Influencer. Insta-this. Facebook-that. #idontknowwhattosaysoilluseahashtag.

These days it seems everyone's preoccupied with the opinions of a bunch of savvy marketers and their carefully-curated streams of shiny new things.

More aspirational than relatable, we measure our humdrum lives against the jet-set faux realities of the Insta-famous.

The real problem is not that all this comparison can drag us down, making us feel inferior instead of inspired.

It's that our own glow - our sparkle - becomes dull. Those that should be lifted by our life-light find it dimmed instead.

Truth is, you - yes, the friend, partner, mum or dad, student, young/old, regular you - are an influencer. Even if you don't realise it, you touch the lives of multiple people every day.

The average person influences anywhere from 150 people (Dunbar's algorithm) to 80,0000 in their lifetime. And that's without even trying!

What if we were intentional about projecting our authentic selves to those around us? What if, instead of trying to be a second-rate copy of someone else's unattainable standard, you were really YOU?

Being really you - refreshingly honest, with no masks - is the best gift you can give to yourself and the world. And it sure takes a lot less energy and angst than the alternative.

Are you ready to polish off your own 'sparkle' and get ready to reflect your own talents to the world? Try the following this week:

1. Embark on a digital detox. That's right: no Facebook, Youtube, Snapchat, celebrity blogs, or Instagram. By turning off the stream of other's 'perfect' lives, it's easier to reconnect with our own. Like a regular food/health detox, it doesn't have to be forever, but the benefits you'll feel might even persuade you to stretch it out a little longer ;).
2. Make a date - or two - with yourself. All that extra time freed up from not being online (see the tip above) will give you a chance to sit down with a coffee and journal - or take a stroll in nature - and reconnect with your goals, strengths, and dreams. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What did I used to love doing that I now no longer make time to regularly do?
• What brings me a feeling of joy?
• If there were no bills to pay, what would I spend my time doing?

       Spend some time thinking about your answers, and then             make a plan to include some small elements into your life.
     3.   Think about the people around you who you influence        e.g. partner, children, workmates, friends, neighbours). Practice being totally present when you're with these people - that may mean putting the device away or turning off the TV more often - and allowing them the privilege of sharing an authentic moment of connection.

You have so much to offer.

What are you waiting for?

If you try any of the tips above, I'd love to hear how you're going, either in the comments below or on my Facebook page.

As I sit at a beach-side cafe, sipping a latte and gazing out at the bay, I find myself pondering a BIG question.

While I'd never pretend to have all the answers - anyone who does, short of the Creator of the Universe, is trying to sell  something - there is one question that has me wondering:

To be, or not to be?

To paraphrase the Bard, that really IS the question.

BEING - to be fully immersed in each moment, cognisant of your worth and value as a human BEing on this rock called Earth, to be fully alive - is at complete opposites to what most of us spend 99.9% of our waking hours DOing.

How much of modern society's current ills, both physical and mental (and most definitely spiritual), can find their roots in this false paradigm?

Plenty, according to a plethora of experts. Here's a quick snapshot for the time poor/Type A folks amongst us (ha!):

• Almost a quarter (22.8%) of 15-19 year old young people in Australia display symptoms of probable serious mental illness - up from 18.7% five years ago (Mission Australia Youth Health Survey 2016).
• More than 11 million Australians (50%) reported having at least one of eight chronic diseases in 2014-15 (AIHW 2016). Key preventable chronic disease risk factors include insufficient levels of physical activity, high blood pressure, and poor nutrition/obesity.
• The number of working age individuals in Australia who received disability support pensions for psychiatric conditions increased by 51% from 2001-14 (Med Journal Aust, 19 June 2017).

It's clear to see that the Western World is facing some serious challenges, despite the fact we have better health care/medicines, education levels, and disposable income than ever before.

What's the average, time-poor individual to do?

Well, I could probably DO a bit less and BE a bit more, I hear you say. But how?

Here are some easy starting points to help change your focus from one of competition/consumption to one of CONNECTION - with the outdoors, with loved ones, with the Creator, with yourself:

• Go for a daily walk in nature (which could just be to your local park, not necessarily in  pristine rain forest or by the ocean). Extra points if it's with someone else, even your pet.
• Take mini BEing breaks. Practice being mindful, employing all your senses in any given moment. (Right now, I'm enjoying watching an old dog in front of me beg for treats from its owner, the taste of strong, hot coffee, the sound of seagulls and cafe tunes... all against a backdrop of tropical sea and sky.)
• Start a gratitude journal. Five minutes a night before bed is all it takes to tap into this powerful habit. Try not to focus on the external trappings of success - i.e. I'm thankful for my big house, my sports car, etc - but on relationships, health, and fulfilling the steps towards your purpose.

There's so much more to include, but I don't want to overwhelm either of us. After all, we're on this journey called 'life' together.

Thanks for walking beside me.

Please share any of your own tips or thoughts about getting off the DOing treadmill to start the intentional stroll along the BEing path.