All posts tagged: Monday Mantra

Just do it!

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Every day we wake up to a set of intentions and things we wish to check off our “to do list”. On days when our mind is focused, we may achieve what we aimed for. On other days, when we are a bit off track, the list seems endless and it feels like not much is happening. For me, there seems to be a rule of thumb to this: after a day of over achievement follows one, where not much is getting done. Try as hard as I might. I can usually detect those days either right after waking up, when my mind is buzzing with unfocused, anxious activity or when I am about to set my goals for the day and the list becomes endless. 1-5 items on my list is a realistic scenario. 5-20 is a lost cause, right from the start. But then there are tasks I need to get done that bring with them a level of discomfort that makes the avoider in me want to push them back, hour by hour, …

You have all the answers.

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When we reach a crossroads in our life that asks for a decision, it can often be very challenging to know which way to go. Especially when it comes to the more fundamental aspects of life like relationships, family, work and the where, how and if of settling down. Since I entered into the relationship with the man who is now my husband, life has been a rollercoaster regarding these matters, to say the least. Torn between Munich – my hometown – and Los Angeles – home to my husband`s art making. Torn between the quietude and quality of life in a comparably small city in Germany and the possibilities and creative playground that is Los Angeles. Torn between making a moderate, but stable income without too many out of the box possibilities and working your way up from nothing to what may possibly culminate into very successful careers. Torn between the seasons and everylasting sunshine. Torn between dark bread and donuts… okay, not really. But you get the idea. Sometimes when I try to …

Follow your dreams.

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What are you dreaming of? Maybe you are dreaming to accomplish something? Maybe you are dreaming to realize a specific task or project? Maybe you are dreaming to invite certain qualities into your life? Whether it is the relationship we want to bring into our lives, the family we wish to build, the job we fantasize about, or the travel we dream to embark on…. each and every one of us has dreams that have not yet materialized. While some of us seemingly effortlessly shape the life they are envisioning for themselves, others need to leave feelings of doubt, insecurity and fear behind to begin to tap into their own power. But how do we know, what we are truly longing for? In order to know what you truly desire, it is crucial to be connected to your own intuition: this little voice in your heart, that knows with astounding clarity what serves you best. Unfortunately most times the chatter in our mind is so loud, that it overshadows our inner voice. When I was growing …

If you don`t like it, change it. If you can`t change it, surrender.

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If you don`t like it, change it. If you can`t change it, surrender. I have only recently come to understand how powerful this concept really is. In my life so far, I have been blessed. Rarely ever did I have to face a situation that was unchangeable, and if it was, it did not impact my life in major ways. I have always had shelter, food and enough means to get by. I have never been severely ill, nor have any of my beloved family members or friends. I have lost and found love, but never felt victimized by my heartaches. Essentially, all of this is still true. With one minor change in detail: Since I joined my partner in the US, where we decided to get married and begin the Green Card application process, I have – if even only temporarily – lost major agency in some very important realms of my life. I left my home, my apartment, my family and my friends behind. I gave up all my yoga classes, be it …

Be gentle, be kind.

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In my last post from the Monday Mantra series Speak Your Truth I was talking about the importance of learning how to address your concerns and desires in a way that opens the space for truthful, yet kind conversations. Especially if your personality is such that you find it hard to speak for yourself or to take the lead in important conversations, you may have experienced this: by the time you actually manage to address something, you have brooded over it since a while and hence the outcome is rather eruptive and anything but kind or gentle. As a matter of fact, I even used to get upset with the people around me because I would blame them for bringing me in a situation where something needed to be addressed – like they should really have been more considerate in the first place, or something. I projected the discomfort I had with confrontations right onto them instead of trying to figure out where it came from and how I could outgrow it. Then I experienced …

Speak your truth.

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My zodiac sign is libra and I fully live up to it by embodying all stereotypes and traits that are connected to that sign. I am indecisive, I despise conflict and I have a hard time adressing my concerns and desires. Which is tricky, since I often have a very precise idea about how I want things to be and sometimes find myself getting irritated when other people`s ideas differ from mine – especially when dealing with the people I am closest to. My family and friends became somewhat good at reading my mind and guessing what I may desire in a specific situation or moment – however, this doesn`t always work and definitely isn`t a recipe to go by when I`m surrounding myself with people I am less intimate with. So throughout the course of my life I have been working on a rather challenging task: How do I get to say, what I need to say, and how do I get to say it in a way that isn`t irritating for others. We …

Be still, my heart.

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If you have ever consciously tried to be still in life you know the feeling: it doesn`t take too long and you begin to feel an itch here… an uncomfortable folding of your clothes there… discomfort in one of your limbs… the possibilities are endless and the pulling of the mind is strong. If you have ever made the effort to stay still during these arising feelings and sensations, you may also have noticed something else: whatever it is, that was calling your attention in one moment, will fade when you have ignored it for some time – only to be replaced by another distraction. This little game of the mind will keep going for quite some time. However, if you manage to stay still, and if it is a good day, the pulling of the mind may eventually cease and leave you to just be. These experiences bring us three very important insights. One: the mind will try to pull our attention away at first – we need to learn how to be still. Two: …

Less is more.

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Choices don`t neccessarily make us happier. When we have little, there is the potential to be happy with what is. It seems to be human to constantly strive to improve the current situation we are in. Think about it: how often have you tried to make yourself feel better today? How many of your thoughts evolved around accomodating wishes or necessities? Being hungry, or thirsty, or hot, or cold, or tired, or eager… the list is endless. Once we have accomodated one wish, another one comes up. It`s an endless loop that can easily leave us feeling unwholly, dissatisfied and exhausted. Therefore, to live with little bears a huge potential – if it is done purposefully and from a perspective of self-care and love. This is not about scarcety. There is nothing relaxing or uplifting about having too little to live well. Our livelihoods need to be covered. However, in our postmodern society and especially in the wealthy countries of the West we have long outgrown our basic needs. We have too much of everything. …