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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.

Small daily habits to improve your life

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”Ask yourself; Does this support my innermost being?”

While being perfect is rather boring, we should instead strive to be a bit more willing to be the best version of ourselves. A version that will change from day to day, from hour to hour even. Some days we learn, some days we win. However, we don’t stop when the mountain gets too high or the sea too rough. Rather, we adjust. We may scream a little (or a lot), we may laugh at our foolishness. But we continue, we adapt. And that’s how we evolve.

”Fragile you are, little seed. Planted in the depths of thick, dark, nourishing soil. Resilient you are, blooming flower. Early spring.”

l.m.v

I strongly believe it’s the small daily habits that encompass the greatest value on our overall wellbeing. Like waking up early dawn, knowing it’s time to make yourself a freshly brewed cup of coffee. The smell and sound of coffee beans grinding. The taste of creamy oat milk, nicely poured on top of a hot, steamy cup of goodness. The day can begin. But first, a moment to enjoy a silence only the tranquil, early hour can provide.

Needless to say, there’s an endless list of habits which to incorporate in order to produce a bit more substance to your day. Ask yourself; What can I do to make my day more meaningful? It can be anything, as long as it invigorates you. Something modest, yet something which holds a great deal of significance, and that you wish to bring about, every day.

Below you’ll find some small daily habits of mine that I’ve become utterly attached to, in that sense that they’ve come to play a crucial part of my day. My morning coffee routine being one of them.

Learning Italian at least 15 minutes a day

I simply adore the Italian language. La lingua italiana é sempre bella. I love to listen to the pronunciation, I love learning new words, and I love the way it challenges my brain. I spoke a little bit of Italian 18 years ago, however, I’ve forgotten plenty since I haven’t been practising. To set aside 15 minutes every day for a language is achievable almost for anyone. And some may say that 15 minutes a day isn’t enough in order to learn – still, during these minutes I’m fully engaged in the language, and 15 minutes a day is 105 minutes a week. A little bit every day is better then everything in one day, at least in my opinion. It has become a highlight of the day; 15 minutes of me travelling to Italy, daily.

Journaling

Ever since I started with this daily practice I’ve felt less anxious and more at peace. You see, my mind is constantly chatting – always seems to be a party up there. However, through journaling I somehow separate and remove all the clutter from the important information, the things that make sense, make me proceed. Usually I start my day by writing my thoughts down in a notebook (yes I prefer it to be handwritten). 10-15 minutes of free writing, and the mind feels lighter – It’s like space has been created for new, more creative thoughts to enter. Highly recommend. And there are days when I do not want to write anything, during those days I instead choose to sit with myself and talk out loud, about everything and nothing. Mostly about nothing. Very refreshing for the mind as well!

Reading a chapter in a book

I usually read two to three books at a time. For me, reading equals meditation. I’ve also started to read books I normally wouldn’t read – I strongly believe in the importance of gaining new insight, and learning new things. And the more I read, the less time I find myself scrolling through social media. I prefer reading a chapter in the afternoon, or before going to bed. A book can take you places you’ve always been afraid to go… Looking forward to the day I can read a book in Italian.

Washing my face

I’ve never been particularly keen on washing my face each morning and each night. Still, it’s something I’ve always done, but without any greater enthusiasm. But ever since I got myself a rose quartz face roller I’ve actually even started to look forward to this insignificant morning and night time routine. By keeping the face roller in the fridge over night it stays cool, and I must say it feels rather heavenly for my tired and puffy morning face. It’s the little things 😉

As you may have noticed, these small daily habits don’t have to be any grand endeavours that will save the humanity from evil. However, in the face of their triviality they might prevent you from falling into a rut. Since you’re the one choosing which habits to incorporate, you will eventually notice that the more rejuvenating habits you choose the better you will feel. And the better you feel, the more positivity you will shine onto the people around you. A win-win!

In alignment

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”How your life feels is more important than how it looks.”

Being in alignment – body, mind and soul – how does that feel? When does one know, one is in alignment with life?

In this moment, here and now, would you say you’re in alignment?

