Because let’s face it: You are addicted to thinking.
The hallmark of an addiction is that you cannot stop it. And you can’t stop thinking. However?
Give it a try. Just think nothing for a minute. You can’t.
I know because I’m an old junkie. I was also addicted to thinking. And just like you – and the average person – I had 60,000 thoughts a day. Those thoughts drove me crazy!
I bet you spend all day thinking too. Until you fall asleep exhausted. Tired of all that thinking.
BECAUSE ALL THAT THINKING ENSURES THAT:
• You can never really relax (because your head never stands still). • You get physical complaints (because you store every tension in your body). • Your relationships run less naturally (because you analyze everything). • Your work suffers (unless you worry about your work, then your health suffers). • You lie exhausted on the couch in the evening (to do the same again tomorrow).
Does all that worrying solve our problems? Unfortunately not. It just creates additional problems. That’s why I always say: “Be careful of thinking. Before you know it, you’ll have a problem.”
How do I turn off my thoughts? This is what everyone is trying: We try to think smarter, think differently, think better. We think… about how we can stop… thinking. You can never do this!
You may wake up one day with an empty head. You get up and think, “Hey, how wonderful – no more thoughts for a while!” But I wouldn’t bet on it…
The only way to get out of your head… is to practice – in the right way. A little practice every day to let go of that addiction to thinking. The key is really up to you so do something about it.
YOU NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT
What works and what doesn’t work. What the steps are, in the correct order. With the RIGHT exercises I learned in a short time to turn off that eternal thinking. To let it go. Whenever I want.
And I can tell you – in one word – how that feels: LOVELY! It feels like a liberation. It feels like freedom.
It feels like you are on a beach with nothing but space around you. As if all worries have blown away.
Delicious! Pure peace of mind.
There are courses on the internet where you can learn how to stop overthinking. You can learn how to get out of your head when you want and where you want.
So that you can finally find inner peace. • So that you stop worrying. • So that you experience freedom. • So that you enjoy your life.
Isn’t that what you want? I hope this blog was valuable to you 🙂 Start now and look for methods that can help you.
I will give you my method and that is meditating more often and working on your breathing combined with sports.
What is a power nap? How long should a power nap be? What’s the ideal power nap time? Do you need to climb into a fancy nap pod to get the benefits of power naps?
We’re here to answer those questions in this blog article to power napping. We’ll talk about what power napping is, why it works, and how best to incorporate it into your life and routine.
What is power napping?
A power nap is a short period of sleep. It’s meant to supplement normal sleep and give sleepers a burst of alertness and energy.
You know how preschoolers lay down in the middle of the afternoon to give their minds and bodies a chance to recharge? The same approach works for adults, too, and research reveils we need it: 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep.
How can power napping help?
We should all get 7-9 hours of sleep a night, say experts. But that’s sometimes difficult. Life gets in the way. We get hooked on a new show and don’t realize our bedtime passed three episodes ago. Work keeps us up late. Our children need us during the night. Anxiety wakes us up and makes it hard to fall back asleep.
When we get less sleep than we need, we build up a sleep deficit. Operating on less sleep impairs almost all aspects of body function. It worsens our reaction time, information processing, judgment, patience, and vision. Extended fatigue can also lead to stress, burnout, and moodiness.
Daytime naps can help us recover from sleep deprivation. They can reset our systems, replenish our energy levels, and improve our performance. A rested mind and body allow us to better engage in the activities that bring us meaning and with the people who bring us joy. Getting enough sleep, whether at night or during the day, helps us be more present in our lives.
Power napping works best if you already have a good sleep routine. If your body doesn’t fall asleep easily, you may want to work on improving that first. If not, taking naps during the day can make it even harder to fall asleep at night.
What are the benefits of power naps?
Quick answer: Return to the day more focused, present, and productive
Reaching for an espresso or a chocolate bar isn’t the only way to combat a mid-afternoon slump. Napping can actually be healthier than compensating for tiredness with coffee, according to the Behavioural Brain Research journal, since caffeine can decrease memory performance. You might get a burst of energy from a latte, but at the cost of lower-quality work.
Power napping and meditation both benefit the mind as well as the body. The benefits of taking a nap include reduced stress, lowered risk of heart attacks, and better concentration.
Healthy sleep is more about quality of rest than quantity of hours. A power nap, while short, can let our minds recharge and heal.
Setting up for a power nap
Many employers have recognized the benefits of power naps on work performance. Several companies offer opportunities to nap at work, including in dedicated spaces with sleek nap pods.
You don’t need fancy equipment to have a good power nap, though. Preschoolers get by with a dark room and a yoga mat, after all. With that in mind, consider these aspects of your napping set-up to get the most out of a power nap:
Location. If you don’t have a dedicated napping space available, find somewhere you won’t be disturbed and that has low noise levels. Is there an office or conference room you can use? A parked car can be a good option. If you work from home, try retreating into your bedroom.
Timing. Set an alarm for 20 minutes and make sure you don’t have anything to do right after it goes off. While you should wake up refreshed, not groggy, it’s best to give yourself a few minutes to transition back into work.
Distractions. Power down your computer and put your phone on silent. If you can’t get away from noise, try noise-canceling headphones, earplugs, or sleep music. You’ll get the best rest in a dark environment, so pull down the shades or try an eye mask.
