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Mindfulness practises for setting & achieving goals

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”How amusing, that we all pretend to be normal when we can be wildly ourselves instead.”

Where do you see yourself one year from now? What can you do today, this week, this month that will bring you one step closer to that version of you? Setting daily, weekly and monthly intentions is a great way in order to move closer to that life. Your future is created now.

Visualise, and take inspired action.

Write it down. The more specific you are about your goals, the better. Write them down, try to be as clear and precise as possible. Putting words, goals – the desired future – on paper will take you one step closer to achieving your dreams. Start with something small; write something down that you wish to happen this week, and witness how it blossoms into reality.

Let go of the how. After writing down your goals it’s crucial that you stop obsessing over how everything will happen. You can’t control every situation, or a person in your life. Bear in mind that things usually never work out exactly as planned. Nevertheless, if you stay persistent, and believe in yourself and your dreams, things will eventually fall into place; maybe not the way you hoped for, but instead, the way that is best for you. Remember life works for you, not against you. Do not force an outcome. Let it flow naturally. Everything will come to you at the right time. Be patient.

Do it your way. Allow yourself to be inspired by others, however, do not compare yourself to anyone else’s success. We all have our own unique story; focus on your intentions, your strengths. Be you. What do you want? Follow your heart, your intuition; it always guides you to where you need to be. Everything you need, already resting peacefully within. Trust yourself. The moment you allow your unique self to shine through, that’s the moment when the magic starts to happen.

Relax and let go. Don’t take life too seriously. Don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s OK if you mess things up – its’ part of life. We grow from everything we go through in life. Take a break and chill out every once and a while. Meditate to calm your nerves, and quiet down the mental chatter. While it’s good to have a plan, also keep in mind that sometimes you need to take a step back, breathe, trust and let go, and see what happens.

Allow yourself to be a beginner. Try something new, and watch how your confidence grows. It’s convenient and easy to fall into a rut. Routines become such a natural part of our every day life, that all of a sudden, we stop challenging ourselves. If you never take a step outside that comfort zone of yours, you won’t grow. You have to push yourself to do things that make you nervous, a little bit afraid and uneasy. The reward you will feel and experience afterwards is priceless.

All is well 11.11

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There is a force within us, around us, far away from us. It’s penetrating every area of our existence. Wherever we go, it goes with us. Whoever we are, it is within us. Whatever we speak, it speaks through us. Whatever we create, it creates with us. It never leaves our side. It guides us. Protects us. Believes in us.

The universe and your intuition have a strong connection, powerfully linked. And you don’t see what’s right there in front of you. You don’t see the magic flooding underneath, the beauty and strength that’s waiting to be released.

Your intuition is a powerful force, learn to listen, and trust it, even more. It wants what’s best for you, it always does.

Believe in yourself. Believe that all you need is waiting underneath. Waiting for you to come out from beneath, darling you’re already more than complete.

Trust that the universe is here to guide you. It always has your back. You are taken care of. Trust in yourself and in your abilities. Allow yourself to be, to become still within the force. Let your intuition guide you on your way. Come what may. Focus on what you can do, and the rest will follow, I promise you.

All is well. 11.11.

How to give yourself a mental makeover

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”Be pure, bright, white, light”

You can take your life in a new direction at any time.

Every now and then it’s good to change things up, to keep things (thoughts) fresh, in order to stay motivated and inspired. It’s easy to become under-stimulated if you keep on doing the same things over and over again. In a sense it’s like driving on autopilot, where you just keep on moving forward, and still, you haven’t got the slightest idea what you’re doing, cause you’re not the one in control.

Then it’s about time.

Time to open up for fresh, new perspectives to enter. 

If you’re looking for a mini life-makeover, then, first things first, you need to start from within. In other words, start with your mental state, since most often it’s the root to all problems. If you don’t change what’s going on inside your mind – with your thoughts, and the way you think about certain things – then it’s going to be very hard to find a new sense of happiness, contentment and inspiration.

”You should always try to seek that fluidity, that flowing movement, in order not to become stagnant.”

