chrystaland-blog

[chrystaland-blog]

Well, you have to find that rare someone for whom you’re not putting on a show. Someone who shines a spotlight in your direction—not because you’re who they need you to be, or who they want you to be…just because you’re you.

Jodi Picoult, Off the Page (via simply-quotes)

[chrystaland-blog]

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it

William Arthur Ward (via purplebuddhaproject)

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

Choose people who choose you.

(via deeplifequotes)

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

Do You Know How to Use Your Mind? These 5 Points Will Help You Decide 

Our minds can often be our enemies. As we grow older, that becomes more and more possible.

As children, we don’t take our thoughts seriously at all. But being a grown-up is another story–we look at our thoughts and see truths.

When it comes to learning what to do with all these thoughts in our minds, we are left alone. No one teaches us about our heads and how to deal with them. We probably don’t even notice the infinite number of thoughts swirling inside of our minds all the times like dark clouds of doom. And then we don’t understand why we are so anxious, why we can’t sleep, and why everyone in the world becomes so stupid and irritating.

We never learn how to think.

As adults with used brains, we can start learning and unlearning how to use what’s in our heads.

Do you know how to use your mind? Or does it operate on low levels, kind of on autopilot? Let’s take a closer look.

1. Judgments and Opinions Are Not Facts

We judge others and think they can actually fit into the little box we imagine for them. We form opinions about big questions and believe that they are facts. As adults, most people are so fast to spew their opinion on everyone who they come in contact with. Because our opinions feel so truthful to us, don’t they? We feel them, we thought of them ourselves, that must mean something, right? Wrong.

The birth of opinions and judgments in our minds is influenced by a million different things. The way we were brought up, the people we came in contact with, the experiences we have had–these are just a few. Opinions are not coincidental, that is true, but they are not in our heads because they are truths. They are highly personal versions of how we process what we see. Nothing more and nothing less.

That’s why our opinion tells much more about us than it does about the thing we’re talking about.

2. Society’s Opinions Are Not Facts Either

There is a certain life path that is looked upon as the “ideal life path for a human.” There could even be a book with the title THE IDEAL LIFE PATH FOR A HUMAN, couldn’t there? We can all imagine exactly what would be written in it.

People who don’t choose to follow this life path are weird. Unusual, rebel! Why would you stray from the path? You must be crazy … 

This includes picking an unusual profession, dropping out of school or even dressing in a way that differs from the norm. 

People who stray from the path are just people too. There are so many of us. And you know what? We are all normal in our own way. So don’t judge others or yourself. You are your own unique kind of normal. Read the rest >>

 (via Do You Know How to Use Your Mind? These 5 Points Will Help You Decide | The Miracle Forest: The Zen Smile of Mindfulness)

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

Have you ever screamed at yourself in your head? Have you ever yelled at your mind to just shut up? I know I have.

Sometimes it feels like there is a really annoying person living in our heads, who just won’t stop talking.

So what can we do with this voice? First of all, we can ask the following question: Who is that voice?

There is one person that does the thinking–us. And there the unbearable person in our minds. That seems like two selves. But we can’t have two selves now, can we? One of those has to be fake.

We might want to call the annoying voice the illusory self. The very first step is to recognize it.

You are not the illusory self.

The name already suggests that this self, this voice, is not real. It is a delusion, so to speak. When we recognize that, it can give us an enormous sense of peace.

It’s a great realization–to know that we don’t have to listen to it, because it’s lying. We can be at peace despite of its ramblings.

Peace is every step.

When it comes to everyday life and making this peaceful realization permanent, we have to put in a little more effort. Walking in peace is a lifestyle.

With thoughts, feelings also arise. And those feelings are not so easy to shake off or ignore. If we notice the thought that causes them, we can stop the process before it even begins, but sometimes, we are not successful, and that’s okay.

What makes feelings worse is that we keep feeding them with more thoughts. The feeling validates the thoughts and vice versa. The feeling makes us believe that the thoughts must be real.

If we knew for sure that the voice was lying, we would be at peace.

That is the hardest part and needs practice. Because the illusory self can be damn persuasive. We need to practice not believing it. Recognizing its cycle and stepping out of it.

A lot of people say that they know they shouldn’t be angry or anxious or jealous, because it makes no sense, but they still are. And that means that they still believe the thought that causes them to feel that way. If they didn’t, the feeling would subside.

When I’m anxious, the feelings slowly goes away when I understand that the thought in my head is not reality. But if I don’t, the feeling stays. Because what we believe will remain our reality. Read more>>

[chrystaland-blog]

GUIDED MEDITATION: No Worries (With Gentle Rain)

A guided meditation that will help you reduce your worries or anxiety with the help of the gentle sounds of rain and relaxing piano. Enjoy. Love and light ♥

Subscribe for guided meditations and relaxing sounds made with lots of love: http://bit.ly/1r2wSYm

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

5 Easy Exercises for Peace

It’s easy to get carried away with everyday worries. Even when we’re working towards living a mindful life, we can sometimes fall back into old habits. That’s completely normal, no need to worry. That’s why being a peaceful person is a lifelong commitment, a lifelong practice.

Life’s challenges are what help us grow. In a lot of ways, they are our greatest gifts. Here are 5 things to remember during difficult times:

1. Use your senses

It helps me a great deal when my mind is full to concentrate on my senses. To be mindful of how my fingers touch the keyboard, how my feet touch the ground as I walk, how the air smells. Bringing your attention back to the present moment is great way to redirect your attention from your worrying thoughts to what isreal in the here and now.

2. Slow down

A lot of us just love to rush. Running from one place to another, hurrying with every task. When we are all over the place, our mind is all over the place as well. Slowing down your speed calms the mind. There is great serenity in being slow and calm in our movements. There is no need to rush. What needs to be done will be done. Let’s put peace in the process as well.

3. Calm your breathing

Our breathing can easily become too shallow or even too deep with stress, which can cause hyperventilation. When this occurs, it is best to slow down your breathing. Instead of taking deep breaths, taking more shallow ones can really calm us. Just make sure your belly is expanding on the inhale. There is no need for humongous breaths. Monks don’t take huge breaths during meditation either, in fact, you can barely see them breathing. Just like when we sleep, our breathing slows down. Read more>>

 (via 5 Easy Exercises for Peace | The Miracle Forest: The Zen Smile of Mindfulness)

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]

[chrystaland-blog]