Alla inlägg märkta: self-growth

Mindfulness & Resilience

Publicerat av

”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 The past year has definitely been a year filled with adversity, threats and significant sources of stress. For many of us our sense of control swiftly disappeared, and we found ourselves 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 …

How to manage stress

Publicerat av

”While you cannot control the weather, you can always choose to kiss in the rain.” To not encounter some kind of stressor in your life is rather impossible. Stress is inevitable, and most certainly we will feel stressed out at some point in our fast paced life. However, what are the steps we can take to master stress, and not become its victim? But firstly, what is stress? Stress can be seen as a process. This view emphasizes the importance of how we appraise – that is, judge – demanding or threatening events (stressors); these appraisals, in turn, influence our reactions to such events. Therefore, stress is largely in the eye of the beholder; it’s not so much what happens to you as it is how you respond. Stress can, however, be a positive, motivating force that can improve the quality of our lives; a moderate amount of stress can be beneficial in challenging situations. Nonetheless, when a person experiences very strong emotions – especially those associated with a perceived threat – the body’s sympathetic nervous system and …

Dear July…

Publicerat av

… it’s you, since no one else makes sense. ”There’s beauty in simplicity.” July, I can’t believe you’re almost here. I don’t even know if I’ll have time to say goodbye to June. She is warm, she is lovely, filled with laughter. Please, be like June. Please, be forever. Please bring us humid days, foggy nights. Soul searching and loving kindness. It has always been you, dear July. Always been you. 5 am. Finding stillness. Seeking magic. Being free as the ocean, beautiful as the wildest flower. Inhaling confidence, exhaling doubt. Breathing in the warm days, short nights. Wide awake, we are, while watching the sunset gracefully transforming into sunrise. I’ll be all there, wherever you’ll take me. July is for meeting childhood friends who will always be friends although you meet far too seldom. It’s for being vulnerable, being soft. Finding that inner, burning fire. Moonlight, thunderstorm and heavy rain. Poetry filled with soul and passion, the wildest of dreams coming true. July is for festivity and reading books. July is for being me. ”Be careful who you make …

Meditate

Publicerat av

”We can never run out of love,it’s in the air we’re breathing.” Awaken your creativity, dear human. Awaken your soul. Find the bright light within. Know that life is amazing, exactly as it is. You’re amazing. Every breath a sign that you are. We are. Cherish every heartbeat, every sunrise. Every tear drop. It all happens right before your very eyes; hearts illuming, red roses blooming. Breathtakingly beautiful this precious moment alive. … and then fear asked courage teach me please teach me it’s about a lifethat’s flourishingand excitingbeautifuland unexpectedit’s about life i see oceanin your eyesi smell the flowersof your heartevery flawinsecuritycracked openbleedingsoft raindropsresting on your cheeksa reflection of mehealing Don’t let yourselfBe fooledMy soulNot defined byIts shell speakwith no wordsundress mewith your eyeswhatever you domy feelingsplayingbutterflies it was the wayin which she worethe color purplein every wordsmile and toucheven every breatha hint of magic

tell secrets to the sunset ♥

Publicerat av

”The moon has secrets for those who listen.”     don’t tell anyone … i kinda like to look at you when you laugh       Found in the details ​The way the ray of sunlight touches your dark brown iris. The way your voice soothes my breath. The way your fingers entwine with mine. The way every time I hear you laugh a blissful shiver down my spine. The way your presence lingers underneath my skin, long after you are gone. The way your lips heal my scars. The way my touch opens your heart.     To your fingertips ​There’s a universe inside A few. I bet you Never knew, As I were Undressing you, Opportunities Pouring out too.     Embrace life ​Whatever the day brings, kiss the Sun. Whatever the night whispers, kiss the Moon. Whatever I say, do, kiss Me. ​ And if you think his November rain is too heavy, you don’t deserve his blossoming trees early April. He’s a once in a lifetime season, paving the way …