As humans we’re constantly evolving, constantly growing and learning. To work on yourself, and who you’re becoming, is an ongoing process. You should always try to seek that fluidity, that flowing movement, in order not to become stagnant. Sometimes we only require a mini makeover, while there might be occasions when we need to start completely over. Whatever it might be, it’s important that you make clear why you want, or need, this life change. It can be anything from changing your diet and health & fitness routine, moving country, finding a new job to taking that giant, bold leap to start a new project. However, always figure out the why first; the reasons behind why you’re doing this makeover. Search for that internal motivation, your inner spark. You might think that  ”Oh no, I don’t have an inner spark. I lost it years ago, and I haven’t seen it since.”

But guess what, you do have it! We all have it – some of us just have to dig a little deeper in order to find it.

With that said, while you figure your life out, and all that, I’ve written a list of 5 life perspectives to live by that hopefully can assist you on your journey.

Look for it on the inside

Don’t look for it in another person, in your job or your expensive toys. Happiness is found within. You might say it’s such a cliché, but it’s simple facts. While all these things are wonderful, they aren’t the root to our happiness.

And for once, can we please stop comparing ourselves to one another? We are unique individuals, (however, we are all one and the same) with different traits, personalities, life experiences and up-bringings. Instead we should be inspired and motivated by one another, and not solely compare our lives with the lives of others. Look for all the wonderful things that you have, and no, you don’t have to look far. Look within. Showing gratitude is the simplest step towards a happier life. If you want more happiness in your life; be happy. If you want more love; show love, show kindness. If you want more success; act as if, work hard and take action.

Know that you’re an amazing human, and the world wouldn’t be the same place without you. Your contribution is unique ❤

Be free (and wild) as a child

In The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz writes; ”The resurrection is to be like a child – to be wild and free, but with a difference. The difference is that we have freedom with wisdom instead of innocence.”  The goal is to become free, and to be ourselves again. Not to feel the pressure to act and be a certain way just because society (or our family) tells us to. Don’t hide your true self, don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. To be wild and free is not the same as being immature and not taking responsibility for your actions; to be wild and free is to have the courage to be yourself, to be brave and courageous to speak up and to be responsible for the decisions you make. To be wild and free is to follow your dreams, and to be bold enough to believe that anything is possible if one has enough nerve.

Take control over your emotions

Emotions can be tricky, and at times it can be burdensome to not let them take over your entire being. You should never suppress your emotions, however, you shouldn’t let the emotions gain power over you. Emotions are something you’re experiencing, not something you are. Try to be the witness, the observer behind the emotion, and look at it with acceptance. This can help you detach from the emotion, and see it for what it is – feelings passing through your body. Journal, paint, go for a walk in nature, dance to your favorite song, sit in silence. Do whatever you feel the need to do.

You see, you’re the one deciding if you want to live in peace or with hatred, with excitement or fear, happiness or sadness. The power is all yours. Get rid of the victim mindset – know that you’re responsible of your own happiness, and therefore you can’t expect another person to bombard you with love and happiness 24/7. You have to cultivate it yourself. Other people can, by all means, bring you love and happiness, but what I’m trying to say is that you can’t rely on other people to make you happy. You make you happy.

Stay open-minded

Be open to new experiences. Sometimes life doesn’t happen the way you expected, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t working out for you. Stay open-minded to new beginnings, to new adventures, to meeting new people and learning about different cultures. The more we know about one another, the more we learn to respect one another. In the end, despite our differences, we are all human beings experiencing this thing called life. We are all trying to do our best (or at least we should..) I think it’s really important to listen to various people, their stories and different outlooks on life, and to learn to respect one another, even though we have opposing views. There’s much to learn from each another – listen not only to respond, but to understand.

Stay true to yourself

Stay true to your feelings, your dreams and your unique voice. Don’t be afraid that people will judge you; there will always be those who will. However, decide not to care. Be yourself, no matter what. Do your thing; the things that make you sparkle, the things that lit you up. If you are bold enough to be you, people too will be bold enough to be themselves. If you feel like you’re playing the supporting role in the movie of your life, if you’re neglecting your own happiness for the sake of other people, then it’s about time that you start playing the leading role. It’s your life, it’s your creation.

You decide who you’re going to be. It’s all up to you.

How to be more gentle with yourself

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”Relax. My darling, unwind. Be patient and stay alert. You’re coming home. To yourself.”

No one in this world is pure and perfect, not even nature. If you avoid people for their shortcomings, you will most certainly be alone in this world. And if you’re constantly doubting yourself, and never take the time to actually embrace your accomplishments, you’re most certainly chasing a perfection that doesn’t even exist. Therefore, try to judge less, and love more. Surround yourself with people who understand. People who lift you up.

