The Power of Perception
Photo by Sergio Tudela
We all have to deal with fear, anxiety, stress, anger and other emotions in life that we’d rather live without.
And although there are situations in life where there is time needed to overcome such strong emotions, there are also many situations where we can easily turn it into an ocean of calmness.
It’s all a matter of perception.
I used to be overwhelmed by the big trucks on the freeway. Whenever I was driving my car and trucks were passing by I felt the sweat on the palm of my hands and I would firmly hold on to the steering wheel as if that monstrous truck would push me off the road any moment soon. It was a major obstacle and a big part of why I didn’t like to drive.
I decided to change my perception and how silly as it may sound it really worked…
The next time I’d be on the road again and trucks were driving in front of me and next to me I’d see them as cute little trucks heading peacefully toward their destination.
I would really say to myself “What a cute little truck” or “what a nice and cool friendly looking truck”
By saying it, I would literally feel my perception changing. The anxiety and tension in my body would instantly disappear and that heavily weight feeling would turn into lightness,
calmness and coolness. It was an important lesson I had learned.
And I was back in the driver seat.
So, in what situation would you want to change your perception?
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
Feel free to leave a comment. I appreciate it.
The Solution in Silence
Photo by Zenonline
I used to get caught up in the busyness and hurriedness of everyday life. It’s all around me and almost everywhere I go so it’s only human to get easily absorbed by it.
It means my mind was also in a hurry and desperate for a quick solution for every task or obstacle ahead of me. I would then contemplate about issues for days without coming up with a decent answer.
And these thoughts would occupy my mind during the day so I’d spent my days in my own virtual world and not being present in the outside world, missing every beautiful opportunity or intention that the world had in store for me that day.
I hear you say… That’s all very nice but you do need that solution at the end of the day. Well I found something miraculous happened every time I would meditate or when I’d go for a run. Continue reading
Simple Life Manifesto
Take a moment to read and really think about it.
If you practice and apply each single one these actions every day and every moment, it’ll change everything.
If you fail, don’t worry, just get back on your feet and try again. You’ll be amazed.
Try it and see how it improves your life instantly! (Write down the “Simple Life Manifesto” and keep it in your back pocket to remind yourself during the day)
Have a great one!
- Be useful
- Be sincere
- Be respectful
- Listen
- Be patient
- Observe
- Àppreciate
- Follow your passion
- Leave out the unnecessary
- Enjoy outdoors as well as indoors
- Relax and rest
- Be grateful
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Reevaluate to Simplify Your Day
I reevaluate regularly on how I’m doing with simplifying. I ask my self questions like: What else is there to simplify?
Am I still living a simple life or am I unconsciously falling back into old nasty and too busy habits?
What I can do to make things more easier? I like small changes that make big differences.
How can I do things more efficiently? What is effective and what is not?
What is most important to me and am I still making it as important as it should be?
What can I eliminate to make room for the best things in life?
Here are some ways for you to reevaluate your simplifying journey.
Reevaluate: Continue reading
18 Simple Ways to Achieve Succes
Sometimes we need to get back on our feet and regain control of our lives.
Here are a few ideas to inspire yourself to do great things.
I’ve learned to hold on to each and everyone of them.
I like spontaneity but I also like results to live the life I want to lead.
And above all I like simple ways to achieve those results.
Read on and achieve your own success!
1 – Go the Opposite way. If you do what others do, you get what others get so go the opposite way. Be unique.
2 – Take small steps. Take one small step everyday towards your goal. If you start out doing too much your perseverance won’t last. Continue reading
How to Endlessly Enjoy the Pursuit of Your Dreams
Photo by Kate Mereand
From an early age I have been chasing my dreams and goals passionately.
But in the early days I sometimes could upset myself if things didn’t go as well or fast as I wanted them to.
I’d be too focused on what I hadn’t accomplish yet, too focused on my dream goals instead of enjoying the moment and the things I had already achieved. It was a roller coaster of ups and downs that I created in my mind.
I have learned to change my way of thinking over the years and realized a lot of great things because of it.
Nowadays I am living and fully enjoying my dream while looking forward to the next one that comes along. Yes I said come along. I am not waiting to arrive anymore.
It’s all about learning to be mindful of your thoughts, taking control of your thoughts, deciding what to think and what not to think, deciding what to do and what not to do.
Here’s the key to endlessly enjoy the pursuit of your dreams:
- Lose the goal.
