Happy Valentine: 30 tips for more self-love and happiness!

Happy Valentine! Here are 30 tips for more self-love and happiness!

“If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself then you are not able of developing compassion for others.”

— Dalai Lama

Marc and Angel are the authors of 1000 Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently. Here’s their amazing list of 30 things to start doing for yourself. If you enjoy this, be sure to visit their website for more inspirational advice and tips for life.

#1. Start spending time with the right people. – These are the people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways. They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.

#2. Start facing your problems head on. – It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them. Problems will not disappear unless you take action. Do what you can, when you can, and acknowledge what you’ve done. It’s all about taking baby steps in the right direction, inch by inch. These inches count, they add up to yards and miles in the long run.

#3. Start being honest with yourself about everything. – Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed. Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become. Be honest with every aspect of your life, always. Because you are the one person you can forever count on. Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are. Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there. Read The Road Less Traveled.

#4. Start making your own happiness a priority. – Your needs matter. If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself. Remember, it IS possible to take care of your own needs while simultaneously caring for those around you. And once your needs are met, you will likely be far more capable of helping those who need you most.

#5. Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly. – Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are. Be yourself. Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else. Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms. Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.

#6. Start noticing and living in the present. – Right now is a miracle. Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. So stop thinking about how great things will be in the future. Stop dwelling on what did or didn’t happen in the past. Learn to be in the ‘here and now’ and experience life as it’s happening. Appreciate the world for the beauty that it holds, right now.

#7. Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you. – Mistakes are okay; they’re the stepping stones of progress. If you’re not failing from time to time, you’re not trying hard enough and you’re not learning. Take risks, stumble, fall, and then get up and try again. Appreciate that you are pushing yourself, learning, growing and improving. Significant achievements are almost invariably realized at the end of a long road of failures. One of the ‘mistakes’ you fear might just be the link to your greatest achievement yet.

#8. Start being more polite to yourself. – If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend? The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others. You must love who you are or no one else will.

#9. Start enjoying the things you already have. – The problem with many of us is that we think we’ll be happy when we reach a certain level in life – a level we see others operating at – your boss with her corner office, that friend of a friend who owns a mansion on the beach, etc. Unfortunately, it takes awhile before you get there, and when you get there you’ll likely have a new destination in mind. You’ll end up spending your whole life working toward something new without ever stopping to enjoy the things you have now. So take a quiet moment every morning when you first awake to appreciate where you are and what you already have.

#10. Start creating your own happiness. – If you are waiting for someone else to make you happy, you’re missing out. Smile because you can. Choose happiness. Be the change you want to see in the world. Be happy with who you are now, and let your positivity inspire your journey into tomorrow. Happiness is often found when and where you decide to seek it. If you look for happiness within the opportunities you have, you will eventually find it. But if you constantly look for something else, unfortunately, you’ll find that too. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

#11. Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance. – In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance. You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Most of the time you just have to go for it! And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win.

#12. Start believing that you’re ready for the next step. – You are ready! Think about it. You have everything you need right now to take the next small, realistic step forward. So embrace the opportunities that come your way, and accept the challenges – they’re gifts that will help you to grow.

#13. Start entering new relationships for the right reasons. – Enter new relationships with dependable, honest people who reflect the person you are and the person you want to be. Choose friends you are proud to know, people you admire, who show you love and respect – people who reciprocate your kindness and commitment. And pay attention to what people do, because a person’s actions are much more important than their words or how others represent them.

#14. Start giving new people you meet a chance. – It sounds harsh, but you cannot keep every friend you’ve ever made. People and priorities change. As some relationships fade others will grow. Appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work. Trust your judgment. Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory. Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.

#15. Start competing against an earlier version of yourself. – Be inspired by others, appreciate others, learn from others, but know that competing against them is a waste of time. You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself. You are competing to be the best you can be. Aim to break your own personal records.

#16. Start cheering for other people’s victories. – Start noticing what you like about others and tell them. Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places. So be happy for those who are making progress. Cheer for their victories. Be thankful for their blessings, openly. What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.

#17. Start looking for the silver lining in tough situations. – When things are hard, and you feel down, take a few deep breaths and look for the silver lining – the small glimmers of hope. Remind yourself that you can and will grow stronger from these hard times. And remain conscious of your blessings and victories – all the things in your life that are right. Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t.