”Let yourself feel the sun on your skin, the crisp wind through your hair, let your feet touch the grass. And your words, let them flow, gently, so kindly, within, as well as without. Let them be, who they are. Let go, create space, move forward. Here, be here. Just as you are. Smile, and breathe. Dance a little. Still, here you are.”

l.m.v

I believe being in alignment has a lot to do with if one’s words align with one’s actions. Oftentimes we say one thing, and then end up doing the opposite. Not fulfilling our potential. Listening to and believing in the voice ”You can’t do it”, rather than to the voice ”Of course you can, go for it!” A rather common human trait. Why? I don’t, however, have an answer to that. Are we too lazy? Too scared? Too concerned with what others might think of us if we actually started believing in ourselves? Who do you think you are.

The thing is, when you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, you won’t be afraid. Yes you might feel butterflies in your stomach, you might sense a nervousness floating back and forth. However, you won’t be afraid. Simply, knowing you’re doing what you came here to do. Peaceful, aligned. Fear doesn’t have the power to stop you from doing what you’re supposed to do – the will to be you is more determined. Bold and compassionate.

And that my dear, is when you know you’re on the right path. The path towards alignment.

How to release emotions in a healthy way

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”Feel the feeling, but don’t become the emotion.
Allow & release.”

Ever experienced a deep need or desire to scream out loud? However, considering your surroundings, you never do. From where does this impulse stem from?

Suppose this craving sneaks up during days when you feel frustrated, a bit anxious and stressed out.

Pent up emotions eventually need to be released.

It’s rather common to bottle up ones emotions; we might not want to face them, hence run away from them, seeking out instant pleasures from our external environment. Nevertheless, in due course they will catch up on us.

With this being said, in what ways can these emotions be released from our bodies? You see, you don’t want them to build a nest within you, keeping you depressed, anxious or sick.

But first things first – never ever apologize for feeling a certain way. Your feelings are valid – each and every one of them. Feelings come up for a reason, and choosing to hold on to the negative ones might make you sick.

Liberate yourself – there’s no greater feeling than the sense of freedom arising within, after pent up emotions have been released.

Healthy ways to release emotions

Create

Whether it’s through painting, writing, singing or dancing – choose an art form that speaks to your soul. Know that it’s okay to release stuck emotions slowly, to prevent them from overwhelming you. You might have been holding on to anger or resentment for several years, and therefore it could become overbearing to release everything at once; thus take it at your own pace. Releasing emotions shouldn’t be something that is impossible for you to do. Take it step by step, and let your favourite art form guide you on your way.

Yin yoga

Repressed and suppressed emotions have a tendency to be stored in our bodies, making our joints and muscles tense and sore, especially in the hip area. Yin yoga is a perfect way to release these pent up emotions from your body. It’s like meditation for the entire soul. In yin yoga you hold each pose for a longer period of time; anything from 2 minutes up to several minutes depending on your level.

Sitting in a somewhat uncomfortable pose that you’re not normally used to might make you feel frustrated, angry or sad. Know that it’s totally normal, and your body’s way of releasing that which no longer serves you. Surrender to the practise, and notice how, little by little, your body lets go.

Talk it out

What better way to release emotions by talking to your best friend, your mentor, your therapist or even your dog. Speaking up, and being honest with how you feel is oh so important for your mental wellbeing. However, don’t use it as an opportunity to simply nag and find faults in everything and yourself. Instead, try to come up with new solutions and answers to your problems. Keep an open-mind, and remember that you might not always find the perfect resolution – accept it and let it go.

Write a letter

Are there things unsaid? Things you wish you would have expresssed. With an honest heart write clearly about what’s bothering you. While turning your feelings into words you make them more concrete, and more manageable. Getting those feelings, thoughts and whispers out-there is a perfect way to release them from in-there. Let. Them. Go.

Exercise

Do you feel that your head is filled up with thoughts, ideas, questions and worries? Or maybe you feel stuck, and don’t know how to proceed? Go for a run. Take a swim, a hike in the mountains or a sweaty boxing session. Whatever you’re deliberating or reflecting upon will eventually become clearer the moment you loose your tight grip around it.

While exercising you release dopamine, serotonin and enorphins. These chemicals will make you feel calmer as they help relieve pain and stress, and therefore trigger a positive feeling in the body.