Comfort. You’ll have an easier time falling asleep if you can lie down or at least recline. Our body temperature naturally drops in sleep, so pull a blanket or jacket over yourself so you stay warm as you nap.
To prepare the mind to get the most out of a power nap, we should approach it the same way we do sleep at night:
Start with a relaxed, gentle focus
Take a few deep breaths and close your eyes
Let your mind slow and your body power down
If you use a guided meditation to help ease yourself into sleep, follow the instructions. If sleep music’s soothing baseline of sound allows you to relax and fall asleep, press play. And if you prefer to let your mind do its own thing, go for it.
As your thoughts fade and you drift off, let your mind and body rest.
Other aspects of power napping
Consistency. As strange as it sounds, napping is a skill — one that many of us have forgotten. It takes patience and perseverance to learn to power nap. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t fall asleep immediately or if your alarm goes off and you don’t feel like a new person. Like meditation, napping is something you get better at with practice. Try again tomorrow.
Managing expectations. Science tells us power napping has certain benefits, but how you experience them will be unique to your mind and body. Let yourself nap with an open mind as to how you’ll feel afterwards.
Find the right environment. Maybe your bed is too comfortable. Maybe your office chair isn’t comfortable enough. Modify your routine as needed: switch up the location, position, or time of day of your next power nap and try for different results.
I never had a morning routine. I only did something in the morning.
If I already had a morning routine it would be something like this:
Waking up as late as possible to make it just in time for my first appointment/work. Just joking..
I can tell you: that was not a success.
During my search for the good life, I kept coming across the importance of an optimal morning routine. I couldn’t avoid it anymore, so I started taking it seriously. It wasn’t an easy road.
I tried dozens of habits during my morning. I kept the most successful.
And now? I never want to be without a morning routine again.
In fact. My morning has become the most important moment of my day. Something my younger self would never believe.
In this article I am not going to tell you what a morning routine should look like. There is no gold standard in that.
No, I want to make it clear to you here why you should have a morning routine. And don’t be afraid. You don’t get a long list of reasons. I share the three most important reasons I know. Maybe you will have more.
1. A morning routine is essential for your productivity
Do you want to get more out of your days? Then start with your morning routine.
You are not distracted in the morning. You have not consumed any energy yet. And you can do exactly what helps make your day a success.
That ties in with perhaps the most important tip I know for productivity:
Decide each day what your most important task is for that day. Start each day with that task. Repeat that. So you have a productive day every day.
To do that, you need a morning routine.
If you leave every morning to chance, there is little chance that you will do the right thing. Then ‘ what feels best ‘ takes over from ‘ what’s best ‘.
A quote from behavioral expert Nir Eyal sums this up perfectly:
The antidote to impulsiveness is forethought.
Freely said: the antidote to impulsiveness is to think in advance what you are doing.
If you still have to decide what to do in the moment, then you are too late. You must have thought this through beforehand.
A morning routine is completely thought out in advance. You don’t leave your morning to chance like this. You do the right thing every morning. You set the tone for the rest of the day.
You can also plan the rest of your day during your morning routine. That way you have a clear picture every day of the most important tasks that day.
My morning routine has become my anchor for my productivity . Even if I have a really bad day, another morning routine awaits the next day. That’s way I can immediately recover.
And there are a number of reasons why a morning routine contributes to your productivity:
Your willpower is still at its maximum in the morning. The best time to do your most important tasks.
The morning is the best time for meditation. One of the most important exercises for productivity.
You have a moment for reflection. This way you can think ‘why’ you do everything. And you can clarify what your goals are for that day.
2. Successful people have a morning routine
Ask anyone on the street about their morning routine and you’ll likely get an answer like:
What kind of routine?
Ask a successful person about her morning routine and you’ll likely get a comprehensive story.
Just look it up. The entire internet is full of morning routines of successful people.
Could it be a coincidence that they deal with their morning so consciously and not the rest of the world?
3. With your morning routine you have the most influence on the quality of your life
Yes, you read that correctly.
A morning routine has the most influence on the quality of your life.
Just look at it this way:
Your life is a sum of what your days look like. If you have good days, you have a good quality life.
The secret of a good life is to make sure you have good days. And you simply have to repeat that.
And what influences the quality of your days the most?
Right. A morning routine!
Why isn’t that another time of the day? That’s because your morning is the only best time of the day to organize yourself completely.
In the morning you have no input from outside yet. You wake up with yourself. You’re not at work yet. Nothing is expected of you yet. It’s the only time of the day where you don’t have to take anything into account yet.
And think about it. Everyone secretly has a morning routine. Everyone does the same thing almost every morning. The only question is:
Have you consciously chosen your morning routine, or do you leave your mornings to chance?
Start your successful morning routine
Enough reasons to start tomorrow with your own morning routine.
But how do you start?
Easy.
Yes it is simple, but you also have to start simple. As small as possible. It’s not about setting up the most successful morning routine as quickly as possible. Your goal should be to have a morning routine that you can sustain.
It takes time to make your activities a habit. but keep pushing.
My morning now consists of maybe twenty different habits that I perform in an hour and a half. It took me several years to achieve that.
You can probably do that faster. Especially if you keep it simple.
The most important thing is that you stick with it. And as I always say: the secret is in the 1%. Make sure your morning tomorrow is 1% better than the day before.
Can you delay aging? The answer is yes. These are 4 proven anti-aging techniques.
Slowing down aging – is it possible?