#18. Start forgiving yourself and others. – We’ve all been hurt by our own decisions and by others. And while the pain of these experiences is normal, sometimes it lingers for too long. We relive the pain over and over and have a hard time letting go. Forgiveness is the remedy. It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened. It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life.

#19. Start helping those around you. – Care about people. Guide them if you know a better way. The more you help others, the more they will want to help you. Love and kindness begets love and kindness. And so on and so forth.

#20. Start listening to your own inner voice. – If it helps, discuss your ideas with those closest to you, but give yourself enough room to follow your own intuition. Be true to yourself. Say what you need to say. Do what you know in your heart is right.

#21. Start being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks. – Slow down. Breathe. Give yourself permission to pause, regroup and move forward with clarity and purpose. When you’re at your busiest, a brief recess can rejuvenate your mind and increase your productivity. These short breaks will help you regain your sanity and reflect on your recent actions so you can be sure they’re in line with your goals.

#22. Start noticing the beauty of small moments. – Instead of waiting for the big things to happen – marriage, kids, big promotion, winning the lottery – find happiness in the small things that happen every day. Little things like having a quiet cup of coffee in the early morning, or the delicious taste and smell of a homemade meal, or the pleasure of sharing something you enjoy with someone else, or holding hands with your partner. Noticing these small pleasures on a daily basis makes a big difference in the quality of your life.

#23. Start accepting things when they are less than perfect. – Remember, ‘perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good.’ One of the biggest challenges for people who want to improve themselves and improve the world is learning to accept things as they are. Sometimes it’s better to accept and appreciate the world as it is, and people as they are, rather than to trying to make everything and everyone conform to an impossible ideal. No, you shouldn’t accept a life of mediocrity, but learn to love and value things when they are less than perfect.

#24. Start working toward your goals every single day. – Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Whatever it is you dream about, start taking small, logical steps every day to make it happen. Get out there and DO something! The harder you work the luckier you will become. While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it. By ‘working on it,’ I mean consistently devoting oneself to the end result. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

#25. Start being more open about how you feel. – If you’re hurting, give yourself the necessary space and time to hurt, but be open about it. Talk to those closest to you. Tell them the truth about how you feel. Let them listen. The simple act of getting things off your chest and into the open is your first step toward feeling good again.

#26. Start taking full accountability for your own life. – Own your choices and mistakes, and be willing to take the necessary steps to improve upon them. Either you take accountability for your life or someone else will. And when they do, you’ll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own. You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life. And no, it won’t always be easy. Every person has a stack of obstacles in front of them. But you must take accountability for your situation and overcome these obstacles. Choosing not to is choosing a lifetime of mere existence.

#27. Start actively nurturing your most important relationships. – Bring real, honest joy into your life and the lives of those you love by simply telling them how much they mean to you on a regular basis. You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people. Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty. Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.

#28. Start concentrating on the things you can control. – You can’t change everything, but you can always change something. Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation. Invest your energy in the things you can control, and act on them now.

#29. Start focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes. – The mind must believe it CAN do something before it is capable of actually doing it. The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful. Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on what you DO WANT to happen, and then take the next positive step forward. No, you can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you react to things. Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether or not you’re happy and successful in the long run depends greatly on which aspects you focus on. Read The How of Happiness.

#30. Start noticing how wealthy you are right now. – Henry David Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” Even when times are tough, it’s always important to keep things in perspective. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night. You didn’t go to sleep outside. You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning. You hardly broke a sweat today. You didn’t spend a minute in fear. You have access to clean drinking water. You have access to medical care. You have access to the Internet. You can read. Some might say you are incredibly wealthy, so remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.

This is such a wonderful list. If we take little steps every day and practice these things, we can make great improvements in our lives. Share this post with your friends and loved ones.

Source: marcandangel.com

Ayurvedic Seasonal Guides

Seasonal Guides

Ayurveda considers a seasonal routine an important cornerstone of health, year around. Balancing the nature of your local climate with lifestyle choices that offset the potential for seasonally induced imbalance is one of the simplest ways that you can protect your wellbeing. But, keep in mind that the seasons vary widely from one place to another, as do the qualities that they engender. 

The seasons also affect a healthy practice. The season of cold dampness increases Kapha. The season of warm weather increases Pitta. The season of cool dryness increases Vata, as does the windy season. During the Kapha season, a practice that is more stimulating and warming is better. In the Pitta season, a practice that is cooling is best. In the Vata season, a calming practice supports greater health. 

