have been, the pain you have experienced and where you are today. Whatever problem you’re dealing with you’re not alone and often alcohol takes you to a place where you’re alone, a place of misery, but with some courage, you can overcome it.

BEST MOMENTS

“The journey began when I’d had enough, I'd had enough of drinking.”

“My alcoholism started from curiosity as a child.”

“I was unhappy at home. I was unhappy in my own mind and so I connected with others like that and for all the wrong reasons.”

“What affects the mind, affects the body, they’re intertwined and connected.”

“I myself have thought of suicide when I was going through my trauma, but it's because I just wanted that pain to stop, not to physically take my life.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Priceless Roles of a Mother is available from Amazon.

CONTACT METHOD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaret.aberdeen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretaberdeen/

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST

A few years ago, Margaret underwent several life-threatening traumas, including domestic abuse, and almost killed by her ex-partner, kidney and brain cancer, mental health issues, and a near-death experience. Her life was encapsulated in darkness, and she welcome the thought of dying. From a breakdown to a breakthrough, these words from Viktor Frankl’s book, Man's Search For Meaning, changed her life forever: “The existence of life is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.” Once she came aware of this, her life changed, and choose to live each day like it's her last…