I know what you’re thinking: an article about anti-aging, Danny has passed 35! long time ago.
And yes – I have to admit – my stage of life definitely has to do with this new interest. But it’s more than that.
Aging is the cause of a lot of misery . And in recent years it has received more and more attention. There is a cautious optimism among a group of anti-aging scientists.
Why? Not only do there appear to be very practical ways to slow down aging – there may also be ways to reverse aging in the future .
You read it right.
Admittedly, there is still a lot of uncertainty. The positive results have been demonstrated in mice – and mice are not humans. In addition, this kind of technology is unlikely to be widely available until the 1940s or 1950s.
But that also means that many of us will have the opportunity to experience this revolution – if we live long enough, of course.
Which brings us to the question, “How can we slow down aging?”
Serious anti-aging is a three-stage rocket:
Slowing down aging – we can start with this today.
Pause aging – this may be possible within 10-20 years.
Reversing aging – this is still in the future for a while, but perhaps within a few decades.
The more researchers learn about how aging works, the more we also learn how to slow it down. Applying these kinds of insights can in itself possibly stick to your life for years – provided you are not hit by a self-driving truck in the meantime, of course.
Slowing down aging is a big topic. In this article, I want to take you through four scientifically proven (and natural) ways to slow down aging.
No exotic supplements or extreme measures, but things you can start with today. Moreover, they are habits that can directly increase your health, energy and overall quality of life.
Let’s see!
1. Get your body out of the comfort zone
If one common thread emerges from the anti-aging studies, it is this: too much physical comfort causes accelerated aging .
When your body is constantly too comfortable, it becomes ‘lazy’. When challenged a little it makes itself stronger (emphasis on a little – prolonged pressure on the system is actually harmful).
Your body cleans itself up (autophagy), renews itself more effectively and prepares for future misery – keeping it young longer as a by-product.
So you want to regularly get your body out of that comfort zone, so that it has to work a little harder. Then the trick is to do that in a relatively comfortable way , so that life still remains fun.
So you want to sit and hang out less, eat less, eat less often and not always live in room temperature.
How can you do that?
Intermittent fasting – by regularly not eating anything for a longer period of time, you set all kinds of desirable processes in motion. Fasting is an important and effective way to slow down aging. If slowing down aging is important to you, start here (combined with the next tip). Also listen: Lose weight & get healthier – discover 20 benefits of intermittent fasting (podcast)
Sports and exercise – by physically challenging your body you slow down aging and possibly extend your life considerably. You also feel a lot happier if you exercise regularly. Sports and exercise should definitely be part of an effective anti-aging routine.
Exposing yourself to the cold – there’s something behind the cold shower hype that really works. You may be able to slow down aging by regularly getting out in the cold. Incidentally, ice baths are not necessary. As soon as you get a little cold it starts to have an effect. Turn down the heat and challenge yourself not to put on a coat when you’re feeling a little chilly. Your body will eventually get used to it!
Exposing yourself to heat – there’s no definitive evidence yet on the life-prolonging effects of saunas, but there’s some evidence. It could very well be that a regular sauna visit slows down aging.
Eat less protein – a high-protein diet may be nutritious and effective for building muscle, but it’s not a recipe for longevity. A diet low in proteins ensures that your body ages less quickly.
By taking your body out of its comfort zone, you will age less quickly. All right, let’s move on.
2. Opt for a plant-based diet
Plant-based means you get most of your calories from unprocessed, plant-based foods . It is not necessarily the same as a plant-based diet, because sometimes it still contains a small amount of animal products.
Basically it’s very simple: avoid processed products to slow down aging .
Build your diet from unprocessed vegetables, leafy vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. For example, use an 80/20 rule: 80% healthy, 20% possibly slightly less healthy.
The traditional Mediterranean diet has been the most researched and scores well for anti-aging. This diet is largely plant-based, with the occasional fish, a red wine here and there and no refined sugars .
It is not the same as our modern associations with Mediterranean food: pasta, wine, white bread, olive oil, meat, fish and cheese.
More vegetables, less mess – that’s how you add years to your life.
3. Prevent Accelerated Aging
There are factors that simply make us age faster. By avoiding these things we can gain a lot of ground:
Do not smoke
Drinking little or no alcohol
Eating little or no refined sugar
Avoiding unprotected sun exposure
Avoiding Excessive Stress
Working on good, stable, regular and sufficient sleep
Avoid being overweight
Avoid processed and red meat
Of course you already knew that these factors are not good for you . People who do all these things tend to look older. The factors don’t just reduce your health – they statistically have a direct negative impact on your longevity.
4. Reduce your chance of premature death
Most people die from a handful of diseases linked to aging – such as:
Cancer
Heart and vascular disease
Dementia
However, your biological aging does not equate to your calendar age.
If you’ve been smoking, drinking excessively, sleeping badly, sunbathing, feeling stressed, and constantly eating processed meats , your body is biologically older than the body of a peer who largely avoids these things.
The stronger that biological aging, the greater your chance of dying from a disease linked to aging. Yet it is never too late to adjust your lifestyle and repair (some of) the damage.
What can you do to reduce your risk of premature death?
For the most part, it comes down to following the aforementioned lifestyle advice. Make your body stronger, eat healthy, exercise more and avoid negative influences.
Protect yourself from the sun.
Reduce your exposure to (potentially) harmful chemicals, pollutants and pollution.