We rise by lifting others.

With this being said, below you’ll find some tips & tricks on how to recharge your soul. Your entire being. How to feel all sparkly, and good about yourself again, when you feel unmotivated and ready to crawl back to bed.

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, even you.

”Temporarily closed for spiritual maintenance.”

I appreciate the calmness. I appreciate my books. I love spending time alone, getting to know myself on a deeper level. I love to soak up the present moment, listen to my heartbeat, the sound of the waves, the whispers in the wind. I love to write. Recharging, and allowing myself to be me, with all my flaws and imperfections. Checking-in on what I’m working towards, and what I’m working on in my mind right now. Slowing down, taking it all in. Being aware, and listening within.

Write down your thoughts, your reflections and those things you wish to accomplish. Put them on a piece of paper, and slowly witness how they transform into reality.

”yesterday. NOW. tomorrow.”

Just cause you’re breathing, doesn’t mean you’re alive.

Be here. Now.

”Be a better you, for you.”

Work on yourself, every day. Strive to always do your best; and remember your best today might not be your best tomorrow. Life can be a real battlefield at times; things will happen that you didn’t prepare for, nonetheless, try to stay open-minded and positive in order for creative solutions to arise.

Do it for you, not for anyone else. You do your thing. What do you fancy? What makes you happy? Do that, and do it for you.

”Banish judgment.”

Don’t compare yourself to others, cause how can you? You’re not them, and they are not you. No one is either more or less than you, and you’re not more or less than anyone else. Isn’t that what makes this life so compelling? That we’re a bunch of humans, although somehow so alike, we have our different traits, up-bringings and weird quirks. We have our different struggles, things to heal and to let go of. If we only knew how much there’s to learn from one another, so much wisdom and clarity to gain from each other. Every human you’ve met thus far know that you’ve met them for a reason. Although you’ve let people hurt you in the past, know that it was something you had to go through, in order to find yourself, in order to find your inner strength.

Self-love hasn’t always been a priority in my life, and therefore, I’ve had some hard lessons to learn in order to finally see my own worth. It’s not narcissistic to love oneself, to take care of oneself. It’s necessary in order to grow and evolve as a human being. And so, stop judging yourself for your wrong-doings, past mistakes and things not working out the way you hoped.

If your wish is to help and inspire other humans, then start by being true to yourself, and not being afraid to show your most authentic self. We help others, by first helping ourselves.

”Stillness speaks.”

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 breath. Count your blessings. Learn to appreciate the moments when you’re doing absolutely nothing. If you listen carefully you’ll hear whispers from deep within. Don’t ignore them. Pay attention, and let them sink in.

”It’s okay to not be okay all the time.”

Every now and then you have to unplug, turn the airplane mode on, have ice cream and allow those negative feelings to gently (or not so gently…) flow through you. Don’t resist them, however, don’t get too caught up in them. Let them pass by like clouds on a sunny day. Feel whatever you need to feel, and then let it all go. It’s okay to not be okay all the time. Feelings are temporarily, and they are actually here trying to tell you something. Maybe you don’t need to be productive 24/7? Maybe you need to listen to your body more often? Maybe you don’t need to post on social media everything you’re up to? Maybe you need to allow yourself to just be?

”Stay alert, and listen to your body.
Rest when tired. Awaken with a new heart,
with a new passion burning from within.”

Mindfulness & Resilience

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”Resilience is not about overcoming, but becoming.”

– Sherri Mandel

Resilience (noun) re-sil–ience

”… the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress – such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace or financial stressors.”

– American Psychological Association

As life is filled with adversity, threats and significant sources of stress, our sense of control can swiftly disappear, and we may end up solely relying on our inner strength. Taking it day by day. And some days, hour by hour.

In a Ted Talk, Shauna Shapiro talks about mindfulness as one of the most effective vehicles for how to help people transform. ”What you practice grows stronger”, says Shapiro. According to research we can sculpt and strengthen our synaptic connections based on repeated practice. However, paying attention in the present moment is not enough, says Shapiro – it is how we pay attention. She talks about paying attention with kindness. The beneficial effects of kind attention are that it decreases stress, strengthens our immune functioning and helps us sleep better, among other things. (Shapiro, 2017). 

