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Self-respect

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”Oh baby, don’t you know. You’re a goddess. Don’t let them treat you like a doormat.”

 

Darling friend, feed yourself daily. Fill your plate with plenty of love, kindness and respect. Don’t depend on others to do so. Don’t ever lose your dignity and self-respect trying to make people love and appreciate you, when they just aren’t capable.

 

”The more you love yourself, the less nonsense you’ll tolerate.”

 

It’s easy to lose sight of oneself every once in a while. You lose yourself when you listen too closely to what everybody else has to say. You might even lose yourself in your work, in your relationship or maybe you went to school for something practical rather than following your passion. Or maybe you just wanted to ”fit in”. Whatever the reason, now is the time to bring out the human you once tucked away. Finding yourself is about removing all the layers of ”what’s expected” and what’s acceptable”. It’s about stepping fully and completely into your true Self, living your purpose and believing you can. Cause babe, you can. You just have to believe.

 

”A woman worth kissing is not easily kissed.”

 

Don’t be like the rest of them. Be you. Don’t take shit from people. Let the fire from within burn their fragile skin. Speak up for yourself and always treat yourself with respect. The people who is meant to be in your life will be there, naturally. They will walk by your side, even if the going gets touch, through pain, failure, success and fortune. They will, without a doubt, challenge you, as well as fight for you. Never ever beg someone to be in your life. Never beg for love. Respect yourself. Love yourself first, so you know what you deserve. Cause darling friend, you deserve the mother fu**ing kingdom.

And know by heart, while you’re busy respecting yourself, respect your fellow humans. Respect life.

 

❤

Linda

 

”At least we are breathing the same air – you & I”

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”We write down made-up stories to tell the truths we wish we could say out loud.”

 

5 AM. ‘A good night’s sleep? Merely a memory,’ the young boy thought while trying to scratch his upper back. His left hand reached out to the other side of the bed, searching for something that wasn’t there. He grabbed the pillow, pulled it close to his chest, forced himself to awaken old memories, old scents. Regardless of how hard he tried he could not forget that scent. There were people who got caught up in old memories while listening to music. It was the smell, that haunted him.

He dragged himself out of bed to open the balcony door. His feet touched the raw, biting surface. He was paralyzed, and in some miraculous way his broken heart still found a way to beat. The thunderstorm had kept him up all night. He had never gotten over them, traumatised since early childhood. And the rashes, those damn rashes. He had never gotten rid of them either. ‘Will I ever get over this,’ he whispered to himself, staring at the empty bed.

……………..

The young boy took a quick jump to the side, and hid behind the old oak tree. Dirty leaves lying on the wet grass, sticking firmly to his shoes. He observed the old man’s wrinkly face, his tired eyes appeared to be completely lost in the pages. Is it even possible to read a book so water damaged? He decided to move a bit closer, and with every step his heartbeat started to slow down. The air was still humid despite the rain that had been pouring down during the night. The old man looked up. He placed the book in his pocket and moved to the left as soon as he saw him. His eyes gazing at the dark clouds coming in. ‘It will most probably be here within an hour or so.’

‘It kept me up all night,’ the young boy said, scratching his right leg.

‘There’s no rainbow without the rain.’ The old man took a glimpse at his leg. ‘Mosquitos?’

‘No, rashes. Kept me up all night.’ The young boy looked down at his once white converses. He usually didn’t have problems this time of the year. Now he could barely sit still, even though every cell in his body was screaming for silence.

‘Yet, here we are, breathing the same air, watching the same night sky. The same stars, guiding us, and illuminating our souls when we’ve found ourselves astray in the dark,’ the old man replied.

They could hear the thunder from far distant. The young boy scratched his forearm while a tender breeze brushed his cheek. In just seconds the wind got stronger. ‘But it aches. It aches so bad I can’t breathe. When does it stop?’

The old man closed his eyes. ‘If it was love, then never.’ 

 

_____
l.m.v

Monday Mood & Workout

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”You don’t get what you wish for. You get what you work for.”

 

Woke up with the sun. I sense it’s spring in the air. It’s the lighter days, I know it is. I adore them. Everything becomes lighter, not only the days, but the mood. Dear spring, we’ve been waiting for you. When you show up every flower starts blooming. Animals waking up from their winter sleep. We bloom. Even with fragile hearts. 

