”Embrace the unknown, for that is what will help you grow.”

 

With 2020 just around the corner it’s the most perfect time to put an afternoon aside, to brew yourself a big warm mug of coffee, and reflect over the past year, and the most important lessons you’ve learned. 

I’m a firm believer in writing my intentions, goals and dreams down, preferably on a piece of paper. I guess I am more of a dreamer/planner than a doer. However, my intentions for 2019 was all about taking action and believing in myself and my abilities. Setting intentions not only makes it easier to stay focused, but it helps to keep the motivation up, as well as staying more grounded and closer to one’s core self.

And while I strongly recommend all of you to start writing down your intentions, I also think it’s of great advantage to reflect over the past year, and therefore gain better clarity of the things you’ve learned thus far. As I was reading through my intentions for 2019 I noticed that they go hand in hand with what I’ve learned, and hence I decided to review them as well.

Below you’ll find some of the most important things that 2019 taught me (including the intentions I set for myself in the beginning of the year).

 

What 2019 taught me

”There’s an abundance flowing within and without; everything I need, seek and long for is already resting within.”

Spreading kindness & compassion – I’ll strive my best to show loving kindness to all living beings; animals, humans and the planet. I’m inspired by random acts of kindness and compassionate people with big hearts filled with wisdom. There’s something special about humans who are caring and warmhearted to everyone; it seems like they are carrying a sense of calmness within, despite with whoever they interact.

– I’ve learned not to be too hard on myself – to not judge myself for past mistakes, but rather, to redirect my focus towards the possibilities that might arise instead. Setbacks and road bumps actually teach us a lot about life and ourselves. As we move through challenges we get to know the depth about being human. Things not always going as planned can be a great chance to start all over, to create new opportunities in life.

And while I’ve learned not to judge myself, I’ve also become less judgmental towards other people as well. Try not to take anything another person says or does personally. We humans are rather occupied by our own defects and shortcomings, and they might surely come forth when using our tongue. And do keep in mind, happy and peaceful people don’t walk around destroying other people’s lives. Therefore, be kind to the unkind. You have no idea what shoes they’re walking in.

– I’ve learned that healing is far from linear, rather it’s an ongoing process. Some days you feel on-top-of-the-world, and the next day it feels like you’re back on square one. Nevertheless, don’t let it drag you down. Know that this too is part of the process – stay patient with yourself. Evolving and transforming sometimes requires a great deal of work; and you need to actively be putting in the effort.

Planting confidence – being confident without being cocky is very attractive. We’re capable of achieving way more than we give ourselves permission to pursue. Persistence is key here, and a willingness to work hard for what you want in life.

– I’ve learned to be more patient with myself. Nothing good comes out of stressing about the things over which we have no control. By being more mindful and present in what I do I’ve learned to flow with it – whether it’s writing, studying, working, being in nature, meditating or speaking with friends and family.  I can always choose to be a bit more here and a little less somewhere else.

– I’ve learned to not listen to everything I tell myself. We’re feeding ourselves with thousands of thoughts each and every day, therefore, choose them thoughts wisely. The first step in order to change negative thought patterns, or limiting beliefs is to become aware of them. Start listening to the voice inside your head. What does it tell you? Once you learn to recognize and identify these thought patterns you can start to have a choice about how to react, and with time consciously make a choice to let them go.

If something bad happened to you in the past it’s very easy to keep the negative emotion connected to that particular event alive by compulsive thinking. You start to see yourself as the victim. However, dwelling on the past won’t do you any good; it will only contaminate your present and affect your current state of being in a negative way. Most importantly, it will take you further away from appreciating the beauty and aliveness of the present moment.

– I’ve learned that when I accept my fears, and start facing them, they will, slowly but surely, lose their power over me. To be in the middle of a big life change can be very daunting, at least if you’re a control freak (like me), however, the best thing you can do is surrender, and simply let things unfold naturally. Keep in mind that some things you just can’t control, and the more you try to, the messier it gets. The best thing you can do, is to let go, and go with the flow.

Embracing my sensitivity – as a highly sensitive person I’m very sensitive to the people around me and their energies. I also feel a whole range of emotions, and it’s nothing wrong with that – as a matter of fact it’s completely normal and healthy to be able to tap into one’s feelings. Nonetheless, I’ve also become to realize the importance of not holding on to emotions for too long; I simply let them pass through me, and then peacefully let them go when they have done their job. Feelings like fear, worry and doubt don’t serve us in any way, and it’s about time we let go of them once and for all. While embracing my emotions I’ve become more self-aware, and more in tune with my inner state of being.

– I’ve become to understand that within vulnerable lies strength. To be able to speak your truth is the most powerful way of self-expression;  I believe there’s a sense of freedom in being honest and raw; Start by being true to yourself, and not being afraid to show your most authentic self. We help others, by first helping ourselves.

– I’ve learned that strong emotions can be used in order to create something beautiful. In other words, take advantage of your feelings. Channel your emotions through writing, painting, exercising – anything that takes the pressure off, and makes you feel more as yourself again. Most often the most unique creations can come out of sadness, grief, loneliness and pain. Whatever you might be feeling; use those feelings to heal. Take it day by day, step by step – move forward in your own pace, and eventually you’ll blossom again. Oftentimes hard change lead to breakthroughs, and when you choose to stay open you might discover things about yourself you otherwise never would have noticed.

Nurturing my intuition – I’ve always had a strong intuition, and I would like to cultivate it even more. I’ve noticed that the more I meditate, taking time to really listen to my body and the stillness within, the more I feel connected to my inner voice; my inner guidance system so to speak. It gives a sense of power when you notice you can trust your intuition. I think all people have an inner voice waiting for them to listen carefully, however not everyone is ready to listen to what it has to say. I challenge you to pay attention to your intuition. Trust that you have all the answers within; you possess more power than you think, darling.

– I’ve learned that the more I slow down, and take time to unwind, the better I can hear my inner voice. Slow living is the new living in 2020, simply cause some things are not meant to be rushed.

Light a candle and just sit for a while. Let the stillness speak. Be aware of the silence, of what’s happening within you. Relax, and let go of your worries; yesterday’s sorrows and tomorrow’s to-do’s. Count your breaths. Count your blessings. Learn to appreciate the moments when you’re doing absolutely nothing. If you listen carefully you’ll hear those whispers from deep within. Don’t ignore them. Pay attention, and take it all in.

Tapping into my spiritual side – I’m an open-minded person and I love to explore different parts of myself. After cultivating my spiritual side a bit more I’ve become to understand how calm and peaceful it makes me feel. I’ve become more content and hopeful. I truly believe we’re spiritual beings having a human experience. I also believe that there’s so much more to life than the things we can experience through our five senses. Understanding that we’re all in this together, however, experiencing life in our own unique way, makes me feel at peace.

– I’ve learned that deep soul connections are gems that should be nurtured and taken care of. There are people with whom we form an instant connection; whether it’s a co-worker, a stranger at the bar, the person at the library, the gym or the internet. We meet new people everyday, yet there are certain gems we simply cannot forget. These are the people we need to hold on to; people that understands us, speaks the same soul language as us, that challenges us and helps us evolve.

❤

Linda