But can mindfulness strengthen our mental health or resilience? According to Goleman and Davidson high level of meditation practice can help us better control our emotions; hence not let them pull us into their melodrama. According to the authors Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been an effective way to lower the relapse rate in severe depression. Studies have shown that in cases where people suffer from depression so severe that no medication helped them, MBCT did. However, when it comes to meditation it is all about consistency. In order for you to enjoy the benefits you need to make it into a repeated practice. (Goleman & Davidson, 2017). 

A principle within cognitive therapy is that of decentring – in other words, to observe thoughts and feelings without being overly identified with them – and meditation can be used as an effective tool to help us with that. (Goleman & Davidson, 2017). 

Resilience – skill or a trait?

According to a study by Leys et al. (2018) it is currently impossible to determine with certainty the nature of resilience – whether it is a skill or a trait. The arguments for resilience as a skill explores that resilience could be seen as a dynamic process, which can be strengthened through therapeutic intervention.

Contrastingly, the arguments for resilience as a personality trait argue that resilience is associated with personality traits, seeing it as more stable over time. For example a study indicates that resilience was positively related to openness to experience, conscientiousness, and extraversion, and negatively related to neuroticism. (Leys, Arnal, Wollast, Rolin, Kotsou & Fossion, 2018).

Man’s Search For Meaning

I think it’s impossible to write about resilience without mentioning Victor E. Frankl. In his book Man’s Search For Meaning Frankl discusses his own personal experiences and observations of life in a concentration camp. He writes that it seemed that sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life might have suffered much pain, but the damage to their inner selves was less – as they were able to retreat to a life of inner resources and spiritual freedom. Frankl writes that this is one way to explain ”the apparent paradox that some prisoners of a less hardy makeup often seemed to survive camp life better than did those of a robust nature.” (Frankl, 2004, s. 47). 

Whether resilience is seen as a skill or a trait, I do believe we humans can enhance our resilience through consistent practise. Some of the characteristics of resilience are for example a sense of meaningfulness (to find meaning in the seemingly meaninglessness), faith, humor, patience, tolerance and optimism. Moreover, having strong self-esteem and self-efficiency, as well as an adaptability to change and an action-oriented approach, are also some attributes associated with a person’s amount of resilience.

It’s okay if today the only thing you did was to breathe. Every tiny action is still an action. An action forward, working towards a solution, rather than focusing on the negatives. Don’t let your thoughts control the way you feel. You’re more than capable of controlling your mind – its’ all about trusting yourself. Trust your ability to take care of yourself. Hold space for all aspects of life – everything is here to teach us something, if we let it.

References:

Frankl, V. E. (2004) Man’s Search For Meaning. Great Britain: Rider.

Goleman, D., & Davidson, R. (2017) The Science of Meditation – How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body. United Kingdom: Penguin Life. 

Leys, C., Arnal, C., Wollast, R., Rolin, H., Kotsou, I., & Fossion, P. (2018) Perspectives on resilience: Personality Trait or Skill? European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 4, 1-6. 

Shapiro, S. Tedx Washington Square. (2017, 10 march). The Power of Mindfulness – What You Practice Grows Stronger. Accessed from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeblJdB2-Vo

Embracing boredom

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”Without boredom, no creativity.”

Going through seasons of boredom and restlessness can be a beautiful reminder that we should allow ourselves to simply be, bored. Ask yourself – Why am I seeking stimulation all the time? Acknowledge this moment, exactly as it is. Make yourself comfortable, and allow yourself to sit with the boredom. Watch it. Invite it in. Maybe it has something to tell you?

Allow the boredom to enter, and from there slowly move forward. We progress from acceptance, not from resentment. You simply allow things to be as they are, and when you’re ready, you take action.

”Allow yourself to be bored, and see what happens.”

We need to be ok with sitting with boredom; that is how creativity is born.

The feeling of boredom is usually all about mindset. First you change your thinking, and by changing your thinking you slowly but surely change your doing. And after a while you’ll notice how your doing turns into being. Being means it’s automatic, second nature; it’s a part of who you are. You don’t have to think about it – you just are.

According to Dr. Joe Dispenza the first step in breaking the habit of being yourself is to become conscious of your unconscious self. (Dispenza, 2012).