I felt very energetic this beautiful Monday morning. A quick morning stretch, food blogging, writing and a well deserved workout. I think I’m ready for some studying (yawn)… I really would rather clean. Every time I know I should do something, I start cleaning. Cleaning is always a good idea. But even I know I don’t need to clean 7 days a week.

And you know what!? I booked skydiving 😀 Or I asked the company when it would be a suitable day in May. One step closer to facing my fear of heights though… To escape fear you have to go through it, not around it. But to be honest, I kind of hate myself for even having thoughts about jumping out of a plane. However, now I can’t get over it, and I know I have to do it. I just have to find a crazy person who would like to join, anyway I’ll do it alone. Emelie? ❤ Elena? ❤

 

Today’s workout

 

10 minutes boxing

Circuit:

20 jumping lunges

20 mountain climbers

26 walking lunges with weights

30 sek handstand against a wall (I did 10 sek without the wall 😉 ) Progress!!

10 minutes boxing

15 minutes stretch

Well done!

 

 

 

Happiness comes from setting goals?

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”The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”

 

A couple of days ago I read an interesting article in the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat – ”Onni tulee tavoitteista.” (Roughly translated; Happiness comes from goals.) The article is an interview with 40 year old Satu Pihlaja, a Finnish psychotherapist. At the moment she is working on a dissertation, while studying two other degrees and operating a privat clinic as a psychotherapist. In her spare time she practices yoga, sings in a rock band and spends time with her friends. (How many hours does she have during a day?!)

Setting and accomplishing goals is, however, possible for every single one of us. It can be regarded as a characteristic that can be taught. 

Satu Pihlaja does not regard herself as a ”doer”. During her teenage years she started to ask herself why she didn’t have any goals. She realized how dissatisfying it was to start studying the night before an exam. It was when she applied for the university that she understood that she won’t be accepted by chance; it requires clear goal setting and action.

According to Pihlaja, many people are afraid of setting both short and long term goals. Goal setting is avoided because one is afraid of failure, and scared to let oneself down if the goals aren’t  achieved.

”A lot of people want to quit smoking, start to eat healthier, or maybe there is a wish to expand one’s social life. However, nothing will be accomplished, if one continues to neglect setting clear goals”, Pihlaja explains.

Things not working out the way you planned is not failure. You learn from everything you go through in life. Regret, however, is a feeling that should be avoided at all costs. Be courageous. Take action. In the end it’s all up to you.

 

Setting a goal brings happiness

 

The purpose behind goal setting is to bring more happiness into life. This is done in four different ways, according to Pihlaja. Firstly, it helps us focus on the things that are important to us, in other words it helps us draw attention away from things that are irrelevant. Secondly, setting goals makes us feel alive and energetic and helps us strive for the things we wish to accomplish. Moreover, it helps us become more enduring and patient. And last but not least, goal setting makes us look for, and create, strategies in order to achieve the desired goals. Do understand that happiness is not achieved solely by achieving the goal, but through carrying out, and putting into action, one’s potential, skills and talents.

 

The first step is the hardest step

 

The hardest part is usually the decision to start. The goal might seem too big and totally out of reach, however, one should bear in mind that we’ve all been beginners. Even Bill Gates started from somewhere. We might have difficulties visualizing the end result when we’re confused where to begin. That is why it’s so important to have a detailed and precise plan written down. During those days when nothing seem to go your way it might be helpful to have an actual plan to stick to. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, simply because there is a greater plan for you, a different solution you neglected at first. Stay open-minded, and try not to become to attached to your plan.

 

Make it fun

 

It’s crucial that you don’t forget to have fun while working towards your goals. Most likely it will be a lot easier to achieve your goals if you’re enjoying what you’re doing. According to Pihlaja, striving for a well-balanced, good mood is important; tasks will become more effortless if you’re feeling motivated and inspiring. Personally I try to make the best out of every situation. At the moment I’m studying for an entrance exam. I try to make the whole process more enjoyable since it’s been a while since I studied. The book is rather comprehensive and monotonous, however, I’ve decided to give it a go. I’ve noticed how good it is to have different kinds of project to keep myself busy, and to be honest I actually enjoy having my nose in a book. Nerd.

 

Release stress

 

”Too much stress can be detrimental to our problem solving skill, and in some cases people might drastically make decisions, such as quitting their jobs or divorce from their spouse,” says Pihlaja.

