8. July 2010 by admin.

Are you in the flow? Do you feel that your life is filled with purposeful and enjoyable activities? Or on the contrary, do you feel stuck and uninspired? A state of flow is achieved when the mind and/or body are engaged in a challenging and worthwhile activity. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi writes in his book that in order to create flow, some conditions need to be met: set clear goals, find a way to measure progress, learn new skills that will help you take on new challenges.

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4. June 2010 by admin.

I am always on the lookout for new modalities of bringing fun and relaxation into my life.  Recently I had the opportunity to try out Laughter Yoga.  I was intrigued.  The class starts with some light stretching, then goes into the so-called “fake” laughter.  Prompted by the teacher we begin laughing for no apparent reason. The more you look at the other participants and see them laugh, the more you feel “real” laughter coming out.  There is clapping laughter, cell-phone laughter, bow and arrow laughter, party laughter. When the class was done, I felt happy and relaxed “for no reason”.  Check out laughteryoga.org for laughter clubs in your area.

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18. May 2010 by admin.

Do you feel you are checking things off your to-do list but still don’t get a feeling of satisfaction when completed? Do you do fun things that you do not connect with? You are in action, keeping busy, getting things done,  but still feel like there is something more to life? Maybe you need some inspiration. Maybe it is not enough to check things off, but to ask yourself if those things are a reflection of your deepest values, of what matters most for you.  Where do we get the inspiration for our actions? You start by creating a vision for yourself.  Envision how would your life look like, what meaningful work would you do, who would you spend the most time with, what activities would you do for fun and relaxation, what environment would you prefer? You can put this vision in a few words or in a few images and connect with it often.  Once you have the vision, you can go a step further and create a plan that will keep all of the above in check. This way, you are not just doing things, you are taking inspired action. Pay attention to your energy levels to differentiate between the two. Taking inspired action is what helps you remain motivated through a transition/life change.

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5. May 2010 by admin.

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9. April 2010 by admin.

I went for a walk today, despite the drizzling rain. I took my hood and my flowery umbrella. I could hear the rain drops falling on the umbrella, the birds chirping. I looked at the rain drops hanging from the still bare tree branches, looking like little diamonds among the colorful new buds. I felt the solid ground under my feet and I smelled the air - did you ever notice how much more fragrant the air is in the rain? Many people dismiss a rainy/cloudy day, but if we stop and use our senses to be in the moment, we discover its beauty. Same goes for any situation in life. Instead of judging it or trying to avoid it, notice its hidden beauty. During my walk I felt more alive, calmer and I caught myself smiling.

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19. March 2010 by admin.

Spring is the time we wake up from the winter slumber with renewed energy. We open the windows and let the fresh air come in. We take out the patio set and clean the deck. We redecorate. We clean up the garden of the dried plants to make place for new ones. We clean up our closets, getting rid of unwanted clothes. Isn’t it a good time to let go of unwanted things in other areas of our lives - for example in our work life, personal life or relationships? What can you let go of today in order to make more time and space in your life? I am letting go of unrealistic and narrow expectations that tell me it is only one way to do something in order to be accepted/good.

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19. March 2010 by admin.

Many people talk about balance - work life balance. What about the balance between your inner and outer life, between the time you spend alone, meditating, journaling and otherwise connecting to your inner self, versus the time you spend in the outside world, working, socializing, participating in activities. How do you stay in touch with yourself? I find it useful when I feel overwhelmed or too busy, to stop, even for a few minutes, and breathe, meditate, pray or ask my intuition what do I need most right now.

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5. March 2010 by admin.

What do you do when you encounter a challenge or a problem? Most likely you try to think your way out of it. You try to get clarity by looking at the pros and cons, looking at solutions - all very valuable tools. What if you still cannot take a decision? What if none of the solutions feel right or tempting to you? We have another resource to deal with that - our intuition. What is intuition? One definition is “attaining direct knowledge without evident rational thought”. You just know. Don’t worry if you lost touch with your intuition or you are just beginning to develop it.  A simple way to get started is the following.  Before you go to bed, ask a specific question. Whether the question is about what do to (asking for guidance) or how can you be happier (asking to understand your emotions) , write it down before you go to bed and let it go. Do not try to answer it. Instead, set an intention to be aware of any clues or opportunities arising in the next few days. Maybe your intuition will speak to you through a vivid dream, a sensation in your body, an idea, a person you meet, or an opportunity that shows up unexpectedly. Just keep your eyes open. Maybe the old saying “Sleep on it” refers to letting your intuition guide you.

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21. February 2010 by admin.

Last night I went to a live concert of latin jazz. It was a small, intimate setting. It was amazing how much energy was in the upbeat latin rhythms, in the drums, in the dexterity of the performers, how much satisfaction in hearing the saxophone sounds join the drums at the right time. Every time I go to a live event, whether live music or live dance, the energy and the enthusiasm of the performance transfers to me as well. What activities bring you to that enthusiastic state of mind, when you feel happy to be alive?

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12. February 2010 by admin.

Do you feel stuck into “wanting” or “trying” to be or have something different? Do you always find something that needs to change about your life, your career, your relationships, your house, your family? Something that you consider not right? You look forward for that day when things will be different and you will be happy. You focus so much on what you want in the future that you miss the opportunities showing up in the present. I love to quote a wise turtle who once said: You are too concerned with what was and what will be. The future is a mystery, the past is history but today is a gift…that is why we call it the present. Can you experiment with the idea that your current circumstances are “just right” for you right now? Can you look for ways to work with them, rather then against them? To improve on what you have rather then resist it? Can you see the lesson or gift in your situation? When we adopt the perspective that things are OK as they are, we regain all the energy that we use to waste on struggling and resisting what was happening. What will you do with the extra energy?

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