Fall guide
The fall brings with it a predominance of air element and prana, the vital breath, the subtle essence of life, is abundant in the atmosphere. Autumn is dry, rough, windy, erratic, cool, subtle, and clear. These are all qualities shared by Vata dosha, and because like increases like, autumn is considered a Vata season. 

Winter guide
Everywhere around you the natural world is withdrawing, going dormant, and embracing a long, dark, season of slumber. There is a particular stillness that characterizes winter, and with it comes a subtle invitation to redirect our own energies.

Spring guide
Our physiology senses a natural opportunity for a fresh, clean start; our bodies are primed to lighten things up, cleanse ourselves of any accumulated imbalances, and rejuvenate our deepest tissues. As the natural world emerges from its long winter slumber, it is common to experience a renewed sense of joy and inspiration. 

Summer guide
Summer, like each of the seasons, arrives with its own distinct personality. Depending on your constitution, summer may increase your internal sense of harmony, or it may aggravate one of your innate tendencies.

What Is Ayurveda?

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda, is the natural healing system of India, its traditional medicine going back to ancient times. The same great Vedic seers and sages that produced India’s original systems of yoga and meditation established Ayurveda as well.

"Ayurveda is a holistic science of health, focusing on maintaining a physically and emotionally balanced state."

Ayurveda originated as part of Vedic Science, an integral spiritual science that provides a comprehensive understanding of the entire universe of matter, mind and consciousness. Vedic Science includes yoga, meditation, mantra and astrology, and sets forth Ayurveda as its special branch for healing both body and mind. On this broad and profound background, Ayurveda includes herbal medicine, bodywork, psychology and spirituality. 

“Ayurveda began about 5,000 years ago when Indian monks were looking for new ways to be healthy. Revering their bodies like temples, the monks believed that preserving their health would help them meditate and develop spiritually. Over thousands of years of observations, they gathered all their conclusions and advice and preserved it for future generations. This collection of knowledge came to be known as Ayurveda, the “science or knowledge of life.”

The History Of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the traditional healing modality of the Vedic culture from India. It is said to be 2000 to 5000 years old, meaning it has stood the test of time. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as “the wisdom of life” or “the knowledge of longevity”. In accordance with this definition, Ayurvedic medicine views health as much more than the absence of disease. The wise seers and sages of the time, intuitively understanding the physiology and workings of the mind-body-spirit long before the advents of modern medicine, explained the basic principles of Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic medicine was originally an oral tradition, taught and passed directly from teacher to apprentice, who would learn and work side by side. The oldest written codification of Ayurvedic principles is found in the Rig Veda. The fundamentals are then laid out in several major treatises, including the texts from Charaka, Sushruta, and Vaghbhat. There are also numerous other smaller works, written over time to explain the various branches of Ayurveda, which include disciplines such as general medicine, pediatrics, surgery, toxicology, fertility, and rejuvenation. The beauty in the way these have been explained is that they rely on basic principles which can be applied practically in any day and age.

Ayurveda has thus been passed down through the centuries as a complete healing system, evolving to meet the needs of the time, and yet remaining committed to its core principles. Various cultures have drawn upon the ideas of Ayurvedic medicine, and it continues to thrive in both the East and the West. In India, an Ayurvedic physician must undergo at least a 5 year post-graduate degree program (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) to become qualified. In the West, Ayurveda is recognized as a Complementary and Alternative Health System by the National Institutes of Health, and is blossoming in various educational institutions.

Ayurveda is a more recent arrival on the Western scene than Yoga, following closely in its footsteps. Up to thirty years ago knowledge of Ayurveda was confined to a small number of people who knew the greater tradition behind Yoga. In the past few years, along with the explosion of interest in alternative and complementary medicines, Ayurveda has gained a growing recognition. It has now emerged as one of the most important systems of mind-body medicine in the world today.

Ayurveda offers a unique system of treatment based upon life-style adjustments. Its profound classification of mind-body types provides a clear assessment of individual constitution and how to treat it holistically. This makes Ayurveda an ideal practice for disease prevention, promotion of longevity, and increasing our creative powers.

How is Ayurveda different from modern medicine?

• In Ayurveda, every individual is unique and there is no diet or lifestyle routine that works for everyone.