Having said that, what are your favourite ways to release suppressed or repressed emotions?

The sacred intuitive mind

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”Creativity thrives in stillness, arises from the no-thingness.”

When you allow yourself to simply sit, with yourself, and let the thoughts wander freely – no holding on, no grasping, simply observing; insights, and new solutions to your challenges might arise.

One of our biggest dilemmas, I believe, is that we think about life more than we are actually living life. And isn’t it precisely because of that, that we need to remember to appreciate the moments in between. Life is to be found in the smallest of details; the morning sun gently caressing the ground, the taste of ocean air, your lovers facial expression when she’s talking about something important to her, a strangers helping hand, the sound of your sleeping child.

Lately, I’ve given myself the time to sit down and write. Writing has often been the thing that has provided me with the most comfort; to acknowledge the calmness, and just let whatever that wants to arise, arise. You see, the words, more often than not, surface out of the stillness. They don’t come when we’re busy chasing after goals and habitually moving through life. The answers you’re seeking come when you allow yourself to slow down. When you create space, and are open to receiving.

Why, then, is it, time and again, so difficult to sit with one’s thoughts? You don’t want to experience the quiet moments in between, simply cause you’re always running towards the next moment. And the next. Something greater, more grandeur might be awaiting around the corner. Or so you were taught to believe. What can this still moment actually provide me with, when I haven’t yet achieved all my desires. I need to move forward. I need to be doing something. I need to accomplish, I need to prove that I’m worthy of my existence. If I’m not doing something, I’m not existing.

But, what if, you’re actually evolving simply by being. By simply accepting and surrendering to the moment. Don’t resist the moment, whatever it contains. Sit with it, observe it, be aware of it – don’t label it. Be with it. Learn to see without the eyes, learn to know without the mind. Learn to be without becoming. Let go of what you know, and let yourself be open to the fresh, the new.

”Notice the things that are blocking peace from coming into your life.”

Give yourself time, daily, to sit with yourself. In absolute stillness. Within that quiet space you allow the sacred intuitive mind an opportunity to come forth.

❤

Dear November…

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… let’s get lost, shall we?

”Get lost, on the path less traveled, and return, a little bit more well-lived.”

Embrace the thought – Never fully completed – and your existence might become a little less intimidating. More light-hearted, less heavy. You do not have to have all the answers. All the lovers. All the glimmery, shiny things. As long as you have an intense yearning to listen, understand, and respond accordingly. As long as you carry within a deep desire to experience all that’s making you grow, bold and flow. Compassionate.

Get lost, on the path less traveled, and return,
a little bit more well-lived.
With bruises and scars, but a heart so filled.

Smell the roses, taste your tears,
unlock your laugh. Whenever your voice can’t carry you
– in an honest manner – speak, however soft, and weak.

It’s a spinning wheel, or a tranquil deal. Your choice.
Off-track, on-track, in-between, love and laughter,
fear and disaster. It is you life, be that as it may,
always say thank you, for this new day.
You do not know what it has in store for you,
this particular today.

November dear, I welcome you. You’re one of a kind,
and so perfectly designed. I sense something wonderful
is about to unwind.

Ways to be more mindful

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”Be aware; make a move, take a stand, take a chance. Embrace and work with what is.”

Every moment, peacefully passing by. What happens now, in this moment, guides us into the next. Pay attention to your surroundings, as well as your inner state, as it nourishes greater awareness, clarity and acceptance of what is. Don’t miss out on life, don’t miss out on what is of greatest value. Growth and transformation happen the moment you realize the richness and the depth of your potentialities. As every moment peacefully evolves, so are you. 

How to become more mindful? How to become more acceptant of what is? There are several methods helping us to cultivate a more intimate relationship with the present moment, ways for us to achieve serenity. Peace of mind. Below you’ll find some of my favourites.

Tranquility speaks

”Listen to the whispers of your soul.”

4.30 am. I forgot how peaceful it is to wake up at dawn. Complete darkness surrounding me, however, the light within keeping me safe. The early hours present a tremendous opportunity for self-reflection. Looking within, and realising that everything is exactly as it should be. Morning stretch to wake up the body, meditation to wake up the mind. Within the stillness lies the answer. The answers to all of our questions. It’s our task to listen. To be still, to be alert. To trust.