Take your health seriously . It is wise to have your health checked regularly, for example by the doctor. You can also pay for various preventive examinations yourself.
Participate in population studies when you receive an invitation. It may be exciting and uncomfortable, but timely diagnosis can significantly extend your life.
Increase insight into your health. For example, by wearing a smartwatch. These can tell you a lot about the state of your body in the long run.
Stay informed about innovations in preventive medicine and technological breakthroughs around anti-aging. In the coming years, many new tools will come on the market to gain more insight into your health and to make adjustments where necessary.
By being actively involved in your health, you can potentially add decades to your life. Who knows, maybe you’ll get old enough this way to be able to use real anti-aging therapies!
With more self-love, you don’t just make your own life more fun. You also build a foundation to pass on more love. Here are 7 ways to develop more self-love.
1. Accept yourself fully
It’s hard to have the self-love to accept yourself completely as you are. Including the properties you’d rather not know about.
But still, it’s important. It’s important because it helps you to truly love yourself. Including your ‘dark sides’. One way to do that is to make it explicit for yourself.
For example:
“Although I [insert your trait here], I fully accept myself and love myself.”
Fill in your problem, and say the phrase out loud a few times.
So:
“Although sometimes I get angry and angry easily, I fully accept myself and love myself.”
“Although I currently find myself lazy and worthless, I fully accept myself and love myself.”
“Although I am dissatisfied with my life right now, I fully accept myself and love myself.”
Another exercise you can perform – popularized by Kamal Ravikant – is the following:
Constantly repeat these words within yourself: I love myself.
While brushing your teeth.
While vacuuming.
During feeding the chickens.
While driving.
While waiting for your turn.
During the se.. or no. Better not during sex – that’s weird.
Bit crazy – but it works. Because your subconscious is quite naïve, and many things that you present it with are true. After a while, you really start to believe it. And from then on, it’s simply your new truth.
2. Dare to be yourself
Listen to what you want, not what your environment requires of you. And discover that the greatest pressure from the outside actually comes from within.
It’s your beliefs, ingrained patterns, and fixed thinking habits that most keep you from being completely yourself.
If you have little self-love, you are used to conforming to the world around you. You discount yourself so that others can be satisfied.
For example, if you grew up with the idea that you’d better do “normal,” then you might be holding yourself back when you actually want to let yourself go. Out of shame, and for example because you do not want to disappoint others.
Stay close to yourself. Notice what you feel, what your intuition tells you. And try to follow it more and more. Regardless of what others think.
3. Let go of your ego
Your ego is that rattling voice in your head. The side of you who can be offended, disappointed, scared, and constantly worrying and thinking.
Developing self-love is not the same as becoming arrogant. In that case, you feed your ego – then it gets bigger and bigger. And the bigger your ego, the more complicated your life becomes.
Try to make your ego smaller to get closer to yourself.
Meditate regularly, and discover how you and your thoughts are two separate things.
Recognize how the thoughts you have determine what kind of feelings you experience.
Experience how new thoughts allow you to feel new feelings.
Feel grateful for the moment, for your life, and for the good things in your life. Gratitude humbles you. And humility shrinks your ego.
4. Take care of yourself – you’re worth it
A lack of self-love is the cause behind many health problems. If you don’t find yourself valuable, you’re less likely to take good care of your body.
If you genuinely love yourself, then you take care of yourself with love. Then you feed your body with healthy food. Then you don’t put any rubbish in your body. Then you ensure rest, exercise and good daily care.
Start by taking better care of yourself. Think “my body deserves better than this,” and trade that bag of chips for a piece of fruit. Think better about yourself so that you take better care of yourself.
5. Be less yourself
We are often more cruel to ourselves than we are to others. That makes sense, but it’s also tragic. Since we see others now and then, but have to live with ourselves 24 hours a day.
If someone else makes a mistake, you quickly ignore it. Can happen.
If you make a mistake yourself, things will be different. Especially if you have little self-love. Then you keep reminding yourself of your mistake, you keep whipping yourself. You feel worthless, inferior, and maybe even feel shame.
That is not the way to a more enjoyable life. Try to treat yourself with love. Put your own behavior into perspective just as you put your friends’ behavior into perspective. Nothing to do about it can happen, tomorrow another day.
6. Live with attention
Life isn’t always fun, and that’s fine. Accept that your life has ups and downs, and quietly ride the tides. Do everything with attention and live in the moment as much as possible.
Don’t believe everything you think. Observe thoughts that come and go, and inspect the feelings that evoke those thoughts.
The more you can live in the moment, the easier it becomes to recognize and let go of self-critical thoughts.
7. Guard your boundaries
You need to educate your environment to treat you the way you want. You do that by setting boundaries and maintaining them when they are exceeded.
People with self-love guard their boundaries because they believe they are worthy of being treated well. And so are you.
Silence in your upstairs room ha ha. Anyway read further
Rattling thoughts. When you want to sleep, when you want to relax in the garden, when you take a shower. It drives you crazy. How do you stop the flow of thoughts? You will finally find peace in your head.
Thank you brain – leave me alone now
Yes, the Buddha knew how it worked. You become what you think. And often what we think is not exactly what we want to become . Fears, insecurities, worries, things you dread and bad memories.
Then you lie in bed – ready to fall asleep – after which your brain decides to remind you of that overwhelming project at work. Which you still have so much to do. After which the thoughts keep coming and you break out in a sweat . And falling asleep peacefully is off the job for now.