It’s okay to dream about your destination and to feel what it would taste likes to reach your goal. Nothing wrong with that. But once you’ve done that… let it go!
The pursuit of your dreams can drag your spirit up and down if you are too much focused on your goal. Let go your thought of the goal whenever it tries to drag you down and whenever you feel you might not make it. Continue reading
The Art of Elimination
Photo by margherita j. l. lisoni
The more I eliminate, the more I experience the joys of life.
I eliminate in business and in my personal life. Eliminating in business results in better quality and it means I have a hell of a lot more fun.
Eliminating in personal life means I have more time to do what I love and more time to spend with family and friends.
Elimination is not about being lazy, elimination is about being efficient. It is about doing things that are truly important and not doing work for the sake of work.
Don’t fool yourself that you are doing the best you can by being as busy as possible.
On the contrary you are most productive if you are efficient and effective.
You can achieve more by doing less. You can achieve even more by doing nothing.
Let’s look at some of the eliminating steps that can change your life:
Phone calls
Stop answering every single phone call. Don’t let a beautiful, creative or productive moment being ruined. You are not obligated to pick up the phone. Don’t let others rule your life.
Let your answering machine do the work for you. Give people the chance to leave a message or let them send you an email. If it’s important you can call back. If people have something important to tell you they will leave you a message, if they don’t it’s probably not that important.
Continue reading
How to Live Life Without a Watch
Photo by Sweet&Sadistic
A couple of years a ago my wife inspired me to stop wearing a watch.
While I was reluctant at first. I soon felt liberated.
The first day with a watchless wrist I immediately became aware of how much of a control freak I was.
I wanted to know the time every second of the day (figuratively speaking).
Sometimes I really needed to know the time, but often I tried to look at it… just because. I was trying to be in control of my time. It seemed I wanted to manage every part of the day. I even became restless not knowing the time. I realized I had become a slave of time.
After a few days without wearing a watch I felt more at ease and relaxed. After a few weeks it felt like I released a burden of my shoulder. It was truly liberating.
Nowadays I live life much more according to me not knowing the time instead of living my life around a time schedule.
You can do it too. I can really recommend it. Try it and you’ll feel liberated.
Here are the benefits: Continue reading
41 Simplifying Ways to Happiness
Photo by Nicolas Elvemo
Simplifying every aspect of your life will make things become more clearer and enjoyable.
I have learned what is most important and most valuable. I have found pleasure in the little things and have found time to do great things.
Every time I think of a new way to simplify something in my life I discover that everyone and everything else benefits from it as well.
As I simplify one thing, I create more time for other things. I can focus more on quality, I find different possibilities and learn new insights.
Simplifying has changed the way I see, think and approach everything in my life.
The most important thing is that it has made me a happier and more content person.
Here’s a list of 41 simplifying ways that will contribute to your happiness.
Don’t just read through the list and keep on living your busy life.
Think thoroughly about each and every simplifying action and what you can do with it. Which ones can make an immediate change in your situation right now.
Act on it. Set yourself free.
Choose to simplify. Make a significant change in your life.
Here’s how to do it:
1 – Simplify tasks. Make a passion out of simplifying everything. You’ll learn to love it.
2 – Declutter your home and downsize your wardrobe.
3 – Let go of control. Stop being a perfectionist. Aim for completion instead of perfection.
4 – Wear comfortable easy wear clothing. Feel light.
5 – Buy less and spend less. Enjoy what you already have. Continue reading
The Power of Keeping an Open Mind
Photo by Pedro Ribeiro Simões
“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend” ~ Henri Bergson
Keeping an open mind is one of the most difficult things to practice.
It means you are open to everyone and everything that comes your way, allowing yourself to embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, views, suggestions and interests.
You need to be unprejudiced, without stubbornness and flexible at all times.
I try to practice this in every situation and it makes life a hell of a lot easier and less complicated. Better yet it is fun to practice. Trying to understand someone’s point of view, even when you disagree or don’t like the person very much, can change and free your mind in a way you would have never expected.
I don’t claim to master this skill, but I do see great improvement and it makes me feel powerful having the ability to change my way of thinking and not to get stuck in a mindset that makes me frustrated, angry or helpless.
Keeping an open mind is one of the best tools I use in simplifying my life.
It doesn’t mean I believe or accept everything, but I do listen, observe, feel and try to comprehend every situation on my path. It has given me, saved me and helped me many times. Try it yourself.
Here are a several ways to keep an open mind and how to benefit: Continue reading