According to Pihlaja, stress is first and foremost a feeling. It’s a feeling that usually arises from knowing that too much time is spent on unnecessary things. However, every one of us has the power to choose our feelings and actions. Time management is crucial. You choose where to put your focus, you choose what actions need to be done. In the end it’s all up to you – it’s your goal, it’s your life. You decide how your journey will unfold. Everyone is capable of achieving their dreams. Everyone can set and accomplish goals. Not only a select few is fortunate to live their dream life.

 

❤

Linda

 

Scripting & Visualizing

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”You are the creator of your reality.”

 

Scripting, or journaling, is a powerful tool in order to create the life that you want. It’s a way of visualizing your future and how you wish it to unfold; in other words you get to design your entire life.

You are limitless. Everything will work out for you; you just have to find the trust within yourself. Trust. Yourself.

 

”We chase likes instead of dreams. We surf the web instead of the world. We build profiles instead of connections. We let computers fill our hearts, and then we wonder why we feel so empty.”

– Mark Groves

 

Whether you choose to use scripting every day, once a week, once a month or once a year, remember it can be a powerful tool in order to create your desired destiny.

  • Write everything in detail, the way you wish your life to be. Write everything as if, in the present tense, the way that you desire it.
  • The key ingredient when writing your script is emotion. How do you want to feel? How does your future life make you feel?
  • Implementing gratitude is an important part when scripting. In between sentences write down how thankful you are for the life you have.
  • Last but not least – make it fun. Scripting is supposed to be light-hearted. Your focus should be on having fun while doing it so you don’t have doubts about whether it will happen or not. Creating your life should be pure fun & passion combined with an effortless flow, making insecurities and fears disappear.

 

”The most effective way to do it, is to do it.”

– Amelia Earhart

 

1. Imagination

 

Don’t be afraid to dream big. Use your imagination freely. Allow Walt Disney’s famous quote to sink in –”If you can dream it, you can do it. As children we dream so effortlessly, without judging ourselves or thinking we can’t do it. For a child anything is possible; the world is grand and filled with opportunities. Anything is possible for the one who is stupid enough to believe so. Let yourself become childlike. Not naive, but, an imaginative child.

2. Focus & Attention

 

Wherever you choose to put your focus will eventually grow and become part of your world. Visualize what you want. Stay focused on your desires. Don’t let other people’s negativity and lack of self-worth drag you down. It’s easy to be affected by another person’s bad mood or negative outlook on life; however, do bear in mind – love kills hatred, light kills darkness, patience and trust kills worry. And a big fat smile can turn around another person’s bad day.

3. Feelings

 

You have the power over your feelings. If you don’t feel good, change it. Only you can change how you feel. Lack, fear, unworthiness, sadness, pain. Every thought you have is creating your life, change your focus and you will change your world. I’m well aware that is sounds much easier than what it is, however, becoming aware of how your negative thoughts affect you is the first step. Don’t be too hard on yourself. There will be days when you can’t bother putting a smile on that beautiful face of yours. But then, all of a sudden, you read a part in your favourite book, you go for a walk, or have an uplifting conversation with a good friend – and just like that your mood has changed from negative to positive. It’s usually the little things in life that will cheer you up. However, you decide.

4. Movement & Action

 

Action is the making of imagination. Start saying yes to things, although they might scare you. Start making decisions that will take you one step closer to your goals. Every baby step counts. Dreaming alone will take you nowhere, you have to take action in order to move forward.

I’m on a journey towards facing some of my biggest fears. Every day I try to do something that will help me prepare for the things I want to do. ”It’s all in my head”, I try to tell myself. Convincing myself that the more I know, or the more I practise it in my mind, the easier it will become to achieve it.

 

”Grow from the past. Prepare for the future. The present is here. Live it.”

❤

– Linda

Mindset is everything

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”Chaos is only understood when it’s loved by the wild, not the weak.”

 

I believe in me, and you should too; believe in yourself. Do not become small for people who refuse to grow. The less you respond to negative people, the more peaceful your life will become. Remember that no one is coming to save you. This life is 100 % your responsibility.

Brave human, never settle again. 

 

”The hardest step she ever took was to blindly trust in who she was.