n.a.s.a

Publicerat av

”Listen to the universe while it sings to you. Don’t wait until it screams, cause it will.”   I believe your cold breeze sings to me, as your gloomy night speaks to me. My quiet thoughts secretly in love with your dark, fierce character, however, be gentle, be kind, summer still on my mind. While I’m reading you slowly I’ve become aware, beneath that brisk, unpredictable wind, lies a warm, delicate soul, teaching us all how to grow. Quiet the mind, dance with every breath. Now is the time to set all worries aside, rise above limiting beliefs and self-destructive behavior. Awaken to a new confidence, forceful as the strongest brittlest wind. Found within. It takes courage to be who you are. Always found within.   … and then fear asked courage – please teach me. Teach me everything you know, like the way you always succeed making life strangely appealing.     Found in the details The way the ray of sunlight touches your dark brown iris. The way your voice soothes my breath. …

Mindfulness & Meditation

Publicerat av

”We do our best work when we care for each other, and are cared for.” Ever since I tried meditation for the first time I was fascinated by the positive impact it had on me. Nonetheless, I’m far from a meditation guru, and I’ve only meditated regularly for approx. 3,5 years. Still and all, I believe it has helped me stress less, especially about things I can’t control. Moreover, I find it easier to stay focused, and to keep my mind more sharp and attentive when needed. In addition to the things mentioned above I’ve also noticed a remarkable change when it comes to my creativity. Of course, there might be a lot of factors influencing these ”changes”. Nonetheless, one factor is for sure the meditation part. Meditation is scientifically proven to increase both Neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change itself) as well as Neurogenesis (the brain’s ability to generate new brain cells). A couple of days ago I listened to a Mindvalley Speech online with Emily Fletcher; the founder of Ziva, and the creator of the Ziva Technique (a …

Dear April…

Publicerat av

… take my hand, inhale my breath. We won’t die, as long as we don’t fall in love. ”April dear, I breathe you in like air.”   Time standing still. The warm, golden light, burning through our windows, caressing our cheeks, awakening our hearts. Dreaming of doing everything in life, and nothing on rainy Sundays. Watching captivating sunsets, and counting countless numbers of stars. Happily having you, blooming in my arms. Speak with no words, undress me with your eyes. Whatever you do, I swear, you got my feelings playing butterflies.  April is for getting lost in translation. Being curious and bold. Breathing in lust, breathing out fear. Breathe me in like air. It’s about a new earth, hope, and letting go. Soft raindrops against the window, purifying dark winter souls. Touch me with your words, with your eyes. As long as you touch me, I know we’ll be just fine. April is for being affectionate, playful and passionate. Confident, happy and alive. Stop looking for it on the outside, when it’s already resting within, …

Spring clean your thoughts

Publicerat av

”… and gradually they all returned to being, human again.” First day of spring finally arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere, as we celebrated the Spring Equinox yesterday. With lighter days, comes a lighter mind. As we’re faced with challenging times we need to remind ourselves that it’s always darkest before the dawn. Use this early spring month to not only clean up your surroundings, but your thoughts as well. Lovingly let yourself be guided by your inner voice, let it steer you home. Mother Nature said enough, time to rest. Time to return to being. Listen to the lyrics, the tone, the message. Dear human, quiet down the mental chatter, create space and learn how to effortlessly move, and surrender, to the beat. Spring is a beautiful time to rearrange and revamp yourself. After a long, and more peaceful winter it’s time to take action. Many of us may find ourselves in situations which makes it a little more demanding to get things done; we may not have the possibilities, as many of us are …

How to find peace amidst of it all

Publicerat av

”Everything will be okay in the end, and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” To embrace peace in moments of distress and chaos may not be the easiest thing to do. However, in times like these it’s more important than ever that we take that deep breath, and let go of feelings such as anxiety and fear. When our bodies are stressed they are more receptive to diseases. Therefore, it’s of utmost importance that we act from wisdom and rationality, rather than from fear and panic.  With that being said, what can we do right now, in order to diminish distress and worry? I’ve listed significant steps and habits to adopt that can be helpful in reducing stress in our lives. To find balance between being aware of what’s going on, but at the same time – don’t let it consume our inner state of being in a way that may become fatal. It’s a difficult time for all of us, as a great amount of people will suffer not only physically and mentally, …