Look at the boredom and restlessness as a sign for you to turn inwards; to focus less on what others are doing, and more on what you wish to do. When facing boredom it can be very easy to fall back into old negative thought patterns. Ask yourself – What can I do with this knowledge?

You can begin to change. You can catch the thought before it completely takes over. However, be grateful for the thought, for showing up – since it has made you aware of who you don’t want to be. It’s time to create space within – to be open to fresh, new vibes to enter.

Use the time to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Great questions to ask oneself during moments of boredom are:

What’s important to me?
Who do I wish to spend my time with?
What do I want to do with my time here on earth?
What do I want to say, and how do I wish to act?
How do I wish to feel?
What is the greatest ideal of myself?

To be able to turn inwards is an opportunity to reflect, and change the aspects of yourself that you’re not proud of, or that you know that you can do better. Without blame or judgment, simply admit and accept.

Usually our greatest challenges come from the inside. I think it was Eckhart Tolle that once said; ”I’m not here to find my comfort zone. We’re here to experience difficulties – externally and internally. Embrace challenges, embrace evolution.”

That being said, next time you’re confronted by boredom – embrace it, lean towards it and challenge it.

❤

References:

Dispenza, J. (2012) Breaking the habit of being yourself.

The courage to trust yourself

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A key ingredient in this beautiful, yet unpredictable life is trusting oneself. As soon as you begin to trust yourself you’ll learn how to dance through life, cultivating courage, self-worth and compassion. Wherever you go, begin to plant all these wonderful things that you are. When you start to put complete trust in yourself you’ll automatically become more confident in your own skin.

Go within, listen to your inner guidance. The answers are there. Trust yourself.

What determines your worth?

Think about it for a minute.

Is it your looks? The amount of friends you have? Your income? Your job title? Where you were born? Your skin colour? Or do you depend on other people in order to make you feel valuable?

Question your belief systems. Why do you have them, and where do they steam from? Be clear and completely honest with yourself when answering these questions. Writing your thoughts down might make it easier to understand yourself as you read your words out loud. The goal is not to judge yourself, but to become more self-aware.

Own who you are

We put so much value in other people’s opinions that we forget about our own opinions. Darling please, stop putting value in other people’s assumptions about who they think you are, and who they think you should be. In the end it’s nothing but their expectations and beliefs about you.

Step outside your comfy shoes; the ones that taught you how to walk. It’s about time you go and buy yourself a new pair of shoes. And as we all know it takes a while before it feels convenient to walk in new shoes, but don’t let that discourage you.

While you’re busy walking, or dancing, in your neat and somewhat uncomfy shoes, remember; you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but as long as you stay true and authentic to yourself you’ll make the right decisions in life.

Go within. Be introspective. 

Whenever you have a bad day, feel anxious, unworthy and out of alignment with yourself trust the timing of your life. Know that you’re exactly who and where you need to be right now. Nothing will ever be enough externally than what you have within. It’s the biggest treasure you’ll ever have. It’s a vast world you got there – explore it, dive right in, let sunshine and stardust pour out of your veins.

Clear your mind. Clear your thoughts. Be there for yourself.

Embrace your flaws and harness your talents. Learn about yourself – when are you at your best? What comes naturally to you? What skills do you need to work on? Never stop educating yourself; read books, listen to podcasts and fine-tune your competencies.

When you befriend your inner voice, and become conscious and alert to what’s happening on the inside you’re present. As soon as you become aware of the untrusting voice in your head you’ve the power to let it go.

Do you even know how powerful you are?

Be still and alert, the earth is dancing. 

Meditation has been a huge part in my life the past years. It has helped me tremendously when it comes to trusting myself, my intuition and my abilities. Furthermore, it has made me realize that we are so much more than our physical appearance.

One doesn’t have to meditate in order to find peace of mind, however, it might help. Needless to say, it’s not the minutes that count; it’s what you carry with you, after you’ve been sitting in silence – the patience, the alertness and a greater sense of awareness. Meditation is not sitting with no thought – it’s letting the thoughts pass by, not dwelling, but simply being aware. It’s a perfect way to practice slow breathing, going within, and trusting oneself.

When seeking stillness you allow your mind to go beyond thought. You might for example struggle with a challenging task, and seek more intelligent ideas on how to proceed – when you allow your brain to unwind, and ”turn off”, hence, getting rid of all the pressure, you allow your creativity to come alive, which in turn may lead to more creative solutions to your problem.