– Atticus

Believing in yourself is the first secret of success. Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it with love. Feed it with truth. It’s never too late to start living the life you always dreamt of. One day you just have to decide to jump, not knowing where you will land. Having the courage, although life is uncertain, will take you to places you never thought of exploring. Dear human, be brave, have faith. Life will reward you if you decide to never give up.

I find it rather common that people speak negatively about themselves. The reasons for that might vary, but it’s standard that we don’t want to brag, we don’t want anyone to feel insecure. However, believing in oneself, and what one is capable of is not bragging. There needs to be a healthy balance between self-love, self-acceptance, self-awareness and self-distance. You have to be able to laugh at your own foolishness.

Don’t take yourself too seriously, but never let yourself be fooled.

Choose bravery – delete fear

 

Make yourself a promise. Write yourself an agreement, and promise yourself to stay committed to your wants and desires. Whatever you wish and hope for, write it down. Forget every one else, for just a second. Think about what you want. Delete the negative voices inside your head that tell you that you can’t do it. Forget the people who tell you that you’re not worthy. Forget the ones who tell you what you should do. Do you. It’s your life. Bloom. Stay true to who you are. Don’t let anyone drag you down, don’t let anyone treat you as average. You’re extraordinary. Absolutely outstanding.

I’ve decided that I need to jump. Knowing that life is unpredictable makes it even more nerve-racking, nonetheless, I’m embracing the uncertainty with open arms, and for each day I’m getting closer to the woman I know I am, deep inside. I know I have to let her out. I have to let her shine through. I’ve kept her inside of her shell for too long.

I sense it’s time. Her time.

Be true to who you are.

The only way to live life to its fullest,

with honesty and bravery.

❤

Linda

Mindfulness practises for setting & achieving goals

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”How amusing isn’t it that we all pretend to be normal when we can be wildly different and fascinating?”

 

 

March intentions

Where do I want to be one year from now? What can I do this month that will bring me one step closer to where I want to be? Setting monthly intentions is a great way in order to achieve the desired goals you have in life.

Dreaming is always good, but taking action is even better.

Mindfulness practises for setting & achieving goals

 

Writing. The more specific you are about your goals the better. Write them down, try to be as clear and precise as possible. I strongly believe that putting words, goals – the desired future – on paper will take you one step closer to achieving your dreams. I started writing things down last fall, and reading it now makes me realise some of the things already happened.

Let go of the how. After writing down your goals I think it’s crucial that you stop obsessing over how everything will happen. You can’t control every situation and person in you life. Bear in mind that things usually never work out exactly as planned. Nevertheless, if you work hard, and never give up on your dreams, things will eventually fall into place; maybe not the way you hoped for, but they will turn out exactly 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. It’s good to be inspired by others, but you should never compare yourself with anyone else’s success. We all have a different story; different intentions, different goals. Be you. What do you want? Follow your heart, your intuition; it always guides you to where you need to be. It knows the way. You have everything you need inside of you, you just need to trust that. Trust yourself. The moment you allow your unique Self to shine through that’s when the magic starts to happen.

Chill out. Don’t take life too seriously. Don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s still okey if you fuck 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 to quiet down all the mental chatter. Give your brain a well deserved break. And while it’s good to have a plan you should remember that sometimes you just need to take a step back, breathe, trust, let go and see what happens.

Challenge thy self. Do what you are scared to do and watch your confidence grow. It’s easy to fall into a rut. Routines become such a natural part of every day life, that all of a sudden, you stop challenging yourself. And if you do not step outside that comfort zone of yours you do not grow. And growth is inevitable in order to achieve goals. You have to push yourself to do things that make you nervous and terrified. At first it will feel scary as hell, but I promise you – afterwards you’ll feel rewarded.

 

”We often want it so badly that we ruin it before it begins. Overthinking. Fantasizing. Imagining. Expecting. Worrying. Doubting. Just let it naturally evolve.”

 

❤

Linda

Trust life

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”Watch carefully, the magic that occurs, when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves.”

– Atticus

 

Trust the magic of new beginnings.

 

So, I close my eyes to old ends, and open my heart to new beginnings. Today is a new day. A fresh start. New opportunities. For the first time in a very, very long time I feel at peace. I’ve been going through a lot the past year; an emotional pain slowly creeping up on me, so unnoticeable, that I wasn’t even aware of it.

 Remember that it’s never too late for a new beginning in your life.