Or you decide to pick up the good habit and start your day with a meditation . Your brain opens the session by drawing up a kind of todo list. After which you become so restless that you get up to check your mail so that you feel useful again.
Thanks brain. Nice.
Fortunately, you can do a lot to quiet your mind . And it is much less difficult than it sometimes seems. Really – you don’t have to live like a monk to see results. Just wait and see.
1. Treat your brain like a little kid
Be kind to yourself. The more you judge yourself for “thinking too much,” the more negative thoughts you generate. As if it wasn’t busy enough in there already.
Think of your brain as an innocent child . It does what it does best: generate thoughts . And you can guide it to better deal with this talent. So that it generates fewer thoughts and above all better thoughts . Thoughts that nourish you , that support you in your personal development, that make you happy and happy.
Your brain isn’t bad. It’s actually very smart and creative. That’s why your head is so full! So don’t curse yourself. Accept yourself as you are – with your head full. You might not get to sleep right now, don’t worry.
With small positive steps, you can train your brain to better utilize its talents so that you both have a better time.
2. Think of yourself as a clear blue sky
Precisely. A clear blue sky with clouds floating past. You are the sky. Always blue, always in the same place, always present . The clouds are your thoughts. Sometimes there is not a cloud in the sky, sometimes there are so many that it thunders.
The sky is much bigger than the clouds. The clouds float in it, but they are not the blue sky . Just like you are not your thoughts .
When it’s overcast for days, you almost forget that the blue sky above still exists. Just like with an overloaded brain you almost forget that you are much bigger than the thoughts you see flying around.
But no matter how thick the clouds are – above the clouds there is still that blue sky. A place where the sun always shines. Where you can look down on all those clouds and see clearly that the sky and the clouds are two different things.
Is your head full? Then look for the blue sky. Find that place from where you can observe your thoughts . It’s like lying with your back in the grass and watching the clouds float by above you. Without judging them, without forming an opinion about them. You just let them be what they are.
Innocent thoughts generated by an innocent brain. No more. The clouds are not the blue sky, and your thoughts are not who you are.
3. Yes – meditate regularly
That place from which you can observe your own thoughts is easiest to reach from silence. You only need a few minutes a day to notice the effect. And even if it feels useless, you find out later that it was useful.
Very simple: sit or lie down and inhale and exhale deeply . Close your eyes, and bring your attention to your breathing. For example, say “in” and “out” in your head with each inhalation and exhalation. When you find yourself getting distracted, gently bring your attention back.
No more. That’s all.
Do that for a few minutes. And notice how slowly but surely you create more distance between you and your thoughts. Not only can you observe them better – fewer thoughts are also generated.
Delicious. What a rest! And with so little effort – by doing nothing. Meditation is beautiful stuff. Keep diving deep in yourself to know yourself better and better.
You can get everything done in small steps. Do you want to experience more happiness and positivity? These are 21 small positive things you want to do more often. Start changing your mindset to positivity and continue reading this blog.
These are 21 little positive things
Small steps often have a big impact. Discover 21 little positive things you want to do more often. Which of these steps will you take today?
Touch what makes you happy . Stop for a moment and become aware of the world around you. What are you grateful for right now? For example, when I’m on the train, I look around and just feel grateful for this simple moment.
Telling your loved ones that you love them . You assume they know . But it is valuable and important to keep saying it – especially to your partner and your children. I tell Billy and Jake that I love them several times a week, and I think it makes us all happier.
Catching a Negative Thought . Notice that you are driving yourself crazy with negative thoughts. Noticing it stops the spiral and allows you to shift your attention.
Take a deep breath . Relax, inhale slowly and let the tension dissipate as you exhale. Pretty nice.
To serve another . Not because the other person asks you to, but because you want it yourself. Get a cup of coffee, clean up, arrange something, make life a little easier for someone else.
Do something nice anonymously . Such as straightening a fallen bicycle, cleaning up litter, making a donation or sending a present to someone who can use it.
Make new memories with loved ones . You don’t need a special reason to get your loved ones together and do something fun. Organize a dinner at home, a trip or throw a party. Making beautiful new memories together is a great way to make a lot of lives better.
Sit down and describe your dream life . What would you like your life to look like? Often when we describe our dream life we come to the conclusion that many parts are easier to reach than we think. Such as being healthier (eating better and exercising more), being calmer ( meditating more often ) or doing more fun things (better planning).
Take a small step towards a big dream . You can achieve everything in small steps, even your biggest dreams. And taking that first step is incredibly fun and exciting.
Ask yourself: How can I contribute? If you wanted to use your life to make the lives of others better – what could you do with your talents and interests? By asking yourself this question, you make room for new, inspiring answers.
Give yourself something to look forward to . Book a trip for a few months from now, reserve a ticket for a great show, plan a dinner with a friend. By sprinkling fun things through your year, you lighten up the challenges of everyday life.
Make yourself a healthy meal . Taking good care of yourself is a matter of making healthy choices every time. Don’t worry about the big picture, just opt for a healthy meal now.
Give away something you don’t use . With less unnecessary stuff you make your life lighter and easier. What stuff can you miss?
Read a chapter in a book that will help you move forward . A book that helps you with inspiration, skills or personal growth.