We can always choose to be a bit more here, and a little less somewhere else.

We are walking on this planet called earth, spinning around in the middle of an infinite universe, and just like the limitless night sky we’re far greater beings than our human mind can ever grasp.

Daily intentions

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”May you have the courage to go places that scare you.”

For many years now I’ve been writing almost daily in my journal. Usually I write down my feelings and emotions or set a daily intention. However, lately I’ve become aware of my tendency to simply put words on a piece of paper without any deeper thought behind them. I find myself writing sentences without taking the time to reflect what they mean to me.

This I want to change. Instead of aimlessly writing things down I will choose one or two intentions, and really challenge myself to contemplate on what they represent to me.

Let’s take today’s intention as an example.

”Don’t take life too seriously.”

What does this sentence mean to me? And how can I use this intention to improve my day-to-day life?

For me this means not to be too caught up in my mind. Not over-analyzing things that are out of my control. To simply be okay with the present moment just as it is. To see obstacles and road bumps as life lessons, and to try to see the beauty in the simplest of things. Life simply is. It doesn’t demand anything from us; we are the ones demanding things from ourselves as well as others.

”There is nothing either god or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

William Shakespeare

Whenever I find myself being too caught up in my head I remind myself to not take neither my life nor myself too seriously. Sometimes it’s like my mind unconsciously creates worst-case-scenarios out of every situation. But as I’ve become aware of the mind’s tendency to do so, I nowadays catch the thoughts before they completely take over my entire being. We cannot change without awareness. We won’t hear the whispers from within if we never take the time to sit with ourselves. On a daily basis I remind myself that the power is within me. The power to evolve. The power to love. The power to create. The power to trust.

Not taking life too seriously doesn’t mean that one doesn’t care, that one doesn’t take responsibility for one’s life. On the contrary, it means that one does not dwell on the things out of their control. Making the best out of each situation, and accepting that sometime one does not have the answers – and that is okay, in fact, its’ more than okay.

With this being said, whenever you find yourself aimlessly doing something – stop for a while and question yourself; Why do I do this? Is this important to me, and why? Is this bringing me peace & joy or worry & sadness?

Don’t be afraid to have an open conversation with yourself from time to time. Be curious enough to want to get to know thyself on a more deeper level. And remember, don’t take yourself too seriously.

With love,

Linda

How to surrender

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”When you think you’ve surrendered, surrender even more.”

Take a step back and let the universe guide you on the way. Trust that the guidance you need will come to you. Or as Eckhart Tolle so neatly puts it: ”Sometimes surrender means giving up from trying to understand, and becoming comfortable with not knowing.” Life is about finding the balance between what we can control, and what we cannot. Sometimes surrendering is the breakthrough we need.

During my morning yoga the teacher I was following said something that had me remember something deeply important. I was in this slightly uncomforable frog positon (uncomfortable at least to me). The teacher said that whenever we’re in a position that feels difficult and challenging it’s very common to hold our breaths and try to combat the struggle, and therefore resist the growth that comes along. The thing we instead should strive towards in that moment is to take even deeper breaths, and allow our bodies to let go.

Whether you’re in an uncomfortable yoga position or going through a painful and harsh life experience sometimes the only thing you can do is to let go, and go with the flow. This, however, doesn’t mean that you just sit back and do nothing. Nevertheless, whenever you try to hold on to a situation which is out of your control you only create more pain, more weight on your shoulders. You end up feeling dense and drained of energy.

”I choose love instead of fear.”

This doesn’t imply that you’re a completely powerless human being – in fact you posses a great deal of power. What you do have control over in this unpredictable world is your reaction to all that is happening. No one can take the ability to choose how to react away from you. Why? Cause you own it. That power is all yours. Yet, you might not won’t to take that responsibility. Can it be that it’s a too heavy burden to carry, to know that you actually are the one responsible for your own wellbeing?

At a first glance letting go seems like giving up – I’m throwing in the towel, I can’t take this anymore. However, it’s nothing like that; the minute you surrender a sense of peace will arise. When you align with the present moment the motivation to take action, and to actually do something comes from a deeper knowing. And most importantly, the action doesn’t come from fear. It stems from serenity. It stems from compassion.

”The only way out is through.”

Robert Frost

You are here, there is nowhere else to be.