Something I’ve learned the past year is to trust my intuition. Your intuition guides you. It always has your best interest at heart. It’s a powerful tool you should learn to listen to. By becoming more aware, both through mediation and mindful thinking, I’ve notice how my intuition has grown more intense. I now know I can trust my gut feeling.

”New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.”

– Lao Tzu

Although I know I still have plenty to process, I’m content that I will grow from this. I’ve grown so much already the past two weeks. I’m free. I have a positive feeling towards my future. I feel confident, and alive. I’m happy. I’ve plenty of caring friends and a loving family. I’m never alone.

If you’re going through hard times at the moment know that everything will eventually be okey in the end. Life always works for you, not against you. Trust that you have the power to survive any hardship that you’re going through. Never let another person, or situation, destroy your life. You’re stronger than that. Trust yourself, and all that you’re capable of. It’s through hard times we grow, and get to know ourselves. I’ve noticed how strong I actually am. Much stronger than I thought. I know I’m a positive person at heart, and whatever life chooses to throw at me I can handle it. Whatever happens to me, I know that I will always be a beautiful soul.

”I love the taste of warm coffee, cinnamon buns and new beginnings.”

– Linda

Today’s tip:

Read my blog post 4 Life Mantras to Live by published on Opulence Magazine’s brand new web site.

 

Trust the magic in new beginnings.

With love,

Linda

 

 

Friday Feeling – Inner Strength

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”Smiling doesn’t always mean you are happy, sometimes it simply means you are strong. And you are.”

 

When you need it the most it will be there. It will embrace you with all its power. With all its grace. Effortlessly and without questioning your potential.

I’m talking about your inner strength.

Ahaa, you thought you didn’t have any? Oh yes you do. We all have it, and I’m pretty sure it will shine through you the day you require it the most. I think the day we allow ourselves to truly feel all our emotions; sadness, grief, pain, fear as well as excitement, joy, peace and happiness – our inner strength will follow comfortably along like a skilled dance partner.

 

”The glassblower knows: while in the heat of beginning, any shape is possible. Once hardened, the only way to change is to break.”

– Mark Nepo

 

One should never, however, let feelings take over completely. Recognize them as merely emotions. They don’t define you; you’re not your emotions. They are simply a state of mind. Negative emotions building up inside your body need to be released in order for you to become free of stress and anxiety. Therefore, when you feel out of sync, when you feel run down and filled with pain, sadness or grief – let it out. The only way out is through. When you get back up you’ll feel stronger than ever before. Filled with power and with a newborn confidence you will start to conquer each day like the true survivor you are.

And do bear in mind; life will be filled with plenty of highs and lows. If we truly start to accept that life is uncertain I think life will become much more smooth and straightforward. It’s nothing wrong with being sad and filled with hopelessness from time to time. But know that everything will eventually work out for your best when the timing is right. Never lose faith in yourself and your capabilities.

As human we have so much to offer one another. We should start putting more trust in everything that we are. Your mind is simply astonishing and an amazingly creative instrument. Beyond the fear, that so often suppresses all the cleverness and imagination, lies a truly astonishing consciousness. Don’t let the negativity dim your magic. Instead – embrace it and be brave; ask your inner strength to dance.

And remember, dancing is always fun although you step on each others toes.

With love,

Linda

 

Today’s list

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”Life is beautiful. Be curious, be fearless. Be unapologetically you”

 

Today has been a day filled with self-care. Doing things I don’t normally do, like standing on a stage in front of + 25 humans. It has been a lovely day; the sun has been out, plenty of snow for being Stockholm and it’s getting so much lighter outside already. Spring, I’m waiting for you like a delighted child the day before Christmas Eve.

 

Today’s mood: Optimistic with a sense of calmness. Confidence (that’s a rare one! 😉 )

Today’s I should: Start to look for a new apartment. Where to begin? And I should write a list of things to do in Stockholm, and then go do them. Since it’s my last three months in this gorgeous city.

Today’s thoughts: I’ve a lot on my mind, but I now know life works for me, not against me. I’m accepting the present moment, simply as it is. Being grateful for everything that has happened in my life, for it has made me become more self-aware.

Best thing today: I was asked to be a hair model at Wella Studios the other day so today I got myself a fresh, new and natural blond hair colour.

Today’s workout: 20 minutes morning yoga & soon 30 minutes evening yoga.

Today’s best food: My morning porridge with a naughty spoon of vegan nutella.

 

With love,

Linda