Schedule a moment for complete relaxation . If you don’t plan it, it won’t happen or you’ll feel guilty. Plan a moment for relaxation and lounging – because in a busy life, such moments rarely arise automatically.
Take a step towards a more sustainable lifestyle . What area of your life could you tackle? Maybe switch to ecological cleaning products, replace your meat with tempeh, separate an extra waste stream or request a quote for solar panels. The transition to sustainability consists of a lot of steps that we take together, and you can come one step closer today.
Go out without a smartphone . Even if it’s only an hour. Can’t make it happen? Then put it on silent so you don’t get distracted.
Start a chat with someone nearby . Not only is it nice to know your neighbors, it also gives a sense of trust and security for both you and your neighbors. By investing in your neighborhood you feel more deeply rooted, more at ease and less lonely in your living environment. And that’s more important than most people think.
Take the trouble to make it a little more fun . Light a candle, get special tea at home, crank up your record player. With a little extra effort, you can make a simple moment warmer.
Be happy first . In India people frequently use the following statement; Just be happy . In the West we often think the other way around: first everything has to be perfect and then I’m happy . But you can choose to feel happy. For example, by focusing on gratitude and relaxation. From that basis you can then take steps to solve your problems.
Take the time to meditate . Life is a pancake – that’s what you start to see when you meditate regularly. You discover that you are causing the drama yourself by taking your thoughts so seriously. Meditating is a small, positive step that will help you activate a powerful upward spiral in your life.
I really hope the above stated point will help you now to become happy and that you are motivated to transform your mind step by step. Remember small steps often have BIG IMPACT.
Regret is not nice. But luckily you have enough time to avoid that feeling. Here are 15 choices you’ll regret in 15 years. My choices may not be equal with your choices. Anyway let us move further. Read further. Thanks in advanced for reading this blog as well.
1. Pretending to be different from who you are
Living with a mask is exhausting. And I would say that living with a mask means that you are not really alive .
You can only fully enjoy your life if you can really be yourself. Learn to accept yourself as you are. Self-acceptance is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself.
2. Taking your health for granted
Many people take their health for granted until they get sick . But that’s a risky strategy, as poor health can drastically lower your quality of life.
Your health belongs in your top 3 priorities in life . Because, after all, it is your body that makes this life possible in the first place.
3. Spend all your money
Most people go through an endless cycle that creates a full house and an empty feeling inside . They always pin their hopes on the next purchase. But if it turns out that that new smartphone does not provide lasting happiness, they look for the next.
In 15 years you won’t be thinking about all that stuff. However , your life would be better off with a financial buffer . Such a buffer provides peace of mind, resilience and freedom.
With every euro you save, you are doing your future self a favor . Of course you also want to enjoy now. But don’t forget that working towards a better future also brings you a lot of satisfaction.
4. Thinking too much about yourself
The better you can relate to others, the smoother your relationships will be. And your relationships are a huge factor in your happiness in life.
Work on your empathy. Be kind and considerate to others . Not only do you become a light for your environment. It also brings a lot of satisfaction in the end. Plus, your environment is likely to get better for you too. Nice bonus.
5. Let others determine your dreams for you
If I hadn’t fought for my own choices, I’d probably be working at an advertising agency right now with an empty feeling inside.
The beaten paths are the easiest paths to walk . But not necessarily the prettiest. When I drive to France I avoid the highways to enjoy all the beautiful villages. You can do that in your life too.
Avoid the boring highways and choose your own path. This is your life and you only get it once. Whatever others think, you decide for yourself how you organize this life.
6. Trying to control everything
As a control freak, you feel like you can get a handle on almost anything, and that’s a good thing . In reality you are wasting a lot of energy on an impossible battle.
Not only would life be boring if you could control everything. It is also simply impossible.
Be a little looser, and just dare to let life unfold . Of course you want to prepare. But you don’t want to manipulate and force. Things don’t always go your way, and that’s fine.
7. Not daring to grow
You will find the most satisfaction in growing from within. By letting go of your fears, throwing unnecessary beliefs overboard, challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone.
But that is also scary from time to time .
However, don’t let that stop you from growing. A life that revolves around comfort and safety is fine, but not great. You have to keep growing if you want to wake up every day with a feeling of happiness, gratitude and joy.
8. Postpone Your Happiness
Get happy first, then go and achieve all those goals. Not the other way around.
If you keep postponing your happiness , you will never experience it. Think of happiness more as health. An aspect of your life that deserves attention every day. And as soon as you have too little of it, your quality of life decreases.
A happy foundation ensures that you can achieve your goals . And that ultimately ensures that you experience satisfaction . So be happy first, then the rest will follow.
9. Wasting your time on things that make you feel empty
There are more and more ways to have fun without experiencing satisfaction. Series on Netflix, great video games, TV, movies, outings.
Sometimes it seems that entertainment is one of the most important things in our lives. While in reality it is no more than a means to entertain you.
Optimize your life for satisfaction – not pleasure . Fun is important. But if it leaves you with an empty feeling, it won’t do you any good.
10. Not Spending Enough Time With Your Loved Ones
In 15 years, all the people you love will be 15 years older. Realize that you can not push working on relationships to the future .
Your relationships belong in your top 3 priorities. By giving all your attention to your work and neglecting your relationships, you end up selling yourself short. Especially when it comes to children. Because in 15 years they will no longer be children. If you want to enjoy their childhood, do it now.