Become one with nature

”Watch her let go, watch her become.”

Let nature be your biggest teacher. How she unfolds; growing, letting go and becoming. Effortlessly, and calmly providing us with all her treasures. She’s delicate, yet powerful, the way she’s giving all of her. Supporting us with her beauty. Her kindness. Celebrate her. Treat her with respect. Treat all of it with respect. We are all one.

Choose your happy

”Do you, and flow with it.” 

The more I listen within, the less I compare myself with others. And the less I observe what others are doing, the happier I become. However, it’s extremely easy to get caught up in comparison mode. To start judging oneself for not being enough, not doing enough. It’s not about the doing, it’s about the being. It’s about surrendering to the moment and making the best out of it. The only way for us to get out of this negative mindset of comparison is to start accepting ourselves the way we are. Knowing that we are exactly who we need to be right now. Letting go of outside pressure, the need to compete with others; we are only competing with ourselves. Your only comparison should be who you were yesterday. In this moment you have the power to choose. Choose happiness. Choose love. Choose yourself, and flow with it.

Self-awareness

”It’s not the situation that makes us unhappy; it’s our thoughts about the situation that makes us unhappy.”

The more aware we are of our thoughts and how they affect us, the more we realize just how powerful they are. Thoughts can completely turn a day around. They can turn a life around. Redirecting your thoughts, choosing more positive ones, when facing a negative situation can help you see the situation in new daylight. The understanding that no one can change your thoughts but you, should be enough for you to jump over to the drivers seat. You control your mind – don’t let it control you. However, you should never neglect your feelings, your emotions. Don’t ever suppress the negativity, don’t let it built a nest within you – let it out, let it pass through you. Know that you are simply experiencing these emotions. They shall pass, as they too are temporarily.

”Out of stillness grows mastery. There’s no place like within.”

l.m.v

The cure for loneliness

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”By helping each other we’re helping ourselves.”

It seems like humans are feeling more lonely and isolated than ever before. And whereas there are varying root causes to this I wish to adress one possible explanation.

Self-empowerment, self-help, self-actualization, self-care,

self, self, self

Self-absorbtion.

While I believe the self-help industry has many positive side effects, I also believe that the moment we become too self-absorbed the negative effects outweigh the positive ones. In other words, if you’re overly concerned with yourself, your own feelings and thoughts you might easily turn into a self-absorbed human being.

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe in self-empowerment, self-actualization and self-growth. I believe in self-love. Compassion towards others begins with compassion towards the self. It’s nothing wrong in wanting to improve and evolve as a human being, in fact, it’s a necessity for us in order to evolve as a spieces.

You’re not special.

I think it was the Dalai lama who said that whenever he is having a talk in front of thousands of people he always reminds himself that he’s just like everyone else. He doesn’t think of himself as someone special. To believe that he would be any different would only exclude him from the others, hence, make him feel lonely and secluded.

You’re not special, however, that doesn’t mean that you’re not essential. You’re needed, just like everyone else. We were all born the same way, and we will eventually die one day.

It’s by helping others that we’re really helping ourselves. To be the best we can be, not only for our own selfish benefits, but for the highest good of all. Not neglecting ourselves, but using our skillsets creating and living for the highest good of humanity. In other words, how can you use your competences and experiences in order to serve another human being?

Personally, I’ve noticed that whenever I find myself in a difficult and challenging situation it usually helps to look at it from a bird’s eye view. A great way to do this is to take a step back and help another person in need, in order to get some perspectives on your own situation.

Usually these difficult situations aren’t unique in any way, in fact, they are experienced by a great deal of humans. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you’re not allowed to feel sad about your situation. Of course you are; your feelings are valid. However, I believe that having a wider perspective at life will in fact make us feel less lonely. Life comes with pain and suffering, love and laughter. But to be fully absorbed by our own problems and difficulties day in and day out will eventually only create more suffering.

With this being said, I don’t propose that we should stop working on ourselves. We should in deed better ourselves, and be curious enough to explore all aspects of ourselves, nonetheless, not purely for our own egoistical needs, but for the sake of all living beings.

What do you think?