• Prevention is key. Ayurveda focuses on providing specific advice and guidance on how to maintain physical and emotional health.

• Food and lifestyle routines are considered the most important medicine. If you come to an Ayurvedic doctor with a complaint, you are more likely to leave with a recipe than with a prescription for pills.

How Does Ayurveda Work?

How does Ayurveda work?

Ayurveda is based on the 5 elements and sees the world through the glasses of these elements. How much you have of each of these elements, determines the qualities, but also what goes out of balance first and what symptoms they cause. 

The Five Great Elements
Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is made up of five great elements or building blocks. These are earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

Earth represents the solid state of matter. It manifests stability, permanence, and rigidity. In our body, the parts such as bones, teeth, cells, and tissues are manifestations of the earth. Earth is considered a stable substance.

Water characterizes change and represents the liquid state. Water is necessary for the survival of all living things. A large part of the human body is made up of water. Our blood, lymph, and other fluids move between our cells and through our vessels, bringing energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, bringing disease fighters, and carrying hormonal information from one area to another. Water is a substance without stability.

Fire is the power to transform solids into liquids, to gas, and back again. In other words, it possess power to transform the state of any substance. Within our bodies, the fire or energy binds the atoms together. It also converts food to fat (stored energy) and muscle. Fire transforms food into energy. It creates the impulses of nervous reactions, our feelings, and even our thought processes. Fire is considered a form without substance.

Air is the gaseous form of matter which is mobile and dynamic. Within the body, air (oxygen) is the basis for all energy transfer reactions. It is a key element required for fire to burn. Air is existence without form.

Ether is the space in which everything happens. It is the field that is simultaneously the source of all matter and the space in which it exists. Ether is only the distances which separate matter. The chief characteristic of ether is sound. Here sound represents the entire spectrum of vibration.

Every substance in our world is made up of these five substances. All substances can be classified according to their predominant element. For example, a mountain is predominantly made up of earth element. A mountain also contain water, fire, air and ether. But these elements are very small compared to the earth. So, its classification is the earth.

Ayurveda defines a human as the assemblage of the five great elements plus the "immaterial self."

Doshas / Constitution Types

On the basis of the elements, Ayurveda works with three doshas/constitution types.
Ether and Air form Vata, Fire and Water form Pitta, Water and Earth form Kapha.

Doshas are the energies that make up every individual, which perform different physiological functions in the body.

The three doshas are always intertwined in what they do:
• Vata is the carrier
• Pitta pushes or provokes
• Kapha strengthens or resists
 

How to protect yourself from unwanted energies

Hello world

Imagine yourself going to an unknown country. You have no protective clothes on, you don't have a travel buddy next to you, you don't speak the language and you know nothing about the culture of the country you are in.

With much excitement you say "Hello!" to this new world you know nothing of.

Now two things can happen. 

Either you meet someone good and they quickly wrap a blanket around you to protect you from the crowd, they instantly are your new buddy and make sure you don't have to worry about the language you don't speak or the culture you know nothing of. They are good in their heart and take care of you.

The other option is, you meet someone bad. And the rest speaks for itself.

This is what happens in the spiritual world every day. There are tons of classes, workshops or sessions about opening up and connecting to the unknown, without people knowing anything about the country they are in. They learn how to open up, but they don't learn how to protect themselves. 

A problem not to be taken lightly.

Here are a bunch of tips for those in need!

Tips on how to protect yourself

• Take a shower
  Literally, take a shower. Rinse off the day and the negative energy down the drain. While you are at it, you can choose to imagine sparkles of light rinsing your whole body from head to toe. Wash your hair if the energy feels heavy. You can choose to play a mantra or a list of mantra's which helps taking away the negative energy. We have a Spotify playlist with mantra's here.

• Clear your space
  There are several ways to clear energy in a space. One way is to use a smudge stick like white sage, burn the holy wood Palo Santo, or Frankincense or Mirre on a charcoal tablet in the space you are in. You can start with the corners and ask for divine protection, it can be anyone that resonates you'd like to help clear the space, follow the steps of Ask for help to see how. After the corners you can go through the rest of the space, make sure you open the windows so the smoke and the energy can get out. Playing mantra's is a good way of clearing a space as well. There is great power in Mantra's as they are at least 3000 year old sacred prayers that are still repeated around the globe today.