11. Always live in the future or the past
If you are constantly lost in thought, your life will fly by. Why? Because then you never live in the moment. And the now is where life takes place.
The future and the past only exist in your head. They are memories and projections that do not exist . The only thing that is true is what is there now.
Mindfulness helps you experience your life on a deeper level. To really enjoy the moment. Because the more you live in your head, the faster you run through your life. And if we learn one thing from old people, it’s that life moves so fast .
Mindfulness helps you bring your life back to a more comfortable pace. While enjoying more at the same time.
12. Taking your life so seriously it makes you stressed
A lot of things are important. But few things are important enough to feel stressed about. Dare to put things in perspective a bit .
Focus your attention on contributing to the world in a way that makes you happy. But also learn to put everything in perspective. Grow old with smile lines, not worry lines.
13. Running after the money
Money is a great tool. But it is a very weak means of generating satisfaction.
So see and use money for what it is. A means to optimize your life for freedom, happiness and meaning. But don’t see money as an end in itself . Because that mainly means that you invest a lot of time and energy in a dead end street.
If you find that your relationships, your sense of meaning and your health are giving way to your quest for more money and status – then it is definitely time to make adjustments.
14. Missing the beauty in ugliness
Everything has beauty, if you are willing to see it. Normally we filter the world on very narrow criteria. What we consider ‘beautiful’ must meet very specific requirements. But these criteria can be stretched.
Why would you do that? Easy. The more beauty you see around you, the more beautiful the world becomes . You can learn to enjoy the full spectrum of being human on this planet.
Joy, love and fun are beautiful. But sadness, hatred and fear can also be beautiful. A blooming flower can be as disarming as the flower giving itself back to Earth.
Failure can contain as much beauty as success. And a funeral can be just as beautiful as a birth.
15. Constantly judging people and events
Judgment cramps everything and everyone. The more strongly you judge people, the less the people around you dare to be themselves in your presence .
And the more you judge yourself, the smaller you make yourself.
Try Acceptance . Accept yourself, accept people around you, accept the events in your life. Notice how much peace, freedom and love this can bring. It makes your life easier, less cramped and more fluid.
And you know – you will certainly not regret more freedom, peace and love in 15 years. †
The world is restless and chaotic. How do you deal with that without losing yourself?
Unrest is the new norm
The world has been restless for decades, of course, especially if you regularly check the news. But two foundations under our societies are changing faster and faster: technology and ecology.
Technology is improving at an exponential rate – the ecology is actually deteriorating faster and more visibly.
It creates a lot of turmoil in the world – and then in ourselves . Because the acceleration of these two factors, among others, leads to enormous economic and geopolitical changes and crises that we see unfolding before our eyes.
Violent developments seem to follow each other in rapid succession. It sometimes feels like we’ll never get ‘a break’ from just living our lives.
We are no longer in an era of change but in a change of era .
We have left the relatively stable ‘post-war’ world behind us. We are now well on our way to a new balance. And in the meantime we experience chaos, turmoil and uncertainty .
Exciting – even scary at times – and incredibly insecure. What do we do with that?
1. Bring it back to yourself
No matter what’s happening in the world – you still have to load the dishwasher. And as far as I’m concerned, this is a great way to look at the situation.
You usually have virtually no control over world events . We are here with billions of people of which you are only one.
What can you do about a pandemic? What can you do about wars, about climate change?
There are always steps you can (and maybe should) take. But your influence is always limited. And it’s important to realize that.
You don’t have to save the world . And you can’t save the world. It’s not just your world – it belongs to all of us. It is therefore also our joint responsibility.
What can you do if you feel overwhelmed by world events? Here are things that work well for me – and many blogzynergy.com readers:
Stop constantly checking the news and social media. This prevents your brain from endlessly ‘chewing’ on issues that your brain can’t possibly solve. This reduces the feeling of restlessness, stress and powerlessness.
Rather choose to take the state of affairs in one go with some regularity. For example, by reading one newspaper or watching the news once.
Write in your journal about the things that make you restless. Write your thoughts on paper and describe your feelings. That way they don’t keep circulating in your head all the time.
Also immediately write down all the little things you are grateful for . That immediately gives more shine to your day.
Take a moment to “be mindful” of your feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety. Observe the sensation in your body without changing anything. Just let this feeling last for a while without running away. This gives the unrest the opportunity to ‘burn out’, after which you immediately feel calmer.
Investigate which practical steps you can actually take to make the situation better or less undesirable . Such as making your lifestyle more sustainable, cultivating compassion and taking the necessary measures.
Focus your attention on taking those steps. Action reduces anxiety . Do what needs to be done and you’ll feel better right away.
Practice rational fatalism . What has happened cannot be undone – even if it should never have happened. It is what it is – even if you mentally resist it. Fighting reality is always stressful . By accepting the current situation, you create a new starting point from which you can take your next step.
Try to focus your attention on the moment. Practice mindfulness , meditate, exercise, seek distraction. Do you tend to worry a lot? Then opt for physical activities. Such as working in the garden, cleaning, tidying up or helping someone else in the house.
Breathe in slowly and relax completely. The restlessness of the world need not make you restless . It is possible and allowed, but it is not necessary. You don’t control what happens around you – but you can control how you deal with it.
By making it clear to yourself what you do have control over, you will quickly reduce anxiety. Make your world smaller again and focus on practical steps.