Why focus on being somewhere else, when you are here? If you can’t change the situation in this very moment – surrender. If you feel pain, fear or anxiety – surrender. Feel it – don’t numb how you’re feeling – Feel it. And after, surrender a bit more. And then, let it go. The future hasn’t arrived yet, and when it does, it will arrive in the now. All these thoughts going through your head; observe them, let them dance through you as you witness them, peacefully pass by. Between one thought and another you’ll find space.

Clear blue sky.

Ascend into it, let it breathe through you while it guides you towards your truth.

The more present you are in every moment, the more alive and alert you’ll be. The choices you need to make, the actions you need to take – everything will arise, within. When you listen, you will hear the birds sing, the heart spring. The moment you turn away from the things, thoughts distracting you, you give yourself an opportunity to trust yourself. Essentially, you’ll know how to trust yourself. The only thing needed; your presence.

You are here, there is nowhere else to be, but here.

Trust the process

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”And maybe it’s actually not so much about changing, but more so about becoming the person one always has been. Not finding oneself, but recognising and honouring that self.”

– l.m.v

I’ve noticed that the quieter my surroundings, hence the less stimuli I expose myself to, the more space I create for my inner voice to shine through. I easily distract myself with either work, social media, music, a podcast, a book or by watching YouTube. However, I do cherish the time in-between; doing yoga, taking a walk in nature, exercising or meditating. Nevertheless, even then it’s not completely quiet around me, since I always have music, a podcast or a book in my ears.

After one week with less stimuli, and outside distractions, I’ve once again noticed the importance of silence in order to hear the silent whispers of the soul, and to reach that so called flow state.

It’s not uncommon that we humans find the silence to be boring, and even frustrating – especially if one is not used to it. And if one is running away from their feelings, their thoughts or from life itself, the silence can even become unbearable. Nonetheless, after a couple of days one really starts to appreciate the stillness, and one might even learn how to use the hours with softness, despite the discomfort.

What to do with the silence?

Ease in to it, and trust that within the silence lies a significant amount of wisdom, ready to be experienced by you. The only thing required; your presence.

So, instead of escaping the silence, I’ve been inviting the silence. By embracing doing absolutely nothing I’ve noticed how the words have started flowing more effortlessly to me. Being on the yoga mat, doing some light stretching, without any distractions, is exactly what my soul has been starving for. It’s like it has created space within, for new energy to enter.

I truly believe creativity stems from an external source outside of us. This force is searching for an attentive and open-minded human being to feel, or experience, this subtle shift in energies, and thereby transform it into something tangible, whether it’s a painting, a poem, a novel or an invention. And by being in stillness, one allows for this energy to do its thing. To work its magic.

So, a little advice from me to you; Don’t rush through the moments of silence, the moments of stillness, cause within their insignificance lie a more subtle meaning. To fill the most ordinary day with joy and bliss is within your reach each and every day. Take a glimpse within, and know, while there’s no need to rush through life, there’s a tremendous need to start appreciating life.

With this being said, I do believe we can learn a lot from Mother Nature when it comes to embracing the silence, embracing the now and issness of the moment. While dancing through seasons, she does not rush. Taking her time to unwind, to unfold, to let go and to transform. Allowing herself to bloom. Month after month. Year after year. Going through phases fully present, fully alive. Fully confident in her transparency and vulnerability. Wise enough to know, that letting go doesn’t necessarily mean being deprived of, but creating space, creating opportunity. She has her end-goals and dreams, however, at the same time she acknowledges the process and the in-betweens. The tranquillity of being winter when she’s winter, summer when she’s summer.

Flow state

When you’re enjoying what you’re doing you easily reach that so called flow state. A state of being when time passes by without you even noticing. A state of being when you’re your most creative self. A state of being when you’re guided by your inner voice. A state of being that can only be described by the words pure bliss.

Some features of ”flow” according to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-American psychologist. He recognised and named the psychological concept of flow, a highly focused mental state conducive to productivity.

▫️Challenging but attainable goals
▫️Strong focused concentration
▫️The activity is intrinsically rewarding
▫️Feelings of serenity
▫️Loss of self-consciousness
▫️Timelessness/lose track of time passing
▫️Lack of awareness of physical needs
▫️Complete focus on the activity itself

”The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times. The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”


– MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI

Reflect upon if or when you’ve experienced this kind of flow state, and what you were doing during that time.