• Ask for help
  One golden rule with protection is that you have to ask for it. If you're not asking, it's not coming. And when you ask you must do it with the utmost respect towards whom you are asking. Divine protection comes in many forms. Whether that's Buddha, Ganesha, Virgin Mary, Jesus, Allah, Shaman Goodlands, Archangel Michael or all of the Archangels, they are all members of the same team ;) You can also ask the help of Mother Earth, with her powerful snowstorms, rain or wind. Ask the animals or the trees, they are all here to help us. When you work with energy, it’s good to start with what you know. This helps you see whether the energy is manipulated or not. Like we would notice if a lion is feeling a bit off in it’s energy. More difficult to notice when you work with an archangel you’ve never met before! Also, it's good to aim for something big in the line of protecting because it's like asking your late aunt Tilly for help or the army of Archangel Michael, it ain't the same ballpark ;) You can ask for unlimited help, so make your army of light as big as you can!

• Imagine a pyramid of light
  If you are good at using your imagination this works perfectly, imagine a sacred circle of light or a golden pyramid around you. It will be your sacred safe spot (to sleep in). Before you imagine the circle or the pyramid, you have to make sure your aura is cleared, by either clearing the space and asking for help. Say in your mind that the space of pure light is yours and unwanted energies that don't belong are not welcome, then your sacred dome is all yours :) 

• Protective words
  For those who have trouble imagining a pyramid or circle of light, we have another solution, the use of holy words or intentions. I learned this one from a good friend: "Everything that is not good for me, that doesn't belong to me, that is not for my highest purpose, I send it to mother earth, she'll know what to do with it". The other one is from a Brazilian Shaman, use it wisely: "Kadoish, Kadoish, Kadoish, Adonai 'Tsebayoth" - this means: "Expanding Pure Wave Forms As A Power Of One Unto A Deliverance Eternally" - this ancient Hebraic text are words of "the universal laws" - which reminds the darkness to seriously step aside. But you can also choose something from a mantra you know, like "Wahe Guru" :) Good to know: repeat sayings a few times to make it resonate as a sacred chant. 

• Gemstones and crystals
  Gemstones and crystals hold metaphysical properties, alter our moods, and remedy a spectrum of ailments for thousands of years. There are many protective stones like black tourmaline, labradorite or selenite that help with a good night sleep. Crystals tend to amplify and open up, so i'd skip that one in the bedroom, but for daily protection they are beautiful as well. If you walk into a gemstone shop - check what resonates or pops out as the stone for you. You can easily look up it's meaning on the internet. Make sure you don't wear more than 3 different types of stone as they will lose their power. When you lose a stone or it just falls off, then the stone is not necessary to be with you anymore in that period of time.

• Inner light
  “I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” - Hafiz of Shiraz.
  Know that the brilliant light inside yourself is enough to see your way through your darkest nights. Your light is a mirror for those in darkness, but no matter what darkness comes our way, love will overcome, ALWAYS. You have a magical diamond in your heart, so let that pure light shine from within! And while you shine, ask for help, members of #teamloveandlight are on their way! You are not alone!

• Create a sacred space
  Surround yourself with sacred objects, you can make an altar with pictures, stones, sea shells, feathers, flowers, you name it! You can have pictures of powerful animals around like the wolf or bear for instance, but also the eagle or owl. You can have Ganesha, Buddha, Jesus, Archangels, Guanyin, a picture of a native american shaman - just pick what resonates with you. Use sacred shapes and forms, like the seed of life or other sacred geometry. Don't be shy or humble in what you pick - you can have it all. Create that what is filled with love, as your own sacred space and circle of light.

Using Your Intentions Well

Everything you do has to be done with respect and the right intentions. There is no room for ego, so always be humble towards those of the divine, or it will backfire on you. Only with dark energies you need to be very strict, stand up for yourself, there is no room for grey matter or discussion, when someone with bad intentions comes along it is either left or right. And that choice is to go with the light or it is going to be ended right here and now. When you feel something is not right, don't hesitate, you feel this for a reason and can end it right there.

In case of emergency you can always walk into The Conscious Club for help.

Protection / Power Bundles

We made little protection bags for those wanting to create a sacred environment. It contains all you need for protection and travels easy. Feel free to drop by to check them out, they are €10,- per bag.

Article: Elizabeth Plokker