2. Stay close to yourself
What do you think is important? Which values would you like to ‘live’? What do you want to stand for?
When we feel anxious, we quickly withdraw into a defensive position. You may prefer to curl up with a nice series, a bag of chips and a comfortable dress.
I know I feel that tendency in myself!
That’s okay – but it’s probably not who you want to be. It’s not the life you face .
It takes courage to live your values in exciting times. But you can practice with it step by step.
For instance:
Choose compassion where you would normally judge.
Choose love where you would choose fear.
Choose listening instead of giving advice.
Choose patience instead of presenting your opinion directly.
Choose generosity when you’d rather protect your stuff.
Choose calm breathing where you would normally fall back into restlessness.
Choose mindfulness where you would normally be distracted.
You’re going to fail at this all the time – that goes for all of us, including me. But it is valuable to stay close to yourself, especially in troubled times.
Because times will remain restless for the time being . So if you don’t do it now – when? Back straight, head up. Be brave and live in the way that satisfies you.
Move away from fear and anxiety . Live your values – so you can inspire others to do the same.
3. Give the best of yourself
Whatever happens – tomorrow the sun will rise again. Life goes on.
You can easily be paralyzed by undesirable events in the world. But does that make sense if you can’t control it anyway?
You have a life to live . So just do what needs to be done.
Loading the dishwasher, for example. But also take care of yourself and – very important – take care of others. Because heaven and earth can tremble – we are only in real trouble when we lose sight of ourselves and each other.
If you feel anxious, then so do others. Perhaps you can offer a listening ear. Maybe you can cheer someone up. Maybe you can make someone else’s life a little easier or more fun.
Maybe together you can provide a welcome distraction from all the misery in the media.
You may ask yourself, “How can I contribute? How can I offer the most value right now?”
You cannot control the world. But you can choose to add a little more love, a little more attention and a little more compassion.
Because you know how it works: societies are made up of people. Trade fear for love, and you’ve actually made society a little more loving .
Inspire others by living your values and your influence will increase even further.
The bigger the chaos, the simpler the solution:
Keep breathing calmly;
Focus on the next step;
Ask yourself, “What would love do?”
Sounds cheesy, but that’s the way it is. It works – that’s especially important to me.
I hope I was able to make your day a little brighter with these handles . The world will not become less chaotic any time soon. So it’s up to us to find ways to stay close to ourselves – even when the waters are choppy.
Take it Easy! Control Yourself and your love ones.
Of course you want to develop yourself, but where do you start? Knowing yourself is a great start to the new year. These simple 25 questions can help you on your way.
Doubts about your job, your relationship, yourself? Sit down with these 25 questions and explore what’s behind the person you think you are. The better you know that, the easier it will be to make choices – and the happier you will be.
What does your ideal day look like?
Do you know what you do very well in your job? And what are your weaknesses?
Who inspires you? What qualities does that person have?
What’s the best way to relax?
Look around you all day long, what makes you happy?
When was the last time you dropped out somewhere? What was the reason? Do you have that more often?
Which compliments make your eyes shine?
Who are you jealous of? What does that person have that you don’t (yet) have? Jealousy is a pointer to hidden desires.
What are you afraid of?
What are you most proud of?
Suppose you win the State Lottery. What are you going to do? (after buying a house and a new car, traveling and giving away a lot of money?) And what’s stopping you from making that dream a reality now?
What makes you angry? Sad? Frustrated? So what do you actually need? Emotions also tell you what is important to you and who you are – deep inside.
What gives you energy?
Suppose your life ends today. Of all the things you didn’t do, what would you most regret?
So far, have you mainly made choices from your head or from your heart?
What characteristic of yourself do you run into over and over again? What is your pitfall?
Which parts of yourself (traits/characteristics) do you prefer to hide away? What positive qualities could be behind it?
What is your first memory of when you were happy?
How do you come across to other people? Does that match how you see yourself?
In which situation(s) do you experience tension or problems? Which limiting beliefs about yourself play a role in this?
What behavior was often ‘punished’ when you were a child (eg in class, or in your family)? What talent is hidden behind that?
What were the three happiest moments in your working life? And private?
What advice would you give to yourself at the age of five? eighteenth? twenty-fifth? Now?
Until now, have you been more like someone who happens to life or someone who designs life itself?
How would you like to be remembered at your funeral?
Why would you ask yourself these questions?
Self-knowledge makes your life more fun and easier. Logical, because in your work, in love, in friendships and everything else that concerns you, you yourself are the constant – and therefore the key to success. Coaches often see people who get stuck, don’t know what they want, are not happy in their relationship or work. The reason is often a lack of self-knowledge.
Many people operate on autopilot. They have learned certain behaviors and traits because they were once expected of them, but they hardly know what their deeper motivations and innate talents are. That also makes it difficult to determine your course. By asking yourself – preferably with a coach or therapist as a mirror – questions about what you naturally do well, what is important to you and what limiting thoughts or emotions you have, you come closer to yourself, and you automatically see which choices suit you.
This gives peace of mind and self-confidence, so that you increasingly do what feels good and not what other people find important. That is not selfish, on the contrary: if you are happy with what you do and do what suits you, others will feel it. It inspires.
Do you want to get to know yourself even better? Make a DEEP dive into yourself and be open minded to yourself.
THERE IS MAGIC IN ASKING YOURSELF THE RIGHT QUESTIONS !!!
